This year almost 200,000 kids in New York State chose to opt out of the standardized state tests for grades 3 through 8. That’s a whopping 15% and almost four times the number that opted out last year. The growing dissent over the Common Core and high-stakes testing has been visible in article after article citing despicable practices, product placement and age-inappropriate questions. While I think most parents are in favor of high standards for kids, there’s obviously a lot of frustration with how the Common Core is being implemented, and it raises the question of what our standards really are.

Of all the articles bouncing around the Internet these days about the Common Core and standardized testing, two particularly caught my attention. One describes the standard expectations for a first grader in 1979; the second shares math problems from a first grade Common Core curriculum today. The difference is striking and astonishing, and will really make you rethink the educational road we've gone down since we were little.

Walking in LA? Don't believe the song—people really do walk in LA. And if CicLAvia is one of your family's favorite events, then The Big Parade (Saturday, May 2-Sunday, May 3, 2015) is something worth checking out. The Big Parade is not a race—it is about exploring, learning, and celebrating everything our city has to offer. And, with The Big Parade, no one is ever left behind.

A few days ago, my family and I visited Hubbard Park in Meriden for the first time. I am embarrassed to admit that it took almost 14 years of living in Connecticut to discover this state treasure, but, as the saying goes, better late than never. Charles Dickens observed that, "nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own," and without a doubt, this beauty is magnified at Hubbard Park. Here’s how we occupied half a day, and what you can expect when you visit this New Haven County gem.

Outdoor fun, plus lots of cool kids' culture makes for a packed week of awesome activities. There's even a global food crawl—no plane tickets necessary! 

Festivities for the Tribeca Film Festival continue with the Family Street Fair and ESPN Sports Day happening this Saturday. Kids can also celebrate the arts with the WBGO Kids Jazz Concert in nearby New Jersey, or take a day trip to Planting Fields in Long Island for its Arbor Day Family Festival, complete with live shows and a petting zoo. You'll also find live animals, along with other surprises, at A Night at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven. Other fun includes Tarrytown Music Hall's semi-annual family fest with circus workshops, music, arts and crafts.

Planning your next family vacation? Our Travel site has details on the best things to do with kids in Houston, Texas, as well as an historic adventure in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Could life really get any better than it is in Fairfield County? We think so! There's always something new to learn, no matter how long you've lived in a place. If you've already scoured our Museums Guide, our Classes Guide and our Indoor Play Guide but still want more, well, we've got it. Here are 10 tricks for parenting wisely and well in this neck of the woods. And if you're Yoda enough to know all of these already, please share a few of your secrets!

When we moved to Peekskill in 2006, only three places on the following list even existed! So to say that Peekskill has experienced a restaurant boom in the past decade is an understatement. There is a restaurant for nearly every palate, and many of them are extremely family-friendly.

As we continue our focus on Peekskill this month, we’ve rounded up some of the best family dining the city has to offer. Our list includes a range of culinary options, traditional kid-pleasers to more exotic fare, long-time local favorites to new-on-the-block eateries worth checking out. Read on to find out where to dine with kids in Peekskill.

Science, Earth Day; Earth Day, science. One follows the other, but which came first? Did someone say, "Science rocks! Let's apply it to the Earth!" Or was it, "The Earth is so cool; I wonder what the science behind it is?"

Either way, there are going to be a lot of inspired kids this weekend. Inspired to be primatologists and engineers, chefs and yogis, artists and opera singers. Kids will be running away to join the circus and skating off to Pixie Hollow.

It looks like it's going to be one big party in LA this weekend. Or maybe a bunch of little ones. Or maybe some smaller ones and then a supersize, I-didn't-know-there-were-that-many-people-here party. All I know is: it's gonna be super fun.

Keep reading for the most earthy events this weekend... scientifically proven!