When my oldest son was 8, he said his ambition in life was to sell his art on the street. So it's no surprise that at age 13 he's set his sights on getting into Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Like other specialized art high schools, including the High School of Fashion Industries, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and the High School of Art & Design, LaGuardia requires applicants to submit portfolios of their work. While talent is key, taking a professional portfolio preparation class can really give applicants a leg up on the competition. We've rounded up New York City programs that help tweens and young teens prepare their artwork to apply to these popular high schools.

Watchung Reservation, the largest park in Union County, is home to many wonderful kid-friendly activities, making it the perfect day-trip destination for any time of year.

Numerous hiking trails, an interactive nature center with fish and taxidermy, and a fabulous playground, provide both indoor and outdoor fun for NJ families. Whether you’re planning to visit for just a few hours or bring along lunch and stay all day, Watchung is a great place to relax, have fun and spend some time enjoying nature.

Find more great day trips in our NJ Day Trip Guide, or check out our Parks & Playgrounds Guide for more outdoor fun.

Located on the southwestern border of Hartford County, Bristol’s influence dates back to the 19th century when it was known as the clock-making city. Today, it is primarily famous as the home of ESPN and Lake Compounce, America’s oldest still-running theme park.

Water, water everywhere! Fun ways for families to get wet was the theme across all of our sites this week. From play fountains in NYC to the top public pools in the Hamptons, exceptional splash pads in New Jersey to Splish Splash Water Park on Long Island, plus a new video game-style waterslide at Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos, we've got the scoop on the best places to cool down this summer in the tri-state area.

If you're looking for day trip inspiration, be sure to peruse our regional sites. Just this week, NJ rounded up pick-your-own fruit farms, Connecticut spotlighted outdoor museums, Westchester profiled Hil-Mar Lodge and, of course, there's always the Hamptons and the Jersey Shore.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

We’re changing the way we share news: opting for quick links to make it faster and easier for you to skim the latest scoop for NYC families. Want the news first? Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

If you weren’t lucky enough to score tickets for the first-ever ticker-tape parade for a women's athletic team, you still have a few more days to try to catch up with some free ice cream. Plus, we’ve got the inside scoop (ha!) on this week’s school news, including a new school holiday, the closing bell to apply for public pre-K and why the mayor is mad about mayoral control of NYC schools. Your news by neighborhood includes a new play spot in Park Slope, how to shop Zabar's from home, a possible new home for FAO Schwarz and more.

Around here we're totally enjoying our summer and not even thinking of school start dates next month. Why would we?  It's July!  There's tons to do!  Summer favorites are starting up, the Circus is in town,  you have your choice of kids' summer blockbusters,  and so many opportunities to learn about the stars, which will really go over well with your kids'  teachers when school starts up next month...

... which is not what we're talking about now, because, hello, summer, enjoying our break.  More free things to do than you'll ever have time for, (what with school starting in a matter of weeks), and plenty of things that are worth the price of admission.  Comic Con is early this year, probably because they didn't want it too close to the end of summer break. Free Slurpees this weekend! Does anything say summer like an ice cold Slurpee?

So we hope you fill your days with fun and frivolity, music and movies. And if in the process your kids happen to learn about archeology and history, marine biology, life in space, the traditions of other cultures and appreciation of the Bard, well, mores the better.  After all, school starts up before you know it.

Keep reading for our most educational picks for this weekend...

The much anticipated Minions Movie, prequel to the popular Despicable Me movies, opens this weekend in a burst of yellow. Kids and their grown-ups love Minions – the movie and the characters. The audience I watched with was thoroughly enchanted by the Minions, who are indeed adorable. Their silly gibberish, peppered with recognizable words and a smidgeon of Spanish, is hilarious. But what do they get up to in this prequel to Despicable Me, and is it suitable for your kids? We'll try to help you decide.

Summer is in full gear as Philadelphia families enjoy backyard barbecues, rounds of flashlight tag and weekend trips to the shore. Yet there is always more fun to be had during these carefree summer days. Delaware Valley residents can rely on the Mommy Poppins Event Calendar to keep the entire family entertained with unique and interesting activities.

Stop by Penn's Landing to celebrate Latino culture at the Hispanic Fiesta, visit Morris Arboretum to see Thomas the Tank Engine and his Sodor friends hit the railways or dance to the tunes of the Imagination Movers at Sesame Place. Or, check out one of the many blueberry events being held this weekend. Peddler's Village, Linvilla Orchards, Oasis Family Farm and Camden's Children's Garden all have festivals honoring this sweet summer fruit.

Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter to keep up-to-date on the latest fun in Philadelphia. And, don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest and Twitter. Have a great weekend!