You may have noticed that Mommy Poppins started to produce our own family events last year. This year, we’ve rebranded our epic events under the PLAYTOPIA name with CAMPTOPIA in February, PLAYTOPIA and Seaport Kids x SPRINGTOPIA in March, and we’re excited to announce BABYTOPIA, our first baby show, on April 13!

Our mission, with our partner Brooklyn Bridge Parents, is for PLAYTOPIA events to create exceptionally fun, educational, and interactive events where families can play together, discover local small businesses and brands, and create community. So far the feedback has been terrific and we’re confident that when you see one of our “TOPIA” events promoted, you'll know it’s going to be a world of fun. 

BABYTOPIA presented by PediaGROW is a free event for new and expectant parents and families with toddlers through nursery school-aged kids. Join us there to meet local businesses for young families, plus discover top gear brands and services that make life through pregnancy and early parenting easier, more fun, healthy, and smart.

Add waterfall hikes near Los Angeles to your winter bucket lists. Winter weather means waterfall hikes near Los Angeles tend to be at their peak.

Some of these beautiful gems hide their light under a dry bushel in drought years, so when the (rare) precipitation pours into Los Angeles, step into nature and admire the impressive flowing waters. But don't forget an extra pair of socks when embarking on waterfall hikes near Los Angeles because your feet might get wet from those creek crossings. 

If your little one is a burgeoning adventure enthusiast, take them on these beginner hikes for toddlers or level up the difficulty on these best hikes for families. Find all our favorite hikes for kids in our hiking and camping guide for Los Angeles families. 

When the mountains are calling, a ski vacation in the Catskills is always the answer. Nestled amidst the breathtaking peaks of the Catskill Mountains lies Hunter; a winter wonderland that has beckoned adventurers and skiing enthusiasts alike for generations. The charming, amenity- and activity-filled town of Hunter, plus the cozy Bluebird Hunter Lodge nearby provided the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable group ski trip and some new memories this winter.

I grew up in a ski family, and have many fond memories of vacations just like this one. I have countless anecdotes of days spent learning how to turn my skis and carve through snowy slopes, followed by evenings spent nestled among loved ones who shared their own tales. Over the years, these memories have faded slightly, but what has remained is a feeling of “cozy” accompanied by a healthy dose of laughter and warmth.

Bluebird Hunter Lodge provided the perfect setting to rekindle some of those fading memories and recreate them with my family and friends. Enjoy a sneak peek at this lovely Catskills hotel, where we enjoyed apres ski spreads of cocoa and cookies, hung out around the fire, and spent our nights playing Pictionary in our pajamas, and find more local destinations in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

Sharing "fun facts about me" can be anything but fun, especially for kids —it's tough for most of us to sum up our entire personality in a few words when trying to break the ice. Throw in the fact that many kids on the quieter side may hide behind mom or dad's leg rather than have to make small talk and the whole introduction process can get stalled.

Help is here! We've collected some of our favorite ways to get kids out of their shells and into the conversation. These silly and easy fun facts about me that kids can think about or ask new friends can make for easy ice breakers.

Another way kids open up to sharing fun facts about themselves is to share crazy facts they know about the world— check out 75 Fun Facts for Kids That Will Blow Their Minds! Jokes for Kids are another awesome way to break the ice and get kids giggling, and we've got jokes, tongue twisters, and riddles galore in our Guide to Jokes and Humor for Kids.

What temperature is a fever? Are ear infections contagious? What is colic in babies? These common children’s health questions and more can be answered by the pediatric health experts at Connecticut Children’s.

Read on for their helpful guidance on some of the most common conditions and illnesses you’ll encounter over the years. And, for more straight-forward, age-appropriate, expert advice, you can visit Connecticut Childrens’ Growing Healthy Blog or subscribe to their information-packed newsletter.

If you thought you'd have to travel to Africa to sleep on the safari, have we got news for you: Savannah Sunset Resort is set for a summer 2024 debut right in our own backyard. The brand-new glamping-style resort opens at Six Flags Great Aventure in Jackson, New Jersey, this June, and it's already taking reservations.

Read on for details on this family-friendly resort and find more glamping resorts in the tri-state area in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

The Samanea New York Mall is a rebrand and reboot of the Source Mall in Westbury, and its many options make for a fun outing. The mall has a diverse roster of stores and venues that offer dining, arts, and entertainment–with a bunch more on the way. 

Here is the scoop on what's open, coming soon, and planned for the future. Similar to New Jersey's American Dream Mall, Samanea seeks to flip the script on the outdated shopping mall concept. 

For more fun local escapes, check out our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

It can be hard to find NYC car services with car seats. Whether you're headed to the pediatrician, the airport, or just visiting New York City, the question of where to find car services with car seats in NYC is one we often hear from tourists and locals alike.

If you have a car seat of your own, taxi drivers are required to let you install it. I've had anxious drivers balk, but I've always made them wait. Pro tip: Keep your door open until everyone's buckled in to force the issue!

For those days when you don't feel like lugging your car seat to and from JFK or up and down the pediatrician's steps, call one of these local NYC car services with car seats. We've rounded up some of our staff favorites for service in all five boroughs. Just remember to specifically request an infant or a toddler seat depending on your child's needs. If you're looking for more parent-tested NYC tips, we've rounded up 25 good-to-know tips for NYC parents.