New York City is always changing, and so are our schools. Despite longstanding, ongoing debates over standardized tests, overcrowding, and tuition costs, there are also some exciting new developments in early education here in NYC. In classrooms across the city (and across the country), project-based learning, a focus on global citizenship, and child-centered education are all trending, as we look toward a future in which the jobs our children will need to be prepared for most likely haven't even been invented yet.

Staying on top of educational trends may seem difficult, especially in the ever-evolving world of NYC schools, but the Mommy Poppins NYC Public and Private School Listings Guide can help. For an up to date listing of schools in your area visit our School Directory Listings, and in the meantime, read on for the latest about new schools opening in NYC.

Everyone wants to raise their family in a healthy, safe, and yes, fun community. But, how do you go about finding the right corner of this country for your family? Trial and error perhaps, but WalletHub is also throwing a little data our way on just this subject. The credit report and personal finance site just released its ranking of the best and worst 50 states in which to raise kids.

It weighed a number of factors to determine the top family-friendly states, looking at schools, housing, crime, childcare costs and quality, parental leave options, salaries, and of course, the amount of family fun per capita, including access to parks and playgrounds.

Read on to find out how your state stacks up—and where you might want to consider relocating to with the kids!

If you're scratching your head and wondering how it's possible that we are already talking summer activities, you're not alone. Luckily, Houston has plenty of options for every child. If you have an artsy kid, keep their creative juices flowing by enrolling in summer art camp.

And for more summer and vacation camp ideas, check out our comprehensive camp guide and full directory of camp listings.

Note that summer camp information for the 2020 season is changing daily. Please click the links to the individual camps below to see which ones are offering programs this year.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?'" This weekend, families can join together to answer that question, by participating in the MLK Day of Service. A day spent giving back is just one way to honor Dr. King's memory. There are parades, celebrations, and concerts throughout the weekend to bring our families and communities together in honor of his legacy.

Little ones can learn from Dr. King's example as well, with a number of events this weekend particularly geared toward young children. Kids can listen to inspiring stories , participate in service projects, and share their dreams for the future.

Inspiration can be found on other fronts with founding fathers  and kung fu figure skaters, blood moons and behind the scenes, bulldogs and boars, ephemeral art and fast moving motocross, high flying acrobats and dancing on, what do call em? feet, all serving as examples of what one can achieve. Now is a good time to ask our children: how do you try to make a difference? And where do you find your inspiration?

Keep reading for some of our most inspired picks for this weekend.

Are the kids praying for a snow day in Philadelphia? When you're a kid, school closings for a snow day means snowball fights, snow angels, sleds, and snowmen. Add in some hot chocolate, warm cookies, and a few indoor activities and you've got one memorable day off from school. 

But parents just need to know whether or not the school is open or closed due to snow, so they can get on with planning their workday and commute! 

So is the school closed today? Will there be early dismissal or a late opening for Philadelphia schools? We as parents have the same questions, so we've compiled a few local resources, so you can stay up to date on weather-related school closures in Philadelphia.

Houston has a variety of amazing kid-friendly activities that don't break the bank, but organized classes don't often make the cut. Some museums offer free admission on certain days of the week, but signing up for music lessons or dance classes usually costs more than most of us would like. Luckily, several area stores offer a variety of classes to keep young kids engaged and learning for FREE. 

Another perk of free store classes is the flexibility they provide. Kids often jump from one interest to the next more quickly than semester-long or year-long classes last. By attending classes for free at local stores, kids can explore a variety of interests without the time commitment of traditional classes.

These valuable community resources can be found right here in the greater Houston area. Check out our list of free store classes to see what could be available right in your neighborhood. 

New York City has tons of cool shows for families this winter, including the debut of two buzzed-about Broadway productions aimed at tweens: the Internet-fueled phenomenon Be More Chill and the big-budget musicalization of Beetlejuice. But you don't need to dig into your 401K to give your kids a memorable live theater experience in NYC—plenty of family-friendly productions are playing beyond Broadway for a lot less.

This winter there are wonderful options for kids of all ages from toddlers to teens, including shows aimed specifically at the preschool set (The Naughty Penguin, Sesame Street Live!), stage adaptations of popular picture books such as The Snowy Day, The Magic School Bus and The Stinky Cheese Man, and eye-popping spectacles for the whole family (Thunderbird American Indian Dance Concert and Powwow, Jedi Academy).

Best of all, most of these 28 shows are priced at $25 and under, so you can take the whole family for less than the price of one Broadway ticket.

With two five-year-old girls in the family, the American Girl Doll phenomenon has overtaken our home—quite literally. We have dolls, furniture, books, and an extensive wardrobe I find myself slightly envious of. "Julie" and "Maryellen" have hobbies we talk about, preferences on activities, and are with us so often that I sometimes forget that they're not real-life pals of my daughters. So, as you can imagine, when I announced we would be going to the all-new, first-ever American Girl Live show, I was met with shrieks of excitement—followed by weeks of planning outfits, accessories, and hair-dos, for both them and their 18-inch sidekicks.

American Girl Live, featuring six of the iconic dolls and an all-girl cast (not to mention an all-female crew and creative team behind the scenes) will be touring the country in 2019, with stops that include New Jersey, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Long Island, and Maryland. In keeping with the American Girl mission, the show is all about "girl power," a message that came through to my girls loud and clear when I took them (and Julie and Maryellen, of course) to the Capitol Center of the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire, one of the show's first tour stops.