Maybe it’s all the Hallmark Movies we’ve watched over the years, but ice skating just screams “Winter Wonderland” to us. Here are our favorite places to go ice skating in Rhode Island! Make sure you hit up one of our local favorite spots for hot cocoa after. Be sure to wear long socks, warm clothes, and pack any safety gear that might help your kiddo to feel more confident on the ice!
There is absolutely no better way to warm up after a long day of sledding or ice skating, and it’s a perfect way to spend some special one on one time with your kids. We can guarantee an afternoon at one of these places will turn around the gloomiest of Rhode Island winter days. Don’t see your favorite cuppa on our list? Let us know what we’re missing! Here are a few of Rhode Island’s Best Hot Cocoa spots:
Getting out of the house not in the cards? We love this homemade hot cocoa recipe from Smitten Kitchen
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1 tablespoon (8 grams) cornstarch
3 ounces (85 grams) semi- or bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
1/2 cup (40 grams) cocoa powder, any kind you like
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or the seeds from a tiny segment of fresh vanilla bean
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt or 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until powdery, or chop/grate the chocolate as much as possible and add to the rest of the ingredients. To use, heat one cup of milk in a pan until steamy and add three tablespoons of mix. Whisk until mix is dissolved and hot cocoa begins to simmer. Store leftover mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 months.
When things start to get out of control at my house the combination of fine motor activity + podcast has been a salve that has worked very regularly. I plop all three kids (ages 8, 5 & 3) down at the table with play-doh, legos, a sensory bin, crayons, whatever. I’d throw on one of our favorite 5 great kids podcasts and they would easily play well, for at least an hour! To be honest, I usually ended the activity before they were tired of it.
These five great kids podcasts tried and true podcasts are the perfect thing to keep my kids busy and learning anytime when things at home start to get a little crazy.
Eat Your Spanish
Short family-friendly episodes that combine music, stories, and interactive content, we discovered Eat Your Spanish due to my guilt over completely neglecting the kid’s Spanish Education. (Their school Spanish starts in first grade.) Even my three-year-old has been singing along with the songs. “It teaches you Spanish really well and it’s also REALLY fun to do because you get to listen to songs and play games with the words.”-My 8 year old
Brains On
My science-loving 2nd grader can’t get enough of this podcast, but the content is engaging and well presented enough that most kids would be drawn in. “It teaches you about science and different things.” – My 5 Year Old
Smash Boom Best
This has long been my family’s favorite car trip podcast for a while. Smash Boom Best is a debate show that faces off two fun things (chocolate vs. cheese, unicorns vs. dragons) against each other. Over the course of three rounds, two debaters make their case for their side and after each round, a kid-judge awards a point. There are sound effects, and all the while kids are learning some interesting things about the topics presented. It encourages great conversation, when we listen to it we pause the show in between each “round” and talk about which debater we each think won and why.
Story Pirates
This one is more fun than educational, but the kids love it. Story Pirates take stories written by kids and turn them into songs and sketch comedy shows. It is a riot, and their lineup of special guests (Kristen Bell, Billy Eichner, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dax Shepard, Bowen Yang, Paul Scheer, Claire Danes, John Oliver, David Schwimmer, and Lake Bell) is impressive.
This is a debate style podcast from the same makers of Brains On. In their words, “Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best.” Batman vs Spiderman, Narwhals vs Jellyfish, Pancakes vs waffles..you get the idea and you can probably see how this could lead to a friendly (but fiery!) family debate of your own. Especially that last one. I mean, who likes pancakes better than waffles? Right?
What kids podcasts does your family enjoy together? Let me know in the comments!
The Ocean State is home to an awesome network of local libraries, offering a huge range of activities for kids and families to do together. Even better, any Rhode Island library cardholder can visit any library in the state to take advantage of their awesome free programs! (Did you know you can check out a book in Coventry and return it in Cumberland?) We polled our contributors and readers and compiled this list of the bestkid-friendly libraries in Rhode Island. Let us know your favorite library and why! Is yours on our list?
Weaver Library:This branch of the East Providence Library is especially great for the five and under crowd. A soft play area with large foam blocks for kids under three to climb on and explore is perfect for when you just need your little one to burn off some energy. They also have a separate room with all kinds of toys from puppets to blocks and puzzles. Top it off with friendly and helpful staff and you’ve got yourself a winning combination.
Cumberland Public Library:Housed in a former monastery, Cumberland’s library grounds are both extensive and beautiful with walking trails and a playground!
North Providence Union Free Public Library:This children’s area has a fully loaded toy room, coloring pages, touch screen computers, and a sweet bunch of librarians that will learn your kid’s name. Not only that, but storytime, lego club, and other kids’ activities take place in their own separate rooms off of the main children’s area. Oh, and it’s a Pokéstop….if you’re into that sort of thing.
North Smithfield Public Library: This library is located in historic Statesville and built on the edge of Centennial Park, which has walking trails leading right to the library. They host tons of events for kids and even incorporate the outdoor grounds into some activities like StoryWalk and FairyWalk.
Louttit District Library: Quietly tucked away in West Greenwich, this small library will keep your kids engaged for hours with its collection of toys and games, and when the weather is nice the fenced-in playground out back is the perfect place to sit back and watch your kiddos burn off some energy!
Barrington Public Library:The best part of this library is the huge, fenced-in playground with two sides, one geared towards the little kids, and one for the bigger guys. After you get your wiggles out, head inside to browse their enormous Kids’ Room. In addition to many wonderful family programs, it boasts a huge selection of books and movies, and toys.
Clark Memorial Library:This beautiful library has lots of natural light and programs for the whole family.
Tiverton Public Library:Drop-in playtimes and events like ‘Popcorn Day’ and ‘Build-it Day’ make this library a favorite among our readers! The main branch also has a playground and skatepark next door!
West Warwick Public Library:Story times, playgroups, sensory-friendly events, and a weekly fresh food market can all be found at this favorite library!
Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library: Located in Harrisville, this library is huge and has something for everybody. Their children’s department is wonderful with toys for various ages and stellar programs. (They offer extensive programming for teens too!)
Harmony: The friendly staff alone makes Harmony worth the drive. They always have crafts out and available, and a playground outback. Check out their website to register for upcoming programs.
Rochambeau Library: This branch of the Providence Community Library is located on the East Side, and has storytimes for all ages! Check out their Toddler Zumba to get your kids moving while still staying indoors.
Exeter Public Library:This is another small library with a great playground outback. They offer a variety of story-times and kid’s programs,including sensory-friendly storytime.
Coventry Public Library: “Coventry Public Library should also be on this list! Great book selection, lots of creative play toys available, and a small outdoor (fenced-in) playground. Plus, the children’s librarians are super helpful and friendly!!” Thanks to our reader Stephanie for letting us know!
Warwick Public Library: Arts and crafts, multiple play areas, tablets, and computers make the main Warwick library a great place to visit anytime. The Pontiac branch is smaller, but with a playground nearby!
Warwick Public Library
The Providence Atheneum: This is the only library on our list that isn’t part of the public library system, but if you’re a book lover it’s worth taking a trip for the historic value alone. (Did you know it’s the fourth oldest library in the country? Or that H.P. Lovecraft used to frequent it himself? ) While you can’t check out books without a paid membership, The Atheneum offers weekly story-time, free craft supplies, and other activities that are free and open to the public. Pro Tip: On the East Side of Providence parking can be scarce. Plan to walk a couple of blocks to check out this historic beauty.
Did we miss any of the best kid-friendly libraries in Rhode Island? Let us know in the comments!
Warning: This post will scare you. It is actually my intent, but it’s for your own good.
Did you know that it only takes two inches of water for a baby to drown? It’s a startling statistic and one that doesn’t even seem possible. Unfortunately, it’s true. People drown when excess water gets into their lungs. When that happens, the lungs can’t put oxygen in the blood. Then, too little oxygen gets to the brain and the rest of the body.
Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14. There I go, scaring you again; it’s my intent.
When the summer weather hits, everyone wants to be in or around the water. As a pool owner, we take our responsibilities very seriously. Our pool is gated with a lock and key even though it is above ground and we are not required to do so by law in the city we reside in. We’re very upfront and honest with friends (and their children) about the rules of the pool: no one goes on the deck without an adult, no running on deck, and no diving.
But it just takes a second: a simple phone call, the doorbell, the chicken wings burning on the grill, and tragedy can strike.
How should you make it a priority?
Swim in designated areas with a lifeguard in a public pool/beach setting
Start children in swimming lessons at a young age (even if it’s just to acclimate to the water)
Set rules based on a child’s age and abilities
Never leave a child unattended (regardless of age) in the pool, even if you think an older child is self sufficient and can watch – they can’t!
Keep toys out of pool when not in use so it doesn’t attract young children to water
Always keep the pool gate locked, even if it can be a pain when hosting
If a child is missing, check the water immediately!
Giving children the tools to learn to swim is a valuable investment and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It may be the difference between life and death down the road.
Stir-crazy? Cabin Fever? It may be cold outside, but there are still so many great local outdoor activities in Rhode Island to try! Don’t let the cold keep you from enjoying some of the best things about winter in RI!
Maple Sugaring
Maple Sugaring is truly a New England pastimeand you don’t have to drive to Vermont or New Hampshire to participate. Once you’ve got your localsyrup, try your hand at a little Sugar on Snow, another old New England tradition!
Take a Winter Hike You don’t have to be a wilderness master to enjoy a walk through the snowy woods. Winer is a great time to have fun learning about animal tracks. There are plenty of resources online or grab a guide and hit the trails. If you don’t already have a favorite hiking spot, check out RI Families in Nature, The Audubon Society of Rhode Island for ideas, or jump in on a “Park Rx” Family Hike. Other favorite hiking spots include Lincoln Woods State Park, (2 Manchester Print Works Rd, Lincoln) and Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy, Legion Memorial Dr, Providence
Take a Seal Watching Tour Did you know the seal is the Rhode Island state mammal? Learn all about them and try to spot some in the wild on aSave the Bay Seal Watching Tour in Newport.They offer a variety to choose from November- April.
Visit Yawgoo Valley Rhode Island’s only location for winter sports like skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. Group and private lessons available for everyone ages 3 & up. Prices & hours vary.
Ride Bumper Cars on IceThe Providence Rink is one of the only place in the state where you can try driving bumper cars on ice and young kids can share a car with a parent! Hours alternate between bumper cars and ice skating so be sure to check their website for hours and ticket availability before you head downtown. (Ticket Price: $12 for 20 min)
Visit the Cape We know when you hear “Cape’ you think summer, but winter is the perfect time to snag a dealwith that off-season pricing. Take the whole family on vaca or sneak off for a romantickid-free weekend.
Let’s face it, winter sometimes feels like the longest of seasons. But if you look for it, there’s as much charm in a Rhode Island winter as there is in the summer (well, *close* to as much). With the help of local moms, we’ve pulled together all the winter activities you need to know about to make this winter a memorable one for you and your family!
Did we miss your favorite local spot or Rhode Island winter activity? Let us know in the comments!
Do you have an event local families will want to know about? Add it here.
I love everything about this season.Well, almost everything. Sharing food, laughter, and time with loved ones makes this season such a joyous time of year. One thing I could do without sharing, though, is the germs. Having a young family during this season is hard because inevitably, we all will get sick. Despite our best efforts, there’s no way to avoid it altogether. The key is to be prepared. I put together a list of things (other than Tylenol) to have on hand in your medicine cabinet, so you can hopefully avoid those late-night runs to CVS this season.
Thermometer: It may sound like common sense, but go ahead and change those batteries now, so you aren’t caught off guard by a feverish kiddo. That is unless you’re fancy and have one of those that doesn’t require batteries. In that case, you have much more trust in your temperature reading abilities than I do, and for that I commend you.
Vapor Rub: Ah, just imagining the smell brings up images of Bob Barker and Campbell’s soup. There are a ton of natural vapor rub products on the market if that’s your jam, too. Please make sure to follow the instructions for use. Don’t put it anywhere on your kiddo’s face, or nose as it can block nostrils if you aren’t careful.
Pedialyte or other electrolyte-filled drink: I hope you can escape this cold and flu season without getting a stomach bug. But if not, it’s nice to have your drinks on hand. That way, when the bug hits and everyone has bought all of the Pedialyte in New England, you will have your hydration system all set and ready to go.
Nasal Saline + Nose Frida: Saline is an effective, natural way to clear those stuffy noses. And trust me on the Nose Frida. It grossed me out until my fourth child had the cold of her life. In a moment of desperation, I bought it, and immediately regretted not getting it years earlier to use with my other young kids. It’s not as gross as it looks, and it’s quick and effective.
Hand Sanitizer: Obvious, but it’s good to be reminded.
Honey + lemon juice: Am I the only person who drank a concoction of honey, lemon, and apple cider vinegar as a kid? Well, these old remedies have stood the test of time for a reason. Studies show that honey is just as effective as an over-the-counter cough suppressant. Of course, be careful when giving your child honey. They need to be over one year old to reduce the risk of botulism, which can poison infants.
Humidifier: Ok, this won’t fit in your medicine cabinet, but hear me out anyway. Moisture in the air helps break up thick mucus. Some people add oils or breathing agents to their humidifiers, but there is plenty of benefit to just filling it with water and letting it run in your child’s room as they sleep. If your child has asthma, anything with fragrance (even natural fragrance) can trigger an attack. Water is natural and effective. If you need something stronger than a humidifier, steaming up the bathroom with a hot shower works wonders for kids too. Last year, croup kept us in our bathroom so often, that I renamed it “Sauna Johnson.” Maybe this year, I’ll add a lovely eucalyptus treatment to the package.
New toothbrushes: This is just something I do in my own home, but anytime we get over a sickness, we get new toothbrushes. The kids love it because it’s kind of a morale boost. “Hey, we made it through this cold in one piece, here’s a new toothbrush to celebrate.”
If you have a favorite multivitamin or immune-boosting regimen, now is a good time to start it. And if you’re managing asthmatic kids, make sure you refill those inhalers and nebulizer treatments too, so you aren’t scrambling during sickness.
Encapsulated & art prints are just two options for honoring your placenta
Are you currently in the season of planning for your birth or finalizing any of the decisions for this powerful experience? I see a lot of “tips for creating a birth plan” on the internet and one thing I can’t help but notice most of them miss is to plan on what to do with your placenta!
Your placenta- the third stage of birth.
Did you know your birth isn’t technically over until you have birthed your placenta? I know it’s pretty easy to forget once yo
u’ve worked so hard to get that baby in your arms. The placenta is the organ that your baby relies on for development throughout your pregnancy. It’s also the only organ considered to be a “disposable” organ, meaning it develops solely for that purpose and then leaves your body once a baby is birthed. Once the placenta is birthed, it signals your body to start making breast milk.
When I had my first baby, I paid zero attention to this incredible life-sustaining organ.
I also didn’t put much weight on the fact that it was a crucial part of the birth. I hate to admit it, but once my baby was born, they took the placenta out, asked me if I wanted to “see it,” and I said I didn’t care. Looking back, this was only minutes after my baby was born and there was no rush to get rid of it. I could have prepared my providers to ask me about it before moving up to the maternity unit of the hospital. Overall, I could have considered my options more when making my plans for birth.
Once I was pregnant with my second, I knew I would plan for the placenta.
I started to look into my options for ways of honoring this part of birth. I was planning a home birth with my second son, so it seemed more “normal” to keep your placenta. Although, you don’t have to have a home birth to plan for your placenta. Plenty of moms take theirs home from the hospital. There are cultures all around the world that have rituals and ways of honoring this special organ. I’m happy to see some of these rituals are becoming more popular for mothers here in the US.
So, what are some of the options?
You can consume it. This can be done via encapsulation or tincture, or some mothers even put it in their smoothies. The benefits to doing this are anecdotal, and some mothers swear by it. I looked into this option and there was a Massachusetts company that provided you with the “take home” kit, and would come to your home to encapsulate it, as well as provide other services like making a tincture, and give your family with a mini-lesson on the placenta.
You can bury it. This was the option I went with for my second birth and it’s a great option for people who don’t really know what to do with it. It doesn’t have to be a big ceremonial thing, or it can be. For some, it feels better to “put it back to the earth” versus considering it “waste.”You can pick a special place at home, bury it under a new plant or tree or bury it at the bottom of a large houseplant.
You can make jewelry. Are we surprised? I’m currently wearing a ring made with breastmilk from my first son. It’s incredible that they can make jewelry keepsakes out of so many meaningful things these days… and this includes the placenta!
Placenta prints. You can paint your placenta and make a print of it. Google it, and you’ll see some pretty cool art.
Delayed cord clamping. In my opinion, this is a fancy way of saying, don’t cut the cord right after the baby is born and whisk the placenta away. I found it didn’t interfere with my space after birth. You’re most likely holding your baby lying down, all you need to do is place the placenta in a bowl right next to you until you’re ready to clamp and cut the cord. This option also gives you the chance to take a moment to appreciate this part of birth after you and your family have come down from the rush of your new baby being born. This would have been a great option for the first-time mom me who gave birth in the hospital and had no intention of bringing her placenta home.
So, if you’re planning for your upcoming birth, hopefully, this post prompted you to think about your whole birth and plan for your placenta, too!
The Fourth of July is in the books and summer has really begun. Time for long, lazy mornings spent lounging on the beach with a good book and a Pina Colada, followed by exploring a new city and capping the evening off at a trendy new micro brewery, right?
Sorry. I know. It really isn’t funny. But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to completely give up on sneaking in a little bit of grown up fun this summer, even when the kids are with you. This past week my husband had a day off, and inspired by a recent slew of Snap Chats featuring his fresh faced, child free younger sister and her husband enjoying flight after flight from local breweries, we decided we needed to get in on that action. Problem was, we had no babysitter. Or rather, the only available babysitters (the grandparents) wanted to come with us.
Not to be deterred, I sprung into action (and by “sprung into action,” I obviously mean scrolled through Pinterest for inspiration) and came up with a plan. I figured I needed something distinct for the kids to do at each stop. We planned to go to three breweries (full disclosure: due to a combination of a late start and hungry adults we only made it to two) however, we had enough activities in our pocket that I’m convinced we would have made it through a third.
“You have a baby. At a bar.”
The Brewery Tour Plan:
At the first brewery, we had the kids do their own tasting. I got a variety pack of juice and a Sprite. Other ideas could include different flavored milks, seltzer water, or really whatever strikes your fancy. Having the kids do their own tasting was a blast, and the brewery was more than happy to let us use one of the flight paddles for the kids’ “flight.” My older son enjoyed having us write down the different juices and going back and forth between them to try to decide which was his favorite. We enjoyed the look on the face of my younger son (who never has carbonated drinks) when he tried the Sprite. He promptly declared it was “NOT his favorite.” We followed up the beverage tasting with a food tasting. My kids are fans of nuts, so we brought two varieties of almonds (smoked and plain) and two varieties of peanuts (honey roasted and plain), but here again, the possibilities are endless.
Dixie cups make for a great kids flight.
At the second brewery it was time to actually feed the children. Depending on where you’re going ,this might mean ordering something or, if they don’t serve food, bringing something more substantial than the snacks you use for the tasting. The promise of something to eat mollified the kids in the car and bought us some time once we got there. I broke out the Brewery Hunt activity (see below) at the second stop, and they had fun looking for all the items on it. We also got lucky in that there were some games to play. Many breweries provide games in an attempt to be a bit more kid (and adult!) friendly.
Dad couldn’t resist getting in on the mini-foosball action.
As I confessed above, we never made it to brewery number three. We had several small dollar store toys as “prizes” for completing the hunt at the previous brewery and for being so good. In our case, we were armed with slinkys and silly putty, which I feel confident would have entertained them for long enough for us to get another flight in. But there is something to be said for knowing when to quit. Arm yourself with the supplies below, call ahead to make sure the breweries are open to having kids (some tasting rooms are 21+).
My kids are always thrilled to have a bag of supplies.
The Supplies:
Dixe Cups
Several different kid friendly beverages for a drink tasting
A variety of small snacks for a food tasting
A small toy prize (or two) from the Dollar Store
More snacks. Always more snacks
Crayons, pencils, and the printable activity sheets below
With a little confidence, some advanced planning, and a good deal of patience, you can successfully have a nice family day that does not include being held hostage at the swing set. Have fun!
Stir-crazy? Cabin Fever? It may be cold outside, but there are still so many great local outdoor activities in Rhode Island to try! Don’t let the cold keep you from enjoying some of the best things about winter in RI!
I love everything about this season. Well, almost 
