Ally Noel

Best STEM Summer Camps in Connecticut: Robots, Coding, and More Tech Fun

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sun, 03/09/2025 - 8:00pm

The experiments keep kids engaged at the top STEM summer camps for CT kids. Photo courtesy of the Connecticut Science Center

Keep curious kids about science and engineering with these STEM summer camps.

The Best Easy Slime Recipe for Kids: Borax-Free, Fluffy, and More DIY Slimes

Submitted by Ally Noel on Tue, 02/25/2025 - 9:00am

Slime, glorious slime! It's so easy to make at home, and you can put a personal spin on it! Photo by Jody Mercier

As a child of the 80s, slime ranks pretty high in my archive of childhood memories. It’s Ghostbusters, Nickelodeon, and slime runs. Everything old is fun again, and the slime of today is even cooler! You can make it in the comfort of your own home with a few simple, inexpensive ingredients. We’ve got 5 tried and tested easy recipes for slime here, plus a list of our favorite slime-making kits, if that’s more your jam.

Need more hands-on science experiments and activities you can do at home? Check out Mommy Poppins Guide to STEM Activities, which has everything from solar ovens to DIY rock candy to oobleck (a less messy but more gooey slime alternative!).

Best Indoor Birthday Party Places for Kids in Connecticut

Submitted by Ally Noel on Fri, 02/07/2025 - 10:40am

Find the right spot for celebrating at these indoor kids birthday party places in CT!

Christmas Vacation in CT: 35 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do With Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 11:00pm

Get out for some cool sights and fun things to do over Christmas break in CT! Winter Lantern Festival photo courtesy of Lyman's Orchard

Make the most of the school holiday break with these fun activities in CT.

50 Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2024: Easy & Funny Ideas to Delight Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Thu, 11/21/2024 - 9:11am

Uh-oh! The elf tangled up your tree lights! Photo by Mark Baylor, courtesy of Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Elf on the Shelf is back! It's almost the holidays, so it's almost time for Elf on the Shelf. Elves typically arrive sometime after Thanksgiving and return to the North Pole on Christmas Day, giving families about a month to fill with hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Like any good house guest, your elf should be able to keep mischievous acts mostly mess-free and easy to set up. We've put together a list of 50 easy ideas that are also impressive elf antics that delight kids— including funny Elf on the Shelf ideas, easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, and last-minute Elf on the Shelf ideas for hectic mornings. Did we mention they don't take a lot of time to set up and require very few props?

Find more Christmas activities and crafts for kids, plus other fun things to do this season, in our Christmas and Holiday Fun Guide.