Play time is crucial to childhood development—it teaches children basic sensory functions, as well as how to interact and get along with the people around them. Playtime with a child with special needs can be tricky because most organized play spaces aren’t adaptive to the needs of some children. Luckily, Long Island has all kinds of play areas geared toward all children.

And for more kid-friendly activities, be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar.

Right about now, figuring out summer camp is at the top of most parents' minds. So we're happy to share some awesome deals on great NYC day camps like NYC is My Backyard, Wingspan Arts, the just-opened Brooklyn School of Rock and more.

Already have summer camp all planned out? (We're impressed!) We also have significant discounts on the upcoming Kidrockers concert and the family magic show The Amazing Max. If you see a bargain you can't pass up, act fast: Many of these deals will be gone before the first buds bloom.

We continue our month-long coverage of Mount Kisco with a look at kid-friendly eateries in the area. Walk along East Main Street and South Moger Avenue in Mount Kisco, and it is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of locally owned restaurants and eateries that this small townage has to offer. Have no fear, hungry reader! Mommy Poppins has sampled and snacked her way up and down these delicious thoroughfares and has compiled a list of the tastiest and most family-friendly places for your dining pleasure. From soups, pizza and pancakes to French, Indian, Ethiopian, Mexican, Asian and Greek specialties, we've found a meal for every appetite. 

New England is a place of weather extremes. In the span of a month, we witness cold and snowy blossom into balmy spring, and when summer has run its steamy course, autumn cools things down again. Whatever the weather, Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton is a fabulous destination for a fall day trip in Hartford County. The center offers indoor and outdoor activities, as well as a year-round calendar of activities and events. There is surely something for everyone, and there are few better ways to connect with each other than to connect with nature together.

When I was looking for a place to hold my son’s birthday party a few years ago, my sister recommended The Anderson Recreation Center in Rockville Centre. What a find! Not only did my little guy have an awesome party at a very affordable price, but I was amazed at all of the programs the Rec Center had for kids. Even better: You don’t need to be a resident to enjoy all it has to offer (although you will pay a bit more to use the facilities).  This sent me on a mission to find other kid-friendly centers around me in Nassau County.

And for more kid-friendly activities, check out our Long Island Events Calendar.