Sonia Gonzalez

Sonia Gonzalez

Sonia is a veteran editor and writer for Mommy Poppins. She loves exploring greater New York with her husband and their three kids and is always on the looking out for innovative, educational and fun things to do with them. She is thrilled to have this platform to share what she finds with Mommy Poppins readers.

Latest posts by Sonia

7 Ball Pits in NYC for Jumping Fun

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Fri, 12/11/2015 - 10:00am

Ball pits. Kids love 'em but many parents worry that they're a cesspool of germs. (Most McDonald's and Chuck E. Cheese's have removed them because they just couldn't clean them properly.) But there are a handful of ball pits in New York City at places that seem to have a much better handle on the whole sanitizing thing.

Even if you're still a little skeptical, think about all the fun you had in ball pits as a child (because you know you did). Plus with winter upon us, ball pits are a great place for kids to have fun indoors when it's cold or rainy. Your kids will have a blast diving, tossing and romping around. Some of these places also make great birthday party spots.

Pasture-Raised, Organic Turkeys in Westchester and Lower Hudson Valley

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Tue, 10/27/2015 - 7:40am

As we wind down the Halloween festivities, I'm already thinking about Thanksgiving and all the wonderfully delicious food that awaits! A juicy, flavorful turkey is the centerpiece of so many family tables and now is the time to consider where to snag the freshest turkey you can find. Sure, you can go to your neighborhood supermarket, but if you're looking fresh, locally sourced turkeys this year, consider one of the many farms in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley.

Read on for your best bets for organic, pasture-raised turkeys and be sure to place your order as soon as possible, as turkeys from these farms tend to sell out quickly!

Apple Picking with Kids in Orange and Dutchess Counties

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Sat, 09/20/2014 - 9:00am

Apple picking is a fall tradition in the northeast. In Westchester, we're lucky to have so many local orchards to choose from. In addition to options in Westchester and Rockland, Dutchess and Orange counties offer many more apple picking farms and orchards. Here we gathered our top 5 picks for a day of family fun.

In addition to apple and pumpkin picking, these orchards offer lots of activities including petting zoos, puppet shows, haunted houses, corn and apple mazes, rides, even wine tasting! In addition, some offer other pick-your-own options including nectarines, plums, eggplant and peppers.

For more seasonal fun, check out our September Go List and our roundup of local fall festivals.

Open Houses and Classes with Free Trials: After School Enrichment Options for Westchester Kids

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Thu, 09/04/2014 - 9:00pm

Back to school is upon us and with it comes the dizzying to-do list—school supplies, new clothes, pressed uniforms, meeting new teachers, coordinating carpools and more. If, through this hustle and bustle, you've managed to also get extracurricular activities in order and your kids signed up, you're a step ahead of many of us that haven't yet signed our kids up for classes. With so many wonderful class options throughout Westchester, how do you decide?

You can start by attending an open house at one of the many class offerings in and around Westchester. Some host only one open house while others offer multiple dates. There are many coming up and we've gathered up the details for you. Take a look; you just might find your kids' next great passion. For more options, peruse our Class Directory. We'll continue to update our listings so check back often. Better yet, sign up for our FREE newsletter to stay up to date on everything Westchester has to offer families and kids.

Introducing Our Westchester Kids' Classes Guide

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Sat, 08/16/2014 - 9:00am

As hard as it may be for some of us to believe, Back to School is just around the corner. Part of getting ready for the new school year (in addition to shopping), is trying to decide what extracurricular classes you kids will take this year. If your kids are anything like mine, they've got a mile-long list of classes they simply MUST take. After narrowing the list down to a workable number, there's still the question of where to take classes. That's where we come in. We've designed a Westchester Kids Classes Guide, filled with reviews and roundups of different classes throughout the county, to help you find just what you and your kids are looking for. We've also launched a brand new Class Directory where you can browse programs by location, category and age range.

Family-Friendly Restaurants in Pelham Bay, Bronx: Locally Owned Favorites That Welcome Kids

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 11:00am

During our month-long focus on the Bronx's Pelham Bay, we've highlighted the 25 best things to do with kids in the neighborhood and explored the attraction-filled Pelham Bay Park, NYC's largest green space. We wrap up our coverage with a roundup of our favorite kid-friendly restaurants in Pelham Bay. Since my family lives here, we've been to all of them and can recommend them personally.

While Pelham Bay isn't a foodie destination, we do have a lot of great, homey restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines like Italian, Mexican and Thai, plus some decadent dessert spots. And since it's such a big family neighborhood, it's no surprise that most of our eateries don't just accommodate kids, they welcome them. Here are my family's top nine Pelham Bay restaurants where we love eating with the kids, most within walking distance of Pelham Bay Park.

It's My Park Day and Other NYC Outdoor Volunteering Opportunities for Families

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Sun, 03/16/2014 - 10:00am

Spring isn't just a great season to visit NYC's fabulous parks and playgrounds, it's the perfect time to volunteer in them, too. That's why we love It's My Park Day, an initiative organized by Partnership for Parks and held twice a year in the spring and fall. It's My Park Day brings together thousands of caring New Yorkers looking to help spruce up their neighborhood green spaces. It's a great way to teach your kids about the importance of giving back to your community. After all, these are the parks they play in!

There are It's My Park Day events throughout the five boroughs and they take place throughout the month of May, mostly on weekends. In addition to cleaning, weeding and other chores, many gatherings feature arts and crafts, giveaways and a celebratory atmosphere. We’ve got the details about how to get involved with It's My Park Day, as well as other ways your family can volunteer outdoors in the city this spring.

Our New Westchester Camp Guide & Business Listings with Improved Search & Features

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Fri, 03/14/2014 - 9:00am

Recently we asked our readers to take a short survey and share their thoughts about how to improve our Summer Camp Guide. Overwhelmingly, we heard that you wanted a combination of our editorial recommendations, plus the ability to search listings and find recommendations from other parents.

So we're happy to debut our new Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, featuring an improved search, parent reviews and star ratings. Even better: Our overhauled Directory isn't just for camps. Soon we'll introduce listings for party places and services, enriching classes, indoor play spaces and more.

Read on to find out more or head straight to our Summer Camp Guide and Directory to browse the listings and leave reviews for your favorite programs.