Woohoo! Welcome! New York City's leading resource for things to do with kids has now arrived in the Nutmeg State. Yeay! It's about time!

On our site you'll find an events calendar, camp and class guides, giveaways and oodles of fun ideas about things to do. If you sign up for our free weekly newsletter you won't regret it. You'll get the inside skinny on what's happening around your area and or the region. During our launch, things may get slightly bumpy as we gather steam these next few weeks . Please have patience with us. It will just get better and better.

Like most parents, I like to think that I try to keep family life fun and interesting. Honestly, Mommy Poppins has helped me to do that over the years. Whether you're a full-timer, weekender or just planning to visit, MP promises to be your go-to resource. Go ahead, be the first to sign up for our free weekly newsletter and while you are at it, invite your friends to as well. The more the merrier. Let the adventure begin!

Mary Beth Lawlor
CT@mommypoppins.com

As a family we really like going to The Whitney Museum of American Art.  For a museum packed with world class contemporary art it is totally manageable to visit with a child. Unlike other museums in town, the kids don’t tire out before they ever get to the main exhibit, making for a fun hour or two excursion versus a day long trek.  And being contemporary in nature, the installations are usually a lot more interesting for kids to look at than simply a gallery filled with paintings.  

What I like the most about The Whitney though is the great programming they have for kids and families.  You may recall last year we told you all about seeing the 2010 Biennial by registering for a fantastic Whitney Wees program.  Well, my husband’s favorite artist is Edward Hopper and we all wanted to see the exhibit: Modern Life – Edward Hopper and His Times, so we were due for a trip back to the museum.  My son has since aged out of Whitney Wees so we registered for a Family Fun Art Workshop and it was a great experience!  Not to mention a perfect indoor activity for NYC families for just ten bucks!

At this point in the winter, everyone's list of indoor things-to-do can use a little refreshing. Just in time, there's something new at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Night Journeys, a bilingual exhibit that itself has journeyed around the country, explores the favorite topic of any parent: sleep. Read on to find out why you and your little one will both enjoy this exploration of sleep, a guaranteed non-snooze fest.

If your brood hasn’t experienced quite enough bonding and cabin fever courtesy of New Jersey’s many snow days, you’re in luck! President’s Day will soon be here and with it another day (or two) of scrambling for activities that don’t involve turning on the TV and time-outs. Fortunately, New Jersey’s museums deliver with some great family-friendly events, or if you feel like staying in and crafting the boredom away, we’ve found some clever crafts that will have you hailing to the chief in no time.

Presidents' Day at Newark Museum

Spooky, dark tunnels; creepy animals; bugs, beasts...hey! You’d think it’s Halloween in New Jersey this weekend! But it’s all in fun, and you know the ick-factor scores big with the kids. The super-popular, pitch-black, crawl-through Touch Tunnel finally makes its return to the Liberty Science Center; check out beasts on-stage or in a museum; or learn about “unhuggable animals.” Not into the darker side? There’s t-shirt bags to be sewn, Renaissance art to be re-created and birdhouses to be built. And if you're looking for something to do for President's Day on Monday, check back in tomorrow for a special Prez Day list of events. (Gotta give our Chiefs their props, right?)

I admit, before becoming a stay at home mom, I bought all of my books from the local bookstore or online.  Who had time for the library?  Now, I take my toddler to the library on a weekly basis, if not more.  And I learned that its definitely more economical, and space saving, to keep a rotating collection of library books for both him and myself in our apartment.  But the New York Public Library offers a lot more than just books, including ways to make borrowing a lot more easy than I remember it being.  Here are 10 things this mom has learned about the NYPL that may be useful to you.

As usual, you don't have to travel further than maybe the outerboroughs for some good family times this President's Week break. There's plenty to do right here in New York City, like animated movie shorts, circus events, fun in the parks (even in the cold!) and more museum events than we bet you can handle. And while there is no need to go anywhere else, you could still skip town and try some of our suggestions for fun day trips (even some you can do without a car) in our Travel Guide.

Read on for 25 Things to Do Over Winter Recess

Valentines Day is Monday and if you still need to pick up some sweets for your sweetie try checking out one of these local chocolate purveyors or get the scoop on where to buy great baking supplies to help your little sous-chef bake something yummy for their valentine.  And, if your cupid needs a valentine for his loved ones there are quite a lot of Valentine-making events in our calendar.  

Don’t forget The Little Club Heads Valentine's Day Dance Party is Sunday and it sounds like a blast! Over at Poppins Perks we are selling tickets like mad for 50% off!  $15 gets you 2 tickets to this fun event and your purchase helps PS 371 in Brooklyn buy some much needed books for their kindergarteners.  

My New Years resolution of being hyper efficient has come to a screeching halt.  Thanks to a collision between my knee and an ice packed mountain last weekend, I am having a hard time doing, well, anything.  Especially walking and I am really bummed out that I have to miss the Panorama Explorer’s Day at the Queens Museum and all the other cool stuff going on around town this weekend. But this helps me to remember just why I love living in NYC. There are always cool things to do and always another weekend to do them.

Read on for the best bets for this weekend and have a great one.