Given the STEM movement in education and the always popular DIY-birthday party theme, it’s no surprise city kids are requesting robotics-fueled shindigs to celebrate their birthdays. At a robotics party, kids construct their own models—sometimes in 3D—that move and roll while also learning about the mechanics behind it all.

We've rounded up a collection of fun-and-educational spots to celebrate your kids next birthday robotics style where creativity—and sometimes little robotic creatures themselves—run wild.

Check out our NYC Kids' Birthday Party Guide for more inspiration.

Music, art, swimming, dance, playgroups: When you're the parent of a young child, the opportunities to introduce your son or daughter to new experiences and friends can seem limitless. But if you're a working parent, the last thing you want to do is cram your already packed calendar with classes that happen at inconvenient times. Luckily, Boston is home to many stellar programs that are particularly accommodating to working parents' schedules. Here are some of our favorites.

Karaoke parties are wildly popular for kids of all ages, so we’ve rounded up some of the best local DJs who host them, plus New York City venues where kids can belt the day away.

From tot sing-alongs to tween and teen rock-out sessions, it's a thrill to grab that mic and belt out the lyrics to favorite songs. Taking a family jam session to a full-blown karaoke bash can make for an extra special birthday party for your kid. Many DJs will bring the whole party to you, complete with microphones, song libraries, and even music games for the kids.

Read on for more details on the best karaoke DJs and party spots in NYC, and check out our Party Guide and Party Directory for more party-planning ideas.

We may be mired in winter in New York City, but it's already time to think about summer camp for the kids. A number of the city's top camps host open houses over the next few weeks, and attending lets you preview summer offerings and familiarize yourself with new-to-you programs.

We've compiled more than two dozen upcoming open houses from our sponsors, including options for day and commuter camps, so you can stay warm while perusing the listings from your couch. There are hundreds of summer camps in Manhattan alone, but this list should get you started.

And whether you're looking for a preschooler-age camp, music camp, sleepaway camp, or even a FREE camp, remember to check out the Mommy Poppins Summer Camp Guide for more ideas in 2017.

Read on—and let the research begin.

Just like authentic New York soda fountains and ma-and-pa stores, old-fashioned hobby shops are seemingly an endangered species in NYC. But they're not dead yet.

Thanks to the popularity of the maker movement, hobby shops are enjoying a resurgence as kids (and grown-ups) look for fun, hands-on projects that range from assembling intricate models to flying remote-control airplanes, building robots, and racing model trains. That last option is one of my 9-year-old's favorite pastimes.

Although you can buy most of these kits online, visiting a brick-and-mortar hobby shop can be an inspiring experience for children who like to tinker, experiment and create. Plus, they get a chance to meet their fellow enthusiasts and learn from the vets. Whether your kids are into planes, trains, or automobiles, here are 10 hobby shops across the five boroughs where families can stock up on all their DIY model-building needs.

Dragging the kids along for another trip to the mall? Tired of them complaining as you meander from store to store?

At Roosevelt Field mall in East Garden City, you can take a break at the new Glowgolf, a glow-in-the-dark miniature golf facility. Located on the concourse level near LensCrafters and the kids play area, you can grab a club and ball and embark on a glowing adventure through 27 holes. 

The simple truth is that we Southern Californians are less inclined to seek out rodents to predict the weather than are our Eastern counterparts. The weather doesn't hold the same mystery for us as it does for, say, New Englanders. But that doesn't mean we have to be left out in the cold on Groundhog Day. After all, who can resist the fun of an entire holiday dedicated to ambushing a small, furry animal first thing in the morning and scrutinizing its shadow (or lack thereof)? So while the people of Punxsutawney put on their top hats to attend their highly scientific meteorological gathering, how about we find some ways to show that we care about their weather, too? After all, if the little guy is calling a premature end to ski season, we might want to know.

Westchester is known as New York City’s backyard for good reason--the county boasts about 18,000 acres of parkland and more than 50 natural recreation areas. So if your kid is looking for a summer camp experience that will immerse him in the natural world, Westchester has more options than you can shake a stick at!  

We continue to add to our Summer Camp Guide with a look at four nature-themed camp options in Westchester. These programs offer young naturalists summer days spent studying, exploring and appreciating nature--interacting with animals, hiking and communing with natural world around them. Looking for more camp options? Check out our new Westchester Camp Directory, full of traditional and specialty camp options for kids of all ages, stages and interests.