This Week: 100s of Free Ways to Play this Summer, NYC Public Pools Open for the Season, Three Great Giveaways

6/26/14 - By Raven Snook

This has been a week of transition as our SUMMER OF PLAY begins. Our Mommy Poppins bloggers have been all over the map, dropping off their kids at camp or going camping as a family, and flying off to far-flung destinations like the Caribbean and Europe.

If you're looking at a season-long NYC staycation don't worry—my family is, too. That's why we've been furiously updating all of our popular summer posts like our favorite public pools (which open for the season this Friday) and readers' top 42 outings in and near NYC, along with our list of FREE things to do every day through the end of August, including a bunch of anytime options.

Speaking of FREE summer fun, we kicked off our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE this week with a list of 100 ways to play with kids this season anytime, anywhere. We also launched a great SUMMER OF PLAY giveaway encouraging your family to share your playtime fun on social media to inspire others while simultaneously vying for prizes.

And we have two other giveaways going on this week: Enter to win tickets to this Sunday's Everything Kids Expo at the Aviator Sports and Events Center and like this Facebook post for a chance to win a Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band prize pack, which includes CDs and tickets to see the L.A. kid rockers perform at the Bronx Zoo. Enter ASAP: Both giveaways end this Friday.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

We started the week with everything you need to know to take our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE. Browse hundreds of family playtime ideas, including our ultimate summer playlist; download our fun list generator and find out how you can win awesome prizes just by sharing your summer fun on social media.

Speaking of summer play, we shared 100 FREE things to do with kids in NYC this season. We highlighted one no-cost event per day through the end of August, plus a bunch of anytime outings.

Children get fed and enjoy a crash course in Italian cuisine and culture at Eataly's brand-new summer tours for kids.

Our biweekly news post includes info on the reopening of a long-closed Staten Island Beach, a refreshing addition to Governors Island and a possible big change to NYC public school hours.

Want the kids to spend more time playing outside? There's an app for that: the new game Habitat

This week's WeeWork posts included how to craft cute homemade stationery and pom-pom garlands.

Best bets for the weekend include the annual Astoria Park Festival in Queens, a pair of fishing fests in Harlem and an outdoor screening of Frozen on Roosevelt Island.