25 Things To Do with Preschoolers on Long Island

Everything is on the menu for the goats at the Animal Farm and Petting Zoo.

Looking for the best preschooler activities on Long Island? Read on for our top picks. 

Long Island is an awesome place to raise a family. From Nassau County to the East End and everywhere in between, there is no shortage of ways to entertain kids–including high-energy toddlers. In that spirit, we’ve rounded up a list of 25 exciting things to do with Long Island preschoolers.

Check out these fun activities around the Island that will keep little ones happily busy, including exploring the great outdoors, discovering something new in a museum, visiting a different playground or park, getting creative, and much, much more. We hope this list inspires you and your preschooler to take advantage of all Long Island has to offer families.

For more inspiration, check out our guide to entertaining your Long Island preschooler and our Events Calendar.

Playa Largo Resort & Spa: Family-Friendly Fun in Key Largo, Florida Keys

Playa Largo is the perfect family resort for a Florida Keys vacation.

If you think about it, the Florida Keys are truly an ideal family vacation destination. Where else can the kids enjoy postcard sunsets, crystal seas, gentle breezes, and exciting water sports without having to leave the country? But until a recent hotel building boom, the Keys have largely been the playground of overstressed grown-ups soaking in the Margaritaville vibe. Mommy Poppins readers know that’s changing. In 2021, we shared our favorite Florida Keys resorts and hotels for families. The latest addition to that list is Playa Largo Resort & Spa.

Playa Largo Resort & Spa is located in the south end of Key Largo, less than two hours from Miami. Part of Marriott’s boutique Autograph Collection, the 178-room resort features a pool, water sports, on-site dining, and one of the few true beachfronts in the rocky Keys. Check out our review of Playa Largo, then visit our Florida Family Travel Guide for more fun in the Sunshine State.

Best of December: 23 Top Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids

Celebrate the holiday season this December during Stone Mountain Christmas. Photo courtesy Stone Mountain

Christmas lights, Hanukkah celebrations, and holiday activities are in full effect for December, and that's just the beginning of things to do in Atlanta this month! 

December in Atlanta starts with Christmas tree lightings all over town, including Sparkle Sandy SpringsWoodstock Christmas Jubilee and Parade, and Light Up Brookhaven (where Santa enters on a helicopter)! As December continues, Atlanta families get into the holiday spirit with Nutcracker Ballet and Holiday Shows as well as Dazzling Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows. Around mid-month (starting December 18 to be exact), the eight nights of Hanukkah begin and families celebrate at Chabad Intown's menorah lightings; we also have 8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with fun gift and craft ideas. After all those holiday gifts are ripped open, families can look forward to 2023 and celebrate with fun, daytime events like the New Year's Eve Bubble Bash.  

In fact, there's so much to do during December in Atlanta, we couldn't squeeze it into just one article. Make sure to visit our Atlanta Holiday and Christmas Guide to get ALL the details on the many things happening this month, including the scoop on the Places to Take Pictures with Santa in Atlanta, Atlanta Holiday Gift and Christmas Markets, and more! 

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. No more holiday drama, mama — sign up for our newsletters to make your holidays run smoothly. 

Snow N Glow: Snow Tubing, Fireworks, and Christmas Lights by the Beach

Exploring the Snow N Glow Light Trail. Photo courtesy of the author

One of the perks of living in Los Angeles is that you can go from the beach to the snow in one day. One very looooong day. And between holiday events and Christmas activities—it's hard to find the time. That's why I was excited to take my girls to Snow N Glow; this family holiday outing lets kids experience snow without spending the day strapped in the car. We got to go snow tubing, play in the snow, and have some s'mores without digging out our tire chains. There are two locations, one at the Ventura County Fairground and another at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, so you can pick the one closest to you.

Read on for the details, and check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families for a complete rundown on where you can go snow tubing, skiing, or ice skating near Los Angeles.

50 Best Christmas Songs for Kids

It's just not Christmas until you hear Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You". Photo by Dennis Leupold

Christmas songs have a way of getting everyone in the holiday spirit. You just can't be a Grinch when you're fa-la-la-ing. Your holiday playlist might feature classic Christmas songs, modern pop tunes, easy-to-sing songs, silly Christmas songs—remember Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer?—or a great mix of everything. Singing Christmas songs makes decking the halls, trimming the tree, and roasting the chestnuts feel so much more fun and festive. We've listed all the greatest hits here, and linked to videos so you can memorize all the Christmas song lyrics and not just hum the chorus over and over!

Here are the 50 best Christmas songs to listen to with kids this holiday season, no matter what your musical tastes are. For even more holiday fun, including 101 Christmas activities and crafts for kids and the best kids' Christmas movies to watch this season, check out our guide to Christmas Activities and Holiday Fun for Kids.

Free in December: 21 Things To Do in NYC with Kids

The Luminaries Return to light up the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place. Photo courtesy of Brookfield Place

We've got the best antidote to holiday spending: This list of free things to do in December with kids. While our picks include everything from the goofy/glamorous Wreath exhibit at the Arsenal to free holiday break fun in Prospect Park, consider this just the tip of the iceberg, because beyond these 21 free things to do in December, we've got a whole other post on the best free holiday events.

Read on for all our top picks for free fun this December—non-holiday edition—and bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for fun things to do any day of the month.

A Holiday Hoedown: Gilchrist Farm Brings Christmas Fun and Santa Breakfast to Santa Clarita

Over the first three weekends of December, an action-packed Holiday Hoedown is in full swing at Gilchrist Farm.

Gilchrist Farm is well-known for its picturesque pumpkin patch and fun-filled Halloween celebration, but many families don't know that the excitement continues well into the Christmas season! Over the first three weekends of December, an action-packed Holiday Hoedown is in full swing at the Santa Clarita destination with free general admission and free parking, no less.

On Saturdays and Sundays beginning December 3rd, families can meet Santa (he's photo-ready from 10am to 3pm), watch a pony-filled holiday parade featuring a real fire truck, antique tractors and delivering Santa to the event (the hullabaloo starts at 10am), cheer on the Jingle Pigs during regular hog races (catch 'em at noon and 3pm), and so much more. You can even reserve a seat at a private pancake breakfast with Father Christmas himself for an additional fee.

Whether you're hanging with the Big Guy or exploring the farm festivities, Gilchrist has all the nostalgia you're probably craving at this time of year, plus it makes for some darling photos for the memory book, too. Here's the scoop on what to know before you go.

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