Just in time for those cooped-up, cold winter months, a new imaginative, eco-friendly play space has arrived in NJ: Woodland Indoor Playground in Cedar Grove, a Scandinavian-inspired play space created by Montclair mom-preneurs Julija Stoliarova and Marina Miller. Woodland will offer fun for kids and families while giving back to the community via a partnership with the Community Food Bank of NJ.   

The play space is open for business as of today, Wednesday, December 12.

I love that the New Victory Theater usually presents a circus show as its holiday production—after all, if there's anything as magical and sparkly as the holiday season itself, it's the circus. Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams may have a different vibe than the Big Apple Circus, but it's just as charming and jaw-dropping. Especially when you realize the troupe was formed just last year!

At just 100 minutes including intermission, with inventive twists on familiar acts, Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams is an exhilarating holiday show for the whole family. Read on to find out about the fabulous feats you'll see—and how you can meet and take pics with the performers.

Teaching a child to ski is no easy feat. Between the gear, ticketing costs, and power struggles, it can often be a better bet to sign a child up for ski lessons. Luckily, within an 80-minute drive of Boston, there are a half-dozen simple ski areas that offer children's ski lessons courtesy of experienced instructors. All have a family-friendly atmosphere where a slopes-confident parent can, alternatively, have plenty of space to teach a child on their own. With travel restrictions making it hard to pull off a ski weekend in New Hampshire or Vermont, these Massachusetts ski slopes might be your family's safest bet for a ski getaway.

Call or register online ahead as far in advance as possible, and take heart—just like a potty training and two-wheeling, they will get the hang of it eventually! After a few lessons, your family may even feel a bit more ambitious and ready for a classic New England ski weekend getaway!

This classic Christmas ballet returns to Philadelphia for another season of holiday pageantry. Since 1968 the Pennsylvania Ballet has been performing The Nutcracker, drawing countless families and performing arts fans. If you have the chance to see this year's show, you won't be disappointed. The sights and sounds of the dazzling dancers, eye-catching costumes, vivid sets, and phenomenal orchestral performance will make you eager to take your seat again after intermission. Having been there, we're here to tell you all about it. Keep reading for more a sneak peek of this ballet performance.

There's a small park in Orange County with a big secret: fairies. Loads of them. The Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo, aka The Oso Creek Fairy Trail, offers a delightful way for young kids to explore nature and reinforce a belief in magic. The picturesque hiking trail is one of the most popular destinations in south Orange County thanks to countless "fairy sightings" reported by families with small kids.

Snow sports are a great way to get outdoors with the whole family in the winter, and you don’t need to drop a bundle flying out west to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Pennsylvania is home to 21 great ski resorts from the Poconos to the Alleghenies, perfect for a day trip or a weeklong family ski vacation.

Best of all, with great deals, programs to help first timers learn to ski, and free skiing for 4th and 5th graders, PA skiing can be as affordable as it is fun. Read on to find out about all the ski and snowboard offers at Pennsylvania resorts perfect for any age or ability, and with great amenities and activities off the slopes too.

Virtual Reality: it may sound like a phrase describing the half-awake state in which most parenting takes place, but in fact it's something way cooler. VR to our kids is putting on a pair of goggles and going somewhere entirely different, to experience things that aren't remotely happening. And that type of adventure is the trade of a seemingly uneventful little space in Glendale and Anaheim called The VOID, whose newest VR experience lets visitors enter the world of Ralph Breaks the Internet. 

The idea of teaching kids how to ski sounds great—until you tally up the cost. While it's possible to just let little ones sled or play in the snow for less, there's good news for anyone with a hankering to ski and a fifth-grader at home: The 5th Graders Ski Free Program has returned to the ski resort nearest you—Mountain High in Wrightwood.