By Carly Loeper, Exhibit & Program Developer, Providence Children’s Museum

What makes a great plaything? At the Children’s Museum, this question is always on our minds as we select toys and materials for our programs, exhibits and Gift Shop. If, as Fred Rogers said, “Play is really the work of childhood,” then toys are children’s tools, for self-expression, pretending, and learning about themselves and how they fit in the world.

Open-Ended
I asked Museum staff and visitors which toys have had staying power in their children’s lives and noticed trends: Legos®, costumes, yarn for crafting, Play-Doh, trucks and small figurines, drawing paper and pencils. The American Academy of Pediatrics also advocates for these “true toys, such as blocks and dolls, with which children use their imagination fully, over passive toys that require limited imagination.”

A passive toy with a media tie-in, back story or computer-chipped flashiness doesn’t allow the child to bring it to life. The toys that spark creativity are the ones that let the child initiate how they will be used, that can be played with in lots of different ways. One parent shared a memory of how her now-teenage son surprised her by taking to an old-fashioned stick-and-hoop toy: “I loved watching him. He did everything with that toy – roll it, bang on it, hula hoop with it.”

Active Engagement
Another mother shared a favorite of her three boys: a wooden train set, emphasizing that it was “the kind you can put together yourself and push along the track.  They love to be creative on their own.”  Toys that have the best play value require active engagement.  Making connections between their hands and their brains, children develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as they manipulate their environments and gain mastery. Toys like balls and scooters encourage kids to get moving and give them opportunities to use their bodies and take risks.

The Real Thing
As children explore the roles of the adult world, look for chances to let them experiment with real stuff. For the young school-age artist, assemble art supplies fit for a grown-up with quality colored pencils and a sketch book. Give handy boys and girls a collection of simple tools, chunky nuts and bolts, and a tape measure, and young doctors a kit of bandages, a stethoscope and other supplies.

Great playthings inspire, let the child direct the play and can be returned to again and again.

Resources

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This list was so handy last year, I decided to re-use it. Here is a summary of articles from the Kidoinfo archives that may be helpful as readers plan their month. Find craft projects, local events, and books to read, along with tips and ideas to make your holidays a little easier, hopefully less stressful—and memorable for the kids. Some of you may be way ahead of me, so pick and use what you need and please share your own helpful tips and ideas below with the Kidoinfo readers.

1. Make an advent calendar to count down the days till Christmas or buy one at a local shop (probably on sale now).

2. Mark you calendar with upcoming events and parties for school, home, work, etc. Plan which local events or family traditions you plan to participate in this year. If you plan to see a show, order your tickets and put them in safe place. Subscribe to Kidoinfo and receive our newsletter list of “Weekend Picks” in your inbox every Thursday.

3. Plan your holiday card. Find an adorable photo of your child(ren) or schedule a professional or at-home photo shoot. Buy ready-made cards or make your own. Use old magazines to make collage cards for family and teachers. I organize my contacts in BatchBook so I can easily print all my addresses on mailing labels.

4. Teach your children about the many holidays celebrated at this time of year. (Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice). Read books, listen to music, and try new foods associated with the various holidays. We have an international house—our family celebrates Christmas, Eid, and Hanukkah.

5. Make paper snowflakes.

6. Plan as a family or as a class how you will thank your child’s teacher or caregiver this year. (Gift Ideas)

7. Buy and trim your Christmas tree. I find it easier—and less frustrating for my boys—to bring out all the decorations and test all the lights before announcing that it’s time to hang the ornaments on the tree. After the decorating is done, we usually celebrate with hot cocoa and popcorn or holiday treats.

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Okay, hold on to your holiday hats!  This is the ultimate RI Handmade Holiday Shopping Guide with gift ideas, online shopping,  holiday show links, and more.  This season, it’s easier than ever to buy handmade products from local artisans and crafters!  Whether online or at an upcoming arts and crafts sale, you will find something for everyone at every price point.   These are just a few gift ideas (oh, yes, there are many more out there) for you to consider:

Chalkboard cubby with hooks by Sprouts in the House (Westerly)
Celia doll by Primroses (Providence)
Crayon cozy by Acormier77 (Johnston)
Girls sunflower tunic by Splash Apparel
Personalized sterling silver baby spoons by Mark Kaplan (Providence)

Sterling silver earrings by Katy Scudieri (Providence)
Personalized notecards by Anna Cote (Warren)
Boro lampwork flower pendant by Kim V Glass (Hope Valley)
Hand screeened birdhouse gourd print tote by Willywaw
Silk Grecian style skirt by Ikvot ha Mashiach
U.S. Pocket journal by Kristin Crane (Providence)
Beach stone key ring by Stepping Stones (Coventry)
Mosiac guitar by Crooked Moon Mosiacs (Warwick)
Two weevils t-shirt by Smiling Squid
Oil painting on wood block by Erin Spencer (Warren)

Teacup print by Rob Rey Art (Providence)
Flower photo by Diana Brennan
Clock by Karen Miller (Providence)
Cutting board by Taunton Green(Taunton & Providence)
Seat belt pillow by a la mode(Barrington)
Painting by Deb Hickey (Providence)

Ring by Ruby’s Upcycle Designs (Barrington)
Artist set by Pink Lemonade Boutique (Providence)
Recycled rainbow wristlet by Phriendlyk8 (Scituate)
Cheeseburger pillow by Felt Like It (Providence)
Flower belt buckle and leather belt by AWC Designs (East Greenwich)
T-shirt by Lucky Bunny Worldwide (Providence)

Mustard organic bowl by Gleena Shop(Pawtucket)
Cedar accessory organizer by Malcolm Studio Shop (Providence)
Fresh magnolia wreath by Seaside Cottage Naturals (Jamestown)
Handsculpted glass bottlestopper by Tanner Glass( Cranston)
Handsculpted leaf ornament by Elysian Fields (West Greenwich)

Flower brooch by Hanami Gallery (Providence)
Apple stationary by Paper in Style (Providence)
Porcelain bowls by New Moon Studios
Fabric covered magnets by Katie LeRoy (Newport)

Where is your favorite place to shop for handmade crafts?

Linda Cox Demers moved to Barrington, RI, from Chicago with her husband and two boys, ages 12 and 7.  She runs her handbag and accessories business, à la mode, from home and has recently discovered a passion for blogging.  As an independent designer , Linda enjoys promoting local artists and the “buy handmade” movement.

Visit Linda’s blog at http://alamodestuffblog.com.

Here are few gifts dad may like depending on your budget and his interests. For some local handmade options, check Linda’s crafty gift ideas for dad.

1. Quality time with the kids. A family outing or just dad and the kids may start with breakfast at home or at his favorite diner or coffee shop. (My husband loves having bagels and lox at home as much as dining out at the Modern Diner in Pawtucket) followed by an afternoon outing like a trip to the beach, park, or museum. My husband takes photos wherever we go.

2. An event. Give a gift-certificate (for two, if it includes you) to his favorite local restaurant or tickets to a sports game or music concert.

3. Re-purposed. Wallets and messenger bags made from old sails (Ragged Edge products found at OOP!), tires or street signs make a very stylish statement and are a cool re-use of discarded items.

4. Good for the environment. More cool green gift ideas found on TreeHugger.com include a living ecosphere, bike basket, enamel stacked lunch box, beginner beekeeping kit, and a push reel mower.

5. Techy Gadgets. My husband loves most tech things as do many dads I know. Although my husband may covet the new iPhone3G with cool added or improved features, he will keep the phone he got last year. An iTunes gift card of any value though is always handy and appreciated—allows him to buy music, movies or special apps for phone, music player or computer.

6. Make a book. Have your children help create a special keepsake for dad. Every year we make my husband an accordian book filled with pictures and words documenting our sons’ current stage of development, likes and loves.

By Elyse Major

I like to shop. Or rather, I like to go shopping. I’m not the kind of person who returns home with armfuls of large glossy shopping bags from the mall (although that happens); I’m more likely to be excited by a charming shop and leave with packages filled with prized miscellany.

Recently, my sister was visiting from out of state and I wanted to show her a picturesque spot: Scituate Village came to mind. Even though I have yet to attend its famed art festival, I had visited its small shopping district. In a gray building festooned with flowers, wreaths, and signs, stands The Greenery, with its door wide open.

Inside I was smitten with the assortment of hand-crafted items, things for kids, organic beauty supplies, and more. The Greenery also offers full floral services (evidenced by the fresh smell of cut flowers). Owner Bridget Tierney is relaxed, friendly, and proud that her shop is Rhode Island’s only store to specialize in sustainable, local, green, and Fair Trade artisan gifts. Bridget also notes, “We are a small business that supports hundreds of local and global artists and are proud to showcase some of our best local artists.”

My little spree included a small basket carved from a walnut and filled with a chenille chick and millinery flowers, and a lined change purse made locally by Apiary.

The shop’s motto declares: “The Greenery is for people seeking a greater good and fewer toxins, greater detail and less plastic, greater meaning and less clutter.” It also fits my simple bill of a cool shop with fair prices in a pretty area.

Note: North Scituate is very close to Johnston and easy to get to. Added lure: coffee next door!

Details:

The Greenery
132 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI 02857
401-647-7800
For flower orders, please call 401-647-7800

Elyse Major lives in northern Rhode Island with her husband and 2 sons. A “mostly” stay-at-home mom, Elyse works as a communications consultant for Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. Elyse’s essay “De-Stressing by Distressing: A Mom Embraces Cottage Style” appears in the June issue of Romantic Homes magazine. You can read Elyse’s blog at http://tinkeredtreasures.blogspot.com

Photo Credit: Elyse Major

For those of you who have only visited IKEA on the weekends when the aisles are jam-packed with shoppers, you are probably thinking that pitching IKEA as a destination for kid-friendly fun is a bit of a stretch.  But, can you keep a secret?

I recently discovered that IKEA during the week is simply not the IKEA you know.

IKEA is known for its commitment to family-friendly shopping, but my past IKEA runs were usually on Saturdays.  As a result of the sheer mass of shoppers, I had yet to see my kids enjoy the shopping experience.

When I arrived at IKEA mid-morning on a Tuesday with my three younger kids in tow to return an item, my expectations were low.  But upon arrival, I was able to snag the very first Family Parking spot almost directly next to the main entrance.  This was my first clue that I was in for a whole new experience.

I planned for my first stop to be “Smaland,” IKEA’s childcare facility, but they were not opening for another fifteen minutes.  Instead we headed upstairs to the showroom, and this is where the magic really happened.  We practically had the second floor to ourselves, and the endless chain of mock living spaces, each with its own creative flair, provided the perfect setting for my kids’ favorite activity, playing house. We ate an imaginary breakfast in our airy kitchen, had a slumber party in the funky studio apartment, and enjoyed a divine dinner party in our swanky NYC loft.

After almost an hour of playing house, we decided to give Smaland another try. I was pleased to discover that parents can check their kids into Smaland for up to ninety minutes on weekdays (versus forty-five minutes on the weekends). The service is free to shoppers, and parents are given a beeper in case of emergencies. Smaland was clean and well-staffed, and its creative design provided plenty of inspiration for imaginative play. My kids especially loved playing in the oversized shoe, and burning off energy in the ball pit. Smaland is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Children must be 37″ to 54″ tall and potty trained—no diapers or pull-ups.  I was able to return my items and do some browsing, while my kids had an absolute blast and even met some new friends.

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It always makes good sense to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but these economic times necessitate it more than ever. Add to that our rapidly growing children who are constantly in need of clothing that’s the right size and weather appropriate or age-appropriate gear—and you have the perfect equation for reselling outgrown, sometimes seldom worn clothes.

Jamie Glowacki, the owner and operator of LoveBugs in Providence, consulted with a few other local stores to put together this handy guide for how to prepare your unwanted clothes, baby equipment, and toys for resale or consignment. While each store has its own policies and procedures—whether it’s a consignment shop or a resale shop—they share many basic rules.

CONSIGNMENT: Bring in your items; the storeowner selects which ones to keep for sale. When items sell, you are paid a percentage of the sale in cash or trade (store credit)—usually 40% in cash or 60% in trade (Check with store for specifics). If your items don’t sell, they are returned to you or donated to a local charity depending on the store policy.
Pros: Items usually carry a higher price tag since the owner carries no responsibility for unsold inventory.
Cons: You have to wait for your money and some or all unsold items may be returned to you.

RESALE: Bring in your items; the storeowner pays outright for selected items—generally 30% cash, 50% trade (check with store for specifics).
Pros: You get paid up front and never see selected items again.
Cons: Owner pays less per selected item to compensate for risk of unsold inventory.

For example: You bring in a bunch of clothes and the storeowner decides to keep half the items and determines the used retail value is $100. In a resale shop, you would get paid $30 cash or $50 trade. In a consignment store you only get paid when items sell, in this case $40 cash or $60 trade if all items sell.

Rules on what and how to bring in items:
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With the cold weather lingering, new mamas can begin to feel trapped inside with their babes. Fear not!  There are many (low-cost) indoor baby-friendly venues at your disposal that get you get out of the house…which can be a real sanity-saver in those first months of motherhood.  Check out some of these “hot spots”:

• Coffee shops—Grab a beverage and a comfy chair and take some time to relax.
• Libraries—Most libraries have story times for babies – a great place to meet other new moms!
• Book stores—Check out the children’s section and read any number of colorful baby books to your little one, or get reacquainted with your favorite author’s latest book. (Books on the Square in Wayland Square has a weekly story time specifically for babies.)
• Walk the mall—Get your exercise and maybe even lull your baby to sleep at the same time!
• Join your local YMCA—The Y has many wonderful family-friendly activities, including swim classes. Or, after your baby reaches six weeks of age, let the babysitting staff take care of him or her free of charge while you resume your exercise routine.
• Join a New Moms Group—There is nothing better than connecting with other new moms who are experiencing the same highs and lows of motherhood as you! (Check the Kidoinfo Resource Directoy for local groups.)

Kristen Kardos, MA Ed., and Kathy McGuigan, MSW, the co-founders of RI New Moms Connection, provide affordable, accessible pregnancy and new mom groups throughout Rhode Island. In “Tips for New Moms” they share their knowledge, resources, and helpful ideas for moms just beginning their journey into parenthood or moms who may need a little refresher.

Editor’s Note: Although “Tips for New Moms” is written with the new mom in mind—to support women in their journey through motherhood—it is certainly not the authors’ intention to exclude dads. Every new parent will find their tips, resources, and insights helpful. I invite all moms and dads to share ideas on how they manage their new role as a parent with Kidoinfo in the comments below.

By Maura Keating
I have to laugh whenever anyone tells me how far maternity fashion has come. It is true that there are more options and that more of those options are affordable (thank you, Target and Old Navy), but really, when you are pregnant, you are at the mercy of the whims of the fashion industry at that moment in time. Since I was pregnant in the summer last time, I had no idea it would be so hard to find a flattering sweater. Then, there are the pants and the skirts . . . eek! The sight of those hideous wide elastic waistbands gives me the creeps. The low-rise styles that are so popular do not sit well, and forget it if I try to bend over! And can anyone tell me why maternity skirts have to come in such ugly patterns?

Enter a miracle—Ingrid and Isabel have created a simple circle of fabric that will change your life and expand your wardrobe. The Bella Band is made from a spandex/nylon blend that keeps you covered from the first appearance of the bump through post-pregnancy until your favorite pants fit just right again. The Bella Band is designed to enable you to wear your favorite pre-pregnancy pants and skirts unbuttoned, and the band keeps them from slipping or bunching. I find that the Bella Band works especially well with my skirts and it even works with pants that have elastic and drawstring tops. If you’re lucky enough to find cute pregnancy pants but your bump isn’t big enough, the Bella Band will keep your pants up. Best of all, the Bella Band keeps you covered when you are wearing low-rise styles because no one wants to see plumber butt. After Baby arrives, I’ll be keeping my Bella Band until my pants button up again without assistance. The Bella Band also gives nursing Moms some coverage on the bottom when their tops are pulled up.

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By Katy Killilea

A fresh, new year often brings a smidge or more of motivation to get a grip on the mayhem of family life. What works for one parent certainly won’t work for all, but here’s what’s working for me.

Scrap paper & Sharpies
We use the backs of school papers and mail for notes and lists. Any 8″ x 11″ sheet gets cut into quarters, and a stack of these is kept near the pen jar. This may be ecologically sound, but I do it more out of admiration for all of the pretty paper the kindergarten teacher uses. Add a variety of Sharpies into the mix and you’ve got a high-impact note-writing system. ($0, scrap paper; $1, Sharpie)

Magnetic clamps
These clamps are powerful magnets with powerful jaws. Perfect for holding a grocery list, the stack of envelopes you need to mail, and sometimes a stray Webkinz. Their simple shape and plain, uncolored metal make them visually unobtrusive. ($3 for two)

Metal strips
We keep a running grocery list clamped (see above) to a metal strip smartly installed—not my idea—on the inside of a cabinet door. This means the list is handy, but private, allowing for a veil of mystery regarding one’s plan to buy penne instead of farfalle. ($4)

iPhone (apple.com)
I had been using mine solely as a phone, a calculator, for e-mail and for Pacman. But this year I’ve begun to use my iPhone’s calendar. This resulted mostly from peer pressure. But it’s fairly divine to know with certainty, when the receptionist asks, that Thursday at 10:15 will be a wonderful time to return for that root canal. ($200)

Datebook made from actual paper
A paper datebook is essential: for back-up, as a security blanket, for doodling during PTO meetings, and because there are so many irresistible ones. The best is the Personal & Family Organizer by Busy Body Book. A week in BBB land is minimally but ingeniously divided into a grid that corrals a family’s goings-on. But it does more. It helps you think. And it has all of the features you could wish for: internal pockets, water-resistant covers, and each week has dedicated empty space to use at your whim. Heaven. ($17.95)

If I were shopping for a datebook and feeling more pink faux crocodile than minimalist, I’d head for MomAgenda. These have well-thought-out organizing features, with a little bit of frill and quite a bit of girliness, some polka dots, and some toile. ($40)

Motivational Tools
Sometimes the best intentions need a little oomph. 2009 offers lots of specialized stationery options.

Buttoned Up’s line of products is insane—things I’d never have imagined needing, but that make sense: a book just for recording passwords, a binder to hold gift cards and keep track of the balance on each, a pad of forms for delegating chores to family members, and a notebook for recording your fitness routine and eating patterns in minute detail. Any of these will give a boost to an even slightly motivated person in need of a change. ($4 and up.)

Piles of papers are easily tamed with binder clips, but are more fun to tame with Mateo Ilasco’s Action Organizing Clips, These clips come with numerals (pictured) or with lovely-looking but forceful demands like, “Pay” and “File.” ($13/set)

At first this pad seemed like a joke to me, but now I see it as the most useful tool of all: Prettybitter’s “I Will Do One Thing Today” sticky-notes. You now have permission to: Pick one thing. Do it. Check it off of your list. Take the rest of the day off.

What are you doing to stay organized? Please share your ideas with the Kidoinfo community by posting your comments.