Whether you moved here as a 20-something, or are a lifelong New Yorker, you might think you've got this city figured out. After all, you know the ins and outs of roommate searches, you can score theater tickets on the cheap, or find the nearest happy hour or trendy bite to eat with the blink of an eye, but once you become a parent, New York City is a foreign land.

I've been in your shoes, going from a carefree young professional to a diaper-bag-toting mom seemingly overnight. Really, it was nine months of staring down my "new" New York while fighting off morning sickness and simultaneously searching for birthing spots, pediatricians, daycares, and baby gear. That was (ahem) 16 years and three kids ago...so I've picked up a few tricks and tools of the trade.

Here are 25 nuggets of NYC new parent advice. Find more baby and new parent hacks in our NYC Pregnancy and Baby Guide.

Like the idea of crafting with your kid but cringe at the thought of paint and glitter all over your house? New Jersey is home to various drop-in art studios offering your spontaneous painter, potter, glassmaker, and jeweler the chance to get crafty. These creative spaces let you skip the mess at home while catering to your budding artist's creative impulses.

Read on for our roundup of 21 art studios and craft places in New Jersey. If you're feeling brave enough to craft at home, we've got plenty of ideas on this list of 100 awesome art projects for kids.

Libraries are a great place to snuggle up with a book or listen to a good story, but for many families with young kids, they are also a destination for kids to socialize and get some energy out. We're grateful to these amazing public libraries in Connecticut that have recognized this need and created beautiful, free play spaces where toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary school children can explore toys and interact with peers in between perusing books.

For more play zones that don't require a fee, see our post on Best Free Indoor Play Places for Connecticut Kids. Our guide to Connecticut Indoor Play Spaces highlights even more spots where kids can tinker, imagine, jump, climb, and run when the weather is wet or cold. 

There are countless books that use NYC as their setting—and with good reason. It’s a marvelous, one-of-a-kind city. So, we’ve put together some outings inspired by six of our favorite kid-lit characters and storylines. From picture books to chapter books, we’ve rounded up fun-filled destinations for all ages.

Find more storybook inspiration on our list of 100 kids' books every child should read before they grow up and find more outing inspiration in our Family Activity Calendar.

Time to spring forward into March with a whole lot of green, some self-care and snacking, superb screen time, and even a little madness.

March is Women’s History Month, and it happens to kick off on Mardi Gras this year— that combination of girl power and a party spirit is the mood for this month. All our picks either bring a sense of party and playfulness or they’re self-care, post-play pick-me-ups. With the state of the world, that's right where I want to live. A few things on this list are brand new, but several are just new to me; they’re recommendations from friends, co-workers, and loved ones that I’ve been trying out for the last month and become obsessed with. There’s even a pick from each of my kids.

Read on to discover a way to take 20 minutes for yourself, your new favorite breakfast treat, a family TV show I’ve been waiting for for years, and more.