A few weeks ago I let my daughter bring a pair of binoculars on our weekly hike. She is not always the most enthusiastic hiker so I was pleasantly surprised when she immediately perked up. The next week I picked up a birding book and she started checking off all of the different birds we saw. Turns out, bird watching can instill a real appreciation of nature in children. New Jersey's wide variety of distinct habitats and location on the Atlantic Flyway make it a great place for bird watchers to enjoy over 400 different species of birds. Kids naturally gravitate toward nature when given the chance, so give them a pair of binoculars and open their eyes to the wonders of birding at one of these great birding spots and sanctuaries. For more outdoor fun, check out our post on family friendly hikes in Central New Jersey.

This weekend you can honor the men and women who have lost their lives in military service to their country by visiting the Garden of Flags on the Boston Common or doing patriotic crafts at the USS Constitution (for more ideas, take a look at our Memorial Day events roundup). Several new exhibits open this weekend at area museums, including the summer Play on the Plaza and Tree Canopy Walkway at the Ecotarium in Worcester and the 2theXtreme Math Alive! and Grossology exhibits at the Museum of Science. LEGOLAND also opens its doors this weekend. Music lovers have a lot to celebrate this weekend: The Boston Calling Music Festival returns to City Hall Plaza, Alastair Moock sings at the JFK library, and families get together for a Pete Seeger Sing-a-long to raise money for Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders.  As always, check out our full event calendar for even more ideas.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

• Anna gives us the scoop on the Bing in the Classroom and Bing Rewards programs.
• The Appalachian Mountain Club shares Four Up-Close Animal Encounters in New England.
• Stephanie gives instructions for Marble Painting with your Preschooler as part of our Wee-Work series. To get Wee-Work activities in your inbox, click here.

Enjoy your weekend!

Cooking is a favorite pastime in our house, so my daughter has been in the kitchen since day the day she came home--first in a sling, then in a bouncy seat and, eventually, on a stepstool at the kitchen counter. I’d like to say she’s willing taste everything she cooks, but she’s willing to at least touch it.

Whether your kids are just getting started on their culinary adventures or ready to step out of the home kitchen and work with the professionals, Mommy Poppins has you covered. Westchester County is chock full of classes for the littlest helpers, seasoned sous chefs and talented teens.

Looking for more fun ideas? Check out our Spring Activity Guide. 

After this long, harsh, Connecticut winter, what a relief to glimpse the calendar and see Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff of summer, finally right around the corner!  While you might feel like it crept up on you, and you're wondering what to do with the kiddos over the three day holiday, never fear!  We here at Mommy Poppins have the state covered and have a round up of all the best parades, events, festivals and family fun for Memorial Day 2014!

First on most to-do lists is taking in a good Memorial Day parade, and there are no shortage over the holiday weekend.  On Sunday, Ledyard, Rowayton, and Monroe, all honor fallen heroes with their parades.  Monday is the big parade day, and you can pick from East Lyme/Niantic,  Darien, and Wilton.  Be sure to check our calendar for the full round up of parades and step off times.

After the parades, or instead of one, there are plenty of other family friendly activities to take in all weekend long:

We may live in a concrete jungle but there are still plenty of great ways to connect with nature in New York City. And with the renewed interest in waterfront access in NYC, it's easier than ever to get out on the water to row, canoe and kayak during the summer months.

As part of our ongoing commitment to highlighting interesting nature outings for families in NYC, Mommy Poppins is proud to launch a series of guest posts by the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Kids Outdoors New York City. Kids Outdoors is a FREE online community for families filled with ideas on outdoor activities in the NYC area and expert advice on how to get started. Our first post is by Cheryl and William de Jong-Lambert, Outdoors with Kids New York City authors and local parents. They took their children, ages 7 and 10, kayaking in NYC for the first time and shared their experience and important tips for families. They've got the scoop on the best places to go kayaking with kids for FREE in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

Local mom and “Outdoors with Kids Boston” guidebook author, Kim Foley MacKinnon, shares her best family outing tips and picks with you as part of our guest blog series with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Kids Outdoors Boston free online community.

There are plenty of zoos and nature centers in New England where families can get acquainted with a variety of animals, from farm animals to native species, but often there’s a “look, but don’t touch” policy in place (for obvious reasons). Here are four spots we’ve found where that isn't the policy at all. Kids will be delighted with these hands-on experiences.