The kids just went back to school and already we have a three-day weekend. (Not like anyone's complaining!) Of course, it's not any old holiday weekend. Since Monday is Martin Luther King Day, it's the perfect time for families to celebrate his life and legacy, and even volunteer with kids.

There will also be plenty of time for non-MLK Day fun, too. It's your last chance to catch the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show (yup, it's still chugging along) and Carsten Höller: Experience at the New Museum. As you can see from the photo, my daughter and some friends went last weekend, and those Upside Down Goggles are seriously cool (I totally lost my sense of balance and fell over, but the kids ran around without a problem).

You can also start planning some fun winter outings with your family. We rounded up family skiing and snow tubing spots in New Jersey, and indoor fun like seasonal cooking classes and puppet shows in New York City.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut, as well as selected stories from our sites in Boston and Los Angeles.

The kids have an extra day off from school this weekend, and while they're looking forward to it, you're thinking, "What am I going to do with them?!" In addition to most indoor play spaces, bowling alleys, ice- and roller-skating rinks being open, there are several activities going on around town to keep your children busy, no matter their age. We've got you covered. Also, look to our guide to commemorative events and celebrations if you're looking to honor Dr. King's legacy with your children on this National Day of Service.

I'm a lifelong foodie. Before I had my son, I even worked at the Food Network. I've been dreaming about taking him to a cool kids' cooking class since I was pregnant. While there are certainly lots of wonderful places where children can take cooking lessons in New York City, they tend to be really expensive, around $60 or more a pop. I understand why: Ingredients don't come cheap and you need access to a kitchen. Still, at those prices, I figured my kid would have to learn to cook in the kitchen of chez moi.

But I started to do some research to see if I could find any (relatively) inexpensive cooking classes for kids in NYC. And guess what? They actually do exist. Most of these cooking programs cost $30 or less per session, and a few are actually totally free. Plus, New York City's first-ever Kids Food Festival hits Bryant Park later this month with hands-on activities and classes for families. Time to get cooking!

Don't forget about MLK Day coming up! But before we get to Monday, there's a whole weekend of good times to be had. Between a pajama party, a winter carnival, some Fuzzy Lemons and a musical celebrating the Big Red Dog, there's a lot to celebrate the next few days.  Stay warm indoors and catch a movie at the Y or take a walk on the wild side and see how the animals do winter.

The three-day MLK weekend that comes so early in the year is always a welcome treat, and Boston offers plenty for kids and families to do. In addition to special concerts, tributes, open houses and workshops that all pay tribute to Dr. King (highlighted in our separate post), families can visit a model train and toy hobby show, take in a SteveSongs concert, celebrate the Chinese New Year at the zoo, and more.

We’ve also launched our series focusing on Summer Camps 2012 with a collection of camp fairs taking place in the next few months. And if you have a favorite camp you’d like us to consider for inclusion in our camp roundups, please let me know.

Enjoy!

It's Martin Luther King Day on Monday which most likely means a 3 day weekend for you and the kids. The weather looks like it's taking a turn for the colder so make sure to bundle up. If you are in Fairfield County we did a post this week on fun indoor play spaces. I don't know about you, but every time I seem to finally come up with a lunch that my kids will eat they tell me they are tired of it. Our new bento box lunch series should help to get those creative juices flowing during those dreaded lunch making moments. For MLK Day we did a special round up of great celebrations and events happening all over CT. 

This weekend, Young Carpenters get to make their own toolbox in Kent, Robots are Roaming at the CT Science Center and "Are You My Mother?" the musical is playing at the Kate. Catch "Little Women" at the Hartford Children's Theater. Enjoy ice skating at the South Kent Boarding School.

The Connecticut Science Center is offering $12 per person admission Thursday, January 12th, straight through Monday, January 16th. Kids 3 and under are always free.

Join us on Twitter and Facebook for up to the minute activities and other fun stuff for you and the kids. Enjoy your long weekend! The following is the weekend round up listed by day.

It's a three day-weekend; but don't worry, there's lots going on around the Island to keep your kid busy. There are several MLK commemorative events going on, as well as some great skating activities, a Goldilocks and the Three Bears production, a winter art workshop, and Jack Hanna's Into the Wild. Also see our MLK commemorative events post for ways to honor Dr. King's legacy on MLK Day.

[UPDATED: JANUARY 25, 2013]

Yes, New York City is home to skyscrapers and sidewalks galore, but our city is also made up of beaches, forests, marshlands and glacier formations. There are animals everywhere, too: seals in the harbor, red-tailed hawks on Fifth Avenue, raccoons in Central Park and even occasionally coyotes. And since we are located on the eastern flyway, our skies are filled with hundreds of different species of birds. My family is passionate about the natural world around us and so are many other New Yorkers, as evidenced by the myriad of nature centers available to us throughout the city.

Nature centers are a great way to while away a winter’s day and maybe even learn something new about the city. Drop in during their open hours and check out wonderful exhibits featuring animals, plants, history and geography. Or attend one of the many special events or organized group activities going on all winter. The best part is that most nature centers don't charge an entrance fee (although donations are accepted) so it's an affordable outing the whole family can enjoy.