Chancellor's Day Fun: Things to Do with Kids on June 5 When NYC Public Schools Are Closed

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Every first Thursday of June, New York City public school students have the day off for Chancellor's Conference Day. What's that you ask? Well originally it was known as Brooklyn-Queens Day, an obscure religious holiday most folks knew little about that was only observed in those boroughs. But somewhere along the line the name and meaning changed, and suddenly kids throughout NYC got a secular public school holiday.

If you're lucky enough to be able to take the day off with the kids, we have some ideas for how to make the most of it, from cool summer fun (that may get rained out unfortunately) to the kickoff of the public library's summer reading program. But if you've got to work on Thursday like the teachers (it's used as a school staff development day), there are a handful of drop-off holiday camps where your kids can have a blast while you do what you've got to do.

Art in the Park: Grounds for Sculpture and other Sculpture Parks in NJ

Submitted by Laura J on

Number 46 on our list of 100 Things To Do In New Jersey With Kids Before They Grow Up is the outdoor family gem, Grounds For Sculpture. The 42+ acre sculpture park and arts center is part museum, part open-air adventure and whether you're an art expert or novice, you will be enchanted from the get go. For a great summer day trip, check out our tips on GFS and other sweet art parks in the tristate area.

Folded Paper Chains Craft for Kids

Submitted by Amelia Eigerman on

For some reason certain crafts can be mesmerizing. I guess it's like knitting, you just keep going and going. Making these paper chains is one of those. Once you start it's just hard to stop.  It doesn't require any skills except for folding and tearing, and, if your house is anything like ours, you have tons of the materials lying around already.  We have stacks of magazines on just about every surface, just waiting to be put to use.  These simple paper chains are fun to make for all ages, so grab some paper and get folding!

Everything to Know About Beaches Turks and Caicos All-Inclusive Caribbean Resort

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Beaches invited me to the grand opening of the new Key West Village at their family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Turks and Caicos. We have reviewed the Beaches resort in Negril, Jamaica in the past. The Beaches resort in Turks and Caicos offers the same amenities as the Jamaica resorts, but it is a much larger resort with 19 restaurants, 5 main pools, and 12 miles of the most amazing pristine beach, spread out among 4 villages, including the newly opened Key West Village.

Here’s a breakdown of what you are going to love about a Beaches Turks and Caicos Caribbean vacation with your family, what you need to know if you want to go with little kids or teenagers, and and a few things that might bother you.

30 Things to Do in the Financial District with Kids: Museums, Parks, Public Art & Loads of History

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The Financial District is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods for families in NYC. Office buildings have been converted into condos and new buildings are sprouting up faster than Whac-A-Moles in Coney Island. Three excellent new elementary schools have been created in the area to accommodate the influx of children, and the blog Fidi Families keeps local parents up-to-date on the goings-on in the neighborhood. Although you still have to go to Tribeca or Battery Park City for most of the kid-friendly venues, the Financial District is rich in off-the-beaten-track museums, parks and a small but growing number of businesses that cater to families.

It’s hard to tell now with all the modern skyscrapers, but the Financial District is the oldest settled part of NYC and a great place to learn about our history. Every NYC kid should see where our first President was inaugurated, went to church and disbanded his troops, and realize that once upon a time the city ended at Wall Street. Even tourist hot spot the South Street Seaport is worth exploring thanks to its FREE family programs and Imagination Playground.

Almost every subway line goes to the Financial District, which makes it a super-convenient place to live or visit. This month, we're offering an in-depth look at everything the neighborhood has to offer families, including our favorite places to play, explore and experience with kids. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are Barclay and Frankfort Streets to the north, West Street to the west, and the East River to the east and south. We kick off our coverage with the top 30 spots to enjoy with kids in the Financial District.

5 Beaches to Hunt for Sea Glass in the Hamptons and North Fork

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Before the East End's waters warm up enough to jump in, the waves are already producing a little known treasure called sea glass, which comes in variety of glistening colors, from green to brown, purple and the elusive orange and red. Smooth-rounded sea glass, which is produced from empty glass containers rolling in the waves over many years, is not always easy to spot, which makes the family activity even more exciting--especially when a piece is finally found, big or small.

The Hamptons & North Fork of Long Island is a hot spot for sea glass, with shiny pieces able to be found dancing in the waves during low tide at most ocean beaches and even along the shoreline of the Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay. To help you family on its search for convicted sea glass, we've created a list of spots known for producing the sparkly treasure. And for more family-friendly activities in the are, be sure to check out our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide.

5 Things That Make This Week Different, June 2 - 6

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We hope you're enjoying our new weekday edition of the Mommy Poppins newsletter, now in its second week of sniffing out fun activities that go beyond the weekend.

This week starts a new month and the beginning of summer. School is wrapping up, but there's still plenty to do with the little ones while their siblings hunt for overdue textbooks and add finishing touches to their final homework assignments. It's a good time to catch up on culture. Many local museums offer free admission days the first week of the month. Be sure to check out The Page Museum, The Craft and Folk Art Museum, The Huntington, and The Natural History Museum. And if art isn't your thing, here are 5 more ways to make this week different:

1. Ford Jam - Monday
The Ford Theater on Cahuenga Blvd. has a free international music and movement jam session every Monday at 7pm this summer. Monday's interactive program features al fresco African dance and drumming. Your rhythmic rugrats will end the day on an upbeat beat.

2. LEGO Store Monthly Mini Model Build- Tuesday
A free opportunity for young master builders to make a mini model and take it home with them while supplies last. Session starts at 5pm. June features a cool jet ski. Ages 6-14.

Day Trip to The Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, CT

Submitted by Sherry Pardy on

We are generally NOT a family of outdoorsy folks.  Our idea of connecting with nature is bird/critter watching, in the woods surrounding our home, from the comfort and safety of our deck.  However, as my kids have gotten older, they've expressed more of an interest in "adventuring", as they call it, traversing through the woods, hiking, and the like.  Even though a fellow Mommy Poppins writer wrote about ziplining at Catamount, as a bona fide city gal myself, I've balked and defaulted much of these activities to my husband.  But, very recently, at the strong urging of my family, I found myself en route to The Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, CT, to enjoy a day of fun in the great outdoors.  I had no idea just what excitement, thrill and fun I was in for.  But I soon found out!

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