After weeks of chaotic festivities, it’s time to move back into the familiar routine. The kids have mostly returned to school. It’s the first week of a new month, so lots of museums are free. Brick lovers were likely gifted plenty of LEGOs during the holidays, but it is still nice to collect the First Tuesday freebie.

In fact, after the excesses of December spending, it’s a good idea to find those activities around town that don’t require payment. Start this New Year contemplating the night sky stargazing from your own back yard, or, if you want an organized event, head to the Abbott Kinney Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library in Venice. It may be worth spending on one last treat, though, if you still haven't seen Pompeii: The Exhibition at the California Science Center, because this week is your last chance!

NYC isn't called the city that never sleeps for nothing. The Big Apple buzzes with activities for all ages every day from morning to night. So in honor of the New Year, we're trying something new: Weekly roundups of the top five weekday event picks for families. Because in a vibrant town like ours, cool things to do with kids don't just happen on the weekend.

Of course we'll continue to publish weekend event posts every Wednesday as well as monthly GoLists. Sign up for our newsletter to get them all right in your inbox. 

Like most NYC parents with young kids, I've logged so many hours at our local parks and playgrounds, I feel like I've become an expert on which design elements work, and which totally fail. If you've always wanted to share your playground opinions, now's the time because the Parks Department is listening. Thanks to its Community Parks Initiative, $130 million will be used to redesign and rebuild 35 debilitated NYC green spaces. But before the renovations begin, the Parks Department is holding a series of Community Input Meetings where families can offer their ideas and hopes for these parks.

Are you ready for something new? I know my family is. 2014 has had a lot of ups and downs, so we're looking forward to all the healing and adventures we hope the New Year will bring.

To help us all kick off a fun-filled 2015, most of ours sites have posted brand-new January GOLists highlighting the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month in NYC, New Jersey, on Long Island and beyond. Even though the jam-packed holiday season is coming to a close, there are plenty of amusements ahead, like next Saturday's special Mommy Poppins-sponsored performance of Stella, Queen of the Snow at Symphony Space that includes an adorable marshmallow snowman activity and a deep discount on tickets. We hope to see you there so we can celebrate 2015 together.

If you're itching to start your post-holiday purge, we have lists of where to donate toys and kids' clothes in New York City and on Long Island, and all the details on how to easily recycle your Christmas tree in NYC.

From all the moms at Mommy Poppins, we wish you and your family a fabulous New Year! Thank you for sharing 2014 with us. Here's what else we covered in NYC this week:

One of my favorite things to do over holiday break is look back through the 500 or so posts we've published throughout the year to remind myself of all the cool places for kids that have opened since January. (Yeah, I'm nerdy like that.) Although we were sad to say goodbye to some big family destinations (The Moxie Spot, Bowlmor Union Square and the soon-to-shutter Scholastic Store), one of the great things about New York City is that there's always something new and interesting opening up.

In 2014, we welcomed a few new state-of-the-art parks and playgrounds, some offbeat indoor play spaces, and a couple of new or overhauled museum. Even if you're still working your way through our list of the best new family destinations for 2013 (or 2012 or 2011 or 2010), here are 21 brand-new New York City attractions to add to your must-explore list.

We're ringing in a New Year, so get ready for some weekend family fun and enjoy these last few days of the kids' holiday break from school. Some of the events to look forward to include a last run of several holiday light shows, live plays and exhibits.

Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you don't receive this post in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter. And for plenty of more seasonal activities, be sure to check out our Long Island Holiday Fun Guide.