Healthi Kids

04/30/2026

If going “screen free” for a whole week sounds unrealistic… same. 😊Screen Free Week is really about meaningful reductions and small swaps that feel doable.

A few easy ideas: device-free meals, a walk or bike ride, playground time, board games or puzzles, reading together, or letting kids lead their own play.

Now we want to hear from you: What screen free activities work in your home, especially on busy days? Share your go-to activities in the comments!

04/28/2026

The City of Rochester, in partnership with Rochester City Council and community leaders, will host a series of public meetings to get your input on the potential use of automated traffic enforcement as part of the City’s ROC Vision Zero initiative.

We know speeding cars and unsafe driving is a major barrier to safe, active outdoor play. We encourage you to share your thoughts about lowering the speed limit, automated enforcement, and ROC Vision Zero at these upcoming sessions!

6 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 – Willie W. Lightfoot R-Center, 271 Flint St.
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 – Carter Street R-Center, 500 Carter St.
6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 – Edgerton R-Center, 41 Backus St.
6 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 – Thomas P. Ryan R-Center, 530 Webster Ave.
11 a.m. Saturday, May 16 – Gleason Auditorium, Central Library, 115 South Ave.

Learn more: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/bureau-equipment-services/roc-vision-zero

04/28/2026

We’re honored to share that Healthi Kids was selected as one of nine Rochester-area organizations to be highlighted during the community screening of The Ebony Canal: A Story on Black Infant Health, narrated by Viola Davis.

This recognition—rooted in the Power of 9, symbolizing the nine months of pregnancy and the lifelong impact of safe, supported motherhood—is a meaningful reminder that change happens when communities wrap around families with care, resources, and respect.

At Healthi Kids, this spotlight reflects what we work toward every day through our Love From the Start campaign and our commitment to infant and early childhood mental health: supporting caregivers, strengthening early relationships, and helping babies get the healthiest possible start—emotionally, developmentally, and physically.

Thank you to Health Transformers, Inc. and HealthConnect One for uplifting community leadership and service, and congratulations to the other honorees: Building Healthy Children, Engaging Fathers Program, Flower City Lactation & Doula Services, Healthy Baby Network, Ibero-American Action League, Inc., Place of Wisdom: Maternal and Family Wellness, Rochester-Monroe Anti Poverty Initiative 9, and YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County.

💛 We’re grateful to be in this work together—because every family deserves support from the very beginning.

🔗 Learn more about the film: https://theebonycanal.com/

04/28/2026

Screen Free Week is coming!
May 4–10 marks the 30th anniversary of Screen Free Week—a national effort to help families pause, unplug, and reconnect.

At Healthi Kids, we’re encouraging families to reduce screen time (not eliminate it completely!) and make more room for play, activity, creativity, and connection.
Stay tuned for ideas, encouragement, and realistic ways to participate.

04/27/2026

Healthi Kids has heard from hundreds of parents who want drivers to slow down for kids. The City of Rochester's Vision Zero plan includes lowering the speed limit, educating drivers, and automated enforcement. Share your opinions and ask questions about automated enforcement at these upcoming public forums. This is your time to be heard about what you want to see in your community.

Traffic crashes are preventable — and even one is too many.

04/25/2026

We recently shared our new campaign, My R-Center Adventures, geared to raised awareness about what's available for children and families.

Setu didn't always know that Rochester’s R-Centers are full of fun for kids—sports and swim, arts and crafts, STEM, family events, and more. After learning of our campaign, she looked up what was on offer in her neighborhood, then took her daughter to a Baby and Me swim class at the Trenton and Pamela Jackson R-Center.

"[We] have had a blast so far! I'm excited for the opportunity to bond with my child and to meet other parents with children around my daughter's age."

Way to go Setu!

👉 Find your R-Center!
📣 Loved your visit? Share your family's story here!

Find all the information and links in this short blog about R-Center Adventures: https://healthikids.org/blog/r-center-adventures

04/25/2026

We recently shared our new campaign, My R-Center Adventures, geared to raised awareness about what's available for children and families.

Setu didn't always know that Rochester’s R-Centers are full of fun for kids—sports and swim, arts and crafts, STEM, family events, and more. After learning of our campaign, she looked up what was on offer in her neighborhood, then took her daughter to a Baby and Me swim class at the Trenton and Pamela Jackson R-Center.

"[We] have had a blast so far! I'm excited for the opportunity to bond with my child and to meet other parents with children around my daughter's age."

Way to go Setu!

👉 Find your R-Center!
📣 Loved your visit? Share your family's story here!

Find all the information and links in this short blog about R-Center Adventures: https://healthikids.org/blog/r-center-adventures

DRHS

04/22/2026

Earth Day is Health Day. 🌎
Kids do better when they have safe places to play and healthy food nearby. Healthi Kids works so every child has a strong start—no matter their neighborhood.

Here's our Earth Day check list:

☐ Safe ways to walk/roll
☐ Safe and engaging places to play
☐ Healthy food close by
☐ Systems that make healthy choices easier

How many can you check where you live? Comment 0–4.

04/17/2026

As we wrap up we bring you Family Friday!

Families are children’s first teachers. When families are engaged and supported, children feel safer and learn better.

The most powerful tool is a caring relationship. When adults respond with warmth and attention, young children build trust, confidence, and resilience. In fact, this is the basis of our Love from the Start campaign, which you can learn more about at lovefromthestart.org.

Try this: read, talk, and play together for 10 minutes today. Ask one simple question: “What do you notice?”

04/16/2026

Artsy Thursday 🎨
Open-ended art helps children build creativity, fine motor skills, and problem-solving. When kids make choices and use their imagination, they practice important thinking skills.

Try this: make a collage with scrap paper and glue. Let your child pick the shapes and decide where they go. Ask, “Tell me about what you made.”

Art can also bring joy into learning—and joy helps children stay engaged.

04/15/2026

Work Together Wednesday 🤝

When children build together, they learn more than shapes and structures. They explore early math and science and practice teamwork—sharing ideas, taking turns, and solving problems together.

Try this: build a block city as a team. Take turns adding pieces. Give every child a chance to share an idea.

Play is a powerful way for children to learn and connect with others.