The smell of freshly-sharpened pencils and the crunch of a fresh apple -- it's time for school again! There are so many books out there to get your kid in the mood for everyday academia. Kids starting school for the first time may be experiencing excitement peppered with anxiety over separation from parents. First graders may be having trouble with the transition to longer days, new teachers and new friends. Starting a new school year can be tough on kids of any age. Try some books that use humorous storylines and positive ideas to help ease your child's transition into a new year. Check out our list of the best back to school books for your NJ kids preschool - 7 grade.

So you want to shake it up this Labor Day in Fairfield County.  You're bored at the thought of the beaches, and not waiting around for a backyard BBQ invite.  Oh, no.  You want options.  So here you go: a Labor Day 2013 grab bag, that will work come rain or shine this weekend.

We had returned to the US after living overseas for seven years just three days before the terror of 9/11. While it was hardly the welcome home we had expected, with my husband working in NYC at the time (across the street from the WTC) and me trying to unpack boxes and settle two young children into new schools on my own, the day was for our family, as for so many others, a life-defining moment.

Lots of really good things have happened in the subsequent years, but each year, the anniversary of the attacks always gives us pause. There are many ways families can mark the day, remembering the victims and honoring the heroes. Whether you explore an exhibit, visit a memorial or volunteer to help others, there are enriching and educational things to do on September 11 with your kids, some of which we’ve listed below.

It's back-to-school time, when parents heave a joint sigh of relief/groan of pain as they send their kids off to be educated for another year. To help you ease back into the new school routine, we're doing a huge giveaway with back-to-school essentials and swag.

We've got some amazing prizes that you and your children will love. Brand-new bikes, a year's supply of school uniforms and vitamins, backpacks, books, school supplies and more. Click on each link to enter that giveaway. You must enter each giveaway separately to be eligible to win that prize.

There are multiple ways to enter. Plus you can share with your friends to earn even more entries, and spread your entries out throughout the giveaway week. Pay attention, though, because each giveaway ends on a different date. Good luck!

For some moms, the toddler years are a golden era in which every outing is a glorious and gleeful first to be experienced together. For others, the toddler years feel like a string of stressful, overwhelming days in which entertaining an 18-month-old seems sooo much more complicated than it was supposed to be. Either way, SoCalMoms offers a great way to get more enjoyment out of the toddler years. The group's Toddler Camp treks around some of LA's most kid-friendly destinations (like the ones on our 100 Things To Do with Kids Bucket List), making all of the arrangements as a sort of traveling playgroup - with SoCal as the playground. (And read on for the Mommy Poppins discount!)

As fall approaches and the days start to get shorter, it is time to start thinking about enrolling babies and toddlers in classes. Mommy & Me classes are a great way to get out of the house on a rainy day, plus the classes give parents and children an opportunity to socialize and learn. From swimming to the arts, there are a number of options available on the North Fork. Looking for a class elsewhere on Long Island? Check out our After School Programs, Classes, and Activities Guide.