The Best Easy Slime Recipe for Kids: Borax-Free, Fluffy, and More DIY Slimes

Submitted by Ally Noel on

Slime, glorious slime! It's so easy to make at home, and you can put a personal spin on it! Photo by Jody Mercier

As a child of the 80s, slime ranks pretty high in my archive of childhood memories. It’s Ghostbusters, Nickelodeon, and slime runs. Everything old is fun again, and the slime of today is even cooler! You can make it in the comfort of your own home with a few simple, inexpensive ingredients. We’ve got 5 tried and tested easy recipes for slime here, plus a list of our favorite slime-making kits, if that’s more your jam.

Need more hands-on science experiments and activities you can do at home? Check out Mommy Poppins Guide to STEM Activities, which has everything from solar ovens to DIY rock candy to oobleck (a less messy but more gooey slime alternative!).

Free Activities for Kids in March 2025: 40 Top Things To Do in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Jakes Branch County Park Nature Center hosts an up-close look at the park's inhabitants each Sunday. Photo courtesy of the center

Looking for FREE things to do this March in New Jersey? Check out dozens of great options below. 

As the season transitions from winter to spring, March is filled with events that don't cost a thing! It's a lucky month for freebies, with St. Patrick's Day parades in Morris County and Belmar, among many others. As the spring season blossoms, spend time outdoors at free events like Downtown Cranford Fire & Ice and Workhorse Rides at Howell Living History Farm.

These are just some of our favorite free things to do in New Jersey in March–we're adding more to our New Jersey Events Calendar every day. 

Best Summer Camps in NYC with Weekly Enrollment

Drew Kristofik's picture Submitted by Drew Kristofik on

Campers go everywhere from Prospect Park to local beaches and ball games with Park Slope Day Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp .

Families who need flexible summer camp plans are in luck: New York City is home to tons of summer day camps offering weekly enrollment. Whether travel plans mean you can't commit to a camp for the whole season or your kids have more than one passion to pursue, these local NYC summer camps with weekly enrollment make it easy to create an enriching summer camp experience no matter your kids' interests or your family's schedule.

Our picks for top summer camps in NYC with weekly enrollment include summer camps in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. We've rounded up 18 summer day camps in NYC below but you can always find more summer camps, including free and cheap summer camps, great sleepaway summer camps in the Northeast, and teen-friendly summer camps by bookmarking our New York City Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and borough.

20 Best Things To Do at the Palisades Center Mall with Kids

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on

Palisade Center's Climbzone features themed rock walls as high as 40 feet. Photo courtesy of Climbzone.

It's not just the shopping that makes West Nyack's Palisades Center a destination spot for families (though, seriously, who can resist four full floors of restaurants and shops?). Palisades Center is also an entertainment complex that lures patrons of all ages. From indoor play spaces larger than many elementary schools to carnival rides and extreme ropes courses, this gigantic mall has something for kids with every interest—with plenty to entertain parents, as well.

In addition to tons of family-friendly entertainment, the center hosts an annual outdoor carnival and a variety of free community events, including free activities for kids throughout the summer and on holidays. Read on for our rundown of the best kid-friendly attractions at the mall. 

For more fun local escapes, check out our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and find more great indoor venues in the region in our Guide to Indoor Fun for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids. 

Best NJ Children's Museums in South and Central Jersey

Michelle Vames's picture Submitted by Michelle Vames on

The Battkeship New Jersey is an amazing hands on experience for families. Photo by Lisa Warden

You don't have to visit a mega-metropolis to enjoy an enriching, family-friendly museum visit. In fact, Central and Southern New Jersey have a collection of cool museums for kids where you can explore a battleship, ride a vintage train, gaze at the stars, and even dig for dinosaur fossils. 

From the Wildwood Aviation Museum in South Jersey up to the Princeton University Arts Museum in North Jersey, we've found 15 institutions where you and your kids can get a culture fix. Some of these institutions are free or offer discounts you can take advantage of; check websites for admission info and hours before heading out. 

Find more family-friendly museums in our Guide to Museums and Art for New Jersey Kids, our Guide for Finding Things to Do in NJ and check out our Guide to Free Fun Things To Do with NJ Kids for no-cost activities throughout the state. 

Best Indoor Birthday Party Places for Kids in NYC

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on

Max Adventure lets party-goers have private use of its 7,000-square-foot, two-floor fun zone.

Indoor birthday party places in NYC are lifesavers when small living spaces and seasonal weather aren't always conducive to hosting a big group of kids. Luckily, there's a wide selection of kids' birthday party places in NYC, offering parties for pretty much any indoor pursuit, including trampoline bouncing, rock climbing, cooking, and more.

To aid your planning, we’ve put together a list of NYC's best indoor birthday party places covering a range of interests and ages. Looking for even more options? Check out our full Party Planning Guide for NYC Families.

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