Has the MLK holiday gotten you thinking about how quickly February Vacation Week is coming up? Luckily, fun and enriching programs abound during the break. I've rounded up some terrific vacation week programs for creative kids who like to craft, draw, create virtual worlds, sing and dance - and kids who love nature, too. Read on for my picks, from learning about modern architecture at Einstein's Workshop to creating museum creatures at the MFA. 

If Jason and the Argonauts is a sign of the type of kid-friendly theater we can expect from Beverly Hills' new Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, then families have a lot to look forward to - and a great new reason to rediscover 90210. The 65-minute production out of Scotland is a rare treat, serving up classic story and mischievous humor that reaches a variety of ages simultaneously.

It's ironic in an Alanis Morissette sort of way that the week we launch our Tech & Science Guide for Kids I end up losing my Internet access. Thank goodness for kind neighbors willing to share their WiFi connections with a blogger in need. (One of the upsides of living in such close quarters in NYC!) In this brand-new geeky guide, you'll find all kinds of high-tech fun for kids, including family-friendly NYC makerspaces, Minecraft clubs, cool apps, science museums and more.

Our other big debut this week is our brand-new series of WeeWork Posts. Beginning next week, we'll be sharing simple crafts, recipes, indoor games and other fun activities that you and your kids can do at home for FREE. Check out this great make-your-own indoor snowballs project for a taste of what's in store. Great for those dreary winter days when it's too cold to play outside.

And what are you doing on Saturday? Hopefully joining Mommy Poppins at a special New Victory Theater matinee of the kiddie cabaret Still Awake Still. We're cohosting exclusive pre- and post-show activities, and even offering a 20% discount on tickets to our readers.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

It’s usually right around mid January when the post-holiday slump starts to settle in as we (finally) get around to taking down the last of our decorations and dive back into the routine of work and school. But despite chilly temps and predictable schedules, there’s no reason not to have some weekend fun with the family. New Jersey has some neat winter happenings, like the Maple Sugaring Demos at Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center and an awesome Live Reptile Show at Manasquan Reservoir. Liberty Science Center is keeping the educational fun going all weekend with both their Retro Science: Duct Tape Mania exhibit and the hugely popular Bubblemania show. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Most schools are closed for Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 20th so you might be looking for something to do with your children on this cold winter day off. Luckily, there are many options in Hartford County to help entertain you and the family so that you’re not left bored in the house! Honor Martin Luther King with one of these great events. Just in case you are in Fairfield County check out these MLK events too.

If you've got a baby or toddler in NYC, chances are you have a stroller (or two or three). When my son was young, our stroller got plenty of wear and tear up and down subway stairs, across potholes, and through muddy parks, snowy streets and rainstorms. It also pulled double-duty as a grocery cart, coat rack and, when strapped, a diaper changing table.

While heavy-duty strollers are built to withstand a fair amount of abuse, if you're using your wheels every day, parts inevitably break. Do you really want to trash that $1,000 stroller because the frame bent or the tire popped off? We didn't think so.

For simple repairs like a blown tire, you can try your local bike shop (many handle minor fixes and may even stock standard stroller-size inner tubes and other small parts). But for more advanced assistance, we've found five New York City services that specialize in stroller repair so your family can get rolling again.

Mommy Poppins Boston is delighted to share this guest post from Amber Bobnar of WonderBaby.org, a support and information site for parents of children who are visually impaired (featured in our list of favorite blogs in 2013):

We take our family out to concerts in the Boston area almost every weekend, and my eight-year-old son, Ivan, is in a wheelchair and totally blind. Accessibility is very important to us!

Below you’ll find my rundown of our favorite accessible theaters and live performance venues in the Boston area. I share pros and cons based on a multitude of special needs because I realize that the criteria for what’s accessible will be different for each family. Some kids are in wheelchairs, some have sensory issues, some have hearing or visual impairment and all will react differently in different environments! Find one that looks like a good match for your family and give it a shot! Remember, if it doesn’t work out you can always leave. No big deal. 

The holidays are safely behind us and the kids are back in school. You’ve filled up the calendar with fun activities and outings for the kids this month. Now it’s your turn for a fun night out sans the kids. Wouldn't it be nice to leave for a date night without your youngest hugging your legs, koala-style, screaming "Mommy, don't goooooo!"?

Well, instead of hiring a sitter for the night, why not make it a night out for the kids also? They may be more willing to let Mommy and Daddy go if they’ve got a night of fun activities ahead. It turns out that a number of local places your children may already frequent offer Parents’ Night Out services. For some, you can even arrange a night out with the staff—all you have to do is ask! Read on for details on drop-off services for your next date night. Enjoy!