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.

Well, this is it: this week the last few holdout school districts (including mine) head back to school, but there's still fun to be had for the preschoolers whose programs may not have begun yet, and, of course, for everyone in the afternoons and evenings. We've collected some of our favorite activities for the week from across the state, including the last performance in a fun, free outdoor concert series, a super fun and convenient parents' morning out session, and a fabulous, family friendly agricultural fair. Whatever you decide to do this week, don't forget to check the full Event Calendar for even more ideas!

No question, art or music enrichment classes are worth the money spent, whether you're looking at the short or long-term benefits.  But, what about giving your little girl or guy an edge -- or, as it may turn out -- the minimum, with some computer programming classes?

Schools certainly try to keep up, but they can't track with tiny businesses in Fairfield County eyeing the market trends, and vying for the chance to teach your kids the latest in coding and robotics.  With any luck, your child will come out inspired, inventive and maybe even BFFs with math. Check out our After School Enrichment Classes Guide for more options and ideas.

Although only five miles from the New Haven Green at the lighthouse, Lighthouse Point Park feels much farther removed from the noise and bustle of the city. This 82-acre park on Long Island Sound, with it’s historic lighthouse, antique carousel, and stretch of coastline is a beautiful summer sanctuary. In addition, it has a splash pad water play area, playground, and swings right on the beach, making it a great destination for young kids in the New Haven area, and a perfect day trip destination.