As we approach the 12 year anniversary of Mommy Poppins, it’s amazing to reflect back on the past years, even as we are looking forward and adding new cities to our community.  Just like my children, who have grown in ways I never would have imagined, Mommy Poppins has become so much more than I ever planned for it to be when I started writing those first blog posts as a New Year’s resolution in 2007. 

This week we added Washington, DC and Chicago to our growing list of cities that now includes Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Houston, as well as NYC, Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, and Connecticut.

NYC has a brand-new indoor roller skating rink, just in time to skate out those rainy winter afternoon crazies. Lola Starr, longtime host of roller skate parties for grownups at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park, debuted a 15,000 square-foot indoor roller skating space on December 8 in Industry City, Brooklyn, which will host family skating parties every Saturday and Sunday all winter long. We recently visited for a satisfying afternoon skate, and had a chance to talk with Starr about upcoming plans for NYC's newest roller rink. For a peek inside the colorful new space, read on.

Enjoying things that go sparkle in the night is a great way to create a holiday outing without breaking the bank, and if you'd like something more interactive than the good ol' drive past the neighborhood lights, head over to Grand Park's free Winter Glow light display in Downtown LA.

The lazy days of December break may be the best time to take part in New Jersey's family-friendly holiday activities—especially if you have visiting relatives to entertain or kids who have already moved on from their presents. From spectacular light displays to cold-weather fun, there's plenty to do during the days off from school. 

Most New Jersey schools are closed from Monday, December 24, 2018 through Tuesday, January 1, 2019, allowing plenty of time to experience some of the holiday highlights you may have missed in the hectic run-up to Christmas. It's also the perfect time to check out an indoor play space, museum, or fun zone.

Be sure to check out our December GoList and Holiday Fun Guide for more great ideas. Happy Holidays, NJ!

Just when the hectic-ness of the holidays are behind you, you'll be staring down a week without school. What to do? So much!

Whether you want to head to a museum, take the kids to tea, or kick off the New Year with a kid-friendly celebration, we’ve got 25 fun things for Westchester families to do over winter break 2018.

Looking for even more activities? Check out our Event Calendar and sign up for our newsletters!

The growing popularity of gaming stores and cafes around NYC should come as no surprise, particularly to kids. With their active minds, kids crave more than video games and social media, especially in wintertime, when parks and playgrounds often take a back seat to indoor activities. For curious, engaged kids, gaming spots are a place to play, imagine, make new friends, and develop new skills.

Most game spots, whether they be stores or cafes, tend to lean toward 8 and 9 year olds (and up), and don’t really include the space even the most game-loving younger kids might need for intermittent dancing around. But they’re all friendly. Read on for a few of our favorite game cafes and stores for kids in NYC.

Tribeca has no shortage of great places to eat with the family. In general, places to eat in Tribeca either tend to be upscale or little holes-in-the-wall, with a handful of options in between. Since Tribeca is such a family-oriented neighborhood, many eateries welcome kids and even offer children's menus. Plus there's a wide range of cuisine to try, from good old American comfort food to French bistro dishes to authentic Cuban eats, plus incredible bakeries. Read on for our favorite places to eat with kids in Tribeca.

Just in time for those cooped-up, cold winter months, a new imaginative, eco-friendly play space has arrived in NJ: Woodland Indoor Playground in Cedar Grove, a Scandinavian-inspired play space created by Montclair mom-preneurs Julija Stoliarova and Marina Miller. Woodland will offer fun for kids and families while giving back to the community via a partnership with the Community Food Bank of NJ.   

The play space is open for business as of today, Wednesday, December 12.