With the pandemic changing the structure of many people’s working lives and forcing working parents to get creative to keep kids busy during office hours, the recently opened Brooklearn in Carroll Gardens offers a bit of a reprieve for local families. The combined play space and coworking facility caters to caregivers with children up to age 5 who are juggling jobs alongside childcare duties.

Read on for our review of this innovative, family-friendly, hybrid coworking and play space, which is surely a welcome addition to our list of the best things to do with kids in Carrol Gardens and its sister neighborhoods.

With so many options on Long Island, choosing a preschool for your toddler can be daunting. To help get you started, we’ve put together a list of 10 schools in Nassau County that are definitely worth checking out.

And while doing your homework includes gathering all the information you can and perusing websites, taking your child to visit a school is probably the best way to determine its fit. Most schools have tours and open houses, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of these offerings, though many may be virtual at the moment.

For more help with your school search, take a look at our complete guide to Long Island preschools. And check out our listing of Montessori preschools if you decide to explore that option for your child.

Winter is prime whale watching season in Southern California, and there are several ways to spy on the giant mammals as they pass through on their 6,000-mile quest for Mexican romance. Each year, between December and April, roughly 20,000 Pacific gray whales migrate past our beaches, and March brings particularly high traffic because that's when the underwater procession starts to turn around.

With reduced capacity and ocean breezes, whale watch cruises are a safe outdoor activity, making these tours book up fast—so be sure to make a reservation. If your landlubbers have touchy tummies and like to stay on shore, with a little luck and clear skies, simply Sand Sledding on the Los Angeles Sand Berms or a Day Trip to One of Our Favorite SoCal Beach Towns can turn into a whale watching outing.

The Loop is great... for going to work or being a tourist. But for those looking to see some of the other 76 neighborhoods in Chicago, we've got the inside track on more fun things to do with kids. Just west of Wrigleyville and north of the hipstery Bucktown neighborhood are two of our favorite neighborhoods in Chicago: Roscoe Village and North Center. Bounded by Ashland Avenue to the east, Belmont on the south, Montrose on the north, and the Chicago River on the west, these neighborhoods have a slightly funky, retro feel, and they're a great place for young families to live. There are also a few fun new venues and restaurants in the area that appeal to more adventurous families.

Whether you're looking for bikes, books, brunch, or bowling, Roscoe Village and North Center have plenty of well-kept secrets and family favorites. We hope they become some of your favorite neighborhoods, too! For more things to do in our favorite Chicago neighborhoods, check out our Visitors Guide.

High school is a time of friendships, activities, milestones, and memories. It’s also a time that precedes important career and college plans. College applications can feel daunting, for teens and supportive family members alike, but one thing is for certain: on top of strong academics, test scores, and extracurricular activities, an internship in the “real world” is a terrific addition to show off leadership skills and initiative.

We’ve scoped out multiple summer internship programs and opportunities for your teen, and included as much info on application deadlines as possible. A summer 2022 internship is a great addition to any resume and college application—not only that, it's a terrific learning experience that can help shape a young person’s growth and future.

Check out our Tweens & Teens Guide to Boston for more local events and happenings.

Having an unconventional work schedule seems to be the new norm. With many people working from home, juggling work and parenting is a heroic feat. For those of us who are not looking for full-time daycare but sometimes need a helping hand, know that you can find a drop-in daycare in Los Angeles (and Pasadena and Santa Monica and loads of other local towns) where you can leave your kids for a few hours while you work or just get a little well-deserved me time.

I know firsthand that finding a place where you feel at ease leaving your little ones is not an easy task, but we've done the legwork, asked all the questions, and compiled a list of places that offer drop-in daycare. For more ways to get work done when you have young kids, check out our review of one of our favorite Co-working Childcare Spots in Silverlake and our compelte guide to Childcare Options in Los Angeles.

Whether your child is into magic, sports, princesses, clowns, or something else entirely, there are birthday party entertainers to satisfy even the most narrow interests. Orlando kids (and parents) love these birthday entertainers because they keep the kiddos engaged and happy during the special day, and mom and dad can take a break to actually enjoy the party. Yes, Orlando has some fantastic birthday party venues throughout the area, but sometimes it's nice to bring the entertainment to your own home or neighborhood. 

We at Mommy Poppins have rounded up some of the most interesting, sought-after birthday party entertainers in Orlando. These creative, family-friendly folk will make sure to enhance Orlando kids' birthdays with a huge amount of fun!

Families need not flee to northern New England for snowy escapes. There are great family ski resorts in Connecticut or close by in Massachusetts and New York that offer plenty of thrills for easier-to-manage day trips. Below is an overview of some of the area's best kid-friendly ski resorts, whether you love zooming down the slopes on skis or from the comfort of a snow tube. 

Let's face it: the coldest season is much more fun if you stay active and enjoy the outdoors. Our Mommy Poppins Connecticut Winter Fun Guide highlights plenty more ways to help you do just that! For even more winter sports in Connecticut, browse our Ski and Snow Sports Guide. And if you're looking for a family ski vacation well beyond the Nutmeg State, don't miss The Best Ski Resorts in the US.