While I love to relax at home with my family during the holidays, it's also the perfect time of year to get out and enjoy the city with kids. One of my family's favorite winter activities is ice skating, so we'll definitely be hitting the Frog Pond, but I had so much fun putting together our list of things to do during vacation week that several other activities have also found their way onto my calendar. I cannot wait for this sing-along going on this weekend. Other winning picks include everything from a storybook walk to some cool activities at the MFA and the EcoTarium. If that's not enough, the must-see Pixar exihibit is in its final days at the Museum of Science; we'll be finding a way to squeeze in a second visit. Finally, holiday light displays and shows are wrapping up as well, so load up the family and catch them while you can.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Looking to get out on Christmas Day? Check out these family-friendly activities around town.
• Once the presents are unwrapped, these things to do during December vacation week are sure to please the whole family.
• Visiting any of these Christmas displays on the South Shore can stretch out the holiday spirit a bit longer.
• Even if you're not looking forward to winter, these winter activities are sure to make the cold, dark days a lot more fun.

Enjoy your weekend, and don't forget to check out our full Event Calendar!

Though Christmas is Friday, the seasonal fun continues throughout the weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Equally noteworthy: Holiday hoopla is also starting to simmer down.

If you haven’t yet squeezed in enough holiday events, there’s still a chance to catch Winter Wonderland and other recurring attractions; check our Event Calendar for the full list of options. But if you’re ready to move on, your kids might enjoy the comic antics of The Paper Bag Players or cheering at the Slam Dunk Tournament. If FREE is sounding good about now, shift holiday gears at a Kwanzaa Celebration or enjoy a performance by the Spring Valley Puppet Theater, among others.

Read on for our top weekend picks, and check out our roundup of holiday mini-camps to help keep your kids occupied next week. Also be sure to sign up for our FREE weekly newsletters to get top picks delivered straight to your inbox.

Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa from your friends at Mommy Poppins!

I’m not kidding when I tell you that I nearly fell over last week here in Fairfield County when our new 15 year old babysitter informed me that she charges…$13/hour!!!!  Are you kidding me? I’m seriously considering having my husband quit his finance job and go into the babysitting racquet.  At the very least, I will be signing my kids up for a babysitting course ASAP. I’m hoping their babysitting money will fund my retirement.

If NYC had a Facebook page, its Year in Review would go something like this: debuted three new museums, two cat cafes and one seriously jaw-dropping carousel. And that's not all! Dozens of cool kid attractions opened in New York City in 2015 and we've rounded up the 15 best new destinations to add to your family bucket list.

Read on to see how many you've already visited (they're all over the five boroughs, yes, even the Bronx and Staten Island), and then make an early New Year's resolution to check out the rest of these must-dos over holiday break (or, for seasonal spots, in 2016). Don't forget to post pics on Facebook to make your out-of-town friends Grinch-green with envy.

Planning for summer camp can be quite overwhelming, especially when you consider all of the wonderful options in our Summer Camp Guide. If one look at that list leaves your head spinning, you've come to the right place. Here we narrow the choices to a small sampling of some of the best the city has to offer. Read on for five off-the-beaten-path, cool camps that are definitely worth investigating.

The countdown has almost ended! It’s Christmas Eve, and all the cookies are baked, the presents are wrapped, and there’s nothing left to do besides wait around for the big guy to show up. Yeah, right.

In reality, most parents are going crazy right about now, wondering if they have enough batteries and wrapping paper for all the goodies that are going to be opened the next morning.

Nevertheless, the holidays are about spending time with loved ones and even building some new traditions, even if we wind up short a AA or two on Christmas morning. Here are 10 ways for families to make some memories on Christmas Eve.

The twelve days before Christmas have been flying by, and now we are counting down from just five. With the push to get it all done, we sometimes forget to stop to experience the events that make this season special. While not all of us celebrate the birth of Jesus, this is the week to do it if you do. Olvera Street’s annual Las Posadas celebration continues, and in Chatsworth it's possible to experience a re-creation of Bethlehem. For those who enjoy the secular delights of the holiday, catch some lights on houses, boats, or even at the zoo. Stop by and give Jolly St. Nick a last minute request for that one special toy. Sip cocoa by the fire or bundle up to ice skate al fresco. Regardless of whether or not Christmas is your holiday, December is undeniably festive.

Are you ready for the hustle and bustle of this crazy, long-awaited week? Christmas is finally here, and so is the start of winter break. Keeping your family busy, while keeping your sanity in check, is our top priority this week. Get revved up for Christmas at State Theatre’s production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Berkeley Heights Library’s Gingerbread Cookie Decoration and New Jersey State Museum’s Laser Holiday Magic. Plan a day of fun on a day off from school at Sahara Sam’s Winter Break and JCC’s Vacation Day Program. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!