Although the challenges and escapades of Minecraft take place in a digital realm, in the real world, the game presents a nice opportunity for like-minded fans to form friendships. Local Minecraft clubs and classes serve as a good starting spot for young and teen-age fans to meet up.

Minecraft receives accolades for youth-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning because the online game promotes creativity as players construct block-like structures or interact with online gatherings. The following classes and clubs in the Boston area let kids swing their virtual pickaxes with peers:

The holidays are here. Regardless of how or what your family celebrates, I think we can all agree that festivities are bountiful in Los Angeles in December. It’s hard to choose just one thing to do each day, because there is so much going on. Every night this week is Hanukkah, which means tree lightings are outnumbered by menorah lighting ceremonies around town this week, mostly in convenient shopping locations like Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade or the infamous Sherman Oaks Galleria—handy for grabbing a last minute toy or holiday batch of socks and underwear.

A few major shows are opening, including Cirque du Soleil's KURIOS at Dodger Stadium, two different Lythgoe Family Pantos (Peter Pan and Tinkerbell in Pasadena and Snow White in Laguna), and Disney on Ice finally brings its Frozen tour to LA. And we are not even close to running out of Nutcrackers yet.

For those dissatisfied Angelenos dreaming of a white Christmas, I say go with what you got. How cool is it that we can ride an open air train in Griffith Park or see a drive-in double feature in the middle of December? It’s a festive time of year with myriad opportunities for merriment, including one super wacky chance to be included in the world’s biggest baby portrait. Best to keep up with these shenanigans and more by checking our Daily Events Calendar, December Go List and Holiday Guide.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in New Jersey, with local holiday celebrations throughout the state. Enjoy tree lighting extravaganzas in Galloway, Stone Harbor and Cranbury, plus a Festival of Trees in Basking Ridge. Warm up at some museum events this week, including MAM Park Bench and Morris Museum’s Tot Tours. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

During the summer months we try to spend as much time out of the house as possible.  Between all the beach days, zoo visits, farmers markets, weekend getaways and festivals, the cost of all these things can quickly rack up. After all this, it's nice to find ways to save money in as many ways as possible. Many restaurants allow children to eat free so I have compiled a list of places where kids can eat free so that your money can be spent on other entertaining things to do. For a list of some of our fave family friendly restaurants in Central CT, but not necessarily free, check out our other post also.

The holiday season is in full swing, with Hanukkah celebrations and light shows taking center stage this week. Looking for more seasonal fun? Check out our Holiday Guide.

For even more activities, check out our Long Island Events Calendar, which is updated daily. You can also get the best events of the week sent directly to your inbox each week if you sign up for our newsletter.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we at Mommy Poppins have been scouring all the great holiday events for Westchester families to bring you the best of the best. Below are our top picks for the coming week.

There are numerous Chanukah events to choose from, such as Light the Chanukah Lights, as well as assorted Christmas activities, including theatrical events like Christmas with the Celts and the Community Holiday Musical "Pageant."

In addition to our top picks, there are other options to choose from (both holiday-themed and otherwise) on our Event Calendar, and our December GoList showcases our top picks for the rest of the month! 

As much as we all love family getaways, the packing, planning and even the 24/7 togetherness can be a tad stressful. The action-packed holiday season only adds to that stress for many of us. Take time to unwind and spoil your family (and yourself!) on your next winter weekend vacation from New York City at one of these family-friendly resorts that feature top-notch spas.

We focused on Northeast resorts that are far enough away from the city to feel like you've actually "gotten away," but not so far that the length of travel makes your getaway feel like a chore. Read on for our picks that make shedding tension effortless while offering plenty of distractions for kids, too.

For more options check out our frequently updated Event Calendar and Holiday Guide for all sorts of fun.  Have a great week!