Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids |

Sharing traditions with our children makes the holidays all the sweeter. The pies we bake, candles we light, songs we sing, and the gifts we give enrich the rhythm of this festive season. Volunteering to help those in need is another tradition we can offer to our kids. Giving our time and attention to our communities, whether we're dishing up food or singing Christmas carols, is often the best gift of all. And setting up our kids for a life of sharing and empathy is a gift we give to them and to the world they inherit.

12 Picture-Perfect Holiday Day Trips Near NYC

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 4:00pm

New York City is magical during the holiday season. However, if you're looking to experience some holiday happenings not too far from home, we've rounded up great options for family day trips, where kids can see Santa, dazzling Christmas lights, and even a North Pole village.

From right-in-our-backyard picks to rustic Christmas fun in Mystic, Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, here are a dozen holiday outings—listed roughly from nearest to farthest from Midtown—worth a drive or train trek this holiday season.

Weekend Fun: North Pole Express, Holiday Lights , Friendsgiving

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 1:00pm

This mid-November weekend sparkles and shines with the debut of holiday light displays throughout the state. Take a nighttime stroll through Turtle Back Zoo with its brilliant winter scenes, or drive though Skyland Stadium's dazzling, musical light displays. Storybook Land's holiday parade features the lighting of the park's tree, while Tropicana's interactive Christmas Tree synchronizes to music.

There's plenty of family-friendly theater to choose from this week, including performances of A Christmas Story: The Musical, Pinocchio, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Elf The Musical, and Sesame Street Live. And Thanksgiving prep is underway with PAWS Discovery Farm's Friendsgiving Feast and Early 19th Century Day of Thanks.

Find even more options in our Fall Fun Guide for NJ Kids, plus plan ahead for all those days off with 25 Family Staycation Ideas for the NJ Holidays. And look to our November GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

10 Special Holiday Tea and Treat Events for Boston Kids

Submitted by Kelley Heyworth on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 12:05pm

Getting kids to don some decent clothes and use some manners is a struggle. But that's less the case, we've found, around the holidays. Many children—girls and boys—get excited to dress up and head out to a fancy, festively decorated place, especially when special treats are involved. These restaurants and hotels are rolling out the red carpet (and some pretty fantastic pastries) for kids and their parents this month. Make your reservations soon for a perfectly sweet and civilized afternoon. (Some are more of a splurge than others, so be sure to call ahead for updated prices for your group.)

New Trolls Experience in Midtown Is a Fun-Packed Party for Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 10:00am

What's rainbow-hued, covered with yards of soft, pettable fur, and sprinkled with just the right amount of sparkly glitter? The brand-new Trolls Experience in Midtown West.

While it's part kid-centric, photo-friendly wonderland, there's definitely more to this installation than other recent Instagram-friendly pop-ups like Candytopia, The Museum of Pizza, and others. (For starters, there's actually a coherent, kid-friendly story to help guide your visit—it doesn't feel like a random collection of rooms.) You and your family are invited to a magical, fun-filled world where energetic staff members excitedly await your arrival, and are ready to help you prep for Poppy's Best Day Ever Party.

The Top Baby Names of the Next Decade Are Here

Submitted by Sally Chaffin Brooks on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 9:41am

Doesn’t everyone wish for a crystal ball during the baby naming process? Aren't we all looking for that perfectly unique but not too weird baby name? Just us?

Well, Nameberry.com just released its list of the baby names it expects to be the most popular in 2028. So get ready all you expecting parents! Pull up a chair and scroll through this futuristic list to see which baby girl and baby boy names are rising to the top in the next decade—and which are tanking. For those who have already gone through the baby naming milestone, Nameberry's list might just give you a hint as to whether or not your little Olivia or Oliver will be sitting next to half a dozen other kids who share their name come schooltime.