Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

Midtown East: 41 Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 04/17/2023 - 4:57pm

Fifth Avenue is lined with big-name shops, tourist attractions, and charming plantings and art installations in all seasons.

Midtown East is sometimes dismissed by native New Yorkers as tourist central. And yes, thanks to world-famous attractions like the Empire State Building, high-end Fifth Avenue retailers, the lion-flanked New York Public Library, the United Nations, and Rockefeller Center with its ice skating rink, Christmas tree, and observation deck, the neighborhood is often packed with out-of-towners.

However, hidden inside some high-rise office buildings are gems for local families such as the Ford Foundation Building's indoor garden, and Midtown East is also home to cultural institutions like the Morgan Library & Museum, Scandinavia House, and the Japan Society, plus perennial kid-pleasers American Girl New York and the Lego Store.

Read on for our top things to do in Midtown East with kids and find more fun neighborhoods to explore in our NYC Kids Neighborhood Guides.

Visiting CityPickle at Wollman Rink with Kids: NYC's New Pickleball Destination

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 04/12/2023 - 9:55am

CityPickle has opened up 14 pickleball courts spread across Wollman Rink for the spring, summer, and early fall.

Pickleball, the fast-growing, easy-to-play, all-ages racket sport has a brand new home in NYC: CityPickle has taken over Wollman Rink in Central Park for the spring, summer, and early fall.

Bringing with it 14 pickleball courts, CityPickle is the largest pickleball installation in NYC and offers 196 bookable hours daily between now and when it closes up shop in October so the famed ice skating rink can have its valuable real estate back.

To test out the kid-friendliness of CityPickle, we rounded up a pack of 9- and 10-year-old pickleball novices and took a CityPickle lesson. From learning about the kitchen to dinks, drives, and serves, read on for our experience and to learn how you can get in the pickleball game yourself at CityPickle this season.

Indulge in Afternoon Tea with Peter Rabbit at The Peninsula New York

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 04/11/2023 - 12:27pm

Towers of tea treats and an elegant setting make The Peninsula's Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea a special springtime experience.

High tea is a perfect experience gift for kids—or parents—of a certain age, and there's a brand-new Peter Rabbit-themed afternoon tea taking over elegant Gotham Lounge at The Peninsula New York—one of our favorite family-friendly hotels in NYC this month.

Naturally, my daughters hopped at the chance to get dressed up and join me for this lovely outing. Read on for the full details on this indulgent high tea and find more of our favorite restaurants serving high tea in NYC.

Easter Scavenger Hunts and Other Easter Egg Hunt Ideas

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 04/10/2023 - 12:00pm

If you're looking for a fun and creative twist on the traditional Easter egg hunt, Easter scavenger hunts are a great option. Rather than simply having kids search for hidden eggs, Easter scavenger hunts allow them to solve clues, read maps, perform funny actions, and do other fun things on their quest to collect those coveted plastic eggs. Plus, an Easter scavenger hunt just might add enough oomph to keep teens engaged as well.

We've also included some creative ideas for traditional Easter egg hunts, as well as some non-candy egg stuffers to delight kids of all ages.

For more Easter fun, check out our Easter Activities Guide for families, which includes everything from Easter crafts and egg-dyeing ideas to awesome Easter movies to get the whole family hoppin'. While you’re at it, go ahead and indulge in some of that Easter candy—you deserve it!

Roller Skating in NYC for Kids and Families

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 04/09/2023 - 7:27am

The Pier 2 Roller Rink is great for both daring speed seekers and beginners. Photo by Diana Kim

Roller skating provides plenty of old school, all-ages fun. With the city's popular ice skating season in the rearview, trade in your ice skates for quads and hit one of these roller skating rinks in NYC or just beyond city limits.

The return of Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace and pop-ups like Brooklyn's Roller Wave mean NYC families have more choices than ever for unique roller skating rinks to explore.

In addition to retro roller skating fun, many of these roller skating rinks offer extras, including arcade games, bounce houses, and party packages. So lace up your quads and get moving at these roller skating rinks in NYC!

Best Things to Do in Coney Island With Kids: Luna Park, Aquarium, Beach, Mermaids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 3:50pm

Visit the rides along the Coney Island boardwalk. Photo by Julienne Schaer for NYCgo

The shores of Coney Island and Brighton Beach open for the season Memorial Day weekend, but the amusement park rides have been spinning since early spring, and the boardwalk and New York Aquarium are always action-packed, making this season the perfect time for a Brooklyn day-cation!

From enjoying the sandy beach and waves, to amusement park thrills, and delicious sweets and treats, here are the best things to do in Coney Island with kids this season.

53 Things To Do on an NYC Staycation with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 5:01pm

Treat NYC as your playground and enjoy these staycation ideas across all five boroughs. Photo by Jody Mercier

Visitors never lack for things to do in NYC, but when is the last time you enjoyed a staycation and checked some of the city's must-dos off your list? With spring break on the horizon, you might be planning a visit to one of these family-friendly all-inclusive resorts, but if a big vacation is not in the cards, consider the glory of a staycation and let New York City provide a week's worth of entertainment.

We've pulled together this gold mine of activities for families looking to keep busy during spring break—or anytime—in the Big Apple. From exhibitions and excursions to our favorite zoos, to everyday fun in our beautiful parks and playgrounds, we've found 53 great things to do in NYC during a staycation. Find more top picks for the best NYC has to offer on our list of NYC's top attractions, plus our curated three-day itinerary for exploring our own backyard.

70 Life Skills Your Kid Needs Before College

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 11:00am

Make sure your kiddo knows their way around a washer! Photo courtesy of Canva

When it comes to life skills, I can’t be the only mom of a college-bound senior wondering whether I’ve done all I can to prepare my kid for life outside my day-to-day care. High school graduation is on the horizon, and my son will fly the coop shortly thereafter. He’s smart, poised, and well-spoken, and I marvel every day that I had any role in shaping this incredible human. I also worry that I haven’t done nearly enough to teach him how to handle the day-to-day life skills that seem almost innate to me.

So, to help him—and me—prepare for his college days, I’ve put together this list of 70 life skills for teens. Checking off even a few of these lessons before my son heads to college will ease my mind, and hopefully his!

Looking for life skills for younger kids? We’ve got a list of 65 life skills for kids of all ages that will get you teaching everyone from toddlers to teens. And, take it from me, you’ll need this list soon, because high school graduation comes quicker than you think!

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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