Sarah G

Sarah Gonser - NYC Writer

Sarah is a Brooklyn-based health, education and parenting journalist. A former business reporter, she finds writing about parenting and kid-related happenings a whole lot more fun and engaging. She loves the flexibility of freelance writing as it leaves plenty of opportunities (between deadlines) to spend quality time with her two sons. With Prospect Park their daily stomping grounds and Manhattan just a few subway stops away, she and her husband feel lucky to be raising their kids in NYC.

Sarah's Latest Gallery Posts on Mommy Poppins:

Swindler Cove

Fort Tryon Park & Fort Washington Park

Crown Heights With Kids

Midtown West Playgrounds

New Williamsburg Play Space: Twinkle

New Drop-In Art Space in Bed-Stuy

Three Brooklyn Museums You've Never Heard Of

Fort Greene Clinton Hill: 35 Things to Do for NYC Families

Offbeat Art in a LIC Bank Building

Hiho Batik

N ew Toy Stores in Park Slope

Long Island City Museums With Kids

Latest posts by Sarah G

25 Ways Kids Can Get Their Hands Dirty in NYC

Submitted by Sarah G on Tue, 10/06/2020 - 5:46pm

The Edible Shoolyard helps cultivate healthy kids and communities through its hands-on gardening projects. Photo courtesy of the Edible Schoolyard

New Yorkers tired of being cooped up inside, trapped behind a screen in home offices, or zooming through a day of hybrid learning, should have plenty of motivation to enjoy the great outdoors. Fall is jam-packed with things to do in New York City and there's plenty of parkland to explore. Regular schedules have been turned upside down, and the threat of the pandemic still lingers, particularly indoors.

That makes it the perfect time to get outdoors for some unstructured, messy playtime. From chilly folliage hikes to muddy puddle stomping, we've rounded up 25 dig-in-the-dirt, you're-gonna-need-a-bath-tonight ways for city kids to enjoy the coming autumnal days outdoors. So, step away from the screen and get outside.

How to Hire a Baby Night Nurse for Your Newborn

Submitted by Sarah G on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 11:46am

A baby night nurse can help get baby on a sleep schedule so parents can bond with the newest addition to their family. Photo by Mommy Poppins

When her baby was just three weeks old, Rachel Beckerman's maternity leave was up, and she returned to work part-time. Her husband had already returned to his full-time job. Sleep-deprived and juggling two demanding careers while caring for a newborn, the Manhattan couple was desperate for help. "We needed to be able to function in our jobs during the day," Beckerman said. "We needed someone to help with night feedings. And as first-time parents, we also needed help learning some of the baby basics."

Enter the baby night nurse or nighttime nanny.

Macy's Flower Show and 6 More NYC Spots to See Spring's Blooms

Submitted by Sarah G on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 3:40pm

After so many hours spent indoors during cold winter months, springtime in New York City is one of my family’s favorite seasons. Besides the warmer weather and increased outdoor playtime, we love spotting the season’s first snowbells, crocuses, and blossoming trees.

While plenty of flowers poke through the earth in neighborhood parks and along city sidewalks—not to mention community gardens—there are a few spots in the city where spring blooms are downright outstanding. Springtime also brings the annual flower show at Macy's, which kicks off this weekend on Sunday, March 24. To celebrate the arrival of spring, we've rounded up our favorite places to enjoy springtime.

Family-Friendly Restaurants in Tribeca

Submitted by Sarah G on Thu, 12/13/2018 - 10:00am

Walker's has a casual, kid-friendly vibe. Photo by Sisiducky via Instagram

Tribeca has no shortage of great places to eat with the family. In general, places to eat in Tribeca either tend to be upscale or little holes-in-the-wall, with a handful of options in between. Since Tribeca is such a family-oriented neighborhood, many eateries welcome kids and even offer children's menus. Plus there's a wide range of cuisine to try, from good old American comfort food to French bistro dishes to authentic Cuban eats, plus incredible bakeries. Read on for our favorite places to eat with kids in Tribeca.

Things to Do in Fort Tryon Park & Fort Washington Park with Kids

Submitted by Sarah G on Tue, 05/15/2018 - 10:40am

Gentle and pretty walking paths make Fort Tryon a hit with all ages. Photo by Mommy Poppins

Two of the biggest attractions in Upper Manhattan boast a combined 250 acres of lush lawns and gardens, winding tree-lined paths, multiple ball fields and playgrounds, and three iconic NYC sights: the famed Little Red Lighthouse, the George Washington Bridge (or for fans of the beloved picture book by Hildegarde H. Swift, the Great Gray Bridge), and the Cloisters, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's branch dedicated to medieval art and architecture. Because of the waterfront location at the highest points in Manhattan, the two green spaces—Fort Washington and Fort Tryon Parks—were important strategic points in the Revolutionary War. Today the parks offer visitors spectacular views of the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades.

So take the A train up to Washington Heights and Inwood and discover all the wonderful things to do in Fort Washington Park and Fort Tryon Park, with a little bit of help from our guide below.

NYC Parenting Groups: Meet Local Moms and Dads Online and IRL

Submitted by Sarah G on Mon, 04/16/2018 - 11:00am

Photo courtesy of First-Time Upper West Side Moms

Parenting takes a village. Finding the right parent group can give you an instant support network to share the highs and lows of parenthood, especially if you’re new to the game and especially if you live in a busy, overwhelming urban area like New York City! Many parent groups host events and social gatherings, while some offer valuable seminars and discussions. Other groups serve as classifieds where you can swap and sell baby gear, and many offer a place to simply connect with like-minded people.

We've pulled together a sampling of some of the city’s best neighborhood and citywide groups for moms and dads. Fortunately, there are so many great ones that we had a hard time whittling down the list. Most are free or include low annual dues. Read on for more details, and be sure to check out our NYC Baby Guide for more ideas for exploring and enjoying NYC from pregnancy to preschool.

Find a Baby CPR Class for Parents and Caregivers in NYC

Submitted by Sarah G on Wed, 10/25/2017 - 12:00pm

As a parent, you hope you’ll never need to use CPR or first aid. But the scary truth is that if your baby chokes, or suffers a trauma like drowning or an electrical shock that knocks him unconscious, you'll want to know what to do, rather than rely on the availability of a knowledgeable stranger while you wait for the ambulance.

Have we freaked you out yet? The good news is NYC boasts plenty of infant CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and first-aid classes and refreshers for parents and caregivers, such as grandparents and nannies, where life-saving skills are taught and practiced until you feel as prepared as possible. So read on for our top picks on CPR and first-aid classes in the city.

Also check out our list of babyproofing companies around the metro area, as well as our Baby & Pregnancy Guide for more essential NYC parenting tips.

35 Things to Do with Kids in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill

Submitted by Sarah G on Tue, 08/15/2017 - 4:17pm

Known for picturesque tree-lined streets and historic architecture, adjacent Brooklyn neighborhoods Fort Greene and Clinton Hill have an abundance of attractions for families. There's the amazing Fort Greene Park, a 30-acre oasis with two playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, a nature center, a running track, soccer fields, and great hills for sledding. The park's active conservancy organizes popular annual events for families, like the beloved Halloween Festival and the Music in the Grove kids' concert series during the summer.

The area is also home to some outstanding cultural institutions, notably the Brooklyn Academy of Music, with its BAMkids series and annual BAMkids Film Festival, the Mark Morris Dance Center, and the state-of-the-art Barclays Center, which hosts live Disney extravaganzas, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and Brooklyn Nets home games. On top of that, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill have great kid-friendly restaurants and easy access to almost every subway line in the borough!

We've rounded up our favorite spots to play, eat, and learn in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. For the purposes of this post, our geographical boundaries are Flushing Avenue to the north and Atlantic Avenue to the south, between Flatbush Avenue and Bedford Avenue.