Are you the "mean mom" or the "unfair dad" who makes your kid practice math flashcards and keep a reading log over the summer? There certainly is no harm in learning during these hot, hazy and humid summer months. (It's actually good for them.) But, why not try out an activity that will keep kids learning without them even realizing it? Mommy Poppins' Events Calendar is overflowing with activities that allow kids the fun they want while providing the educational component that parents seek.

Spend the weekend at the Franklin Institute's Mess Fest where science experiences get sloppy. Learn about the history of planes during war times at Fort Mifflin's Airplane Day. Discover the world of fine arts at the Kimmel Center's PNC Grow Up Great or Organ Demonstration. Or, explore being a sustainable design engineer at the Delaware Children's Museum's Junior Engineer workshop.

Continue reading for the top picks for the weekend ahead. Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and like us on Pinterest and Facebook and follow us on Twitter. No matter what you do this weekend, we hope you and your kids will learn something new!

Families can have a weekend to remember on Long Island--the hardest part will be choosing what to do. Dance around in your cowboy boots at the weekend-long Country Fest LI, or have a yummy time at The Whaling Museum's Ice Cream Social. And free Family Fun Days are happening at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook and Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.

Remember, you can find even more options in our jam-packed Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. To receive our posts in your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletters.

With such an eclectic assortment of family events taking place in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend, there’s truly something for everyone. Two big county fairs headline—the Orange County Fair and the Putnam County Fair. There’s also a centennial birthday party for a carousel. For a S.T.E.M. experience, sign your little Einstein up for Mad Science Marvels of Motion. Bibliophiles will be all a-Buzz at the Fly Guy Festival, and young (and old) divas can let it go at the Frozen Sing-Along.

Additional details about these events can be found below—along with the rest of our top picks. Even more events are on our Event Calendar, so head there too!

At sweltering times like these, all we can think about is water fun. NYC's public pools, beaches and water-filled playgrounds will be open all weekend, but you can also find a special sprinkler day on the Upper East Side.

Drier highlights include FREE festivals like Lincoln Center's Out of Doors Family Day and a celebration of the recently reopened High Bridge, plus Grammy-winning kid rocker Dan Zanes crooning at the Bronx Zoo.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

Though it is home to Connecticut’s flagship university, Storrs is a fun village not only for college students. Located about a half an hour east of Hartford, plenty of local attractions here (and in the town of Mansfield) will entertain, educate, and relax even the youngest visitors. So spend some time driving over its bucolic hills, exploring its trails, shopping its quaint stores, or enjoying a movie at one of the last remaining drive-in theaters in the state.

If you look up at the New Jersey sky this weekend, you may see hundreds of brilliant balloons filling the air. That’s because there are two amazing balloon festivals that you won’t want to miss-- Warren County Farmers' Fair & Hot Air Balloon Festival and the wildly popular QuickChek Festival of Ballooning. It’s also a great weekend for food-oriented fun at St. Ann’s Italian Festival and the Sweet Corn Festival at Oasis Family Farm.

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

It’s late July on the East End of Long Island and the natural world is on full display. North Fork or South, families eager to experience nature’s pageantry will find no shortage of opportunities. From beach walks to nature hikes and bike rides, it’s all about the environment this week as the East End readies itself for the last complete month of summer.

But rest assured, those not inclined to follow nature’s instincts will find plenty to do this weekend as well. On the North Fork, there are theater productions and music fairs; on the South Fork, carnivals, sports and music. And for even more happening in the area, check out our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide.

Maybe we all hope that our kids will spend the summer mostly outdoors, but let's be honest: they're going to find their way to the computer or phone from time to time. So why not make the most of screen time by signing them up with an online summer camp from the likes of Google? Or how about a Maker Camp run by a former Pixar staffer?

There are a number of reputable online camps available to get kids excited about STEM topics or to dive into other offline, DIY experiments that can help to bridge that gap between June and September.

My 9-year-old son put several online camps to the test and excitedly waited to sign on each day to see what challenge awaited. Check out these seven virtual camps—some of them free!—and let your kids get a little extra summer learning in at their own pace.