Are you crowd-sourcing to find a fresh venue for hosting your next birthday party? We know the drill. Despite the scores of party venues in Westchester, there’s often a desire for something new. Fortunately, a bunch of new venues opened in Westchester in the last year that offer kids’ birthday parties. From sweet shops to swimming, climbing adventures to cartooning, this new mix offers a variety of activities. Your kids might even be grown-ups by the time you try them all!

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Let’s face it, it’s extremely hard to squeeze in some extra hours to work with a toddler at home. These days, my son’s schedule and needs are unpredictable: naps are shorter and hanging out with mommy is much more fun. The right daycare can come to the rescue, and the Eastside of LA now has a creative new childcare option with an appropriate name—Wiggle & Work. 

Seasoned New York City parents know that summer camp search season starts when snow is on the ground and summer seems like a distant memory. Still, every year, I tend to put off summer planning until the February mid-winter school break shocks me into action.

Fortunately, the NYC area and surrounding suburbs offer tons of summer camp choices, from cooking to coding, from science to sports, and everything in between. And because NYC is always changing, there are always new camps opening. We've found a number of new summer camps for 2019, including some new locations for old favorites. Summer break will be here before you know it!

While the world binge-watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and my social media feeds filled up with photos of freshly organized sock drawers, I didn't bother tuning in. After all, I'm already a Very Organized Person—the kind of mom who sorts her kids' toys according to category, and who may have an addiction to The Container Store. What could I possibly have to learn?

Then an image sprang to mind of me, huffily sorting papers on the kitchen counter while a hundred other urgent matters vie for my attention. When things get hectic, the piles of mail, magazines, kids' artwork, school forms, and other random papers crowding our countertops suddenly seem like a five-alarm fire. My husband calls it "angry organizing."

In late 2018, the Please Touch Museum opened its Creative Arts Studio, a new, permanent creative space dedicated to art making and exploration. The space provides a new avenue for children to gain access to quality art education, and promises to be a delightful new addition to your visiting experience at the museum, making this yet another wonderful space for your Philly kid to enjoy arts exploration. 

While the hours of the studio space are limited, we had a chance to check it out and give some of their art materials a test run.

Nestled comfortably on the South Shore between Nassau and the East End, Sayville makes a great day trip any time of the year. Whether you're searching for something to do with littles younger than 5 or looking to entertain your teens, Sayville would seem to do it all. 

About 5 miles west of Patchogue, Sayville might be overlooked for the more popular central Suffolk destination. However, Sayville also has a booming downtown area full of restaurants and shops, as well as ferry service to central Fire Island. With delicious eateries, seasonal festivals, and play areas for kids, you can find something for every member of the family. 

Once you're done exploring all Sayville has to offer, check out one of Long Island's other great family-friendly communities, such as Port Washington, Glen Cove or Port Jefferson. 

When we got wind of that the largest indoor playground in Texas was opening just south of Houston in Webster, we knew a visit needed to be at the top of our to-do list for the new year. The Play Space is part playground, part imaginative play area, part arcade, and exactly everything we love about our favorite local indoor play spaces all rolled into one 16,000-square-foot space. Located in the middle of a shopping center, the exterior is completely unassuming, but as soon as you step inside, you're in for Texas-sized fun!

Now that winter has really set in with its frigid temperatures and snowy days, keeping a infant or toddler entertained can be challenging. With a new baby of my own, I'm always looking for reasons to get out of the house for a change of scenery—I find it helps both my little one and me avoid cabin fever.  Here are 11 of my favorite ideas for busting boredom and staying sane during these chilly weeks.