New Jersey

Where To Go Pumpkin Picking with New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 09/20/2019 - 11:00am

This year, skip the grocery store pumpkins and go pumpkin picking at a family-friendly New Jersey farm, where you're sure to run into more fall fun, including barnyard animals, hay and corn mazes, and even the season's other favorite fruit: apples.

Red on for more than a dozen spots that are perfect for pumpkin picking with kids.

Closer to the New York border? Check out these Westchester and Hudson Valley pumpkin patches. If you're in South Jersey or headed for a Bucks County getaway this fall, our Philadelphia site has the scoop on Pennsylvania pumpkin patches.

12 Online Tutoring Services to Help Kids Get Ahead in School

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 09/19/2019 - 10:33am

Online tutoring services for kids and teens are readily available at the click of a mouse, making these sites the perfect, in-a-pinch solution for hectic family life.

Perhaps it's 9:30pm on a Thursday, and your 10-year-old has been struggling for over an hour with a particularly tough math question. Maybe math was never your thing. His anxiety is building, yours is through the roof, and you have no idea where to turn...

Kids can get help with core school subjects, specialized classes and subjects, SAT tutoring, and yes, online math tutors, usually instantly, through online tutoring sites. Most offer tutoring chat via text, video, and audio, connecting tutor with student for help or extra practice with just about anything, from chemistry to languages, such as an online Spanish tutor. Some services even run 24/7. So whether your first grader needs help with reading or your high school student wants to pull up that AP calculus grade, consider checking out one of these 12 online tutoring platforms.

20 Unique Birthday Party Spots for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Wed, 09/18/2019 - 2:50pm

Painting party? Been there. Pool party? Done that. If you're fresh out of ideas for your child's next birthday, fear not. We've pulled together some of NJ's most unique birthday party venues for kids, whether they're into sports, arts, or science. From flying high at an indoor skydiving center to starring in a Broadway-style birthday performance, these birthday parties break the mold.

Be sure to check out our Birthday Party Guide for even more options.

HudsonWay Immersion School Brings Mandarin and Spanish Bilingual Education to NYC and NJ

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Wed, 09/18/2019 - 12:10am

Founded in 2005 by an expectant mom committed to giving her soon-to-be-born twins a bilingual education, HudsonWay Immersion School (HWIS) has grown from a home-based class of five kids into an academically rigorous, full immersion Mandarin and Spanish language program for children ages 2 through grade 8. Beginning in PreK, HWIS's core curriculum is taught in both English and the selected foreign language, with the goal of helping students develop advanced cognitive skills, higher second language proficiency, strong social skills, and an increased awareness of the many diverse cultures in our ever-changing world.

Over the last 14 years, the bilingual school has expanded to two campuses in Stirling, New Jersey and New York City, including a brand new facility in Midtown West that just opened in time for the 2019–20 school year. With all this momentum, we sat down with the mastermind mom behind HudsonWay Immersion School, Sharon Huang, to learn more about the unique dual language program and the new Manhattan campus.

Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Harvest Fests, Peppa Pig, Oktoberfest

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 1:00pm

With a roster full of harvest festivals, apple picking, and corn mazes, it's beginning to look a lot like fall on this first official weekend of the season. Take in everything autumn has to offer at seasonal festivals like Morey's Piers' Annual Oktoberfest, Wildwood Crest's Annual Seafarers Celebration, and fall festivals in Hopewell and Westfield.

Experience the flavors of fall at Allaire's Fall Apple Festival and Tenafly's Apple Cider Making. Plus, make it a theatrical weekend at State Theatre Family Day or a production of Peppa Pig Live!

Check out our Fall Fun Guide for NJ Kids for more options, including 20 Fall Day Trips and 50+ Fall Events for NJ Preschoolers. And look to our September GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Cool Pumpkin Displays, Festivals, and Decorating Events in NJ

Submitted by Michelle Vames on Sun, 09/15/2019 - 8:00am

Kick off the festive fall season at one of the many wonderful pumpkin-themed events happening around NJ, from elaborate pumpkin displays and carving competitions to good old-fashioned pumpkin picking and decorating fun.

Read on for our top picks, plus a couple of bonus events that are worth a drive across state lines. You can find even more even seasonal events in our Fall Fun Guide.

Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the US and Caribbean for Families

Submitted by MommyPoppins on Sat, 09/14/2019 - 1:07pm

An all-inclusive resort, or one with extra levels of service and amenities, is almost always a boon to parents traveling with their kids. All-inclusive hotels relieve some of the pressure to entertain little ones, feed them, and even make it easier to decide what to do next during a family vacation.

We've rounded up some of our favorite all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, as well as here in the U.S. Of course, they don't always come cheap, so we've included a couple of more budget options, too. These soup-to-nuts getaways will please the most discerning pint-sized guests (and their paying adults).

Read on for family-friendly resorts that make vacations easy, so you can kick back, relax and just enjoy.

Halloween and Fall Train Rides for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Michelle Vames on Fri, 09/13/2019 - 11:34am

Halloween and hayrides go hand in hand, but if you really want to up your game this year, take a trip on a Halloween train! From spooky to scenic, these fall train rides offer a unique bit of fall fun for the whole family: passengers can take a seat in a vintage caboose, travel through gorgeous fall foliage, visit a pumpkin patch, and even trick-or-treat onboard. After the ride, round out the day with autumn activities like corn mazes, crafts, and a costume party.

Don't miss out on one of these four seasonal NJ railway adventures—plus one across the Delaware in Pennsylvania.

Check out our NJ Fall Fun Guide for even more seasonal family fun around the state, and sign up for our FREE newsletters to get the latest Halloween coverage and more delivered right to your inbox.

Interactive 'Dr. Seuss Experience' to Tour North America

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Thu, 09/12/2019 - 11:17am

Readers of all ages have probably longed to step inside the colorful and whimsical worlds that exist inside Dr. Seuss' beloved stories. Now fans can finally get their fantastical fix as "The Dr. Seuss Experience," a brand-new exhibit, tours North America. The immersive and interactive celebration of the imagination of author and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel is billed as a "Seuss-tacular sensory spectacle" families won't want to miss.

25 Fun-Filled Fall Day Trips for New Jersey Families

Submitted by Dore Duhaime on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 11:00am

Autumn in New Jersey is a perfect time for a family day trip. We've got the lowdown on the best corn mazes, foliage tours, harvest festivals, and pick-your-own farms in the state—so grab a sweater and a mug of hot cider, and head out with the family for an amazing fall day trip. And don't miss our Fall Fun Guide for even more family outings.