Things to Do For NYC Kids and Families April 9-10, 2011: Festivals, Exhibits, Music and More

There's never a dull moment in NYC and now that it's spring, great things to do are sprouting up everywhere! On Saturday, baseball fans can cheer on their favorite Little Leaguer at various opening day celebrations, in particular a huge Brooklyn parade. Or head over to the Morgan Library to participate in a cool interactive family workshop exploring the connection between Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story. You can also hit up a fun outdoor festival; there are three of them scheduled this weekend, including the popular annual Children’s Carnival at the Queens County Farm Museum and the self-explanatory Touch-a-Truck fest in Brooklyn. If you're in the mood to take in a show, Boom Town opens at the New Victory, and two one-offs, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Junie B. Jones, play in Brooklyn and on the Upper West Side, respectively. And the first Easter egg hunt of the season happens at the Staten Island Zoo on Sunday.

Read on for the our best bets for the weekend, and remember, The Mommy Poppins Events Calendar is chock-full of storytimes, theater, arts and crafts programs, and lots of other fun activities for families.

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Events in NJ, April 9-10: Go Wild with Bees, Bingo and Borneo, or Mild with Fashion, Flowers and Fossils–mostly FREE!

You know how we love alliteration here at Mommy Poppins and this weekend is full of it--Bees, Bingo, Borneo... yeah, you get it. There is so much fun stuff to do in early spring, so take advantage of the might-be-warm weather or all the indoor possibilities in case of more rain (or snow--could be, it's been a weird spring so far, right?) Have fun!

10 Summer Sports Camps for young children in southern Litchfield County, Connecticut

I received a request for summer sports camps near Washington, CT for a 6 year old. WIth a bit of research I came up with the following options that are not too far of a drive for anyone in the southern portion of Litchfield County. Of course, many of the camps will accept younger and older children as well. You'll have to read their fine print for details. Not every camp accepts 6  year olds so I appreciated the inquiry. Hopefully this list will help your young sport get his/her fix. TIp: It's always good to start with your local parks and rec to see what they are offering (so I've included Washington's info here). Please post any additional options I may have missed in the comments section below. And by all means, share with your friends!

ADHD and Food: Could a Better Diet Be the Cure?

The FDA announced last week that it will investigate whether there is sufficient evidence to link the consumption of synthetic color additives in food with hyperactivity in children. This comes after studies released last year showed that kids with the highest levels of pesticides in their urine also had the highest incidence of ADHD.

I find these studies to be really upsetting, and yet part of me is relieved to have this information. On the one hand, it is incredibly depressing that our food culture has gotten so off track that we are literally poisoning ourselves. On the other hand, I'm glad that we are starting to figure out the causes for the greatly increased levels of ADHD, cancer and other ailments that plague us.

Armed with this information, we can make educated decisions and changes to protect our families and our health.

6 Cool Exhibits for Kids in New York City: Culture Guide Spring 2011

Last week we told you about 11 great stage shows for families. Today, our spring culture roundup continues with six new exhibits that kids will love. (In a couple of cases, they may actually beg you to bring them!) 

From Harry Potter relics to an in-depth look at how Dinosaurs lived to ancient brain teasers from China, these half dozen museum shows will educate and entertain your family.

Roald Dahl’s Dark Poems Come to Life in Revolting Rhymes

Ever since my mom read me James and the Giant Peach, I’ve been a fan of Roald Dahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, Matilda, I loved his fantastical stories and dark humor, which were so different than the happy, candy-colored kid lit I was used to.

Although he died more than 20 years ago, Dahl’s sensibility seems amazingly contemporary, which is why his children’s books endure today. But did you know that he also wrote poems, many of them skewed takes on old-fashioned fairy tales?

I admit that I didn’t. But I do now thanks to Revolting Rhymes, a new 45-minute musical being mounted by Atlantic for Kids. Find out why this show will make you laugh—perhaps even more than your kids.

Weekly Wrap Up: Easter Trains in New Jersey, Egg Hunts on Long Island, Spring Break Camps in NYC

We’ve been very busy here at Mommy Poppins, birthing new sites for families in Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut, while still keeping up with all the cool things going on in New York City. We know you’re busy too, and may not have the time to visit multiple sites. So for your convenience, we’re compiling links to our best weekly posts into yet another post. Yes, we do see the irony in that. But we really don’t want you to miss a thing. There’s so much to do all over the tri-state area!

From special Easter train rides in New Jersey to egg hunts on Long Island (yes, already) to a roundup of spring festivals in NYC, here are the highlights from the world of Mommy Poppins.

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