Paint-and-sip parties at art studios have become so popular among grown-ups, you could almost forget that these studios are great spots for kids' parties, too (minus the wine, of course)!

We've put together a list of two dozen New Jersey art studios that host birthday parties with a focus on painting—on canvas, pottery, and even t-shirts. All offer party packages that include art supplies, instruction, setup, and cleanup, with more options available at additional cost. Many of the studios also host classes and camps—and, of course, adult evenings out. 

Find even more ideas for festive fun in our NJ Kids' Birthday Party Guide.

The screen time struggle is real. So, I can't imagine I'm the only parent who's quite literally all ears when they hear that kids' podcasts and audiobooks are officially a thing now. On-demand audio programming certainly feels like the perfect way to bring some screen-free entertainment to playtime, add a little excitement to the bath, or even just wind down before bed, but finding awesome options for kids can be really hard. Enter a new subscription-based service called Pinna, which is packed with Peabody-winning original series, popular podcasts, and favorite audiobooks for listeners ages 4 to 12 — and zero commercials — making it a major parenting win. Read on to find out more and get a free 7-day membership to try it out.

All aboard! Do you have a train lover on your hands? If so, this list of places to visit real trains in and around Houston is for you. Historically speaking, the Texas transit system has a history rich in railroads. To pay tribute to the larger-than-life trains that used to crisscross the country, many Houston area suburbs feature preserved train depots and museums. Many offer cheap or even FREE admission, and one even gives visitors the opportunity to ride on working trains. 

We know all too well how easy it is to feel cooped up during winter. Fortunately, there’s a slew of brand-new sports-related gyms and programs that just became available for Westchester families—offering plenty of alternatives to jumping on the couch cushions for the 1,000th time. There are even options for all ages, many with classes, parties, drop-ins and drop-offs.

Read on for the scoop on new places to get pumped, burn off steam and have fun! If you haven’t yet signed up for our newsletters, be sure to do so now to continually receive news like this and more!

There may be snowflakes a flying, but it's officially summer camp searching season in New York City. While the metro area and surrounding suburbs don't lack for choices, there's always something new on the horizon for our kids!

In 2018, we've found a number of new summer camps, from cooking to outdoor nature and even coding and science. Without further ado, we present seven new this year camps for city kids.

Well, it depends on which groundhog you ask--Punxatawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter while Connecticut's own Chuckles the groundhog predicts an early spring. Either way, we all know that even though February is the shortest month it can feel endless at times. Sure we've got the Super Bowl shaking things up this weekend, but it's still cold, it's still getting dark pretty early (though if you're like me you get excited when you realize it's 5:00 pm and still a little dusky) and it's all too easy to succumb to a case of cabin fever. In order to stave off any seasonal meltdowns, I've rounded up 10 family events and activities around Connecticut and the best part is they're all FREE! So when the road conditions permit, bundle up the fam and get out while the getting is good! For even more free stuff to do all year round, check out these 50 Free Things to do Indoors!

If the internet really is just a vehicle for cat videos, then LA gets the ultimate internet cafe this weekend. Cat cafes have been a thing in New York for a while, but Angelenos have had to wait for someone to jump through the hoops required to open a haven of kitties and caffeine here in LA. This weekend CatCafe Lounge opens its doors in West LA, inviting cats and cat-lovers to curl up together over a tasty drink and a toy mouse.

Take your kid to a birthday party and you expect to see other kids—but what about a flamingo, a bearded dragon, a chinchilla, or a kinkajou? If you have a young animal lover in your family, you can bring more to the party table than safari-printed plates and plastic animals. These New Jersey companies bring over live animals—from ponies for riding to alligators for ogling—that will have your guests talking for weeks, if not years. Some of the animals can be handled and petted; others can be observed up close. Either way, kids will learn a lot and have a ton of fun along the way.

Read on to find out how to transform your home into the petting zoo of your child's dreams for his or her special day. Find more New Jersey kids' party ideas in our Birthday Guide.