Jody Mercier

When asked to illustrate her dream job as a first grader, Jody drew a picture of a mom with one kid on each hip and another clinging to her leg. All these years later, that is her reality, raising three kids in New York City. Since that gig only pays in hugs and kisses, she has spent her professional career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting topics. She's currently the regional editor overseeing the Mommy Poppins NYC, New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester sites and can be reached at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody Mercier

Best Free Annual Parades in New York City for Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 5:10pm

The streets come alive with tons of dance genres during the lively New York Dance Parade each May. Photo by Leonard Rosmarin

As the saying goes, everyone loves a parade. And during the warmer months, there are parades in NYC practically every week celebrating a wide variety of cultures and causes, and all of them are FREE.

While it's always cool to watch the colorful costumes, floats, and performers pass by, there are certain annual parades in New York City that are particularly great for families. These processions are either exceptionally vibrant, like Chinatown's Lunar New Year Parade or the Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem, or invite costumed kids to get in on the action, like the small, community-based Halloween Parades that are much less intense than the big one in Greenwich Village.

Included in our list are popular NYC parades we've attended—some many times—or those that come highly recommended. So, get out your calendar, and save these dates to see if you can catch them all!

Top Preschool Summer Camps in Lower Manhattan

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 03/06/2022 - 2:53pm

Green Ivy provides a warm and enriching summer camp experience for children ages 2-5. Photo courtesy of the school

When it comes time to enroll your little one in their first summer camp experience, you're likely looking for a summer camp that fits your parenting philosophy and won't overwhelm your first-time camper. These preschool summer day camps in Lower Manhattan fit the bill, by catering just to young campers or offering small, age-specific groups, enriching activities, and plenty of fun indoors and out.

We've found 10 preschool summer camps in the neighborhood—ranging from Chelsea all the way south to Battery Park and from river to river—practically guaranteed to get your little one excited to return day after hot summer day. For more summer camps in New York City, including picks for preschool summer camps citywide, free and cheap summer camps in NYC for kids, and more, be sure to bookmark our New York City Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

25 Good-to-Know Tips for New Parents in New York City

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 5:41pm

New baby on board? There are a few tricks to navigating NYC. Photo by the author

Whether you moved here as a 20-something, or are a lifelong New Yorker, you might think you've got this city figured out. After all, you know the ins and outs of roommate searches, you can score theater tickets on the cheap, or find the nearest happy hour or trendy bite to eat with the blink of an eye, but once you become a parent, New York City is a foreign land.

I've been in your shoes, going from a carefree young professional to a diaper-bag-toting mom seemingly overnight. Really, it was nine months of staring down my "new" New York while fighting off morning sickness and simultaneously searching for birthing spots, pediatricians, daycares, and baby gear. That was (ahem) 16 years and three kids ago...so I've picked up a few tricks and tools of the trade.

Here are 25 nuggets of NYC new parent advice. Find more baby and new parent hacks in our NYC Pregnancy and Baby Guide.

12 Cool NYC Escape Rooms for Kids to Conquer

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 12:00pm

Kids embark on a quest at Ripley's Relic in Times Square. Photo by Stuart Ramson/AP Images

For parents, living in a tiny New York City apartment can feel like a constant escape game. The clutter is closing in on you and you've got to locate two toddler shoes, a missing must-have accessory for your tween, and your own MIA cell phone before you can unlock the door to take on the mean city streets. If your clever kids don't see the game in that routine, they might be up for a different kind of challenge. Consider splurging on an afternoon in one of these kid-friendly escape rooms, where their puzzle skills (and yours!) will be put to the test.

These escape rooms are all great for birthday parties or even just "I'm bored" days. For more outings that are perfect for birthdays or family fun days, check out our Guide to the Best Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones in NYC.

Furry Friends, Camps, Classes, and More Await at The Art Farm

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 02/21/2022 - 4:00pm

Meet—and feed—the furry, friendly bunnies at The Art Farm.

Enter The Art Farm, and it’s easy to forget you’re in the heart of Manhattan. This out-of-the-ordinary learning center is full of unexpected surprises. Situated in a bustling corner of the family-friendly Upper East Side—a neighborhood it’s called home since its founding 20 years ago!—this nature-focused spot is a haven for animals and animal lovers alike.

From preschool to after-school, summer camp to drop-in classes and birthday parties to baking, The Art Farm seemingly has it all. Read on to learn about our visit, which was full of new, furry friends and even some chinchilla kisses.

40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 02/18/2022 - 4:17pm

No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird

There are a million great things to do in NYC, but which ones are truly fun and worth-it to visit with kids? New York City’s museums are world-class, its food scene is diverse and ever reinventing, and the city teems with history ranging from colonial times to the 2000s. We've visited them all and here are our recommendations of the best things to do in NYC with kids. Bookmark this list of the top 40 attractions in New York City until you've done them all!.

We’ve got picks for the most family-friendly hotels for your next visit and our guides to Kid-Friendly Restaurants, the best Museums and Galleries in NYC, and the top Parks and Playgrounds offer even more family-friendly picks to explore during your visit to New York City.

Children's Film Festivals and Indie Movie Theaters in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 02/01/2022 - 6:40pm

Anne Frank's story is immortalized and introduced to a new generation in NYICFF's opening night presentation of 'Where is Anne Frank.'

A visit to the movies is tempting in the cold of winter, but if you're not quite ready for the crowds at the local mega theater, now is the perfect time to rediscover the magic of the movies with a visit to one of the children's film festivals and independent theaters that call New York City home.

The midwinter season is home to a trio of indie film fests that cater to the kid-sized set, with the BAMkids Film Festival and FIAF's Animation First Fest taking to the screens in February, while the New York International Children's Film Festival brings back in-person programming in March. Read on for details on these children's film festivals, plus other local festivals and film series catering to kids.

15 Family-Friendly Catskills Resorts for Your Next Weekend Getaway

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 01/27/2022 - 4:00pm

The historic Kenoza Hall is perched on a hillside, boasts lake-front views, and soon family-friendly bungalows. Photo by the author

When it comes to travel convenience, charm, and a real feeling of escaping every day, it's hard to beat a getaway to New York's Catskills. Near enough to the NYC metro area for a quick weekend trip, the region is packed with small-town charm, yet overflows with family-friendly destinations from ski resorts to alpaca farms and everything in between.

In short, if you're looking for a family-friendly weekend escape, look no further than this list of 15 family-friendly Catskills resorts. Once you've booked your accommodations, start plotting your other must-do's with our picks for 25 things to do in the Catskills with kids and find more local travel inspiration in our Guide to Weekend Getaways and Family Day Trips.

Latest posts by Jody Mercier

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