NOTE: As of January 2019, Kidoolo is not offering open play for toddlers. It does offer open laser tag sessions for kids ages 6 and up, along with arcade and video games, and it is available for birthday parties and events. 

Kidoolo Play Club, a new indoor play space in Springfield, aims to appeal to kids and parents alike. The stylish space is currently open for business but will celebrate its grand opening on January 28. It's located next to PM Pediatrics between BMW and Fiat on Route 22 East. 

The city is awash in Nutcracker performances come holiday season, from the iconic New York City Ballet’s production at Lincoln Center to the abridged, children-friendly Keith Michael's The Nutcracker. For NYC families with kids under 5, the question always is: are they ready? Will they even make it to intermission before they lose it?

I had that same thought as my almost 4-year-old and I took our seats at the Clurman Theatre on 42^nd Street for a Nutcracker-themed family musical, Ballerina Swan and The Nutcracker, from The New York City Children’s Theater, and it was only 50 minutes with no intermission.

I shouldn’t have worried. As soon as the dancers took to the stage, my daughter was riveted. Read on for our parent review of this brand-new piece that incorporates ballet, acting, and puppetry into a special holiday show for young children.

Every year as I'm doing some last-minute gift shopping I tell myself that next Christmas I'm definitely going to make amazing gifts for my family and friends. Well, I haven't made anything yet, but fortunately for me and those of you who have similar intentions, there is still time to flex our creative muscles. There are plenty of fun classes and workshops where you can make one-of-a-kind gifts and learn techniques to create original works of art, delicious treats, and a variety of other crafty items.

For those of you who are not interested in DIY gift-giving but want to give unique presents to your loved ones, you might consider supporting local artists and artisans who sell their goods and wares at a holiday market or getting the children in your life special gifts from one of Houston's independent toy stores. And while you're shopping, don't forget to pick up a gift for a Christmas toy drive. And don't forget to check out our holiday guide filled with things to do and see in Houston this season.

There are only so many weekends left in December left to celebrate the holiday season, which can put some pressure on parents. Just which family fun is worth the trip and your time? Fret not, for Mommy Poppins has come up with a list of our 10 favorite things to do with kids in the Lower Hudson Valley during the holiday season. 

We’ve already told you our favorite things to do with kids in Westchester during the holidays, and now we’re going to turn our attention to the rest of the area. All of these family-friendly attractions are worth the drive and are a great way to explore the counties around Westchester. Check out our Holiday Guide for more Christmas and Hanukkah fun, or our Event Calendar for the latest doings. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to share what you’ve done!   

Perhaps you remember the delightful stories from which A Year with Frog and Toad was adapted. The classic series "Frog and Toad are Friends" is a fairytale staple for anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s. The musical adaptation follows a year-in-the-life of these two amphibious friends (and a few of their adorable sidekicks) through each season of the year.  The Arden Theatre brings the stories of the two lovable characters to life with classical and creative costuming and a set that includes a trap door and 2 revolving houses, which was definitely a favorite feature for the kids.

There are so many fun and festive family-friendly holiday activities to take part in each year, from taking a Christmas train ride and attending a Santa breakfast, to shopping for gifts at a local market. One more tradition that we love is taking a cozy sleigh ride, and warming up after with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. We’ll be dreaming of a white Christmas so we can go dashing through the snow at one of these six spots in Massachusetts that offer sleigh rides! 

In our house the kids’ birthdays fall in April, May and June. So right around March 1st, I start my annual birthday party panic. While I love having kids’ parties at home, I often decide to have one of my three parties at another venue in the hopes that, when the birthdays are through, I will have some semblance of sanity remaining. Happily, Fairfield County offers numerous places where one can hold a great kid’s party. For even more party ideas check out our Party Guide!

Exploring the Liberty Science Center with kids who want to crawl through the Touch Tunnel or scale the Climbing Challenge can work up quite an appetite. While we appreciate the convenience of museum-cafe pizza and chicken fingers after a day of hands-on exhibits, sometimes a more varied menu—away from the crowds—hits the spot.