Best Free Online Workouts: Sports and Fitness Classes for Kids and Families

Make exercise a family affair! Photo by Mommy Poppins

These days, getting in exercise might not seem so easy—whether you're all feeling trapped in a tiny apartment during the stay-at-home order, your kid's calendar is suddenly jam-packed with virtual learning and Zoom playdates, or holding a solid plank position simply sounds like some sort of cruel torture to you. Thankfully, even if you're short on space or time, there are loads of online fitness classes out there for the whole family that can be done on your schedule and from the safety of your own home. And with so many fun, free programs available right in your living room, you and your kids might even find yourselves a little more motivated.

To help make it a even easier for you to squeeze in a daily dose of physical activity, we've rounded up some of our favorite free kid-friendly virtual workouts, and sports and fitnesses classes. From equipment-free tennis drills and ballet to Disney yoga and circus skills, there are options for all ages and interests.

Pregnancy and Childbirth in Coronavirus: New Mom, Doctor, Doula Answer FAQs

Everyone wore masks during the delivery process. Photo courtesy of Emma Reinhardt Smith

No woman deserves to deal with a pandemic on top of morning sickness and swollen ankles. But expectant moms in 2020 have more to manage during pregnancy and childbirth than the rest of us, as they don masks, schedule virtual doctor's visits, and swap grandma cuddles for FaceTime to protect themselves and family members from coronavirus during quarantine.

That doesn't mean having a baby now need be any less joyous. We recently chatted with an ob-gyn doctor, a doula, and a mom who gave birth (to a healthy baby girl!) in April, and all provided helpful and hopeful answers to our most pressing questions about staying healthy and connected during pregnancy and childbirth. If you're one of the special moms who can put a face mask in baby's scrapbook, take a deep Lamaze breath and read on. You got this! 

Have older babies or kids? Read an infectious disease doctor's advice on keeping your family healthy during coronavirus.

Home Haircut Tips by Experts: How To Cut Kids' Hair in a Pandemic

Professionals offer tips for parents trying home haircuts.

As days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, coronavirus quarantine brings a new challenge: the haircut. We're all starting to look more than a little scruffy. Your son's hair is now completely covering his ears. Your daughter's hair is slightly lopsided (one side grows faster than the other—who knew?). Hubby's hair is veering into a kind of Sasquatch/hippy hybrid. And let's not even mention a look in the mirror. When I catch a glimpse of the neighbors during our daily social-distancing walk, I can see, even at a distance, that they are experiencing a similar problem. It's evident the time has come for a haircut. Read on before you pull out your scissors: We've talked to some industry pros from kids' salons around the country to get the best tips for at-home haircuts. These tricks will get you through until the stay-at-home orders are lifted.

So, take a step back from your "let it grow" philosophy, follow these pro-backed haircut tutorials, and dip your toes into the world of home haircuts. For more helpful advice, plus boredom busters to help you survive the coronavirus with kids, be sure to visit our Stay-at-Home Guide.

10 Great Hikes with Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

For Westchester and Hudson Valley families seeking together time in nature, we've rounded up ten destinations for family hikes. Whether you seek an easy walk for little legs or a more challenging excursion for adventurous types, our list can be your new go-to resource for trailblazing.

Time spent in nature is associated with reduced stress and numerous health benefits. Connecting kids with nature can also help instill a lifelong love of nature and a feeling of responsibility for the environment. Fortunately, there's no shortage of green space in our area, and hiking is a great activity that can be enjoyed in all kinds of weather. So fill your water bottle, lace up those sturdy shoes, and choose your preferred setting, be it lake, woods, or waterfall. Read on for details!

Please note that some of the destinations or activities listed below may be closed or canceled during the COVID-19 shut-down.

Plan a Virtual Birthday Party or Playdate with a Mermaid, Pirate, or Princess

When I heard that video chatting with a fairy was a feasible activity for my imaginative and increasingly stir-crazy four year old, I couldn't have jumped at the opportunity any faster. Enter Happily Ever Laughter, a California-based cast of fantastical kids party entertainers—think faeries, pirates, mermaids, princesses, and even safari explorers—who have pivoted to virtual playdates and celebrations during the stay at home order. Available for a one-on-one chat with your kiddo while you put the finishing touches on that presentation, or a group call that's worthy of a quarantine era birthday bash or just a special hangout with deeply missed friends, this gang of unique and engaging characters is now available nationwide with as little as 4 hours notice.

Fill a Balloon with Carbon Dioxide for an Exciting Chemistry Lesson

Fill a ballon and your day with fun in this cool science experiment! Kids create carbon dioxide to fill up a balloon, all while learning about acid base reactions. One of our 64 Easy Experiments for Kids Using Household Stuff, this simple experiment uses a balloon, vinegar, and baking soda.

Read on for a simple way to bring a little bit of excitement into your day.

6 Secret Recipes Revealed: Disney's Dole Whip, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Ikea Meatballs

Enjoy Disney's Dole Whip at home with this recipe.

Is quarantine making you go a little stir crazy? Do you wish you could go to a restaurant and let someone else cook for your family tonight? Well, while we can't magically make the world reopen, we have the scoop on some family-friendly secret recipes, and we're sharing them with you. Whether you're jonesing for some comforting Swedish meatballs from Ikea's cafe, or want to whisk yourself away on a virtual vacation with a scoop of Disney's iconic Dole Whip, consider whipping up one of these top restaurant recipes in your kitchen.

For more easy-to-make recipes, check out our Mommy Poppins-approved one-pot meals, or bow out and let the kids take over the kitchen and cook our kid-friendly Mother's Day brunch recipes. For more ways to keep kids busy at home, check out our Stay-at-Home Guide and our list of great ways kids can help during coronavirus.

Mother's Day Brunch Recipes Kids Can Make to Spoil Mom

No matter how much I like to cook, it's exhausting putting meals on the table morning, noon, and night for weeks on end. Judging by my social media feeds, I'm not the only mom who needs a break from the kitchen. So, for Mother's Day, I decided to set my daughters (ages 6 and 10) free in the kitchen, and challenged them to make Mother's Day brunch recipes all on their own.

The results were impressively tasty, as was the stack of dirty dishes. Luckily, clean up is one age-appropriate chore I leave to my teenage son. Read on for four Mother's Day recipes kids can make for you, plus our picks for kid-friendly kitchen tools that make the job a little easier.

While Mother's Day brunch is sure to make any mom's day, kids can earn extra brownie points with a homemade Mother's Day card to serve as the centerpiece to the table. No matter how you celebrate, we wish all moms a very happy Mother's Day.

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