It doesn't start until Monday and I’m already stressing. I speak of course of Screen Free Week, in which parents are encouraged to turn off (TVs, Blackberries, iPads) and tune in (to the great big world out there).  Surviving a week without screens, is that even possible?

Here’s my suggestion: get as much screen time in as you can this weekend. To get you started, may I suggest the Los Angeles Children's Film Festival?  We caught a few of the films last weekend and there is much to amuse and inspire young film-goers.  To give you an idea of what you’re in for, check out the reviews from our kid critics, (they say it much better than we ever could!)  And be sure to buy your festival tickets through our links - a hefty chunk of change will be donated to the school of your choice!

There’s one screen usage even the most avowed Luddite couldn’t begrudge, and that’s logging onto Mommy Poppins. (How else are you going to find the ultimate scoop on fun activities for your family?) So friend us on Facebook, sign up for emails and tweets, or go old school and type in our URL; Mommy Poppins is here to help you through. To get you started, keep reading for our favorite picks for this weekend…

Two of Rhode Island’s East Bay towns, Warren and Bristol, make a perfect day trip or weekend getaway. When we visit them, we feel like we’re worlds away from everyday city life. Classic New England, these neighboring towns have it all: Natural beauty, history, arts, culture, and plenty of activities for families. Looking for great shopping and dining? They have that too. Read on for our top 15 things to do with kids in Bristol and Warren. 

Are you good at making tough decisions? We hope so, because there's a slew of amazing activities to choose from this weekend, including three picks from our April NYC Go List: the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival, the Parks Department's no-cost celebration of Street Games in East Harlem and the Tribeca Film Festival's free Family Street Fair.

While those three annual family favorites promise to be super-cool, they'll also be super-crowded. So you might want to try hitting an event that's a bit more under the radar like Park Slope's Fifth Avenue Family Fest, the Queens Botanical Garden's Arbor Festival or your local YMCA for Healthy Kids Day. If you just feel like hanging out at a local green space, check out our Parks and Playgrounds Guide for the scoop on NYC's best outdoor play spots.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide.

This weekend, head on over to the Merrick Chamber Of Commerce Annual Kids Fest at the Merrick LIRR Train Station, where you'll enjoy crafts, rides, games, and festival foods.  At the Heckscher State Park Spring Festival in East Islip, you'll learn about water and boating safety from The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  The festival also features environmental displays, animals, arts and crafts, and more.  In Garden City at the Long Island Children's Museum, McCarter Theatre Center Presents Sunjata Kamalenya, one of the greatest legends of West African Mandé tradition brought to the stage with traditional music, costumes, and scenery.  Ballet Long Island in Ronkonkoma is hosting their Princess Tea Party where you'll see performances of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, and more.  After the show you'll meet the characters and enjoy a tea party.  Also on tap: Ready, Set, Grow at Benner's Farm in East Setauket, and the World's Softest Teddy Bear Challenge at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City.  As always, check out our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family!

In the past we've touted Staten Island as a great place to find a birthday party bargain. But there are so many fun Staten Island party spots, we thought it was time to do a new roundup.

Not only do Staten Island parties tend to be some of the least expensive options in NYC, they often offer the kind of fun you usually only find in the 'burbs, like bumper cars, go-karts and massive video game arcades. So in addition to our original list of Staten Island party places, here are 10 more spots where you can throw a memorable birthday bash. You can find even more options in our Party Guide.

Forget April showers and get outside! New Jersey is bursting with springtime family activities, from sheep shearing to kite making. And if you want to teach the kids about the original green holiday, celebrate Arbor Day with a festival at the Camden Children’s Garden or a tree planting hike at Cheesequake State Park. Read on for our top picks and remember, you can always find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

I hate admitting this…but I’m not an avid animal lover.  Nope, when I think animals, I think slobber, muddy paws, fur flying everywhere, more slobber, and ummm….other doggy waste.  But naturally, my kids love animals, and I don’t want to deprive them of an animal filled childhood, so we try to visit area farms when we get the chance – especially in the spring, when the baby animals are cute and cuddly.   This year, we decided to head over to Sleepy Hollow’s Stone Barns for a day – well worth the 45-minute drive from our home in Fairfield County.

Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen…Justin Bieber?? Summer nights were once filled with tailgating at Giants Stadium to see our favorite bands -- Dave Matthews, Billy Joel, Madonna. Nowadays, concerts involved a little less fight pumping and a little more chaperoning. The garden state is hosting a variety of headlining pop stars during its summertime concert series. From Taylor Swift to Big Time Rush, tweens have a variety of options this summer.