About

The idea for kidHaven got started shortly after we moved to Connecticut and needed to simply fill our days.  Having relocated after nearly a decade in the Midwest, our move to the East coast was big.  Exciting, but big.  With no friends and no relatives close by, we were starting from scratch…with a toddler, no less.

In the beginning, we mostly went from playground to playground looking…hoping for new friends.  But once Fall turned to Winter, my evenings were dedicated to googling any term I could think of to help me find indoor kid-friendly activities in the area.  In time, we started to make friends (phew!) and began to have a nice list of activities to keep us fulfilled.  Well, it’s no secret that I like lists.  And my list of kid-things-to-do ranks as one of my most cherished.

The real spark for kidHaven came when we were making a quick trip to a nearby city.  The night before, I was…um…googling any term I could think of to help us find kid-friendly activities in the area.  I came across kidoinfo.com, an incredible site that was a clearinghouse of kid-related information specific to Providence, RI.  Within minutes – voila! – our trip was planned.

Well, it was after that trip that I started to have website-envy.  I WANTED A WEBSITE LIKE THAT FOR WHERE I LIVE, GOSH DARN IT!  I’d say that’s when the idea began to brew.  Plus, my list of kid-activities was growing and I found myself sharing my “exciting new discoveries” with anyone that would listen – at the playground, at the library, wherever.  It’s one way I connect with other moms and dads, but it also often results in really interesting conversations beyond the superficial playground topics.

kidHaven for me is a personal record of the many lists I rely upon as a parent of an extraordinary toddler.  With a traveler’s perspective, kidHaven will be filled with thoughts about places not just in New Haven, but all around Connecticut.  I was born a traveler and it’s just the way I go about things.  And everything else, well, you can count on that being a great big mix of ideas I’ve accumulated as a mother, a teacher, a traveler, and a crafter with an endless list of projects.

So, welcome to kidHaven.  It’s my hope that these ever-growing lists of ideas you find here on kidHaven inspires your own journey with kids!

Kindly,

kim

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I appreciate every ounce of your support and encouragement.  Many, many thanks. ~kim

“I love your website. What a fountain of information!” ~Irena, Bethany, CT

“Thank you for all of the valuable information and we look forward to your posts filled with delightful humor and inspiration.” ~Laura, Milford, CT

“I love it!!  So creative and innovative.  I wish I had kids in Connecticut!” ~Zoe, Morgantown, NC

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CONTRIBUTORS:

Daniela Balzano-Fenton: Parenting, among other things

Daniela lives in New Haven with her husband Michael, daughter Luna and her son Solomon. Daniela has a degree in Natural Therapeutics and a BS in biology. While her education has always been based in the sciences, her love for art and creation has always remained alive.   As the founder of Blend for Kids in Branford and owner of The Painted Pomegranate, Daniela now gets to share her passion for all things creative with kids everywhere.

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Dan Finkel: Music

Dan is currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology at UConn, studying human evolution and behavior as they relate to music, religion, and social cognition.  He has been an educator in a number of settings, including Outdoor Educator, Adult Educator, High School Science Instructor, and most recently Parent (which is probably more of a student role than a teacher role, to be honest).  Dan has several passions: his family, science, outdoor education, and music.  He is an amateur musician (bass) and a life-long fan of many types of music.  Dan is looking forward to sharing this passion for music with the kidHaven community.

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Mary – Elissa Giovanni: Up-to-Date Events & Community Calendar

Mary-Elissa is a Mom with super cool, ninja-like Googling skills and assistant organizer to the New Haven Kid Friendly Meetup Group. She lives in Hamden (but soon Northford) with her husband and 2 1/2 yr old little boy.   Ironically, she works part-time with her family’s pest control business but is phobically terrified of spiders!  Mary-Elissa has a knack for finding new and fun things for her family and friends to do with their kids.  She believes that Connecticut is a really kid-friendly place with lots and lots to do, but hasn’t always found it easy or convienent to find the really awesome activities.  It’s because of this that she’s excited to share her findings with kidHaven, so that she can help other families experience everything they can with their kids.

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Joe Meade: Coaches Corner

Joe, a retired NYC Transit Police Officer, now co-owns Milford Pedicab.  In addition, he has spent the last 20 years coaching basketball at both the high school and college levels and is the founder of the Hoopskills Basketball Clinic  where he enjoys teaching young people about the values of sportsmanship, teamwork and the quality of effort.  Currently, Joe coaches the boy’s basketball team at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.  He is married to his beautiful wife Soledad and has 3 children, Isabela, Soledad and Joey III.

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Kristen Miller: Pregnancy & Childbirth

Kristen Miller received her Masters degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of New Mexico.  She is a certified exercise physiologist and personal trainer with over twelve years of experience.  Kristen’s focus is on preparing women for childbirth and beyond by strengthening the muscles used during labor and teaching women how to use them correctly.  Kristen is currently offering a pre-natal class at Blend for Kids in Branford, CT.  She also does private and small-group in home pre and post-natal conditioning and meditation.  Please check her website for more information: www.ppnatalconditioning.com

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Ingrid Prueher: Baby & Parent Resource Guru

Ingrid Prueher was born in Guatemala but was raised in New York. She has a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from St. John’s University and a master’s degree in International Affairs from The New School. Ingrid has been working in the finance field for the past 10 years and currently works as a Fund Analyst at Canaan Partners in Westport, CT. She is the Founder of Savvy Mom on Call™ and Savvy mom TV™, the Co-President of the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals, the Director of Operations for CityMommy in Connecticut, a certified educator for Dunstan Baby Language and The Happiest Baby on the Block programs and speak Spanish fluently. Ingrid is happily married to her husband of almost four years, has a two year old son, and currently lives in Connecticut. In her spare time, she loves to travel, cook, dance and sing.

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