Submitted by Anonymous on
Once spring hits I could jump for joy; no more germ ridden, crowded indoor play-spaces! After my joyous display of enthusiasm, my kids and I sit down and make our spring and summer bucket list; places we want to visit before the weather gets chilly. Skylands Botanical garden is on the list every year, and we go as many times as possible.
Submitted by Anna Fader on
Rainsticks are said to have been invented by the Aztecs by drying out cacti and pushing the needles in. We make these musical rainsticks with paper towel tubes and nails. Super easy to make and then decorate and shake for the soothing sound of rain.
Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on
While there's plenty to do in NYC with kids on any weekend including Memorial Day, lots of families like to celebrate the unofficial start of summer with a fun-filled day or weekend trip out of town. In the past, we've rounded up Pennsylvania getaways that are far enough away to feel like bona fide vacations without the plane ride. But there are lots of closer destinations in New Jersey that are just as engaging but with less time spent cooped up in the car/train/bus.
From nearby spots like Jersey City's enriching Liberty Science Center, which you can do in a day via public transportation, to relaxing multi-day jaunts filled with sand, surf and rides on the Jersey Shore, we've got the goods on where to go in the Garden State this Memorial Day or any summer weekend.
You can find more vacation inspiration in our NYC Day Trips Guide and on our Travel site.
Submitted by Anna Fader on
It’s impossible to resist Laurie Berkner. If the undisputed Queen of Kindie Rock doesn’t win you over with her bouncy attitude and curls, she’ll definitely have you with the can’t-stop-singing-'em songs that even grown-ups love. So, needless to say, we were thrilled at the opportunity to spend a whole day buzzing around New York City with Laurie.
Laurie has lived on NYC's Upper West Side since 1997. “My daughter has so far spent her whole life living here. There are so many things to do,” says Berkner.
Come along as Laurie Berkner shows us around her neighborhood. Discover her top UWS destinations, which shop owners she calls by name, her favorite place to spot celebrities (on stage, just like the rest of us) and the best place to pick up gluten-free treats for her daughter. Bonus: Download a FREE song from the Laurie Berkner Band's new album, Laurie Berkner Lullabies.
Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on
Finding the perfect birthday party place takes a lot of planning and consideration. How many children can they accommodate? Is it unique enough? Does it interest my child? Several Long Island museums offer customizable kids' party packages that are engaging, educational and energizing. For other cool ideas on where to host your child's party, check out our Long Island Party Guide.
Submitted by Karyn Marciniak on
With all of the amazing things there are to do with kids in NYC, it's no wonder that a slew of children's books are set right here in the Big Apple. We've written about a bunch of our favorites in the past, and even rounded up kids' books about NYC museums to help families get excited about visiting MoMA, the Met and the Guggenheim.
However, in honor of Children's Book Week (coming up May 12 to 18), we decided to write a new post featuring five history-filled NYC picture books that we hope will inspire enriching family outings. Three of these titles recount real-life NYC events. The other two, though fictional, give a peek at what life was like on the Lower East Side and Upper East Side circa 1900 and 1960, respectively. All are wonderful jumping off points to spark your own NYC adventures.
Submitted by Christi O'Donnell on
Barbeque is, in my opinion, one of the best and easiest meal options for kids. It’s messy. It’s eaten with your bare hands. It comes with French fries and mac and cheese and, in many cases, it is soft and saucy and perfect for outdoor gatherings.
We are constantly on the lookout for the best places to eat with kids throughout Westchester. Now, in anticipation of Memorial Day, Mommy Poppins has scouted out six of our favorite BBQ restaurants in the county. Whether you’re eating in, carrying out or looking to avoid leaving your lawn chair, these restaurants have got you covered.
Submitted by Anna Fader on
Whether you believe it's important to discuss the events of September 11, 2001 with your children or wish you could shield them all together, kids learn about 9/11 at school, from the media and their peers. So the question is, what can we as parents do to help our children process and learn from the events of 9/11?
For children born around or after 2001, 9/11 probably seems like something abstract—a tragedy that happened in history. Visiting the 9/11 Memorial can, perhaps, help make it feel more real. So, what's it like to visit the 9/11 Memorial with children? What's the security like, and how do you get tickets? I took my nine-year-old this weekend and I'll share our experiences.
