Charlotte Blanton
Charlotte Blanton, a Central Florida native and mom of three, holds a business degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After a career in corporate finance, she pivoted to stay home with her kids and found her passion for writing through Mommy Poppins. She loves exploring local theme parks and discovering fun activities for families in Central Florida.
Latest posts by Charlotte
Central Florida is starting the New Year with lots of fun things to do with your family in January. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Orlando this January.
Grab tickets to take your little dinosaur fan to the Jurassic World Live Tour, coming to the Amway Center this month. At the theme parks in January, celebrate Elmo's Birthday and Sesame Street Kids' Weekend at SeaWorld and stroll the Festival of the Arts at Epcot. Join Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in Kissimmee, Oviedo, Winter Garden, and a parade in downtown Orlando. Plus, enjoy the Scottish Highland Games in Winter Springs, a chili cook-off in Orlando, and so much more. Read on for all the details!
Find more top winter fun in our Winter Activities Guide, including where to pick strawberries, things to do beyond the theme parks, and more.
We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters. Plus, be sure to follow us on Facebook!
It’s been a great year for new attractions in Central Florida! New in 2022 in Orlando were the openings of a brand new amusement park – Peppa Pig Theme Park – as well as new coasters such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and Ice Breaker at Sea World. We’ve rounded up a "best of Orlando" list of what was new in 2022.
Orlando families looking to develop strong language skills in young kids can choose to enroll in dual immersion and bilingual preschool programs. Between the ages of three and five, a child's vocabulary grows rapidly, making preschool kids extremely receptive to learning new languages. Research suggests that the long-term benefits for kids that learn a second language in these bilingual preschools and dual immersion programs are numerous, including higher scores on standardized tests, advanced reading skills, and greater opportunities for college and the work force.
We've rounded up a list of Orlando preschools that offer dual immersion and bilingual school programs, with languages like Spanish, Chinese, French, and more.
Legoland Florida was built for kids, so there’s no question that Legoland’s Brick-or-Treat is an ideal fall outing for families. This year’s Brick-or-Treat theme is Monster Party, and plenty of Lego monsters are on site to party with guests! I visited the theme park with my 4-year-old and 9-year-old, and we all had a great time. Guests can trick-or-treat through the park, enjoy special themed shows and activities, partake in a costume parade, and more. The best part? All activities are included with regular park admission, so no separate ticket is needed!
For more Halloween fun around Central Florida, check out our Mommy Poppins Orlando Halloween Guide.
Looking for the perfect family vacation destination in the mountains? My Florida-based family loves the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN area, home to endless kid-friendly attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities. We've visited this beautiful southern vacation spot several times in the last few years and always find new activities for all ages to enjoy, from toddlers to grandparents.
It helps that both of these Tennessee towns are just moments away from two of the area's top attractions: Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood, a mega theme park. And with so many family-friendly Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge hotels, you won't have trouble finding a great place to stay while you're in town.
My family and I visited Disney’s Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. As a Central Florida native, I've been to Disney many times but never visited for a special party event, so I was excited to experience this for the first time! For those who don’t know, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a separate ticketed event that takes place select nights, starting in mid-August and running through Halloween. Many guests go all out in costume for this special event, which features enchanting shows, character meet-and-greets, a themed parade, Halloween fireworks, and of course, trick-or-treating!
Giving your little one a head start at a quality preschool can build a solid foundation in social and pre-academic skills, readying them for kindergarten and beyond. In the state of Florida, all children 4 years of age (as of September 1) are eligible for VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten), a state-funded program that is FREE for families. Most preschools in Orlando offer VPK for eligible 4-year-olds. Plus, several Orlando preschools offer programs for 2- and 3-year-olds as well. Finding the right fit of preschool can seem daunting, so we've asked local families and rounded up a list of the best preschools around Central Florida.
Touring preschools? Here are the top questions you need to ask during your tour. If you would like articles like this delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our email list.
Do your kids love helping out in the kitchen? Sign them up for one of these fun and delicious Orlando cooking classes! Cooking and baking are great activities for kids —including kids in meal preparation can help boost their confidence, improve math and reading skills, and encourage creativity. Even picky eaters can develop a more adventurous palate since they are more likely to eat foods they have prepared. We have rounded up several businesses around Central Florida offering baking and cooking classes for kids of all ages, from toddler to teen.
Pages
