Summer is the perfect time of year for artists to express themselves. Summer art camps allow children the opportunity to build confidence, enhance creativity and have fun.  With its close proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia, central New Jersey is home to a wealth of talented artists hoping to educate and inspire children of all ages.  Here are a few summer camp options for parents looking to inspire their little Da Vinci during the long hot days of summer vacation. And to find out all the day camp options in NJ, check out our New Jersey Summer Day Camp Guide.

Yoga for babies can be a powerful way for caregivers to strengthen their bond with their infant while simultaneously promoting motor, social and emotional skills. For older kids, yoga helps them develop strength, flexibility, balance, body awareness and focus. An early introduction to yoga paves the way for a life of healthy habits.These Hartford area studios will help you and your little yogi find your moment of Zen. Be sure to check out our complete guide to classes in Connecticut. Namaste! 

Apparently many kids are not heading straight back to school on Monday; some have another entire week. Others, like my children, return on Wednesday. As soon as I get used to having them back in school, it will be time for the weekend. We weathered two weeks of influenza in my house, so I am grateful for the extra days, and I fully intend to take advantage of good health with some of the free stuff this city has to offer. Free is always good after the excesses of the holidays.

While it is hard not to be a bit sick of the mall, chances are you are heading there anyhow for sales or exchanges. The South Bay Galleria has free juggling at its kids club this week. The LEGO lovers in your household may have cleaned up during the holidays, but the first week of the month means a free monthly mini model build. Plus there is a free admission day at the Huntington; showers are anticipated, but if that doesn't pan out, this week could be a last chance to enjoy those gardens before El Niño's deluge later in the month.

Disney on Ice’s Frozen in Long Beach is not free, but for fans who want to squeeze in one last winter celebration before school starts this one is worth doing. And speaking of frozen things in Long Beach, this is the last week to catch CHILL at the Queen Mary.

As we wind down from the craziness of the holiday season, simple and budget-friendly activities are on tap this first full week of the year. An assortment of fun library freebies include National Spaghetti Day Craft, a complimentary Music Together Demo Class, Afternoon Lego Club and Old & New Video Games. Start the new year on an active note with Baby & Me Hike and Yoga Storytime. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

The holidays might be over and school is back in session, but there is still one last bit of seasonal fun to soak in this week. Check out the holiday train display at the Cradle of Aviation and the holiday lights in Long Beach. There's also fun for toddlers, with bouncing in Syosset and arts and crafts in Center Moriches.

For even more activities, check out our Long Island Events Calendar, which is updated daily. You can also get the best events of the week sent directly to your inbox each week if you sign up for our newsletter.

Happy new year! As we return from the holidays to our usual routines, so do the types of events on tap for Westchester families. While a couple holiday events are cropping up—such as Three Kings Day Celebration and New Year’s Firework Painting—there’s also a departure from holiday fare with novelties like 19th Century Tin-Punch Decoration.

Regardless, we understand the need to keep the kids occupied and have compiled our top picks below. One added perk: They're all FREE! If one of your new year’s resolutions is to plan ahead and identify more enriching opportunities for your kids, look no further than our January GoList and our Event Calendar!

Although this week means back to school for most NYC kids, families can still carve out a little time for fun or some final seasonal celebrations, like Wednesday's Three Kings Day Parade. Other highlights for the week include Thomas the Tank Engine at the New York Botanical Garden Train Show, a sensory-themed puppet production at the Morris Park branch of the NYPL, FREE admission to CMOM and a family astronomy program at AMNH.

Families can also explore one of our favorite kid spots that opened last year, take a peak at what NYC parents can expect in 2016 or plan out the entire month with the help of our newly minted and jam-packed January Go List.

As always, more family activities can be found in our Event Calendar.

This is the beginning of my eleventh year as a parent, and every one of those years, I've had the same resolution on my list: have more fun with my kids. Happily, Connecticut is chock-full of fun family activities all winter long. This week, kids can visit with animals, take a cooking class, or enjoy a special drop off adventure just for Harry Potter fans. We are hard at work updating the Event Calendar for the new year so check back often to see the latest free and fun activities all over the state. Be sure to sign up for our newsletters and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest so you won't miss a thing. We look forward to spending time with you in 2016!