Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids |

Little Explorers Get Hands-On Fun at Camden Children's Garden

Submitted by Lindsay Li on Thu, 04/26/2018 - 11:00am

On the New Jersey side of the Delaware River, tucked right next to Adventure Aquarium, is a darling outdoor play space and garden center that makes for a perfect afternoon. Whether you live in New Jersey, across the river in Philadelphia, or are just passing through, the Camden Children's Garden is truly a special place, as my 5- and 1-year old children and I discovered on a recent visit.

Weekend Fun for LA Kids: We All Play, Puppet Festival, and Steam Railfest

Submitted by Toby B on Thu, 04/26/2018 - 2:59am

This weekend you're getting a sneak peak, a first look at some of the most cutting edge developments of modern times. First up: ride into the future on steam engines! There's an awesome two day festival and you can ride trains. Who doesn't love that?

Next up, the future of entertainment comes no strings attached (except when they are): we're talkin' puppetry! The Skirball has em all, from marionettes to full body puppets. When the kids have their music on, ever feel like it's a whole other language that you just don't get? Could be it's because they're listening to opera.

And last but not least, sometimes the new news really is new. And that's the case with the Zimmer. The beloved-by-the-under-10-set museum is getting a new home...in a mall... by the ocean. And you can check it out, way before it opens, while enjoying a petting zoo, a Squishie wall, an appearance by Hatchimals, and Donut School. (I'm not sure what all that means but it Sounds. Awesome.)

Keep reading to find out what your future holds, (for this weekend, at least)...

May GoList: Best Things To Do with Philly Kids

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Thu, 04/26/2018 - 12:00am

From fireworks at Sesame Place to strawberries in Peddler's Village and Mother's Day brunch at Elmwood Zoo, there's so much to do in Philly and its suburbs this May! Get outside and play all day, or for rainy days, head indoors and check out some Philly museums for free.

Want more ideas? Read on for 14 family-friendly events, and then head over to our event calendar to see what fun May can bring. Festival and fairs, nature and playtime, there's something for everyone this month!

Weekend Fun for Boston Kids: Sheepshearing, Photography, and Birds of Prey, Apr 28-29

Submitted by Lucie T on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 9:03pm

With the lovely spring weather that is (hopefully) here to stay, we've got plenty of chances to get outside this weekend. While parents can browse the spring tag sales going on, kids can enjoy the sunshine while watching sheep shed their winter coats and discovering the homes of fairies and gnomes. If the weather doesn't cooperate and indoor activities are necessary, kids can still get into nature at this birds of prey drawing workshop, or create sun prints and go on a treasure hunt at this photography exhibit. Love books and movies? Check out this film festival featuring literary-themed submissions all by kids.

Weekend Fun for Houston Kids: Texas Crawfish and Music Festival, Soggy Doggy Swim Day, April 28-29

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 8:09pm

Blue skies and mild temperatures make the outdoors the perfect place to be this time of year, and we could not be more excited to help you plan out how to take advantage of the upcoming weekends!

If you're looking to get out of town this weekend, we have two great options we recently reviewed. If you're looking to stay close to home, we recommend checking out nearby Conroe, which offers everything from paddleboarding to hiking without being too far of a drive. For a weekend getaway, Austin. Texas' weirdest city.

This time of year also gets us super excited about all of the f armers' markets around the city. Farm fresh produce, locally sourced eggs and dairy, and all sorts of handcrafted goods make being healthy easy and fun - especially when the kids get to help pick everything out. Want to make it an even more hands-on activity? Visit one of Houston's nearby farms for some DIY berry-picking, an activity that is sure to be a hit with your little helpers.

You'll also definitely want to check out our event calendar for daily activities and our April GoList for events that are happening around Houston throughout the month. To have all of our posts delivered right to you in one concise email, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter and you'll never miss a beat. Have an event worth sharing? We'd love to feature it! Just submit your event to our calendar, and we'll do the rest.

Now, let's take a look at all the fun things happening around Houston this weekend.

Weekend Fun: Sakura Matsuri, Legos, and Family Festivals

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 4:37pm

Warm, cold, rainy, sunny (please, no more snow)...whatever the weather has up its sleeve for NYC, Legos don't care. And there are TWO Lego events happening this weekend for NYC kids: Saturday (for FREE!) and Sunday (for a fee). The Legopalooza begins at Scandinavia House on Saturday, and the good news is that this new exhibit, aptly titled Lego Bricks: A Celebration, is open through August 4 (hot, rainy days = already sorted for you).

On Sunday, Lego Build for Habitat for Humanity at the World Trade Center invites kids ages 5–12 to compete for prizes, working in teams of four to build their own version of a Habitat for Humanity home.

National Arbor Day is April 27, so naturally this weekend includes lots of tree-themed outings. For starters, the massive Brooklyn Botanic Garden Sakura Matsuri festival takes place all weekend, celebrating those fleeting cherry blossoms and Japanese culture.

More tree hugging can be accomplished at Wave Hill's Arbor Day Fest, which includes a chance to don hard hats and harnesses to climb an ancient sugar maple, The Evergreens Cemetery, and the Queens Botanical Arbor Fest.

All that, plus street festivals are in season, including this weekend's Street Games, the Puppetry Arts Fest in Brooklyn, the Jack and Jill School Spring Fair, and the Friendship Circle Upper East Side Carnival (with ponies), to name just a few.

Check out our Spring Fun Guide, the best upcoming family festivals this season, events for the pre-K and toddler crowd, and more outdoor fun like the May 1 opening of Governors Island, or maybe a little mini golf (did you know there are 12 miniature golf courses in NYC—at least one in each borough?)!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: KidVenture, Rubber Duck Derby

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 4:00pm

It wasn't easy narrowing down our top picks for the last weekend in April—there are so many lively events that scream spring, we hardly know how to budget our time! Fortunately for our readers, we’ve been toiling away at not only identifying must-do family events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, but also prioritizing them.

Some of our top picks can be classified as spring festivals, like the Spring Celebration Pinkster Festival and the White Plains Cherry Blossom Festival. Everyone’s favorite rubber-duck race returns as an example of the fun at Y Healthy Kids Day. Unrelated to festivals is Hudson Valley KidVenture, a low-cost, multi-venue, two-day combo of performances, hands-on activities and varied attractions. For a dance-the-early-evening-away kind of par-tay, hit Rockin’ Rave & Family Fun Night.

Would you believe that’s not all? Read on for all this and more, but definitely don’t stop there. We've got oodles more in our Event Calendar!

Weekend Fun Is Springing Up with Carnivals, Sheep, and Daffodils, April 28-29

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 3:19pm

It finally felt like spring this week, with warm breezes, bright blooms, and the sweet scent of....fried dough? That's right, carnival season has arrived! This weekend alone there are fairs and festivals in Danbury, Redding, Meriden, and Fairfield to name but a few. Even Quassy Amusement Park opens for the season this weekend with a classic car show and a carload special that can't be beat.

To get away from the spectacle of the midway and spend time closer to nature, check out the Earth Day Nature Festival in Barkhamsted, the Amazing World of Bees at Greenwich Audubon, the Pancake Breakfast and Sheep Shearing at Ambler Farm.

If you're still looking for more, check our Events Calendar, which is regularly updated, sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Have a great time!

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Spring Blooms, Science, Performances April 28-29

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 2:49pm

Just take a look at our jam-packed events calendar and you'll find the end of April sure brings a lot of springtime excitement to the Delaware Valley.

Start off the weekend in nature. Wake up early to see how the fish are biting during Lorimer Park's Kids' Fishing Clinic & Derby. Learn about honeybees and their vital role in the world at New Leaf Eco Center's Open Hive Days. See spring flowers in all their glory at Longwood Gardens. Free outdoor fun includes an opportunity to discover how wild animals make their homes during Newlin Grist Mill's free Pop-Up Naturalist Series, hikes at Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education's free Schuylkill Saturdays, and the 2018 Philadelphia Science Festival's free, all-day Science Carnival. This culminating event offers live demos, hands-on activities, entertainment, and games for the entire family.

After outside fun, find a seat at a local show. This weekend, Philly families can chose from The Sound of Music, Aladdin, Jr., Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, and Snow White at Arden Theater (don't miss our recent review about this unique two actor performance).

Keep reading for more top picks for the weekend. Enjoy!

NJ Cat Cafes: Purr-fect for Feline-Loving Kids and Families

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 2:00pm

If you're a cat-lover who craves a new place to sip a cappuccino while enjoying some downtime with your kids, then you're in luck: the cat cafe trend has officially arrived in New Jersey. Three kitty cafes have opened in the Garden State since July 2016—in Asbury Park, Rahway, and Palmyra—and the best part is, they're all kid-friendly. Guests big and small are encouraged to pick up a toy and get down on the floor to interact with the cafe's feline friends. For kids who go gaga for kitties, it's a cool alternative to a traditional indoor play space—and, since all of the four-legged residents are up for adoption, you just might leave with a new best friend.

Read on for more about NJ's three cat cafes and get ready to plan an a-meow-zing visit.