With the shift to contactless pickup and delivery options for shopping, supplies, and activities, local businesses across Long Island have had to get creative to stay afloat. Many small businesses have maintained social-distancing rules to keep serving their communities, and we've rounded up a bunch of ways to support their efforts to keep their doors open until the world reopens again.

From supporting local toy stores and bookstores to patronizing local restaurants, like those we profiled for their Mother's Day brunch menus, there are lots of ways to shop small. We recommend ordering directly from local businesses instead of third-party services whenever possible, and even if you don't need goods or services at the moment, consider pitching in by purchasing a gift card for future use. Every little bit helps a struggling small business right now.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps, and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

While local businesses have raced to pivot in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and there are many ways to support Westchester businesses while optimizing time at home. We've already shared our roundup of toy stores and bookstores offering curbside pickup or local delivery, as well as where to buy groceries, and some of the local restaurants and bakeries preparing special-occasion meals. Still, many other small businesses can use help now, too.

Buying local is a win-win: Beyond being an act of compassion toward business owners and workers, keeping your green in town translates to a more robust local economy, benefiting municipal services, property taxes, and property values. Local businesses are also who we all turn to for donations to support our PTA and other local organizations.

Below we've compiled multiple ways to support local businesses. It's by no means a comprehensive county-wide list. Other ways to help include purchasing gift cards, initiating memberships with nonprofit organizations, and avoiding third-party delivery services when possible to ensure your dollars stay with the local business you're supporting. So, consider these ways to shop small and keep businesses where they belong: in your neighborhood.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps, and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

Chicago-area families are starting to miss their favorite stores and restaurants right now, and with at least two and a half more weeks left in the stay-at-home order, many local businesses are missing their customers, too. We've already listed lots of small, local toy stores and bookstores delivering to locals, and by now, you may have enjoyed Mother's Day brunch for pick up or delivery from one of our local picks too. Many of these local restaurants are catering to families every day.

Lots of other local businesses in Chicago still need a boost. We've rounded up 19 small businesses working hard to keep their doors open, while also helping to support our community, and we're hoping you can lend your support in return. Remember: It's best to order directly from the small businesses rather than a third-party delivery service whenever possible. Purchasing gift cards to use later is another great way to shop small and help these local businesses thrive now and in the future.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps, and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

With lengthy shipping times online and long lines to get into big-box stores, shopping during the pandemic isn't easy. These inconveniences are an excellent reminder to shop small and patronize the many local businesses struggling to stay afloat right now in NYC. We've already filled you in on our favorite toy and book stores offering local delivery and curbside pickup, and tempted you with these restaurant picks delivering Mother's Day brunch (and more!), but now we're highlighting some other local businesses that may not already be on your radar. These local spots are offering their wares, and in some cases, your purchase also helps first responders, local charities, and neighbors, too.

When you're considering how to support a local business, keep in mind that ordering delivery or curbside pickup directly from a small business allows all of the profit to stay with the local business, rather than a third-party delivery company siphoning off some of the funds. If you don't need an item or a meal right away, purchasing a gift card to spend later is another great way to show your support.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps, and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

As Texas slowly reopens, local businesses need your support more now than ever. From bakeries to fashion designers to toy stores, you can shop small and show some love to Houston-area local businesses offering modified hours, curbside pickup, and even home delivery of their goods and services.

We've already told you about some of our favorite local toy and book stores offering pick up and delivery, and outlined our favorite restaurants serving special-occasion meals, but they're not the only local haunts getting creative to keep the doors open. When looking for ways to support local businesses, we'd like to offer a couple of tips: First, consider buying directly from local businesses instead of third-party delivery services, which often gobble up much of the profit. Second, even local spots not featured below are likely selling gift cards. Consider purchasing one now to use down the line.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps, and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

If Coronavirus quarantine has got you down, help is on the way. Governor Newsom and Mayor Garcetti have begun rolling out their reopening plans, offering gradual relief to families and businesses exhausted by months of Stay-at-Home orders. Going outside has never sounded so thrilling. After two months of lockdown, only seeing each other in car parades and 8pm howls, giving our kids quarantine haircuts and virtual birthday parties, we finally have the beginnings of a plan to get out and enjoy the beaches, hiking trails, and more of LA's natural beauty. If we do it responsibly, we should be able to enjoy some fresh air without putting people's lives at risk.

The plan to reopen California has four phases, and we are in the early stages of Phase 2. Read on to find out what that means for schools and businesses, as well as trails, beaches, farms, and more that we can now visit—as long as we adhere to social distancing protocol and cover up with face masks.

While becoming your child’s teacher can be very stressful, this may be a wonderful opportunity to turn chores into lesson plans. We should insist children help around the house, using everyday things that need to get done as opportunities for them to learn math, science, language arts, and social studies.

For more ideas on things to do with kids during the pandemic, visit our Stay-At-Home Guide for parents.

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.