Thank goodness Valentine's Day is nearly here, all this snow is driving me to chocolate, and it's nice to have an excuse. If you feel the same way we have some chocolate themed activities this weekend, and a Sweetheart Party at two different Gymboree locations. If you are doing a better job than I am sticking to those resolutions, we also have a ballet, a puppet show and some music for you and family to enjoy this weekend. Read on for all the fun.

Animal lovers, this weekend is for you! The Turtleback Zoo has a family program on animal tracks, you can see animal shows at the Super Pet Show in Edison, the annual Great Backyard Bird Count takes place nationwide, and the Newark Museum has elephant art as part of their circus science weekend. And for those who are not animal lovers, get ready for Valentine's day! There is chocolate tasting, chocolate making, maple sugaring, and plenty other of sweet events going on!

We've updated our camp guide, with over 100 noteworthy Summer Day Camps in New York City or the surrounding areas for kids of all ages. Plus this year we've added a new page just for Sleep Away Camps. In our guides you'll find tons of great camps, dates for open houses, tips on how to save money on Summer Camp, and even some free camps and summer programs.

If just thinking about spending a few hundred dollars to take your three year old to see a Broadway show puts you in a cold sweat, have no fear. One of the fringe benefits of living in a theater town is all those actors who gravitate to Broadway, but might just be paying their rent by performing as Cinderella in a kids' show around the corner. Think of it as Trickle-Down Theateronomics. There is so much great theater for kids in New York City, performed by Broadway quality actors and it won't cost you your rent money to take your kids.

Behold!  Twenty children's shows (in every boro!) you can see right now (or very soon) for $20 or less:

Honor Black History Month with some amazing children's books that celebrate African Americans. Here are a few of our favorites:

Is it just me or does it seem like lice outbreaks are becoming much more frequent in NYC schools? After never having gotten lice, my kids have had it twice each in the last two years and I keep hearing classrooms are breaking out with lice a few times a year. Perhaps this is due to the DOE changing their policy about sending kids home from school if nits are found in a child's hair, but whatever the reason it stinks for parents who have to be ever-vigilant to keep kids (and ourselves) lice-free.

Going through a lice infestation is never pretty, but I've managed to get pretty good at delousing my family. The most important thing is to make sure you nip it in the bud with a thorough treatment and don't keep having recurrences. Here are some tips on how to avoid getting lice and how to treat lice naturally if you do get them (hint, the answer is not "kindly").

Valentine's Day is just a week away! That means just a week left to make some special Valentines or to plan a Valentine's-inspired outing with your little cutie-pie. Just for you, we've gathered a list of the sweetest kid-friendly Valentine's Day outings and a compilation of the best venues for Valentine's Day crafts. xoxoxox