NYC Students Will Be in Classrooms Part-Time with Schools Reopening Plan

New York City's schools will reopen in September with a blended learning model, social distancing will be enforced, and masks required. Photo via of Unsplash

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza announced the framework for getting the nation's largest school system back to school in September 2020. The key takeaway for city parents: Though students will be learning five days a week during the 2020-21 school year, it's unlikely they will attend in-person classes more than 2-3 days a week as the city adopts a "blended learning" plan for the upcoming school year.

"Students will return in September to either a blended model or a fully remote model if they so choose," de Blasio announced. "Blended learning means students will be taught on-site in school for part of the week and remotely for other portions of the week. Over the past several months, we've worked with many stakeholders, including our principals, to develop scheduling models that can accommodate limited in-person attendance."

New York City's public schools, which make up the largest school district in the nation, have been shuttered since March 16, and the city's 1.1 million students finished the school year remotely.

Best LA Bike Rides, Trails, and Paths for Biking with Kids

As long as there are kids and bicycles, a family bike ride will always be a hit. And while the streets of LA can be a stressful place to ride, not to mention keep an eye on kids on bikes, there are several lovely dedicated bike paths around LA that make a great family day out. So pump up the tires and pop on a helmet to enjoy one of these Los Angeles bike rides. No bike? No problem: some of the trails below have bike rental options adjacent to the trail, and many bike shops around the city offer rentals of all styles and sizes. And if someone in the family is a newbie, we have some tips for teaching a kid to ride a bike without training wheels.

21 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids Right Now

Kids will get hooked on (the new) Baby-Sitters Club just like their parents did back in the day. Photo courtesy of Netflix

As temperatures rise and many camps are canceled, we’re all looking for ways to pass the time indoors. After exhausting the science experiments and online classes, everyone might welcome some downtime. Thankfully, Netflix has a lineup of great shows to keep kids laughing and learning all summer. Here are our 21 favorite shows on Netflix to stream right now, with picks for both little kids and big kids.

For other ideas for keeping kids entertained, including more high-quality kids TV shows and movies to stream during quarantine and beyond, check out Mommy Poppins Stay-at-Home Guide.

Monthly Subscription Boxes for Kids Send Art and Science Fun in the Mail

Some kits, like this Lovevery box, are available for kids as young as a few weeks old. Photo by Gina Ragland

Monthly subscription boxes for kids can spark a sense of excitement and curiosity for all ages. So, quell those complaints of "I'm bored," and requests for more screen time by ordering one of these inventive kits to be delivered directly to your doorstep.

You can even go all-in and sign up for a monthly delivery of one of the subscription boxes listed below. Monthly subscription boxes also make a thoughtful gift for kids. Whether your child loves a crafty project or a STEM-inspired experiment, we've tried to include something for everyone.

Top Summer Activities in LA: 50 Things To Do with Kids around Los Angeles Summer 2020

Photo by the author

Summer 2020 may not be what most LA families had planned, but once we make our peace with staying close to home, it can be a different kind of fun. It can be staycation, love where we live, totally Southern California kind of fun. It can be old-fashioned, making popsicles and sipping homemade cocktails while the kids play backyard water games kind of fun. And we can take a break from stressing about what school will look like in the fall by picking a few of the wonderful things to do that we can still indulge in this summer around Los Angeles. The photos from summer vacation 2020 may all have masks in them, but we can be making wonderful childhood memories all the same! Here are 50 places open now to get you started.

Ultimate NJ Staycation Planner: 50 Top Summer Activities for Kids

Pose with the boulders at NJ's Pyramid Mountain.Photo by Anita Gregorio Marsault

Summer activities for New Jersey kids often revolve around the Shore, lakes, and fantastic summer camps and sports leagues. Yet, summer 2020 is the summer of a pandemic. There's no real way to ignore that fact.

It's a summer where families might travel less, go to fewer birthday parties, attend less camp (or none at all), and just generally stay home more. It's a summer where kids may be more underfoot or have less supervision. I'm not ready to call it the summer of boredom just yet, though. New Jersey is actually offering a ton of summer activities for kids. As we've entered Phase 2, the reopenings now include beaches, zoos, amusement parks, water parks, lakes, arcades, and playgrounds. Some NJ museums, libraries, and aquariums are reopening, too—at reduced capacities and with new rules in place.

So while it may be the summer of canceled t-ball tournaments and overseas flights, there are still plenty of fun things to do in New Jersey with kids this summer. Besides, the slowing down of summer life actually opens up new opportunities to explore those top NJ spots you've always meant to in the past. Read on to plot your NJ staycation with an abundance of outdoor summer activities, day trips, and even some at-home indoor activities.

12 Day Trips near Atlanta for Georgia Families in 2020

Learn some climbing skills in a Tree Climbing Class at Panola Mountain State Park. Photo courtesy of the park

Big trips might be tabled this summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have adventures with Atlanta kids closer to home. We’ve created this list of day trips from Atlanta for families, including the most current information on open attractions at press time. This list includes Atlanta day trips that you don’t need to leave town for (like drive-in movie night) and a few day trips a bit farther afield that can be turned into overnight getaways.

Be sure to check out our Atlanta Summer Fun Guide, which is full of more ideas for keeping kids busy this summer. Have fun—and stay safe—out there!

Ultimate Summer Staycation Planner for Long Island Kids: 50 Things to Do in Summer 2020

A trip to the beach can turn into a high-flying adventure at WildPlay at Jones Beach. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

It's been a long road, but summer vacation is upon us. It's no secret Long Island is jam-packed with family-friendly summer activities. After all, there's a reason our city-dwelling neighbors to fight traffic to flock to our shores. Summer 2020 is bound to look a little different for all of us. Most summer camps are going virtual, and though we've found a few affordable in-person options, it's more than likely you've got extra time to entertain the kids this summer.

We've pulled together this list of ultimate summer staycation ideas to entertain you and your brood, whether you're looking for a family-friendly beach day, want to explore a newly-reopened sprayground, or enjoy a creative only-in-2020 outing like a drive-in movie or drive-by animal tour, we've got options. So, read on for 50 summer activities for your Long Island summer staycation.

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