Punxsutawney Phil may have predicated an early spring, but Mother Nature had other ideas. We’ve all been cooped up for weeks now, and spring break is right ahead. Yes, it' a short one (thanks a lot, lousy NJ weather), but if you are looking for an alternate plan for your brood for the few precious non-school days, check out the list of local spring break options.

There are a lot of memes out there taking Punxsutawney Phil and his groundhog brothers to task for their early spring prediction. With Monday's snowstorm and a forecast for more snow next week, it's hard to believe that spring is here, but it is along with spring break. All of our sites have awesome suggestions for enriching spring break activities and Easter celebrations. Our Boston site also has a great post about creative calorie-free treats to stuff in Easter eggs and awesome spring-themed crafts in case you're looking for ways to spend time together at home. Plus you can always catch a new family movie: The Croods opens on Friday, and Studio Ghibli's From Up on Poppy Hill and Oz: The Great and Powerful are already playing.

Spring break is a great time for a day trip. There are lots of wonderful tri-state area destinations and some don't even require a car, like NJ's interactive Liberty Science Center, which is easily accessible via PATH train. If you're looking for an overnight getaway, check our Travel site. It's not too late to plan a last-minute spring break getaway!

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

Last week we shared important information about changes to the NY State ELA and Math Assessments that will make the tests much more challenging, as well as advice about how to approach them without freaking out. This week, we're highlighting specific resources to help parents and elementary public school students prepare for the new NYS English Language Arts and Math standardized tests this April.

Keep in mind that nobody knows what will be on the new tests this year—not even publishers of test prep books. Old tests are not representative of the format or the content of the 2013 test. So the most effective test prep is to focus on the reading, writing and mathematics skills children are learning in their classrooms. Some familiarity with basic testing formats and situations can also be helpful so kids are comfortable with the experience in general.

Most schools provide some amount of test prep, information, free tutoring and practice work. If you haven't gotten any information from your kids' school, ask your children if they have done any test prep or what they know about the tests, and then follow up with their teachers.

While I lived down south, spring meant pretty pastel sundresses and hiding eggs for the kids in fluffy, green grass. Connecticut welcomed the new season this week with a dose of the white stuff, so hopefully the snow can be cleared in time for the full slate of fun this weekend. Actually, some events may have been postponed so check with venues before venturing out.

As the weather warms up we all want to be outside, but I've heard tales of April showers bringing May flowers, so an afternoon at the movies is a good alternative. Summer remains the season for the onslaught of family-friendly movies (steel yourself for Smurfs 2), but there are some options this spring, including dinosaurs from the 1990s and another gem from Studio Ghibli. And check out our list of sensory friendly movie theaters in NJ so that everyone has a chance to enjoy the bounty.

Ah, Spring has sprung in the City of Angels. This season always fills me with a sense of anticipation: for the flowers that will bloom, the longer days and sweeter weather, and the hours that will need to be filled while school is on break. Luckily, Mommy Poppins has you covered, whether you're looking for some awesome spring break camps, or for fun activities you can do as a family.

Why is next week different from all other weeks? Well, for one thing, Passover starts on Monday.  We've got some fun ideas for Passover activities including the latest exhibit at the Skirball, which allows visitors to (literally!) walk in the footsteps  of the historical characters in the Exodus tale.  On a journey that long you're gonna need snacks; our Passover Bakery guide will lead you to some of the tastiest unleavened treats in Los Angeles. (As a bonus, did you know that many Passover treats are gluten-free?)

But one hour this weekend is going to be the most different of all. Saturday at 8:30pm is Earth Hour, a world-wide event in which we are encouraged to turn off our lights to draw attention to climate change and our need to protect our planet.  Sounds like a good time to go outside and look at the stars! (Camping, anyone?)

Read on for our favorite picks for this weekend …

Happy spring! Maybe it’s the season, but if your kids love music, this is the weekend for them! From the annual Revels Spring Sing in Watertown to a concert at Barefoot Books in Concord by Rolie Polie Guacamole, from Karen K and the Jitterbugs in Belmont to Debbie and Friends in Arlington, the choices are numerous. Read on for information about these and other weekend events. And be sure to visit our Events Calendar for even more things to do.

We welcome spring with not just music, but with crafts. Tara brings crafting inspiration from around the world (the walnut nests are just too cute!). And speaking of nests, with Easter just around the corner, we have some ideas for filling baskets and eggs without going overboard on the sweets.

Finally, in the March edition of Poppins Parents, our series highlighting local parents who make a difference in the lives of Boston families, we talked to Joy Olaes Suprenant, founder of Catching Joy. Read on to find out her organization, one of her favorite places plus her tips for getting your family involved in volunteerism and giving.

Enjoy!

Santa Claus I get. The toothy fairy, no problem. But an oversized pink bunny who lays eggs? This tradition makes no sense to me. However, with a little digging I've learned that the tradition of the Easter bunny has its roots in centuries old pagan traditions of celebrating spring and renewal. The bottom line? As long as he's bringing chocolate, this bunny is good with me. And with my kids. Happily, there are lots of opportunities in the area, so many so that we have listed even more events occurring in Fairfield County here.