Every week on GoLocalProv I share tips on how families can make the most of their weekend — including helpful hints that make parenting easier and connecting you to great local happenings.
Time to choose the best out of the zillions of pictures you took this summer and print it on archival photo paper. Help your kids make a frame out of shells or rocks collected from the beach. Attach shells to an old picture frame using a glue gun or Aileen’s tacky glue, let dry and insert photo. Perfect way to preserve summer fun!
Kido Tip 2. Celebrate DIY fun followed by WaterFire.
Maker Faire features hands-on making, building & hacking, culinary crafting, garage technology, arts and creativity for sale culminating with a WaterFire in the Creative Capital! You and your kids will dig seeing how people make their own things (robots, musical instruments, air conditioners, etc.) and a have chance to tinker yourselves. Maker Faire is an all ages, free event from 3-11pm on Saturday, Aug 28th at Bank of America Skating Center.
New York City’s interactive, educational music experience for parents and children debuts in Providence this fall!
Rock-a-Baby, founded by Pawtucket native Marc Trachtenberg in 2007 at the JCC on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, is an interactive, educational music experience for infants and toddlers ages 4 months to 4 years. Marc recently relocated back to the Providence area, bringing Rock-a-Baby along with him. He and two other energetic musicians/teachers will lead infants and toddlers in an exploration of rock, pop, blues, traditional, and classical music genres by singing songs, playing games and instruments, and dancing. Each week a different theme will be explored with the help of whimsical puppets—Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony.
The Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island (JCCRI) announced that it will be offering the Rock-a-Baby infant and toddler music program as part of its fall 2010 programming. JCCRI, located on Providence’s East Side, is a diverse neighborhood center offering fitness, childcare, classes and enrichment opportunities, rooted in a deep sense of community. While some programs offer insight into Jewish tradition and heritage, the center is not exclusive to the Jewish community and prides itself onhaving “community” as its middle name.
“We are so proud to offer the first Rock-a-Baby music classes in Rhode Island,” stated Nicole Katzman, director of PJ Library & Shalom Baby of the JCCRI. “We believe the Providence community will embrace the wide variety of music and appreciate the welcoming atmosphere and playful energy. Not only will the children be educated and entertained, but the adults will be too!”
Founder Marc Trachtenberg earned his BS in music education from New York University and has over 15 years’ experience as a professional songwriter, entertainer, and educator. Marc’s Rock-a-Baby takes your average Mommy and Me music class to a whole new level. “After years of teaching by day and gigging by night,” he says, “I saw an opportunity to blend my musical background into something inspiring for young audiences, and their grown-ups too.” Marc’s diverse and extensive experience culminates with Rock-a-Baby.
“We are excited to be able to partner with JCCRI to bring Rock-a-Baby to the Providence community,” says Marc. “We want to foster a love of music at an early age. Through the repetition of rhythm and improvisation, using musical instruments made for children, melodic recognition, and hand and body movement and more, we help to stimulate infants’ and toddlers’ development.” As the Rock-a-Baby theme song claims, “With songs from Bach to hip-hop, we’ll put on a show, we’re not gonna stop!”
Visit the Rock-a-Baby website for more information. To register for classes, contact Stephanie Trachtenberg at Stephanie@rock-a-baby.net or 401.524.5120. Tell her you heard about it on Kidoinfo!
When my boys were younger and having a birthday party, my husband and I added “no gifts necessary” to the invitations.
Toys and gifts seemed to come into our house all year long from loving relatives, so when it came time for my sons’ birthday, we asked their friends to just come and play at their party. This worked well in terms of avoiding an influx of unnecessary toys and extra expense for the guests at the party. That is, until my boys were about five years old and started noticing that friends were receiving presents at their parties.
I usually do not cave to whatever my kids want, but at the the same time I could not come up with a good enough reason why friends could not bring gifts other than “because I said so” or “because I think it is a good idea”—especially when there is so much fun surrounding the idea of gift-giving—so we dropped the no-gift rule.
Gifts started multiplying in our home again, and at the same time my boys started developing very specific tastes of what they liked and did not like. This left many unused and unplayed-with toys to deal with.
I decided for their seventh birthday to try something new: set up a gift registry at a store where guests could contribute to a joint gift certificate for the boys. Since the boys LOVED books and had become voracious readers, I picked our favorite independent bookstore, Books on the Square.
The folks at Books on the Square, who had never done anything like this before, were very receptive to the idea and set up a sheet to track the contributions. On the birthday invite I mentioned that the boys loved books and wanted to support their local bookshop. I included the phone number and the store’s website, suggesting in lieu of buying a gift, friends and family could make a “small contribution” to a gift certificate for the boys.
The gift registry was a huge success! The boys’ friends’ parents loved the ease of shopping and supporting a local business. Even out-of-town family called in with their credit card numbers and added to the gift certificate. The gift certificate was split in half and each boy received their own copy with the names of everyone who had contributed.
This gift turned out to be a teaching tool for the boys in ways I never expected in terms of planning, negotiating, prioritizing, independence and understanding money. They treated their “money” as something valuable that ought not to be spent all at once. They decided they wanted the “money” to last until their next birthday, so they rarely bought something impulsively. Sometimes after seeing a desired book, the boys waited days or weeks before they went back to buy it or negotiated with each other to split the cost of the book. Now with just over two months until their next birthday, they each have over $50 left to spend and are the proud owners of several small paperbacks and big beefy hardcover books. I asked the boys if they regretted any of their purchases and they both said no.
I think setting up a birthday gift registry could work at any store(s) your kids like. Guests could even be asked to contribute to a class, a special event or a membership to The Zoo or Children’s Museum.
Share your gift ideas and tips in the comments below.
“The ocean is a big place, and I am just a little boat,” begins Thomas Docherty’s tale of a tiny boat making its way through a vast ocean.
From the start, it’s clear that the little tugboat’s journey is meant to parallel a young child’s experiences in the big wide world, but Docherty makes the connections in such a sweet and subtle way, children will find themselves simply enjoying the ride while subconsciously relating to the story’s overarching metaphor.
The text is rhythmic, yet spare, with short descriptive phrases. “The sea is always changing, and full of dangers, but I sail on,” says the little boat while skirting the edges of an ominous whirlpool.
Despite “terrible storms, rolling waves, and treacherous rocks,” the tiny boat seems to truly enjoy the adventure, and before long, befriends a whale, octopus, dolphins, and a pair of seagulls.
Docherty cleverly plays with scale—making the tiny tugboat appear miniscule in a sea of blue during the scary parts—and larger when the little boat is traversing a changing seascape accompanied by its ocean pals.
In the end, the boat has traveled quite a long way, past penguins on floating icebergs, and still—in a spirit similar to “The Little Engine That Could,” or “Tuggy the Tugboat”—our hero presses on.
What sets this story apart, however, is that its protagonist, the little boat, seems to have a healthy does of confidence from the get-go. There’s no “I think I can,” in this tugboat’s universe. On the contrary, the little boat declares: “Full Steam ahead, to the edge of the world… because no ocean is too big for a little boat like me.”
Way to go, little boat. Rock on.
Anika Denise is the author of “Pigs Love Potatoes” and the forthcoming “Bella And Stella Come Home.” She lives in Barrington, RI with her husband, Christopher – a children’s book illustrator – and their two daughters, ages 8 and 5. Anika is also the host of Thursday morning story hours at Barrington Books. You can read more of her children’s book reviews and story hour suggestions at www.bookmarks-ri.blogspot.com and at www.anikadenise.blogspot.com. For information on her books, visit www.anikadenise.com.
I wrote about some of our family’s favorite outdoor spaces for the July 2010 issue of Providence Monthly. Share your favorite spots in the comments below.
Brown Street Park & Playground
Location: behind Hope High School, East Side, Providence, RI
Parking: Street parking. Make sure to check the signs on where to park to avoid a ticket.
This park (a continuous work in progress) has been designed and built by a dedicated group of parents, neighbors and partners as a place that is both useful and beautiful. Although well used and nestled between Hope High School and residential streets this park private and cozy.
The Friends of Brown Street Park organization have a created an amazing outdoor space with thoughtful playground and exercise equipment and community garden. The large fenced-in park incorporates natural and re-purposed materials including old tires and a sculptural wood-slatted climbing structure into the playspace. The park is located behind the Hope High School running track. If the track is empty this a fabulous place to let your kids run laps.
Brown Street Park has a reputation for amazing programming including summer concert series, exercise classes and weekly story time. Find their full schedule on the website.
India Point Park & Playground
Location: India Street, Providence (near The Community Boating Center). The playground is located between the Gano Street entrance to the Park and the shoreline overlooking the Seekonk River. Pedestrian walking bridge crossing 95 connects Wickenden Street to the India Point Park.
Parking: Paved parking lot located short walk to playground.
We love this urban park for its large unstructured spaces located along the water, shady spots, multi-age playground and its appeal to people of all ages from many different neighborhoods. The park has picnic tables and paved pathways for walking and bike riding. A great spot for community events including the annual The Cape Verdean Independence Festival. On weekends you can watch the Mexican Soccer League play April through October.
The updated playground equipment has a maritime theme including boat-shaped sandboxes, climbing ropes, and a flagpole with yardarm. The fenced-in playground has a retaining wall on one side adorned by a community inspired stoneware mosaic mural, designed by artists Mika Seeger and Peter Geisser.
Burnside Park
Location: 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence in downtown Providence adjacent to Kennedy Plaza
Parking: Metered street parking. Park in the mall parking lot. $1 for up to 3 hours. Or check RIPTA.com for schedules.
This small (mostly fenced in) park is a lovely shady spot in downtown Providence with plenty of benches and green space for a picnic. An equestrian statue of General Burnside of Civil War fame and known for his facial hair, now called sideburns, sits prominently in the park alongside a large ornate fountain.
Kennedy Plaza hosts events daily including lunchtime music concerts and weekly farmers market. New this year for families is the Kidoinfo story time. Every Tuesday mornings at 10am the all-ages storyhour will feature at least one book from a local Rhode Island author or illustrator along with weekly raffles and a book swap.
Slater Memorial Park & Playground
Location: Newport Ave, Rte 1A, Pawtucket, RI
Parking: Multiple parking lots located throughout park including lots adjacent to the Carousel, playground and Daggett Farm.
This historic park is full of things to do and large enough you will have to drive from one end to the other. The popular Looff Carousel built in1894 and installed in the park in 1910 has retained its old fashioned charm (tickets required). The park is a popular spot for special events including the children performance series on Tuesdays in the summer. There are tennis courts and plenty of open space for games and picnic areas. Walking and biking trails weave though the woods and alongside the water.
The fenced-in playground is a huge attraction for families. Recently built the playground has different play areas and climbing structures (including ropes and rock climbing wall) designed for toddlers and older kids. From the playground you can easily walk to Dagget House and farm, built in 1685. This free petting zoo is small and the perfect size to combine with the playground and a picnic lunch. Snack bar and bathrooms located adjacent to Dagget Farm.
For full summer schedule, check the Pawtucket Park’s Recreation Department website: www.pawtucketri.com.
Roger Williams Park
Location: Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI
Parking: Multiple parking lots located thoughout park.
This park reminds me of Central Park in New York City. You can visit all summer long and never do the same thing twice. Home to Hasbro Playground, “flying horses” carousel, the Zoo, the botanical greenhouse, the Museum of Natural History, baseball fields, hiking, tennis courts, bandstand and the Dalrymple Boathouse where you can rent paddle boats and mini speed boats. The Temple to Music made in 1924 is gathering place for concerts and festivals.
The fenced-in boundless playground designed and built by Hasbro is one where children of all abilities can play together. The playground is divided into 3 sections as well to accommodate children of different ages- from toddler to school age. This sunny playground—perfect for early morning or late afternoon visits during the summer—is located near the carousel (tickets required), snack bar and bathrooms.
Today on Kidoinfo, Anika Denise shares her recent interview with Peter Mandelfrom her blog, Bookmarks. On Tuesday, August 3rd, meet Peter Mandel in real life at Kidoinfo Providence Storytime where Peter will read his new book, Bun, Onion, Burger. Alison Paul, author/illustrator of The Crow (A Not So Scary Story) and new book Sunday Love will also be at storytime, readiing from her list of ten favorite read-aloud books.
Providence-based writer Peter Mandel is an adventure travel journalist and the author of nine children’s books. His latest title, “Bun, Onion, Burger,” (Simon & Schuster) just earned a spot on this summer’s “Kids’ Next” list—a roundup of inspired reading recommendations from leading independent booksellers across the country.
Mr. Mandel took a moment to chat with me about his diverse writing career, what inspires and surprises him, and his love of the all-American culinary classic: A perfectly cooked hamburger on the grill.
Q: You’re an adventure travel journalist and a children’s book author. How does one career inform the other?
A: Well, for one thing, several of my kids’ books have travel themes: ‘Planes at the Airport,’ ‘Boats on the River,’ and ‘My Ocean Liner.’ So going on trips on assignment for newspapers and magazines helps get me the experience I need to make my children’s books feel authentic and, I hope, exciting. On the flip side, the language simplicity and clarity that’s needed to write for kids is something I care a lot about, and I try to carry it over into my journalism.
Q: Have you always had the adventure-travel bug? Did you travel a great deal as a child?
A: I can’t remember an age or a single day in my life when I didn’t have the urge to go somewhere or take part in an adventure. It stuns me when I hear people—both adults and kids—say that they’d just rather hang out around the house. As a kid, my brother and sister and I were lucky that we had parents who loved to go places and take us with them. I grew up in Manhattan, but my dad took a job in London when I was seven and we moved to England for two years. It was a life-changing experience, in part because we sailed over on one of the last real ocean liners, the original Queen Elizabeth. (more…)
Looking for a perfect book for a new baby? Try Roberta Grobel Intrater’s Babyfaces series of board books.
Intrater captures expressions and actions of babies with her photographs. She fills her books with photos of irresistible babies and includes simple lines of rhyming text.
Smileis about trying to capture the perfect smile for the camera. It will put a grin on your baby’s face and make an older child giggle. Splash is all about getting wet. Photos of babies covered in soap bubbles, wet with pool water and rain water fill the pages of this adorable book. Peek-A-Boo is a cute story about babies laughing and smiling. Sleep shows tired babies, ready for bed. It’s a perfect bedtime story.
Infants through toddlers will enjoy holding, chewing and looking through Intrater’s books. Parents will enjoy sharing these cute stories with their children.
Details:
Available in board books, $4.95 each Smile, Splash, and Sleep published by Scholastic, 2002 Peek-A-Boo published by Scholastic, 1997
Marcia Maynard is a former reading specialist and early childhood teacher who currently stays home with her two sons. She blogs about preschool activities at www.readandraise.com
I told you that I have four 4-packs of Foo Fest wrist bands to give away. It’s week #2 and I’m giving away another 4-pack this week. Each wrist-band allows one person entry into the festival on August 14th between 1 PM to 1AM. Want to win?
Here’s how:Tell me your child’s favorite playground in the comments below. I will randomly select one winner from all submitted entries. Contest ends on Friday, July 30, 2010 at Noon. Winner will be notified on Monday.
AS220’s FOO FEST is an all ages summer celebration of Rhode Island’s vibrant arts community with plenty of fun for families. Empire Street will be fenced off and transformed into a lively party with dancing, eating, interactive art installations, homemade games, and two dozen acts ranging from national headliners to up-and-coming local bands. (more…)
Today, on GoLocalProv I am sharing tips on how families can make the most of their weekend — including helpful hints that make parenting easier and connecting you to great local happenings.
This week’s list:
Kido Tip One. Splash into Reading with Free Library events. Rhode Island Libraries have free events and activities all summer long as part of their summer reading program. Cartooning lessons, storytellers, singers such as Marc Bernier, right, bugs and more give kids even more reason to love their library. Check out what’s happening at your local library or visit a new one each week. Read full article on GoLocalProv.
Art and Soul, an eclectic gift shop in Edgewood, Cranston, now carries children’s items. Children’s sun hats (pictured), books and onsies are just a few of the new items. There are also baby vases and unique baby soaps, which are perfect for shower gifts.
Owner, Susan Shapiro says she looks for items that make her heart sing and ones that are unique, whimsical, touching and special. From jewelry to home décor, she and her husband, Jim Carroll, buy items from local and national artists.
Not only are Susan and Jim busy running a local gift shop and spending time with their twelve grandchildren, they also service our community by participating in a number of charitable activities. Each month, a percentage of sales from their store is designated to a charity such as RI Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Flood Relief Fund. The couple donates to local organizations such as Adoption RI and Gaspee Days. In addition, Susan is on the board of Directors for Ocean State Center for Independent Living and coordinates the RI Youth Leadership Program.
Art and Soul also has an art gallery. Check their web site for their latest exhibition.
So next time you’re in Edgewood, stop in and say hi to Jim and Susan. There’s enough room in the store for small strollers and plenty of interesting items to admire. They also look for input from customers on choices for children’s items.
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I wrote about some of our family’s favorite outdoor spaces for the July 2010 issue of 
Providence-based writer Peter Mandel is an adventure travel journalist and the author of nine children’s books. His latest title, “Bun, Onion, Burger,” (Simon & Schuster) just earned a spot on this summer’s “Kids’ Next” list—a roundup of inspired reading recommendations from leading independent booksellers across the country.
