5 Museums and Classes Where Long Island Kids can get Scientific

There's no denying how important science is to a child's overall education. In fact, excelling in this subject has been proven to help kids excel in other subjects in school, including math, reading and language. So if you have a budding little scientist on your hands, this is an interest you definitely want to help them explore. Luckily, there happens to be a few places right here on Long Island that cater to students that want to stretch their scientific brain muscles outside of school. The entire family can even join in and experience hands-on experiments and science learning at these five places.

And for other enrichment programs, be sure to check out our Long Island Classes Guide.

Sweet Shops in Fairfield County for Valentine's Day and Beyond

Valentines Schmalentines. My kids don't need any excuse to visit a candy shop any time of year, but with Valentine's Day coming up this weekend, they are only too thrilled to "research" the surprisingly large collection of candy boutiques scattered across Fairfield County.  Many of the sweet shops here include bulk "classic" candy options such as Pop Rocks and Pixie Sticks, which can be especially handy for classroom Valentine celebrations and are great peanut-free alternatives not commonly found in the drugstore candy aisle.  A few of the shops offer quite pricey merchandise that is fun to sample for a special parent-child outing but that will not strike quite the right note in the classroom Valentine exchange.

Enjoy this sampling of some of the sweetest places around!

Quick! Book Your IDNYC Appointment at a New Enrollment Center Before They’re All Gone

When the IDNYC cards debuted last month, there was a lot of excitement. In fact, so many people wanted the FREE municipal identification cards, the city couldn’t handle the demand. A website was launched for booking application appointments online, but it had glitches, and soon slots through the summer were all filled up. But this week, the city opened new enrollment centers, which means suddenly appointments are available—but don’t hesitate! I was just able to snag a slot for the end of March, but these new appointments will likely book up fast. Click over to nyc.gov to make an appointment now, and then come back and read our tips and answers to frequently asked questions about IDNYC.

Minecraft Madness in New Jersey

If you have kids in the 7-18 age range, I'll bet you've heard of Minecraft. When I asked my daughter to define it, she said, "Mom, it's basically a game about placing blocks to build anything your brain can imagine." I was not sold right off the bat, but as she played, I saw that there could be educational benefits--as long as parents set playing guidelines. Here are some great classes, clubs and camps that will get you revved up for Minecraft Madness in New Jersey.

Weekday Event Picks for NJ Kids Feb 9-13: Valentine Cookies, The Frosty Ball & More!

It’s Valentine’s week! With all the ice and snow in New Jersey, maybe you’re not feeling the love for this time of year. When you check out all the great events going on this week, we think you’ll warm up to the season. Rejoice in everything Valentine at Shore Cake Supplies’ Valentine’s Day Cooking Class and The Bounce Factory’s Toddler Valentine’s Day Party. It’s a week for musical fun at Mini Music Mondays at Maxwells and a performance of The Rainbow Fish at Mayo Performing Arts Center. And don’t forget to check out our event calendar for even more weekday and weekend events.

Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Friday the 13th, Barks, Books, & Valentines, February 9-13

Oh the drama! What dark circumstances will emerge on Friday the 13th? Remember when you were a kid and waited all day for something bad to happen? In my house, as there’s a birthday involved, it will be a day of celebration; we are not anticipating disaster or distress. If you don’t have the distraction of a birthday, divert their attention from the day’s bad mojo by checking out our events calendar. There are many cool ways to sit out this evil day. Thursday the 12th is pretty great. It’s impossible to pick just one thing when two of the options are Mo Willems and Antique Sewing Machines.

Pages