When the weather gets colder, one of the things my kids and I love best is to curl up indoors with a good book. As long as the snow steers clear, this weekend boasts some great events that can get book-lovers out of the house, featuring everything from pancakes to musical storytelling to a new fairy tale exhibit.

For more outdoorsy types, it might be the perfect weekend to indulge in a wintertime walk followed by a tasty hot chocolate—yum! Other outdoor activities this weekend have definitely gone to the birds: Families can go on a Full Moon Owl Prowl or catch an eye-popping Wingmasters show. Finally, some really cool cultural events rounding out the calendar include performances by Shen Yun and a celebration of O-shogatsu! (pictured).

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Summer might feel forever away, but now's the time to go camp shopping, and these camp fairs can help you choose.
• For some STEM fun, check out these local Maker spaces.
• Little yogis and their parents will love our list of yoga classes and birthday parties for kids. 

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the full Event Calendar!

Important Note: Because of the snowstorm, many of these programs may have been canceled or postponed. Please check with the location before you head out! 

Winter weather in Westchester can bring out the homebody in all of us. But for when you need to get out of the house and embrace the fun that awaits, Mommy Poppins keeps our Event Calendar well-populated with family activities. Below are our top picks for this weekend.

In addition to two cooking classes and several nature programs—among them, the chance to learn about our Backyard Birds—the gamut of activities includes the return of the annual Toy and Train Show and the NY International Children's Film Festival: Best of the Fest. Take a spin at the African Dance Class, or see if you’re the next Bobby Fischer at Take on the Teen Chess Master (as he takes on a remarkable number of opponents at the same time).

So bundle up and have fun! In the event of a significant snowfall, do check with any venue you plan to visit to confirm their plans are unaltered. Be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters to get all our latest news, roundups and in-depth reviews delivered straight to your inbox. Tell a friend!

When my kids were infants, instead of coaxing them to sleep with lullabies, I used to play show tunes so as they've gotten older, it's really no surprise that some of their favorite leisure activities involve singing and dancing. There are lots of options in Fairfield County for kids of all ages and abilities who are interested in the musical arts…these are some of our favorites:

Families are flocking to Curiosity on Court, the new indoor play space that just opened in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. And for good reason. With custom play structures and exhibits, open-play hours, weekend hours, date nights and birthday party packages, Curiosity on Court is a great addition to the recent spate of indoor play spaces opening up in Brooklyn.  

Read on for our parent review of this new kid hot spot.

Whether you’re in need of a date night, or your kids just want some evening fun, there are many places in the Lower Hudson Valley that host Kid or Teen Nights. Great for some solo adult time, these places offer either drop-in (no parents or pre-registration required) or drop-off play (parents not required but pre-registration may be). Some of these facilities have irregular program dates, so contact the location for the most recent schedule. 

Looking for places that offer drop-in and drop-off play in Westchester? We have you covered. Be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters to keep up to date with all of the best places to play in the area. 

Don't let the cold weather keep you indoors for months. Bundle up the kids and head outside to explore Long Island. From nature hikes to seal cruises, our area has many outdoor offerings--even in the winter. And for more activities, be sure to check out our Long Island events calendar.

The frigid air has finally arrived in New Jersey and you’ve got two choices – stay inside or play outdoors! For some outdoor winter adventure, bundle up and check out a Maple Sugaring Demo or Weekend Family Walk at Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center or bring your binoculars along for a Winter Waterfowl Walk at Liberty State Park. And if you’d rather be warm & toasty indoors, we’ve got you covered there too! Head to the Monmouth County Library for A Frozen Adventure in Music, Dance & Story, take the kiddos to see the latest Milk & Cookies interactive story time “One-Man Band” or get your tickets for Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For additional activity options, check out our Event Calendar.

If you are a family of die-hard Star Wars fans, then you've obviously already seen The Force Awakens (probably multiple times) and have no need of an outside opinion. But what about the rest of us? What about parents who like Star Wars movies (or at least 20th century Star Wars movies) but didn't feel driven to join the throngs in seeing the new one opening weekend? What about those of us who take a PG-13 rating to heart, and wonder whether this is a movie to see with kids? And, if you do want to see it as a family, is it really so special seeing it at El Capitan? I'll take a vow of no spoilers and answer all of these questions.