I've got three kids (the boy kind). I have come to terms with the fact there are video games in my future. Actually, in my now. Fortnite seems to be everywhere. Groan. But everything in moderation, no? So, when I heard about something called 'video game truck parties' or 'mobile game theaters', I paid attention ... especially considering I have two winter babies requiring weatherproof birthday party options. The appeal (in case it eludes you, like moi)? They're together, shoulder to shoulder, facing down a wall of unfettered screen time...in some cases joined up simultaneously on the same game. For 120 minutes, they'll barely look each other in the eye, but they'll be comrades, dance champions, gamers. 

It’s almost time to bid chilly, snowy February goodbye! Close out the month (and beat the winter doldrums) by taking in one of the awesome performances happening in Jersey this weekend, like The Little Mermaid at the Pax Amicus Castle Theater or The Peking Acrobats at NJPAC. There’s also plenty of hands-on educational events too – learn about old time customs at the Colonial Children’s Tea at Murray Farmhouse, get crafty with Totem Poles at Montclair Art Museum or get a sweet dose of syrup and its history at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum’s end of season Maple Sugar Fest. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Do your kids love watching Night at the Museum? If so, they can enjoy the experience first-hand at five Long Island museums. While most are geared towards the Boys and Girls Scouts, there are opportunities for any child to participate with a parent. It's sure to be an experience you'll both be talking about for years to come. And don't forget to look into other Long Island museums your children will enjoy.

We spent the first afternoon of February vacation doing the same thing many families are doing this week: Watching The LEGO Movie. Although I love LEGO, my expectations for the movie were fairly low.  I mean, we’re paying to see a really long toy commercial, right? So I was surprised that we were entertained, amused, and even awed by the film. We chose The LEGO Movie over seeing Frozen in the theater, and I don’t have any regrets. However, I think we were the right audience for The LEGO Movie, and not everyone fits into that category. In fact, as we walked out of the theater, we heard one mom say,  “That was the longest hour and 40 minutes of my life.”  Read on for all you need to know to determine which category your family fits into. 

Just because the kids are off from school this week doesn't mean we're not on duty. We've got lots of tidbits to share both good and bad, including the closing of two beloved local family businesses, a FREE summer camp for teen girls who code, New York Hall of Science's soon-to-open state-of-the-art design center, half-priced ice-skating at the South Street Seaport for school break and other news of note to New York City families.

Winter is the season for sledding, skiing and summer camp stress. There are so many unique and enriching programs to choose from in NYC, it's difficult to know where to send your child for the best summer experience, especially when there are new programs popping up every year.

To help you make an informed decision about the new camps on the block, we've rounded up 10 of the most promising programs set to debut this summer. Some are brand-new, others are places that are significantly expanding their already awesome offerings. (We also included a couple of camps that have been around for a few years but were under our radar and are worth highlighting.) At these notable new summer day camps, kids can study STEM concepts, design robots and motorized gizmos, hone their artistic skills, learn to skateboard and more. And the options run the gamut from preschoolers to teens.

Be sure to check out our Summer Camp Guide for info on lots of other programs in NYC as well as sleepaway options. We even have a Camp Directory, which allows you to search for programs by interest, age and area.