Diana Kim

Diana Kim has been a contributor to Mommy Poppins for nearly 8 years. A Brooklyn mom of three (ages 7-16), she loves exploring family-friendly events and activities in Brooklyn and sharing the best finds with readers.

Latest posts by Diana

Single-Day Camps and Classes in NYC You Can Book Today

Submitted by Diana Kim on Tue, 06/13/2023 - 1:36pm

One of the best parts of Playday’s amazing art classes is the flexibility it offers families.

Between the end of the school year and the start of summer camp, families often need classes and activities that offer last-minute, drop-in options or single-day summer camps to keep kids busy. We've rounded up eight local summer camps and classes that offer programming during this time and give parents lots of scheduling flexibility, so you can sign up at the last minute. Lest you think this list is just for summer camp, keep it handy: Many offer of these single-day summer camps also offer programming during the random days off that pepper the NYC public school calendar. There's even a cool workspace on the list that provides childcare and kids' activities while parents get some work done.

If you need more coverage than these one-day summer camps and classes offer, bookmark our Summer Camp Guide and NYC Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps in NYC by type, age, and neighborhood.

Rockaways with Kids: 25 Things To Do at Rockaway Beach and Beyond

Submitted by Diana Kim on Thu, 05/18/2023 - 6:01pm

The sandy shores at Rockaway Beach span more than 5 1/2 miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Photo courtesy of NYCGo

Rockaway Beach is home to soft sand and formidable Atlantic Ocean waves—it's the only shore in NYC where you're allowed to surf. Although this area was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy, the boardwalk and Rockaway Park have been renovated with amazing playgrounds and water play areas. It's a perfect spot for a beachy daycation and much closer to home for locals than The Hamptons.

Read on for all you need to know about spending a day at Rockaway Beach with kids. Beyond the basics—sand! surf!—we've outlined need-to-know info like how to get to Rockaway Beach and the best things to do when you arrive at this NYC summer favorite. Find more local beaches to explore in our Guide to NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks.

Best Outdoor Dining in Brooklyn at Family-Friendly Restaurants

Submitted by Diana Kim on Fri, 05/12/2023 - 4:20pm

Eat on the rooftop at Fornino on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. Photo by Lisa Seibold-Winder

Now that outdoor dining season is upon us, you'll be pleased to know Brooklyn boasts its share of restaurants with outdoor seating that go far behind simple sidewalk tables. We know parents are looking for more spacious outdoor dining at restaurants with patios, a backyard, picnic tables, and sometimes even a bit of grass!

Just in time for summer, we've rounded up our favorite restaurants for outdoor dining in Brooklyn. These family-friendly restaurants feature ample outdoor space, serve delicious food, and welcome families with children. If you're in the mood for variety, we've included a mix of cuisines: Japanese, Mexican, Cuban, southern comfort, and, of course, pizza, barbecue, and new American.

Headed to Brooklyn from a neighboring area? Browse our Brooklyn Kids Guide to take full advantage of the borough while you're there, or peruse our NYC Restaurant Guide for more family-friendly eats.

24 Secret NYC Spots Kids Love

Submitted by Diana Kim on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 4:49pm

Susan Gardner’s Mosaic House in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn has been covered with tiles, jewels, stones, glass, and other mosaic materials.

While New York City is home to some of the world's most popular tourist attractions for kids, it's also full of secret spots and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. That's part of the charm and fun of living in a city like New York. We've rounded up 24 secret spots in NYC that kids will love. From secret gardens to waterfall tunnels, kids get a kick out of discovering these under-the-radar attractions.

Looking for more off-the-beaten path attractions to explore? Check out our roundups of the coolest secret gardens in NYC and our top picks for underrated parks you must visit this season. Of course, we've got to picks for popular tourist spots in our NYC Visitors Guide for Families, too.

37 Things To Do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with Kids

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 04/24/2023 - 5:43pm

Domino Park and Tacocina offer stunning views of the Williamsburg waterfront and Manhattan beyond. Photo courtesy of Tacocina

Williamsburg, Brooklyn has a reputation as a haven for the hipster set, but families are just as at home in this buzzy, culture-rich neighborhood. Sprinkled in among all the nightlife and trendy boutiques are lots of family-friendly restaurants, shopping, and activities. And the neighborhood is home to some of NYC's most action-packed parks: McCarren Park, a 35-acre green space with playgrounds, sports fields, and a pool; Marsha P. Johnson East River State Park, home to Smorgasburg and skyline views; and Domino Park, the exciting waterfront play space inspired by the former Domino Sugar refinery, a neighborhood landmark, that's getting a new lease on life.

Williamsburg is easily accessible by subway from the G, J, M, Z, and L lines, so even if you don’t live in the neighborhood, you can experience all of the culture and color of this unique Brooklyn neighborhood. Here are our picks for the best things to do with kids in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Find more new-to-you neighborhoods to explore in our Guide to NYC Neighborhoods.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Tips for a Magical Experience in Orlando

Submitted by Diana Kim on Sun, 04/09/2023 - 11:59am

Use our visitors guide to navigate The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.

At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, experience magic and adventure in Orlando! Explore Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley, and other fictional locations that come to life in our world. While visiting Universal Orlando may be daunting for Muggles, we've got the scoop on how to make your visit a magical success.

I recently visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with my two kids, and we had a blast! From butterbeer and wand shopping, to casting spells and riding hippogriffs, there so much fun to be had at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. Don your robes, pack your wand, and read on for all our expert tips.

Visiting Urban Air Adventure Park in Brooklyn with Kids

Submitted by Diana Kim on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 4:31pm

Urban Air Adventure Park goes way beyond a typical trampoline park, with ropes courses, climbers, mega playgrounds, VR, and more.

Sunset Park's Urban Air Adventure Park gives Brooklyn kids a whole new place to play. This new trampoline park gives kids space to jump, bounce, fly, and play to their hearts' content in a safe environment. While Brooklyn families are fortunate to have a number of indoor places to play from climbing gyms and ninja warrior courses to indoor playgrounds, there hadn't been a trampoline park in the borough for a few years. Urban Air Adventure Park, which opened in late 2022, changed that bringing with it a variety of all-ages attractions. It's one of those rare destinations where a preschooler and a tween can run around and have fun.

Read on for our visit to this ultimate indoor playground and find more places for action-packed playtime in our Guide to Sports Centers, Gyms, and Fun Zones in NYC.

Coolest Vintage and Thrift Stores for Teens in NYC

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 03/20/2023 - 1:14pm

L Train Village offers a micro-chain of well-stocked and well-organized thrift stores in NYC. Photo by the author

These thrift stores in NYC are the perfect antidote to teens changing style whims. Seasoned parents can tell you that shopping for kids becomes a lot harder as they age. Teens are still trying to find their own unique style, so there's no need to spend a fortune on trendy items they will outgrow or that go out of style quickly. Kicks, rocker tees, jeans, funky bags, and accessories are all in high demand and easily found in multiple at vintage stores and thrift shops in NYC. Teens have a blast browsing racks hunting for that perfect T-shirt or pair of jeans.

NYC abounds with vintage and thrift shops. We've rounded up a selection of thrift stores in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx that offer a large and varied selection of clothes, shoes, and accessories for teens. Have some cash on hand and get ready for a vintage shopping spree. Find more age-appropriate activities and destinations in our NYC Tween and Teen Guide.

Diana Kim

Latest posts by Diana

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