Rebecca Singer

Rebecca Singer is an educator, mom, and museum professional with more than 20 years of experience creating engaging cultural events and activities for kids and families. Based in the Washington, DC area, she lives with her husband and daughter, where they enjoy exploring the vibrant cultural scene together.

Latest posts by Rebecca

Ideas for Throwing the Ultimate Wicked-Themed Birthday Party for Kids

Submitted by Rebecca Singer on Thu, 03/13/2025 - 10:07am

No one loves the wicked? Are we sure? Wicked image courtesy of Universal Pictures

Looking for birthday party ideas and Wicked theme party inspiration for the Wicked superfan in your life? We’ve gathered ideas for the best party supplies, decorations, themed treats, and magical activities to help you throw the most swankified celebration in town!

Oh, what a celebration we’ll have today! If you’re dreaming of hosting a spellbinding Wicked theme party, read on!

For more great birthday party ideas check out our Guide to Kids’ Birthday Parties, including 100 Popular Kids’ Birthday Party Themes for Every Age and Interest.

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Explore the Best Science Museums for Kids in DC: Educational Fun for All Ages

Submitted by Rebecca Singer on Fri, 03/07/2025 - 10:07am

Did you know that the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is bigger than 18 football fields? Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

As a city known for its world-class museums, it’s no surprise that Washington, DC is a go-to destination for families looking for fun, educational, and interactive science exhibits for kids. From children’s museums and science centers to Smithsonian museums on the National Mall, DC’s best science museums invite kids to explore the wonders of space, examine dinosaur fossils, and try out hands-on experiments.

Read on to discover some of the best science museums for kids in DC. Then find more of the fun museums for children DC has to offer, from DC museums for toddlers to the children's museums DC is known for, in our Washington, DC Museum Guide.

Looking for more educational activities for kids to try at home? Our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids has you covered!

Kids Eat Free: 17 DC Restaurants for Every Day of the Week

Submitted by Rebecca Singer on Fri, 01/10/2025 - 11:31am

Kids eat free at IHOP every day of the week at many locations. Photo by Wendi Gratz via Flickr 2.0

Who needs to cook when kids eat free every night of the week at restaurants around the DC area? From popular chains like IHOP and Denny’s to neighborhood pubs, Italian bistros, and more, we’ve got you covered with kid-friendly meal deals that will help you enjoy an evening out with your family while saving money, too.

Read on for our list of 17 restaurants where kids eat free in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. For more great freebies, check out our Guide to Free Things to Do with Kids in DC, and look up our Kid-Friendly DC Restaurants Guide for more family restaurants throughout the area.

Top Quirky Museums and Off-the-Beaten-Path Gems for Kids Near DC

Submitted by Rebecca Singer on Fri, 10/18/2024 - 8:54am

Planet Word has lots of opportunities to get hands-on. Photo courtesy of Planet Word

Families in the DC area are fortunate to live in one of the world’s top museum cities, with so many fascinating treasures to explore. While the Smithsonian museums are some of the most well-known, the city is full of many great museums to discover off the National Mall as well.

I’ve been working in local museums for many years planning family programs, early childhood classes, and school field trips. As both a parent and a museum professional whose focus is on creating kid-friendly museum experiences, I can share some of my favorite museums for kids in the Washington, DC area.

Here's a list of some of the best off-the-beaten-path museums for kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. For even more museums to explore, check out our Washington, DC Museum Guide, which includes our lists of free museums near DC to visit with kids and the best museums for kids in the DC area.

Coolest Stores for Kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Rebecca Singer on Fri, 08/16/2024 - 10:00am

Child's Play has a great selection of toys, games, children's books, and more. Photo by Tony Ventouris Photography

These days we can shop for anything we want or need, any time of day, at the touch of a screen. Often, it feels like too much effort to bother going to a physical store, especially with kids in tow. But when you’re looking for a unique item or searching for a special gift, nothing beats a locally owned shop with friendly, passionate, knowledgeable staff who can help you find what you're looking for.

Fortunately, families in the DC area have a wealth of wonderful independent stores and boutiques to choose from, whether shopping for toys, books, or children’s clothing. Some of them even offer family entertainment like storytimes, game nights, and more.

Here are 21 of the coolest toy stores, bookstores, gift shops, and more for kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia where you can find awesome stuff and support local businesses. For more great shops for kids, check out our lists of the best baby stores in DC and Black-owned businesses near DC.

19 Fun Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Venues in the DC Area

Submitted by Rebecca Singer on Sun, 07/14/2024 - 10:00am

A party at Wonderfly Arena comes with your choice of activities including Nerf wars, virtual-reality gaming, ping-pong, and more. Bat Mitzvah photo by Ryan Fey, courtesy of the venue

Becoming a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah marks a huge milestone for Jewish teens and their families. After your child has spent so many hours studying, practicing, and preparing, you’ll want to celebrate their major accomplishment with family and friends.

Traditional locations like your synagogue’s social hall or hotel ballrooms can be convenient options for a celebratory party following the bar or bat mitzvah service. But if you’re looking for a unique experience, the DC area has many venues where guests can play games, explore interesting sites, and have fun while celebrating your child.

Read on for our list of fun bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah venues in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. And if you’re looking for more ways to celebrate with your tween or teen, check out our Kids' Birthday Party Places Guide for DC, which includes our list of teen birthday party ideas.

Toronto with Kids: 25 Best Things to Do in Toronto, Canada

Submitted by Rebecca Singer on Sat, 05/04/2024 - 12:00pm

Niagara Falls makes for an easy day trip from Toronto.

Toronto, Canada (the country's largest city) is an ideal vacation destination for families looking for an urban adventure. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, the city offers a perfect mix of outdoor activities, cultural attractions, world-class museums, and charming neighborhoods. With so much to see and do, there’s something for everyone in your family to enjoy.

My family visited Toronto last summer and had a blast. Here are the 25 best things to do in Toronto, Canada with kids, including iconic city landmarks, kid-friendly museums, sports venues, amusement parks, and family-friendly Toronto hotels.

For more great family vacation spots in Canada, check out our Canada Family Travel Guide, including the top things to do in Montreal with kids.

25 Fun Things to Do in Gaithersburg, Maryland with Kids

Submitted by Rebecca Singer on Fri, 04/19/2024 - 10:00am

Spend a day on the lake at Black Hill Regional Park in Gaithersburg.

Around 20 miles northwest of DC, Gaithersburg is a diverse and vibrant Maryland suburb with a rich history, thriving community, and plenty of kid-friendly activities. Once an agricultural community known as Log Town, the city grew after the arrival of the B&O Railroad in the 1870s, which spurred business expansion and drove summer tourism by DC residents escaping the city’s heat.

Whether you’re looking for parks and playgrounds, museums and arts centers, local fairs and festivals, or kid-friendly restaurants, there’s so much for kids of all ages to explore and enjoy in Gaithersburg.

Read on for 25 fun things to do with kids in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Our Guide to Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for DC Kids includes even more fun suburbs to visit, like Fairfax, Virginia and Kensington, Maryland.

Rebecca Singer

Latest posts by Rebecca

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