If your kids love trains like mine do, take them to the Long Island Steamers' Open House this weekend. There's also a fair in East Hampton, Rapunzel, sponsored by Kids Club 13, in Northport, the National Circus Project at the Long Island Children's Museum, and "The Dirt about Dirt"--a fun investigation of soil--at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning, among so many other activities going on this weekend. For more ideas for what to do this weekend, check out our events calendar here.

There's been an update to this law. We've got the info here.


Kindergarten used to be optional for NYC students. Parents who wanted to keep their kids home or delay school until first grade were allowed to do so. Not anymore. Governor Cuomo recently signed legislation that makes kindergarten mandatory for all New York City five-year-olds. There are certainly benefits to this change, but some big questions, too.

Last Sunday I took my 4-year-old son to the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival, where we enjoyed seeing the Destiny Africa Children's Choir. He loved the drums, dancing and voices, and studies have shown that creativity increases in people who are exposed to different cultures. Connecticut is a diverse state with many ethnicities represented. How about introducing your family to something new this weekend?

This week we have news of one museum closing, another one being built and a change of location for a beloved geek store. Other stories include the death of Daffy's (it was one of our favorite places to pick up discounted kids' clothes!), word of a new Upper West Side spot selling sporty children's wear, an awesome new Long Island City water spot and a revamped rat mascot. Yes, in NYC even the rodents get work.

Summertime and the livin' is easy! That certainly rings true this weekend with all the AMAZING (and many FREE) activities happening in NJ. What to do first? (And second and third?) There's a a Farmers Fair, two Balloon Festivals, Family Fun Day at a winery, a 4H fair, Construction Weekend at Liberty Science Center, and a whole lot more.  Read on for all our top picks and remember, you can find a listing of all NJ activities for kids in our Event Calendar.

Usually at Mommy Poppins we're all about getting out there and experiencing everything New York City has to offer. But there are times when you need to take a break from running around and stay home—but that doesn't mean your kids are going to let you relax on the couch eating bonbons all day.

While we suspect you have a computer, a gaming system and a TV or two, there are other ways to have fun indoors (even if your kids don't believe you). That's why for this month's Little Lions post, we asked Rachel Evans, manager of the Seward Park Library on the Lower East Side, to compile a list of her favorite activity books for families. So put down that remote! These jam-packed books feature hundreds of ways to keep the kids entertained indoors.

[UPDATED: December 1, 2012]

Williamsburg is one of NYC's funkiest and fun neighborhoods, so it's no surprise that its stores are fun and funky, too. Today, we continue our month-long focus on Williamsburg with a look at the area's colorful children's boutiques filled with trendy clothes, toys, gear and furniture, plus a few eclectic adult shops with kids' items.

From high-end boutiques selling luxury brands to a fabulous discount store, independent bookstores to a beloved resale shop that organizes the nabe's iconic Witches Walk each Halloween, here are our top places to shop with kids in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk is a great place to spend the day with your 0-10 year old. If you have tweens I recommend taking them to Stepping Stones' Summer Jam LIVE: Teen Concert Series geared just for them. The museum currently has a Blue Man Group - Making Waves exhibit that runs through September 9th. You can read about our visit to the exhibit last month here. Enter this great giveaway now for your  chance to win a family 4 pack of tickets to be used one day this summer at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children.