Jessica Laird

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

The Ultimate Experience Gift for DC Area Kids: The Gift of Play

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 12/18/2025 - 10:00am

A year-long National Children's Museum membership makes the perfect experiential gift for kids and families.

This holiday season, give your kids the gift of play and learning with a year-long membership to DC’s beloved National Children’s Museum.

Have you seen those videos where parents ask their kids to name a holiday gift they got last year and the kids can’t name a single one? Well, with many experts agreeing that children need way less stuff and way more screen-free brain-growing play, it’s no wonder experience gifts are on the rise.

Fortunately, the DMV is home to one of the very best places for unlimited, educational, hands-on play: the city’s beloved National Children’s Museum. A year-long membership makes the perfect experiential gift for kids and families across DC, Virginia and Maryland–and one that children will remember long after the holiday season comes to a close.

Santa Photos, Classic Movies, and More Holiday Magic at PaleyLand

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 12/11/2025 - 10:00am

Until January 4th, The Paley Museum has been transformed into a five-story winter wonderland.

Children under 12 are free at PaleyLand, the five-story winter wonderland at The Paley Museum.

While The Paley Museum is largely known for its expansive library of television shows and movies, and action-packed VR-filled gaming studio, its annual family-friendly holiday extravaganza deserves some major accolades! Running now through January 4th, the oh-so-festive “PaleyLand” invites visitors into a five-story winter wonderland to snap photos with Santa, sip hot chocolate, and catch screenings of classic holiday movies alongside much of the museum’s usual collection.

Just steps from Rockefeller Center and Radio City, my daughters and I love visiting PaleyLand in Midtown Manhattan for the hands-on activities and attractions, and the much-needed dose of holiday cheer. Here’s what to know before you go:

Don’t Miss Holiday Circus Spectacular Merry Mayhem at the New Victory Theater

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 12/04/2025 - 10:00am

The New Victory Theater continues its 30th birthday celebrations this December with the high-energy holiday circus, Merry Mayhem.

If you’re looking for a high-energy holiday show that’ll have the whole family in stitches, Merry Mayhem is it! Jam-packed with acrobatics, pranks, live music, and side-splitting Aussie humor, Melbourne’s legendary Circus Oz is returning to the New Victory this December with a new riotous circus spectacular to help celebrate the theater’s big 30th Birthday Season.

From the free hands-on lobby activities to a special ticket deal, here’s everything parents need to know before heading to 42nd Street for this high-flying, holiday spectacle.

BrightPath Child Care in Connecticut: Top Parent Questions Answered

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 11/20/2025 - 3:00pm

Parents love BrightPath Child Care for its welcoming atmosphere and thoughtful curriculum.

Get answers to parents’ most asked questions about BrightPath Child Care centers—with 22 thoughtfully-designed locations across Connecticut.

Searching for reliable, high-quality child care can truly feel like a full-time job. As parents, we want safe, nurturing daycare centers with strong early learning programs and teachers we can trust—all at a location that actually fits into our family’s routine.

For many parents, BrightPath Child Care checks all the boxes with its welcoming atmosphere and thoughtful curriculum, plus 22 locations across the state, including West Hartford, Simsbury, Mansfield, and Avon. We connected with the BrightPath team to get answers to families’ most common questions about the daycare centers.

LA Auto Show Exclusive Discount and Must-See Attractions for Kids

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 11/18/2025 - 6:00pm

Conveniently coinciding with Thanksgiving break, the action-packed automotive festival welcomes kids and their grownups.

The LA Auto Show returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center this November with thrilling test drives, showstopping classic and luxury cars, arcade games, and more family-friendly fun.

Calling all car lovers, thrill seekers, and Formula 1 fans young and old! On Friday, November 21st, the Los Angeles Convention Center will welcome the LA Auto Show back to SoCal for 10 days of family fun.

Conveniently coinciding with Thanksgiving break, the action-packed automotive festival welcomes kids and their grownups to marvel at jaw-dropping custom cars, test ride vehicles on heart-stopping off-road obstacle courses, enjoy celebrity meet and greets, and shop an incredible selection of collectible diecasts–just to name a few of the most memorable attractions. Oh, and did I mention there will be adorable rescue pups up for adoption too?

Read on for more of the Los Angeles Auto Show’s best attractions for kids and families, plus get our insider tips and an exclusive discount on tickets.

12 Meaningful Personalized Clothing Gift Ideas for 2025

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 10/30/2025 - 2:47pm

Kids' artwork is just one way to create perfectly personalized gifts with Vivid Customs. Photo by Jessica Laird

It’s easy to create custom printed or embroidered t-shirts, gear, and other great gift ideas with no minimums and fast free shipping from Vivid Customs.

Now that anyone can (and does) order just about anything they want off the internet, coming up with a truly meaningful gift has gotten harder and harder. But there’s one hack that’ll keep your presents thoughtful and original: Create a personalized gift—and it’s easier and more affordable than you might think.

Based in Houston but serving families across the country, Vivid Customs specializes in custom embroidery and personalized screen printing on shirts, hats, hoodies–you name it! And with no order minimums, an easy-to-use website, plus fast free shipping or in-shop pickup, you can create fun and memorable gifts and gear for just about any occasion.

I gave Vivid Customs a try and, not only did my 6-year-old’s drawing of an axolotl look amazing embroidered on one of their comfy cotton t-shirts, but the design process was simple and customer support made sure the design came out picture perfect.

Read on for some of our favorite custom printed gear and gift ideas for kids, families, teachers, or whoever you need to impress this year, plus answers to some of the most asked questions about Vivid Customs.

The Best Family Shows of Off-Broadway's New Victory Theater 2025-26 Season

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 10/30/2025 - 10:00am

The New Victory celebrates its 30th birthday with a dazzling lineup that brings the magic of live theater to kids of all ages.

Believe it or not, the New Victory Theater turns 30 this season—and it’s celebrating this major milestone with a particularly magical lineup of shows for families with children of all ages!

If you’ve visited the New Victory Theater before, you know it’s one of New York City’s most dependable destinations for quality family entertainment, serving up the very best shows from around the world at affordable prices. Its 30th birthday season promises another round of can’t-miss productions, including Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE, a dance piece from Tony Award-nominee Camille A. Brown, renowned magician Mario Marchese, a cheeky take on Snow White, breakdance by ILL-Abilities, and not only one but two cirque shows (a New Victory favorite of ours!).

The beauty of the New Victory Theater is that there truly is something for everyone. So get out your calendar and read the full 2025-26 schedule–organized by age–to help your family pick the perfect shows this season.

Kids Go Free to SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular–Get Tickets Now

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:00pm

SeaWorld’s Spooktacular is the annual Halloween event for SoCal families looking for spooky season fun.

Where can you find a festive pumpkin patch and a pack of Humboldt penguins? A candy-filled trick-or-treating trail and stunning sea turtles? SeaWorld’s Annual Spooktacular is a one-of-a-kind Halloween event you don’t want to miss.

SeaWorld’s Spooktacular is the annual Halloween event for SoCal families looking for action-packed, family-focused fun this spooky season. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through November 2nd, plus Halloween Friday, the Spooktacular is totally interactive, photo-worthy, and included with general admission to SeaWorld–which is FREE for kids with a paid adult ticket throughout October.

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

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