It’s official- summer kicks off this weekend! The kids are done with school, camp’s around the corner and parents need some warm-weather fun to fill the gap. Look no further.  Mommy Poppins has the recipe for a jam-packed weekend. Blast off the summer at the Meadowlands energetic New Jersey State Fair. Brighten up the weekend at Terhune Orchards’ Firefly Festival. Put on your party hats and Celebrate New Jersey’s 350th Birthday at the New Jersey State Museum and Planetarium. Chill out at the theatre with family-friendly performances of The Little Engine That Could or the Frozen Movie Sing-A-Long, where it’s okay for kids (and adults) to belt out “Let It Go.” Check out the full list of weekend activities on our Event Calendar.

For NYC kids, one of the greatest pleasures of summer is getting all wet in pools, at beaches and on boats. However, for children with special needs like my son, water play can spark a variety of anxieties and sensory issues.

Happily, the tri-state area is home to a number of adaptive water sports programs specifically tailored to children with autism and other special needs. So they can learn to swim, sail and even water-ski in a supportive and understanding environment. Bonus: Many of these special needs water play programs are FREE or inexpensive.

Think about summer and ice cream immediately comes to mind. Sure it's messy: the ice cream melts quickly, creating sticky little hands and the sugary goo inevitably gets everywhere. But just one lick of these homemade sweet treats makes it all worth it--even the calories! So we've rounded up some of the best ice cream parlors and shops on the East End of Long Island. And for more things to do in the area, take a peek at our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide.

Spend the week doing free stuff and end it with a splurge at the circus. There are lots of cool and interesting things to do in and around LA that don't cost a dime. Local libraries are a great place to start. Many of them host special guest entertainers and educators. While we are highlighting a few things here, don’t forget to check out Mommy Poppins event calendar for a more comprehensive listing of things (free or not) to do this week.

Whether you dread the unstructured days of summer or welcome them, every parent can use a little help in planning, right? That's where the Mommy Poppins New Jersey Kids Summer Activities Guide comes in. Be it the best beaches, the bluest blueberry festivals, or what's incredibly fun and absolutely free, we're here to give you the skinny. And we're adding new stuff every day, so check back often to see what's new in the NJ Kids Summer Activities Guide. Have an awesome summer!

Summer is right around the corner, which means it's your last chance to sign the kids up for enriching seasonal programs. Our June deals post features discounts on all kinds of cool camps where kids can enjoy performing theater, playing chess, learning languages and even sailing on the Hudson. Plus, snag a great Central Park Conservancy Family Membership deal, and save on an all-kid production of Seussical, preschooler classes and even personal training sessions for mom and dad. If you see a bargain you can't pass up, act fast: Many of these deals will expire before the month is out.

Every kid loves a birthday party! And we have a whole lot of information on different theme parties, party guides, and even party crafts. Sometimes, though, you just need a great park for the perfect party—a playground, grassy areas, picnic tables, a grill, and maybe a bounce house or piñata. These 10 Valley parks are all great for kids' birthday parties, all have bathrooms available (check the hours), and all are a bit different. Do you want shade? A fenced playground? Water features? Lots of grass? Plenty of table space? There is something here for you.

The countdown to the last day of school has begun—my daughter has been crossing out dates on the calendar with extra zeal. Over the past few weeks, we've gotten a jump on all of the FREE fun summer has on tap by visiting the just-opened Interactive Sculpture Garden and mini-golf course on Governors Island, and enjoying no-cost outdoor movies, kids' concerts and festivals.

If you're planning a NYC staycation this season like we are, you'll find plenty of things to amuse the whole family in our Summer Guide. However, if you're hoping for a vacation or two, our Travel site has in-depth posts about family-friendly travel spots around the country, like our just-published profile of laid-back California beach town Carmel-by-the-Sea, as well as international destinations like Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort in the Caribbean. Looking for a getaway that doesn't involve a plane ride? Our tri-state area sites are full of ideas, like the brand-new construction-themed amusement park Diggerland in New Jersey, the quaint waterside town of Captain's Cove Seaport in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Long Island's activity-packed East End. With all of these cool possibilities, I think I may be as impatient for summer break to arrive as my daughter.

Here's what else we covered in NYC this week: