There may not exactly be flowers blooming and birds chirping just yet, but lo and behold, spring events are starting to pop up on our radar! Get an early start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with festive parades in Seaside Heights and Asbury Park. Or take the kids to learn about the first signs of spring through nature with the Reptiles program at the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, a Toddler Hike at Manasquan Reservoir or a Discovery Saturday at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum, all about the first flowers of the season. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

When I was looking for a karate school for my (then) four year-old son, I made a point of looking at smaller businesses where I was hoping he'd get more personal attention. One year later, he's an orange belt and learning more than just how to do a mean back kick. Whether it's discovering how to handle bullies, improve fine and gross motor skills, or making sure your child is getting enough exercise each week, studying karate can benefit kids in many ways.

Here, a list of some of Nassau's best dojos where your child can start to study karate or Taekwondo. And be sure to check out our Inside Activity Guide for more indoor sports and events that kids can enjoy year-round.

Last fall, we asked our readers to take a short survey and share their thoughts about how to improve our Summer Camp Guide. Overwhelmingly, we heard that you wanted a combination of our editorial recommendations, plus the ability to search listings and find recommendations from other parents.

So we're happy to debut our newly updated Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, now featuring an improved search, parent reviews and star ratings, and other enhancements. Even better: Our overhauled Directory isn't just for camps. We have listings for party places and services, enriching classes, indoor play spaces and special needs services, too.

Read on to find out more or head straight to our Day Camp Guide, Sleepaway Camp Guide and Directory to browse the listings and leave reviews for your favorite programs.

Last week we updated our roundup of drop-in indoor play spaces in Brooklyn and would you believe one of our readers just told us about a brand-new one? (One of the many reasons we love our in-the-know fans.) Plus, we've got the scoop on FREE theater classes for kids in Harlem, the return of a pop-up repair place that fixes toys, an app that helps you locate Girl Scout Cookies and a new Greenpoint furniture shop where you can finally buy that Rubik's Cube coffee table you never knew you wanted.

I always enjoyed live theatrical performances as a child and am so grateful my parents took the time to take me to various productions—from the circus to community theater. Now, as an adult and a mom, I’m excited to share the power of performance with my daughter—seeing family-friendly shows is a great way for loved ones to bond over the arts. Here’s a list of March 2014 live shows the family can appreciate and enjoy these next few weeks.