Shout it from the rooftops: it's almost-springtime! Oh, okay, it's only the first weekend in March, so we still have a few official winter weeks left, but we can dream, can't we? Check out some of the fun events in NJ this weekend, like The Peking Acrobats at Mayo Performing Arts Center, a variety of Seussian activities and something called Worm World (are you intrigued?) Read on for our top picks and find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

If you're like me, you want to enroll your child in day camp this summer, but it's only February, and you're quite frankly just focused on school lunch and afterschool activities and everything else going on in the here and now. And meanwhile, you're learning that camps have started their open houses in January and are filling up and all of your kids' friends are already enrolled for the summer. Worry not! Summer camps across the Island are still holding open houses. Below, a sampling; and check out our Camps Guide for all the information you need for selecting a Long Island day camp. 

Spring is nearly here, and family vacation discounts are blooming. Jet Blue is flying kids to Disneyland and Walt Disney World for free.  It is not too late to ski in the Catskills, catch spring training in Arizona, see the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. or head to the beach in Cape May. If your family enjoys train rides, the Downeaster is free for kids on Sundays, and will take you on a scenic journey from Boston to Maine.  If you are seeking warm weather, Bermuda, Riviera Nayarit in Mexico and Naples, Florida are a few destinations that are offering good deals.  If you have luck on your side, you might win a trip for two to Peru.

How many times can you ask yourself “What are we going to do today?!" The cold and rainy/snowy weather doesn’t allow you to venture to a local park to burn off that endless energy,  the trips to the museum, movies and bouncy houses can add up, and you've basically just run out of ideas. To keep your little ones entertained, invest in one of many craft box deliveries. It's cheap. It’s easy. And best of all, it's delivered! 
 

Our month-long focus on Fort Greene Clinton Hill finishes up with a roundup of our favorite kid-friendly restaurants in the area. Whether you're looking to grab prepared dishes to bring to a simple picnic in Ft Greene Park, a great neighborhood joint where kids are welcome or a fancy family meal with options for picky eaters, the picturesque Brooklyn nabe has plenty of eateries to choose from, including some of my family's personal favorites. A few even host popular kids' events and activities.

Carole P. Roman wasn't always a children's book author. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens before settling on Long Island, she became a teacher, then a mother and finally went into the family transportation business. But once her own kids had kids, she realized she wanted to try something more creative.

After watching his mother make up stories for his young child, Roman's son dared her write a children's book. So in 2012, she self-published Captain No Beard - An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life, a rollicking adventure about kids pretending to be on a pirate ship. Although it was initially done as a lark, the book went on to make Kirkus Reviews' list of the Best Indie Books of 2012 and suddenly a series of books—and Roman's new career—was born.

We're giving away copies of Roman's second Captain No Beard story, Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience, to ten lucky readers. Read on for details on how to enter, and for our interview with the author about her favorite places to take her grandchildren, her creative inspirations and a peek at the new books she's working on.

Visiting museums in the city of Boston can get pricey, especially when you bring the whole family. But there are times and ways to get free admission to our city’s world class, family-friendly museums. A huge bonus: On days when these museums offer free admission, they often have special programs and activities for families, like art-making workshops or live performances. Read on to find out how to give your kids the world for a dollar or less per person.