kids

Thursday January 2, take your family to the Holi-daze Kidz Bazaar and enjoy interactive activities during the extended holiday break. Open special vacation hours for you and your child can take part in activities like "You Craft It" workshop, "Dance, Dance December" and even fun videogaming at Game Central.

This event will be held at The Salvation Army Kroc Community Center (650 Dudley Street

On Thursday, February 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. join in on fun for kids at the Kids' Franklin Park Winter Festival! The Festival will provide hours of family fun during February school vacation week with both indoor and outdoor activities and entertainment! Weather permitting there will be sledding, a demonstration by the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit, a marionette puppet show, face painting, arts and crafts, games, and even a Critter Exhibit featuring wildlife native to Massachusetts! There will also be a screening of "Cool Runnings" the inspiring true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team to make it into the Winter Olympics, in celebration of the winter season. The Boston Parks Department will provide popcorn at the clubhouse. Attendees should plan on packing a lunch for the afternoon. Free parking is available at the clubhouse parking lot located at One Circuit Drive in Franklin Park. For more information, please call the Boston Parks Department at 617-635-4505, visit their website at www.cityofboston.gov/parks, or go to www.facebook.com/bostonparksdepartment.

Welcome back a new and improved playground to Dorchester! The Martin Playground, located at 95 Myrtlebank Ave., has undergone a $374,000 renovation in the last year. On October 22, Mayor Menino will join Dorchester Residents to celebrate the reopening of the playground. The event will include face-painting, live music, refreshments, and fun - this is a playground, after all! The playground now has two age-appropriate structures, a new drinking fountain, and improved fencing and shade structures. Be there at 1:00 p.m. to join in!

It is time to register for Healthworks at Codman's afterschool fitness program! Healthworks offers an after-school fitness program for kids ages 5 - 12 throughout the school year. The program will run from September 26. 2011 - June 29th. 2012. There will be different programs on each day of the week Monday through Thursday: Fitness Fusion, GoGo Yoga, Sports Blast and Smart Moves. Programs for 5 - 8 year olds will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for 9 - 12 year olds. There is a $15.00 enrollment fee. You can register by visiting Healthworks at Codman, 450 Dorchester Street.

Healthworks also offers FREE healthcare from 5 - 8 p.m. so that moms and caregivers can exercise too!