Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids |

14 Not-So-Scary Halloween Events in NYC for the Preschool Set

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 3:30pm

With a little one who gets tired after one or two blocks of trick-or-treating, I find myself hunting for Halloween events that are more geared towards his age group. Luckily for us, NYC boasts plenty of less spooky, pre-bedtime events for the littlest ghouls and goblins.

With that in mind, we've put together a list of 14 Halloween events perfect for the preschool set, many of them FREE. Enjoy these gentle Halloween events while you can—your kids will be celebrating at the Village Halloween Parade before you know it.

Find even more festive happenings for all age groups in our Halloween guide (including kid-friendly costume parades around the city), and of course in our events calendar, which is continually updated with new, fun events as we find out about them.

Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Harvest Fests, Peppa Pig, Oktoberfest

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 1:00pm

With a roster full of harvest festivals, apple picking, and corn mazes, it's beginning to look a lot like fall on this first official weekend of the season. Take in everything autumn has to offer at seasonal festivals like Morey's Piers' Annual Oktoberfest, Wildwood Crest's Annual Seafarers Celebration, and fall festivals in Hopewell and Westfield.

Experience the flavors of fall at Allaire's Fall Apple Festival and Tenafly's Apple Cider Making. Plus, make it a theatrical weekend at State Theatre Family Day or a production of Peppa Pig Live!

Check out our Fall Fun Guide for NJ Kids for more options, including 20 Fall Day Trips and 50+ Fall Events for NJ Preschoolers. And look to our September GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Music Classes for Children in Hartford County and Central Connecticut

Submitted by Tania Pesce on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 10:30am

Not simple a source of creative expression, music has been known to be critical for brain development, fostering self-esteem, improving language, and building many other great skills. Here's an extensive list of schools that offer instrument lessons (piano, violin, and more) or other music class programs (from movement-based classes to vocal instruction). For even more fun ideas, check out our Connecticut Classes and Enrichment Guide.

Boston Kids' Sports Classes That Focus on Fun and Boost Athletic Skills

Submitted by Clementina Verge on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 10:20am

The benefits of playing sports are plenty: Kids get exercise, distance from screens, an appreciation for teamwork, and new pals to play with. Luckily, the Boston area offers many athletic teams and classes that develop kids' skills while making sure they have fun, too. From traditional team sports like soccer and baseball to individual pursuits such as skating, swimming, and karate, these athletic programs in Boston and surrounding Massachusetts towns might just spark a lifelong passion. For more enrichment programs, look at our Boston Classes and Activities Guide.

Indoor Party Spots with Mega Play Spaces for LI Kids

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 4:00am

Throwing a birthday party is hard work. We all want our kids to feel special on their birthday, but feeding, entertaining, and mingling among your kid's adoring fans (and their parents) can seem like a job. Choosing a birthday party venue—as opposed to your home—can save you a whole a lot of stress, and you don't have to worry about cake on your carpets. In these indoor party spots, kids can run free in a safe environment, while parents mingle. Not to mention someone else does all the cleanup. Added bonus: You never have to worry about the weather with one of these mega indoor play spaces.

For more birthday party ideas, see our birthday party guide for Long Island kids, with recommendations on party spots for toddlers, tweens, and more.

Popular Upper West Side Preschools (and How to Know Which One Is Best for You)

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 09/16/2019 - 3:22pm

Gearing up for the great preschool hunt? In neighborhoods like the Upper West Side where preschool spots are in high demand, some preschools may require you to send your application in September the year before your child will enroll, after which you'll be invited to visit and confirm your interest in the school (some have early admissions and wait lists!), with final acceptance letters going out in February or March. If that sounds unsettlingly like college admissions to you, you're not alone.

But never fear. The Upper West Side is home to a lot of great preschools, and your odds of finding a comfortable fit for your family are excellent. We've compiled our best Preschool Admissions Tips as well as 10 Questions to Ask During a Preschool Tour, and don't forget that our Preschools Directory is an excellent resource. And to start your preschool search on the right foot, we've highlighted some of our favorite preschools in the Upper West Side and broken them down into categories to help you decide which may be best for your family. Good luck!

Halloween's Best Ghost Trains and Spooky Rides for LA Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 09/16/2019 - 4:24am

So you've already been to the pumpkin patches, and you're ready to take Halloween to the next level; you're ready, in fact, to put it in motion. We know several deadly ways to take this haunt on the road before it's time to trick-or-treat, with everything from an old-fashioned train ride through fields of pumpkins, to a spooky tour through the bowels of a haunted ship, or even a scream-filled hayride through fields of zombies. Whatever Halloween means to your family, you can make it a ride at one (or more) of these vehicular annual haunts. After all, the family that hunts down armies of zombies together stays together.

Pumpkin Festivals and Jack-O-Lantern Displays for New England Families

Submitted by Tara D on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 8:00pm

New England is brimming with fall festivals, but kids are particularly enamored with events celebrating the humble pumpkin: the symbol of autumn and Halloween. Whether you stick close to home or make a day or weekend trip out of it, going to a pumpkin festival or visiting a glowing jack-o'-lantern display is a fun, family-friendly way to get into the spirit of the season. Here's a sampling of pumpkin fun in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine over the next month. Get inspired for a trip to the pumpkin patch for a jack-o'-lantern display on your own front porch!

30 Perfect Fall Family Day Trips from NYC

Submitted by Katia on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 2:00pm

With fall upon us, we're craving more than just a change of seasons. Sometimes, fresh scenery—even for a day—can do wonders to reboot and re-energize weary New Yorkers who dodged tourists and sweltered in subways all summer.

Whether fall in your house means an afternoon harvesting nature's bounty at local farms, heading out for a hike, or something else, we've rounded up 30 spots worthy of a day trip. Some are even accessible by public transportation. Read on for our picks sure to inspire your love of the season, and find more getaways in our Day Trip and Travel Guide.

Two LA Halloween Haunts Give up the Ghost in 2019

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 10:04am

There's no way to sugar coat this: the Griffith Park Ghost Train and Boney Island—two of the most family-friendly haunts of the LA Halloween season—are both taking a hiatus this year. The two spooky-not-scary experiences seemed perfectly paired last year, when they first became neighbors in one festive corner of Griffith Park. We had been looking forward to seeing how the partnership would grow this season, but alas the skeletons are staying in the closet.