The arrival of spring isn't the only thing greening NYC these days! We've got details on a contest to improve school green spaces. Plus, Ringling Bros. plans to retire a controversial act, one NYC public school completely reimagines homework, destination kids' stores on the move and, just as things are warming up, Disney won't let winter go with confirmation of this sequel.

Warmer weather is just around the corner and springtime often brings with it resolutions to get active and stay fit--great ideas for the entire family! Along with indoor play spaces and kids-only gyms, Westchester also has several choices for families who want to get all of their exercising done in one fell swoop. While many local gyms have nurseries or playrooms where little kids can hang out while their parents work out, several have gone one step further and created sports and activity programs to keep kids busy while parents pound out miles on the treadmill or try to master those impossible double-unders.

Several fitness centers throughout Westchester offer comprehensive programs for kids that include everything from dance to cheerleading; sports to CPR training. Read on for details on keeping the whole family fit and active.

Spring is officially here! Those days we've been dreaming of, filled with fresh flowers, afternoons at the playground, and sunshine are just around the corner! Lot of fun happenings in NJ this weekend: Celebrate Easter a tad early with an Easter Bunny Breakfast at Imagine That! Children’s Museum, dress up in your Anna & Elsa best for the Frozen Ball at Liberty Hall or take in a playful performance of Skippyjon Jones at Paper Mill Playhouse. And if you’re itching to get outdoors, check out the Earthcache Discovery Trail event at Liberty State Park, gather round a Spring Campfire at Tenafly Nature Center or head to Maple Sugar Sunday at the Miller-Cory House. For even more weekend fun, check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

If there's a fault to be found with Catherine Wheel's production of Lifeboat at the Wallis, it's only in how short the run is; seeing this moving and remarkable show requires making plans quickly, as it's only in town through Sunday. I'm beyond glad that I made the drive to Beverly Hills on a Friday night with my 11-year-old (not something I say lightly), because it's so rare for us to see a play together that inspires thought-provoking conversation all the way home. Lifeboat's true tale of two teenage girls who become lifelong friends after surviving a shipwreck together strikes a balance between exposing young audiences to some harsh reality while leaving room for moments of great joy.

While our parched region may be praying for more rain, it is pretty apparent that spring has sprung. The asparagus spears are tender; wildflowers bloom, St. Paddy’s Day is here, and Easter is on its way. Celebrate the season of life with egg hunting and nest building in San Juan Capistrano, where the cyclical return of the swallows (who build their nests in the building’s eaves) on St. Joseph’s Day is an annual miracle – and something to experience at least once. Then clean out your closet for SoCal’s largest consignment sale. 

Spring is in the air. Who’s doing the happy dance? Dance and sing at fun musical events this week, including Mini Music Mondays at Maxwell’s and The Imagination Movers: Meet the Movers Tour. Let the creative juices flow at Marlboro Public Library’s Marble Painting, Crafty Kids Workshops and Think & Eat Green St. Patty’s Day Cooking Class. And don’t forget to check out our event calendar for even more weekday and weekend events.

It's the last official week of winter and we have high hopes that the rest of this month is going to be fun for the whole family. This week, celebrate St. Patrick's Day with some kid-friendly events--hopefully, the luck o' the Irish will be with you! Kids can also get artistic, show off their talents and whip up a few yummy treats.

And keep in mind that this list is just our top picks--be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar regularly as it is always being updated. And to receive this post right into your inbox, sign up for our newsletter, which is now going out twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays).

Great travel is the holy grail of family time: To see the world, expand our horizons, and experience unforgettable adventures together is everything we want our family time to be, all wrapped into one. That’s the dream anyway. The reality is that planning a big trip can be so daunting you want to throw up your hands and just stay at home. It’s no wonder all-inclusive resorts are so popular, just show up and your hardest decisions concern the buffet.

But there’s no substitute for amazing travel with your kids. If you’re like me you want to pack lots of stuff into your days, but not at the expense of having crabby, exhausted kids. There’s no reason to give up hope of doing the things you want or just sticking to vacations at Disneyland. Finding the perfect balance and knowing a few tricks to planning itineraries that optimize your days will help you have better, more adventurous vacations.

It‘s taken me years of practice to figure out how to plan itineraries that keep everyone happy, expose us to new experiences, and still feel enough like a vacation that I don’t need another one once we get home. The heart of my travel planning comes down to knowing how to balance cultural experiences with kid-friendly fun, while making the logistics as seamless as possible. I’ve boiled my technique down to 10 simple steps that anyone can do to have amazing vacations. If I can turn my grumpy kids into world travelers, you can too.