Anna Fader

Founder & CEO of Mommy Poppins
Anna was born in Park Slope, spent her early years in the West Village. By the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs. Growing up in NYC in the '70s meant the streets were her playgrounds. Museums and avant garde music venues were the kid-friendly activities. And living downtown taught her the importance of creating community for families in NYC.

Now, raising her own two children in the city, she tries to create the same sense of magic and community she felt growing up, despite today's more commercialized version of kid-friendly New York.

She started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to share a more artsy, educational, uncommercial, community-oriented vision of raising kids in New York City. Today Mommy Poppins is relied on by millions of families as the authority on the best things to do with kids beyond New York City: from Boston to Philly, Los Angeles, Houston and travel guides for dozens more cities and destinations.

Latest posts by Anna

21 Kids' Books About Racism, By Age

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 06/02/2020 - 11:05am

It can be hard to talk about uncomfortable things with children. Books are a great way to introduce different ideas and experiences and talk about them together.

In the groundbreaking parenting book Nurtureshock, by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, the chapter, “Why White Parents Don’t Talk About Race” taught me something about myself. The section explains that white parents often think that by ignoring race we will teach our children that race is not important and everyone is equal. In fact, they write, research shows that this does not work.

I have a feeling that if Bronson and Merryman were writing this today, they might go a step further and say that white parents must actively teach children that it’s not enough to see everyone as equal. We must also see how people are not treated equally and actively work to change this inequality in our society. The following list of books for children, from toddlers to teens, goes beyond celebrations of diversity; these acclaimed books educate children about racism in our society and open conversations about social justice.

50 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sun, 04/19/2020 - 11:58am

When rain or cold weather—or a pandemic—keeps kids inside, it can be hard to keep everyone entertained. But, staying at home can be lots of fun if you're armed with the right indoor activities.

Below, we've rounded up 50 indoor, boredom-busting games, crafts, and other things to do with kids to turn a rainy day into a memorable one. If you need more ideas, you'll find tons of indoor activities in our Stay-at-Home Guide. We've also got a toddler-friendly list of 30+ activities to keep little ones busy and happy at home. So, read on and relish this time inside.

Best Virtual Party Performers and Kids Birthday Parties to Celebrate Online

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sun, 04/12/2020 - 12:00pm

Make your child's birthday special even while staying at home with virtual parties offered by top performers and kids party providers.

Social distancing doesn’t need to be socially isolating. Take advantage of technology to help your birthday boy or girl celebrate with friends and family. Many favorite party providers are transitioning their acts to digital platforms like Zoom or Google Hangouts so kids and their friends can still have all the great group activities of a traditional birthday party. As an added bonus, these virtual parties are often much more affordable than their in-person alternatives.

Read on for our suggestions on some of the best virtual party providers to try, and get more parent-tested resources for this period of social distancing in our Stay-at-Home Guide.

Great Arts Camps for NYC Kids to Learn to Paint, Sculpt, Sing and Perform

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 02/25/2020 - 6:45pm

There's no place better than New York City for kids to learn about art, and what better way for your child to pursue their creative passions than a summer art camp? Many professional artists moonlight as talented teachers, and the demand for art programs has created a wealth of exceptional art classes and arts camps. Whether your child is into visual arts, performing arts, or wants to sample all the arts, we've found After 15 exceptional arts camps, which all excel for different reasons.

We found visual arts camps, performing arts camps, and more creative camps with programs like circus arts. Some arts camps allow kids to sample a little of everything. From summer-long intensives to week-long sampler sessions, no matter their age, if your child is ready to dive into a summer of artistic expression, read on to find the perfect arts camp.

If you need more ideas, check out our Camp Guide and full Directory of Listings for dozens more great camps.

Grand Isle Resort and Spa in Great Exuma, Bahamas Offers Laid-Back Luxury

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 02/22/2020 - 2:02pm

Spared by the recent hurricane, the Exumas in the Bahamas have become an increasingly popular destination, including among families who are discovering these laid-back island paradises in the Caribbean.

The Exumas are a string of islands and cays in the Bahamas with white sand beaches and turquoise-blue waters. This area of the Bahamas is much less developed than Nassau and Paradise Island, which are popular for attractions like Atlantis. Here you'll find fewer crowds and more natural shorelines.

While celebrities and millionaires build homes on the remote and beautiful string of cays, most families head to Great Exuma or Little Exuma for their vacations. And, as any local will tell you, Grand Isle Resort and Spa is the best resort in Exuma for families.

Free and Cheap Summer Camps for NYC Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 01/24/2020 - 4:00pm

Summer camp can be especially stressful for your family's finances—while we want our children to have a fun, rewarding, and safe experience, we don't want to dig into our retirement fund to pay for it. Even if your family's swimming in money (and if you are, congrats), we all appreciate a good bargain.

Although there seem to be fewer FREE New York City summer camps than in years past, our list of inexpensive or cheaper camps for local kids is still substantial. Arts and education funding subsidizes some excellent New York City programs so all children can experience the fantastic resources of this city.

Read on for all our picks for FREE and bargain summer camps for NYC kids. You can find even more summer options in our jam-packed Summer Camp Guide and search for programs by interest, age range, and location in our Camp Directory.

9 Family-Friendly Ski Areas Near NYC For Your Next Winter Getaway

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sun, 01/19/2020 - 4:00pm

Now that winter has arrived, it's time to embrace the chill by getting out and hitting the slopes at one of these family-friendly ski areas near NYC. We've rounded up nine nearby options sure to entertain any family, whether you're bringing along beginners, looking for an all-inclusive weekend away, or want entertaining perks beyond the slopes.

A winter sport like skiing is a great way to get outdoors as a family, and it makes the warm weather seem to come much sooner. Read on to find out which of these family-friendly ski areas near NYC matches your skill level and interest. Want more family-friendly ski spots or picks for other snow sports? Check out our Skiing and Snow Sports Guide, which offers more options in the tri-state area, New England, and even California. We've also got picks for the best snowboarding parks and snow tubing spots nearby.

45 Snow Day Boredom Busters for Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 01/09/2020 - 11:05am

When the weatherman predicts a snow day, you can almost hear the collective cries of joy from children—and the sighs of resignation from the adults who will miss work to entertain a houseful of stir-crazy kids. The first school snow day might be a treat, but by the second, third, or fourth of the winter season, everyone starts running out of things to do on a snow day spent indoors while the storm subsides.

Before your brood drives you batty, scan through this list of 45 fun things to do on a snow day, from baking projects (cake in a mug) to cool crafts (homemade puff paint) and fun games for kids (indoor snowball fight or DIY obstacle course). We think you’ll find enough ideas to keep them happily entertained until the school bus pulls up again. Have fun and good luck!

Find more crafts, recipes, and at-home projects and even science experiments in our Boredom Busters Activities Guide.

Anna Fader

Anna Fader

Latest posts by Anna

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