As the mom of two, I know it can be a challenge to find one summer camp to fit both of my kids' interests and needs. One kid wants to swim and play sports all day, while the other thinks arts and crafts and exploring nature sound like more fun. And I really don’t want to spend the entire summer schlepping them around from one class or activity to another. After all, kids shouldn’t be the only ones to enjoy the summer vacation!

There's no denying how important science is to a child's overall education. In fact, excelling in this subject has been proven to help kids excel in other subjects in school, including math, reading and language. So if you have a budding little scientist on your hands, this is an interest you definitely want to help them explore. Luckily, there happens to be a few places right here on Long Island that cater to students that want to stretch their scientific brain muscles outside of school. The entire family can even join in and experience hands-on experiments and science learning at these five places.

And for other enrichment programs, be sure to check out our Long Island Classes Guide.

Valentines Schmalentines. My kids don't need any excuse to visit a candy shop any time of year, but with Valentine's Day coming up this weekend, they are only too thrilled to "research" the surprisingly large collection of candy boutiques scattered across Fairfield County.  Many of the sweet shops here include bulk "classic" candy options such as Pop Rocks and Pixie Sticks, which can be especially handy for classroom Valentine celebrations and are great peanut-free alternatives not commonly found in the drugstore candy aisle.  A few of the shops offer quite pricey merchandise that is fun to sample for a special parent-child outing but that will not strike quite the right note in the classroom Valentine exchange.

Enjoy this sampling of some of the sweetest places around!

When the IDNYC cards debuted last month, there was a lot of excitement. In fact, so many people wanted the FREE municipal identification cards, the city couldn’t handle the demand. A website was launched for booking application appointments online, but it had glitches, and soon slots through the summer were all filled up. But this week, the city opened new enrollment centers, which means suddenly appointments are available—but don’t hesitate! I was just able to snag a slot for the end of March, but these new appointments will likely book up fast. Click over to nyc.gov to make an appointment now, and then come back and read our tips and answers to frequently asked questions about IDNYC.

If you have kids in the 7-18 age range, I'll bet you've heard of Minecraft. When I asked my daughter to define it, she said, "Mom, it's basically a game about placing blocks to build anything your brain can imagine." I was not sold right off the bat, but as she played, I saw that there could be educational benefits--as long as parents set playing guidelines. Here are some great classes, clubs and camps that will get you revved up for Minecraft Madness in New Jersey.

It’s Valentine’s week! With all the ice and snow in New Jersey, maybe you’re not feeling the love for this time of year. When you check out all the great events going on this week, we think you’ll warm up to the season. Rejoice in everything Valentine at Shore Cake Supplies’ Valentine’s Day Cooking Class and The Bounce Factory’s Toddler Valentine’s Day Party. It’s a week for musical fun at Mini Music Mondays at Maxwells and a performance of The Rainbow Fish at Mayo Performing Arts Center. And don’t forget to check out our event calendar for even more weekday and weekend events.

While the snow might be keeping most of Long Island indoors, there's no need to suffer from cabin fever. This week is all about getting ready to celebrate Valentine's Day with an array of crafts for kids of all ages. There's also yoga for kids who want a good stretch and games, movies and more for the preschool set.

Of course, 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).

Oh the drama! What dark circumstances will emerge on Friday the 13th? Remember when you were a kid and waited all day for something bad to happen? In my house, as there’s a birthday involved, it will be a day of celebration; we are not anticipating disaster or distress. If you don’t have the distraction of a birthday, divert their attention from the day’s bad mojo by checking out our events calendar. There are many cool ways to sit out this evil day. Thursday the 12th is pretty great. It’s impossible to pick just one thing when two of the options are Mo Willems and Antique Sewing Machines.