For over 60 years, Meeting Street has been a pioneer and leader in designing and advocating for early intervention, inclusion, education and therapeutic services for children with various needs. They are experts in childhood development and education who are committed to the success of every child.

Meeting Street is where infants, preschoolers and children of all ages and abilities receive individualized attention from highly trained, dedicated educators, therapists, and staff who work as a team, sharing strategies and identifying solutions to bring out the best in each and every child.

Find a list of summer programs here. Learn more about Meeting Street by visiting their website.

While we usually think of Snow Days closing schools in the Northeast, today, it’s a Heat Day!

Get your feet in some water, drink water, eat ice cream, eat watermelon, go to the movies — bottom line — stay cool and think of snow.

Turn to 10 - School Closings (click here)

Serious info about Extreme Heat Risks from FEMA (click here)

National Weather Service Warnings (click here)

RI Health Dept - Heat Recommendations (click here)

As parents we can always use a gentle reminder to breathe. However it is definitely easy to forget this when our baby swats a spoon of food away only to have it smack against a kitchen wall, or when our toddler has a tantrum because he wanted to put his right shoe on before his left and you were already late for wherever you needed to be. Giving my child a time-out was typically more about giving me a chance to “breathe”. Amazing how something so simple can change your state of being. For this month’s Fit Tip, Jen explains how to make each breath count—so you can get back to cleaning the sweet potatoes off the wall.

Just slowing your breathing can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, allowing your heart to take a break. Try to take your breath into your abdomen (belly breathing), allowing your abdomen to expand as you inhale. This type of breathing allows the muscles of your upper body to relax, and placing your focus on your breath allows you to clear your mind of all of the stuff going on in your life. A few times a day, try to focus on belly breathing, and you may find it to be a nice way to ease away tension brought on throughout your day.

Contributed by Jen Morin, Pilates/Corporate Fitness Director at EVOLUTION bodywork & nutrition in Bristol.

In this month’s Fit Tip, our contributor Jen reminds us how important it is to clear our mind of all the stuff that fills our days as parents—juggling kids, school, shopping, cooking, home, and work. Since my mind tends to wander more when I try to sit still and relax, I like the “Progressive Relaxation” technique she recommends because it forces me to concentrate on relaxing each part of my body one by one—which prevents me from thinking about what didn’t get done that day or what I am making for dinner.

Here is what Jen has to say: 
Taking a few moments to clear your mind does wonders for your overall health. Whether you choose to meditate or prefer a different method of relaxation, this time will allow you to think more clearly, sleep better, and be more productive throughout your day.

In addition, practicing relaxation techniques can improve how you respond physically to stress by slowing your heart rate, lowering blood pressure, slowing your breathing rate, reducing your body’s need for oxygen, increasing blood flow to major muscle groups, and reducing muscle tension.

In terms of overall health and lifestyle, relaxation techniques can reduce physical symptoms such as headaches and less back pain, as well as emotional responses such as anger and frustration. You stand to benefit from increased energy, improved concentration, a greater ability to handle problems, and more efficiency in daily activities. What parent doesn’t need this?

One relaxation technique that works for many people is called Progressive Relaxation (it’s helpful to tape the instructions before starting your practice). Read how this method works and about other techniques that help quiet the mind and relax the body on the University of Maryland’s website.

Contributed by Jen Morin, Pilates/Corporate Fitness Director at EVOLUTION bodywork & nutrition in Bristol.

As a parent I often spend a great deal of time caring for my kids health and well-being and then there is the time I spend running a business, our household, and helping at school. I often wonder how to find time for my own wellness. I would like to introduce the first in an ongoing series of Fit Tips – small suggestions to incorporate into our daily routine. Here Jen Morin from EVOLUTION bodywork & nutrition in Bristol tells us how to start making wellness a part of our everyday life.

Now that the holidays are behind us and the New Year is in full swing, it’s time to get back on track with wellness and taking care of yourself. Too often, holidays are spent thinking about and taking care of others, which can make us steer off course with our fitness regimen and eat more than we know is good for us. Getting back into an exercise regimen is often a tough transition, whether it is after the holidays, having a new baby, or just another challenge of being a parent–but it doesn’t have to be. Remember that old tale about the tortoise and the hare? Faster is not necessarily better, and the same goes for your fitness regimen. Initiating a new plan or getting back into an old one shouldn’t feel like you’ve just jumped out of the starting blocks. Ease into things. If you haven’t exercised in a while, begin with a few minutes each day and build from there. If you took some time off from using weights or your participating in regular classes, start with just a few exercises or a beginner class. (Many local gyms provide childcare, or suggest swapping childcare with a friend who’s also interested in working out.). You will find that the more gradually you ease back into things, the better your body and mind will feel. Build from there . . . it’s not a race . . . it’s a journey.

Contributed by Jen Morin, Pilates/Corporate Fitness Director at EVOLUTION bodywork & nutrition in Bristol.

By Katie Mulligan

Parents frequently have questions about feeding their children; the problem is finding the right answers. Most people you talk to have an opinion — their own or that of their mother, sister, doctor, husband, in-laws — anyone and everyone! If you have nutrition questions about yourself or your child, submit them on the Health Forum at Kidoinfo and I will answer them. Don’t be shy, ask away, because chances are, someone else has your question too.

As winter drags on, it is becoming more and more difficult to find the wonderful bounty of fresh produce associated with warmer months. The cold weather brings thoughts of comfort food – mac and cheese, chicken pot pie, and beef stew – not fresh strawberries and salads of spring greens. If you are like many others, you may be struggling to get in your 5-a-day servings of fresh fruits and veggies. Contrary to popular belief, fruits and vegetables do not need to be fresh to be healthy. Frozen veggies are flash frozen much closer to harvest, which means they have less opportunity to lose valuable nutrients during storage and transport before arriving at your market. Check out the frozen section at your market for a wide array of fruits and veggies. Frozen butternut squash makes a great winter soup or baby puree. Adding frozen peas or green beans to couscous and rice will add greens, fiber, and vitamin C to your dinner. Making a smoothie with frozen berries is an easy way to get kids to drink their fruit. Or try adding frozen blueberries to pancakes (recipe below) or baking strawberry muffins with frozen berries – you’ll be amazed by how fresh they taste.

It is okay to buy canned fruit as long as it is packed in its own juice, not in heavy or even light syrup, which is little more than a sugar solution. The heating process used in canning actually makes the vitamin A in peaches and apricots more bioavailable, which means your system can absorb it more easily. Having trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies? Let them choose which ones to have at dinner and invite them to join in the meal preparation. It’s never too early to teach kids about nutrition and nutritious eating.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce
Makes about 10 pancakes

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Finding time to exercise is often at the bottom of a new mom’s to-do list but getting out of the house and talking to other moms (and dads) while you tone up or stretch out is a great way to start the New Year. With Stroller Strides you can take your infant or toddler along with you to exercise – cross finding childcare off your to-do list! And to celebrate three years in business, Stroller Strides is having “Mommy Appreciation Week”, January 7-11. Try your first class for free and if you like it, purchase an exercise membership next week for only $33.33 (regular price - $75). Then choose a plan that works for you. Pay per class, buy a 10-session punch card or pay per month. Lots of flexibility for you, your child and your pocketbook! All new members receive an exercise mat, T-shirt and exercise bands. As part of the celebration Lauren Weinsier of Strollerstrides will be passing out gifts all week (including goodies from Arbonne, Three Sisters Cafe, Luna bars and more).

Class details:
Stroller Strides is a sixty minute full-body workout, appropriate for all fitness levels. Classes meet weekdays at 9am (no class on Thurs.), plus two weekend classes per month at 9:30am. Babies of all ages are welcome as long as they are comfortable in the stroller - you can sing, count, and engage with them throughout the class, but they stay in the stroller. Any stroller is fine, except for umbrella strollers that may be prone to tipping. In the spring summer and fall join Stroller Strides on the Boulevard on the East Side in Providence. During the winter months meet indoors at the Jewish Community Center of RI at 401 Elmgrove Avenue in Providence.

More info:
contact: Lauren Weinsier
phone: 401-331-2670
email: lauren@strollerstrides.net
web: www.strollerstrides.com

By Martha Iachetta

My husband, who is not liberal with the compliments, described me recently as “the real deal.” As it was in the midst of a disagreement, I am still not certain it was a compliment. While I am by no means perfect (just ask my husband and friends), I can honestly say that at 39 years old I finally feel like I live my life according to my dreams and values. And nurturing these dreams and values includes self care, even small versions of it every single day, especially during busy times like the holidays. A wise person once said, “I meditate a half hour each day except for when I am very busy. On those days I meditate for an hour.”

I know I am not alone in my persistent desire to live the most meaningful life I possibly can. I also know I am not alone in aspiring but struggling to do whatever I need to do on a daily basis to make that happen. My gift to myself and all of you is a reminder to put your self on the top of your holiday list. Maybe it is cashmere socks, a massage, a manicure, a walk, a cup of tea with a friend… whatever it is, just do it.

My other strong suggestion is attention to your health and wellness. Take time for yourself, exercise, and, most important, breathe. My two current favorite places for support on how to do those things both on a day-to-day basis and via time away are the YMCA and Kripalu’s center for yoga and health. In very different ways, they provide me with the R & R I need to be re-inspired, relaxed, rested, rejuvenated, and renewed (actually R, R, R, R, & R).

The YMCA and Kripalu are both places that are the “real deal.” While maintaining their missions, they truly celebrate and respect racial, ethnic, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, age and whatever other kind of differences and diversity you can think of. What I also especially like about them is their dedication to providing financial aid in order to attract people from diverse and often under-served/under-represented/under-voiced populations.
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I would like to welcome Katie Mulligan as a new contributer to Kidoinfo. She is a registered dietitian specializing in pediatrics. Through her practice, Nurturing Nutrition, Katie provides individualized nutrition counseling to children (ages birth to 18) and their families. This month she tells us which foods are super (super delicious and super healthy) during the holidays.

The holidays are a time of sharing and giving, especially the gift of food. If any part of your holiday tradition involves cooking or eating, treat yourself and your guests to an extra helping of holiday super foods this season! Super foods have been so named because of their super antioxidant capabilities and their amazing health benefits. What better gift to give than a long, healthy life this holiday season?

10 Super Foods for the Holidays
adapted from Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)

1. Apple and Pears. Rich in vitamins, fiber and phytochemicals - amazing disease prevention food components that give fruit their color. They are perfect for holiday desserts and fruit bowls. I love thinly sliced D’Anjou pears drizzled with honey and candied walnuts for an after dinner treat.
2. Brussels Sprouts and Turnips. These and other related vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and bok choy are tasty and nutritious!
3. Dark chocolate. Treat yourself and someone you love to a small amount of dark chocolate. Buy at least 60% cacao dark chocolate for a delicious heart healthy treat!
4. Carrots. Low cost and a family favorite. These vitamin-A-rich veggies can be served hot or cold and are always a crowd pleaser.
5. Beans: Dried or Green. Dried beans are low in cost, low in fat, and rich in protein, iron, folic acid, and fiber. Whip up some hummus or black bean and olive tapenade. Green beans are healthy and popular at holiday tables.
6. Citrus fruits. Always available, great tasting, and rich in vitamin C, folic acid, and fiber. Enjoy some clementines this holiday season!
7. Cranberries. Full of antioxidants like vitamins C and E, these colorful berries are sure to keep you and yours healthy during the holidays.
8. Pumpkin and Winter Squash. Very nutritious and delicious, rich in vitamin A and fiber. These superstars of super foods are good for the eyes, skin and hair – to keep you bright and shining throughout the hectic season.
9. Nuts. Don’t you just love that nuts made the list? Full of heart-healthy fats, protein and antioxidants, such as vitamin E, you have every reason to go nuts!
10. Turkey. High in protein and folic acid but low in fat and cholesterol. This holiday dinner centerpiece is a family favorite.

Based on popular demand, we’re starting a Message Board to enable everyone in the Kidoinfo community to share ideas. Even though we love receiving questions directly from readers, we believe you are a savvy bunch, full of great ideas and valuable resources, and sometimes we just don’t have all the answers. (We haven’t tried everything, been everywhere, or gone to every school, etc.) The new classified section is a great place to post or find job opportunities or items for sale.

We tried to make the message board simple to use and have provided FAQs, in case you’re not familiar with message boards. If you only want to read messages, there’s no need to register - just click around and read. If you want to add a topic or reply to a message, then you must register.

We set up a number of forum categories to keep things organized, and depending on user input, we’ll add more categories and divide some into subcategories, as needed. We asked people for their advice and invited a group of people to test the message board before making it public, so it should work, but contact us if you encounter problems or if you have suggestions.

Of course, we’ll continue to maintain the rest of Kidoinfo with daily posts, events listings and more, but we’re excited about enriching the site with the collective wisdom of our readers and how much we all stand to benefit.