Parent
November 2015
FREE
RHODE ISLAND
MAGAZINE
Holiday recycling Eating on a budget Kids & trauma Win tickets to The Nutcracker or the Zoo!
Living in two cultures Working to keep Native American culture alive
SherentĂŠ Harris, 15, of Charlestown
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Rhode Island Parent Magazine  November 2015
November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Get Involved! Take our survey We want to know what you think so we can produce the magazine you want and will use every month. Head to our website, RIParentMag.com, and take a short survey about which stories you liked and what your favorite sections are. It’s mostly multiple choice, so no test anxiety there! Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to give us ideas to write about.
Write for Rhode Island Parent Magazine We have multiple writing opportunities for parents and experts in child-related fields. You do not need to be a professional writer to write for us! We have editors that will help you. Part of the goal of Rhode Island Parent Magazine is to encourage community around parenting. We want to use the expertise that is available right here and bring us all together to help one another in one of the toughest jobs there is – parenting. Experts in child-related fields: We are looking for experts of all kinds. You might be a professor at a local college, manager of a non-profit, or owner of a kid-related business. Our articles are informational, so you are not writing about what you do, but using your expertise to provide good information to RI parents. Parents: Our “My Turn” column is a great place for parents to write about the challenges and joys of parenting. Maybe there is something you learned from your child that you think every parent should know. Or maybe you want others to understand something your child faces. Others might just have a funny story to tell or an area of parenting to vent about. If you have ideas, contact us at editor@RIParentMag.com. We can help you get a submission together. Please note that our editors determine what is used in the magazine based on our editorial guidelines and space allotted. Due to limited space, not every submission will appear in the magazine.
Advertise to reach your specific audience Because we are still new and in our growth phase, our advertising rates are lower than just about any other media you could use in Rhode Island. But we also have the benefit of being the best way to reach the niche audience of parents/families. With other media, only some readers or viewers of that media will be your audience. If you are trying to reach parents, then nearly every one of our readers will be your audience for a more effective media buy. We are the only local parenting magazine in RI and with our professional design and great content, copies of our magazine are flying off the shelves. We will work with all advertisers to find the advertising package that works best for your business.
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Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
Contents
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November 2015 / vol. 1 / no. 4
Departments
4 Get Involved Help us make a better magazine.
6 A Note from the Publisher The reality of parenting today.
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10 My Turn Helping kids with trauma.
12 Free Stuff! Win tickets to the Zoo and The Nutcracker. 14 The Healthy Child The rise in type 2 diabetes in kids. 16 Education How to talk to kids about Veterans Day.
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Features 8 Cover Feature:
Living in two cultures
20 Get Organized! 10-minute projects for kids.
Keeping Native American culture alive in RI.
22 Ask Dr. Day Care Your questions answered.
18 Teach kids about
24 Question of the Month What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition? 26 News Brief A teacher gives back to her school. 28 Kid of the Month Raising spirits of kids in foster care. 32 Calendar Things to do in November.
SPECIAL SECTION 25 Directory of Advertisers They make the magazine possible and keep it free. Give them some love!
recycling as a gift to Mother Earth
Ways to produce less trash over the holidays.
30 Eating healthy on a budget
Low-cost meals that kids will eat.
On the web
We are working on our website and the magazine is available digitally online (great for tablet, phone, or computer), and you can join our Facebook page. Visit www.RIParentMag.com and Facebook.com/RIParentMag November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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A Note from the Publisher
W
hen I went to school, we never had to practice for the possibility of an active shooter; we did nothing more than an occasional fire drill, which felt like a fun way to get out of class. Today, my children are in classrooms where they turn off all the lights, lock the door, and hunch silently against the walls, preparing for something so horrible I can barely even think about it. Our son once told us that his teacher had discussed the possibility of jumping out of the classroom’s second story windows as a method of escape. It’s a different world now. Today’s parents must deal with issues that our parents never worried about when they sent us out to run the neighborhood and told us to be home “by the time the street lights come on.” With the college shootings in Oregon and other places, we asked Family Service of Rhode Island, which provides trauma services, to write a My Turn column on how to help children deal with traumatic events. They provide an interesting perspective on page 10. On a lighter note, we have two great giveaways this month. Win tickets to a matinee of Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Providence Performing Arts Center or entrance tickets to tour Roger Williams Park Zoo, and even attend a Santa event for an additional fee. Go to our web page, RIParentMag.com, to register for the giveaways. This month, I am particularly proud of our cover feature story about a teenage member of the Narragansett Tribe. He offers an outlook on our own history that is worth remembering as we celebrate Thanksgiving. See this story on page 8. During the holidays, families produce a lot of trash, so this month we offer a feature by Sarah Kite-Reeves, the Director of Public Policy, Programs, and Planning for the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation. On page 18, she provides ideas on lessening our impact while also teaching kids about recycling. You may notice that some sections of the magazine are moving around and some are no longer regular features. We are working to figure out the best content mix, so we really want to know what you think! What have been your favorite stories so far? Please take a short survey on our website, RIParentMag.com. Happy Thanksgiving!
Susan Gale 6
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
57 Rolfe Square, Suite 10094 Cranston, Rhode Island 02910 (401) 337-9240 Publisher/Editor Susan Gale publisher@RIParentMag.com Art Director/Graphic Designer Rob Kenney artdirector@RIParentMag.com Copy Editor Sheila Flanagan editor@RIParentMag.com Business Manager Lisa Koulibaly sales@RIParentMag.com Advertising Sales (401) 337-9240 sales@RIParentMag.com This issue’s cover photo was taken by Kimberly Dobosz of Kimberly Dobosz Photography. kimberlydoboszphotography.com Publisher photo taken by Keith Jochim. KeithJochimPhotography.com Rhode Island Parent Magazine is published monthly by Gale Force Communications. Unless specifically noted, no advertisers, products, or services are endorsed by the publisher. Editorial submissions welcome.
©2015 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
Like us on Facebook and Twitter: Facebook.com/RIParentMag @RIParentMag
November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Cover Story By Susan Gale
S
herenté Harris is a young man striving to bring back his own culture. It is a culture that has been lost over the last 600 years in big ways and small. Its language is rarely spoken, most of its land gone, and its membership dramatically lowered. Even its dances are unrecognizable forms of what they once were. Sherenté, 15, of Charlestown, is a member of the Narragansett Tribe. His people trace their lineage back thousands of years longer than Rhode Island and the United States have been in existence. Despite this long history, more recent events mean he has been deprived of much of his own heritage. “So much life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has been denied to us and we are going to fight for it back, especially the youth,” he said recently, sitting in a museum about indigenous people which was started by his family – the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter. Sherenté is not overtly angry about what has happened, though he has moments. He is a young person intent on making a difference. “I want to help revitalize indigenous culture and bring it into the future,” he said.
Growing up in two cultures
When Sherenté entered kindergarten at age 6, he wore his hair long, which is part of his culture. He faced immense pressure to cut it and be like the other boys. Other children would often ask him questions based on stereotypes. “Kids would ask me if I lived in a teepee, which wasn’t what Narragansetts even lived in,” he said. “When I entered the school system I wasn’t feeling comfortable in my own culture.” When a later class planned a Thanksgiving Dinner, the children were to dress as pilgrims and “Indians” – a word that Sherenté considers a slur. He sees this action as a form of cultural appropriation – when people who are not part of a particular culture and in fact, oppressed the other culture, imitate aspects of it without full knowledge of the significance of the things they are imitating. In this case, his mother, Eleanor Dove Harris, was able to convince the school to allow only indigenous children to dress as the native people. “We were three native kids in a sea of pilgrims,” remembers Sherenté with a smile. 8
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
In fourth grade, a non-native person came from Plymouth, Mass., and spoke to his class. Sherenté felt intimidated. “You had this adult come in and tell us all about Native Americans. I became very shy in the moment. A lot of things he was talking about weren’t completely accurate,” he said. And again in fifth grade, his class was tasked with making headdresses from indigenous cultures around the world. “But they were not accurate to any culture,” Sherenté said. “They were stereotyped.”
A lack of education on native people
“We are being filled with a very colonial prospective of what has occurred in the past,” Sherenté said of the education system and some teachers. “It’s not that they mean to oppress, but ignorance is being instilled and they have the privilege of not having to think about these things. Many think we took on colonial culture because it is better, but it’s not as simple as that.” When asked what he would like people to do to help, Sherenté focuses on education and understanding. “We’re not saying you have done anything wrong,” he said. “But since you do have your own privilege, you need to take time to learn. You’re responsible to become educated on people who are suffering right now. If you are not educated on what happened, you are oppressing us. It’s like seeing a person on train tracks. You’re responsible to do something, not just say, ‘Well I didn’t put them on the train tracks’.”
What affects native kids today
Sherenté points to actions taken in the last few hundred years for why he faces so much misunderstanding – including oppression borne by his own grandparents and parents. In the late 1800s and through much of the 1900s, many native children were forced to attend government-funded boarding schools away from their families. They could not speak their language, were required to convert to Christianity, and had their hair cut off. For some, their names were changed to be more like the prevailing culture. These schools continued until the 1970s, and we now know that many staff there abused the native children physically, verbally, and sexually.
“Our language was torn away from us almost to extinction,” Sherenté said. “The elders of today suffered in these schools, so they couldn’t continue the culture.” He also points out that indigenous people were extremely fit and healthy prior to the arrival of colonists. But in the 1900s, native people living on reservations had few choices or opportunities. The government gave them “commodity food,” which tended to be high in sugar and fat, and low in nutritional value. Even their dances were made illegal in the early 1900s, and the native people were forced to change their dances to be more like the overriding culture. Sherenté’s grandmother and parents are all champion dancers. He dances at the annual Narragansett Tribe’s Pow Wow in RI – the oldest one in the country. He talks of “intergenerational trauma,” in which trauma suffered by one generation influences their genes and is passed down to subsequent generations. With so much change forced upon his culture, it becomes almost impossible to maintain that culture. “It is a pain that alters lives to the point where people don’t even know what they are missing, don’t know what they have lost,” he said.
Taking action for the future
Sherenté’s parents have worked to instill a cultural identity in him. He says his grandmother, Dawn Dove, lost much of her Narragansett language because, for so long, there was no one to speak it with. But his family uses Narragansett words to describe many common household appliances, as well as words such as “Kuwamanush,” which means “I love you.” This summer, his essay on the education system and indigenous youth won him a spot at the first ever Tribal Youth Gathering at the White House, where he met Michelle Obama. He also attended a technology fair put on by Generation Indigenous, another new initiative designed to help native youth. Sherenté sees social media as a big part of encouraging his culture to flourish. Sherenté attends the East Bay Met School, an alternative public school where he has the opportunity to do internships and projects as part of his self-directed learning. He has completed several projects, including a Facebook page called Speaking Our Narragansett Language, where he has come up with innovative ways to help teach the language. These include developing an “alphabet song” in the Narragansett language and even rewriting Old McDonald into their language. He also did a project where he drew modern day cartoon characters, such as Marvin the Martian and Tinkerbell, with culturally accurate native clothing. When Sherenté thinks about trying to live in two cultures, he uses a metaphor for what he wants to do for his own culture. “It’s like trying to keep your feet in two different canoes – that balance. I say break the canoes and build a new one stronger. Blending it together is the ultimate goal,” he said.
Visit the Tomaquag Museum, 390A Summit Road, Exeter
As the only museum about indigenous culture in Rhode Island, it is an amazing compilation of artifacts and personal stories, many about Sherenté Harris’ family. For more information: tomaquagmuseum.org narragansett-tribe.org
Susan Gale is the publisher/editor of Rhode Island Parent Magazine. November 2015 Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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My Turn By Susan Erstling, PhD, LICSW
Helping children deal with traumatic events
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t’s all over the news…shootings, child abuse, weather disasters. More than ever, it’s tough to escape 24/7 reports and social media exposing us to horrific stories of injustice and cruelty. How do we, as parents, grandparents, and others involved in the lives of children, speak of these events to them and in their presence? We need to figure out how to give our children messages that make them feel safe and optimistic about their future. Despite the sadness, we want to encourage adventure and independence. It’s about the kids, but it’s about the adults too. We are the ones who interpret the world for children and we need to feel comfortable and supported ourselves in difficult times. News events can often remind us of prior experiences that have happened to us and trigger feelings that are difficult to deal with. So, our first order of business is to recognize our own responses and reactions and take care not to pass them on to our children. Family Service of Rhode Island is the area site for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (www.nctsn.org). With their support, we provide care through our Children’s Treatment and Recovery Center for families, including military families, exposed to all kinds of trauma. Reflecting the latest national research and treatment methods, we assist families to develop skills and confidence in helping their children manage the aftereffects of trauma. I want to provide you with some tips, courtesy of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network about what we can do today, tomorrow, or whenever something tragic takes place. Let’s think S.A.F.E.T.Y. If the children in your lives start exhibiting behavior— sleeplessness, nightmares, fear, difficulties at school, etc.—it may be time to consult professional help. We adults, too, may need professional help with our own issues, so seek it out as well. Do it for yourself and the children you love. There’s reason for hope and optimism, even if media reports make us think otherwise!
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Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
S afety: Focus on this first. Hold your children. Let them stay close. Tell them you will take care of them when things
are scary. Avoid frightening television and conversations. Keep predictable routines: bedtimes, meals, etc. If you plan to leave, tell them where you’re going and when you’re returning.
A llow expressions of feelings: Scared children sometimes behave poorly. Help your child name feelings: “scared,”
“angry,” “happy.” Make them feel good by talking about things that are going well.
F
ollow your child’s lead: Different children need different things. Listen and watch behaviors to figure out what’s needed.
E nable your child to tell a story of what they have experienced or are thinking. A story helps a child make sense and learn to cope; young children use play to tell their story. If it’s too difficult to listen to, get help and support.
T ies: Reconnect with supportive people, community, culture, and rituals. Do simple things together that offer hope and fun.
Y ou: Your child needs you! Reassure your child that you will be together.
Susan Erstling, PhD, LICSW, is Senior Vice President, Trauma, Loss and Children's Services, Family Service of Rhode Island. www.familyserviceri.org and Facebook.com/ FamilyServiceRI
November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Free stuff!
Visit RIParentMag.com and enter to win! Win a 4-pack of tickets to
The Nutcracker
at Providence Performing Arts Center
Win a 4-pack of tickets to
Roger Williams Park Zoo
One lucky family will win! This magical performance by Festival Ballet Providence, with beautiful sets, elegant choreography, and world-class dancers will please audiences of all ages. The ballet begins with a grand Christmas party, complete with puppet theater, dancing dolls, and a tree that grows 25 feet in height. Follow Clara through her escapades with a lifesized Nutcracker solider in this holiday tradition. Please note that tickets are for matinees on either December 19 or 20 at PPAC. Tickets must be redeemed by December 11.
Two lucky families will win! Tickets provide entrance to the Zoo. You can use them anytime, including during Santa’s Arrival and Holiday Parade on November 28. See the jolly old elf arrive in grand style at the Zoo. Santa will be taking photos November 28–29 and December 5–6. There is a fee for children to visit and take a photo with Santa, which also includes a tasty holiday treat.
Keep checking in the magazine and on RIParentMag.com for future giveaways, including tickets to the Providence Children’s Museum! 12
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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The Healthy Child By Diane S. Nahabedian
Type 2 Diabetes
on the Rise in Youth
D
iagnosis of type 2 diabetes is emerging in children and teens at an alarming rate in the United States. November is National Diabetes Month and a good time to take a look at this disease, which is increasingly affecting large portions of the population, including our loved ones or even ourselves. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 95 percent of cases in America and around the world, is on the rise in the adult population. It affects those who may have a high body mass index (BMI), do not exercise, or have a history of diabetes in their family. Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes, is less common, occurring in about five percent of the young children and teen population. So why is type 2 diabetes, which has most commonly been diagnosed in adults, emerging in children and teens? The rising rate of childhood obesity in America has brought on more cases of type 2 diabetes in youth.
Health risks of diabetes
In “Type 2 Diabetes and Kids: The Growing Epidemic,” Chris Woolston, M.S., states that more than 80 percent of all children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes are overweight and about 40 percent are clinically obese. The conclusion is that obesity among young people is driving what is fast becoming an epidemic. The National Institutes of Health reported in “Treating Type 2 Diabetes in Youth” that “Type 2 diabetes heightens the risk for various health conditions, including coronary artery disease, stroke, and nerve damage, as well as kidney and eye disease.”
Take action against type 2 diabetes in kids
The good news is that something can be done. Unlike type 1 diabetes for which there is no cure, type 2 can be avoided if children maintain a healthy lifestyle from an early age. Woolston says, “The key to preventing type 2 diabetes in children – and adults for that matter – is avoiding obesity. Give your child a balanced diet (including lots of fiber, wholegrain food, and fruits and vegetables), avoid sugary junk foods and sodas, and encourage your child to get lots of exercise.” In American Family Physicians’ article “Management of Type 2 Diabetes in Youth: An Update,” the authors give a list 14
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
of recommendations to help prevent type 2 diabetes in young children and teens: • Individualize calorie and food intake based on age, sex, and physical activity. • Limit consumption of snacks that have high levels of fat, sugar, or salt – such as potato chips, fast food, soda, and desserts. • Provide a meal plan developed by a registered dietitian, diabetes educator, or physician that includes low fat and high fiber foods, small portion sizes, and fewer beverages with high sugar content. • Engage in 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity per day. • Limit television and video game time to one or two hours a day. • Encourage peer support via youth camps and support groups. • Involve the whole family in using a meal plan and setting regular mealtimes.
Help available in Rhode Island
Here in Rhode Island, parents who are concerned with their teen’s weight and lifestyle issues may find help in a free program at The Miriam Hospital that works in conjunction with the YMCA of Greater Providence. The program, Teen JOIN, is designed to help teens and their parents set sensible weight goals, develop a healthy lifestyle plan, and learn about proper nutrition and exercise. For more information on this program, call The Miriam Hospital at (401) 793-8945. The rise in type 2 diabetes among youth is alarming. As parents, educators, mentors, and friends we can help our youth to make their own personal health a priority at an early age. Nobody wants to see the child they love be plagued with all the issues that diabetes presents. However, by following a sensible diet and exercise plan as described above, we can work together to help lessen the instances of type 2 diabetes in children. Diane S. Nahabedian is the Chief Marketing Officer at the YMCA of Greater Providence.
November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Education: From pre-K to college How to EDUCATE YOUR KIDS about
VETERANS DAY
W
orld War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day and we have celebrated Veterans Day ever since. (Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.) Veterans Day can be a difficult holiday to talk about with kids, especially younger children. Explaining war and what members of the military do isn’t simple. But we also know that we want our kids to grow up understanding the sacrifices that have been made by others for us. Here are some ideas for educating children of different ages about Veterans Day, which come from militaryoneclick.com and military.com.
Volunteer at a local VA Hospital
Don't Confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day
Visit with one or more veterans that you know and ask them questions. Here are some ideas to get started: • What did you do in the military? • How long did you serve? • What was your favorite moment in all your time in the service? • Did anyone else in your family serve? • Why did you choose to go into the service branch you did?
Veterans Day is a time to thank those who are serving or have served and are still with us. Memorial Day is to reflect and remember those who lost their lives in service to their country. Confusing the two or combining the two can diminish the importance of both, according to military.com.
Ideas for young children
• Introduce the holiday by showing young children the date on a calendar and telling them that it is much more than a day off from school. • Ask them if they understand the word “veteran.” Explain the term simply by telling them that veterans are people who have served in the military (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) and Veterans Day is to thank them for their service. • Ask them if they know anyone who is a veteran. Name veterans you and they know. • Incorporate Veterans Day-themed books into your nightly reading routine, such as “Veterans: Heroes in our Neighborhood” by Valerie Pfundstein, and “Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion” by Jane Barclay. 16
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
Look up your local VA facilities to see volunteer activities such as helping to transport veterans to appointments. With your kids, put together a care package for veterans with personal care items. You can find a list of desired items at www.providence.va.gov/giving/. Have your kids draw pictures and write thank you cards to include in the care package.
Thank you cards, pictures, drawings
If you know one or more veterans, have the kids draw pictures and write thank you cards to send them for Veterans Day. You can also have your children draw pictures of what Veterans Day means to them. Have your kids make a colorful and fun poster with the names and pictures of relatives who are veterans.
Attend a Veterans Day event
There are dozens of events around Rhode Island. Check with your town to see if they have an event. Then make it an educational trip by discussing Veterans Day with your kids before you go.
Ask someone about their service
When talking with veterans, be sensitive to things they may not want to talk about. Veterans who have been in combat may find it difficult to discuss that part. Be supportive and listen with your full attention.
Donate
There are many wonderful organizations that offer support, services, and appreciation for service members. For a few suggestions, you can check out this website: military.com/ veterans-day/ways-to-give-back-to-veterans.html.
Happy Veterans Day from Rhode Island Parent Magazine
November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Feature Story By Sarah Kite-Reeves
R
E
G
Teach kids
C L Y IN C
about
W
hen it comes to trash and recycling, there’s no holiday from waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The average Rhode Islander throws away 11.23 pounds of trash each week, and recycles only 3.66 pounds. That means an average family of four is throwing away almost 50 pounds of trash every single week! During the holidays, trash seems to be ever-present, and it’s not hard to understand why – thanks to all the baking, cooking, shopping, and wrapping, along with the requisite packaging, cardboard, paper, plastic, bottles, and cans. All of this waste needs to be managed and it is best managed where it’s generated – in this case, in the home. With all this trash to manage, why not pass along some recycling habits and introduce the 3Rs to your little ones, helping to instill lifelong, environmentally friendly habits. The 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – are well known, but let’s add some more Rs to the mix. There’s Rot, Repurpose, Repair, and Renovate. While it may not be reasonable to expect younger kids to participate in household renovations, they can certainly be involved in reducing, reusing, recycling, rot, and repurposing.
Reduce
Holiday times are better known for excesses than moderation. But Reduce is the first of the 3Rs for a reason. Creating less waste per person is critical to extend the life of the Central Landfill in Johnston. Reserving landfill space for materials that truly have no other place to go will ensure that disposal capacity will be available for future generations. Reducing at the holidays mean turning a critical eye to packaging, buying in bulk, and using creative wrapping materials you already have around the house. Tea towels, newspaper, crafting paper, and fabric can all be used as wrapping material. 18
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
as a gift to
Mother Earth
Kid idea: One roll of brown or white craft paper is a less expensive and sturdier option than standard holiday wrap. Kids will love to personalize the rolls of paper. Try using holiday stamps, stickers, and family photos printed from the computer, cut out and pasted on the rolls; or decorate with good old crayons.
Reuse
Rhode Islanders order a lot of products online. This means just prior to the holidays, there will be plenty of cardboard boxes, foam packing peanuts, and bubble wrap. Save all of this for reuse and repackaging gifts. Kid idea: Don’t use paper plates, cups, or napkins this year. Family sit-down dinners are the perfect opportunity to bring out Grandma’s china and Great Granny’s silverware. An adult can set one full setting and then have kids copy it to do the rest. It’s a fun lesson in table-setting etiquette, too.
Recycle
In Rhode Island, we don’t have to worry about what the numbers on plastic mean, or whether something has chasing arrows or a triangle on it. The state focuses on form and function, which makes it much easier to explain recycling rules to kids. For plastics, the rule of thumb is simple: if the item is a container and holds fewer than five gallons, it’s recyclable. This means any plastic item that looks like a yogurt cup or a 2-liter soda bottle or laundry detergent bottle, is recyclable. Just empty it, and when possible, rinse. Teaching kids the shapes they need to know, rather than an industrial rule makes recycling intuitive. There are exceptions to every rule, but following the basic rule of thumb every day will mean you’ll be recycling right 95% of the time, and that’s fantastic. Kid idea: Little helpers in the kitchen at the holidays love to be given special jobs to do. Create recycling stations easily accessible to kids, and let them decorate the stations, so they know exactly what to put where. There’s no need to keep
E Holiday items you CAN recycle bottles and cans separate from paper, but that doesn’t mean you can’t. A recycling station can be as simple as a brown paper bag, with pictures of familiar products glued or taped on the front. The visual reminder will help reinforce where to put recyclables, and that they belong in a different place than the trash.
zz Foil or aluminum pie plates (emptied) zz Foil roasting pans (emptied) zz Gift bags, tags, cards, and envelopes zz Non-foil wrapping paper
Rot
Composting all food scraps will reduce a family’s waste by one-third! If you’re not composting yet, now is the perfect time to start. Between the fallen leaves and food scraps from baking and cooking, your compost pile will have an excellent beginning. You don’t need a fancy or expensive compost bin, just something to keep the contents contained. If you’re only composting leaves, the pile doesn’t need to be covered. A simple container made out of chicken wire tied together to keep it upright works great. If composting food scraps with your leaves, you will need a lidded container. Composting follows a simple recipe: three parts “browns” to one part “greens,” add water, and mix. Browns provide the carbon to the greens’ nitrogen. Potato peels, squash rinds, and corn cobs are perfect for composting. You can also add things like coffee grounds, tea bags, paper towels and napkins, and shredded paper and cardboard. Egg shells, nut shells, apple cores, onion skins, green bean ends, and carrot tops are all great for compost. No meats and oils though, to ensure that pests stay away. Kid idea: Cutting food scraps into small pieces speeds the composting process along. This job is a great way to teach proper knife skills to older kids.
Repurpose: Donate
OK, donating is not an R, but donating unwanted, outgrown, or duplicate items from the household is a great idea. If you can make the action personal, the idea will have “stickiness” and make a deep impression on your kids. Kid idea: Explaining the “whys” behind environmental actions brings meaning to the action. If your kids write letters to Santa, or have a similar tradition in your family, try taking the list of wants and match it to similar items your child already has, and then agree to donate matching items to charity. This instills the notion that if you bring something new into the house, it must replace something else, not simply add to a growing pile. Replacing, rather than adding, can teach responsible consumerism and spark conversation about the accumulation of “stuff” and helping others in need.
Give Mother Earth a gift this year
Holidays are about special times, and spending time in meaningful ways. Showing Mother Nature a little love by being less wasteful goes a long way. Teaching our kids that it’s totally normal to recycle and compost and reuse things will make this generation wonder what all the fuss was about. They’ll ask, “You mean, there was a time when people didn’t compost food scraps or recycle cardboard and bottles?” They will be incredulous and probably look at us as if we had three heads each. And wouldn’t that be the best gift of all? A generation of people, where caring for the earth is as natural as breathing, and recycling is simply what everyone does. Sarah Kite-Reeves of Foster is the Director of Public Policy, Programs, and Planning for the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation. rirrc.org
zz Tissue paper used for wrapping or lining gifts zz Empty candle jars (cleaned of wax) zz Greeting cards and envelopes (do not shred) zz Catalogs (do not shred) zz "Blister pack" containers (such as the kind that children's toys come in)
Holiday items you CANNOT recycle zz Christmas trees, tree stands, and wreaths (real or artificial) zz Ribbons and bows zz Tree skirts, tablecloths, or any textile zz Broken holiday string lights and other decorations zz Foil wrapping paper and gift bags zz Broken plates, glassware, or stemware zz Ornaments of any kind
Recycling resources Recycling Right in RI: Do’s and don’ts of recycling, recycletogetherri.org and atoz.rirrc.org. Composting Basics: Simple how-to’s for backyard composting, rirrc.org/compost
November 2015 Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Get Organized! By Kristin MacRae
10-minute organizing projects to do with your kids
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s we head into the crazy months where holidays, additional kids’ events, and extended family are added into the mix of daily life, you might not feel like you can even think about organizing, much less do so. But the need to organize never takes a vacation and these 10-minute organizing projects are just the thing to occupy kids during short periods of downtime. I find that when working with kids, they are more able to part with things than adults. Talk to your kids about how you want to tackle these projects and then get them done fast.
Dance/sports gear: Children are constantly growing out
of dance and sports clothing and gear. Focus on the activityrelated clothes and take out anything that no longer fits. Then dedicate a drawer or a space in their closet to keep activityrelated gear.
Under the bed: Depending on how much your child has under the bed, this could take 10 minutes or 3 hours! Clean it all out, toss what can be tossed, and reorganize it into a system that can be followed so it doesn’t get so bad again.
Shoes: Empty out their entire shoe closet and have them try
Books: Tackle this project with one child’s bookshelf at a time. You may find that your kids are ready to get rid of books that they’ve outgrown. Don’t keep books on their shelves because you want them. Take out the ones they don’t want, and if you want to keep certain ones for the memories, create a memorabilia bin and store them there.
Hair accessories: Gather all of the hair accessories
Markers/crayons: Do you have an abundance of markers and crayons all over the house? Your kids can tackle this project alone. If your kids are older, you can send them on a treasure hunt to find all of the writing implements. If not, gather these yourself. Then let them test each one on scrap paper and throw out broken crayons and dry markers. Once you have the working markers and crayons, have them categorize each type, and store them in one designated spot in the home.
on every shoe to see what fits. Then create piles: keep, donate, toss away. Once you’ve narrowed down the shoes to keep, put them back in an organized fashion. Decide with your child what will work as a system to continue the organization. Purchasing shoe organizers can help with this.
scattered all over your home. Bring them to one area and make a plan to keep them in that area. Declutter, categorize, itemize, and then find or purchase containers to hold the accessories. Be sure to measure the space and purchase containers to match exactly what you own. This will make mornings a lot easier!
Games: Pull every game out and make piles to keep, donate, and toss. If each child plays with certain games, create a specific space for each child’s games. This will make it easier for them to go to their section when looking for a game, and they won’t have to pull out every single game every time!
Winter coats: We are heading into cold weather and
what a great time to go through your kids’ winter coats. This is a quick and easy project. Just focus on their coats. Try on, declutter, toss, donate, and organize.
Because kids outgrow things quickly, decluttering plays a huge role in all these projects. Even if you just focus on decluttering and then make a plan to go back and organize, that’s okay. You can break this process down and tackle it one step at a time. Whatever you achieve with your kids will make your lives better. Kristin MacRae, owner and founder of Organizing in RI, LLC, is an organizing and efficiency expert. www.organizinginri.com
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November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Ask Dr. Day Care: Advice for Parents By Mary Ann Shallcross Smith, Ed.D.
Dr. Day Care answers your questions about children from infancy to school age. Send questions to: editor@RIParentMag.com or ask them on facebook.com/RIParentMag.
Q
Dear Dr. Day Care, My husband and I have always had Thanksgiving dinner at our home. We have the whole family over – more than a dozen people. This year, our first child, who is ten months old, is part of the celebration. I want to change the time of dinner from our traditional 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., which will work better around the baby’s schedule. My husband wants to keep the 2 p.m. time because he wants to spend more time with our families. Since my husband and I do not agree on the topic, how do you think we should choose the time? - New Mom
A
Dear New Mom, Thanksgiving is such a great time to spend with family! It is also a great time to embrace family traditions. Because of this, I vote for tradition. Keep the dinner at 2:00 pm, with stipulations in place. Set your mind and spirit to have a great Thanksgiving Day. To accomplish this task, you need to make sure you have support systems in place for this big day. Have a conversation with your husband before the big feast and find out what you expect from each other. Tell him what your needs and wants are. Be specific, confirm and clarify each other’s needs until you both have the day planned, and proceed in a positive fashion. If you are worried about your child’s response to the busy day, I find most children adapt to the fun and delights of the day. They sense the family fun and togetherness and usually go with the flow of the occasion. It is important to keep your child as close to his/her normal schedule as any other day. Another suggestion is to ask the visiting relatives to participate in the care of their newest relative. They may be flattered, and I assure you, your child will enjoy the time with his/her new family.
Q
Dear Dr. Day Care, My 9-year-old constantly says he will someday win an Olympic medal in hockey. He is an excellent hockey player and the best on his team. Should I discourage his dream or support it? - Hockey Mom
A
Dear Hockey Mom, Childhood dreams sometimes become reality if skill, hard work, determination, education, and a lot of support are in place. When your son talks to you about his dream, ask him how he will accomplish his Olympic focus. Listen to his words with an open mind and say that anything is possible; however, as a parent, you must give him the reality of his dream. Involve him in reading books about the Olympics. Arrange for him to meet with people who have practiced for the Olympics. Ask him questions about the time and sacrifices it takes to accomplish such a dream. Focus on asking open-ended questions to allow for great conversations and encourage him to think about what he needs to do in order to be an Olympian. An example of an open-ended question could be: "How long do you think an athlete needs to practice each week to become an Olympian?" Questions like this allow him to get an understanding of the process, and the emotion is taken out of the question. I am a firm believer that if a child has a dream, it is a parent’s responsibility to support their ideas. Through this support, you teach your child about the details it takes to accomplish one’s dreams. Within time, most children will get a sense through their environment if their dream can become a reality. Support your son as he asks himself if his future is in hockey. Will he make the local high school team? Will he play in most games? Is he advancing in the sport? Natural life experiences will give him his answer while you as a parent are guiding him in the reality of his Olympic dreams. Learning what it takes to reach your dreams is an important life skill and your support and guidance will help your son grow.
“Dr. Day Care” is Mary Ann Shallcross Smith, Ed.D., CEO/ President of Dr. Day Care and Kids Klub and children’s book author: Edgar Graduates. www.drdaycare.com 22
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Question of the Month We love hearing from you! Below are answers to a question we asked on our Facebook page. To answer future questions of the month, like us at: Facebook.com/RIParentMag.
What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions? “Having everything done before the family arrives so I can sit down and enjoy our time.”
Barbara S. Warren
“Every year since my boys were old enough, we’ve made our own butter.”
Susan D. Warwick
“Every year on Thanksgiving we get our Christmas decorations out while baking some goodies and watching football all day.”
Joy A. Warwick
“Every year on the night of Thanksgiving, we go to the La Salette Shrine as a family for the first illumination of the season. It’s our family tradition. It’s the most beautiful way to ring in the season.”
Nicky E. Reboboth, MA
Like us at Facebook.com/RIParentMag
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Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
“Going to the high school football game. Watching NFL football and my wife makes an incredible stuffing.”
Kevin O. East Providence
“Cooking Cornish hens!”
Jessica G. Lincoln
Directory of Advertisers Please support our advertisers. Tell them you saw their ad here. These advertisers keep the magazine free for you! Active/art/dance
Health-related services
Artists’ Exchange................................................ Page 7 Dream Big Gymnasium...................................... Page 21 Lincoln Johnny Lightning Race Club................. Page 25 Rock Spot Climbing ......................................... Page 7 Teamworks................................................... Back cover To the Pointe of Performing Arts........................ Page 13 YMCA of Greater Providence............................. Page 11
Psychological Associates of Warwick................... Page 29
Baby products and services
Tomaquag Museum............................................ Page 15
Miscellaneous Kid Think.......................................................... Page 7 Cumberland-Lincoln Prevention Coalition.......................................................Inside cover
Museums
Mother’s Nature................................................. Page 3
Parties/events/workshops
Child Care/preschool
Animal Experiences............................................ Page 17 Bjorn the Magician............................................ Page 17 Bwana Iguana Reptile Adventure........................ Page 17 Mad Science of Southern MA and RI................. Page 21 Ponies to Go...................................................... Page 17 Pop n Bop Bubble Bash...................................... Page 17 Reel to Real Recording Studio............................ Page 17
BrightStars......................................................... Page 13 The Children’s Workshop................................... Page 21 Dr. Day Care...................................................... Page 3
Education/tutoring Club Z In-home Tutoring................... .Inside back cover The Wolf School................................................. Page 15
Events/Shows
Photography Kimberly Dobosz Photography.......................... Page 23
Bring Your Own Improv.................................... Page 25 Festival Ballet – The Nutcracker......................... Page 3 Roger Williams Park Zoo – Santa Parade............ Page 23 Swansea Mall – Santa’s Arrival............................ Page 23
To advertise, call (401) 337-9240 or email sales@RIParentMag.com November 2015 Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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News Brief
Local teacher donates winnings to her school
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haring a photo on Instagram gave Cranston teacher Rhonda Marro the chance to improve Park View Middle School. Marro won $1,000 and a Kona Ice party in the national contest, in which she shared a photo of a shaved ice by Kona with the hashtag #CelebrateLife. The contest allows the winner to give to the organization of their choice. The company says it has given away over $1.7 million since 2007. In September, students at Park View got to enjoy a shaved ice party. The $1,000 will go towards a beautification fund for the interior and grounds of the school in memory of Wanda DeRouin, a teacher from Park View who passed
away in August. Some plans for the fund include: developing a fundraising campaign to keep the program sustainable, building a gazebo to use as an outside classroom, and planting a perennial garden to attract butterflies as a reminder of the deceased teacher. “Wanda was an inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know her,” said Marro. “She always greeted everyone and every situation with a smile. She gave her time to anyone who needed it, no matter how busy she was in her own life. From what she offered us and what she taught us about life, giving and helping others, we can go about our daily lives always thinking about what Wanda would do.”
Happy
Thanksgiving from
Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
Rhode Island Parent Magazine is the only magazine in Rhode Island focused on parents and families. PRIMARY AUDIENCE Women in the 18–54 age range CIRCULATION 14,000 initially DISTRIBUTION Available for free at several hundred locations throughout Rhode Island. ADDITIONAL AUDIENCE Dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, child experts, pediatricians, teachers, child care centers, etc. 85% OF PURCHASES and purchase decisions are made by women, so Rhode Island Parent Magazine is a great way to reach your audience. * Based on an industry-accepted average of two readers per each magazine.
To request a rate card and discuss advertising, email sales@RIParentMag.com or call 401-337-9240. November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Kid of the Month By Susan Gale
National Adoption Month: Giving back to kids without a family of their own
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even years ago, Kasmira’s dream came true. At age 7 she was adopted by Jennifer Galla and she finally had a home of her own. “I didn’t know someone could be so nice and wonderful,” she said of her mother. Now at age 14, Kasmira is very aware that not all kids have been so lucky and there are always many children waiting for permanent homes in Rhode Island. Two years ago, Kasmira decided she needed to give back to other kids and to Adoption Rhode Island, the agency that handled her adoption, so she started a toy drive that has brought in more than 1,000 toys in two years. “I wanted to help kids that didn’t get a nice family to spend Christmas with,” she said. For Kasmira, getting big or expensive toys isn’t the point. It’s about what the donated gifts mean. “It’s not how many presents we get. For the kids, it’s that somebody thought about you and took the time to go out and get something,” she said. “No matter how old or young the kids are, it makes them really happy.” Her drive will occur again this year from November 23 to December 4. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the MacColl YMCA, 32 Breakneck Hill Road, Lincoln, and the Family Literacy Center, 12 Parkway, Manville. In the past, some children in foster care would receive no presents, or just one, and it wouldn’t be something they requested. That has changed with Kasmira’s toy drive. Now, the drive allows social workers at Adoption Rhode Island to go “shopping” to choose toys for the children they oversee and children get multiple presents. Darlene Allen, executive director of Adoption Rhode Island, estimates that several hundred children have benefited from Kasmira’s work. “She is definitely filling a need. She is an amazing kid and I am just humbled and appreciative and proud of her,” said Allen. “Kasmira has a heart of gold. We’ve known her since she was really little and have seen her become even more confident and happier and motivated to make a difference.” 28
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Toys for all ages are desired, including gift cards for teens to places such as fast food restaurants. “For some of the kids, a $5 gift card can be so important, just so they can hang out with their friends,” said Jennifer. Kasmira’s younger sister, Jaylynn, 6, helps out too, carrying and sorting the toys. Jaylynn was adopted at 18 months old. “People take things for granted in life. It’s sad to think there are many more kids like us, waiting for a home, for a family of their own,” Kasmira said. “Many kids wait years. I’m lucky, one of the few to have a family to call my own.” The Galla family has also fostered children. “It makes you feel really nice, helping someone to start life. Even if they won’t remember you, you know you are helping,” Kasmira said. “I would tell people if you are even thinking about adopting, give them a chance. At least consider foster care.” For Jennifer Galla, adoption has fulfilled her life. “It’s not always an easy ride but it’s worth it in the end,” she said. “I can’t imagine my life without my kids.” Susan Gale is the publisher/editor of Rhode Island Parent Magazine.
Kasmira’s Toy Drive New, unwrapped toys for children of all ages can be dropped off from November 23 to December 4 at the MacColl YMCA, 32 Breakneck Hill Road, Lincoln, and the Family Literacy Center, 12 Parkway, Manville.
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Feature Story By Susan Gale
Eating HEALTHY on a BUDGET W e’ve all been through it. You cook something new, something healthy, and the kids turn up their noses at it. We cajole, we command, we beg – “You must eat half of it, you have to take at least one bite, no dessert unless you try it,” we say. It’s never fun. But here’s the amazing thing – we may be doing it all wrong. Studies show that it can take as many as ten times before a child will accept a new food. Ten times! “Most people give up way before then,” said Heidi Hetzler, Program Coordinator for the URI SNAP-Ed Community Nutrition Education program. “You have to consistently present it, even if they don’t try it until time ten.” Hetzler recommends avoiding high-pressure tactics to get kids to eat vegetables and other healthy items, in part because it attaches a negative connotation to the food we want them to choose to eat. Of parents, she says: “It’s their job to offer healthy foods; it’s not their job to make them eat it.”
Save money and get kids to eat healthier
Eat healthy in front of your kids: “The number one thing you have to do as a parent is to eat the foods in front of the kids and look like you’re having fun. It’s hard to be a role model, but important,” Hetzler said. Involve kids in cooking: Hetzler suggests fun recipe ideas like making pizza and giving kids cut-up vegetables to decorate them with. Older kids can help with chopping vegetables and stirring pans. Plan: “Planning is probably the best way to spend less,” Hetzler said. “Huge amounts of food are thrown out in this country.” She recommends planning your meals for the week and then shopping based on that list to help avoid impulse buys. Shop economically: “Don’t be afraid of store brands. 95% of the time, they are the same as the name brand,” she said, adding that canned and frozen vegetables provide the same nutrition as fresh but can be easier to use because they are already washed and cut. Eat at home: “Make as much of your food at home as possible. People spend an enormous amount when they go out,” Hetzler said. Another idea, she said, is to add vegetables and other healthy items to recipes kids already like. This is what SNAP-Ed has done with many of its recipes. 30
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Low-cost healthy foods are available
Hetzler’s job is to work with Rhode Island communities to encourage healthier eating – even if they don’t have a lot of money to spend on food. She and her team offer food presentations at locations from schools to Ocean State Job Lot. Yes, that Job Lot. You know the place – it has a dizzying array of food items, many you may not have heard of, have no idea how to cook, and wonder if they would taste good. Hetzler has developed recipes in which you can buy ingredients cheaply at stores such as Job Lot. We offer a few of her recipes here and more on our website, RIParentMag.com. Through a program called Three Square Meals, Job Lot is a strong supporter of food banks and pantries in Rhode Island – donating as much as $2 million worth of food each year. This giving is supported by $1 donations made by customers at the cash register and matched by the company. Throughout November, Job Lot is running a fundraiser for this program, and every dollar donated in Rhode Island stays in the state, according to David Sarlitto, Head of Marketing for Job Lot. Sarlitto said his company has been so effective in supplying food banks in part because they can acquire food more cheaply through their connections with food-producing companies. “We make a shopping list of what they need and then we go out and make the deal,” he said. Job Lot looked at its giving and felt that an educational component was missing, so they began working with the URI SNAP-Ed program and Hetzler, who periodically does cooking demonstrations in Job Lot and also walks people around to see healthy possibilities for sale.
Don’t feel pressure around kids and food
Parenting around food can be difficult. Young children tend to eat very erratically, said Hetzler, pointing out that they may eat a lot one week and little the next. They can also get on “food jags” where they eat a great deal of one kind of food. “Unpredictable eating is normal for kids,” she said. “There is so much pressure on parents about eating. Just trust the child is doing the right thing. There are always a couple of foods individual people don’t like.” Susan Gale is the publisher/editor of Rhode Island Parent Magazine.
AFFORDABLE RECIPES Veggie Egg Bites
Easy Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli
Cost: $4.06/recipe; makes seven servings; serving size is one egg bite
Ingredients: • 2 cups vegetables, washed and chopped (for example, broccoli, zucchini, cooked potatoes, mushrooms, or onions)* • 6 eggs • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon pepper • ½ teaspoon garlic powder • ½ cup reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded You can use canned, frozen, or fresh vegetables. Drain and rinse canned vegetables.
Directions: 1– Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. 2– Put chopped vegetables in seven holes of the muffin pan. 3– Beat eggs in a bowl. Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cheese. 4– Pour egg and cheese mixture over vegetables in the muffin pan and bake 25 minutes.
Cost: $5.74/recipe; makes 6 servings; serving size is 1 cup
Trail Mix Cost: 30 cents/serving; makes one serving
Ingredients: • 5 mini pretzels • ¼ cup whole grain cereal • 1 tablespoon raisins • 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds or peanuts • Try different cereals, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for a new fun snack every time! Directions: Put all ingredients into a small plastic bag.
Ingredients: • 1 (14.5 ounce) can low-sodium chicken broth • 2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked • 1 (16 ounce) bag frozen broccoli • 1 cup cooked diced chicken OR 1 (10 ounce) can chicken, drained • 1½ cups shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese • ¼ cup parmesan cheese • ½ teaspoon garlic powder Directions: 1– Place broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 2– Stir in rice. Place broccoli and chicken over rice but do not stir in. Cover and cook 5 minutes. 3– Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. 4– Stir in cheeses and garlic powder. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes, then serve.
Serve with brown rice and salad for a complete meal, or take one on the go for a healthy snack!
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November 2015 Our calendar is as up-to-date as possible at press time. Be sure to check information with event sponsors for updates/ changes. To submit calendar items for December and beyond, please email them to editor@RIParentMag.com.
Special events
Air Power! Investigate the awesome power of air through an array of handson challenges. Build flyers and discover the playful possibilities of ordinary materials as the inventions soar, float and twist through wind tubes in wacky ways. 11 am–2 pm. November 11. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence. $9/person; free/children under 12 months. www.childrenmuseum.org Fly-tying classes. Professional fly-tyers will teach beginning and intermediate fly-tying techniques for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Adults and children over age 10. Organized by RI Department of Environmental Management, Fish & Wildlife Division. Preregistration recommended; walk-ins accepted. 7–9 pm, Mondays from November 2 to December 7. North Kingstown Community Center, 36 Beach Street, North Kingstown. $5/person/class.
Native American Tales Popular performer Thawn Sherenté Harris shares his Narragansett culture through traditional stories and songs, plays the cedar flute and hand drum, and invites families to join him in a customary Native American social dance. Friday, November 27. Performances at 2 and 3 pm; recommended for ages 4 and up. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence. $9/person; free/children under 12 months. www.childrenmuseum.org
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Newport Seal Watch Cruises by Save the Bay. Motor through historic Newport Harbor and take in 360º views of seals resting on Citing Rock off of Rose Island and the Newport Bridge. One-hour seal tours are entirely boatbased, while two-hour tours include a tour of Rose Island Lighthouse. Saturdays, Sundays, and public school vacations days, November 14–April 24. Departs Bowen’s Ferry Landing, Market Square, Newport. $22/person for onehour tour; $42/person for two-hour tour. Members get reduced rates. Check website for times. Savebay.org/seals Westerly Seal Cruises. Take a 90-minute scenic ride down the Pawcatuck River into Little Narragansett Bay for the peaceful views of beautiful fall foliage and a glimpse of some of our winter harbor seal visitors as they
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
rest on rocks and shorelines. Saturdays, Sundays, and public school vacations days until December 31. Special cruise with Mystic Aquarium seal expert on November 15. Departs from Viking Marina, 19 Margin Street, Westerly. $22/person. Members get reduced rates. Check website for times. Savebay.org/seals
Places to go Audubon Society Environmental Education Center. 9 am–5 pm, Wednesday–Saturday and noon– 5 pm, Sunday. 1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol. Some activities free. Free admission on November 7. Admission $6/adults; $4/children 4–12; free/under 4. asri.org Coggeshall Farm Museum. Working 18th century living history farm with multiple activities and workshops. 10 am–4 pm, Tuesday–Saturday. 1 Colt Drive, Bristol. Weekdays, $5/adults; $3/children 3–12. Weekends, $7/adults; $5/children 3–12. coggeshallfarm.org Providence Children’s Museum. Different activities every day. 9 am– 6 pm daily except Mondays; open select Fridays until 8 pm. 100 South Street, Providence. $9/person; free/children under 12 months. www.childrenmuseum.org Scavenger Hunt Tours at Linden Place Mansion. Find artifacts throughout the federal-style mansion. Learn what it was like to be a kid 200 years ago. 10 am–4 pm, Tuesday–Saturday; noon–4 pm, Sunday. Linden Place Museum, 500 Hope Street, Bristol. $8/adults; $5/children ages 6–12; free/children under 6. lindenplace.org/museum
The Gills Club: Shark Math Calling all girls ages 8 and up! The Audubon Society of Rhode Island is partnering with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy to host Shark Math, part of The Gills Club learning series, which connects girls with female marine biologists. The program will use hands-on activities to teach girls how marine biologists use math to learn about and study sharks. How do scientists measure a shark in the water? How can you use one tooth to figure out just how big the shark was that it came from? The program is free, but registration is recommended. Age 8 and up. 11 am–noon, November 14. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI. Pre-registration recommended by going online, emailing programs@ asri.org, or calling (401) 949-5454. Free. asri.org
Friday nights
Saturday/ November 7
Family Film Activity Night – November 20. Hands-on activities exploring film presented by the Providence Children’s Film Festival, including a project exploring stop motion animation. 5:30–7:30 pm. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence. Free during this time period. www.childrenmuseum.org
Bird and Wildlife Carving Exposition. Exquisitely carved and life-like songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, and other wildlife; carving demonstrations. 10 am–4 pm. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol. $5/person. asri.org
Bring Your Own Improv. Family– friendly comedy show. 7–8:30 pm. Warwick Museum of Art, 3259 Post Road. $8/adults; $4/children under 12 and seniors. bringyourownimprov.com Frosty Drew Observatory & Sky Theater. Public stargazing. 7:30 pm. 61 Park Lane, Charlestown. $1/person suggested donation. frostydrew.org Friday Night Live. Interactive scenes and musicals with improvised song, dance, and skits. All ages. 7 pm. Everett Stage, 9 Duncan Avenue, Providence. No performance 11/27. $5. everettri.org
Weekends Sunday/ November 1 Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour! Open Studio – RISD Museum. Hands-on, artist-designed activities for all ages that connect with works across the Museum’s collection and experiment with art-making tools and techniques. 2–4 pm. RISD Museum, 224 Benefit Street, Providence. Free.
Tours for Tots. Children ages 3–5 and caregivers interact with art objects, exploring different cultures, the artistic process, and imagination side-by-side. Artist-educators combine stories and art-making with gallery-based learning. 10:30 –11:15 am. RISD Museum, 224 Benefit Street, Providence. Advanced sign-up required. Free. Bead Making. Kids mold, sculpt and roll their own beads from paper and clay and use them to make necklaces, bead weavings, key chains and more. Recommended for ages 5 and up. 11 am–2 pm. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence. $9/person; free/children under 12 months. www.childrenmuseum.org Waterfire. Full lighting. 6–10 pm. Waterplace Park, 1 Finance Way, Providence. Free. waterfire.org The Landing of the Schlunk. Puppet show, face painting, storytelling, and art workshop. 11 am–noon. Artists’ Exchange, Theatre 82 & Café, 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston. Pay what you can at the door. $5/suggested donation. artists-exchange.org
Sunday/ November 8 Open Studio – RISD Museum. See 11/1. Bird and Wildlife Carving Exposition. See 11/7. Bead Making. See 11/7. (continued on next page)
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November 2015 Saturday/ November 14
Sunday/ November 15
Saturday/ November 28
Santa’s Arrival Party. Enjoy balloon twisters, characters, and refreshments from noon–3 pm or while supplies last. At 10:30 am: The North Pole Postman reads his book and then sets up near Sears to accept your letters to Santa. At 11:00 am: Wayne Martin Puppets™ Show welcomes the holiday season and Santa. Swansea Mall, 262 Swansea Mall Drive, Swansea, MA. Free. visitswanseamall.com
Free Public Guided Hike. Along trails, pointing out interesting natural history and animal signs. Good for all ages. Pre-registration recommended. 11 am–noon. Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Road, Middletown. Free. normanbirdsanctuary.org
Santa’s Arrival & Holiday Parade. Usher in the holiday season with the jolly old elf himself at Roger Williams Park Zoo. 9–11 am. Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. $14.95/adults; $9.95/ children 3-12; Free/under age 2. rwpzoo.org
Laugh Out Loud! Laugh out loud with "The Club" members Lauren, Dave, Jessie, and Tommy. All kids allowed in this club whose rules include to "Have Fun," "Be You," "Speak Your Mind," and "Dream Big." Today, celebrate the birthday of everyone's favorite mouse – Mickey Mouse. Artists’ Exchange, Theatre 82 & Café, 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston. Pay what you can at the door. $5/suggested donation. artists-exchange.org
After the Beanstalk: Jack, Jill and the Giant. Help Jack and his sister Jill solve the giant's puzzling spatial challenges in an interactive performance that expands on the classic tale. Shows at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm; recommended for ages 3 and up. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence. $9/person; free/children under 12 months. www.childrenmuseum.org
Disney’s Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Back by popular demand – Disney's Frozen Sing-Along! A screening of Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you sing along with the Princesses, live in the theater. Come in costume and be ready to sing along to all of your new favorite songs! Two shows, 11:30 am and 3:30 pm. The Greenwich Odeum, 59 Main St., East Greenwich. $14/adult. $10/children 12 and under. theodeum.org
Mini-Creature Show! BIG NAZO – an international performance group of visual artists, puppet performers, and masked musicians who unite to create bizarre and hilarious larger-than-life sized characters, environments, and spectacles. Artists’ Exchange, Theatre 82 & Café, 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston. Pay what you can at the door. $5/suggested donation. artists-exchange.org
Tours for Tots. See 11/7.
Open Studio – RISD Museum. See 11/1.
Saturday/ November 21
Big Day. Dr. Pretorius and Larry celebrate miscellaneous holidays with funny sketches, stories, and songs. Artists’ Exchange, Theatre 82 & Café, 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston. Pay what you can at the door. $5/suggested donation. artists-exchange.org Craft Bash. Make holiday crafts. 11 am–2 pm. Artists’ Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. Free. artists-exchange.org Open Studio – RISD Museum. See 11/1.
Sunday/ November 29
Tours for Tots. See 11/7.
Imagination Playground. See 11/28.
Sunday/ November 22
Open Studio – RISD Museum. See 11/1.
After the Beanstalk: Jack, Jill and the Giant. See 11/21. Free Public Guided Hike. See 11/15.
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Imagination Playground. Kids invent their own ways to play as they stack and build with huge blue foam blocks, wheels, spools, tubes and a variety of loose parts. 11am–2 pm. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence. $9/person; free/children under 12 months. www.childrenmuseum.org
Rhode Island Parent Magazine November 2015
401-229-2101 www.clubz.com/blackstonevalley November 2015  Rhode Island Parent Magazine
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Rhode Island Parent Magazine  November 2015