Anna Fader

Founder of Mommy Poppins

A fourth-generation Brooklynite, Anna started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to help families find the best things to do with kids in NYC, with a particular emphasis on sharing activities that are free, affordable, and enriching. The site, used by millions of families, has grown to become the ultimate resource for parents in the major US cities, plus travel guides for 100s of destinations.

Anna is a believer in the magic of summer camps, traveling with kids, and that you can raise kids on a budget and still have a rich life full of amazing memories. Anna's first Mommy Poppins book, The Young Traveler's Journal and Activity Book, published in 2025 and co-written with her daughter, Amelia Eigerman, brings that ethos to life, in addition to this website.

Latest posts by Anna

Free Museum Days (and Always-Free Museums) in NYC

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 01/09/2026 - 9:07am

Kids can see the masterpieces and get hands-on with art during a free visit to MoMA on Friday evenings. Photo by Jody Mercier

When it comes to saving money on culture, there are tons of free museum days and free admission hours offered at a wide variety of New York City's top museums, zoos, gardens, and cultural institutions. Many of these local cultural hubs offer free admission on certain nights, days, or hours at least once a month—a city perk no busy, cash-strapped parent should miss!

It can be hard to keep track of when and where these free museum days in NYC are available, so we've compiled an exhaustive list of free admission days at our favorite NYC cultural spots from the Bronx Zoo to the Brooklyn Children's Museum and every free museum in between.

As always, you can visit our Family Activity Calendar for more budget-friendly kid activities every day or visit our NYC Kids Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits for the latest kid-friendly exhibitions. Also, don't forget to put your library card to work for free admission at many of these same places any day.

Best Sledding Hills in NYC

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 12/26/2025 - 10:47am

Central Park has some great hills for a fast ride. Photo by Jody Mercier

When the flakes fly, the sledding hills in New York City really come to life. Families flock to these local sledding spots spread across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island for wintertime fun with the kids. In compiling our list of the best sledding hills in NYC, we asked our readers, family, and Mommy Poppins writers and editors for their top recommendations for sledding hills citywide.

Looking for more snowy day activities? Read our roundup of snow day boredom busters, and bookmark our NYC Kids Guide to Winter Fun for more seasonal activities.

Where to Take Photos with Santa in NYC 2025

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 11/27/2025 - 1:03pm

Sit on Santa's lap at Historic Richmond Town, which transforms into an old-time Dickens Village for the holidays. Photo courtesy of Historic Richmond Town

Santa Claus is coming to town, and New York City kids have plenty of places to take pictures with Santa this season. From the heartwarming experience at Macy's Santaland to appearances at area malls—Santa is popping up and posing all over town.

Read on for our favorite spots to take pictures with Santa all across the five boroughs, many of which are completely FREE. You can also snap pictures with Santa at these brunches, teas, and cruises. Our NYC Kids' Guide to Christmas and the Holidays offers even more holiday fun.

The Ultimate Guide to Apple Parental Controls: New, Easier, Smarter, and Safer

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 11/20/2025 - 9:36am

Let me walk you through improving your child's safety online. Photo courtesy of Apple

There are probably as many opinions about screen time and kids as there are parents. You may believe in limiting screen time overall, but like to see your kids doing creative things. Or you may not have any issues with screen time, but worry about children’s safety online. We could probably argue all sides of these issues, but one thing I think most parents would agree on is that setting up parental controls, managing screen time, restricting inappropriate content, and protecting kids across all their devices feels like just another overwhelming job that we don’t have time for.

As cynical as I currently am about big tech, I recently previewed the new Apple parental controls suite and left feeling pretty strongly that every family that uses Apple products, from iPhones and iPads to Macs and Apple Watches, should take five minutes to learn about this and, at a minimum, do the one thing I’ll recommend below that will significantly improve your child’s safety online.

Best Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in NYC

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 10/28/2025 - 11:57am

Halloween means candy galore in NYC. Photo by Diana Kim

If you think it's hard to trick-or-treat in New York City, think again. One of my favorite childhood memories of growing up in NYC was Halloween in Greenwich Village when the Village Halloween Parade was just a couple hundred artists and others who marched through the neighborhood. Afterward, we would trick-or-treat up and down the brownstone blocks. Everyone was friendly, and we would come home with our shopping bags filled. It was magical.

Although the parade and Greenwich Village have changed a lot since then, your kids can still enjoy that kind of thrilling trick-or-treat experience in many New York City neighborhoods. Which neighborhood is the best for Halloween trick-or-treating in NYC depends on who you ask. So, we turned to our astute readers and collected recommendations from our parent-driven NYC staff over many, many years to bring you a list of the best places to trick-or-treat in New York City, so you'll know where to bring your kids on Friday, October 31, 2025. It's always a good bet to join one of the local Halloween parades, and then go trick-or-treating throughout the community with local families.

For more seasonal fun, check out our jam-packed New York City Kids' Guide to Halloween, which showcases FREE Halloween events, pumpkin patches, and more.

Best Secondhand Clothing Stores in NYC for Amazing Used Kids' Clothes

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 08/18/2025 - 8:17am

Jane's Exchange has been outfitting little New Yorkers for generations at its East Village secondhand shop. Photo courtesy Jane's Exchange

As parents, we do a fair amount of shopping for our kids, and we're always in search of a good bargain for ever-growing bodies. Personally, I love hitting children's consignment shops and thrift stores.

Besides being a great way to find inexpensive clothes and baby gear, it's fun to stumble across unique items you would never see at a big chain store. Consignment shops are also excellent spots for buying staples like strollers that you use for a little while and then need to pass on.

Shopping secondhand for kids' clothes isn't just budget-friendly—it's also sustainable, community-driven, and fun. From upscale consignment shops in Manhattan to neighborhood gems in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, NYC offers a treasure trove of stylish options for infants, toddlers, tweens, and even expecting parents. If you're shopping for—or with—older kids, take note: There are also some amazing vintage thrift stores in NYC.

Where To Eat With Kids Near the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 08/11/2025 - 12:00pm

Clinton Hall has table games, reasonable prices, and kid-friendly picnic tables to spread out and enjoy a meal following your 9/11 Museum visit. Photo courtesy of the restaurant

Ground Zero in the Financial District has become a must-visit destination for many families visiting NYC. While a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum with kids may be a somber and challenging experience, there's a lot of value to learning about and honoring such an important event.

If you're looking for some dining options in the area, we've rounded up some restaurants in the immediate vicinity of Ground Zero as well as some picks in nearby Battery Park City. While the neighborhood lunch spots mainly cater to office workers, there are many restaurants and establishments that serve fresh, delicious, and affordable meals and treats.

After your meal, stay and explore the rest of FiDi because this historical neighborhood has emerged in recent years as a great family-friendly destination. Find more fun neighborhoods to explore in our Manhattan Kids Guide and more great family-friendly restaurants in our NYC Kids' Guide to Restaurants.

Ultimate New York City Bucket List: 100 Things To Do in NYC with Kids Before They Grow Up

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sun, 07/20/2025 - 7:23am

See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo

Check out these iconic things to do in New York City with kids—including attractions, events, activities, museums, and more—that every native New Yorker really must experience!

The number of family-friendly happenings in New York City on any given day is enough to overwhelm most parents. Our city plays host to top-notch museums for kids, creative play spaces and indoor playgrounds, amazing parks and playgrounds, and even amusement parks, all of which pump out fun children's programming year-round.

Yet, every year, our kids grow up on us a little more. They age out of one activity after another, whether it's storytime at the library, riding a favorite carousel, or just needing to hold our hand as they cross the street. That's why we're focused on finding ways to take advantage of all the amazing things to do in New York City with kids, creating meaningful memories as we go. I created this "life list" of all the things I want to experience with my kids before they grow up. It's not just the stuff that is fun to do, but also the stuff I think will be important to do with them—things that will shape them and be formative in their experience as little New Yorkers. We're also big fans of FREE fun in NYC, so we included as many FREE things to do in NYC as possible!

Without further ado, enjoy this list of 100 things to do in NYC with kids, whether you're a local or a visitor trying to experience the very best of our city. Now, off I go to wring every drop of goodness from the damp, dirty rag that is New York City.

Anna Fader

Latest posts by Anna

Pages