Philadelphia County

Fun Philly Area Summer Camps for Preschoolers

Submitted by Becki Melchione on Thu, 01/10/2019 - 8:14am

For working parents of Philly preschoolers, finding a summer camp can be particularly difficult because most places only accept campers who are age 4 or above. Whether you have to work over the summer, or you just want to send your toddler for some fun, we've found lots of great summer camps in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Here's a list of places that have special camps for children ages 3 and sometimes under.

Have older kids, too? Check out our Summer Camp Guide and posts about camps for art, STEM, and sports, too.

Outdoor Ice Skating in the Philadelphia Area

Submitted by Maureen Rayburn on Mon, 12/17/2018 - 8:29am

During the chill of the holidays in the Philadelphia area it's tough to think of a more traditional outdoor winter activity to do with the family than ice skating. Getting bundled in hats and scarves, lacing up your skates, and warming up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate after a spin on the ice is sure to please kids young and old.

There are several temporary outdoor ice rinks set up in the Philadelphia area this season, providing unique settings for this fun winter sport. We also have a list of Pennsylvania state parks that offer ice skating when the conditions are right. So whether you are a novice on the ice, or you're ready to show off your triple axel, see our list of outdoor rinks for a memorable day with the family.

All Aboard With Thomas & Friends at Please Touch Museum's New Exhibit

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 10:00am

If you have a little train lover in your family, chances are you practically live on the Island of Sodor: humming along to the theme of Thomas & Friends™, and amassing more trains, tracks, and stations than you thought humanly possible. Now Thomas the Train fans are in for a special treat. At Please Touch Museum’s latest exhibit, Thomas and Friends: Explore the Rails!, the entire family can enter their favorite world of make believe, practice STEM skills, and spark their imaginations with Thomas. Read on to find out what makes this exhibit a must-do for Philly area families with tykes in tow.

Kids’ Cooking Classes? Taco Bout a Good Time!

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 6:55pm

Philly parents agree: There are a gazillion reasons to get kids cooking in the kitchen. Besides being a "hidden gem" STEM activity with its math and chemistry components, it hones motor skills, builds self esteem, teaches an important life skill, and makes kids more willing to try new foods (if they cook it, they will be much more likely to try it).

If you're already sold on the benefits of kids cooking and want to give your little chef more structured and professional instruction, then a cooking class can be a great addition to your extracurricular line up. Running anywhere from 45-90 minutes for a regular class and longer for workshops and winter break/summer camps, these classes are sure to impress parents with the skills their young ones learn.

Keep reading below for some Philly area cooking classes designed with kids in mind.

You've Gotta See This!

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Mon, 10/15/2018 - 2:40pm

This fall, you and the kids can check out an 800-pound pumpkin, trick or treat in Philly’s best Halloween neighborhoods, get lost in a corn maze…and see a giant sea monster! Set right in the heart of Philadephia’s Navy Yard, a super cool and unique art installation is happening now, but you’ve gotta be quick! It will be gone in just a few weeks. Want to check this art installation out for yourself? Read on for details.

20 Not-So-Scary Halloween Activities for Philly Area Kids

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Sun, 10/07/2018 - 3:31pm

For most, Halloween is an exciting time of year filled with sweet treats and an excuse to dress up as a favorite superhero or princess. However, some Halloween fun can be a bit unsettlingly for little ones. Spooky costumes and scary decorations can leave young children (and even some older ones) frightened and rattled. So, if your family is looking for Halloween fun without the spook, look no further. Mommy Poppins Philadelphia has rounded up some of the area's best seasonal fun without the scare factor. From train rides to scavenger hunts to amusement park fun to a theater production, there is something to suit the kids in your crew.

Be sure to browse our recently published Ultimate Guide to Halloween Fun and Free Halloween Fun in the Delaware Valley with additional ideas. For now, read on for our top Not So Scary Halloween activities.

Stretch the Legs with a Philly Walking Tour of Ben Franklin, Art, and History

Submitted by Martin Woodside on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 11:18am

Benjamin Franklin and Philadelphia go hand in hand. Franklin’s fingerprints are all over the City of Brotherly Love, from the nation’s first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, on the east end of the city to the University of Pennsylvania on the west. Franklin helped found both institutions and, unsurprisingly, the city is full of public art paying tribute to one of its favorite sons. The Association for Public Art has put together a wonderful interactive map of “Benjamin Franklins” in the city, and there is no better way to spend a crisp fall day then a walking tour to check some of them out.

There are 14 potential sites to visit, which may be a bit ambitious for all but the most dedicated Franklinophiles. Read on for some kid-friendly highlights of the Ben Franklin statue tour of Philly.

Ultimate Guide to Halloween Events for Philly Kids

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 2:45pm

When it comes to Halloween, every kid knows it is all about the treats! As this spooky holiday settles into the Delaware Valley, Philly families must capitalize on every opportunities for sweet, scary, and downright terrifying fun that can be found in our event calendar. So, put on your Halloween costume, grab a plastic pumpkin bucket, and check out the ultimate Halloween activities for the witches, ghosts, and ghouls in your haunted house.

Don't forget to plan out the rest of your fall family fun by viewing our Fall Activity Guide including the best fall events for preschoolers and perfect fall family weekend getaways. For now, get spooked with our ultimate list below.

Indoor Play Spaces in Philly for Babies and Toddlers

Submitted by Maureen Rayburn on Sat, 09/08/2018 - 11:21am

Mother Nature can often be a real thorn in the side to new parents in Philadelphia. Be it winter snow, spring rain or summer heat, the weather often discourages getting out of the house with babies and toddlers. Visiting an indoor play space can rescue the little ones from cabin fever as well as offer parents a chance to socialize with other new moms and dads.

Parents in the city need to be a little more creative in finding indoor play areas, with fewer moonbounce-type centers than in the suburbs. Mommy Poppins has a list of fun spots to drop-in with tots in and around Center City Philadelphia, including museums, gyms, and clothing stores.

Be sure to browse our directory for even more indoor fun ideas in the Philly area or our list of indoor play in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties.

14 Fall Car Shows that Will Thrill the Auto Fan in Your Family

Submitted by Erin Ryan on Fri, 09/07/2018 - 10:15am

Want to try a different kind of fun this weekend? Take the whole family out to get up close and personal with classic to contemporary cars. Guys and gals alike will enjoy weaving in and out of pristine hotrods, sports cars, roadsters, and luxury wheels lined up on display. Luscious leather interiors and custom paint jobs are waiting to be ooh'ed and ah'ed over. So mark your calendar now with these top Philly area auto shows running throughout early fall; then, grab a cup of coffee for you, a hot cocoa for the kids, and enjoy the perfect fall weather alongside some shiny whips.