| Page 1473 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend with NYC Kids: Easter Egg Hunts, Coney Island Rides Opens, Macy's Flower Show March 23-24

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Wed, 03/20/2013 - 4:00pm

Spring has supposedly started but regardless of the weather, spring break kicks off for NYC public school kids this weekend. So it's time to book a camp or, if you're lucky enough to have the time off, too, begin planning your NYC spring break adventures.

This weekend, you can celebrate the season with the debut of Macy's annual Flower Show and a slew of early Easter egg hunts. Plus Whales: Giants of the Deep opens at the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Children's Museum unveils the interactive Big Adventure installation, Coney Island's Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel open for the season, and the carousels in Prospect Park, Forest Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park start spinning.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and make sure you check out our awesome roundup of things to do over spring break in NYC.

Nature and Science Summer Camps in New London County

Submitted by Sherry Pardy on Wed, 03/20/2013 - 9:55am

My son, at 6 years old, declared his intention to attend MIT after high school, class of 2027. He lives and breathes science, so most summer camps involving athletic activities don't appeal much to his interests. Sound familiar? If your little marine biologist or farmer need a fun camp experience this summer, New London county offers a wide range of camps just for them! Also check out our complete Summer Camps Guide!

Cirque du Soleil's Totem: Evolution Las Vegas Style

Submitted by Raven Snook on Wed, 03/20/2013 - 9:00am

While it's tough to write about any circus, it's especially difficult to describe the over-the-top antics of Cirque du Soleil. (Thank god for our slide show.) The Canadian troupe is famous for featuring some of the best circus performers in the world (all human, no animals!) and jaw-dropping visuals, from the sets to the costumes, even the lighting design is spectacular.

That said, while I am consistently impressed with Cirque's craft, I don't always love the shows. Some of them are just way too highfalutin for my taste (see Zarkana). I prefer the more earthbound ones, like the insect-themed Ovo, which was a truly unforgettable theatrical experience. So how does Totem rate?

Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend March 23-24: KidFest, Geocaching, Earth Hour and all things Easter!

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Wed, 03/20/2013 - 6:00am

I'm glancing out my back door at the snow as I write--Happy First Weekend of Spring! Take heart, NJ, this wacky weather can't last forever. Hopefully this weekend as we hunt for eggs, celebrate Earth Hour, decorate cookies or geocache, the sun will be shining and winter will be a distant memory. Um, hopefully. Read on for our top picks for the weekend of March 23-24 and find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

Long Island Kids' Activities March 23 & 24: 98.3 KJOY Eggstravaganza, Spring EGGstravaganza, Jumpin' Easter Egg Hunt

Submitted by Jill Wolfson on Wed, 03/20/2013 - 5:08am

This weekend is all about Easter egg hunts! Head on over to Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore for the 98.3 KJOY Eggstravaganza where you’ll enjoy a egg hunt, bouncy rides, magician, face painters, team mascot appearances, live entertainment, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and more. At the Long Island Children’s Museum in Garden City, don’t miss the Spring EGGstravaganza. Pump It Up in Great Neck is hosting its Jumpin' Easter Egg Hunt. At United Skates of America in Seaford enjoy fun off the roller skating rink at its Princess & Superhero Breakfast where you’ll meet your favorite princesses and superheroes! Also on tap: A Pirate & Princess Tea Party at Ballet Long Island in Ronkonkoma, and a Spring Egg Hunt at Safari Adventure in Riverhead. As always, check out our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family!

Poppins Parents: Joy Olaes Surprenant, Mom on a Mission

Submitted by Tara D on Wed, 03/20/2013 - 12:19am

For 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 who is her non-profit organization’s pint sized co-founder, where she says is one of her favorite places in the whole world (we agree completely!) and how much joy she brings to families throughout the area. Joy also shares tips for getting your family involved in volunteerism and giving.

3 Brooklyn Museums You've Never Heard of That Are Fun for Kids

Submitted by Sarah G on Tue, 03/19/2013 - 4:00pm

A few years ago we wrote about five under-the-radar museums in downtown Manhattan. But there are a bunch of little known museums in Brooklyn, too, and some of them are particularly fun for kids.

So on a recent afternoon, instead of heading to our usual go-to destinations like the Brooklyn Children's Museum or the Brooklyn Museum, my kindergartner and I set out to see three new-to-us spots in our home borough that sounded cool: one dedicated to toys, another to curiosities and one full of interactive contemporary art. While all of these museums are pretty small and can be seen in under an hour, they make for a great itinerary and are quite inexpensive—two of them are just $2 each.

Spring Break 2013 Classes, Camps, Workshops, Events, and Activities on Long Island

Submitted by Denise on Tue, 03/19/2013 - 1:57pm

Ahh...spring break! No studying for spelling tests! No memorizing math facts! No recording required reading minutes! Spring break may even relieve you of carting the kids to and from sports practices and games, music lessons, and all the extracurriculars that fill our family calendars.

So what will we do with all of this free time?

We’ve rounded up fun spring break programs for kids around the Island sure to cure the inevitable “Mom, I’m bored!” that strikes soon after spring break begins. Nearly all of these programs allow you to sign up “a la carte” so if one day’s theme is of particular interest to your child, you can simply register for that day. The kids will be entertained for a few hours leaving you with some time for your own “required reading” or dare I say, spring cleaning. Spring break programs typically fill up fast so call and register when you get home from practice tonight...after homework!