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As our society becomes more and more modern we find that the distance between a raw ingredient and a finished product has expanded to the point where we often haven’t a clue where anything, let alone the food we eat, originates.
In taking your kids to a local farmers market you can slowly bridge that gap, reconnect with your actual community and the great people in it, show your kids visual proof that food doesn’t start out in a box, and help the local economy. Who knew buying a tomato or pack of strawberries could be so powerful!
Many kids today (and too many of their parents!) think that all food is made in factories where mass produced edible products roll off a production line, are individual wrapped, and shipped cross country to your local supermarket. Unfortunately, those kids would be almost correct. Even PB&J sandwiches, arguably one of the quickest, cheapest, and easiest things to make yourself, now come pre-made, individually wrapped and frozen!
You can help educate your kids that there are still hard working people in our own backyard producing good, nutritious food for us. These folks can often be found at one of the 3100+ local growers or farmers markets in the U.S. selling their fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and just about anything else one can grow, raise, or harvest.
Markets can be a load of fun for kids as many feature baby animals, live music, jugglers, and artists who make handcrafted soaps, woodwork, breads and other baked goods. Farmers Markets are catering to the family more than ever – to make a morning out shopping for carrots and lettuce a fun family event. Bring your dog as well! Markets allow you to shop outdoors with your family's best friend in tow.
Another reason to make shopping at your local farmers market a regular occurrence is the current energy situation this country and the world face. While we at OWTK love to travel we do not necessary like our food to log more miles than us. Studies show that the average family meal travels 1500 miles to reach its eventual destination. Considering energy supply and prices that needs to be reduced and we all have the power to do so.
No idea where your local market is? No problem. The good people at Food Routes and Local Harvest offer easy-to-use tools to locate and visit your local growers. Check out the links below for more info:
Searchable nationwide map of farms, markets, co-ops, etc:
http://www.localharvest.org/
More info on why this is so important to your kids and community:
http://www.foodroutes.org/
Feel passionate about this topic and want to bring farm fresh fruits and veggies to your child’s school? Check out the amazing FARM TO SCHOOL project:
http://www.foodroutes.org/farmtoschool.jsp
Jeff
http://www.outwiththekids.com
In an admirable effort to reconnect our modern children with nature and the outdoors The National Wildlife Federation is sponsoring the 2006 Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday June 24th. The idea is a simple one: gather up your kids, pitch a tent in your backyard or local park and spend the night outdoors with a lantern telling stories, making s'mores, looking at the stars, and listening to the birds, squirrels, and all the other creatures who come alive at night.
I have never camped out, ever, but I will be in my backyard on Saturday June 24th. Hopefully you all will spend a night outside as well.
Their statistics show that most children 8-18 will spend 6 hours indoors in front of a TV, PC, or some other eletronic device each day. That is insanity. Turn the TV off, log off of myspace, and get outside - if only for one day!
Visit the Official site of the Campout to register your "campsite" - while there get recipes, packing tips, nocturnal wildlife guides, and tips for taking photos at night.
http://www.backyardcampout.com/
Jeff
http://www.outwiththekids.com
Unlike other big summer music festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo, Newport Folk offers a more manageable atmosphere with decent size but not overpowering crowds. The pace of life at this festival is tailored made for your child's first concert/festival experience as both days run from 11:30am to only 7pm which means you can be back home or to the hotel in time to put your tired kids to bed at a normal hour.
There can be few things better than spending a warm summer’s day outside listening to music, surrounded by water and sailboats. Held each August at Fort Adams state park the festival takes place over two full days (in addition to a Friday night indoor concert to kick off the weekend) and can feature upwards of thirty bands and artists. We attended both the 2004 and 2005 festivals. Our daughter was 5 months old at the 2004 festival and 17 months old last year. On both occasions we attended only on Sunday. We arrived early both years, I would recommend that you do the same because while parking space at the Fort is robust, it can and does run dry (which will force you to more expensive parking options in town and then a ferry ride to the location). Upon arrival you will be ushered to a tiered parking lot and may have a fairly sizable walk with your little one(s) to the base of the lot where big yellow school buses wait to take eager festival goers to the entrance. The bus ride can be cramped as most all passengers are toting blankets, coolers, and children but fear not it takes only a minute or two to reach your destination. Festival programs are offered when you depart the bus. These are not free, but can be useful if you are not familiar with many of the performers. The program can also be used as a convenient place to collect autographs of the acts (which are free and offered behind the Borders Books retail tent – see schedule and plan in advance if obtaining signatures is something you desire as the lines, while swift moving, can get long and the signing times may overlap with a band you and your family wants to see on stage). You will enter the Fort grounds and will pass the small but charming waterfront stage. This is the smallest of the three venues on site so expect to see the smaller acts of the weekend performing here. We saw Old Crow Medicine Show rip through an energetic set here to start our day in 2004. There is the larger Harbor stage (called Border's stage in the past) behind you as you walk into the Park’s shopping village. The Habor stage had a large canopy which can hold well over a hundred people and will protect from the sun which is a plus (we will discuss weather, best blanket location and more later on) as this stage is on the side of the Fort and gets very little breeze off the water. The shops are very diverse and can be a great chance to expose your children to handmade musical instruments, clothing, crafts, etc. The kids should love exploring the colorful crafts and artwork…and of course tie-dyed shirts and such. The main stage is at the front of the Fort and the grass in front extends to a dull point out to the water. This is a beautiful location and about as picturesque a spot as you can find with the water to your left, right and back regardless of where you end up, the city of Newport and the bridges are ever-present and boats will be sailing by all day. Flanking the large main stage to the left and right are a variety of interesting food vendors. BBQ Ribs (very good but difficult to eat sitting on a blanket with minimal napkins), Gyros, Burgers, chicken, and more. There is an adequate selection of food for kids but no “kids” options per se. Beverages are plentiful, from soda to fresh squeezed lemonade, and bottled water but no Milk despite Dunkin’ Donuts being the 2005 sponsor – as they are again in 2006 (so be sure to plan ahead if you little one craves ice cold Milk each day). You are able to bring a cooler and 8x10 blanket and while carrying these items along with a child or two may seem a daunting task – you should without a doubt do so. A blanket is a must and we would recomment setting up shop to the right of the main stage. It will be a bit less densely populated, is very close to the water for a simple and easy diversion for the kids, and gets abudant breezes around the right side of the Fort. The downside of this location is the distance to the shopping village and the other two stages. But you will have less crowded food vendors and bathrooms and some room to run around – which you will most certainly not have the closer you are to the shopping areas.
What to bring for sure:
Blanket
Low-to-the-Ground chairs (nothing tall will be allowed in)
Sunscreen
Hats
Cooler with water, other beverages)
Easy to eat snacks (preztels, crackers, etc)
Toys/Books/etc (if you will have small children) – the blanket will provide a nice little play area for your baby.
Sun Tent – one of those little domes for babies would be a perfect way to shield your child from the sun while he or she naps.
Camera – there is an area 2 feet from the main stage which is open to non-professional camera users during band set up and the first 10 minutes or so of each artist's set. Your kids will love the close access to the artists as they set up and perform.
Where to Stay:
We decided to fly in to Providence on Southwest (very cheap) and stay in Warwick, RI near the airport. We had about a ½ hour drive into Newport with very little traffic mid-morning and the prices on some quality hotels (Hilton offers a very nice Hampton Inn and Suites and a Homewood Suites) are a third of what you will pay in Newport proper. The drive away from Newport on a summer Sunday evening can be rough as the masses leave Cape Cod and other oceanfront locales. So, if you are not flying out on Sunday night - think about spending one more night and departing on Monday.
Festival Tickets for kids under 2 are free and only $5 for ages 2-12. Adult prices are a bit pricey at $55 for a single weekend day or $95 for both Saturday and Sunday.
2006 Lineup:
Saturday, August 5th - David Gray, Rosanne Cash, Sonny Landreth, Bettye LaVette, Chris Smither, The Duhks, Sonya Kitchell, Mary Gauthier, Darrell Scott, Jeffrey Foucault, & Chris Smither Darrell Scott, Rosalie Sorrels, Beolach, Blou Hot Toddy
Sunday, August 6th - The Meters, Indigo Girls, Madeleine Peyroux, Keller Williams- solo acoustic, Patty Larkin, Tim Eriksen Presents Shape Note, Odetta, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Patty Larkin, Muriel Anderson & Mimi Fox Tim Eriksen & Riley Baugus, The Wood Brothers, Riley Baugus, Kerry Grombacher, Martyn Joseph & Bob Franke Abigail Washburn
Official Newport Folk Festival Website:
http://www.newportfolk.com
Jeff
http://www.outwiththekids.com
My wife and I introduce books to our daughter that look interesting and have a great story behind the images. We do not specifically follow the recommended ages and thus we tend to have some longer, more wordy books available for our little girl. She, in turn, has responded by being able to sit through a longer word based book without getting bored. We are confident that introducing longer books at an earlier age can and does help develop elongated attention spans. That being said here are two great books involving illustrator Chris Raschka that would be ideal for a toddler of any age. The first is called The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Raschka. The story is wonderful as told by a little girl in her voice who is visiting her Grandparents one weekday. It is a decidedly fun book but also touches on some complex emotions for little kids (and adults at times!) such as being happy and sad at the same time when her parent's return from work to scoop her up and head home. Raschka's illustrations are terrific and compliment the story perfectly. The second book is another by Chris Raschka called Charlie Parker Played Be Bop which tells a brief "tale" of the great sax player nicknamed Bird. Raschka uses a rhythmic text that when read aloud mimics the rhythmn of Be Bop Jazz. Your child should love the crazy words and non-words Raschka uses to make jazz sounds emerge from your mouth and the paintings are again, wonderful. While the reading of this book aloud and in rhythm may be difficult or seem strange at first this short book is perfect for your little ones. Playing a Parker record to further illustrate the sounds and rhythmns is an excellent way to bring this great music into your home.
Jeff
http://www.outwiththekids.com
Here is a helpful blog post on traveling throughout Europe with your kids by your side:http://spaces.msn.com/ordinarylifegift/Blog/cns!87132C060150A3FE!1460.entryPlease share your experiences on traveling overseas with your children - post a comment!Jeffhttp://www.outwiththekids.com
Great little article in Feb. 19th's Sunday New York Times focusing on Paris as a Kid friendly destination: http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/travel/19kids.html?pagewanted=printSome very useful information, especially the bits about the Rodin Musuem/Garden (A "garden only" ticket costs just 1 euro, which is why many Parisian families frequent this gated green art gallery, with two sandboxes hidden in the back behind the circular pool.) and the Tuileries Garden (Tucked away on the northwest side of the Tuileries garden, bordering the Rue de Rivoli, are eight trampolines set safely into the ground with long benches on either side. Parents can take in the view of the obelisk towering over the Place de la Concorde while their children jump for joy. Tickets are 2 euros (for a five-minute turn); 15 euros for 10 tickets.) My wife and I are traveling to France for a couple weeks this Fall with our daughter, who will be 2 1/2 come then. Expect a fair amount of travel prep tips leading up to the trip and blogging from France once we arrive.Jeffhttp://www.outwiththekids.com
This is an exciting time of year. Summer concerts are being announced and vacation plans are being made. On the East Coast, I recommend the River to River Festival in New York City. The Festival runs from June through September and features hundreds of free events including popular music, dance, film and theater. Taking your kids to live music can be tricky at times thanks in part to loud arenas (or smokey clubs), high ticket prices, and timing - with many shows starting late in the P.M. and ending in the wee hours of the A.M. These events in NYC are great because they almost all take place during the day, with the musical and theatrical events usually kicking off at 7pm and running until about 9pm, they are free, and because they are outdoors the volume tends to be manageable (if your little ones find the music too loud, just back up a bit to where the sound is less intrusive to their little ears). I advocate taking children to music that you like, it does not need to be kid's music. It is important for children to see their parent's enjoying themselves and being witness to something Mom and Dad are passionate about - be it dance, music, film, theater, museums, etc. Far too many parent's lives two social lives - one with the kids doing things kid-oriented and the other by themselves doing what makes them happy while the kids stay at home with a babysitter or relatives. It is essential for children to see their parent's in their own element. Plus, imagine how wonderful it will feel for them to be included in your activites. This Summer long festival, taking place over a variety of venues around Lower Manhattan, is a great chance to be outdoors with your kids and take in some free entertainment. Below are some links to prime Festival events.
Festival's website:
http://rivertorivernyc.org
Target Kid's Day (Target Children's Day with Thomas the Tank, Sesame Street, Curious George, Fireworks and more)
http://rivertorivernyc.org/events/index.php?action=show_details&event_id=72
Josh Ritter Concert:
http://rivertorivernyc.org/events/index.php?action=show_details&event_id=403
Hour long boat rides around NY Harbor (free for kids, parents $5):
http://rivertorivernyc.org/events/index.php?action=show_details&event_id=69Jeffhttp://www.outwiththekids.com
I have delayed making the first post to this site in an effort to find the perfect words to encapsulate what I want this site to become. I have come up with nothing brilliant and awe-inspiring so I start with this: All I can tell you is that this site, when fully realized, will serve as a place for parent's and families to drop in and, hopefully, get some good ideas for new music to check out, a new city to visit and a whole lot more. This is going to be informal in style and I welcome comments on the topics, events, places, and things discussed here. Please share your thoughts on the places you have found entertaining while with your kids, books they love, etc. The main idea is to highlight those places and things not often thought of as "kid-friendly", but are indeed able to be enjoyed by the whole family and often tend to be far more rewarding. So, we are not talking about Disneyworld, Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank, The Wiggles, or big chain restaurants whose children's menu offers nothing more exotic than chicken fingers, mac-n-cheese, and the like. I am going to keep the ads to a minimum but if I discuss a book, toy, or a cd there will be a direct link to purchase the item from a great retailer like Powell's books. Thanks for stopping by and I sincerely hope you enjoy Out With The Kids!Jeffhttp://www.outwiththekids.com
