Nothing, just nothing, is better than having your little one’s birthday party in your own home.  But love them as I do, home-based birthday parties can be a real headache.  Herding my own three kids is hard enough – the thought of adding ten more is nearly more than I can handle!  Fortunately, there's a simple solution: host the party at home, but outsource the entertainment. The best of both worlds! Below are several outfits that will come to your Fairfield County home and put on a birthday party – money well spent! For more party ideas check out our Party Guide!

Memorial Day may have marked the unofficial start of summer, but East Enders know the season doesn’t really begin until the end of the school year, which is this week! As students start their break on the North and South Forks, abundant summertime activities for kids take over. This weekend alone, you can treat your family to a car show, nature walks and a magic spectacle.

And for more fun in the area, check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

If you have a Lego lover at home, you won't want to miss Brick Fest Live!, an unofficial Lego fan celebration taking place at Queens' New York Hall of Science this week. This touring Lego experience offers hands-on fun for all ages and skill levels, from casual builders to die-hard fanatics, including a Lego video game arcade, multiple building areas, a racetrack for Lego cars and amazing plastic brick creations, including some that glow in the dark!

My 10-year-old son and I just got back from Brick Fest Live!, and if you've got a Lego-obsessed kid like mine, this is a must-do event. Bonus: It's FREE with regular museum admission!

Nothing sparks my kids' (or my!) curiosity quite like a trip to a museum. Thankfully, Fairfield County, Connecticut is filled with fascinating cultural institutions where my family can learn about science, space, nature and history. But did you know that many of these museums offer fun and enriching children's birthday party packages, too? Here are seven spots where your child can celebrate the big day among dinosaurs, farm animals, trains and even armored tanks!

It's official: the calendar says summer, even if my kids still have one more week of school. Once classes are out, they'll be looking for some fun entertainment, and we've got news of a lot of freebies! From a free museum festival to no-cost swimming lessons, complimentary circus performances and a school's out celebration at Luna Park, there are plenty of activities to banish summer boredom without emptying your pocketbook. And if you've got a wee one in Brooklyn, we have big news about a new public pre-K set to open.

When you think about the East End of Long Island, the first word that comes to mind usually isn't "cheap." So how can parents amuse their kids in the Hamptons and North Fork without inflicting too much pain on their wallets? Believe it or not, there are plenty of creative ways to stretch a dollar in this region. Activities like ferry rides, nature junkets and railroad excursions offer maximum entertainment value at limited expense.

Here are some innovative ideas for super-low-cost family outings on the East End. And for more things to do in the area, check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

Festivals, outdoor movies and fireworks—it’s beginning to look a lot like summer! Get into the spirit of the season at outdoor events, including a Somerset Patriots Baseball Game, the annual Italian-American Festival and Fireworks on the Beach. Catch family films under the night sky at Turtle Back’s Zoo-vies and Scotch Plains’ Family Movie Night. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

By now all kids are out of school and summer is in full swing. I’m not saying this Poppins Mommy didn’t plan well, but our Summer Camp Guide is still coming in handy for last-minute adjustments. Better yet, make your own camp with WeeWork projects, local events, and lots of play. Fantastic Mr. Fox screens for free this week at the Brentwood Country Mart—even George Clooney’s voice manages to be handsome, and this is one of my family’s favorite movies. Gather 'round a campfire at the King Gillette Ranch or Franklin Canyon; loiter on the sidewalk for some stargazing in Burbank; and pack a picnic dinner for an evening of free Shakespeare in Griffith Park or a sing-along with Julie Andrews in the Hollywood Hills. Summertime means more action than ever on our Event Calendar!