Family Matters: Pumpkins, Street Painting, & More

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Friday, October 01, 2010

FAMILY by Anisa Raoof, GoLocalProv Contributor

Every Friday, enjoy inside tips for modern family life from Anisa Raoof, publisher and founder of Kidoinfo, the parents' guide for Rhode Island and beyond.

Kido Tip 1. Pumpkin Perfect.

Do you have a favorite place to pick your perfect pumpkin? And is it oval or round? I love simple seasonal traditions with my kids like revisiting the same place year after year to pick our pumpkins or to go apple picking. It's comforting. We have gone to Four Town Farm every year since my boys were babies. Not to say it's the best place but it's become our tradition to

go every October to ride the tractor to the pumpkin field and come back with our version of the perfect pumpkin.

Kido Tip 2. Make Street Art

Get inspired at The Street Painting Festival this Saturday, October 2nd from noon to 5. Artists—young and old, amateur and professional—create imaginative chalk drawings on the ground of the Bank of America Skating Center & Biltmore Park. Artist will be drawing all day. Come early to watch the planning, hang out all day to watch the process or head over at the end of the day when the artists are finishing up their masterpieces. This is an all ages free event. Sample foods from some of the area's best restaurants. Check out an extensive display of classic cars. Enjoy live 50s and 60s music.
Beyond: Splurge on a new box of street chalk (found cheap at Job Lot) and make your own family art in your driveway or pavement at a local park.

Kido Tip 3. Fall Activity: Make Nature Faces

Saw this clever idea recently on Make and Takes and had to try it with my kids. A creative way to explore nature. Grab a bag and head outside with your children. Collect natural materials from your yard, a local park or while hiking. Almost anything can be used to create faces - sticks, leaves, pine cones, rocks, acorns, seeds, flowers, etc. Kids can sort or count the items before they begin. Arrange your found objects into faces. Optional: Use chalk to outline the face first. Make your nature family then take a picture to document it.
Beyond: Photo would make a great holiday card.

Anisa Raoof is the publisher and founder of Kidoinfo, the parents' guide for Rhode Island and beyond.