Who ever came up with the idea of breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day as a special treat for mom? Both my kids love to cook, but I would never turn over my kitchen to them for them to fix a surprise meal for me (even with Dad supervising). Plus, as much as I enjoy eating together, sharing the time in the kitchen is at least as special.

This year, we’ve found a way to have our cake and eat it, too (see dessert!). What follows is simple Mother's Day meal kids can put together almost all by themselves. With a guiding hand from mom (or dad), kids can get almost everything prepared on Saturday, and add the finishing touches just before serving on Mother’s Day. Thanks to our grandma for the inspiration!

Hello May! With chilly temps (hopefully!) behind us and hot weather still a ways off, now is the time to enjoy the mild weather we wait for all winter! Try a photo scavenger hunt at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, fly a kite at Terhune Orchards, check out the 6th annual Dinosaur Day at Newark Museum or take in games on horseback at Lord Sterling Stables. Read on for our top picks and remember, you can always find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

Photo: Future Stars Summer Camp

Long gone are the lazy days of summer making s'mores and singing Kumbauya around the campfire. Kids are used to busy schedules and crave those organized activities in the summer too. Why not look into registering at one or two of the cool camps offered on the East End?

Mother's Day always feels like so much pressure. Where will you brunch? Will the kids like it? Will you ever be able to pay off the credit card bill? With Mother's Day fast approaching on Sunday, May 12, it's time for you (or your partner) to start planning (although what's the old adage? If you want something done right...).

Our NYC Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide is filled with fantastic family restaurant recommendations in all five boroughs, including eateries with family entertainment. We even have two posts dedicated to traditional Mother's Day brunch options, both swanky spots and reader favorites. But if you're looking for a unique Mother's Day brunch experience, one that comes with more than just a meal, we have five offbeat ideas that include arts and culture, a cool waterfront foodie tour and fun at an iconic racetrack.

Unfortunately, not many kids tolerate sitting through a full-length production at the Metropolitan Opera House, but culture-craving parents can rejoice—summer is full of arts-oriented festivals that are foolproof kid-pleasers.  Summer festivals celebrating music, dance, comedy and other arts get the whole family involved in the fun. 

The following 12 summer art and music festivals are located in interesting destinations, so you could easily build your summer vacation around them. The outdoor festivals cause the locations and the performers to merge seamlessly, blurring the line between art and reality, and creating a magical environment that is sure to make a memorable vacation.

There must be something in the air. A bunch of kid-centric businesses across the city are closing, moving or reopening, like Dumbo's Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, which is once again serving the sweet stuff after being closed since October, and Kidville, which is closing and opening downtown and in the Bronx.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn is set to get its own David Rockwell-designed Imagination Playground, the New York Hall of Science adds a healthy cafe to its list of attractions, school admissions are all screwed up and a call to help an ill young girl.

Toss a sweater over your shoulders and take your kids on a stroll through Southampton, a village that has it all. Whether you're summering in the Hamptons, going for a day trip, or lucky to be a local, you'll fall in love with this historic, quaint and happening village.

As a musician turned stay-at-home-mom, I've made sure that music plays a major part in my children's lives. But that's been a bit of a challenge with my oldest son, who was born with multiple disabilities, including severe sensory issues. He cried at the sound of applause at concerts, ran and hid whenever he heard the "Happy Birthday" song (you can imagine how well that played out during school) and screamed at me to "Stop singing with the radio! You're hurting my ears!" Bruised ego aside, it killed me that my son wasn't able to experience and love music the way the rest of my family did, but there didn't seem to be anything I, or a team of therapists for that matter, could do about it.

When we moved to New York City, I was thrilled to find so many special needs-friendly activities, and quickly signed my son up for adaptive baseball, soccer and basketball. And, since I refused to let go of my dream of turning him on to music, I decided to give Daniel's Music Foundation a try.

During our initial interview, I explained my son's anxiety with music in general, but the staff didn't seem fazed. His first day of classes went well, and while I waited to pick him up, I heard the teacher announce a birthday. I froze, waiting for the meltdown. Nothing. I peeked anxiously inside. My son was sitting next to a helper, calmly waiting for the next song. It was a miracle! And the progress didn't stop there. Six months later, he stood on stage for the first time in his life and performed in the DMF holiday show. As the end of the song neared, he began to cry in anticipation of the applause. DMF cofounder Mike Trush hopped up on stage and helped my son stay up there through the clapping. Four years later, my son now performs with a proud grin on his face, even during the applause.

While DMF has earned a permanent place in our schedule and my heart, I'm happy to tell you that there are many New York City programs that give children with special needs the chance to learn an instrument or how to sing, and to perform on stage—in front of strangers no less. Here are some of our favorites: