Today Tracy Minkin from GoLocalProv shares some great tips on how to stock up on school supplies without breaking the bank.

Sure, that dad in the classic Staples back to school TV ad is skipping down the shopping aisle while his kids trudge, but that may be because he hasn’t hit check-out yet. Back to school shopping can burden any family’s budget. But with big sales hitting the streets this week, now’s just the time to organize and execute a shopping strategy that can save you some serious money. Here are 12 tips for getting the most for your back to school dollars:

1. Check before you shop. Make your list of supplies, but before you start shopping, check all your work and homework spaces for unused items that can be used this year. Then, check under sofa, chairs, and beds, between cushions, and in spare drawers for lone pencils, pens, and erasers. You’ll be amazed at what a collection you can create.

2. Work the chains. Most major chains are kicking off big back to school sales this week, and weekly store circulars are a great way to comparison shop. Recycled them already? Just go to shoplocal and leaf through weekly circulars for stores including CVS, Walgreens, Kmart, OfficeMax, Staples, and Target. You’ll have all the information you need.

3. Grab and go. Once you’ve got your sale items picked out, go grab them, but don’t fall for the full-priced items on adjacent shelves. Stick to your plan.

4. Go online. Just as during holidays, online shopping can save you time and aggravation, not to mention gasoline at high prices. Major online retailers like staples.com have whole special areas devoted to back to school, and with careful price comparisons, you can really save.

5. Think outside the box. Office supply stores may be reminding you with lots of advertising that they’re your go-to for back to school (and specific sales on certain items may be worth the trip), but you can often pick up excellent savings at thrift and dollar stores. You may want to check your local grocery store as well…

Read full article on GoLocalProv.

Reviewed by Marcia Maynard

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.

Details:

Art and Soul Gifts
2007 Broad Street Cranston, RI 02905
(401) 461-4511

Open Tue 10:30am-5pm; Wed-Sat 10:30am-5:30pm; Sun 11am-2pm
The gallery is available for rental for small functions and meetings.

Marcia Maynard is former teacher and reading specialist. She blogs about preschool activities at http://www.readandraise.com

I have been meaning to write about Providence’s Pinata Center for awhile. Now that Camilla Hawthorn of GoLocalProv has written this fabulous review I have more time to plan the party to go with one of these fabulous pinatas!

Today’s URBAN SCENE news from GoLocalProv:

All piñatas are not created equally.

That’s what you realize the moment you walk into Sussy DeLeon’s Piñata Center. Giant, brightly colored, and intricately detailed piñatas smile cheerily from the windows, the walls, and the ceilings. It’s every birthday boy and girl’s dream come true, and it makes you reconsider whether you really knew what a piñata was before you entered the shop.

A Savvy Mom

DeLeon was planning her son’s first birthday party when she realized that she couldn’t find the beautiful handmade piñatas of her native Guatemala in the United States. Unlike the mass-produced cardboard piñatas readily available here, Guatemalan piñatas are constructed from wire and newspaper and decorated with colorful tissue paper. They’re easier to break, so kids can actually get to the delicious innards without the intervention of a frustrated parent wielding a baseball bat.

Continue reading artilce on GoLocalProv.

Photo of Sussy DeLeon provided by GoLocalProv

Kidoinfo is partnering with Rag & Bone Bindery & Soul at Work on May 1 for a day full of fun.

• Bookbinding workshops for children
• Rag & Bone Bindery’s Spring Open Studio
• Have your portrait taken by a professional
• Buy tickets for the next KidoConversation

DETAILS

Rag & Bone Bindery Spring Open Studio and Children’s Bookbinding Workshops
Saturday, May 1 from 10 AM – 2 PM.
Workshop sessions at 11 AM and 1 PM.
Join us before you shop for a cafe style May breakfast with delicious muffins, scones, coffee and juice.
Location: 1088 Main Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 (more…)

By Tiffany Hogan

Love a bargain? Looking for good quality, lightly used kids’ (or adults’) clothes?  Enjoy shopping locally and supporting local initiatives? Then mark your calendar and plan to visit the upcoming Wheeler School Clothing Sale, April 15-17. This wildly popular 62 year-old community institution benefits every “body.”

This three-day event held in the gymnasium at Wheeler School has long been recognized as a great opportunity to pick up lightly used high quality clothing, sporting equipment, electronics and more, for the entire family.  There is also typically a sizable selection of high-quality new designer clothing and house wares donated by local retailers.  These goods are collected during the course of the school year and pre-sorted to ensure that only the best and latest goods are available at the sale.  For years, my mother-in-law always counted on the sale to pick up a ‘new” blue blazer for my young brother-in-law.  Who wants to spend top dollar on an item that a child might wear only once or twice before he grows out of it?

The proceeds from the sale are used to support a variety of needs, from financial aid funds for students, to the Summerbridge Program for Providence Public Middle School students. Goods that aren’t purchased during the sale are donated to a number of local non-profit shelters and agencies.

Details

Wheeler Clothing Sale
407 Brook Street
Thursday, April 15, 4PM to 9PM
Friday, April 16, 9AM to 9PM
Saturday, April 17, 9AM to 2PM

Cost: Free Admission
Phone: 401-421-8100
Website: www.wheelerschool.org/BigEvent

Photo Credit: The Wheeler School

Bike season is here at last in New England. Since kids grow year-round it may be time to buy your child’s first bike or upgrade their old one. Although I’ve had luck getting bikes for my children as hand-me-downs and buying them off Craig’s List, not everyone wants to shop this way or happens on a bike when they need one. For those in the market for a new bike or who want to know more about what to look for in buying a bike for their child, Matt Bodziony, owner of NBX Bikes in Narragansett, RI, shares his experience. Matt’s been involved in the cycling industry for more than 20 years in retail and the competitive and promotional sides of cycling. Matt and NBX Bikes participate in the Go By Bike initiative, a pledge to help the world by encouraging biking for everyday commutes with Trek’s Bicycle program, 1 World 2 Wheels.

Here are Matt’s tips for buying bikes for kids and the advantages of shopping at a specialty bike shop.

1. The ability to fit children to bikes that will not only fit them well but will allow them to grow into the bike through adjustable systems like Trek’s Dial concept, “Bikes That Grow as Fast as They Do.”  Trek kids bikes are built on the premise that kids don’t have to outgrow everything. They call it Dialed Fit Specific – components that adjust to fit growth spurts – you dial in the perfect fit no matter their leaps or bounds. This is very important for the confidence of the user because it helps them become proficient sooner and their skills dialed in quicker.

2. The importance in building a bike that is an appropriate weight based on the size of child. The light-weight materials like aluminum are being used to help with the strength-to-weight ratio for a child who only weighs 45 pounds. In the past kids might be riding bikes that were double their weight; now that weight has been reduced by a significant amount.  All of this has made the handle of the bike a huge plus. The kids love the lighter weight bikes when they have to pedal up hills, and parents appreciate the lighter weight as they load them on and off the car bike racks!

We all want to get our kids on a bike as soon as we can, and there are some great choices! Children’s bikes start at 12″ to 16″ with training wheels (if needed) and go up to the 20″ wheel size. A really fun way to get your little one riding is called “striding” or “floating.” Instead of using training wheels to learn balance, a striding or floating bike is one in which the pedals have been removed. The Float by Trek Bicycles is a 16″ version; it is light weight with a low stand over for the kids, which allows them to create momentum by paddling their feet and “striding” along. This, in turn, will teach them balance and control in a very fun way, without the need of training wheels! The great thing with this method is that kids can start “riding a bike” to build their confidence at a very young age. Then, once they have mastered the balancing part of bicycle riding, the pedals can be added on, and your young rider will be keeping up with the big kids!

The bicycle industry has lots of great choices for kids these days, ranging from simple, single-speed bikes to geared mountain bikes and even junior road bikes for the young Lance Armstrongs. The BMX bicycles have multiple choices in this category as well. From racing, freestyle and dirt, they all may look the same but are built for specific agendas for the kids whether they are riding around the neighborhood or going to the local park and learning the latest trick, or competing all over New England.

The mountain bike is a multi geared bike that introduces the shifting concept to kids for the first time. They start in the 20″ wheel size and come in 24″ with a fitted frame to the 26″ wheel and multiple sized frames for a better fit are “mini” adult bikes. Built with the same emphasis on the light weight and performance in the quality of parts and the durability over time, these bikes are great to get the kids really moving on the longer adventures as a family.

Whichever of these categories of bicycles is right for the child in your life, keep in mind the two most important considerations: a proper fit and the service relationship with the bicycle shop you are spending time at. These are important for adult or children’s bicycles. The fitting of a bicycle is important whether it’s a child’s first bike or an upgrade for an older child. The purchase of a bike is a long-term investment and we want you to know that you may need things over that time, maybe some adjustments on the bike to make your child’s ride more comfortable, maybe to upgrade a few parts; whatever you need it’s the old-fashioned customer service that your independent bicycle shop can offer that is so important when thinking about purchasing your child’s next bicycle.

Details:

NBX Bikes
1153 Boston Neck Rd.
Narragansett, RI 02882
phone: 401-782-4444
website: www.nbxbikes.com

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

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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.