A brand-new interactive play experience has come to Atlantic Highlands, and kids of all ages are going ape over it. Jungle Jim & Jane puts a new spin on indoor playgrounds with unique equipment and high-tech games that let kids go wild and have fun in a safe, clean space. 

This day trip–worthy play space, geared toward ages 0-8, opened in October. I visited recently with my three kids, and we were all impressed.    

It's a little overwhelming, isn't it? I collect fabulous things to do with kids for a living, and this time of year has me teetering on a precipice between ecstasy and panic attack—because there is just SO MUCH TO DO! There are so many incredible, awe-inspiring, photo-op demanding, once-a-year holiday experiences on my list that my kid is starting to hide from me. There's a limit to how much fun a person can take.

So I'm taking a breath and making a top 10 list. Believe me, there is plenty more to do; our Ultimate Free Holiday List is a great place to start, and our event calendar an obvious place to continue. You'll run out of energy before we run out of suggestions, I assure you. But if you're looking for a Top 10 List before your family has you committed, here's what you came for.

This is LA, so of course there are summer acting camps! And since there are different types of acting - stage acting (classical and modern), film acting, comedic acting, improv - there are also different types of acting camp. Acting camps are not just for children who want to study theater, though; they also increase public speaking skills and build self-confidence. If your child is new to the world of drama, a camp that covers many different topics can offer a solid foundation and allow your child to discovers strengths and interests. Other camps offer focused concentration on Shakespeare or acting for film, for example.

Though many of these camps offer some instruction in singing and dancing, be sure to see our Musical Theatre Camp Round-Up for those kids who enjoy Broadway-style performance. And for your other kid - the non-dramatic one - we have a bunch of other summer camps to suggest, too!

Note that summer camp information for the 2020 season is changing daily. Please click the links to the individual camps below to see which ones are offering programs this year.

Waterskiing Santas, holiday lights, and seasonal markets, oh my! It's almost Christmas, which means it's almost Christmas break.

What are DC-area families to do when all the gifts are opened and kids are chomping at the bit to get out of the house? From FREE fun to great winter activities, Mommy Poppins DC has you covered. Read on for our top picks for what to do during this holiday school break. 

Check in with our events calendar, too, for more ideas.

Our list of top family travel destinations is here! We love our hometown cities at Mommy Poppins, but we’re also explorers, a trait many of us hope to pass along to our kids. How better to pique their interest by ferrying them on trips across the country and even across borders?

Last year, we traveled to big-time resorts, such as Atlantis in the Bahamas and a brand-new indoor water park resort in the New York Catskills, and to quirky artsy towns like Asheville, North Carolina and Venice Beach, California. We explored waterfalls and geysers in Iceland, played tourist with the kids in London, and dived into culture and maple crepes in Quebec City. Of course, it wasn’t all walking tours or hotel pools. Relaxing on the beach in Aruba topped our list, as did a trip to California’s rugged Big Sur coast.

Read on for travel inspiration for your family with our final “best family travel” list of this decade.

Skyslide is fast becoming an LA rite of passage. We are a family of thrill seekers, so for my daughter's fifth birthday we decided to try the ultimate LA thrill—Oue Skyspace and Skyslide in Downtown Los Angeles. California's tallest open-air observation deck and its all-glass slide sit atop the US Bank tower. The view alone is priceless, but the slide takes it to a whole new level. My kids are already asking to go back. Here is what you can expect:

Few things are as quintessentially holidays in New York City as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes (and live camels!). While the leggy precision dancers clad in Swarovski crystal leotards are scene-stealers, perhaps the biggest star of the show is the grand old dame of a theater that serves as its home base. Whether you're in town for only a short time, or making your annual trek to the Spectacular, here are five things to love about Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center, and why the art deco masterpiece is worth a visit well beyond Christmastime.

Going out for brunch on the weekends may seem like a lofty goal when you have kids. Just the sound of the word "brunch" can incite visions of lavish lounges filled with trendy people without a kiddo in sight. But parents, have no fear! Enjoying a weekend brunch with kids is possible, and we're here to help make it happen. This handy list features 14 Houston area spots where you can take your kids to dine when you feel like noshing on chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, or even eggs benedict during the magical weekend brunch-time hours.

Some of these spots even offer kid-friendly activities, play spaces, or ample romping room for rowdier little ones.