It's the perfect time of year to lace up those skates and hit the ice. New Jersey is home to some great outdoor ice rinks as well as plenty of indoor skating arenas. If your kids are dreaming of becoming Olympic figure skaters or professional hockey players, you might be thinking of signing them up for skating lessons. We've found some great skating programs across the state that will have your kids going for the gold, or at least not falling down as much. From Mommy and Me classes to advanced figure skating and hockey lessons, your kids will be ready to compete, or just show off, in no time.

So "summer camp" means being outdoors, right? But maybe your kid would rather dance, bounce, create, or paint in lovely, reliable air-conditioning. These indoor summer camps are big on creativity, fitness, and fun—and easy on your wallet—so maybe you can save the swimming and horseback riding for another summer. To find more New Jersey summer camps, be sure to check out our Camp Guide and Full Directory of Listings. 

Planning a birthday party is no easy task these days.  From choosing a theme to finding a venue, the checklist seems endless.  One way to lighten the load is by finding a great bakery to customize the cake.  Cakes and cupcakes have become the centerpiece of most parties.  If you really want to make your guests smile, a fun, tasty cake is the way to do it.  Whether you are looking for that perfect themed cake, or some outstanding cupcakes, we've got you covered.  Check out our list of great bakeries in Central NJ.  For even more information on throwing the perfect party, check out our NJ Kid's Birthday Party Ideas Guide.

Playing pool isn't just a pastime for hipster barflies. Kids love it, too—just without the copious amounts of alcohol and ironic retro mustaches. In New York City, there are lots of places to play pool besides the backroom at your local watering hole. Like NYC bowling alleys, most NYC pool halls welcome minors during daytime hours as long as they're supervised. But to find the truly kid-friendly billiards spots, we turned to the experts: local parents who've actually been there. Here are five pool halls in Brooklyn and Manhattan endorsed by NYC families.

Whether you're a mom, a dad, a guardian, or a babysitter, one thing's for certain--it can be hard to meet other caretakers in a comfortable social setting. Suddenly, you turn shy and wonder if you're saying the wrong things; it feels like high school all over again! I've been there. When my daughter was born, I hesitated to make new mom friends because I was scared they'd judge me. I ended up meeting some wonderful local parents, and you will too! Below is a helpful listing of parenting groups for all new and not-so-new parents out there in New Jersey.

The northernmost county of the Jersey Shore, Monmouth County is home to more than 50 miles of beautiful ocean and bay beaches, including Long Branch, Sandy Hook, and Asbury Park, plus sprawling parks and woodlands, fantastic restaurants, unique coastal culture and much more. It is the perfect place for New Jersey kids and families to have fun—year-round! Here are some of our top picks to get you started with exploring this great county. And for even more shore fun, check out our Jersey Shore Family Guide.

The winter months can be a challenging time for parents. Keeping your kids busy when it’s too cold to play outdoors is never an easy feat. To help you out, we’ve rounded up 10 great indoor spots in Bergen County to bounce around, create art, play mini golf or make a museum visit—there are plenty of options to keep them entertained (and ensure your sanity). And check out our Indoor Play Spaces articles for Hudson County and Essex County!

Our family pretty much steers clear of New Jersey shopping malls from November through early January; we treat any holiday excursions like military missions, get in, get the job done and get out! But once the holiday shopping is over, I visit the malls with my husband and daughter again, where we enjoy leisurely browsing, relaxing late lunches, and even hop on a carousel or two. So load up the SUV, get out of the cold and gear up for an outing at these family-friendly New Jersey malls.