Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Sept 6-7: Monarch Festival, Dog Water Park, Apple Breakfast & More!

The start of September can feel like a whirlwind of school, classes and adjusting to new schedules, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. The weather is still warm, so why not take a break and see what Jersey has in store for this weekend? The month is full of great festivals so check out the Asbury Park Oysterfest down the shore, stuff yourself silly with moussaka at St. Demetrios Greek Festival or learn about butterflies at Pyramid Mountain’s Monarch Festival. You can also get muddy with a Pond Study class at Liberty State Park, take your pooch to the canine friendly end-of-season event at Morey’s Pier Water Park or celebrate the High Holidays early with the family as you taste apples and hear the Shofar at Liberty Science Center. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Not Home Alone: What Age and How to Prepare Your Child to Travel Alone in the City

With all the press about the mom who got arrested for leaving her nine-year-old child unattended in a park, and the resulting outrage, it’s raised the question across the country: What's an appropriate amount of freedom for kids, and what is not? Growing up in NYC in the '70s, my friends and I played outside and roamed around independently from an early age even though the city, in general, was not as safe as it is now. We learned street smarts and independence that, undoubtedly, spilled over into other areas of our lives.

For many reasons, parenting seems different today. There's a lot more pressure to constantly supervise children, even older kids. It can be hard to imagine that our "babies" will ever be ready to go out into the wide world alone. But with the start of a new school year, the reality is that many children will begin traveling on their own or with a group of friends. With my kids—a teenager who is fully independent and a tween who is just learning to navigate the city on his own—I've modified the '70s-style hands-off approach to include today's more safety consciousness to develop a training course my kids must complete before being allowed out on their own.

Here's how I taught my own kids to be street smart city kids from an early age:

News: Luna Park Discount for Good Grades, Nature Opportunities for City Teens, Cool Water Tower Art, Autism-Friendly Theater

The big news for many NYC families this week is, of course, the first day of school for more than 1 million public school students. But as you ease back into your old routine, we've got some fun news for you, like FREE rides at Coney Island's Luna Park, eye-popping art in unexpected places (you'll need to look up) and nature volunteering opportunities for teens. Plus, we've got the scoop on a handful of notable openings and closing on the NYC family scene, and a few other tidbits.

Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Kids: DIY on a Dime in No Time

Halloween is almost here, and my kids don’t have costumes. It’s not unusual for us to wait until a week before Halloween to put something together, but this is cutting it a little close, even for us. I searched the web for the best costumes that are easy to put together quickly and use things we probably already have around the house. I was also inspired to come up with a couple of ideas of my own. Here are 9 last-minute Halloween costumes for kids that can be made in no time and on a dime (OK, maybe a few dollars, max).

If you're also looking for quick and easy Halloween decor ideas or just need a fun mask, check out DIY Halloween 101

Pumpkins, and Carving, and Scarecrows- Oh My!

Because I have never been a big Halloween fan, our house has minimal Halloween decorations.  By minimal, I mean that we currently have 3 small, uncarved pumpkins adorning our front porch.  But this year, my kids have brought on the Halloween pressure.  In fact, they’ve started a “best decorated Halloween house” contest with the kids in the neighborhood.  We are losing.  By a lot.

So clearly I need to step up our décor game with the basics: scarecrows and jack-o-lanters!  Fairfield County offers plenty of design inspiration for those who are not skilled in the pumpkin and scarecrow arts. So roll up those sleeves, its time to get covered in pumpkin slime and scarecrow innards! 

Long Island Day Trip: 5 Things to Do at Orient Beach

There's plenty to do and see on this island of ours, and just because summer has come to an end, the weather is still nice enough for a little day trip to the end of Long Island. No, we're not talking about Montauk. Orient Beach State Park is located on the eastern tip of the North Fork of Long Island and boasts sweeping views of Gardiner's Bay. From beach to boats, this park offers up day-long adventures and fun for the entire family. If you already have an Empire Pass, entry is free, otherwise there's a vehicle use fee. The park opens at 8am for you early risers.

For more fun day trips, check out our Day Trip to Greenport post for a must-do list. In addition, peruse our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide for more ideas on how to enjoy life on the East End.

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