| Page 1629 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Dialog in the Dark: See NYC in a Whole New Way at This Interactive Installation

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 10:00am

Have you ever wondered how the blind are able to make their way around this crazy city we live in? Some days, navigating NYC with perfect vision is tough! Dialog in the Dark, a new exhibit at the South Street Seaport, invites visitors to experience New York City from the point of view (so to speak) of the blind and visually impaired.

When you enter the interactive installation Dialog in the Dark, you're given a white cane to help you find your way and then the lights are turned out—from this point on you're in complete darkness as you're led through several replicas of NYC environments. Each area has its own smells, sounds and things to feel. Part of the fun is figuring out where you are, so I won't give too much away, but I will give you a sense of what it's like.

Fun & Free Things to Do This Weekend with LA Kids: Kites, Cool Science, and World Records, Oct 8 - 9

Submitted by Toby B on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 1:30am

It’s one for the record books… make that two! This week Southern Californians have the chance to participate in two different world record attempts. First up: Read for the Record. The Santa Monica Public Library joins with book lovers around the world in an attempt to create the largest shared reading experience. This year’s book is Llama Llama Red Pajama, and it’s a real page turner, filled with lots of llama drama.

The Little Prince at the New Victory Theater: The Classic Tale is Reinvented for NYC Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 10:00am

Last weekend, the New Victory Theater kicked off its new season with a show we've really been looking forward to: Bristol Riverside Theatre's beautiful stage adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's beloved children’s novella The Little Prince. This popular tale about a mysterious, planet-hopping boy who comes to Earth and meets a stranded pilot has been adapted many times (including a really trippy 1974 live-action movie musical). But this evocative interpretation really stands out due to its combination of modern technology and Bunraku (Japanese-style) puppetry.

The hour-long show is true to the book, but streamlined a bit. The Aviator (Leonard C. Haas) comes across the Little Prince (a puppet skillfully manipulated by Eileen Cella) and answers his barrage of questions. The royal boy reminisces about his life back home, shares stories of his animal encounters, helps the pilot find water and finally sacrifices himself so his soul can return to his planet. It's abstract and complicated stuff, just like the original story.

The Little Prince has haunted me since I was a child. I shared the book with my son (who's only six) and while he enjoyed it, he took it at face value, but there's a deeper meaning. Yes, at times it seems like the mad rantings of a man hallucinating in the desert, but it also contains amazing insights about love, friendship and human nature. So there's a lot here for both kids and parents to enjoy.

“God of Carnage” at Mile Square Theater: Review and TICKET GIVEAWAY

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 9:49am

If you’re wondering why the word “carnage” is popping up on your happy family go-to site, it’s because this carnage is a very profound and very funny play about parenting. (Or lack thereof.) Tagged as “A Comedy of Bad Manners”, the Mile Square Theater and director Chris O’Connor do an excellent job of bringing to life two sets of parents who attempt to have a civil discussion about their children’s recent altercation. The result is disastrous, hilarious, and nearly as bloody as the title suggests.

Children's Library Discovery Center: A New Interactive Tot Spot Opens at Queens Library's Central Branch

Submitted by Katy on Mon, 10/03/2011 - 10:00am

As the weather gets cooler, we turn our attention from outdoor play spots to indoor ones. And NYC's libraries are some of the coolest no-cost places for kids to spend a day reading, thinking and learning.

Of course not all libraries are created equal. My family lives in Queens, which has more than 60 local branches, most with a nook, a room or maybe even a floor dedicated to kid lit. But late last month, the Children’s Library Discovery Center (CLDC) opened at the central branch in Jamaica, Queens, and it's a destination well worth traveling to.

The brand-new 14,000-square-foot, two-story building—which is actually located next to the central branch—is the second largest children’s library in the country. Featuring hands-on science, technology and math installations, learning labs and (of course) loads of books. the CLDC is aimed at children 12 and under. My preschool-age daughter and I went to check it out and were totally blown away.

New Museum Exhibits for Kids in NJ

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 10/02/2011 - 6:56pm

One of the great things about fall is the opportunity to move your fun indoors. If bringing your, how shall we put it, "enthusiastic" kids inside a museum sounds like a nightmare, fear not--even the ones that usually bounce off the walls will find stuff to capture their attention and imagination in the Fall 2011 museum exhibits in NJ. Motorcycles, the science of cooking, math as a circus event, whirligigs and whimsy top the list, so don't miss the best New Jersey museums have to offer!

Chinatown with NYC Kids: A Fun Family Tour of This Bustling Downtown Neighborhood

Submitted by Karlyn on Sun, 10/02/2011 - 4:00pm

[UPDATED: July 26, 2012]

Since Mommy Poppins started four years ago, we've tried to write about neighborhoods all over the city and not just well known family-friendly areas. What we've found is that any NYC community can be fun for kids—all you need to do is explore. So beginning this month, we're going to highlight one neighborhood a month. October's pick is Chinatown, and this is the first in a series of posts about some of the cool things your family can see and do there.

One of New York City's busiest and most colorful districts, Chinatown hosts popular annual events like the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and the Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, as well as joint celebrations with its neighbors like the East Meets West Christmas Parade (with Little Italy) and the Egg Rolls and Egg Creams Festival (with the Lower East Side).

But there's no reason to wait for one of those special festivities to visit. Chinatown's got great places for kids to eat, play, look and learn a bit about Chinese culture all year round. One of our writers and her three-year-old son played tourist in Chinatown for a day. Here's what they discovered.

Secrets of Circles at the Brooklyn Children's Museum Is Fascinating Interactive Fun

Submitted by Amy S. on Sun, 10/02/2011 - 10:00am

With its amazing installations and fun play areas, the Brooklyn Children's Museum is one of our all-time favorite New York City spots. (It's No. 20 on our list of 100 Things to Do in NYC with Kids Before They Grow Up.) So while we don't need a special reason to recommend a visit, we've got one anyway: BCM's brand-new exhibit Secrets of Circles.

Produced by the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose and presented in three languages (English, Spanish and Vietnamese), Secrets of Circles stars a shape as simple as it is ubiquitous. What's the big deal about circles you ask? Plenty. As the interactive displays point out, circles are (ahem) all around us. It's the first shape most toddlers learn to identify, and studying circles helps kids understand basic math, science and engineering concepts.

But don't tell that to my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter! She just thought Secrets of Circles was all about fun.