When my son was nearly two, I was excited to start new traditions, especially around the holidays. And while it was easy to come up with activities for us, like decorating Easter eggs, I had a hard time finding an Easter Egg Hunt that I felt would be age appropriate for him. I knew he wouldn’t quite get the point of the hunt, and might even possibly be trampled by older kids. I also wanted a tradition that we could count on year after year, creating a lasting and memorable experience.

I didn’t grow up with local Easter traditions, and occasionally times like the holidays make it harder to feel connected. So I decided to do something about it. I organized a neighborhood hunt for my son and the other toddling tots I've grown to know and love from neighborhood mommy meet-ups. The egg hunt has been such a hit that we have repeated it every year, and each year we've found more ways to make it special and grow the participation into a true neighborhood event where we all make new friends, build memories, and enjoy some true village parenting.

So, here are my 10 tips and tricks for organizing a great, easy community Easter egg hunt!

I'll be honest, I haven't gone to the movies since my daughter was born, and she's getting close to 1 1/2-years old! I remember being told to go to the movies as much as possible while I was pregnant, but I didn't really comprehend that watching a movie on the big screen would become such an unlikely endeavor after having a baby. I also remember reading that one can take babies to the movies when they are newborns and they will just nurse and sleep but that just seemed too daunting to me, what would I do if she cried? I could just imagine all the angry movie patrons yelling at me for bringing a baby to the movies, would they even let me in the theater? Even though I've tried all kinds of mom-and-baby activities, such as music classes, baby yoga, and storytimes, I had no idea that "mommy and me" movie showings existed.

There are some great family-friendly movie options in the Houston area - don't be afraid to give them a try! Some screenings are geared toward children with sensory issues, so they show kid's movies, while Mommy and Me screenings are typically movies for adults that also welcome babies and children as audience members. 

Mummies, a new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, is an exciting glimpse into the ancient past made possible through modern technology. The exhibit—on loan from The Field Museum in Chicago—showcases 18 mummies from ancient Egypt and Peru, many of which have been in storage since the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Yes, that's right—more than 100 years ago. Amazing. Kids will be fascinated by the mummies, while parents will find the science that made it all possible equally enthralling. (More on that later.) The exhibit, which opened Monday, March 20, gives a sense of who the mummies were, what their lives were like, and even what several of them looked like. 

There are few more iconic places in our city to take kids than the Boston Common. It’s steeped in history and the perfect place to run around in the grass right downtown. In the summer, families flock to the Frog Pond to cool down after playing on the nearby Tadpole Playground.

While it’s pretty great to know that one of the largest meccas for culture in the country is only a short train ride away, there’s no need to head all the way to New York City for a taste of good theater. Why not check out some shows a little closer to home? Fairfield County offers a wealth of plays and performances for the kids, at a fraction of the cost of a Broadway ticket. Not to mention, Fairfield County offers a fair share of drama classes year-round. 

Lucky for us, there are plenty of family series at our local theaters this spring. From Bridgeport’s Downtown Cabaret’s family friendly picnic-style presentations to Stamford’s stately Kweskin Theatre, be sure to check out some of this season’s best shows, right in your own backyard.

The Baby Box movement is growing.

Ah! Summertime. Those long, lazy days, nothing for the kids to do but count the blades of grass, eat popsicles, and go completely insane with boredom by the end of vacation...whoa. Stop right there. Even the littlest little can get a bit stir crazy when preschool is out, and with the first day of spring upon us, the time is right for seeking out some summer boredom busters. While it may not be time for them to experience the freedom of sleepaway camp (if that's your thing) there are lots of excellent summer camp options for the smallest among us to get their adorable little feet wet when it comes to spending some quality time away from mom and dad this summer. If you're in central Connecticut, take a gander at these summer camp programs we've rounded up for you. You're sure to find something just right for your preschooler. 

STEAM programs are really heating up in Westchester, with both in-school and extracurricular activities sprouting up all over the place. In case your family hasn’t yet caught the craze, STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art and math, and there's a growing movement to ramp up education for kids in these areas.

We previously posted our guide to STEAM centers in Westchester. Now, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite FREE STEAM programs planned for kids this spring. Whether your child is a future physicist, meteorologist, computer programmer, entomologist, astronomer, mathematician, collage artist or engineer, there’s something for all ages and interests.

Our Event Calendar is frequently updated with new additions, so view it often to stay up to date. Now grab your planner, ‘cause things are getting really STEAM-y out there!