Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

News: Dozens of City Schools on Notice, New Fair for Museum Mile and Soho Gets a littleBits

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 07/23/2015 - 10:00am

The state recently put 62 city schools on notice for low performance–just in time for the new school year to kick off. The schools rank among the worst 5 percent in all of New York, according to a report in Chalkbeat.

A number of those schools targeted by the state are already a part of the city's "turnaround" program and under state law, the city's top educator, Chancellor Carmen Fariña, has the opportunity to try to improve the schools before setting them up for takeover by a "receiver," or outside education leader or group.

Read more about this and other New York City kid and parent news the Mommy Poppins team has rounded up for you, including a survey showing that 95 percent of parents are actually pretty satisfied with the city's public schools.

Be sure to sign up for our free newsletters to stay up to date on the latest NYC news, reviews and more.

7 Interactive Online Summer Camps: Google, iD Tech and DIY

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 07/21/2015 - 3:00pm

Maybe we all hope that our kids will spend the summer mostly outdoors, but let's be honest: they're going to find their way to the computer or phone from time to time. So why not make the most of screen time by signing them up with an online summer camp from the likes of Google? Or how about a Maker Camp run by a former Pixar staffer?

There are a number of reputable online camps available to get kids excited about STEM topics or to dive into other offline, DIY experiments that can help to bridge that gap between June and September.

My 9-year-old son put several online camps to the test and excitedly waited to sign on each day to see what challenge awaited. Check out these seven virtual camps—some of them free!—and let your kids get a little extra summer learning in at their own pace.

News: MoMath's New Competition, Free Coding for Teens, Parks Update

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 10:00am

As summer kicks into high gear, parks all over NYC are undergoing (or finishing up) major rehab projects—and we've got the details for you here. Other news this week includes an upcoming FREE coding event for tweens and teens, MoMath's songwriting competition and news about test-making company, Pearson, that will affect next year's state standardized tests. Read on for this week's news highlights and be sure to sign up for our free newsletters, if you haven't already, to stay up to date on the latest NYC news, reviews and more.

10 New NYC Destinations to Check Out with Kids This Summer

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 07/13/2015 - 3:00pm

New York City is brimming with things to see and explore with kids, from world-class museums to the great outdoors. No wonder our town is called the city that never sleeps! And yet sometimes you fall into a rut, visiting the same old favorites over and over, never leaving your comfort zone.

Well, it's time to break that habit. We've rounded up 10 new-to-NYC destinations that are worth putting on your family's summer fun bucket list. Get ready to trade the familiar for the fresh!

News: NYC Kids Get New School Holiday, More Rockaway Boardwalk Reopens, Park Slope Opening

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 07/09/2015 - 10:00am

We’re changing the way we share news: opting for quick links to make it faster and easier for you to skim the latest scoop for NYC families. Want the news first? Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

If you weren’t lucky enough to score tickets for the first-ever ticker-tape parade for a women's athletic team, you still have a few more days to try to catch up with some free ice cream. Plus, we’ve got the inside scoop (ha!) on this week’s school news, including a new school holiday, the closing bell to apply for public pre-K and why the mayor is mad about mayoral control of NYC schools. Your news by neighborhood includes a new play spot in Park Slope, how to shop Zabar's from home, a possible new home for FAO Schwarz and more.

News: Free Summer Circus Performances, Luna Park's School's Out Celebration and Swimming Lessons

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 06/22/2015 - 12:23pm

It's official: the calendar says summer, even if my kids still have one more week of school. Once classes are out, they'll be looking for some fun entertainment, and we've got news of a lot of freebies! From a free museum festival to no-cost swimming lessons, complimentary circus performances and a school's out celebration at Luna Park, there are plenty of activities to banish summer boredom without emptying your pocketbook. And if you've got a wee one in Brooklyn, we have big news about a new public pre-K set to open.

Fort Washington Park Playground: Sprinklers, a Rope Pyramid & Zip-Lining in Washington Heights

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 06/16/2015 - 12:15pm

One of the things I love most about living in upper Manhattan is the abundance of green spaces. But while we've got amphitheaters and ball fields galore, we've had a lack of renovated, state-of-the-art destination playgrounds. However, that's starting to change. I noticed a handful of local parks on the city's list for revitalization, but those projects are still in the works and I have three energetic kids to entertain, pronto. That's why I was thrilled when friends raved to me about the overhauled Nature Discovery Playground in Fort Washington Park. My kids and I checked it out, and it did not disappoint! From a cool tree house to an exciting zip line, there are lots of exceptional attractions for kids, along with the usual fun play stuff.

News: Cool Outdoor Spaces, Popular Brooklyn Spots Shutter, New Online Student Info System

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 06/09/2015 - 11:51am

Most independent schools are wrapping up the academic year this Friday, and while public school students still have a couple of weeks to go, summer is definitely on the horizon. Get ready for lazy mornings, later nights and more time to explore the city! We've got the scoop on a few cool new outdoor spaces to try, fresh museum exhibits to investigate and free classes to attend, as well as a popular play spot to avoid. Also, before you forget all about homework and grades, public school parents should take note that the DOE is launching a new online system to track student progress—so log on before you check out.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

Pages