Product Roundup

By Elena Epstein, Director of the National Parenting Product Awards

Hatchimals Pixies Riders

A magical unboxing experience revealing pixies with fluttery wings, poseable heads and legs, and come with a matching Glider they can really ride! $14.99, ages 5 to 8, https://hatchimals.com

Hello Amigo / Hello Friend

A fun, bouncy bilingual song from 123 Andrés’ Grammy Award-winning album, now brought to life in a picture book that’s perfect for story time sharing! Sara Palacios animates this popular song with vibrant, fresh illustrations that will engage little ones and their parents. $8.99, ages 1 to 6, http:// www.123andres.com/product/ hola-amigo-book/

Star Stable Soul Riders Series

Step into the universe of the massively popular adventure game Star Stable, and follow four friends who discover their magic powers and learn that every girl can be a hero in this fantasy trilogy. $8.99, ages 8 to 14, https://starstableentertainment.com/jorvik-calling-firstsoul-riders-book/

Silly Skaters Unicorn Inflatable Ride-On Toy by Kid Trax

Make playtime fun and fanciful with this soft, inflatable unicorn on roller skates, that light up. Air pump included for easy inflation. $39, ages 1-3, https://kidtraxtoys.com/

These docTors are among HEALTH & WELLNESS the best family dentists and ortohodontists in The Bay area These docTors are among the best family dentists and DENTISTS ortohodontists PINOLE in The Bay area DENTAL LISTINGS Thea S. Dosanjh, DDS ALAMEDA Richard Tabor, DDS 1821 Santa Clara Ave. DENTISTS ALAMEDA 2000 Appian Way, Suite 303 510-964-0168 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com DENTAL LISTINGS PINOLE Thea S. Dosanjh, DDS 2000 Appian Way, Suite 303 510-865-2900 www.alamedadentist.com Richard Tabor, DDS 1821 Santa Clara Ave. 510-865-2900 www.alamedadentist.com Teri L. Kim, DDS 2000 Appian Way, Suite 303 510-964-0168 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com 510-964-0168 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com Teri L. Kim, DDS 2000 Appian Way, Suite 303 510-964-0168 www.eastshorepediatricdental.com

Are you pregnant, breastfeeding or have children under 5? Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or have children under 5? , You may be eligible for no-cost nutrition advice, breastfeeding You may be eligible for no-cost nutrition advice, breastfeeding support, community referrals, and EBT to buy healthy foods! support, community referrals, and EBT to buy healthy foods!

Working families may be eligible for WIC! Working families may be eligible for WIC! We are providing services over the phone during COVID-19, call 510-981-5360

For more information and to For more information and to see if you qualify, contact: see if you qualify, contact: City of Berkeley WIC Program City of Berkeley WIC Program 830 University Ave 830 University Ave Berkeley, CA 94710 Berkeley, CA 94710 510.981.5360 Migrant families are welcome! 510.981.5360 Migrant families are welcome! wicprogram@cityofberkeley.info Visit us at www.cityofberkeley.info/publichealth wicprogram@cityofberkeley.info Visit us at www.cityofberkeley.info/publichealth Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. We can help with community programs for low and middle income families. Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. We can help with programs for low and middle income families. (Medi-Cal, Healthy Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. Do you need help with health care? Do you need care while you are pregnant? Please call Berkeley Public Health at 510-981-5300. (Medi-Cal and CHDP) Families, CHDP and other community programs) This institution is an equal opportunity provider. We can help with community programs for low and middle income families. We can help with programs for low and middle income families. (Medi-Cal, Healthy (Medi-Cal and CHDP) Families, CHDP and other community programs) This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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Zoom & In Studio We have created the safest classes possible with our small class/large gridded studio, great ventilation and drop off/pick up zones.

Berkeley City Pediatric Ear Nose

Ballet and Throat Experts Specializing in the care of: Ear Infections Pediatric Ear Nose and Throat Experts Specializing in the care of: berkeleycityballet.org Sinus Infections Tonsillitis Ear Infections Sinus Infections

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A Group for Parents of Struggling Teens Are you concerned about the safety of your son or daughter? • Is your teen no longer listening to you? A Group for Parents of Struggling Teens

Are you concerned about the safety of your son or daughter? Have you tried therapy or other avenues of support that haven’t worked? • Is your teen no longer listening to you? Is your son or daughter already in an out-of-home placement and are you looking to connect with other parents in the same

Have you tried therapy or other avenues of support that haven’t worked? situation?

Is your son or daughter already in an out-of-home placement and are you looking to connect with other parents in the same This six-week parenting group starting in early March offers help and support during stressful times. situation? Cindy Rasicot, MFT is in private practice in Lafayette, California with a specialization in adoption issues. She is a

This six-week parenting group starting in early March offers help and support during stressful times. Director of Willows in the Wind, www.willowsinthewind.com

Cindy Rasicot, MFT is in private practice in Lafayette, California with a specialization in adoption issues. She is a For additional information about the group and to schedule a free introductory meeting

Director of Willows in the Wind, www.willowsinthewind.com Cindy Rasicot, MFT | cindy.rasicot@gmail.com | 510.332.0463

For additional information about the group and to schedule a free introductory meeting Cindy Rasicot, MFT | cindy.rasicot@gmail.com | 510.332.0463 March 2014 | East Bay | Parents ’ Press 11

March 2014 | East Bay | Parents ’ Press 2/25/14 11:27 AM

Ages 2 and up Boys ballet Dance camps Birthday parties State-of-the-art studios Sprung floors Easy parking Easy online registration and payment

BUILDZI

The fast-stacking, nerve-racking, block-building game! Quick, grab a block and start building. Be the first to build your tower, but — careful — don’t let it tumble. 32 BUILDZI blocks, 32 tower cards, 32 block cards and lots of ways to play. $24.95, ages 6+, https://ilovetenzi. com/

Artsy Fartsy

This is NOT your parents’ drawing game. From dragons to dog farts, not much is off limits in this fast-paced game where artistic skills are not required. Team up with friends and family to draw, guess, and STEAL clues that will have the whole gang laughing out loud. $24.99, ages 10+, http://www.artsyfartsygame.com

Whatsitsface

Feeling happy, sad, surprised, amused, angry or sleepy can all happen with a twist of a knob or a flip of a face. Little ones can change the face of Puppy Dog, Kitty Cat or Teddy Bear to reveal six emotional expressions –building their empathy skills while extending creative playtime. $24.99, ages newborn +, https://whatsitsface.com/

Gridopolis

An innovative new 3D strategy game and system with only seven basic parts. Players create a multi-level ‘grid-set,’ then either move markers or use extra parts to build onto the board. Keep playing until you’ve captured all your opponents, or until time runs out. Teachers can also use the game and accompanying free lesson plans to teach STEM skills to students. $49.95, ages 8+, http://www.gridopolis.games

Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Skinnamarink

Based on the classic folk song made famous by a beloved trio of children’s entertainers, this picture book is best sung aloud! “Skinnamarink” is a timeless anthem of love and inclusion. $17.99, ages 3 to 7, https://www. penguinrandomhouse.com/books/565716/sharon-loisand-brams-skinnamarink-by-sharon-hampson-loislilienstein-and-bram-morrison-with-randi-hampsonillustrated-by-qin-leng/

By Sarah Lyons

I loved watching Disney princess movies as a child and I enjoy sharing them with my kids. You may know that most Disney fairy tales are based on original stories from hundreds of years ago, but what you may not know is the original tales are very dark and even gruesome. Let’s do a quick comparison.

Cinderella Disney movie, 1950

In the Disney version, Cinderella lives with her evil stepmother and two ugly stepsisters. A fairy godmother and animal friends help her attend the ball where her and Prince Charming fall in love. When the clock strikes midnight, she rushes out leaving her glass slipper behind. Prince Charming scours the land for the owner of the slipper. Eventually they are reunited and live happily ever after.

Original story by Brothers’ Grimm version, 1812

The story starts out similar, minus the fairy Godmother. Instead, Cinderella plants a tree by her mother’s grave and prays under it daily. The dress for the ball is found under this tree. The prince uses tar to set a trap for Cinderella and instead of getting stuck, she loses a shoe. In order to get the shoe to fit one stepsister cuts off her toes and the other her heel. The prince is told by doves that there is blood in the shoe and discovers the true owner is Cinderella. The stepsisters decide they

should be nice to Cinderella, since she will be queen, and they attend her wedding where birds peck their eyes out. Harsh.

The Little Mermaid

Disney movie, 1989

Arebellious 16-year-old mermaid, Ariel, wants nothing more than to become human. When she visits the surface, she falls in love with Prince Eric. She makes a deal with Ursula, the sea witch, and trades her voice for legs. Her voice will only be returned with true love’s kiss. Ursula unsuccessfully tries to trick Eric into falling in love with her. Ultimately, Eric and Ariel fall in love and live happily ever after on land together

Original story by Hans Christian Andersen, 1837

This story starts off the same as Disney’s version. She sees the prince from afar on a ship and rescues him from drowning. She visits the sea witch who takes her tongue in exchange for legs, a curse that can be broken if she finds true love’s kiss. Unlike the Disney version, continued next page >>> October 2020 | ParentsPress.com 13

she will not turn back into a mermaid if she fails, but will instead die. In the book she wants to become human, not only because she loves the prince, but because humans have eternal souls and mermaids do not. The penalty for having legs is excruciating pain with each step she takes. At first it seems like they will fall in love but he falls in love with someone else. The witch tells her that if she kills the prince she can return to being a mermaid, but she cannot go through with it. At the end, she throws herself into the sea and turns into sea foam, destined to spend eternity in purgatory where she has to do good deeds until she earns a soul which could take 300 years. I don’t think Flounder and Sebastian would approve of this version.

Sleeping Beauty

Disney movie, 1959

Baby Princess Aurora is given gifts by fairies. The evil witch, Maleficent, is struck with jealousy and curses the princess to prick her finger on a spindle and die at the age of sixteen. The last of the fairies changes the curse to a deep sleep rather than death. The curse will be broken by true love’s kiss. After pricking her finger falling into a deep sleep the prince fights his way through the thick thorny forest to save the princess and defeat the witch who has turned into a dragon. The story ends with them dancing at their wedding and they live happily ever after.

Original story by Giambattista Basile, 1634

Sun, Moon, and Talia by Basile is the original version of Sleeping Beauty that both Brothers’ Grimm and Disney are based on. While the Grimm version is similar to Disney, the original is quite different. The story starts off the same and the princess is sleeping in a castle awaiting her true love. A king happens upon the castle and enters through a window where he finds Sleeping Beauty. He carries her to the bed and forces himself on her. Months later she awakens after birth to twins. The king returns and the two fall in love but he is married to someone else. When his wife finds out she is furious and tries to have the twins killed, cooked, and fed to the king and have the princess burned at the stake. She is unsuccessful and the king and princess do get married and live happily ever after. Although the king and princess end up together, I wouldn’t call this a happy tale.

Rapunzel

Disney movie (Tangled), 2010

Flynn Rider, a fugitive on the run, happens upon a tower hidden in the woods and decides to take refuge where he becomes Rapunzel’s captive. Rapunzel and her magical long hair have been trapped there for years and she is eager to explore. While her “mother” (who is really an evil witch) is away she talks Flynn into taking her on an adventure. They eventually fall in love, the evil witch’s deceit is revealed, and she is returned to her true family. Flynn becomes an upstanding citizen and they are later married and live happily ever after.

Original story by Brothers’ Grimm, 1812

In the real version, Rapunzel becomes pregnant by the prince before they are married. The evil sorceress figures out she is expecting, cuts off Rapunzel’s hair, and throws her into the wilderness. The prince returns to see her and the sorceress dangles Rapunzel’s hair out the window to lure him into the tower. She tells him he will never see her again and, in despair, he throws himself out the window and lands in a patch of thorns, which cause him to go blind. He then wanders aimlessly through the forest. Meanwhile, Rapunzel gives birth to twins. He is eventually guided back to Rapunzel by the sound of her voice. Her tears restore his sight and they return to the kingdom and live happily ever after. At least it has a happy ending, right?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Disney movie, 1938

In Disney’s first animated feature, the jealous and wicked queen orders the murder of her beautiful stepdaughter, Snow White. She later discovers she was not killed but safely hidden among seven dwarves. The queen disguises herself as a hag and gives Snow White a poisonous apple which sends her into a death-like sleep that can only be broken by a kiss. Prince Charming arrives and saves Snow White. They are married and live happily ever after.

Original story by Brothers’ Grimm, 1812

In this version, the evil stepmother asks a hunter to take Snow White into the forest and kill her and bring back her lungs and liver. The man cannot go through with it so he brings her a boar’s lungs and liver instead, which the queen eats believing they belong to her stepdaughter. The queen later finds out she is alive and gives her the poisonous apple. Snow White faints and cannot be revived. She is placed in a glass coffin and the prince comes to take her away. The pallbearers slip and drop the coffin causing the bite of apple to become dislodged from Snow White’s throat and she awakens. Snow White and Prince Charming fall in love and get married. The evil queen is invited to the wedding and as a punishment she is forced to wear burning hot iron shoes and dance before them until she drops dead. Yikes!

Historically fairy tales were told to entertain, educate, preserve culture, and instill moral values. These traditional stories are not something we would share with our children in today’s society but they are interesting to look back on and study. Fairy tales have changed and evolved into versions we all love to share with our children. What stories do you love to share with your kids? Do you use stories to teach them lessons?