| Page 1652 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

One Great Day in NJ: Johnson's Corner Farm

Submitted by Jen F on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 7:00am

When it dawned on me that my son thought all food came from grocery stores, I decided a trip to Johnson’s Corner Farm was in order. Not only would he get to pick fruit and vegetables, but he’d also be able to see how they grew. I didn’t anticipate being at the farm for One (whole) Great Day, but that is exactly what happened. Because when we got there, we found out about the Discovery Barnyard, the EVOS Pathfinder, the Splash Pad and the Space Net. Johnson’s is some corner farm!

$50 Give-Away at Three Monkeys & Me for Mommy Poppins CT Readers

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:08pm

It's time to start the annual back to school supplies and clothing shopping ritual. To help you out with that, one lucky reader will win a $50 Give-Away from Three Monkeys and Me for anything in the store. Three Monkeys and Me, a boutique in Kent, Litchfield County, specializes in fun contemporary clothing, gifts and cool toys for children (newborn to size 12/14 kids). Wati, Pink Chicken and Patagonia are just some of the great brands they carry. Owner Liz Devos has impeccable taste and you'll love the store space she has created as well as everything in it. They've just added an entire toy section with unique high quality selections. Three Monkeys & Me's latest news can be found on their Facebook page.

Fun Day Trips In and Around CT: Part 3 of a Series - Farmington River Tubing & The Submarine Force Library & Museum

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 8:29pm

By Sheila Hageman

Farmington River Tubing
92 Main Street
New Hartford CT 06057
860-693-6465

This was one of my favorite special summer activities my father used to take my sister and our friends to. You load into specially designed river tubes for a 2.5 mile ride down the scenic Farmington River. You travel over three sets of rapids and splash through the very cold white water. At the end of the ride, you board a bus for a drive back up to your car. This is definitely a great activity for a hot day with kids at least ten years old.

Be prepared that the river can get pretty rough, which is what makes it so fun, but your kids need to be able to swim. The river ride is unattended, except for an assistant at the 2nd rapid. Be sure to call on the day you plan to go tubing for current river conditions and times of operations. Days and hours of operation may change due to weather or river conditions.

Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx: 12 Things to Do with Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 4:00pm

Feel like spending some time in the country? Well, you don't have to leave the city limits. Just hop on the subway and head to the wooded wonderland of Van Cortlandt Park. Located in the northwest Bronx, the 1146-acre park includes several Forever Wild Preserves, miles of peaceful nature trails and lots of places to go cycling, hiking and horseback riding.

The southern part of the park is more landscaped, and is always bustling with local families. You can easily spend the whole day here: There's a swimming pool, a golf course, barbecue grills, a historic museum and, of course, lots of nature. And after romping in one of the four playgrounds, kids can learn about the park's plants, flowers and creatures at the Urban Park Rangers' Nature Center.

If you do plan an outing to Van Cortlandt Park, keep in mind, it's huge! There's no way to cover it all on foot in one day (trust me I tried... with my six-year-old in tow). All of the park’s main attractions are conveniently clustered around transit hubs or parking lots. So set out with a manageable itinerary. You can always come back and visit again next weekend!

Here are 12 fun (and mostly free) things to do with kids in Van Cortlandt Park.

Used Kids' Books in NYC: Where to Buy Second-Hand Children's Lit

Submitted by Amy S. on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:00am

As a novelist myself, I’m all for people supporting authors by purchasing brand-new copies of their books. However, as a budget conscious mom who has watched her two small children spill/drool/color all over expensive picture books, I know that sometimes buying used titles makes a lot more sense.

While there are lots of ways to snag second-hand kid-lit online—I see tons of kids' stuff up for grabs on sites like freecycle.org and paperbackswap.com—I really enjoy browsing used books in person. I always end up finding wonderful, weird vintage tomes, and I don't have to wade through all of the branded characters stocked by big box bookstores.

Here are my top shops in New York City to find used children's books.

Weekly Wrap Up: NYC Nature Spots, Bronx Zoo Lego Zoofari Giveaway and a New Queens Candy Shop

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 12:00pm

We spent a lot of time outdoors this week, and why not? It's been absolutely lovely, the perfect weather for exploring our city.

We had a super-cool time at a nearby water park, hit a Destination Playground in Harlem and rounded up amazing nature spots. Plus, we spent a day marveling at the amazing Lego animals at the Bronx Zoo—and we've got a great giveaway to go with our review.

Of course we spent some time indoors, too. We've been hard at work on our upcoming sister sites in Boston, Los Angeles and Orlando. To make sure you're notified when they launch, sign up for the newsletters now. And let your friends with families in those cities know that we're coming!

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.

Fun & Free Things To Do With Kids This Weekend In CT: Jai Ho Indian Fest, New Haven Jazz, Clam Bake,Water Ski Show 8/13-14

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 11:24pm

I don't know about you, but I am excited about all of the great things to do this weekend with the kids. We plan on having some summer fun at the Kent Fireman's Carnival and the Water Ski Show at Bantam Lake. If we can fit it in I'd love to take everybody to the Civil War Re-enactment in Woodbury. Lyman Orchard's Clam Bake sounds deliciously divine as does the Indian Fest in Danbury. The frisbee golf lessons at the Bridgeport First In Flight Festival are sure to be a big hit as well. If you are looking to check out a new CT Beach you can read our post on 6 affordable CT beaches. Have fun and enjoy one of our last (boo hoo!) summer weekends with the family!

All WEEKEND
53rd Water Ski Show at Bantam Lake - Litchfield
Swimming, prizes, and food. Check out the 11 person pyramid jumps, barefoot skiers and wacky costumes. Sure to be a fun day at the lake.

Kent Fireman's Fair - Kent
The Kent Firemen’s Fair is an opportunity to enjoy small-town fun – games, food and carnival rides – are all designed to provide residents and visitors with an enjoyable three-day event.

Annual Sharon Audubon Center Festival - Sharon
The festival features two full days of nature-related programs and walks for people of all ages. Visitors can choose from a variety of programs they wish to attend including topics on various insects, raptors, trees and plants, amphibians, pond live, nature photography, and more. Mini kids programs are scheduled throughout both days.

Your NJ Weekend August 13-14: Ducky Derby, OMG! Tea Party, Peaches, and Inkalicious, mostly FREE!

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 10:40pm

Amazingly, it is the middle of August and there's only two weeks left of summer. Before you start crying into your mojito, remember that with September's cool breezes come... back to school for the small people. Which just might be cause to celebrate for some of us weary parents. Or maybe that's just me. In any case, there's plenty of fun stuff happening mid-August, like outdoor parties, fests, bug-eating, art, rubber ducks, surfing and so much more. Enjoy!