As fall approaches and the days start to get shorter, it is time to start thinking about enrolling babies and toddlers in classes. Mommy & Me classes are a great way to get out of the house on a rainy day, plus the classes give parents and children an opportunity to socialize and learn. From swimming to the arts, there are a number of options available on the North Fork. Looking for a class elsewhere on Long Island? Check out our After School Programs, Classes, and Activities Guide. 

Mommy Poppins Westchester is growing, and we're looking for a freelance Events Editor to join our team. We'd love to hear from someone who is familiar with Westchester and understands why it's such a great place for families. The Events Editor will manage our Calendar of Events, helping to curate the calendar with unique, fun, educational, cool and off the beaten path activities. This person will also highlight the best family events for the weekend in a weekly post.

If you're as enthusiastic as we are about Mommy Poppins Westchester and would like to join our team and help enhance our site, read on for additional info about this opportunity, as well as instructions on how to apply.

Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, is fast approaching. While there are certainly plenty of ways to enjoy one last blast of summer right here in NYC, the three-day weekend is the perfect time for a quick family getaway before school starts.

Whether you're looking for a spectacular day trip or a multiday break, our tri-state area sites in New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut and recently launched Westchester County have been covering the best things to do and places to go in their respective locales all season. In just one click, you can find out everything you want to know about visiting the Poconos, the Jersey Shore and other family hot spots with kids. We're highlighting six awesome areas for a Labor Day getaway, all within comfortable commuting distance of New York City. For even more family travel inspiration, check out our NYC Day Trips Guide, which includes a post about car-free Labor Day getaways, and our Travel site, which has a roundup of Labor Day weekend vacation deals.

Labor Day weekend approaches, and that means that if the kids are not already back to school, they're about to be. Traditionally Labor Day is the last hurrah of summer, but frequently by the time it arrives we moms are all hurrahed out. If you haven't made a plan yet or just can't face hitting the airport with half a million other summer junkies, we can think of a few places close to home that are an easy drive for an overnight, or even a day trip - letting you enjoy the day without the labor!

Interested in a great day trip? It may seem strange, to those who don't know about Miss Florence Griswold, that the home, gardens and grounds of this woman's home in Old Lyme, CT has gained such notoriety and attracts thousands of visitors each year from all over the world.  But, just take a quick visit to the Florence Griswold Museum, and a brief tour by any of the museum docents, and you'll soon discover why this hidden gem plays such a huge role in the history of art in the US.

Summer is coming to an end and as we reach the final days we’re all scurrying to squeeze in some last minute fun experiences. There are many back to school activities and great shopping opportunities to help celebrate the return. Here is a list of ideas to help you finish the summer and welcome in the school days.

Even though we have a few weeks of summer break left in NYC, the back-to-school season is in full swing in many other parts of the country. That's why we're launching our big back-to-school giveaway next week. Starting on Wednesday, August 28, you can enter to win a bunch of awesome prizes including two Schwinn kids' bikes, $150 worth of personalized school supplies from My Chronicle Books, a Disney Junior package that includes bedding and a backpack, and more. Bookmark the page or keep an eye on your inbox next week. We'll be sending out an email when the giveaway launches.

Meanwhile, for New York City public school students, there are two more weeks and three full weekends (including a holiday one!) before the first day. Time to full up your calendar with free and fun things to do in NYC and beyond. We've got day trip suggestions, a list of New York State county fairs, Labor Day weekend getaway deals, house-swapping info or, if you're stuck working, a roundup of day camps running the last two weeks of summer break. Plus our regional sites have all kinds of cool out-of-town activity ideas like scenic cruises or zip-lining in New Jersey, mini-golf on Long Island (sure we have a bunch of courses in NYC but the ones on the isle are much more elaborate) and kid-friendly hiking in Westchester.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week: