Family Matters: Doing Good, Having Fun

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Friday, November 19, 2010

Anisa Raoof, GoLocalProv Contributor

Heading into the holidays, it's a great time to give kids ideas for helping others. Today's Family Matters has great ideas about how to do just a bit better in the world... and still have fun.

Kido Tip 1. Participate in the National Day of Listening.

StoryCorps—a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving oral history—declares, the day after Thanksgiving as a National Day of Listening. I love this idea for a holiday tradition. Start planning now to ask the people around you about their lives — it could be your grandmother, a teacher, or someone from the neighborhood. By listening to their stories, you will be telling them that they matter and they won’t ever be forgotten. What a

memorable gift to share. Storycorp makes it simple for everyone to participate. Visit the StoryCorps Web site for helpful tips for collecting/sharing stories.

Kido Tip 2. Give a Coat/Take a Coat.

Be thankful this time of year if your children have winter coats, hat and gloves to stay warm. Help others stay warm if possible by passing on your children's outgrown winter gear on to someone without. Drop off coats at a local school, church or shelter. On Friday, November 26th, the Rhode Island Buy Nothing Day Coalition will distribute coats to anyone in need at the State House lawn. (In the case of rain or snow, distribution will be held at Cathedral of Saint John, 271 N Main St, Providence.). Additional distribution sites for those in need: Pawtucket: Blackstone Valley Visitors Center, 175 Main St; Newport: St Paul's Church, 12 Marlborough St; Wakefield: St. Francis Church, 114 High St (10am - noon); Woonsocket: St. Ann's Arts & Cultural Center, 84 Cumberland St; Barrington: Bayside Family YMCA 70 West St. Coats will also be accepted at all of these locations.

Kido Tip 3. Shop local. Shop handmade.

When we buy from our local artisans, we are not only buying beautiful unique items, we are supporting our community and showing our children the importance of making something by hand. Shop at any of the many of the holiday arts and crafts shows, studio sales and local shops selling handmade work. And recycle the catalogs coming into our homes daily this time of year into coiled paper baskets. Find directions for the basket, shown right, here at esprit cabane.

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

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