The spring season kicks into high gear with six of our top family event picks for April happening this weekend. Gawk at gorgeous flowers and funky fashions at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival; introduce the kids to pogo sticks, hula hoops and hippity hops at Street Games in East Harlem and enjoy all kinds of FREE fun at the Tribeca Film Festival Family Street Fair.

Plus there is some exceptional kids' culture to enjoy this weekend. See Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players croon at the New Victory Theater, catch a stage adaptation of the popular book Manxmouse at BAM or giggle at the antics of the Story Pirates, part of the new family series Lincoln Center Kids.

As always, you can find even more options in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide.

If you've seen the movie, you might just wonder, How in the world could Shrek be turned into a musical?

The answer is simple. Start with a smash Broadway script and score, cast a bunch of talented actors, throw in a gifted musical director (who really knows how to translate the sounds of bodily functions to the stage) and a skilled crew, and there you have it. Well, then, of course, there's the director, choreographer, musicians, set and costume designers, prop master, puppet designer, lighting director...

Okay, so maybe it's not so simple to create an engaging and entertaining show that appeals to both kids and adults. But the Wheelock Family Theatre's production of Shrek the Musical, about a grouchy ogre, a feisty princess and a loquacious but kindhearted donkey, does it, and does it so well that when the curtain closed on the final makes-you-want-to-dance-in-your-seat song, my 9-year-old son and I looked at each other and said, "We want to see that again!"

When it comes to getting your creative juices flowing, there's no shortage of art classes for Long Island kids. But craftsy kids can also paint the town—or more precisely, a piece of pottery—at one of the many plaster craft and ceramic painting places popping up all over the area. Not only is it a great idea for a fun family outing or play date, but most of these studios also host birthday parties.

For more inside fun on Long Island, check out our Indoor Activity Guide or see what's going on in our Event Calendar.

There’s no better way to celebrate the end of April than to spend as much time as possible outdoors, so here’s hoping for another beautiful weekend of sunny skies and mild temps! Earth Day festivities are popping up all over New Jersey, from Earth Day at Liberty State Park to Wild Earth Fest at the Trailside Nature Center to the Project E.A.R.T.H. Swamp Search at Basking Ridge Environmental Center. Keep the seasonal fun going by enjoying the Cape May Spring Festival, the WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series or the Dia Multicultural Celebration. For even more weekend activities, check out our Event Calendar.

We finish up our series of posts on Morningside Heights with a roundup of the best places to play in the area, both outside and indoors. Considering its relatively small size, the neighborhood has an impressive number of green spaces, from traditional parks and playgrounds, to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine's gorgeous grounds and Columbia University's campus, which are both open to the public. And if it's rainy or cold outside, there are a handful of indoor romping spots, including Manhattan's least expensive drop-in play space. Here are our top nine places to play in Morningside Heights.

Here at Mommy Poppins we’re big supporters of kids learning to code; we've written posts about free websites and apps that can help children hone the design, logic and problem-solving skills they need for coding. If you’re the parent of a tween or teen, chances are pretty good that Minecraft is part of life at your home. This summer, kids ages 9 to 13 can combine their love of the game with learning the basics of coding at "Summer of Minecraft" camp.

Our sponsor, Connected Camps, is partnering with Institute of Play, a nonprofit organization, in offering this low-cost, four-week online camp. Kids can be taught everything from the basics of building to coding in-game in a safe, multiplayer environment—all from the comfort of their own home. If this sounds interesting, be sure to read on for an exclusive offer for Mommy Poppins readers, as well as the chance to win one free spot at the camp.

At ages 9 and 7, my kids are a little curious about sleepaway camp—make that very curious. They've heard their friends talk about cabins and color wars and late-night raids of the camp kitchen, and they're ready to sign on the dotted line. But me? I'm a little nervous—okay fine, very nervous. As a result, I've been researching summer day camps that include a sleepover or two so they can get a taste of sleeping away from home. Luckily, there are quite a few summer programs that offer that option in Fairfield County.