American Dream Amusement Park, Ice Rink Open Today in NJ

Meet SpongeBob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and other favorite characters at Nickelodeon Universe.

The long-awaited debut of American Dream is becoming a reality today with the opening of the Western Hemisphere's biggest indoor amusement park, as well as an NHL-size indoor ice skating rink. This first phase of the new Meadowlands entertainment complex in East Rutherford, NJ, features the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park and The Rink at American Dream. 

Those without amusement park tickets for this weekend will have to wait a bit longer to visit, however, as tickets for opening weekend are sold out. In the meantime, we've got the lowdown on what you need to know about American Dream before you go.

Baby Sleep Aids to (Hopefully) Get Baby to Sleep Through the Night

The portable Cloud b Sleep Sheep plays white noise and baby sleep music.

Baby sleep aids can help soothe and snuggle newborns back to sleep, making these items essential for new parents. The trick is to figure out which baby sleep aids work best for your little one.

As a mom of three, I’ve tried quite a few hacks and products to get my baby to sleep. I’ve also desperately googled things like, "when do babies sleep through the night," "sleep regression," and "how to get baby to sleep." Because if there’s one thing that probably tops every new parent wish list, it’s more sleep (and coffee, of course)!

Before you struggle through another night, consider these 11 baby sleep aids, including swaddles, white noise machines and baby sleep music, and on-the-go sleep items for travel, all preferred and tested by our parent writers and editors.

A New Sesame Street Theme Park Is Coming to San Diego

Sesame Place is coming to San Diego in 2021. Photo by Jason Lindsey/Sesame Place

Ever feel envious of Philadelphia moms who have access to an entire Sesame Street theme park? Wish you had more Elmo in your life? Or maybe you wish Julia was just a short dive away? All your dreams will come true in the spring of 2021, when the list of things to do with kids in San Diego grows to include a Sesame Place theme park—only the second all-Sesame Street theme park in the US.

Diversity and a New Head of School Make NYC's Metropolitan Montessori a Must-See

New Head of School, Racheal Adriko, joined Metropolitan Montessori School in July 2019.

Nestled on a quiet cozy street on the Upper West Side, Metropolitan Montessori School just might be the program you didn’t know you were looking for. Not only is it Manhattan’s only Montessori school for kids ages two years and eight months up to twelve years old, but it's dedicated to diversity in all its forms — from race and religion to family structure and sexuality — and it recently welcomed a new Head of School, Racheal Adriko, whose passion for education is contagious. If you're currently applying to preschool or private school in NYC, MMS's individualized learning approach, small class sizes, commitment to sustainability, and record for prepping grads for top-notch schools (Horace Mann, Riverdale, and Brearley have been the most popular since 2000) will also easily earn it a spot on your list.

As the mother of two New York City tots myself, I was looking forward to having an opportunity to connect with Racheal and hear more about Metropolitan Montessori School, and I found myself listening to her inspiring personal story with my mouth wide open. Read on to learn more about Racheal and everything MMS has to offer.

Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Halloween Fests, Boo at the Zoo, Trunk-or-Treats

Westfield gets creep and kooky  at the weekend-long AddamsFest! Photo courtesy of the event

It's pre-Halloween weekend, and spooky, kooky fun is happening throughout New Jersey! Load up on candy at trick-or-treat events like Boo at the Boardwalk, Trick-or-Treat Weekend at Storybook Land, AddamsFest, and the North Wildwood Trunk-or-Treat Block Party.

Meet some bewitching characters at the Monster Bash and Zombie WalkHalloWheaton, and Witch's Day Out. Or have Halloween fun with animals at Cape May and Bergen County zoos.

Check out our Halloween Guide for more options for family fun, including the best places to trick-or-treat, ideas for easy last-minute costumes, and plenty of free Halloween happenings. And look to our October GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Play Space and Toy Store CAMP Comes to Brooklyn in December

Downtown Brooklyn is getting more kid-friendly with the addition of a new CAMP store and play space. Photo by Jody Mercier

If you’re looking for a unique indoor experience for your kids on a chilly or rainy day, head to the new CAMP store in Brooklyn, scheduled to open on December 1 2019. Unlike many other indoor play spaces in NYC, CAMP is a network of stores with rotating themed experiences. CAMP at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn will boast all of the same imaginative fun as the original Fifth Avenue location, including a cafe, a theater, interactive play stations, and of course, a super-cool toy store

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