5 Yoga Classes for Kids in the Hamptons & North Fork

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We all need to take a moment now and again for a deep stretch and some relaxed breathing--and kids are no different. Yoga is a great activity for children and teens because they can get in better touch with their bodies through breathing, balance and destressing. Yoga also teaches them about being healthy and taking care of themselves (a lesson we all can benefit from, right?)

Here are 5 studios that offer yoga classes for children. And for more kid-friendly activities on the East End, check out our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide.

Alley Pond Park in Queens: An Environmental Center, An Adventure Course with a Zip Line & Other Fun Things to with Kids

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At just over 635 acres, Alley Pond Park is Queens' second-largest green space behind Flushing Meadows Corona Park. While there are plenty of traditional urban park attractions, including three playgrounds and a slew of sports fields, what sets Alley Pond Park apart is its natural wonders like forests, meadows and wetlands, and its Adventure Course, featuring the largest public high ropes challenge in the entire Northeast.

Separated into three distinct sections thanks to highways crisscrossing its expanse, Alley Pond Park has an Environmental Center in its northern section and a Sports Center in its southern area. In between, nature trails (the oldest in NYC) invite visitors to explore the verdant environment dotted with wildlife, especially a wide variety of birds. With so much to do and see, Alley Pond Park makes for a perfect daycation. I've been coming here since I was a kid and I find something new to me on every visit. Here are the top 10 things to do with kids in Alley Pond Park.

Our Summer of Play: The Ways We Played & Ideas for a Summer of Play Bash

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Here at Mommy Poppins, we enjoyed spending quality time with our kids during our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE, and we're thrilled that it resonated with our readers, too. Hundred of parents from across the country shared photos of their playtime adventures with us on social media. We loved seeing so many pics inspired by the ideas in our SUMMER OF PLAY GUIDE; some folks transformed old cardboard boxes into really nifty playtime items, like the cool plane in our photo gallery. Other families played dress-up, fashioned and flew kites, made a mess and buried each other in the sand. We also saw some ideas we're going to have to try next year, like sticking snowballs in our freezers in the winter and then breaking them out on a hot summer day (our NYC editor Raven thought of that one, but it takes advance planning). Click through the pics above to see some of our favorite SUMMER OF PLAY moments. You can see all of the awesome photos submitted throughout the season on our Facebook page.

Food and Fun: NJ Restaurants with "Kids' Night" Entertainment and Events

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Dining out should be a enjoyable, bonding experience for the family. However, kids and restaurants don’t always mix. Waiting for food or sitting still at the table can be a challenge for little ones. When crayons just don’t cut it, bring the gang to one of these family-friendly favorites on their scheduled “kid’s night”. From magicians to characters to balloon animals, the following restaurants offer fun entertainment and events for kids during the week. Also, check out restaurants that offer Kids Eat Free specials.

This Week's Picks: Movies, Music, & Downtown Exploration August 18 – 22

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Summer is winding down, but there is still time to play and still plenty to do. This week, enjoy crafts, concerts, and cinema for all ages. Native Angelenos may not realize it, but we are living in a brand new city. Los Angeles now has public transportation! A train trip with the little ones is always fun, but it’s also great to send teenagers on a grand rail adventure of their own. Better yet, park at one of the stations Friday night, and the whole family can head Downtown, where there are many cool things to do this week.

Dutchess County Fair & Other Fun New York State Fairs Including Three in NYC

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Summer is quickly coming to a close, but you still have time for a few last flings. How about hitting a fun-filled county fair or country festival? There are lots of fantastic annual fests at this time of year, like the Dutchess County Fair, the Columbia County Fair and the New York State Fair, many a short drive (or train or bus ride) from New York City and Westchester. There are even three county fairs right in NYC!

These fairs let kids get face time with farm animals like chickens, goats, pigs and cows; hop on cool carnival rides; groove to live music; and enjoy other entertainment and activities. They're good old-fashioned fun for the whole family, and the perfect way to say goodbye to the season. Here are 10 county fairs and festivals near or in New York City.

Summer Daytrip to Monroe, CT

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Monroe is a quiet, little outpost north of Bridgeport on the way to Danbury, with the obligatory (and lovely) town green/gazebo this state is known for.  But that old town center is now a long way into town from the highway — most of Monroe's hustle and bustle these days is along one of two corridors — route 25 or route 111 (Monroe Turnpike), near the Trumbull line.  That being said, there are a couple of outdoor gems off the beaten path that make a trek out from lower Fairfield County worth the time spent getting there, whether your kiddos are tiny or teens.

Introducing Our Westchester Kids' Classes Guide

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As hard as it may be for some of us to believe, Back to School is just around the corner. Part of getting ready for the new school year (in addition to shopping), is trying to decide what extracurricular classes you kids will take this year. If your kids are anything like mine, they've got a mile-long list of classes they simply MUST take. After narrowing the list down to a workable number, there's still the question of  where to take classes. That's where we come in. We've designed a Westchester Kids Classes Guide, filled with reviews and roundups of different classes throughout the county, to help you find just what you and your kids are looking for. We've also launched a brand new Class Directory where you can browse programs by location, category and age range.

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