Photo by Christine Hochkeppel Michelle Riggen-Ransom (left) and Katy Killilea are two of a handful of Rhode Island parents who write for Kidoinfo.com. While Ms. Riggen-Ransom primarily focuses on outdoor activities, Ms. Killilea writes about a little bit of everything.

Barrington residents Michelle Riggen-Ransom and Katy Killilea have made a habit of turning tips they pick up from family and friends into informational articles for other parents on the Internet. Ms. Riggen-Ransom and Ms. Killilea are two of a handful of Rhode Island parents who write for Kidoinfo.com, a place where local parents can share helpful tips and fun activities and ask questions specific to their needs.

Both women are mothers of two children under five years old, so there's not much time to write. But they manage to do it, they said, because it's important.

It's important because they enjoy doing it, and because it is a great tool they like to use themselves.

Anisa Raoof is the founder and editor-in-chief of Kidoinfo.com.

"Since my kids were babies, I've gotten a lot of great information from parents at the playground, at the school fence, e-mail's from friends, and at my favorite coffee shop. Other parents help make my job as a parent easier. I wanted to bring all this valuable information into one central location," she said.

Ms. Riggen-Ransom writes the Nature/Nurture column for KidoInfo.com.

"I try to write a column about once a month on ways to get families outside, away from the television and video games," she said. "It's a challenge for me, too."

Last month, Ms. Riggen-Ransom explored snow-shoeing as a cheap and convenient alternative to winter sports, like skiing and snowboarding, for Kidoinfo.com. She writes about her experiences with different brands of snowshoes and the best places to use them, like the town beach. A few weeks ago she and her family trekked the beach in their new gear.

"I live my life. Every once in awhile I write about it and I bring my camera along wherever I go," she said.

While Ms. Riggen-Ransom primarily focuses on outdoor activities, Ms. Killilea writes about a little bit of everything.

Recently, Ms. Killilea visited the Capron Zoo in Attleboro, Mass.

"It was a complete mystery to me. Luckily, I have a friend who goes everywhere and does everything, and she invited me to join her and two of her kids for a short day trip," she said. "According to the friend who was guiding me around, the sunny January day we visited was the busiest she had ever seen there. Maybe, but it was not at all crowded. The animals were enchanting... The kids, ages two to almost five, loved it."

When she returned home, she posted an article about the lesser-known zoo and its new playground and picnic area.

"I wouldn't have known about it unless someone took me by the hand and showed it to me. That's the type of thing I like to write about," she said. "It offers parents concrete examples. It's a great place to get some ideas."

Online community

In addition to writing articles about children's entertainment, Ms. Killilea also conducts interviews of parents for the website.

Ms. Killilea asks mothers and fathers from all different parts of the state, and different walks of list, a list of questions, "nothing too personal," she said.

Her goal is to create a community online and for neighbors to get to know neighbors via the website. It is also a place where parents can talk about their interests and the problems they face raising children in Rhode Island.

One of Ms. Riggen-Ransom's biggest challenges raising two children in Barrington, she said, is the weather. While there are a countless number of indoor and outdoor activities for families during the warmer months, Ms. Riggen-Ransom said the winter can pose a challenge.

"All of the same opportunities are there — hiking, playing on the playground — just stay out there a shorter amount of time. Modify and bundle up."

Ms. Killilea agreed. The winter months can be a challenge for parents to entertain their children, but it is possible. It requires some creativity.

"That's what is so great about the Web site," she said. "It's a great tool to get someone out of a rut or get rid of the winter blues."

For her next piece, Ms. Killilea will explore the best ways to utilize playgrounds during the winter months. A couple of weeks ago, the Barrington mom bundled her children in hats and scarves, piled them in the car and visited three local playgrounds.

"We made a game out of it," she said. "We had to go down the slide five times at each playground. Then we hopped back in the car, turned the heat up and did it all over again."

She also recommended the local library all year long.

Ms. Riggen-Ransom pointed out the Internet is all about sharing information, and that is what KidoInfo.com does. Ms. Killilea likes it because it gives her the opportunity to reflect on her family life.

"I feel the website has certainly enriched our lives as we've done things as a family we wouldn't have known about otherwise, like attending the craftland sale earlier this year in Providence, or going to a Dan Zane concert last summer," Ms. Riggen-Ransom said. "We always find fun things to do because of the site. Also, I've met some really cool people through the site, so that's been a big benefit as well."

More about the site

KidoInfo.com is a Web site for parents and children. The independent Web blog is based out of Providence and offers a variety of information via informational articles, resource listings, product reviews, an events calendar, weekly newsletters and a message board.

For more information: Visit www.KidoInfo.com.

Contacts: Anisa Raoof, e-mail anisa@kidoinfo.com

Michelle Riggen-Ransom, e-mail mriggen@batchblue.com

Katy Killilea, e-mail katykillilea@yahoo.com.

By Kim Centazzo

kcentazzo@eastbaynewspapers.com