There are only so many weekends left in December left to celebrate the holiday season, which can put some pressure on parents. Just which family fun is worth the trip and your time? Fret not, for Mommy Poppins has come up with a list of our 10 favorite things to do with kids in the Lower Hudson Valley during the holiday season. 

We’ve already told you our favorite things to do with kids in Westchester during the holidays, and now we’re going to turn our attention to the rest of the area. All of these family-friendly attractions are worth the drive and are a great way to explore the counties around Westchester. Check out our Holiday Guide for more Christmas and Hanukkah fun, or our Event Calendar for the latest doings. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to share what you’ve done!   

Perhaps you remember the delightful stories from which A Year with Frog and Toad was adapted. The classic series "Frog and Toad are Friends" is a fairytale staple for anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s. The musical adaptation follows a year-in-the-life of these two amphibious friends (and a few of their adorable sidekicks) through each season of the year.  The Arden Theatre brings the stories of the two lovable characters to life with classical and creative costuming and a set that includes a trap door and 2 revolving houses, which was definitely a favorite feature for the kids.

There are so many fun and festive family-friendly holiday activities to take part in each year, from taking a Christmas train ride and attending a Santa breakfast, to shopping for gifts at a local market. One more tradition that we love is taking a cozy sleigh ride, and warming up after with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. We’ll be dreaming of a white Christmas so we can go dashing through the snow at one of these six spots in Massachusetts that offer sleigh rides! 

In our house the kids’ birthdays fall in April, May and June. So right around March 1st, I start my annual birthday party panic. While I love having kids’ parties at home, I often decide to have one of my three parties at another venue in the hopes that, when the birthdays are through, I will have some semblance of sanity remaining. Happily, Fairfield County offers numerous places where one can hold a great kid’s party. For even more party ideas check out our Party Guide!

Exploring the Liberty Science Center with kids who want to crawl through the Touch Tunnel or scale the Climbing Challenge can work up quite an appetite. While we appreciate the convenience of museum-cafe pizza and chicken fingers after a day of hands-on exhibits, sometimes a more varied menu—away from the crowds—hits the spot. 

A new NYC-based app, GooRoo, is connecting students (and their parents) with pre-screened tutors. It launched last spring from its home base on the Upper West Side, drawing on tutors from Columbia University, but has since expanded into all five boroughs, and more recently, Northern New Jersey, with tutors serving Bergen County, Jersey City, and Hoboken.

It’s a time-saver for busy parents, because each tutor has been interviewed in-person about his or her teaching style and passed a background check. Parents can peruse tutor ratings, pictures, and even videos. Read on for our review of this new app, and be sure to peruse the NYC Classes Guide or NJ Classes Guide to find more local enrichment options for your kids.

The holidays are just around the corner, and nothing says "I love you" quite like a homemade gift. Treat your loved ones and family members to something really special with an awesome DIY gift that will blow them away! Or, make something special for your own home- like a wreath or ornament. The family bonding time alone is worth it, and you'll have something beautiful (or delicious) to bring home. Check out some of these great classes and workshops being offered in the area this month to learn how to make something unique.

The Westchester Winter Wonderland at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla has returned, and we recently returned to check out the full experience. We have some tips for the fun winter carnival, which will be open on select dates through December 31.

Check out our Event Calendar for more holiday events for kids and families, and be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters to keep up with all family-friendly Westchester happenings. 

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