Kids aren’t the only ones feeling academic pressure these days—Mom and Dad are experiencing it, too. With the introduction of Common Core Standards, our kids are learning in a completely different way than we did as students. This can pose a real challenge when a child is struggling in school or needs help with assignments (I admit to reading over the instructions to my son’s math homework quite a few times before fully understanding it!). Many more parents are turning to tutors now than when we were kids.

Different from tutors, our sponsor Kumon realizes that learning is about more than simply scoring well on a test; students also need to develop good study habits and the ability to self-learn without being taught. And this takes the pressure off parents when it comes to helping out with homework and test prep.

As the kids head back to school (be sure to check out our classes guide), it's time to shake off the beach sand, head into fall, and get back into the rhythm of things. But just because summer is over doesn't mean the fun has to stop. There are plenty of activities and events for the family this month, from fall festivals and fairs to train rides and the annual Shinnecock Pow Wow. 

And don't forget to check out event calendar daily, as we continue adding to it throughout the month.

Few places bring history to life better than the East End of Long Island. And that's not really surprising. Eastern Long Island is, after all, home of the first permanent English settlement in the state. Not to mention two of the nation’s oldest lighthouses, both commissioned by George Washington himself.

Parents eager to indulge their children’s intellectual curiosity will find no shortage of destinations out east. We’ve rounded up a dozen of our favorites that can be visited at limited cost and whose insights are bound to inspire your budding historian.

So check these out, and while you’re at it, enjoy our Long Island Classes Guide for more education fun for the kids. Find more Hamptons and North Fork activities in our local guide to the area for families.

Summer is definitely ending on a hot note. It’s hard to send the kids off to school when the beach beckons, but for those of us whose summer ends before Labor Day, that’s the way the popsicle drips. I’m trying to ease the transition with lots of after school ice cream and fro-yo, and sometimes we even get to the pool or the beach. Speaking of which, I am seriously contemplating a round of hooky on Monday, because it’s the very last dollar splash day at the Annenberg Beach House. If you don’t get there for that, be aware that the pool is closed from October to May, though if this weather keeps up, they may have to reconsider that schedule.

One place you can always find AC is the movie theater. It’s Disney Princess week in Huntington Beach, where one admission gets you four movies plus four short subjects. And Friday night is for fairs: Malibu, Orange, and Santa Ana all have something planned for Labor Day weekend, and the fairest of them all (it is princess week after all), LA County Fair in Pomona, also opens this weekend.

Don’t forget it’s the first Tuesday and Wednesday of the month this week; brick builders know that means free LEGO. Also, be sure to check our daily event calendar. There is much to do this week.

The countdown to school is on! While fall may be on the brain, there are technically a few more weeks until autumn.  Stay in the summer spirit a little longer at Point Pleasant’s final Kiddie Beach Show and the kickoff of the Labor Day Italian Festival in Scotch Plains. Try out some free classes at Kick Dance Studios Open House and the Music Together Demo Class. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

Many Long Island kids are back to school this week, but there are some districts going back after Labor Day. Whether your child still has one more week of sweet freedom or you have smaller kids that need to be occupied during the day, there is plenty going on this week. From building with Legos to taking a free trial class at Kidville, check out some of our favorite events for the week. And for more on enrichment programs, be sure to look at our Long Island Classes Guide, as well as our Long Island Calendar for additional events in the area.

This week's picks include some of the last activities to close out summer vacation, including a final outdoor movie and concert. It's also time to sign up for fall classes, so if your kids love art as much as mine, be sure to check out the open house events going on all week at the Kidcasso art studio (pictured). As always, there are plenty more fun happenings this week listed on our Event Calendar!

Returning to the back-to-school routine is challenging enough for most NYC families, but add in finding enriching after-school care to the mix and suddenly we're feeling totally overwhelmed.

Luckily, Mommy Poppins is here to help you sort this all out. Recently we told you about the city's FREE after-school care program that runs 3 to 6pm every school day at recreation centers in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. Now we're rounding up the best NEW after-school class options for NYC kids so you can wish those summer days good-bye a little easier and possibly–maybe?–turn that "school's starting" frown upside down.

Find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.