February is Black History Month and Westchester is bustling with ways to learn about and celebrate African-American heritage. 

The origin of Black History Month can be traced to back to 1926, when it was founded by Harvard historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now ASALH) as a week-long event. Woodson, who selected February because it coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, was troubled by the inequality in black education. The event was expanded into a month-long honor in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, and, since then, every U.S. president has issued Black History Month proclamations. (We will see if our new president follows suit.) 

All month long throughout Westchester, you'll find family-friendly ways to learn about and celebrate the contributions of African-Americans throughout our country's history. Below are some of of our favorite Black History Month events, almost all of which are FREE. Read on, and then visit our Event Calendar for other great happenings throughout Westchester this month!

Expecting a baby in 2017? If you're in New Jersey, you'll have the opportunity to receive a FREE Baby Box that can serve as mini crib for the newborn months and comes stocked with infant supplies, such as diaper and wipe samples.

The boxes, created by Baby Box Co., are modeled after the same ones provided by the Finnish government for decades to new moms and aimed at tackling SIDs, or SUID, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, aka, every parent's worst nightmare. The sturdy cardboard box is considered a safe sleeping environment and has earned the seal of approval from CPSC, Health Canada, and EN for safe infant sleeping spaces. It can also be kept close by, which makes things easier on parents but also further encourages healthy habits, from breastfeeding to bonding. Finland has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, and the boxes, along with the prenatal counseling that comes with them, are credited with its successful rating.

Planning another birthday party? Looking for something different? For those kids whose interests lean to the culinary or who love to decorate with sugary goodness, here's a great idea: a cooking party! There are a bunch of places in and around Philadelphia that host cooking, baking, and decorating parties, and even some who will drive to the birthday kid's home. So, if you've got an aspiring chef, check out some of these great nearby birthday parties.

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.