I'm usually pretty tolerant of a noisy, sometimes floor-vibrating home, but when my kids recently turned the couch into a trampoline and the dining room into an obstacle course, I knew it was time to burn off some steam elsewhere. With the January cold upon us, indoor play was clearly the way to go, so we decided to check out one of Northern NJ's newest indoor playgrounds: Xtreme Energy in Englewood.

The facility, which opened in the fall, is amazing for kids and preteens—especially those who love climbing, jumping, and challenging themselves with unique physical activities. 

Wintertime or rainy-day doldrums got you down? The newly opened Little Seeds play space in Plainville, MA feels like a burst of sunshine among Boston's indoor play spaces. Wide windows, luxurious decor, and smiling faces grace this play area in an easy-to-get-to location just down the street from the Unlikely Story Bookstore and Cafe, and near to Juju B's as well. Register your little one for a STEM class at no extra cost, and explore the opportunities for enrichment provided in this modern business run by moms with a flair for the fabulous!

Birthday parties have morphed into an entity all their own. Each year the celebration has to be bigger and better than the last. So, where do you start?

Don't worry—we've rounded up some of Long Island's best venues for parties to please a variety of kids, from divas and princesses to tumbling tots and animal enthusiasts. These places make party planning easy, and almost all include a host, setup and cleanup, food, and other essentials. The only hard part is picking just one! 

Be sure to check out our Birthday Party Guide for Long Island Kids for even more tips on planning the perfect party for your child. It has ideas specific to first birthdays, toddlers, active kids, and more.

Tucked on a woodsy cul-de-sac in Washington - one of the most pastoral areas of Connecticut – you will find an important assortment of stories and artifacts that preserve and celebrate the traditions and contributions of indigenous cultures. Though small in square footage, the Institute for American Indian Studies Museum & Research Center features an impressive collection and is an especially child-friendly Litchfield County attraction.

Of all of the exciting activities for kids in Houston, spending time at a shopping mall doesn't typically rank high on the list. Unless that is you happen to be heading to Memorial City Mall to visit the American Girl Store. Just walking up to the entrance to the store creates an Instagram-worthy situation as you and your child approach the iconic red facade. If you were a fan of the dolls as a kid, the nostalgia of American Girl will hit you square between the eyes as you enter the store. Of course, shopping is on the agenda, but there are so many other activities to engage in when you visit the American Girl store. 

When it comes to kids, stomach aches are two things: common and complicated. Sure, sometimes that second cupcake at the birthday party or the twisty turvy drive to Grandma's house is enough to turn a kiddo's belly, but other times an undiagnosed digestive disorder is to blame—and it may be getting written off as "just a tummy ache." So, when a pediatric specialist at Connecticut Children’s offered to give us the lowdown on stomach ache causes that may actually be more serious, the worried mom in me was all ears. And if you're no stranger to the infamous cry of "my belly hurts," you'll definitely want to read on to see if it's time to schedule an appointment.