Raise your hand if, like me, you prefer to host your kids' birthday party somewhere other than your own home.  I see I'm not alone!  For us, it's difficult enough to keep our home neat and tidy, let alone with a gaggle of energetic, excited partygoers, on top of of our usual brood.  So, when it comes to birthday party planning, and since our twins' birthday falls smack in the middle of the dog days of summer, we opt for indoor spots with plenty of AC!  We've compiled a great list of ideas to begin planning your fun, kids birthday party in Southern Litchfield County. For even more great party ideas check out our Party Guide.

As parents, we do a fair amount of shopping for our kids, always in search of a good bargain for ever-growing bodies. Personally, I love hitting children's consignment shops and thrift stores. Besides being a great way to find inexpensive clothes and baby gear, it's fun to stumble across unique items you would never see at a big chain store. Consignment shops are also excellent spots for buying staples like bed rails that you use for a little while and then need to pass on.

Unfortunately, due to listservs like FreeCycle and Craigslist, there aren't as many children's resale shops in New York City as there used to be. But we found five secondhand stores where you can buy (or sell!) kids' clothing, gear and even toys.

Nothing gets me thinking about summer like the approach of spring break. With a little help from Mommy Poppins, a week or two can fly by. There is always so much to do in our fair city, and sometimes it’s nice to have kids home to take advantage of the bounty of life in Los Angeles. That said, sometimes it's nice to have spring break camp.

Whether you're doing a staycation, camp, or a combination of the two, this week holds plenty of options. If Cinderella, the movie, was a hit with your family, you may want to catch the musical at the Ahmanson. Malibu has Easter covered for all ages with daytime activities for the kids and a glow-in-the dark egg hunt at night for teens. Read on for more ways to enjoy the week.

Despite a few weather hiccups, spring is finally here! Get up close with nature this first week of the season at Great Swamp’s Preschool Walk and Family Science Day at the Pyramid Mountain Visitors Center. Or put away the wallet and hit all the free library events going on, like Maker Day, Bob Conrad Magic & Puppets, Snakes Alive and more. Don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more activity options.

Spring is in the air, and while we patiently wait for warmer weather to arrive, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep the kids occupied until we can get outside for some fun in the sun. From making paper flowers to a pizza party, here are our top event picks for families this week. 

And keep in mind that this list is just our top picks--be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar regularly as it is always being updated. And to receive this post right into your inbox, sign up for our newsletter, which is now going out twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays).