It was a dark and stormy night when wanderlust got the better of my son's bear Rusty. We were driving home from Northern California, but the bear decided to extend his stay. Grandma was able to recover and return Rusty the next day, and we kept my son's blues at bay by imagining the fluffy rogue’s exploits. (To this day Rusty has never satisfactorily accounted for all of his time away.) This week intrepid bears are offered a similar adventure at the Santa Monica Public Library. Tykes are invited to put on their jammies and bring their teddies down for story time—but when it's time to go, the plush pals stay behind for a sleepover. Kids pick them up the next day, along with a memento of their friends' nocturnal adventures.

Kids with special needs and their families have some fun options this week, from Pretend City’s monthly Family Autism event to Seeds2Sprouts’ Winter Wonderland at the Westside Pavilion to an AMC sensory friendly screening of Ride Along 2 for teens with autism.

But the biggest news? The most expensive grocery store in the “Whole” world is giving away free bags of samples and advice on entertaining at the soon to open Brea store.

Looks like winter has finally arrived, with a vengeance. Once you're thawed out, bring stir-crazy little ones to indoor storytimes this week, which are popping up in all kinds of settings; just make sure to call ahead for early week events to make sure they're still happening! Stop over at Bouncy Booktime at a library, Mommy & Me Storytime at a bookstore, Uptown Story Time at a museum and Alpaca Story Hour at a farm. Tweens and teens get in on the fun this week as well, at Funplex Scout Night and Teen Lock-In. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

As we shovel the snow from the Blizzard of 2016, it is time to focus on the week ahead. Since many Philly families were cooped up inside over the weekend, both parent and child are ready to get out. Thankfully, our Events Calendar can provide many options for the week.

Explore Morris Arboretum's Tu B'Shevat program, make a craft with Chester County Arts Association at Exton Mall's Mommy and Me, enjoy a winter walk at Briar Bush Nature Center's Magic Mornings, or listen to a Book in the Nook at Delaware Museum of Natural History. Be sure to check out indoor play spaces in Philly, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, as they can provide a much-needed escape from home this time of year.

Stay connect to Mommy Poppins Philly on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Enjoy the week ahead!

This week, there's lots going on at many of Long Island's libraries. Learn about groundhogs, get dirty with some sensory crafts and read about dinos. You can also get in touch with nature in Oakdale, as well as enjoy music and stories in Port Washington.

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.

Indoor rock climbing gyms offer physical and mental challenges for kids and adults alike. There are several indoor rock climbing locations around Boston that cater to children through specialized classes and birthday parties—sanity-savers for parents when the kids are starting to climb the walls at home. 

Winter weather is finally upon us, but that doesn’t stop the fun for families in Westchester! Below are our top picks for each weekday to help keep your kids occupied and enriched.

The novel opportunities that await include folding fun at Super Hero Origami, domestic STEAM at Science Around the House and a party for puzzles at National Puzzle Day for Kids. Best of all—all of our top picks this week are FREE!

If you continue on to our Event Calendar, you’ll find even more diverse offerings, so read on and head straight there! 

Smugglers' Notch Resort is one of my family's favorite places to ski in Vermont, and like many other families in the Northeast, we find ourselves returning year after year to hit the slopes. However, we vacationed here last summer and discovered it's also a great year-round destination. We will be visiting again this February during our extended family ski trip, but another summer trip to Smugglers' Notch Resort is awfully tempting, too.

With outdoor adventures and special activities, each season at Smugglers' Notch has its own individual charm. The resort reinvents itself throughout the year, offering families distinct and unique recreation options to make the most of a mountain vacation. 

Lacrosse has long been a fun option for kids but—unlike certain activities like soccer—not every town has its own league. Thankfully for lax-loving kids, there are several facilities in Westchester that offer camps or classes where kids can learn and have fun, as well as several private leagues that operate in various locations around the area. 

We’ve rounded up some of these options for kids to play lacrosse that extend beyond town rec leagues. Looking for other types of classes for kids, sports or otherwise? Consult our Classes Guide, check out our Camp Directory and sign up for our FREE newsletters to stay up to date.