Step Inside Thrilling New 'Squid Game' Experience in Midtown Manhattan

Would you dare to set foot on the glass bridge at the new Squid Game Experience at the Manhattan Mall?

Fans of the hit Netflix show Squid Game can now play experience the thrills and excitement of the games in real life. At the new, immersive pop-up Squid Game: The Experience, players compete in five different games inspired by the show—but only one will win.

Unlike the actual show, this new experience is totally safe and family-friendly. I recently went to experience the games with my 8-year-old son, and we had a fantastic time. Read on for everything you need to know about Squid Game: The Experience

Find all of our recommendations or the best new things to do in NYC with kids in our Guide to New Openings for Kids in NYC.

41 Best Bedtime Stories for Kids, Including Free Bedtime Stories Online

Snuggle up with one of these beloved bedtime stories for kids. Photo courtesy of Bigstock

Sometimes all you need are a few really great bedtime stories for kids...

The homework is finished, the baths are complete, the children are snuggled in their beds... and they're still awake! A truly tantalizing tale is the final piece of the bedtime puzzle. Whether you read these books to your kids, read them together as a family, or play the audio versions, these beloved bedtime stories for kids will help them drift off to dreamland in no time. There are even some free bedtime stories you can easily access online, for those nights when you need something new.

Dim the lights, get cozy, and crack open one of these 30 great bedtime stories for kids. For even more great books, check out our list of 100 kids' books every child should read before they grow up, plus more beloved book recommendations in our Guide to the Best Kids' Books.

Here's Why You Need to Plan a Visit to The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester

The Strong Museum of Play celebrates the power of play inside and out, including in the Hasbro Game Park, where you can climb on Jenga blocks and more.

When it comes to celebrating the power of play, there’s no place more dedicated to the childhood pastime than The Strong National Museum of Play. Located in the heart of downtown Rochester, New York, The Strong National Museum of Play might be one of the best children’s museums in the United States, but it’s far more than a kids-only space.

Fresh off a 90,000-square-foot expansion that debuted in 2023, The Strong Museum is home to plenty of hands-on exhibits guaranteed to entertain kids for a day or more—and it’s also the largest collections-based museum in the world. This combination makes it a great all-ages destination as adults are guaranteed to find plenty of nostalgia in its galleries, which include the National Toy Hall of Fame and the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

Read on to learn why The Strong National Museum of Play is a must-visit Upstate New York attraction and why it makes a perfect jumping-off point to explore the region from the Flower City to the Finger Lakes, and nearby Buffalo and Niagara Falls beyond.

Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities in NYC for Families

Volunteer to help feed families in New York this Thanksgiving.

If your family is searching for Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities in New York City, look no further. Finding ways to volunteer with kids isn't always as easy as you'd think. Many charitable organizations have age minimums for their projects, and family-friendly volunteering opportunities often book up weeks in advance. (Which, of course, is a good sign—better to have too many people interested in volunteering than not enough.)

With Thanksgiving approaching, we wanted to make your search for volunteering with kids a bit easier and we are highlighting where to give back on Thanksgiving in NYC. We're including opportunities for children of all ages, so everyone can participate. While kids might not be able to work in a soup kitchen, they can help the homeless, hungry, and elderly in other meaningful ways.

Read on for a list of family-friendly ways to put the "giving" in your Thanksgiving and beyond. Bookmark our NYC Kids Guide to Thanksgiving for more ways to celebrate.

Laundry and Dry Cleaning Delivered in 24-Hours Across NYC, Plus 25% Off Your First Three Orders

This service tackles laundry, dry cleaning, and ironing for families in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

Laundryheap offers quick and reliable laundry, dry cleaning, and ironing services with free pick-up and delivery across most of New York City.

Laundryheap is about to be your family’s new superhero. With free and flexible pick-up and delivery options, this lifesaver of a service tackles laundry, dry cleaning, and ironing for families across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. I had the opportunity to give it a try, just as I was scrambling to pack for all four members of my family before a long weekend away, and couldn’t have bagged up our used bath towels and a week’s worth of my husband’s dress shirts any faster.

Read on for my experience with Laundryheap, plus answers to some frequently asked questions. And don’t miss the chance to get 25% off your first three orders with an exclusive code for Mommy Poppins readers.

Free Printable Halloween Coloring Pages for Kids

Just print and color!!

Printable Halloween coloring pages are the perfect way to do a little Halloween decorating with something homemade. Simply print out one of these Halloween coloring pages, let the kids go to town, and hang them up around the house! Here are 15 places to find free printable Halloween coloring pages for kids of all ages, from easy toddler coloring pages to intricate coloring pages for teens. 

If you're looking to download pages any time of the year, don't miss our post on free printable color pages. And if you're looking for more Halloween crafts for kids, you'll find an awesome recipe for monster slime or instructions for making a cardboard haunted house in our list of the best 75 fun Halloween activities for kids.

25 Best Things To Do in Madison, NJ, with Kids

Enjoy the summer concert series at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the museum

Madison, New Jersey, should be on your radar if your family is into history, the arts, or nature. This picturesque Morris County gem has a quaint, small-town vibe with a tight-knit community and a thriving downtown.

Nicknamed Rose City, Madison is a perfect day trip destination that offers lots of things to do, including great restaurants, nearby museums, an awesome playground, and three private colleges in close proximity.

Read on for 25 ways to have a great day in Madison, and take a gander at all our New Jersey City Guides for more day-trip inspo. 

17 Best Things To Do in NYC with Teens

Supersized climbing walls are always a thrill for teens. ​Photo by Jody Mercier

It can be tough to find things to do in New York City for teens. They're too old to want parents to accompany them everywhere, but many teen activities require adult supervision. If your high schooler's social life has been reduced to online gaming or scrolling TikTok, help them mix it up by sharing this roundup of 17 things to do in NYC for teens. They're all engaging activities that teens can do on their own and a few were even created by NYC teens.

Many of these teen activities in NYC are FREE or inexpensive, so you won't have to raise their allowance. Find more things to do in NYC with teens in our Teen and Tweens Guide to NYC and our jam-packed Family Activity Calendar.

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