| Page 1653 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Notable News: New York Scratch-and-Sniff Style, Fairway Mama Drama, Parent Work Wars

Submitted by heather on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 9:00am

With the stock market crashing and... well, the stock market crashing (that really is all anyone's talking about this week, right?), we decided to do a links roundup on the lighter side.

We've got info on an addictive new smartphone game, a smelly NYC children's book (yup, we said smelly!) and an Upper East Side mom who was banned from Fairway for life. Yikes! Plus a few other stories that should have you smiling not crying.

Nature for NYC Kids: 20 Places Where Families Can Connect With Nature

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 3:00pm

Even though we're raising our families in the urban jungle, there are a multitude of ways to keep New York City kids connected to nature.

We've already written about many great outdoor activities you can do in the five boroughs, like bird-watching, hiking and gardening, and many items on our list of 100 Things to Do in NYC with Kids Before They Grow Up involve communing with Mother Nature.

Now we've rounded up our top 20 places in (or near) New York City where your family can marvel at, learn about and connect with nature. So before you plan your next trip to the country, check out our list. You may not need to rent a car after all.

Emily's Sugar Rush: NYC Kids Can Feed Their Sweet Tooth at this Queens Candy Shop

Submitted by Katy on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 12:50pm

Unfortunately, Emily's Sugar Rush closed in October 2014. We're big fans of old-fashioned candy stores piled high with colorful, high-calorie treats. Every time a new one pops up, we drop by to savor the items and the atmosphere.

We were particularly excited to check out Emily's Sugar Rush, a retro sweet spot that opened in Forest Hills, Queens in May. While our neighborhood has several bakeries and a few ice cream shops, drugstore candy was the only option for those of us with a hardcore sweet tooth until Emily's came along.

Owners and longtime Forest Hills residents Ingrid and David Broderick named their corner candy shop after their eight-year-old daughter. All three of them love sugary treats, and they offer plenty of that at Emily's, which is a veritable jar- and barrel-filled candy heaven, sprinkled with plenty of quirky newfangled treats and small gifts to boot.

Back to School Resources for Special Needs Families

Submitted by Dena on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:00am

[UPDATED: July 18, 2012]

Preparing your child for back to school should be simple. Buy them some clothes, let them pick out a cool new backpack, and the best part of all – shop for new school supplies (I loved my Trapper Keeper back in the day). But as a parent of special needs children, feelings of joy and anticipation of successes in the new school year can sometimes be replaced with anxiety. Have they regressed over the summer? How they will function socially with a new teacher and different classmates?

Family Giveaway: The Bronx Zoo's Great Summer Zoofari: A Lego Wildlife Expedition

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 4:00pm

All year round, the Bronx Zoo offers awesome, animal-themed activities that enhance an already fun trip to the wildlife sanctuary. Its current offering is particularly eye-catching—the Great Summer Zoofari: A Lego Wildlife Expedition.

Throughout the grounds, there are huge, amazingly realistic Lego sculptures of the zoo's residents. Families can track them all down using the map included in their Zoofari passport. Even if your children have been to the zoo a hundred times (like mine), it makes your visit feel new and exciting—especially if your kids are really into Legos (like mine!).

Although many of the sculptures are out in the open, some are difficult to find, so it feels like a scavenger hunt. The zoo is also hosting special activities in conjunction with the display, including hands-on Lego Activity Stations, Lego Master Builder workshops, live music and Wildlife Theater performances.

Plus, Mommy Poppins is hosting an exclusive Zoofari giveaway: Fifteen lucky families will get to visit the Bronx Zoo, go on the Zoofari and enjoy breakfast with a Lego Master Builder. Read on for info on how to enter, and to hear all about our Lego animal adventure. We've even got a cool (and quick) video so you can see all the fun to be had.

Splish Splash Water Park on Long Island: Where Kids Can Cool Off and Have Fun

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 10:00am

[UPDATED: August 1, 2012]

Cooling off in local sprinklers or pools is a rite of summer in the city. But nothing beats the fun of taking a day trip to a nearby water theme park, where families can spend the whole day getting wet and wild.

There are many water theme parks within driving distance of NYC. In fact, Splish Splash on Long Island—which is considered by many folks (including my son) to be one of the best water parks in the country—is just a 90-minute drive from midtown Manhattan. Bonus: You can see it from the the Long Island Expressway, so you can't get lost on the way there!

The 96-acre park has two dozen rides, ranging from tame kiddie pools to dark tunnels of terror. Plus there are other attractions like two wave pools and a bird show.

In addition to being super-cool (in both senses of the word), Splish Splash is immaculately clean and comfortable. The water is pristine and there's a surprising amount of shade. My son and I recently went on our first trip there with a bunch of his friends, and to say we were impressed is an understatement. We closed the park, and my six-year-old and his pals have been begging to go back again before the season ends.

Tween Concerts: Summer Jam Live at Stepping Stones Museum

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 11:46pm

Last week my boys and I had the pleasure of attending our first tween concert at Stepping Stones Museum's Summer Jam Live. Lil P-Nut is an 8 year old rapper who has been featured on the “The Ellen Degeneres Show” and currently has a deal with Cartoon Network. The boys and their friends were mesmerized as he rapped about elementary school and puppy love. When asked to have their photo taken in front of the sponsor wall the boys said they felt like they were "on the red carpet". The next day, when I saw the photo on Stepping Stone's Facebook page I couldn't help but giggle at the excitement and awkwardness in their smiles.

Weekly CT Wrap Up: A Visit to Keeler Tavern, 5 Water Theme Parks, Day Trip Series

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 5:44pm

Last night I drove from the Litchfield Hills, leaving my view of (albeit small) mountains, to the quiet serene beaches of the Long Island Sound in little over an hour. It reminded me of the years I lived in Santa Monica, California where within one day, if you were crazy enough, you could surf in the morning and then ski in the afternoon. We don't have the California weather but we certainly have a diverse state full of fun things to do!

This week on Mommy Poppins Connecticut we began a weekly day trip series and the first two reviews were for Stamford Museum and Nature Center and the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat Ride. For the history buffs, we also reviewed the Keeler Tavern Museum in Ridgefield.  

Before summer is over I've got to take the kids out to one or two more water parks. Lucky for me, we wrote about 5 Water Theme Parks in and around CT and gave some great insider tips on what to expect.  

It's World Breast Feeding Week and The Big Latch On world record attempt is happening this Saturday at various locations in CT.

This weekend we plan to relax at the Litchfield Jazz Festival and spend time with visiting friends. Maybe get some blueberry picking in too. You can't beat fresh picked-berries. Here's our list of picking farms near you.  