Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Is your family relishing the last carefree week of summer? Has the bus stop already become part of your morning routine? Either way, Labor Day Weekend offers plenty of fun and free festivals, from the Gloucester Schooner Festival and Gloucester Heritage Day to the King Richard’s Renaissance Faire and Hyde Park Jazz Festival. The USS Constitution Museum has a weekend of Labor Day family activities, and Bread and Puppet Theater performs on Cambridge Common. Read on for our list of best bets for the weekend. And check our calendar for more activities.

Apple picking starts early this year - check our list of orchards in the area, as well as some kid-friendly recipes to try out with all the apples you come home with. And our Back to School focus continues with the second of our DIY Back to School crafts series.

Enjoy!

For my family, back to school means back to being scheduled. And while I've been known to gripe about my son being overscheduled, I realize he's got it pretty good when it comes to after-school classes. There are just so many awesome and enriching extracurricular programs for New York City kids these days, it's tough to choose just one (or two or three).

That's why we're highlighting seven after-school programs for NYC kids that sound exceptionally cool. We're not talking about your usual athletics and arts offerings. At these seven super-creative specialty spots, kids can build their own robots, explore genetics, design a runway collection, make their own animated flicks and enjoy more educational hands-on fun.

Although we still have three weeks left of official summer, this weekend is our "unofficial" last hurrah. Thankfully, there's lots of fun family events like Summer Nights at Donaldson's Farm, Asbury Park's Community BBQ, and a Labor Day BBQ at Grounds for Sculpture. If BBQ isn't your thing there's also apple cider making or a Scandinavian Fest to keep you busy. Read on for all our top weekend picks and remember you can find a listing of all NJ activities for kids in our Event Calendar.

With the Department of Education set to roll out its Special Needs Reform this September, many families with kids in public school are wondering about its implications. While we won't know how it will impact schools until later this academic year, one thing that isn't supposed to change is the process for obtaining an Individualized Education Plan, better known as an IEP.

The IEP process can be daunting. From the moment parents are told their child may need special services to sitting at a table with a roomful of experts mapping out the individualized education plan, families may be dealing with a lot of emotions as well as questions about how best to navigate the system to make sure your child is getting the right help.

As the mother of a child with autism, I've been through this process firsthand and have shared experiences with many other parents who have requested IEPs for children with various needs. Below are some of my insights into how to navigate the system as well as what to expect and when to ask for help.

Camping is an inexpensive summertime adventure that all families should try at least once. Some of the most beautiful campsites in the country are located right here on Long Island in our state and county Parks. Pitch a tent and let waves lull you to sleep in a campground by the beach, or look up at the stars through the branches of the forest while crickets and owls serenade you. Don’t let worries about sleeping on the ground, dirt, or bugs stop you! Here are ten campgrounds just a short drive away. They all offer hiking trails, and many have playgrounds, fishing spots, boat rentals, playing fields, evening entertainment, and even golf courses.  

Although more than 2 million U.S. students are homeschooled, it's not always easy to spot them—especially here in New York City, where so much education talk focuses on admission interviews, Gifted and Talented tests and other traditional school concerns. If you decide to go the homeschool route or are just thinking about doing it and want to learn more, joining a parent group can connect you with like-minded families who give you much-needed support and advice.

When you join a homeschool group, other members can help you get through the Department of Education's paperwork, customize a teaching approach and form learning co-ops so you can meet up and use New York City as a classroom together. It's also a great way to help homeschool kids (and parents!) socialize and make new friends.

Where has the summer gone?  School starts next week, and the kids and I have only conquered about half our summer plans.  With just a few days of summer left, we will be taking an afternoon to enjoy the shore – from the water, this time!  Given I don’t know my port from my starboard, or my fore from my aft, I’m sure I’ll be a sight to behold on the high seas. 

Lots of Fairfield County establishments offer cruises, boat rentals, or sailing lessons:

The smell of freshly-sharpened pencils and the feel of crisp notebook paper – it’s time for school again! For kids starting school for the first time (or even a new grade) the excitement can also be peppered with some feelings of anxiety. Being separated from mom and dad can be stressful, but books can be a great way to communicate with your kids. From children starting preschool/daycare to kindergarten or first grade – here are some of our favorite books to ease the transition for your NJ kids.