WeeWork Kids Craft: Easiest Homemade Valentines Cards For the Whole Class

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As far as my son is concerned, school knows how to ruin everything, even love. Take how Valentine's Day is celebrated in school, for instance. Since many schools require kids to give every other student a Valentine's Day Card, it turns what should be a day of romance into another mundane obligation. Way to make young love feel like a 50 year old marriage, School. Luckily, we've got a cute and easy way to pop out a few dozen unique Valentines Day cards, no artistic talent required. It might even warm the heart of my little Valentine's Day Grinch.

Lego Mania: 8 Fun Ways Kids Can Go Loony for Legos in NYC

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My eight-year-old son and all his brick building friends are counting down the days until The Lego Movie hits theaters this Friday. (Yes, we already bought our advance tickets for right after school that day!) But while watching the flick will be a one-time experience (unless he drags me back to the theater over and over, which is a distinct possibility), kids can get creative with Legos anywhere anytime.

But Lego mania has reached such a fever pitch in our home that just dumping out all of our pieces and holding a master building session isn't going to cut it. My son and his pals are getting pumped for the flick by enjoying all of the Lego-themed fun New York City has to offer beyond our living room. From megastores with interactive Lego displays to play spaces with massive Lego tables to the hands-on Legoland Discovery Center in nearby Westchester, here are eight fun ways for families to get their Lego fix in NYC.

How to Throw a Kids' Winter Olympics Party Worthy of a Gold Medal

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In addition to being incredibly cool and thrilling (I’m not the only one sitting on the edge of her seat through most of the events, am I?), the Winter Olympics are a time to come together with family and friends, enjoy wintertime, and feel pride in our country's athletes. Most importantly, in the Olympic spirit, the Games are a time to connect with the other cultures of our small world. I say that calls for a celebration of Olympic proportions.

Here are party ideas for a kid-centered Winter Olympics hootenanny, whether it’s with just your immediate family or 50 of your closest friends. I’ve chosen simple, inexpensive, and fun ways to get together and celebrate the excitement of the Olympics, the season of light, cultural understanding, and family time. 

WeeWork Kids Craft: Chinese New Year Drum

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It's no wonder that Lunar New Year has become such a popular celebration with kids, even outside of cities with big Asian populations like New York and Los Angeles. There are so many fun rituals associated with the holiday. Plus, the celebrations go on for 15 days with lion dances, dumplings, and lanterns galore.

One of the core rituals of Chinese New Year is to scare away the mythological beast Nian with loud noises and the color red. These little Chinese New Year drums are fun to make and even more fun for making a racket to scare away evil spirits. Gong hey fat choy!

Special Needs-Friendly Ski Resorts Near NYC: Adaptive Winter Sports Programs for Kids of Different Abilities

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Winter is a wonderful season for outdoor fun—just ask my three young snow-loving kids. In fact, there are so many fantastic skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing resorts near New York City, it's difficult to choose.

But since I'm also a mom to a teenager with special needs who isn't into winter sports, that makes our decision all the more challenging. He is both physically and cognitively disabled, and the thought of struggling onto lifts, into gear, up hills and through crowds doesn't appeal to him—not to mention the possibility of wiping out. So my family needs a resort that's able to accommodate children of all ages as well as abilities.

Happily, there are some amazing adaptive winter sports programs at resorts within a few hours of NYC, and some are low cost or even FREE. Here are five ski programs for special needs families.

Kids' Winter Birthday Party Ideas in Connecticut

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Is it just me, or has this winter brought more snow and more cold than usual?  Even this hearty New Englander can't think back to a more active winter.  Perhaps the weather seems a bit more magnified since we recently moved from the usually balmy shoreline to the base of the Litchfield Hills, but it seems mother nature is having her way with us this chilly season.  Perhaps she'll relent with a delightful spring and reasonably warm summer.  A Momma can dream, right?

This cold weather makes planning a birthday party for active, cabin feverish, snowbound kiddos challenging.  But, winter birthday celebrations need not be quiet, restful events, or even indoors.  We've come up with a few unique ideas for you to plan a winter birthday party to be remembered! Our Birthday Party Guide has even more fun options for you to consider.

Canton/Collinsville Neighborhood Guide

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Nestled in the heart of the scenic Farmington Valley, you'll find the town of Canton where roughly 10,000 people call home. Last Year, Bloomberg Businessweek Lifestyle rated Canton the "Best Place to Raise Kids in CT." With the amount of commerce, history and natural beauty, I'm not surprised by the accolade. 

I first stumbled upon Canton when I saw a beautiful outdoor shopping complex called The Shoppes of Farmington Valley. Several stores appeal to kids including Barnes and Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods, Kiddly Winks toy store, Snip-Its children's hair salon, Ben and Jerry's and FroYo World. Another big plus is the outdoor, fenced in play area called Walter's Boundless Playground, which is handicap accessible. Best served for ages 2-5, this makes shopping and errands a little more fun when you can take a break and play. 

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in New Rochelle

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So far during our month-long focus on New Rochelle, we've rounded up the top things to do and great places to play. For our final post on New Rochelle this month, we're taking a look at family-friendly eateries around the city. New Rochelle has lots of dining options and a wide variety of cuisine including choices from vegan to southern comfort and everything in between. Read on for our top picks for dining in New Rochelle with kids.

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