It's the New Year; time to get creative! There's only so much a parent can dream up for the kids to do in a 12 hour span of time, especially after a busy holiday season when there might have been too much on the things to do list.

Even if you live in a bustling city like Los Angeles, sometimes options for preschool activities seem limited—even more so the farther you get from the suburbs. As concrete and dry as Downtown LA might seem at times, I promise you there's a ton of stuff for families to do, particularly for you and your preschooler. Have fun exploring!

Take a day trip on the Thorndale/Paoli line and see what you might be missing! Whether you are a local on the Main Line, or looking for a chance to get out of the city, there is plenty to do all along this SEPTA route, many just steps away from the stations. Running through Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties, this historic rail line runs along Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor. With options along more than ten stops, it would be hard to pack it all in in one day, so plan ahead, and make several excursions this season. 

Note that not every spot is walkable from the train stations, particularly in the far western 'burbs, but they're still great for kids or mom meetups. Check the latest SEPTA map to be sure.

Families looking for cool and refreshing fun on a hot summer day can consider indoor climbing. Moving up vertically is both exciting and a thorough workout for all ages...Here's a review of our first-time visit to an indoor climbing gym along with a listing of other walls to climb in Fairfield County. We've listed climbing gyms in Hartford County here.

The new Fairfield Sportsplex at 85 Mill Plains Road has an exciting indoor climbing gym, Rock Climb Fairfield. The facility is comfortably air-conditioned, which serves new visitors well when they first face the intimidating 40 foot high walls.

We couldn’t be happier that you visit Mommy Poppins to learn about the best kid-friendly events and happenings in the area, but we know we’re not the only game in town. There are many other talented bloggers in our area, and we wanted to share some of our favorite sites. These recommendations are written by parents in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley, and all of them offer valuable information or are just flat-out fun to read.

Think we missed a good one? Leave it your suggestion in the comments or drop a line on Facebook! 

Christmas may be over, but in my house paying for it is not. My family is going to focus on free things to do this week, like drawing in El Segundo or playing at the mall in Century City. The second Tuesday of the month is always free admission at The Autry in Griffith Park. I love this museum because it covers both the myth and reality of Western expansion and never forgets the important role of movies. Currently, costumes from The Hateful Eight are on display.

The Fairfax Branch Library has storytime on Wednesday; why not spend the day at Third and Fairfax? If it doesn’t rain, let the kids run at Pan Pacific Park, followed by something I loved to do as a child and still enjoy with my own kids: perusing the Original Farmer’s Market. While you're there, a free ride on the trolley at the Grove is a treat, too.

One thing worth paying for is the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s drop-off class, Microbiologists: Underwater Parks. Two hours for mom to get some exercise on the beach or run to the grocery store, while the kids become educated about our environment and marine science—what's not to love? If this one is already filled, sign up now for the next one on January 25.

Since Mother Nature has been kind to us so far this winter, both outdoor and indoor adventures await this week. Bundle up and explore nature at Awesome Animal Artists and Toddler Trek: Frigid Flyers. Or play it safe with great indoor museum events, including MAM Park Bench and Uptown Story Time. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

This week, kids can play old school video games at The Arcade Age, check out a pirate-themed show or learn about a variety of animals--and that's just a few of the fun things happening this week. For more, check out our Long Island events calendar. You can also get the best events of the week sent directly to your inbox each week if you sign up for our newsletter.

An eclectic assortment of fun awaits Westchester families this week, with offerings for all tastes!

Get Silly with Science or give your kids a rigorous Math Workout. Think you’ve outgrown playing with clay? Think again at Electric Playdough.

These are just a flavor of what’s in store, so read on for more and continue to our Event Calendar for riveting programs every day of the week. Planning ahead? Our January GoList offers highlights for the remainder of the month!