This fall we did an at home beading party for my daughter and I found this to be one of the most fun, versatile, inexpensive and easy to organize birthday party ideas we have ever done. A beading birthday party is a great idea for girls from preschool age to teens and it's a great idea for NYC kids because it's easy to do even in a small apartment and in New York we have easy access to all the wholesale beading stores where you can pick up all kinds of fun beads.

As January ends this weekend and we welcome February next week, Philly families can enjoy this time of year with a variety of activities. This weekend, Penn Museum celebrates The Year of the Monkey at its Chinese New Year event. Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival is set to entertain with puppet shows, the rescheduled parade, and a theatrical performance. And, tarantulas invade the Academy of Natural Science of Drexel University as it opens this featured exhibit.

However, if you are tired of the cold and snow and are hoping to hear good news from Punxsatawney Phil, the famous groundhog in Pennsylvania on February 2, head over to John Heinz Natural Wildlife Refuge to learn about groundhogs at its Groundhog Day Family Festival.

Be sure to sign up to receive our Weekend Round up every Thursday and our Weekday Picks every Monday so they can be delivered directly to your inbox. Mommy Poppins Philly hopes you have a great weekend!

Disney’s Frozen sequel isn’t due out for several years, but that hasn’t slowed down the Elsa and Anna fever in my household where “Let It Go” is the nightly bathtub refrain. If your kid is pining for the snow queen’s return, then it might be time to whip up a Frozen-themed party or activity.

Sticky summer weather only makes us crave a chill-inducing Frozen scenery more. Besides, Olaf would approve of the summer setting, wouldn’t he? So pop on the soundtrack, think ice cold thoughts and check out these five Frozen-themed kid party ideas and activities, some simple, some messy, but all 100 percent fun.

We've compiled a carefully curated list of the very best NYC happenings for kids in 2016 to bring you our very first annual GoList. It includes the best things to do on long holiday weekends and annual events that we know tend to sell out quickly or require advance registration. Plus we've got the scoop on several brand-new outings that we are particularly excited about, including an outdoor climbing wall, a chance to see alligator hatchlings, some of our favorite upcoming children's theater, new museum happenings and of course, the city's best annual festivals and parades.

You can always check our Event Calendar for upcoming events and activities. Happy planning!

Whether you’re looking for traditional music and dance, a parade, a big Chinese New Year festival complete with a Lion Dance, or simply a fun craft to celebrate the the Lunar New Year, Boston has it all. Check out these great picks for families to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.

You’ll also find links for cooking traditional recipes for kids, children's books about the New Year, and visiting Boston’s Chinatown.

We've highlighted our favorite things to do in the quaint village of Chappaqua, and we've let you know about the best places to eat with a family. We're now focusing on the best places to play in the area.

With parks, gymnastics, music academies, a yoga studio and more, families needn’t worry about finding something fun and educational to do all year round. Read on for our top picks on where to play and learn in this great town, and sign up for our FREE newsletters to stay in the loop. 

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is not only a huge buzzword in education, but also with parents hoping to raise the next Steve Jobs. The term STEM has been around since 2003, but lately there's been a greater focus on education integration at an early age. Makerspaces are locations that foster the notions of STEM, where children and adults can build things, take risks, celebrate successes and failures, collaborate and most of all, have fun! Check out these great Makerspace locations. From 3D printers to sewing machines and software, each of these destinations is stocked with high-tech equipment that will help you and your kids turn ideas into reality. 

I'll never forget the year I tried to do an ice-skating birthday party on the cheap by taking a bunch of kids to the rink at Bryant Park and then herding them over to a diner afterward for dessert. If I had known we could have a regular ice skating party for less than $350 I probably wouldn't have this nervous tic whenever I hear a Zamboni.

Read on for the real deals on ice skating parties all over New York City. We've even dug up all the hidden fees you might not have calculated so you can truly compare the costs at these seven ice skating rinks.