I spend the winter telling my children to hold their horses about going to playgrounds: “Soon it will be warm and we’ll be able to play outside all day long.” Spring comes, we hit a few local parks and then before you know it, the temperature soars and I hear myself saying: “It’s too hot out!  Let’s play inside!” Well, I’ve found a happy medium that makes everyone happy—playground for kiddies and air conditioning for Mommy and baby.

Check out this list of must-visit free indoor play spaces in Fairfield County.  Be warned, although these spaces are free to use, you and your children will be surrounded by lots of shiny stores offering everything from cute sandals that would pair oh-so-nicely with that darling sundress you saw in the last window to the biggest and brightest Thomas the Train and Cars II paraphernalia. For even more indoor fun check out our Connecticut Indoor Play Guide.

The holidays are behind us but there are still a couple of months before spring is sprung, and it can be a challenge to fill up these lazy, winter days. As a mom to three young kids, I'm all for cozy afternoons watching movies, play-doh sessions in our pjs and finger painting to pass the hours. But sometimes, we need a change of scenery! A chance to get out of the house, explore, learn and fill another gray and chilly day. Fortunately, New Jersey offers up some awesome indoor activities. Bundle up, pile the gang into the car and check out our top 10 fun and educational picks.

Tiny Brooklynites who are into tunes take note: There are certainly a lot of children’s music classes in the borough from Brooklyn Heights to DUMBO, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill and beyond. Read on for our top eight picks for budding musicians.

Find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

If you live in SoCal, you probably know someone who has camped out all night in Pasadena to be on the spot New Year's Day for the Rose Parade. And if you have kids, you're probably not willing to do that yourself. But there are all sorts of ways to enjoy the Rose Parade without pitching a tent on the sidewalk. Some of these ways may even more fun than the parade itself, which many of us feel is best watched in PJs under a blanket on the sofa.

Love watching the horses? Check out Equestfest. Have a soft spot for marching bands? Bandfest is for you. And if you are intrigued by all of these enormous masterpieces made entirely out of flowers, seeds, and leaves, then the Post Parade Showcase of Floats could be a more satisfying experience than the parade itself. One thing is for sure: any of these belongs on a bucket list of things to do before your Angeleno kid grows up.

Susan Izatt is an Early Childhood, Infant and Toddler Development expert and the Director and Co-founder of now-closed MoonSoup Early Childhood Studio. With years of experience playing with and teaching babies, Susan certainly knows how to get babies moving and make it fun. She agreed to share some activity ideas that parents can easily do at home with their babies excerpted from her upcoming book New Moms & First Time Dads. Thanks, Susan!

Keeping tabs on the changing landscape of Westchester businesses is no small task, with all the openings, closings and relocations. We've kept our ear to the ground to help you stay in the know for your start to 2016. Read on to learn about new sweet spots, a new location for maternity clothes, a new facility where you can fly(!) and more.

Be sure to sign up for our free newsletters to get all our latest news, roundups and in-depth reviews delivered straight to your inbox!

Growing up in South Florida amidst the palm trees, there were certain things that never crossed my mind; basically anything having to do with snow. Snow angels, sledding, snowball fights, skiing, skating, snow shoveling…you get the picture. But one job interview, a moving truck and about 148 boxes later, my family and I became official residents of New Jersey, braving our first winter. I also never thought much about maple syrup. Sure, I knew it came from trees, maybe up somewhere in the mountains of Vermont. But lo and behold, New Jersey actually has a maple sugaring industry and this is the perfect time of year to bundle up the family and take a day trip to a demo at one of our state’s many nature preserves.

Planning a family getaway in 2016? We have a little inspiration for you. We're looking back at our favorite destinations of the last year and revisiting what made these locales so compelling for kids and parents.

Read on for our top 12 travel reviews of family-friendly resorts, great cities and beaches and warmer climates of 2015.

Check out the Mommy Poppins travel site or the day trip and weekend getaway guide for more fun travel with kids. Planning a few vacations? Read last year's top 10 favorite vacation spots for Mommy Poppins families.