Your babysitter has bailed and your night out is in jeopardy. Fortunately on the East End of Long Island there are a number of emergency child care options that just might preserve that essential date night. Some are local companies whose sitters are known to other parents in the community, while others are parts of larger national companies with well-earned reputations for reliability and security.

Most require registration on the firm’s website. Be aware that most sitters are independent contractors and not employees of their firms. so company liability varies.

Still, with less than a day’s notice, these services offer experienced sitters with recommendations that can be accessed online or by email. Prices are as of summer 2015 and vary depending on time, distance and services provided. Cancellation policies also vary.

For other information on activities and events in the area, be sure to check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

With a few weeks left of summer vacation, get outside and soak up the great outdoors as much as possible. This week, nature exploration is in the spotlight at Lunch & Learn with a Naturalist, Growing in the Garden and Nocturnal Neighbors. Festival season continues both outdoors at the Hunterdon County 4-H Fair and indoors at the Superhero Super Carnival. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

I'm big on getting the kids out of the house, but sometimes it's easy to get so caught up in summer vacations, holidays, and big-ticket events that we miss the small things that are just as special to our kids. Before we know it, the summer will be gone, so I'm making a point to take my kids to some of the low-key activities they love. At the top of that list are free activities like enjoying an outdoor movie and splashing at a local spray park.  Whatever you decide to do this week, don't forget to check the full Event Calendar for other fun happenings!

Keeping cool will be a challenge this week, but Frozen is back at El Capitan for an end of summer sing-a-long. If movie theater AC doesn’t do it for you, cool off with gelato, ice cream, or fro-yo, then head to the beach; we have plenty of them. At some you can even catch a free concert or movie. Another way to keep cool on a hot day is by heading indoors to an ice skating rink. Or, if you'd prefer to just read about skating, hockey lovers and the LA Kings will be spending some quality storytime together at the Brentwood branch library. And this is the last week to celebrate summer nights in the garden at the Natural History Museum. 

Finally, if you have a boy whose voice is in flux as he creeps from tween to teen, you may want to bring him to the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus auditions this week. The LACC’s Young Men’s Ensemble is one of few in the country to serve the changing male voice.

As always there os plenty more on the Mommy Poppins’ Event Calendar.

Soak up every last bit of these last weeks of summer. Kids can get creative at Long Island Children's Museum or at a Lego playdate with friends. There's also outdoor fun in Patchogue and Long Beach.

And this list is just the beginning: Our Long Island Events Calendar is packed with activities to keep kids of all ages busy, while our Summer Fun Guide has tons of cool ideas on ways to enjoy the season. Spending time out East? Check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

Much to my entire family's chagrin, we are slipping into back-to-school mode this week, as we finish up neglected summer homework packets, do a little back to school shopping (don't forget that tax-free week in CT is August 16th-22nd), and perhaps most importantly of all, make some final summer memories. We've collected some of our favorite activities for the week from across the state, including a super fun movie by the beach in Madison, a paddle boarding class in Danbury, a fun summer campfire in Mystic, and so much more. Whatever you decide to do this week, don't forget to check the full Event Calendar for more fun things to do!

Kids love to run, jump, hang, climb and flip—and most are just as likely to tackle the playground monkey bars as they are to use their bed as a trampoline. Channeling that energy and sense of adventure through a sport like gymnastics can be a great way to enhance motor skills and encourage safe play and exploration, making it an ideal first activity for many young children (honestly, who doesn’t love a jumbo-sized trampoline or a massive foam pit?)

Whether you have an aspiring Gabby Douglas on your hands, or are jut looking to try out a new (and incredibly fun) activity, gymnastics classes may be just what you're looking for. We’ve explored gymnastics centers in Westchester; now we're taking a look at a few great options in the Lower Hudson Valley.