There has been plenty written in the news lately about how kids are specializing in sports earlier these days, training harder than ever—in team sports in particular—to compete at higher and higher levels. This puts extra stress on growing bodies and often leaves parents on uncertain ground. As a parent of an athlete, I often wonder when my kid says, "It hurts here," how seriously I need to take it. Is this a bath and a good night's sleep after a tough work out, or is it a trip to the doctor? Like many parents I know, I sometimes find myself asking the coach for input, when really I should be asking a specialist. 

Knowing a good resource for kids' sports injuries is a big help—which is why I'm excited to be writing about LA's Orthopaedic Institute for Children. It has given me a chance to get some of my own questions answered on the topic of parenting an athlete, and to share the info with other sports parents. I posed a few questions to the associate director of the Orthopaedic Institute for Children’s Center of Sports Medicine in Los Angeles, Dr. Jennifer Beck, who gave me some great information about supporting a young athlete, and about why the demanding nature of sports while a young body’s musculoskeletal system is rapidly changing can sometimes cause injuries.

Any play that ends with a giant cow patty toppling two of the actors is sure to get some laughs from a certain set. Apparently, my husband and I are that set because, although my daughters giggled, we were the ones with the belly laughs throughout the hour-long, no intermission show. If you're looking for a unique experience for your kids and going to the movies isn't your thing, Arden's The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales is the perfect alternative. To see when this show is running, or find other events in your area, be sure to check out our events calendar.

Bike riding makes for a great family outing—with a little help from the right gear. We scoured NYC looking for the best bike rental locations that offer child bike seats, tandem bikes, trailers and more to make biking with kids seamless fun for the whole family. And while May is National Bike Month, and the warm spring temps may propel families to head outdoors to enjoy the season, bike riding is also a great summer and fall activity, as well as year-round transportation option for many New Yorkers. 

So whether you're a space-challenged New Yorker without the room to store bikes and bulky children's seat attachments for your toddler, or just visiting for the day, read on for our top rental picks.

For more seasonal fun, check out our NYC Spring Fun Guide.

Thomas Fuller was quoted as saying, “It is madness for sheep to talk peace with a wolf.” He may have lived in the seventeenth century, but Mr. Fuller already knew my family dynamic. I, the sheep, live amongst a pack of wolves disguised as 3-year old humans. So knowing these little beasts now dominate our lives (literally), we decided to add another great spot into the Mommy Poppins Day Trip Guide by visiting the Lakota Wolf Preserve. 

This is the time of year when summer plans and camp choices dominate conversation among parents. But don’t consider yourself stuck if a traditional camp program of sports, swimming and color wars doesn't appeal to your child. With the growing popularity of chess these days, many kids are opting to devote their summers to the game, and there are a number of summer programs that have added it to their curriculum.

We've rounded up five such programs throughout Westchester and Rockland that offer chess classes to school-age kids. Looking for more summer options? Consult our Camp Guide! 

If your little one isn’t quite ready for a full-day of summer camp, there are plenty of camps on Long Island that offer half- or mini-day options where kids can get out the house and have fun for just a few hours a day. It’s a great way to give mom and dad a break, as well as introduce a younger child to the camp experience. And for more options, be sure to check out the Long Island Summer Camps Guide.

Making the big move to the suburbs from the city is something many New Yorkers contemplate at some point. One major reason they decide to make the leap to the ‘burbs often has a lot to do with kids. While raising a baby in the city is pretty Instagram-worthy, reality sets in when it’s time to enroll for kindergarten. But, moving to the suburbs doesn’t have to mean a stripping of your hip urban identity anymore. Oh no, you wild thang you, relax, you can have your brunch and picket fence, too.

My family and I moved to Northern Westchester recently, and, while I was a bit nervous about losing my identity and having to join endless mom groups and book clubs, I was in for a surprise. The ‘burbs have life! There is no shortage of brunching, shopping, kid events and art. While people move out of the city for the space and good schools, there are lots of surprises in store that make it almost like the city, without the crowded subways.

Our sponsor Houlihan Lawrence invited us to share some of the awesome things about life in the towns, villages and hamlets north of New York City. So come on up and start exploring. Here are 10 ways you’ll find we’re rocking your urban lifestyle up here.

New York City's parks and plazas are brimming with a new crop of kid-friendly public art installations just in time for springtime neighborhood walks.

These seven eye-popping statues are larger than life. There are gigantic glowing bunnies at Brookfield Place and a massive recreation of a DNA molecule in Marcus Garvey Park. You'll also find a 30-foot swimming pool propped up on its side in Rockefeller Center; a 25-foot-tall spinning, neon sign in Brooklyn Bridge Park; a pair of towering orchids at the entrance to Central Park; and an awe-inspiring, 30-foot-tall aluminum humanoid on the Park Avenue Mall. 

Visit these gigantic pieces one by one or link a couple together for a fun family outing, perhaps over the upcoming NYC public school April break. The best part of these seasonal art installations is that they all can be spotted in parks or other public places, so you can view them at your convenience and for FREE.