Whether your kid is just learning to ollie or is an advanced skater perfecting her frontside noseslide, there are plenty of skateboarding masters around NYC ready to teach the next generation.

We rounded up six great skateboarding classes where kids ages 4 and up can hone their skills from Manhattan to Staten Island, and of course, Brooklyn. Worried about this new sport involving possible asphalt face-plants that your kid is hounding you about? Well, it’s also a great workout, building strength, flexibility and coordination—oh, and a decent mode of transportation!

Find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

Our children grow quickly and leave behind bags of barely worn clothes and gear. Instead of throwing those non-essentials out, why not let someone less fortunate get more use from them and clear out your closet at the same time? Brooklyn families have a number of options for donating gently used children's items, so you can contribute to a good cause instead of wasting good items.

Read on for eight organizations accepting your donations in Brooklyn.

More and more families are going the vegetarian, and even the vegan, route, so we’ve rounded up the best NJ family-friendly options for meatless (and eggless and other-less) fare. And even if you don't necessarily identify as "veg", everyone should give these yummy places a try– your kids may surprise you and probably won't even realize they're eating "healthy." Some venues on the list are not strictly vegetarian/vegan, but offer many vegetarian or vegan options for kids, plus crayons, toys to play with, entertainment and more.

A new indoor play gym launched in Philadelphia this year! East Falls is now home to Kids at Play, a bright, shiny, 7,000 foot indoor playground and seriously cool entertainment zone that is easy on the eyes (specifically designed for children with sensory issues in mind), and invites creative play and exploration. We got a chance to check it out, and let me tell you, it is worth the trip! Read on for a full review (and check out other reviews of awesome spaces in Philadelphia).

Do automatic-flush toilets scare your preschooler? Do you always forget to put a spare onesie in the diaper bag? Do you go crazy trying to get the crumbs out of your car’s cup holders? These are the types of real problems parents face every day. Who would know the solutions better than other parents? The just released book Parent Hacks: 134 Genius Shortcuts for Life with Kids written by Asha Dornfest, founder of the Parent Hacks website, and her community of parent hackers has the answer to these issues and, well, 131 more.

Parent Hacks is a decade of the cumulative knowledge of sleep-deprived parents. What I love about it is its down-to-earth take on everyday frustrations and issues. Because the advice comes from real parents, many of the solutions rely on clever tricks using everyday things you find around the house, rather than pricey products. It's frugal, real advice—and often hilarious, including the fun illustrations by Craighton Berman. There are a lot of hacks dealing with poop and other gross situations parents find themselves in, making it a great choice for those with babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

We love this book so much that Mommy Poppins is helping to throw it a party. Read on to find out more about probably the most useful new parenting book around and how you can join us for a fun celebration if you are in NYC.

Sure, a tasty Mother's Day brunch is nice, but just that word, nice. C'mon mom, you know you're more fabulous than that.

This year, Sunday, May 8 is all about you, so no simple meal, not even breakfast in bed will do. Mother's Day should be a whole-day affair that's fun for everyone in the family, especially in NYC, where options are as amazing as mom herself. You could book tickets to a kid-friendly Broadway musical—in addition to stalwarts Wicked and The Lion King, there are new tuners like School of Rock and Tuck Everlasting for which tickets are more available. If the tots are too young for Broadway, there are plenty of shows for preschoolers that are shorter and less expensive. Into museums? There are engaging new exhibits about dinosaurs, kid-lit icon Mo Willems and Star Wars sure to please all ages. Or you could splurge on a special experience such as a helicopter ride or a family spa day.

But if your ideal Mother's Day features an outdoor activity that makes the most of the spring season, we've come up with five memorable itineraries that include food and alfresco family fun that won't blow your budget.