I vaguely remember going to the beach with a cute little beach bag that held just a towel, a bottle of sunscreen, a book, a water bottle, and maybe a snack. Going to the beach with my three kids, however, requires a mountain of beach chairs, towels, a heap of toys, two coolers, and a wagon to haul everything.

I’ve tried my share of beach gear over the years (I grew up in a beach town and now we live near the Jersey Shore), but to make sure I had left no stone unturned, I also polled our readers and everyone at Mommy Poppins for their picks on the very best things to bring to the beach with kids. Everything on this list will make your next day at the beach easier, less sandy, and a little more like, well, a day at the beach.

We're excited to introduce a new place to find recipes on Mommy Poppins. Our brand-new Easy Recipes for Kids guide includes all sorts of simple baking projects like Hot Chocolate Bombs and Homemade Ice Cream, as well as weeknight dinner ideas, such as Trader Joe's Recipe Ideas.

We've also included plenty of snack ideas—handy for remote learning!—and even some sneaky science lessons in recipe form, such as growing rock candy.

Families are certainly ready to say goodbye to 2020, a year full of heartache, loss, and struggle for so many of us. With schools and daycares closed, parents were particularly burdened in a difficult year.

But it wasn’t all bad, of course. We continued to find moments of light and yes, silver linings within a painful global pandemic and all that came with it. We asked our readers and staff what they learned or gained in 2020 and what they resolve to continue doing into the new year, here’s what they said.

Hacklebarney State Park is quickly becoming my family’s favorite place to hike in New Jersey. It has bridges, rocks to scramble over, stairs, plenty of picnic tables, big trees soaring overhead, and wild rivers and creeks running through it. There’s even a modest playground tucked into a little clearing toward the very end of the hike, a nice reward for kids and all their hard work.

Remote learning is now the norm for many American schoolkids, whether that's temporary, part-time, or a yearlong reality. As the year grinds on, parents may be struggling to find ways to keep kids from wandering away from the screen but also to just focus and actually absorb the daily online classes. One thing that some educators and children's therapists are recommending is the use of fidget spinners or fidget toys, as well as sensory items and flexible seating that allows for wiggling and movement.

"You want things they can fidget with but aren't super interesting so that they then become consumed in it, so I would avoid building materials — Magna-Tiles, Legos — or art supplies," says Nina Essel, LSW MS Ed, owner and founder for Balanced Kids, a parent coaching and consulting company in New Jersey.

As a mom to two virtual learners, I asked Essel and several other therapists and educators for their top tips to help parents trying to set kids up for success in remote learning. Here are the fidget spinners, tools, and tips they offered. Find more resources in our Homeschooling & Remote Learning Guide.

"Halloween is on," declared Governor Phil Murphy at Monday's COVID-19 press conference. The New Jersey governor made the declaration as the state department of health released its full Halloween 2020 safety guidelines for Jersey families, schools, and organizations.

The state is not banning trick-or-treating, but rather asking the public to modify the format to reduce contact with those not in your household. It's also encouraging proper mask wearing and outdoor Halloween activities instead of indoor events.

Late last month, the CDC ruled trick-or-treating, and most Halloween activities, as high-risk unless strict social distancing can be observed.

The CDC might be warning against trick-or-treating in 2020, but there are elements of Halloween that seem ready-made for our new pandemic lifestyles. After all, it is one of the few holidays that takes place almost entirely outdoors and includes the option to wear a mask. Win.

We've rounded up 10 top spots to shop for Halloween face masks for kids. Wear them all month long or as a costume accessory on the big night.

Updated August 13 - Amid increasing pressure, the governor of New Jersey will allow individual school districts to initially choose 100% remote learning this fall if they are unable to meet health and safety standards. Previous school reopening guidelines from the state had directed all districts to offer some form of in-person learning.

“We recognize for some districts there are legitimate and documentable reasons why some of these core health and safety standards cannot be met on day 1," Murphy said on Wednesday, August 12. "For these districts today, we are reaffirming our commitment for districts to do what’s best for their school community."

The governor has already said that any student or parent that prefers remote learning must be provided that option.