The FDA announced last week that it will investigate whether there is sufficient evidence to link the consumption of synthetic color additives in food with hyperactivity in children. This comes after studies released last year showed that kids with the highest levels of pesticides in their urine also had the highest incidence of ADHD.

I find these studies to be really upsetting, and yet part of me is relieved to have this information. On the one hand, it is incredibly depressing that our food culture has gotten so off track that we are literally poisoning ourselves. On the other hand, I'm glad that we are starting to figure out the causes for the greatly increased levels of ADHD, cancer and other ailments that plague us.

Armed with this information, we can make educated decisions and changes to protect our families and our health.

Last week we told you about 11 great stage shows for families. Today, our spring culture roundup continues with six new exhibits that kids will love. (In a couple of cases, they may actually beg you to bring them!) 

From Harry Potter relics to an in-depth look at how Dinosaurs lived to ancient brain teasers from China, these half dozen museum shows will educate and entertain your family.

Ever since my mom read me James and the Giant Peach, I’ve been a fan of Roald Dahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, Matilda, I loved his fantastical stories and dark humor, which were so different than the happy, candy-colored kid lit I was used to.

Although he died more than 20 years ago, Dahl’s sensibility seems amazingly contemporary, which is why his children’s books endure today. But did you know that he also wrote poems, many of them skewed takes on old-fashioned fairy tales?

I admit that I didn’t. But I do now thanks to Revolting Rhymes, a new 45-minute musical being mounted by Atlantic for Kids. Find out why this show will make you laugh—perhaps even more than your kids.

We’ve been very busy here at Mommy Poppins, birthing new sites for families in Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut, while still keeping up with all the cool things going on in New York City. We know you’re busy too, and may not have the time to visit multiple sites. So for your convenience, we’re compiling links to our best weekly posts into yet another post. Yes, we do see the irony in that. But we really don’t want you to miss a thing. There’s so much to do all over the tri-state area!

From special Easter train rides in New Jersey to egg hunts on Long Island (yes, already) to a roundup of spring festivals in NYC, here are the highlights from the world of Mommy Poppins.

Spring is in the air... literally! Apparently Mr. Robin Redbreast and his feathered friends are migrating back to NJ and Newark Museum and the Van Vleck House & Gardens are celebrating with bird-themed events. This weekend also marks the seasonal opening (with lots of fanfare) of historical sites like Cooper Gristmill, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, Historic Speedwell, and Updike Farmstead. Even the NJ Aviation Hall of Fame is opening up the cockpits of its planes in celebration of Spring!

This week marks the beginning of the month of April and we’ve got plenty of events for you and your family to start it off with a bang! From a party with Beauty and the Beast, to a breakfast with Dora, Diego, Spongebob and other Nickelodeon characters. And if you are ready for some outdoor fun, the Easter Egg Hunts have begun! Have a great weekend!

It's the first weekend of April, which means a lot of museums are offering free admission hours. At the New Museum's First Saturdays for Families, you can celebrate springtime by exploring the exhibit Blooming Flowers. Head to the Brooklyn Museum on Saturday evening to check out the Norman Rockwell exhibit and related activities. How much will all this culture cost you? Not even a penny.

Theater abounds this weekend in NYC. Take the kids to see Dorothy and Toto live on stage in The Wizard of Oz on Sunday at Staten Island's St. George Theatre. Or catch the first performance of the Atlantic Theater Company for Kids' brand-new musical Revolting Rhymes, a blend of songs and puppets that bring the poems of Roald Dahl to life. The Brooklyn Library’s Dweck Center is also hosting a free musical version of Cinderella.

Signs of spring are all around town: Parks and gardens are bursting with buds, and so is Macy’s thanks to the store's annual Flower Show). There are adorable baby goats at the Central Park Zoo, and parents are busy researching spring break camps for their kids.

Our best bets for a fun weekend are below, but be sure to visit the Mommy Poppins Events Calendar, too.  It's full of storytimes, theater, live music and more for this weekend and beyond.

It’s not just gardens that are blooming this season. NYC’s family theater scene is bursting with new, colorful stage productions. As a total theater geek who grew up going to Broadway spectacles (back when regular folk could afford to do that on a regular basis), I love taking my daughter to shows. Luckily in this town, the Great White Way isn’t the only option. There’s a ton of amazing Off-Off Broadway offerings for young audiences—and you don’t have to be a millionaire to afford the tickets.

While some shows play for a while, there are lots of worthwhile one-offs that come into town to play for a day, and then move on to another city. So be sure to look carefully at the dates when checking our recommendations.

From fractured fairy tales to page-to-stage adaptations of classic kid-lit to circus feats to cool original musicals, here are 11 shows to take your kids to this spring.