My family has our kid-friendly favorites in and around Rhode Island—everything from the tastiest hotdog to the best shady park to the orchard where we pick our apples. What follows is our current list, but I know it will change and evolve as my kids and my husband and I keep exploring and day-tripping around the area.

Read the A-list here. I invite you to share your kid-friendly favorites and feel free to add categories as well. (Enter “Reader A-List” in the subject line.). We will post the Kidoinfo Reader A-List in the fall and randomly select one of our readers to win a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant! Deadline: September 15, 2008.

Cooking is fun for kids and getting them interested early may be a great way for them to develop healthy eating habits and explore their senses—sight, smell, and taste—as they discover what it takes to make a meal or snack from “scratch.”

Besides offering delicious recipes, cookbooks are wonderful guides that teach our kids helpful tips about the ingredients, the tools, the process, and the techniques necessary for preparing whatever dish that strikes their fancy. Cookbooks also present an opportunity to teach kids at every developmental stage –toddlers may learn about colors and textures while helping with the ingredients, preschoolers learn about the different food groups, and grade-schoolers can practice their reading and math skills.

A recent New York Times article discussed the growing number of kids’ cookbooks on the market today. Why the increase?

Because parents who have a keen interest in cooking encourage their young children to spend time in the kitchen and new titles take a more sophisticated approach to children’s food.

Thanks to this growing interest in cooking with kids, we now have an abundance of cookbooks to choose from—from targeting specific age groups, to healthy cooking to global cuisine–many with fabulous photography or illustrations and brand ties-ins (such as cookbooks by celebrities, stores and TV Shows).

I personally love when the cookbooks—like our recent library find, C is for Cooking—give helpful suggestions for what steps in the recipe young kids can handle (measuring, stirring, cracking an egg) and what steps are best left to an adult (chopping with sharp knife).

With all the options on the bookshelves today, deciding which cookbook to use can be challenging. Here is a list of books mentioned by the New York Times—we have not tried them all yet. We tend to use our local library to sample cookbooks so I plan to reserve some of these titles with my library card and will report back on what we think of them. We sometimes purchase the books we use over and over for our collection—then we don’t feel so bad if the ingredients smear the page or the edges are worn from repeated use.

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When the temperature starts rising like it did recently, we need to find ways to help our kids (and us) cool off fast while hopefully entertaining them at the same time. Make sure you always have plenty of cold water on hand for you and your child to drink.

INDOORS:
Visit your local branch of the Public Library
Visit the Mystic Aquarium (inside part) or NE Aquarium
Visit a museum
Go to the mall (Emerald Square Mall has a carousel in the food court)
See a movie for free
Grocery shop
Hop on the bus (though not all are air conditioned) — free on ozone alert days
Explore the indoor play areas at McDonald’s or Burger King (you do not have to buy anything to use the play equipment)
Take a cool bath

OUTDOORS:
Play with spray bottles filled with water
Make water balloons
Eat popsicles
Set up the sprinkler/kiddie pool in a shady spot in the backyard
Head to a local water park (Open July-August)
Visit a shady park like the Baby Park, Lincoln Woods, or Colt State Park
Take a walk after dinner to your local ice cream shop

Tell us your ways for staying cool and having fun when it heats up outside!

Welcome the first day of summer at the Hope Artiste Village – home to a number of artisans, retail shops, residences, and offices.
Bring the whole family, there’s something for everyone! Come enjoy a celebration of the arts: activities for adults and kids, games and prizes, an arts & crafts fair, live music, and plenty of local food. Take advantage of special studio sales and retail discounts.

Don’t miss the REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! show put together by Jamie, owner of LoveBugs, the fabulous new secondhand kids’ store at the village. There will be three showings of this live performance for kids, grown-ups, and dogs (or any other pet you happen to bring along).

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!
Craziness ensues as Bling learns that it’s not all about money, spending, and consuming. He learns valuable lessons about the environment and how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Featuring the music of Jack Johnson, the hip-hop clown antics of RODRIGO, juggling and flipping by Jamie, general foolery by Liz, and street drumming by Evan, this show is sure to inform and entertain. LoveBugs will also have balloons, snacks, and face painting for the kids. Come on! It’ll be hot out and you need something to do on Saturday!
Showtimes: Noon, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. The show runs approximately fifteen minutes and is appropriate for all ages.
LoveBugs (located in Hope Artiste Village)
Phone: (401) 724-2636

Learn more about Jamie in our Meet a Parent series.

Festival Details:
Hope Artiste Village – 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860
Saturday, June 21
Open studios, sales and food: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Acoustic show from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Admission: Free admission for all ages until 8:00 pm
Free street and lot parking available
Phone: (401) 722-0752

Photo Credit: Hope Artiste Village from Art in Ruins. Inside Lovebugs from www.lovebugsri.net.

By Jaci Arnone
Nothing quite says summer has arrived like our first ride of the season on the Looff Carousel at Crescent Park. This year as we sat outside the pavilion enjoying a frozen lemonade and reveling in the thrill of our first ride, I couldn’t help but wonder about the story behind this Rhode Island treasure.

I did a little bit of digging to find out that our local carousels play a significant role in carousel history. Four of the area’s carousels were made during the golden age of carousel art, and a reproduction at Roger Williams Park pays homage to the great carousel builders of the nineteenth century.

There are plenty of fun facts to share with your kids during your next visit to a local carousel. Not only will they enjoy the ride, they will also be able to learn about Rhode Island’s history. And if they’re lucky, they may just get the brass ring!

Crescent Park Looff Carousel
End of Bullock’s Point Avenue, East Providence, RI
(401) 435-7518 or (401) 433-2828
Cost: $1 per ride
Summer hours: Open Thursday – Sunday, Noon – 8pm
Off season hours: Open Friday 4pm – 8pm, Sat & Sun Noon – 8pm

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Littlewoods reopened today after a month-long renovation.

By Karen Lambe
Early Childhood Developer

The woods are alive with the sound of children! And they have been since Littlewoods, the beloved woodland environment created especially for the Museum’s youngest visitors, first opened in 1997. Designed to inspire active exploration and interaction with adults and other children, Littlewoods has welcomed thousands of young children and their caregivers and has hosted many magical learning moments over the last ten years.

In the Baby Nest, six-month-old Liam sits at the bottom of a wedge-shaped mat, watching as his mother rolls a colorful, squeezable ball into his outstretched hands. “Look at that!” I observe, “He tracked with his eyes and caught the ball. Good example of developing hand-eye coordination.” Mother beams and baby giggles as he picks up the ball.

Meanwhile, one-year-old Jennie pushes a sturdy wooden cart, stopping periodically to pick up a soft rubber rock or skunk puppet that needs transporting to the Cozy Cave. “Aren’t those carts a great help for the toddler who is working on new walking skills?” I ask. “Yes, they’re just the right size to support her, and Jennie loves that she can carry things around in them,” remarks her grandma.

Nearby, a couple of four-year-olds stage an elaborate feast for the stuffed bears. “You get the bowls ready for the fish soup. I’ll catch some fish and bring the bears over to sit at the table,” suggests Chris to Tommy. “I better climb the ladder into the tree and collect some acorns to put into the soup,” says Tommy. The boys are busy with their dramatic play, working together to create a story that springs from their imaginations, their interactions, and an environment that supports and encourages open-ended play.

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Today I welcome Erin Barrette Goodman, a writer, yoga teacher, and mother of two young children. She is the founder and director of the Rhode Island Birth Network, which promotes empowered decision-making during the childbearing years. Together with her husband, John, she is in the process of turning their 1.5-acre South County yard into a sustainable suburban homestead, which they’ve affectionately dubbed Nadalada Farm. When she is not writing, networking, or working in the yard, Erin enjoys arranging special dates to have fun with her children, husband, friends, and occasionally alone!

By Erin Barrette Goodman

When I mentioned to my husband, John, that I would be writing a column on dating for Kidoinfo.com, he was, understandably, a little confused.

I am, after all, a thirty-something mother of two young children, and my last official date took place over a decade ago.

When I clarified that I am going to be writing about family-friendly dating – the special things we do as a family and as a couple, with one or both of our kids, and with other families and friends, and equally important, alone – he seemed less confused (and a bit relieved).

My interest in this new world of family-friendly dating started a year and a half ago when my friend Julianna, an artist and healer and a fellow new mom trying to stay sane, invited me to join a small group exploration of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

At the core of this twelve-week creative recovery/discovery process are two essential tools – daily journal-writing, or “morning pages,” and weekly “artist dates.”

The rules for the artist dates are pretty simple: Set aside one to two hours a week to do something by yourself and for yourself to nourish and feed your creativity.

Each week at our group check-in meeting, we shared a quick review of our date experiences, which included everything from beachcombing, window shopping, thrift-store treasure-hunting, tub-soaking, garden-planning, and tea-sipping, to yoga classes, dancing, cooking, and movie-watching.

As I went through this powerful process, I noticed that not only did I love my weekly (solo) artist date, but I also liked the idea of creating similarly nourishing, great-feeling “date” experiences with my children and husband.

And so began our exploration of family dating!

What makes a date a date?
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By Jaci Arnone

You may be wondering why I am recommending pipe organ concerts as a fun kid’s activity, but I urge you to keep an open mind. Organ music might not be high on my playlist either, but I have wonderful memories of my grandmother “GiGi” playing show tunes during family holidays while my cousins and I danced our hearts out.

So recently when I discovered that Providence Performing Arts Center offers free lunchtime concerts showcasing their vintage Wurlitzer pipe organ, I leapt at the chance to expose the kids to some good ol’ organ music. And I promise you, it was well worth it.

We attended the first concert of this year’s spring series, which featured an accomplished organist and two talented vocalists. The hour-long program included a variety of upbeat show tunes from The Music Man, Gigi, and My Fair Lady, along with classics such as Tea for Two and Stars and Stripes Forever.  My kids had a ball, clapping along, dancing in the aisle, and getting plenty of positive attention from the other attendees (mostly seniors).

We chose to sit in the first row of the balcony, which gave the kids a fantastic view of the theater. The balcony ledge served as the perfect impromptu table top, making it easier for the kids to manage their picnic lunch. Also, the railing is high enough that I wasn’t worried about their safety (although with toddlers, it might be better to avoid the steep steps and stay on the ground level).

Following the performance, we walked downstairs to get a closer glimpse of the Wurlitzer pipe organ. Built in 1927, this gorgeous instrument is the pride and joy of PPAC. The kids enjoyed seeing the ornate details on the Wurlitzer and getting yet another view of PPAC’s breathtaking interior, which my three-year-old daughter best described as “fancy, like Fancy Nancy!”

Whether you are a fan of pipe-organ music or not, the Wonders of the Wurlitzer series is a great opportunity to share live music with your family in one of Rhode Island’s most beautiful venues.

Details:

Spring 2008 Wurlitzer schedule (more details):
Monday May 12 (Len Beyersdorfer, organist)
Monday, May 19 (Jim & Linda Duncan, organist)
Wednesday, May 28 (Alden Mitchell, organist)
Wednesday, June 4 (Bob Legon, organist) - with silent movie

Location: Providence Performing Arts Center - 220 Weybosset St # 2, Providence, RI 02903
(401) 421-2997
Cost: All Wurlitzer concerts are FREE
Time: Noon to 1:00pm. (Bring a brown bag lunch)

Photo Credit: Jaci Arnone

By Jaci Arnone

My family recently discovered one of Rhode Island’s hidden gems: the Museum of Natural History and Cormack Planetarium. Situated in Roger Williams Park, this museum is the only of its kind in Rhode Island and proved to be a fun adventure for the entire family.

The Museum features a wide range of exhibits highlighting a variety of cultures from Native Americans to the craftspeople of the South Pacific. In addition, a Victorian-styled exhibition hall features treasures from the turn of the century, when collecting natural history items became an international fascination. (The exhibit includes a working observation hive, complete with live bees!)

The highlight for my older sons was Mission Moon: past, present, future (on display through September 29, 2008), featuring 3D imagery acquired by the Apollo and Surveyor programs and a moon rock collected by the crew of Apollo 17. There are several space-related, hands-on activities for kids of all ages, with museum staff available to answer questions.

Upon arrival, I would recommend picking up a ‘Scavenger Hunt’ worksheet, which lists basic trivia questions for each exhibit. This encouraged my kids to pay attention to details, and the best part was claiming their prize for turning in a completed worksheet!

My kids were tuckered out before the start of the Planetarium show (2:00 each weekend day and during school vacations), so we passed for this visit. However, the grounds of the museum served as a perfect picnic spot to enjoy lunch before heading home. We can’t wait to visit again!

Details:
Museum of Natural History & Planetarium
Roger Williams Park, 1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI
401-785-9457 ext.221
Museum admission: $2 ($1 for children 2-7 years old)
Planetarium admission: $3 ($2 for children 4-7 years old). This includes entrance to the Museum and galleries. Children under 4 not permitted in the planetarium.
The first Saturday of every month is free to Providence (not East or North Providence) residents only (proof of residency required).

Photo Credit: Jaci Arnone

By Cathy Saunders
Director of Education

Three years ago, Providence Children’s Museum was selected as one of nine sites across the country to join the National Partnership for After School Science (NPASS), a pilot project funded by the National Science Foundation to improve training for after-school providers. We’ve had a blast working with nine after-school programs to build rubber-band-powered cars, explore dry ice, wire a toy house with lights that turn on and off, and more. As the Museum’s director of education, I’ve learned a tremendous amount that has implications not only for after-school programming but for school and museum programs and parents as well.

Our approach to this project is that you don’t have to be a scientist or a teacher to teach science; you just have to be curious, excited, and willing to give kids some materials to work with. I don’t always feel confident in my knowledge of scientific principles, but I am sure of my ability to facilitate science learning. I provide opportunities for “tinkering,” problem-solving, experimenting, question-asking, and working with others. I know we’ll learn more than we knew before, even if I can’t always predict what it will be.

“What did you notice?” has become our most frequent question. Observing details is a learned skill, one you can encourage by asking open-ended questions that prompt children to use their five senses. To answer these questions, children use descriptive language that forms a foundation for their science vocabulary. Their observations are evidence they can use to design tests to answer their own questions.

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