It's not always easy deciding where to have a child's birthday party. While some party places serve as convenient, all-inclusive destinations, at-home parties can be just as fun and often a lot more affordable. You do, however, have to plan your own entertainment, and it can be tough to figure out how to keep the kids busy without things getting too chaotic.

That's where in-home entertainers come in! Gone are the days where you can only choose between a magician or a clown, and we've gathered a dozen of our favorite ideas. (If you already know you want to have an at-home laser-tag birthday party, check out our post dedicated solely to this activity.)

Looking for more birthday ideas? Consult our Party Planner Guide and sign up for our newsletters!

You've set your leprechaun traps, baked your soda bread, and dug out all the green clothing from your closet. In other words, you're ready for St. Patrick's Day. While there are a number of family-friendly activities for St. Patrick's Day in Westchester County, you can also get your Irish on by taking your wee lads and lasses to a proper Irish breakfast.

Ireland's signature dish has something for everyone: eggs, beans, grilled tomato, and enough pork products to last a lifetime. So if you're thinking of skipping the St. Patrick's Day parade and heading straight to a kid-friendly brunch, these are the best spots in Westchester to settle in for the top o' the mornin'.

Cambridge may be known mostly for its world-class colleges, but it has a lot to offer the younger set too. With lots of outdoor spaces for walking, riding bikes, or having a picnic, you’ll never feel cooped up in the city. Plus there are great museums, kid-friendly restaurants and festivals galore. We’ve already written about 25 things we love to do with kids in Harvard Square, so this list mostly contains ideas for fun in the rest of Cambridge. With so much to do, it’s time to start exploring.

Change is right around the corner at Bellaire's Nature Discovery Center, and we had the chance to take a sneak peek at everything the newly transformed center will have to offer. I remember my first visit to the Nature Discovery Center very clearly - it was like unearthing a hidden gem; it was (and is!) a small patch of nature inside the concrete jungle known as Houston. Under the name of the Gateway Project, the center has received a facelift in almost every area, from new education resources to added nature trails. 

If you have a houseful of theme-park thrill-seekers—or if you are one yourself—we've got good news: With summer on the horizon, amusement parks along the East Coast have big plans in the works.

We've rounded up 10 new attractions scheduled to debut in 2017. Read on for details, including locations, opening dates, and height requirements, and start plotting your summer travels today.

“Solving growth spurts. Saving budgets.” Um, you can say that again!

Head to upcoming Just Between Friends’ award-winning children’s and maternity consignment sale in Glen Mills and your wallet will definitely thank you. Stocked with 160,000 new and gently-loved items, shoppers can expect to find tons of toys, books, shoes, games, baby gear, outdoor equipment, clothes (baby to teen!), and more at 50-90% off retail prices. Considering how quickly our little ones grow and how badly we want to give ‘em the best of the best, this much-loved sale is a budget-watching mama’s dream come true. Oh, and if you’re looking to make a little cash you can register to consign at the event too. Out with the old, in with the new-to-you.

Getting a picture taken with the Easter Bunny is a major rite of passage for many kids. Make the tradition even more special this year when you take your child to a breakfast or brunch where the famous rabbit will be milling about—for photo ops or just some shy gawking. Whether you’re looking for a fun pre-holiday activity or want to find a kid-friendly spot to eat for the big day, we’ve got you covered. Be sure to make reservations (many of these events fill up quickly); and take lots of pictures.

Regardless of whether this movie gets raves or pans, if you have a princess-obsessed child in your home chances are you're seeing this movie in the theater—probably opening weekend. So let me get right to the good news: my 11-year-old daughter and I, both fans of the 1991 animated original, quite enjoyed Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. It is, perhaps, overly faithful to the source material. But hey, if it ain't broke, right?

There really was no reason for Disney to reinvent this classic, since the sight of Hermione—er, Belle in her frilly yellow dress will probably catapult this movie to the top of the box office. However, this isn't a soulless brand-expanding cash grab, either. For all of its familiarity, Beauty and the Beast is lovely to look at and listen to, with a smattering of new songs and a fairly subtle injection of progressive politics.

Is it good for preschoolers? Is it worth splurging for IMAX? Be our guest and read on for our honest opinions.