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Halloween Weekend Fun for CT Kids: Tricks, Treats, and Terrific Fun, October 27-28

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 7:02pm

All of us here at Mommy Poppins CT wish you and your family a very happy and safe Halloween! Since this kid-centric holiday falls on a Wednesday this year, which may be particularly challenging for the younger kids in your life, we recommend painting the town orange this weekend when there is all kinds of daytime fun to be had, including a Hobgoblin Fair, a Halloween Festival, a and even an Ick-fest! And just in case the forecast isn't boo-tiful, there's lots to do indoors at the Aqua-Scarium or the Dia de los Muertos events in Hartford and Storrs, to name just a few.

Be sure to check our event calendar for late breaking Halloween news and subscribe to our weekly newsletters. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest so that you won't miss out on any fun. Have a spooktacular weekend!

Kids’ Cooking Classes? Taco Bout a Good Time!

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 6:55pm

Philly parents agree: There are a gazillion reasons to get kids cooking in the kitchen. Besides being a "hidden gem" STEM activity with its math and chemistry components, it hones motor skills, builds self esteem, teaches an important life skill, and makes kids more willing to try new foods (if they cook it, they will be much more likely to try it).

If you're already sold on the benefits of kids cooking and want to give your little chef more structured and professional instruction, then a cooking class can be a great addition to your extracurricular line up. Running anywhere from 45-90 minutes for a regular class and longer for workshops and winter break/summer camps, these classes are sure to impress parents with the skills their young ones learn.

Keep reading below for some Philly area cooking classes designed with kids in mind.

Halloween Weekend Events for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 3:45pm

It's pre-Halloween weekend, and the spooky, kooky fun is on its way! Load up on candy at trick-or-treat events like Boo at the Boardwalk, Trick-or-Treat Weekend at Storybook Land, Trunk-or-Treat at Abma's Farm, Wildwood Trunk-or-Treat Block Halloween Party, and AddamsFest.

Meet some bewitching characters at Monster Bash and Zombie Walk, Monster Con Comic Book Festival, HalloWheaton, and Witch's Day Out. Or have Halloween fun with animals at Cape May, Bergen County, and Turtle Back zoos.

Plus, enjoy magical performances like Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire in Concert and Silly, Spooky Halloween Concert.

Check out our Halloween Guide for more options for family fun, including the best places to trick-or-treat, ideas for easy last-minute costumes, and plenty of free Halloween happenings.

Look to our event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond, and sign up for our FREE newsletters to stay in the know!

Tips for Navigating Preschool Admissions from Experts, Schools, and Moms Who've Been There

Submitted by Suzy Q on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 1:27pm

Finding the right preschool is a challenge for many NYC parents. Of course you want to provide your kids with the best early education experience possible, but there’s also cost and location to consider—and available spots can be in short supply at the most popular preschools. Plus, the sheer number of programs and educational philosophies (are you a Montessori family, or is your two year-old more of a Reggio-Emilia kinda toddler?) can be overwhelming.

Like a lot of other things in this city, finding a great preschool calls for a bit of advance planning and research. But with a few helpful tips, you can navigate the preschool admissions obstacle course. To demystify the process of getting into preschool in NYC, we reached out to admissions consultants, preschool directors, and parents who’ve been there, toured that. What we discovered is that there are as many different and "great" preschools as there are perfectly wonderful children. The right preschool situation is out there for your family!

Dough Life's Edible Cookie Dough Is Catnip for Kids

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 11:00am

There's nothing quite like taking a giant bite out of a roll of cookie dough. It's delicious, but not something you'd like to see you child doing. At least not until now.

While eating traditional raw cookie dough comes with health risks, including salmonella, Dough Life's cookie dough is completely edible. Kids, and cookie dough-loving adults, can comfortably indulge in what once was a guilty pleasure. Read on and see how the cookie dough craze has come to Long Island.

If your kids have a big sweet tooth, check out these decadent dessert spots or old-fashioned ice cream parlors on Long Island as well.

Children's Museum of the Arts: A Must-Visit Creative Hub for Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 10:00am

Slime in the carpet. Glitter on the walls. Paint on a brand new couch. These are just a few of the art-projects-gone-wild I've cleaned up over the years. And though I know the value in all this messy fun and creativity, sometimes I just don't want to deal with stocking the supplies, guiding the activities, and cleaning it all up. Enter the Children's Museum of the Arts. For my money (and sanity!) nothing beats a trip to this creative hub. Dubbed by my arts-loving daughters as their favorite NYC museum, it's an arts education powerhouse that doubles as an indoor playspace, making it a must-visit for NYC guests and tried-and-true boredom buster for city parents.

25 NYC Restaurants Serving Family Thanksgiving Dinner

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 10/22/2018 - 4:00pm

Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings—and to spend hours in the kitchen, right? Eh, we New Yorkers of small-space kitchens and rapid-fire takeout options often prefer to let someone else handle our annual turkey fest. Of course, in New York City we can choose from many award-winning restaurants for that amazing dinner. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a number of options in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens to make this November 22, 2018 as easy and delicious as possible.

Now, instead of deep-cleaning your apartment to host those far-flung relatives (and their expectations), you can spend the night before Thanksgiving in a more festive way—say, watching the inflation of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloons, sightseeing, or even volunteering. After all, what could be more of a New York City Thanksgiving experience than that?

Find even more family-friendly NYC eateries in our local restaurant guide. Visiting and still looking for a place to stay? Check out these top family-friendly NYC hotels, or these Midtown gems offering views of the Macy's parade.

Easy Last-Minute Halloween Costumes for Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Mon, 10/22/2018 - 10:00am

Maybe your daughter changed her mind about her Halloween costume for the bazillionth time. Or maybe your son got an invite to a last-minute Halloween party. Or maybe you're just a proud member of the Procrastination Club. Whatever your case may be, we’ve found the easiest Halloween costumes for kids that even a non-crafty mom or dad can pull together on the fly.

Most of the costumes on our list don't call for an arm's-length list of crafting supplies or Halloween props: Headbands, pom-poms, markers, solid t-shirts, and a glue gun can go a long way with a little imagination. In fact, these DIY kids' costumes are so easy, you might just have time to whip up a few frighteningly tasty Halloween treats, too.

7 Best Train Ride Day Trips To Take from Los Angeles

Submitted by Brian Steele on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 10:37pm

One of the best parts about living in Los Angeles is getting out of Los Angeles. With an unending supply of beaches, mountains, deserts, and historic highways just a short distance away from the city, there’s always an excuse for a day trip. But what are the options if you’re looking to leave cars out of the equation and travel by train to your favorite SoCal destination? Here are a few of the best spots Angelenos can get to by rail and still be home by bedtime.

The Best Trick-or-Treating Spots on Halloween with Boston Kids

Submitted by Kelley Heyworth on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 9:30pm

Ask a family what their favorite trick-or-treating spot is, and it's likely to be their own neighborhood. It's always fun to see familiar houses lit up with spooky decorations or the sweet old lady from down the street answer the door with a witch's hat and cackle. But sometimes, kids—and adventurous parents—are looking for an exciting alternative to their usual route. In that case, you might consider bringing your loot bags and Unicef boxes to one of the following Boston-area neighborhoods, where residents really take Halloween festivities to the next level. (If you're looking for more spooky fun before the big day, check out these haunted attractions—if you dare!)