The Extraordinary Voices of P.S.22

At a time when the entertainment business is overcome with glitz, and children are more drawn to the hype and glamour of performers rather than their virtuosity, it is refreshing indeed to come across the distinctive talent of the P.S. 22 choir.

Who are these kids? They are a group everyday 5th graders. They don't attend a performing arts specialty school for the talented. They are just students at one of New York City's many elementary schools. Their teacher is Gregg Breinberg. Under his guidance, each child draws on their own experiences and emotions. On one hand they are a chorus, a collective voice. When they perform however, each child's unique character stands out, as they render their own heart felt interpretation of the the music.

Breinberg has the artistic vision of matching the talents of these urban pre-teens with the music of artists such as Suzanne Vega, Bjork, Fleetwood Mac, The Cure, Bob Dylan, Coldplay, and Tori Amos to name a few. This sets these youths far apart from many of their peers who exist in a world bombarded by the likes Miley Cyrus and High School Musical.

The sincerity of their performances as well as the personal deliverance of a compelling repetoire, has earned this group of neighborhood kids a worldwide following. Their fans include numerous celebrities, they have been aired on CNN, the BBC, and their viral videos on youtube and their website have created a true buzz. Some of the artists they have covered, have sought them out to sing and record with them. They have performed at prestigious venues such at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden.

Their music speaks for itself. Watching these cathartic performances can move one to tears.

THE CURE, "PICTURES OF YOU"


FLEETWOOD MAC, "LANDSLIDE"


TORI AMOS, "FLYING DUTCHMAN"

Bentos and Tiffins in Review

The Goodbyn



The Goodbyn is a great take on the Japanese bento box. Developed by the Seattle based company Byndoo, the Goodbyn eliminates the need for plastic baggies and juice boxes. Its simple design is made of two pieces that seal tightly together and keep liquid items separate without leaking. The Goodbyn is divided into six compartments of different sizes, which make it simple to add variety to a meal. Each container stores food separately, so you can pack dips, sauces, and yogurts without worrying that they will leak. There is an 8.5 ounce juice bottle that fits perfectly into the center compartment. Also included, are three sheets of waterproof stickers which include letters, and illustrations that will inspire your child to decorate his/her in a way that will reflect his/her personality. Best of all the Goodbyn is made of safe FDA-approved plastics that are BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate free, and it is also recyclable. It comes in a choice of blue, red, green or pink and is 13 x 8.5 x 3.2 inches. It is priced at $29.00



2-Tier Stainless Steel Tiffin



A tiffin is a traditional Indian food container that dates back a century and a half. Tiffins are similar to bento-boxes in that they store foods in separate interior compartments. What sets them apart is that they are round, usually made from steel, they are kept shut by tightly closing latches, and they often have a carry handle on the top. In most cases they come with two or three tiers, but many variations can be found.

This stainless steel tiffin is lightweight and closes easily. The tight closing seal makes it great for soups, salads, sauces, rice and pasta dishes. Being that it is made entirely of stainless steel, you can fill it with hot food directly from the stove and not have to worry about melting plastic or the hazard of BPA leeching into your food. The upper lid can also serve as a plate. So you will have less to carry on your next picnic. The size is 5.5" tall and 6.5" round and includes a small inner container that is good for sauces. It is priced at $23.00

Both the Goodbyn and this tiffin can be purchased at http://bgranola.com/. They carry a large selection of eco-chic products for children, parents, babies and the home. Their mission is to provide products that are safe, natural, healthy, and stylish for the family and that are also good for the planet.

Bento Boxes: A Fun Way to Pack Your Child's Lunch

I have realized that a child is more likely to finish his meal, if the food is presented to him in a fun and appealing way. So this year, while shopping for my son's lunchbox, I have become quite smitten with another breed of food container, the bento box.

A bento box has internal subdived compartments and sometimes stackable layers that hold food separately in their own sections. Many varieties of bento boxes exist, including some made of elaborately carved elm wood. The kind that are made for children are fantastic. They come in all shapes and colors and are often decorated with whimsical cartoons and endearing phrases.

Bento boxes are appealing for a number of reasons. They make packing a well balanced meal simple. They are organized with little compartments for the things I would like my child to eat: a fruit space, a grain space, a protein space, etc... By eliminating the need for disposable plastic bags and containers, they create less waste. They protect food during transport. Bento boxes are a cinch to clean, and they fit easily into my son's backpack.

Japanese restaurants often serve bento lunches that include fish, tofu, beef or pork, a serving of rice, and a vegetable side order. You can find a myriad of traditional Japanese recipes for bento boxes online. Many of the kid-friendly meals include unique food sculptures, enhanced by food coloring, food molds and cutters, which offer your child the pleasure of munching on edible images of animals and comic scenes. You don't have to get so complicated making your little one a satisfying meal that they can bring to school. Here are some easy ideas for filing your child's bento:

Quick Bento Box Menus

1.
guacamole * quartered tortilla * cheddar cheese cubes * melon wedges

2.
chicken breast on focaccia with provolone cheese * sliced cherry tomatoes * raisins

3.
cold pasta shells with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cubes * cannellini beans * orange wedges

4.
bean burrito * cheddar cheese chunks * sliced peaches

5.
hummus * pita * cucumber slices * grapes

6.
roasted peppers * mozzarella sticks * salami slices * bread sticks * apple

7.
baked tofu cubes with sesame and soy sauce * sliced beets * strawberries

8.
rice cakes * cottage cheese * peaches

9.
granola * yogurt * dates

10.
smoked salmon * bagel * fruit salad

11.
tuna or egg salad sandwich * sliced carrots * pineapple

12.
peanut or almond butter and honey sandwich on whole wheat bread *
pear

13.
cous cous with chick peas * celery sticks * figs

14.
hard boiled egg * toast * sliced zucchini sticks * plum

15.
almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc... * bran muffin * apple sauce

16.
Asian dumplings * edamame * tangerine wedges

Raising a Bilingual Child

My child is being raised to be bilingual. The decision to do so was made before he was born. Our family never worried that it would confuse him or be detrimental to his development. His father was raised in a bilingual household and he has no memory of confusion or struggle due to this. He simply grew up knowing two languages. The process was natural, and later in his life he realized what a gift it has been to speak more than one language. Now he will be able to pass this gift of knowledge onto his son. We know other multilingual parents, whom for whatever reason hold off on exposing their child to another language. Some choose not to, because they feel it may be too difficult a task. Others were warned by family members, pediatricians, and friends that it is a bad idea because it would confuse the child. Do not be misled by such advice. Young children's minds are like sponges and have the capacity to absorb so much information, that learning more than one language at a time can be a very natural experience. Moreover, think of the countries around the world where there are more than one national language and children are expected to master those languages. What it comes down to, is that it is more difficult for an adult to learn another language than it is for a child. So the idea of teaching your child to be multilingual makes good sense.

For parents who speak more than one language there are two main methods. The method we use is called OPOL (One Parent One Language). This highly effective method requires each parent to speak the language that is their native or most fluent tongue. From the start, the child will associate a single language with each of the parents.

Another method is known as Minority Language at Home. This method is useful for parents that are native speakers of a language other than the language of the country in which they are living. With this technique, parents speak their native tongue (the minority language) when in the home. The child then learns the majority language from the community.

What if you or the members of your immediate family do not speak another language? There are still many ways to prime your child in a second language. From birth, create an environment of another language. You can do this by playing foreign music, language CDs, language videos and foreign films in the home on a regular basis. Learn a language with your child. As you learn new vocabulary, share these words with your child. Read foreign language books to your child. You can organize playgroups with other parents who want to expose their children to another language. You can also hire an au-pair or baby sitter who can speak to your child in a second language. Consider traveling with your child to where the language is spoken. As your child gets older, many cities have language programs for children and even foreign language academies that offer children their education in a foreign language. What is important, is that you remain consistent, and do not give up. Whatever exposure you can offer to your child will enhance their ability to learn, speak and understand foreign language as they get older.

Manhattan For Kids: Neighborhood Quick List

Here is a quick list of some great places to visit with your children when in Manhattan:

Tribeca
The Children's Museum of the Arts- 72 Spring Street

SoHo
New York City Fire Department Museum- 278 Spring Street

Lower East Side
Public Gardens:
The Children's Garden- 12th Street, between Avenues B and C
Jardin de Paradiso - 5th Street, between C and D
Toyota Children's Learning Garden- 603 East 11th Street

Greenwich Village
Washington Square Park- Fifth Avenue and University Place

Lower Manhattan
South Street Seaport- 19 Fulton Street at the East River

Midtown
The Empire State Building- 350 Fifth Avenue
Central Children's Room at the Donnell Library- 20 W 53rd St‎ -
Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum- Pier 86, Hudson River at 46th Street
The MOMA- 11 W 53rd Street
FAO Schwarz- 767 5th Avenue

Central Park
Children's Zoo- East Side between 64th Street
Delacorte Music Clock- 65th St. by the zoo
Rowboats- Central Park Lake at 76th Street
The Carousel- Mid-park at 64th Street
The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater- CPW at 79th Street
Belvedere Castle- Mid-park at 79th St.

Upper East Side
The Metropolitan Museum of Art- Fifth Avenue and 82 Street

Upper West Side
The American Museum of Natural History - CPW 79th Street
New York City Ballet- Lincoln Center, between West 62nd and 65th Streets and Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

Baby Names from Around the World

The world we live in is becoming increasingly multicultural. Many parents take this into consideration when choosing a name for their new child. Often parents select a diverse name as a celebration of one's own ethnicity or to express an admiration for things exotic. Whatever the reason, there are many beautiful choices in selecting a foreign name for your child. Here is a collection of unique and meaningful names (of mixed gender) from around the world that can help you begin your quest.


A
Aba- Ghana
Adara- Greek
Axel- Hebrew
Abba- Hebrew
Ababuo- Ghana
Anaya- Hebrew
Aalam- Indian
Akash- Indian
Aya- Japanese
Andreia- Portuguese
Abam- Ghana
Abbo- Uganda
Abebi- Nigeria
Abeke- Nigeria
Adisa – Ashanti
Adel – German
Ajax- Greek
Aysel – Turkish
Akin- Yoruba
Avita- Hebrew
Abena-Ghana
Abeni-Nigeria
Aamir – Indian
Anwell – Celtic
Adwin – Ghana
Avalon- Welsh
Amaia- Basque
Alazne- Basque
Atlantis- Greek
Ander- Basque
Adiran- Basque
Ari- Icelandic
Ayla- Hebrew
Aditeya- Indian
B
Basil- Greek
Bjork- Icelandic
Brenneka- Germanic
Bella- Hebrew, Italian
C
Carla- Italian, Portuguese
Chayna- Inca
Chimala- Ixil Maya
Chloe- Greek
Charissa- Greek
Chandra- Indian
Ceri- Italian
D
Denzin- Tibetan
Dalmar – Somali
Dragan – Slavic
Dafina – Swahili
Damiano- Italian
Dora- Greek
Dante- Italian
Dimitris- Greek
Duarte- Portuguese
E
Elan- French
Elias- Hebrew
Ebele- African Igbo
Eshe- African Swahili
Einar – Scandinavian
Eolande – Celtic
Evelina- Italian
Ekata- Indian
Elia- Hebrew
F
Fainne- Gaelic
Fairamay- Middle English
Fatima- Arabic
Ferran- Arabic
Fintan – Irish
G
Gavran- Serbian/Croatian
Geiruna- Swedish
Geeti- Indian
H
Hamsa- Indian
Hea- Korean Botan
I
Isla- Spanish
Ismet – Turkish
Iason- Greek
Iris- Hebrew
Indu- Indian
J
Jeevarani- Hindi
Jetta- English
Johari- Swahili
Joelle- Hebrew
Jonah- Hebrew
Johari – Kiswahili
Juro- Japanese
Jovana – Hindi
Jyoti – Indian
K
Kaja- Estonian
Kirima- Kikuyu
Kammie- Japanese
Kichi- Japanese
Kitane- Lenape
Keshen- Mandarin
Kosan- Zulu
Kenyatta – East African
L
Loramendi- Basque
Lawan – Thai
Lindell – Swedish
Lilija Icelandic
Lysander- Greek
Leonardo- Italian
Liviu- Romanian
M
Makani- Hawaiian
Morgandy – Celtic
Makeeda – Ethiopian
Marcello- Italian
Manina- Polish
Marit – Swedish
Majid- Arabic
Marjan – Western Yugur
Medea- Greek
Mirai- Basque
Mareo- Japanese
Mahima- Indian
Mika- Japanese
Maia- Hebrew
Mira- Hebrew
Madalyn- Hebrew
Mikio- Japanese
N
Naiara- Basque
Naila- Arabic
Natia- Polish
Nia- African Swahili
Namika- Japanese
Nataani- Navajo
Naiya- Yucateco Maya
Naima – Arabic, Swedish
Naira – Quechuan and Aymaran
Niko- Greek
Niyol– Native American Navajo
Nellie- Greek
Nicholas- Greek
Noor- Arabic
Nubia- Egyptian
O
Owin- Irish
Orla- Irish
Ona- Irish
Omar- Hebrew
Osiris- Egyptian
P
Parvane- Persian
Paz- Spanish
Penelope- Greek
Paola- Italian
Prema- Indian
Pierce- Irish
Q
Quentin- Latin
R
Rami- Arabic
Renata – Italian
Radiance- English
Radich- Russian
Reliance- Early American
Re- Egyptian
Reina- Spanish
Romeo- Italian
Runako – African
S
Stavros- Greek
Shamiso- Shona
Saran – Guinea
Shani – Swahili
Senay Turkish
Sivan – Kurdish
Svana Icelandic
Stephania- Greek
Sirena- Greek
Sophie- Greek
Sadie- Hebrew
T
Tabitha- Hebrew
Tapio- Finnish
Tamire- Amharic
Terranova- Latin
Tiesa- Lithuanian
Troen- Norwegian
Tanvir – Indian
Tahir – Hebrew/Arabic
U
Ursula- Greek
V
Valeria- Italian
Vianca- Spanish
Venturo- Spanish
Vito- Italian
Valdis- Icelandic
W
Wakanna- Sioux
X
Xanti- Basque
Xavier- Basque
Xylon- Greek
Y
Yachay- Quechua
Yoora- Korean
Z
Zeusef- Portuguese
Zoe- Greek
Zuriel- Hebrew
Zeus- Greek

What Colors Mean around the World

The meanings of colors play an important role in our world. They convey various emotions and significance to people of different cultures. What a color may symbolize to a person of the west, may be very different to someone in the east. While a bride may wear white to her wedding in Europe or the Americas, a bride from China may choose to wear a traditional red dress. We assign colors to the different holidays and seasons throughout the year. Baby boys and girls are clothed in gender specific colors. Schools, sports teams, and nations all choose colors that represent them. Just think of the consideration a person puts into choosing a color to paint their home, or the color of the clothes they wear.

Here are some colors and what they represent to various people of the world:

Red: In China red is a symbol of luck and is used for many celebrations such as weddings and at the beginning of the new year. In India red is a symbol of purity and is used in wedding clothing. In the United States red represents love and is used during Christmas and Valentine's Day. Red also denotes speed and power in the west, which is why it is a popular color for race cars and toy rockets.

Blue: People around the world relate water and the sky with the color blue. For this reason, blue is widely associated with peace, tranquility and calm. Many Hindu Gods are blue. To the Jews, blue is also a color of holiness. To the Cherokees, blue meant trouble or defeat. In the United States we have come to associate the color blue with sorrow. For the same reason, an entire genre of music known as "the blues," got its name for its melancholy nature.

Green: In Paris, all garbage collectors are clothed in green, drive green trucks and dispose of waste in green bins. In many parts of the world, green has become a symbol of natural efficiency and kindness to the earth. In Ireland, green symbolizes Catholicism, and in India it is the color of Islam.

Purple: Purple is known as a color of royalty to westerners. To many Italian performers, purple is a color of bad fortune, and they often do not wear these colors in front of an audience. In Thailand purple symbolizes mourning.

Yellow: Yellow is a color that symbolizes the sun. Yellow can evoke feelings of cheer and happiness, but at the same time can flare a person's anger or frustration. In the United States school buses and taxi cabs are often yellow, because of its high visibility. To the Egyptians, yellow was a color of mourning. In the west it can signify cowardly behavior, while in Japan it is a color of courage.

White: To the Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans, white symbolizes death and mourning. To people of India and in the west, white is a color of purity.

Ask your child what their favorite color is, and what that color means to them. What are some of the things they express about color?

Artist Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool Illusion

Argentine artist Leandro Erlich has created an installation entitled Swimming Pool. Those standing by the sides of the pool see fully clothed people walking around beneath the water without coming up for air. The "pool" is actually a room with lower level access. A surface of laminated glass and water divide the two levels, while creating an illusion of a pool full of water. This exhibition was recently presented at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in New York and is a permanent installation at the 21st Century Museum of Art Kanazawa, Japan. Other works by the artist also use familiar places such as elevators, a staircase, window and ladder, hallways and more to create surreal experiences. Visit his webiste at: www.leandroerlich.com.ar.

Video credit: egress123 at Youtube

Teach Your Child Their Colors Using Masterpieces

Is your child learning their colors? Why not show them some master examples on your next visit to the museum. There are also large varieties of art history books for both children and adults that are of great interest. Youngsters under one year of age respond really well to the works of the Abstract Expressionsists. Older children may also enjoy looking at the Fauve, contemporary Haitian, Italian Renaissance and French Impressionist artists. These paintings are from the European painting collection at the Metropolitan Museum of art in New York.