Kids generally spend their summer camp days participating in an array of structured activities; some camps, however, are switching things up and allowing children to pick and choose the activities where they'd like to place more of their focus. These customizable, "pick-your-own-program" camps give kids a sense of responsibility and accountability, because they have some say in their camp scheduling and can choose a little tennis, a lot of horseback riding, or a whole bunch of theater games. And to find a full range of summer camp options in our fair state, check out our New Jersey Summer Day Camp Guide.

Spring break kicks off this weekend for public school kids and we're looking forward to enjoying the season in the city during our staycation. This weekend, outdoor fun includes the final days of the Queens County Farm Museum's Children's Carnival, Wave Hill's FREE Hello Spring weekend, and opening day for Coney Island's Luna Park, Prospect Park's brand-new roller rink and the Bronx Zoo's Dinosaur Safari. And with Easter coming up next Sunday, there are also a half-dozen egg hunts on tap.

Although NYC's fabulous parks and playgrounds beckon, there are some indoor events worth considering, like the Children's Museum of Manhattan's hands-on Meet the Makers Festival, a musical based on the popular children's book Mr. Chickee's Funny Money and a Passover party at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide. Before heading out on your adventures, be sure to download our FREE Mommy Poppins Kids on the Go app so you can find the best family destinations wherever you happen to be in NYC.

If you’ve been waiting to get your fill of all things Easter, this weekend is the perfect chance! New Jersey is bursting with family friendly holiday activities: hop aboard an Easter train on the Delaware River Railroad, have a family picnic and egg hunt at Fernbrook Farms or head down the shore and meet the Easter Bunny at Cape May Zoo. Looking for a little non-Easter fun? Check out the always entertaining Milk & Cookies interactive story time at the State Theatre or spend a relaxing day at the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

What do you get when you cross an amusement park with an arcade with a sit-down restaurant with laser tag with a concert hall with a "cool in the summer and warm in the winter" indoor space? Well, you get iPlay America, of course. I was recently invited to spend a day with my family at this fun amalgam of kid-friendly activities in Freehold, NJ, so read on for all the info - and then head out and youPlay at iPlay!

Central CT has a great selection of summer camps for kids of all ages with a variety of interests. As parents we understand that taking risks builds confidence. This is where some adventure fits in. Sometimes we have a child who's just aching for some risky action like rock climbing, zip-lining or an outdoor adventure course. Or perhaps, mom thinks Susie could do with broadening her horizons a bit. Whatever the motivation may be, if you're looking for an adventure camp then check out one of the following fun choices in Central CT. And for even more options be sure to look through our CT Summer Camp Guide.

Looking for a unique activity to celebrate an upcoming birthday party or other special event? Face painting is a fabulous way to entertain kids and create lasting memories. New Jersey is home to many wonderful artists offering face painting, balloon art and other services—read on for our top ten picks below. And for additional birthday party entertainers and services, visit Mommy Poppins NJ’s Birthday Party Guide.

Yes, I love decorating Easter eggs and some of my favorite memories are of decorating eggs with my kids, but there have definitely been some years when I hedged a bit wondering if I really had to do the whole dying thing and deal with stained hands and whatever else the dye got onto. Then there were my son's sensory issues which meant he didn't like getting his fingers wet. Some years I tried to short-cut by having them draw with crayons on the eggs, but the crayon colors don't take well to the egg, so they just looked a mess. I wish I'd thought of this method. No mess, no wet, stained fingers...and a teenager will enjoy making these eggs as much as a toddler.

Going to the Blue Man Group performance was the most fun my family has had in ages, and that’s really saying something, because we’ve been doing whole lot of fun springtime activities in Boston lately. During the Blue Man Group show, we laughed until we were blue in the face (ha) and a week later, my kids haven’t stopped talking about how cool it was. Keep reading to find out why we think Blue Man Group is a winner, plus what to expect if you decide to go, things to be aware of when taking your kids, and a few bonus tips.