This weekend, head on over to the Merrick Chamber Of Commerce Annual Kids Fest at the Merrick LIRR Train Station, where you'll enjoy crafts, rides, games, and festival foods.  At the Heckscher State Park Spring Festival in East Islip, you'll learn about water and boating safety from The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  The festival also features environmental displays, animals, arts and crafts, and more.  In Garden City at the Long Island Children's Museum, McCarter Theatre Center Presents Sunjata Kamalenya, one of the greatest legends of West African Mandé tradition brought to the stage with traditional music, costumes, and scenery.  Ballet Long Island in Ronkonkoma is hosting their Princess Tea Party where you'll see performances of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, and more.  After the show you'll meet the characters and enjoy a tea party.  Also on tap: Ready, Set, Grow at Benner's Farm in East Setauket, and the World's Softest Teddy Bear Challenge at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City.  As always, check out our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family!

In the past we've touted Staten Island as a great place to find a birthday party bargain. But there are so many fun Staten Island party spots, we thought it was time to do a new roundup.

Not only do Staten Island parties tend to be some of the least expensive options in NYC, they often offer the kind of fun you usually only find in the 'burbs, like bumper cars, go-karts and massive video game arcades. So in addition to our original list of Staten Island party places, here are 10 more spots where you can throw a memorable birthday bash. You can find even more options in our Party Guide.

Forget April showers and get outside! New Jersey is bursting with springtime family activities, from sheep shearing to kite making. And if you want to teach the kids about the original green holiday, celebrate Arbor Day with a festival at the Camden Children’s Garden or a tree planting hike at Cheesequake State Park. Read on for our top picks and remember, you can always find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

I hate admitting this…but I’m not an avid animal lover.  Nope, when I think animals, I think slobber, muddy paws, fur flying everywhere, more slobber, and ummm….other doggy waste.  But naturally, my kids love animals, and I don’t want to deprive them of an animal filled childhood, so we try to visit area farms when we get the chance – especially in the spring, when the baby animals are cute and cuddly.   This year, we decided to head over to Sleepy Hollow’s Stone Barns for a day – well worth the 45-minute drive from our home in Fairfield County.

Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen…Justin Bieber?? Summer nights were once filled with tailgating at Giants Stadium to see our favorite bands -- Dave Matthews, Billy Joel, Madonna. Nowadays, concerts involved a little less fight pumping and a little more chaperoning. The garden state is hosting a variety of headlining pop stars during its summertime concert series. From Taylor Swift to Big Time Rush, tweens have a variety of options this summer. 

When asked to come up with a list of ten fun things to do during "Screen-Free Week," my first instinct was to come up with suggestions of fun, eclectic outdoor activities (which already abound on Mommy Poppins) that would act as fresh-air substitutes. Then I paused. In our house, screen time doesn't preclude physical, outdoor, or hands-on activities. As computer-savvy parents who take the time to use wonderful resources like this parenting website, we are highly aware of both the dangers and advantages of including some screen time for children. We've read the reports about the effects of too much television on brain development, and we're cognizant of the negative impact of substituting screen time for real human interaction. Sometimes in a two-parent family, there are even discrepancies between what we deem appropriate. It's a quest for balance.

Ugh…over the past six months I've gotten way too practiced in trying to explain tragedy and evil to my kids.  And who am I kidding?  I have no idea why some jerk feels the need to kill and maim hundreds of innocent people as they partake in the festivities at the Boston Marathon.  But while I can’t understand the motivations of those who choose to hurt, I do know what makes me feel better in the face of evil: adding to the goodness in the world through volunteerism.   It seemed a natural assumption for my husband and me that being a part of the “good” could also make our kids feel less scared, more empowered, and more engaged in the world - particularly when events like the Newtown shootings and the Boston Marathon bombing leave them feeling scared and vulnerable.

It’s not always easy to find ways that kids can partake in volunteerism in a meaningful way.  But here are a few that we’ve found:

What happens when Spring Break is not so much a spring-y warm break? Indoor  family fun! This New Jersey family of four decided to venture right over the border to party in the Palisades. Read on after the jump about how we turned a chilly Spring Break day into an adventure in the Palisades region of New York that included an indoor trampoline romp, a 5 story ropes course, a ferris wheel  and a kid-friendly dinner. I would also recommend this day trip for a rainy day!