If you have a child in your household, chances are Disney's animated romp Zootopia is on your must-see list. What kid can resist a movie about adorable, anthropomorphized animals? The good news for grown-ups is that these creatures, cute and cuddly as they are, are never cloying, and neither is the movie. Zootopia is a fast-paced and funny (or is that furry?) tale of tolerance—a buddy detective story that touches on timely societal issues and champions our ability to evolve and get along, regardless of what kind of mammals we are.

Not that young kids will care about most of that. They'll be too busy laughing at the adventures of Judy Hopps, the cosmopolitan city of Zootopia's first-ever bunny cop (voiced with perpetual optimism by Ginnifer Goodwin). Fate throws her together with Nick Wilde (the wonderful Jason Bateman), a fox con man who helps her crack the case of the missing predators. Although they dislike each other at first, they inevitably bond. These two have much more in common than they initially realize, including fighting against being stereotyped and childhoods scarred by taunting.

Those bullying flashbacks, especially Nick's, are two of the scariest scenes in the film, which is rated PG with good reason. Worried your preschooler might not be up for it? Here's what you need to know before you book tickets (or a babysitter), and whether it's worth splurging on IMAX 3D.

One of my family's favorite Connecticut winter traditions is maple sugaring. We don't happen to have any maple trees on our property so we head to the New Canaan Nature Center, for their Adopt-a-Tree program (already underway for 2016, but registration is available until the end of February). A few times a week we visit our tree and haul sap back to the Sugar Shack. At the end of the season, we are rewarded with our very own delicious maple syrup. If you're eager to be a part of the maple sugaring tradition hear in New England but looking for a more low impact experience, here are some great events to check out in Fairfield County.

Whether it's in healthcare, manufacturing, or another forward-thinking industry, robotics is primed to a play a large role in future innovations. And by robots, we mean less BB-8 from Star Wars and more science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning. In Greater Boston, parents have a handful of good choices to look into if their kids want to experience the fun and technology behind robotics. Let's run down some options:

Swimming pools, movie stars. If there are two things we all know about Beverly Hills, it's the swimming pools and the movie stars. And, oh yes, we know the zip code, too. (When I used to live in 90211, out-of-towners seemed to think my zip code was hilarious.) Guests come to visit, and they always want to see Beverly Hills; but for young kids, walking up and down Rodeo Drive is not much of a crowd-pleaser. Avoid the stress of controlling tots in Tiffany's by knowing a few low cost, high entertainment, kid-friendly activities in this suburb to end all suburbs, the gateway to the Westside, the home to the stars' homes, the small town where people dress up to go window shopping. Check out our favorite 25 things to do in Beverly Hills; even if you're a BH High graduate, there are bound to be a few items you haven't done yet.

Planning a birthday party for a tween or a teen? As your child heads into the teenage years, it can be difficult to find the right way to celebrate a birthday. Chances are, she's well beyond the princess or super hero thing, and going to the movies with friends may not be special enough. Since a hallmark of young adults is that they try to be more like adults, a spa party booked with professionals and a few close friends at a salon can be just the right answer.

While some spas specialize in massage and facials, others only do manicures and pedicures—it pays to do some research ahead of time. Here are few of our favorite spots to book your teen’s next birthday or get-together in Westchester.

A brand-new, multi-borough kids festival with magicians, hands-on preschooler art and a Paris-trained circus troupe kicks off Friday, March 4 in New York City. It's not every day that a monthlong cultural fest dedicated to kids arrives, especially in the dead of winter, so we were excited to learn more. 

Dry skin or not, for this family, it’s time to start getting back in the pool.  And although it’s warm, it’s not quite warm enough to hit the Long Island Sound!  Instead, check out some of these indoor swimming options in Fairfield County:

The Children's Museum of Manhattan has long been my go-to spot for maximum tot fun, but when it comes to learning about art, architecture and other cultures, we usually headed elsewhere. The newly-opened America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far exhibit will change that.

Opened last week, the 3,000-square-foot exhibit takes up the entirety of the museum's first-floor exhibition space and provides a colorful, immersive window into Muslim cultures across the world. The exhibit has been extended through January 2018 and is the fourth in the museum's Global Exhibition Series, which previously highlighted the cultures of Ancient Greece, China and Japan. Read on for the scoop on this vibrant new exhibit.