Good things happening in Providence and beyond. Edesia, a non-profit producer of life-saving Ready-to-Use Foods (RUFs), is the recipient of a $2 million multi-year grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Under the grant, Edesia will produce more than 300 metric tons of Nutributter® in 2010 designed to enhance the growth and motor development of children aged 6 to 24 months and used as a complement to traditional food. The packets will ensure the proper growth and cognitive development of more than 100,000 children by preventing the devastating effects of malnutrition. The grant was awarded through USAID’s Office of Food for Peace through the International Food Relief Partnership (IFRP) program.

Ready-to-Use Foods (RUFs) are important in developing countries because they do not need to be refrigerated or mixed with water. Children can open it and eat it directly. In addition to producing Nutributter® Edesia makes other RUF’s including Plumpy’nut® made with peanuts, sugar, milk powder, oils, vitamins and minerals and has all the essential fats, proteins and nutrients that a child need to overcome malnutrition and develop.

“Malnutrition affects 178 million children and results in more than five million child deaths each year. With Nutributter® and other RUFs, we now have a solution that addresses this silent crisis and allows us to take action during the most critical time in children’s lives,” said Navyn Salem, Executive Director of Edesia.

ABOUT EDESIA

Edesia is a new non-profit based in Providence, RI, and a sister organization to Industrial Revelation in Tanzania. Edesia is dedicated to U.S. production of Plumpy’nut® and other Ready-to-Use Foods (RUFs) designed to prevent and treat malnutrition in the developing world. Edesia will collaborate on nutrition research as well as support local producers of RUF in countries most affected by malnutrition.To learn more about Edesia go to www.edesiallc.org.

We cannot overestimate how the media, our friends, television shows, and family members impact our thoughts and expectations of childbirth. We see women on television screaming in agony during labor or hooked up to IVs while lying in hospital beds, and we are reminded of pregnancy and childbirth stories shared by our friends, our sisters, or our mothers. And while labor may not be easy (it is called “labor” after all), it need not be feared.

It is unfortunate that mothers-to-be don’t hear beautiful birth stories of women who trust their bodies and let go of fear . . . who found a place of peace during pregnancy and birth. These stories – and these women – do exist.  It is time to turn off the cable shows, put aside Belly Laughs and What to Expect and listen to women who are willing to share their positive birthing experiences. Where to begin?

During my third pregnancy, I found Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth.  The first half of this book is dedicated to the sharing of birth stories that embody gentle, natural childbirth.  It is comforting to hear so many women speak positively of their deliveries; it restores hope in the strength of women and trust in our bodies. It completely changed my feelings towards labor, and the result was that I embraced my third pregnancy without fear. I felt empowered and trusted my body to do what it was meant to do: birth babies.  There are movies, such as Orgasmic Birth, which show women having blissful birthing experiences. These are real women birthing without medications! While I feel I came across great books and films a bit late in my birthing years, I am happy to have discovered so many positive messages that I received graciously.

Below are a few books I highly recommend for pregnant women:
•    Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
•    The Complete Book of Pregnancy & Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger
•    Hypnobirthing by Marie Morgan

Here are three films that may interest those seeking a natural childbirth:
•    Orgasmic Birth
•    The Business of Being Born
•    What Babies Want

DONA has a larger selection of recommended books that are required readings for all birthing doulas.  And for women who want to increase the likelihood of having a peaceful, positive birthing experience, I recommend you consider your “birthing team” very seriously. Are you at ease with your ob/gyn or midwife? Do you feel they listen to you and respect your wishes?  Are they available to answer your questions? Have you considered a birth doula? A birth doula is a wonderful person to have on your team as she brings experience, knowledge, and peacefulness to the delivery process. She will stay with you from the beginning of active labor until your child is born — most doctors are there only for the actual birth.

It is also fair to ask people to refrain from sharing upsetting or frightening childbirth stories with you — at least while you’re pregnant. Ask friends and family members to be considerate of how sensitive you are as you prepare for the birth of your own baby. You need not be fed more fear–we all know birth doesn’t always go according to plan–instead, you need to be nurtured, supported, and reassured that you too can have a positive pregnancy and birth experience.

For more information on gentle birthing options, please visit the Rhode Island Birth Network.

Kristen Kardos, MA Ed., and Kathy McGuigan, MSW, the co-founders of RI New Moms Connection, provide affordable, accessible pregnancy and new mom groups throughout Rhode Island. In “Tips for New Moms” they share their knowledge, resources, and helpful ideas for moms just beginning their journey into parenthood or moms who may need a little refresher.

Editor’s Note: Although “Tips for New Moms” is written with the new mom in mind—to support women in their journey through motherhood—it is certainly not the authors’ intention to exclude dads. Every new parent will find their tips, resources, and insights helpful. I invite all moms and dads to share ideas on how they manage their new role as a parent with Kidoinfo in the comments below.

Public schools are taking a break, and so is Kidoinfo. You’ll find there’s more than usual going on in Rhode Island this week! Way more than what’s listed here—consider yourself lucky if you’re staying close to home.

This list is the tip of the iceberg—check our events calendar for more.

Keep in mind: many venues will be more crowded than usual. It’s wise to call ahead to confirm ticket availability or to check for cancellations.

1. In our book, number one will always be RELAXING AT HOME, with no rushing for the bus, no misplaced homework pages, and plenty of time for pancakes and coloring.

2. PROVIDENCE CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL. Long films, short films, animated ones and ones with real people. None made by Disney.

3. ICE SKATE in Providence or Newport or at your neighborhood’s smoothest frozen body of water.

4. NEWPORT WINTER FESTIVAL—going on all week, with special events for children February 14th & 15th.

5. MAKE VALENTINES check the events calendar for cookie decorating and card making options or get crafty at your kitchen table.

6. INVESTIGATE BITE WEEK at Mystic Aquarium. Chomp!

7. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT all week long at Buttonwood Park Zoo—including Toe Jam Puppet Band on Monday—and it’s all FREE with zoo admission.

8. THE AUDUBON SOCIETY has richly varied special events for young naturalists all week.

9. FLIP BOOKS, STUFFED CREATURES, ARCHITECTURE and more! Classes for kids at Warren Art Spot.

10. LIBRARY TIME. Visit your favorite branch or explore a new one. Free. Many libraries have special activities planned for vacation week.

What will you and your family choose? Share your favorite places to go, things to do, and ways to enjoy a week of wintry togetherness. We love your comments and depend on them for great ideas.

Escaping to a warmer climate this winter via airplane? If you are a new parent, the thought of flying with a baby may be daunting. You’ll likely get lots of good advice such as:

• Feed the baby during take-off and landing so that he/she will swallow and the change in pressure won’t hurt the baby’s ears.
• Wear the baby in a carrier onto the plane.
• Push your stroller all the way down the jetway to the plane – the staff will store it on board for you.
• Bring your infant car seat (minus the base) in case there are extra seats (ask at the gate). The infant car seat can be stored by the flight attendants…so it can be used with stroller (or snap-n-go) in airport AND it can be used as a car seat/air seat assuming there is an extra seat available. Children under 2 don’t need their own seats – they fly for free – but at the gate, if a seat is empty, the staff will let you know so you can bring the carrier on board.
• Have several toys that will keep baby entertained and rotate them. After a few minutes, an old toy seems new again!

My favorite “trick” when we were flying with my infant daughter involves the booking of the flight. In order to almost guarantee that we would have a row to ourselves, without paying for a third seat, we purchased the aisle seat and the window seat in the last row of the plane. If there were any empty seats on the plane, the unlucky soul who booked the seat in-between us gladly moved up to a row without a baby and not right next to the bathroom. This worked every time there was an empty seat on the plane and we didn’t mind being in the last row since we spent a lot of time standing up in the back in the flight attendant area swaying back and forth to soothe our baby. When we successfully swayed or bounced our daughter to sleep, we would lay her down on the seat between us and enjoy some quiet time to ourselves . . . hands-free!

Kristen Kardos, MA Ed., and Kathy McGuigan, MSW, the co-founders of RI New Moms Connection, provide affordable, accessible pregnancy and new mom groups throughout Rhode Island. In “Tips for New Moms,” they share their knowledge, resources, and helpful ideas for moms just beginning their journey into parenthood or moms who may need a little refresher.

Editor’s Note: Although “Tips for New Moms” is written with the new mom in mind—to support women in their journey through motherhood—it is certainly not the authors’ intention to exclude dads. Every new parent will find their tips, resources, and insights helpful. I invite all moms and dads to share ideas on how they manage their new role as a parent with Kidoinfo in the comments below.

Reviewed by Marcia Maynard

Flannel Kisses is a cozy winter story about a family of five. Linda Crotta Brennan uses rhyming text to take her readers from morning to night on a snowy day.

“Flannel sheets, Cold floor,” starts the book, as a girl wakes and leaves her bed. “Hot oatmeal, Out the door!”  We feel the warmth that surrounds the family as they eat breakfast together before playing outside in the snow.

Mari Takabayashi’s use of colors and detail brings the reader right into this country scene. We can relate to wearing a slippery snowsuit and hanging wet socks to dry after being outside all  morning. One of my favorite pages reads, “Fireside story.”  The illustration is of the living room filled with toys and wet clothes. Children are sitting on Dad’s lap as he reads a bedtime story and mom is holding the baby on a rocking horse.

Flannel Kisses reminds me about the best part of parenting: the love of family time. Playing, snuggling, and eating together are joyful parts of our life that are sometimes overlooked. With her experience as a mom and a writer,  Brennan shows us the story in life that brings the most meaning.

Linda Brennan lives in Rhode Island and can be reached through her blog, lcbrennan.blogspot.com, or her website, lindacrottabrennan.com

details:
Flannel Kisses
Written by Linda Crotta Brennan
Illustrated by Mari Takabayashi
2008 Houghton Mifflin

Marcia Maynard stays home with her two sons and plays. Prior to her current role as mom, she was an elementary school teacher and reading specialist.

Here are 10 ways to have fun with your kids in Rhode Island without spending a dime. I know there are many more great things to do than listed below. See our list of 100 Things to Do for additional ideas. Please add your own favorites in the comments below.

1. Libraries are free to visit. Many of the states libraries have wonderful children areas, special events and lovely librarians.

2. Explore one of the Audubon’s Wildlife refuges. Over 15 places around the state to choose from.

3. The RISD Museum of Art is free the last Saturday of the month (except December) for Free-For-All-Saturday. Kids can explore the museum, see live performances and make a project based on monthly theme.  Want to go when it is less crowded? Admission is “pay-what-you-wish” every Sunday from 10am-1pm and free to all from 5-9pm on Gallery Night (the third Thursday of each month except December).

4. Roger Williams Park Zoo is free the first Saturday of every month for Providence residents. Bring proof of residency.

5. Did you know your Roger Williams Park Zoo Membership lets you into the Museum of Science in Boston for free? Although special exhibitions like the Harry Potter Exhibit cost extra,  your Zoo membership will give you a discount on special admission tickets.

6. The Audubon Environmental Education Center in Bristol, RI is open free to the public the first Saturday of every month for Free Family Fun Day. Join in for crafts, nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes and more.

7. Take a hike. Join the monthly hike organized by Rhode Island Families in Nature. Different location every time.

8. Looking for indoor play space? You can play at any of the indoor play areas in McDonald’s or Burger King without buying food. Go in the morning when it is quiet and the kids have already had a snack.

9. Providence Children’s Museum is free on select Friday evenings throughout the year. Check the calendar for details.

10. Visit your local fire station. Depending on the station and whether the fireman are busy,  kids may get a chance to sit in the truck, hold the hose, or have a full tour of the station.

By Roger Williams Park Zoo, Education Department

Wild animals are all around us – even in the most urban areas of Rhode Island. This may be hard to believe because we rarely see them, but it’s true! Even now, during the chill of winter, there are many animals that are active in the area. One such animal is the red fox.
Without ever seeing a red fox, we can find evidence that it is around and learn a little about its behaviors by looking for tracks. Just like we leave behind footprints when we walk in the wet sand on the beach, animals leave behind tracks when they walk, particularly in the mud or snow.

If you have ever seen dog tracks in the snow, you are well on your way to spotting the tracks of a red fox. Foxes are canines, just like the dogs we have as pets. The tracks of a fox look very similar to that of a small 10-15 pound dog.

A fox’s track will be about 1 ½ -2 inches long and consist of four toes and a foot pad. The claws should be visible, as well as the hair between the toes of the fox.
The best places to look for the tracks of a red fox are along the edges of forests and rivers where they frequently hunt for food. Unlike most canines, foxes hunt alone – so you will probably only see one set of prints at a time.

If you don’t find fox tracks right away, don’t get discouraged. Once you find your first set, you’ll be surprised how tracks pop up all around you. Additionally, there are lots of other local animals active in the winter – rabbits, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels and wild turkey, just to name a few. You can find out what animal left behind the prints in your area by researching tracks online or in guide books.

RECCOMMENDED BOOK:
Animal Tracks of New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont by Chris Stall

ACTIVITY: Study Tracks

Materials:
• baby powder
• shallow pan
• long, dark-colored sheet or piece of butcher paper

Scientists can study tracks to identify what animals are in the area. They can also study the tracks to determine if the animal was walking, running, jumping, etc. To try this for yourself! Lay a long, dark-colored sheet or piece of butcher paper across the floor.

At the head of the sheet, place a shallow pan with a layer of baby powder inside. Have children take of their shoes and socks. One at a time, dip both feet into the pan of baby powder. Have children walk, run, skip, jump, or hop down the sheet or butcher paper. Afterwards, analyze how the different movements resulted in different tracks. Could you figure out how someone was moving just by looking at the tracks they leave behind?

For more information about animals in their natural habitat, visit Roger William’s Park Zoo located at 1000 Elmwood Avenue. Providence, RI.

by Katy Killilea and Jaci Arnone

In each of our families, fun-loving grandparents organized a trip to Disney World. Lacking intuitive understanding of why parents consider this kind of trip “fun,” we experienced some apprehension and gathered information from every seasoned Disney veteran we knew. We’d both enjoyed mid-1970s trips to Disney World as little girls, and many of our parent-friends had gone and lived to tell about it. In fact, they’d all had a blast…but could we? Armed with lists of tips, deep knowledge of fast passes, hopper tickets, and character breakfasts, our families traveled to Orlando for multi-generational adventure. Here are our stories.

KATY

Weeks before departing, my kids and I watched a trip-planning DVD (free from Disney) to learn about the attractions and pick our favorites. Friends shared dog-eared guidebooks and annotated maps. My parents arranged the trip to be as easy as possible, booking our rooms on a hotel floor that featured a rotating array of snacks coordinated with a complicated timetable of alcohols. All we had to do was show up with shorts and flip-flops.

Sure enough, Disney World was as everyone said it would be: busy, clean, friendly. It was the kids who didn’t function as planned. Some surprising parts of our trip:

• Pretty much everything except for the Hall of the Presidents was deemed “too scary” by my 6- and 8-year-old.
• Not only were rides too scary, but also anyone in a mascot suit had to be avoided (Mickey, Donald, Aladdin, who was okay at first–no mask–until we got close enough to notice his dramatically airbrushed makeup). When approached by Minnie, my younger son glowered and my older son tried to nonchalantly move away, as if Minnie were a discarded sheet of newspaper that had blown against him.
• Speaking of airbrushed makeup, a highlight of the trip took place on a Disney Monorail when a woman with Dolly Parton hair/jewelry/makeup boarded our car. This, not the Jungle Cruise, is the part of the trip I have heard the boys refer back to most often. (”Remember the woman with a lot of makeup?”/”Yes, wasn’t that exciting?”)
• We had a view of the Magic Kingdom and its famous fireworks from our room. These were deemed “too bright!” and “too long!” which led to the second great highlight of the trip, closing the curtains to watch Biggest Loser on HDTV.
• The hotel pool had a joy-making water slide and recreation director. Why were the mascots scary but not the bronzed, dancing recreation man?  He taught the Electric Slide and Macarena, led hula hoop contests, and offered to apply tattoos in a child’s choice of designs: flower, dinosaur, or realistic infected bullet wound.
• The third highlight of the trip was not riding the Star Wars flight simulator but instead spotting a revised edition of our favorite Ryder Windham Star Wars book in Disney’s Star Tours gift shop. (more…)

By Cathy Saunders,
Director of Education, Providence Children’s Museum

Working at the Children’s Museum, I have a reputation to uphold with the young people in my life.  They fully expect that I will have a project, a toy, or a riddle up my sleeve when they see me.  And indeed, I have garnered a repertoire of favorites to have on hand:

Creative Constructions
Playful building projects are always a winner with children and adults. A bag of marshmallows or gumdrops paired with toothpicks or dried spaghetti provides the foundation for wacky tabletop constructions. To build larger structures, roll sheets of newspaper into “poles” (tape the ends with masking tape); you’ll find they are surprisingly sturdy. Start by building triangles, squares, and cubes. Then let the engineer in you go to town!

Slime Time
When I’m willing to get a little messy, there is nothing that beats oobleck—the curiously fascinating polymer made from cornstarch and water. Mix up a little in a bowl (one part water to up to two parts cornstarch) and then play with spoons, strainers, and containers of all sizes. Give the oobleck a squeeze or a poke and it hardens instantaneously, but scoop it up and it runs through your fingers. Add food coloring for special effect. Oobleck is easy to clean up, but be sure to dispose of it in the trash, not down your sink.

Scientist in the House
“Rubber” eggs and chicken bones are marvels. It’s simple: Submerge an egg or a thin chicken bone in a jar full of vinegar and watch to see what happens. It takes a few days, but it’s fun to check the progress–taking notes, making observations, and discussing what is happening.

On cold winter days, it’s nice to explore ice in the comfort of the indoors. Fill a balloon or milk carton with water and freeze it to make a giant ice cube. Set the ice on a tray or in a pan and let the investigation begin. Drops of food coloring will reveal the cracks and crevices. Sprinkling salt will have interesting effects, too.

Get Physical
Making up yoga positions gets in good stretches and giggles. Start simple by making different shapes with your body–triangles, diamonds, circles. Then look to nature for ideas. Many yoga positions are named after animals (downward dog, cobra, eagle). Try some of those and invent new ones.

Balloon badminton is a hit at the Children’s Museum. Construct rackets from paper plates attached to paint stirrers or rulers and use a balloon as the birdie. For a coordination challenge, I like to have a balance race. We try to walk the length of a room with books on our heads. We work our way up, balancing two or three, even adding a stuffed toy to the pile!

Some helpful websites with other activity ideas to keep the winter blues at bay:

• The Silicon Valley Art Museum has “at home art” activities as well as tips about materials and creativity.

• PBS’s FETCH!™ website provides hands-on science activity guides and resources. (You can also drop into the Museum’s FETCH! Lab each week.  Check our calendar for details.)

• The Science Learning Network’s Thinking Fountain is a dynamic website with creative science ideas.

• The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine has simple art, culture, science and cooking activities.

For more indoor winter fun, visit Providence Children’s Museum–there’s something different happening every day! Join the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 18, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Popular storytellers and actors Valerie Tutson and Rochel Coleman perform the powerful “M.L.K.: Amazing Grace” at 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM, bringing the civil rights movement to life through songs and stories. Families also explore an exhibit of photographs, words and books describing Dr. King’s life and work and take part in a thought-provoking antidiscrimination activity.

TM/© 2007 WGBH Educational Foundation

photo credit: Providence Children’s Museum

Reviewed by Marcia Maynard

Spotting the first snowflake of a storm brings excitement to a boy in Uri Shulevitz’s Snow. If you’re a parent in Rhode Island, you’ll feel a connection to this Caldecott honor book. The opening pages show  the gray world that’s seen before a snowstorm. But soon, one snowflake falls. A boy smiles, looks out his window, and says to his dog,  “It’s snowing.” The reader feels his spark of energy.

As the boy and his dog run outside, they meet cynical adults who ignore the joy of snow. As more flakes fall, the city becomes whiter and the boy, happier. Soon, Mother Goose characters leap from a bookstore window to share the magic with the boy. Once the storm is finally over, the boy and his dog are the only two outside playing in the snow-white city.

Regardless of  how tired you may be of winter,  Shulevitz’s drawings and use of  bright colors  will make you want to share one more day of snow with your child.

The Details:
Snow by Uri Shulevitz
1998 Farrar Straus Giroux

Marcia Maynard stays home with her two sons and plays. Prior to her current role as mom, she was an elementary school teacher and reading specialist.