And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round, and the painted ponies go up and down... Your children can travel back in time to a simpler day on one of five SoCal carousels. Some of the carousels below have a long history (like the one at Santa Monica Pier); some are great indoor activities for rainy days, and some even work as birthday party venues. What they all do equally well is put smiles on faces.

Say hello to the lovely month of May! Festivals abound in New Jersey at this time of year, like the Hackettstown Annual Spring Festival, the Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival and Bridgeton's Cinco de Mayo Cultural Fest, all happening this weekend. For more seasonal fun, go fly a kite at Terhune Orchard’s Kite Day, cheer on your favorite football team during the Jets Draft Family Day, or head to the Bergen County Zoo to watch sheep shearing and visit with barnyard animals. For even more weekend activities, check out our Event Calendar.

We love finding cool ways to give back, especially when kids can get involved. It's even better when it supports an amazing organization that helps the most vulnerable New Yorkers, children. That's why we're partnering with The New York Foundling's petiteSHOP—a unique shopping experience along with family-friendly activities and experiences—to help raise money to support the important work The New York Foundling does.

For three weekends in May, you can drop by The Foundling Children's Charity Pop-up to find cool designer duds, toys, decor and more at a variety of price points, and participate in workshops and activities, including a free family photo shoot with celebrity and fashion photographer Lee Clower. It will be fun, and you can all go home knowing you did some good, too.

Moms are usually the planners, thinking up creative, fun and family-friendly activities for the whole gang year-round. So how about giving her a little break this Mother's Day? Round up the troops, get everyone in the car and enjoy a day out at one of these awesome NJ venues. Sure, you could spring for a fancy brunch, but if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, check out one of these special ways to celebrate mom on Mother’s Day:

Mothers love Sundays. They sleep late, caressed by lavender eye masks that subtly fragrance the air. When they arise, an immaculate house greets them, and they can spend the day lounging with an inspirational book. Cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and vacuuming shattered cheese crackers off car seats can wait for another day. Oh—it’s not like that for you? Happy to hear I'm not alone in my weekend mad dash.

At least one Sunday, however, should be different. For more than 100 years, Mother’s Day has been set aside as a special time to celebrate moms, their dedication to family, and their efforts in raising children. Some moms look forward to the traditional bouquets of flowers, boxes of chocolates, and sentimental cards. Others want to be taken out to dinner or a spa. Still others prefer a family day at a park, zoo, or aquarium. Whatever you wish for, we hope it comes true. Here are a few family events (many of them free) to help you have a beautiful day.

Choosing a school: it's that big parenting decision that just keeps coming back every few years. As my daughter Juliet wraps up her final year of elementary school, I find myself thinking about her first school, her preschool, and I feel grateful that we got that one right. The five years we spent at First Step Nursery School have left an indelible mark on her life, and on mine as a parent.