5 Fun Mocktail Recipes for Kids Celebrations

Three cheers for boozy whipped coffee (and frozen hot chocolate for them).

We love the inclusivity of mocktails. Now kids, pregnant mamas, and teetotalers can safely get in on the cocktail countdown fun.

From pink-hued sangria (with Shirley Temples) to mojitos (and minty limeade), we have five yummy cocktail-mocktail pairings for parents and kids to enjoy together.

Find more creative ways to celebrate New Year's Eve at home with these 12 kid-friendly activities.

The LA Heroes of 2020 that Helped Parents Survive a Crazy Year

Now Showing: Courage and Fortitude at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. Photo by Waltarrrr/CC-BY-2.0

To say 2020 was a tough year for parents is an understatement. Now that it’s (thankfully!) nearing a close, we wanted to look back at some of the people, places, and things that helped make it possible to keep some semblance of sanity. Parents suddenly became teachers, chief playmates, and head chefs, and it was not easy. But happily, events got creative, parents got plucky, and kids mastered ways to play and socialize online. So, as we ring in 2021, we just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to everything that helped us survive a year like no other.

23 Family-Friendly New Year’s Traditions from around the World

In the United States, New Year’s Eve means ball drops, fireworks, and champagne (or sparkling Martinelli’s) toasts. But in different parts of the world, New Year’s celebrations look a little different and might include eating grapes, smashing plates, or even getting tapped with an onion. All fun and easy celebrations you can do with your kids!

Welcome the New Year with these unique, family-friendly traditions from across the globe. And if you’re looking for more fun ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home with kids we’ve got you covered!

Creative Hub Playday Opens Cobble Hill Location

Playday Cobble Hill Offers plenty of space to create whether you register for art classes, camps, after-school, or its creative after-hours club.

Whether you're looking for an enrichment activity to help round out your child's schedule between Zoom classes or need remote learning assistance that includes art classes, Brooklyn families are in luck. Playday, the beloved LIC creative space, has expanded, opening a sprawling new location in Cobble Hill.

Playday dubs itself a "micro-school" and offers a wide range of art classes and creative programming to inspire children's imagination and foster their creativity. It meets the moment with a mission is to "celebrate your child’s individuality by exploring, creating, and activating in a safe, socially distanced environment."

40 Outdoor Activities for Kids this Winter

Dig out the beach toys and use them for playing with snow!

Don’t let a little cold weather keep you cooped up! With many indoor spaces closed right now, it's extra important to find fun new ways to get kids outside. There's a saying: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes." Well, with the right winter gear (and a little ingenuity) there is plenty of fun to be had during even the shortest and coldest days. 

Before a bad case of cabin fever sets in, try one of these 40 outdoor activities that are sure to get the whole family outside and moving. From backyard campfire cooking to outdoor science experiments, these activities help keep kids away from screens and devices and get them fresh air and exercise in these chilly winter months.

Visit High Point State Park For Epic Views and All-Seasons Recreation

A perfect companion to a High Point State Park visit, stop by the nearby Tri-States Monument, marking the intersection of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York state lines.

A visit to High Point State Park was recommended to my family during a random, chance meeting with a stranger on the street, and it has served as a wonderful day trip destination just a short drive away in Sussex, New Jersey.

With outdoor adventures en vogue, High Point State Park is a great all-seasons destination. Featuring a spring-fed lake, miles of easy hiking trails—including a leg of the Appalachian Trail—and opportunities to fish, camp, picnic, swim, cross-country ski, go for a horseback ride, even dog sled, there are tons of activities for an active family to enjoy.

Read on for more details on the fun activities in this New Jersey state park, which may be worthy of a spot on our list of the best NJ parks and reservations for family-friendly fun.

How to Make Hot Chocolate Bombs in 5 Easy Steps

Hot chocolate bombs are a tasty winter treat for kids!

These trendy hot chocolate bombs are the perfect antidote to cold winter adventures and stay-at-home orders. The sweet treats offer double the fun because crafting hot chocolate bombs at home is an easy baking project that results in one tasty snow day boredom buster.

These popular chocolate concoctions are small chocolate spheres filled with hot cocoa mix that explodes into a steamy, dreamy cup of hot chocolate when hot milk is poured over the top. Read on for our step-by-step recipe for homemade hot chocolate bombs.

Admissions Changes in Store for NYC Middle and High School Students

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced sweeping admissions changes for middle and high school students. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza announced sweeping admissions changes for public middle and high schools. Spurred by pandemic-induced limitations, middle schools will put a one-year pause on all screening requirements. High schools are eliminating geographic priorities over the next two years, plus conducting the specialized high school entrance exam at local middle schools, and allowing auditions for selective performing arts schools to be completed online.

In addition to announcing admissions changes, officials detailed the long-delayed application timeline; in a normal year, applications are submitted by the holiday break.

Find plenty more information about the NYC Department of Education, plus after-school classes and distance learning support in our Schools Guide.

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