Forget regular pencil cases, this
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Would you rather drink hot chocolate or chocolate milk? Photo by the author
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Get ready for back to school with all the right supplies, classes, and tips.
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Task-tackling service Taskrabbit is able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing.
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Kids love these jokes that require audience participation. Photo by Jay Wood via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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Toys make perfect first birthday gifts for budding toddlers! But which ones? We've got you covered.
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Get a sunscreen they won't mind slathering on! Babyganics Mineral Sunscreen Lotion image courtesy of the company
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We've launched a partnership with Care.com to bring background-checked nannies and sitters to the Mommy Poppins Directory.
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Skip the candy and the plastic that ends up in a landfill with these creative goody bag and party favor ideas. Photo courtesy of Hannah Rodrigo/Unsplash
Unique Goody Bag and Party Favor Ideas for Kids' Birthday Parties
Go ahead. Hand them the iPad; these websites for kids are fun and at least a little educational. Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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A cheap roll of tinfoil, an incline of some sort, and water is all you need for a tinfoil river. Photo by Ally Noel
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Barbie is the hit of the summer, but is this toy movie for kids? Photo courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures
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Join Dairy Queen's Blizzard Fan Club and enjoy a free birthday Blizzard! Photo courtesy of Sunny Daze and Dairy Queen
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All you need for Crazy Hair Day are some cupcake baking cups! Photo by the author
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Kids can play these daily word games alone or with a friend. Photo by Sara Marentette
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Teachers have found inspiring ways to be there for our kids. Here are some ways to show our appreciation. Photo by Yan Krukov, Pexels
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week 2023: Teacher Appreciation Gifts They’ll Love
Sea otters really don't want to get lost! Photo courtesy Joe Robertson/CC BY 2.0
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These questions to ask grandparents help kids get to know their favorite people a little better.
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It's time to plan the ultimate Bluey birthday party!
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Adorable? Yes. Useful? No way. Babies don't need shoes.
Deinfluencing Your Baby Registry: Baby Products You Totally Don’t Need
Starface's star-shaped pimple patches make kids look and feel awesome while dealing with pimples.
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Kudos diapers use four times more plant-based materials than competing brands. Photo courtesy of Shark Tank Products
Best Diaper Subscriptions in 2023: Amazon, Honest, and More
It's up to kids to save our planet, with a little guidance from us. Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels
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Earth Kids: Green Activities for the Planet
There are so many fun ways to reuse your Imperfect Foods boxes. Photo courtesy of Imperfect Foods
How To Get Free Stuff, Save Money, and Reduce Waste
Grab your list and head out for a scavenger hunt with the kids!
Indoor and Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids - Plus Cute Printables!
Walking, talking, grabbing, holding, smiling, laughing... it's all coming. But when? Photo by Tatiana Syrikova, via Pexels
Developmental Milestones for Babies in the First Year
One top tip is getting kids involved from the planning stage, and they'll want to help cook! Photo by Brooke Lark, via Pexels
Family Dinner Secrets from Savvy Parents: Weekly Menu Planners and Meal Planning Made Easy
Just one kid composting can save 400 pounds of food waste a year. So yes, one kid can make a difference! Photo by Maureen Wilkey
Climate Change: How One Kid (You) Can Take Action
When kids are bored, bored, bored, it's handy to have a whole list of fun things to do. Photo by Mommy Poppins
"I’m Bored, What Should I Do?" 100 Things To Do When Kids Are Bored
What kid doesn't love a game of pretend?
50 Snow Day Boredom Busters for Kids: Fun Indoor Activities
There's nothing like a delicious cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. Photo courtesy of Cotton Bro Studios
Hot Chocolate Recipes Kids Adore
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Top Types of Parenting Styles from Gentle Parenting to Tiger Mom: Which Is Best?
Enjoy snow sports or stay cozy indoors with our Winter Activities Guide. Photo by Ally Noel
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Winter Activities Guide for Kids
Disney turns 100 and there will be celebrations from coast to coast. Photo courtesy of Disneyland
20 Family-Friendly Openings We're Looking Forward to in 2023
How about a birthday celebration at a local park for free! Photo by Antonius Ferret vis Pexels
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It's easier than you'd think to turn a simple paper lunch bag into a festive piñata!
How To Make a Piñata at Home: Easy Paper Bag Piñatas
Learn some random fun facts that will leave your kids laughing. Photo by Sara Marentette
75 Fun Facts For Kids That Will Blow Their Minds
Trader Joe's how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: for being inexpensive, gourmet and friendly.
The Best Trader Joe's Food for Families: 50 Favorite Products and Reader's Tips
Snuggle up with one of these beloved bedtime stories for kids.
30 Best Bedtime Stories for Kids, Including Free Bedtime Stories Online
Screen time doesn't have to be a solo activity with these fun, free online games for kids to play with friends.
20 Free Online Games For Kids to Play Together
Take a spin around the lazy river at Mandalay Bay.
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Las Vegas, Nevada: 50 Awesome Things To Do in Vegas with Kids
SingleCare offers major savings on more than 10,000 prescription drugs through its free app.
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The outdoors are a natural playground for curious kids.
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Remember getting your first Cabbage Patch Kid? Photo by Charlotte B
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Are you brave enough for some of these spooky ghost stories?
21 Kid-Friendly Ghost Stories and Spooky Stories for Kids
A perfectly packed lunchbox helps kick the school blues. Photo courtesy of www.YumboxLunch.com
100 School Lunch Ideas for Kids: Back-to-School Lunches Kids Will Actually Eat
Jump rope solo, skip with siblings, or round up the whole gang for double dutch.
40 Classic Outdoor Games for Kids: Backyard Games, Playground Games, and More
Revel in the dirty hands! Outdoor activities help kids sleep better and jumpstarts their imaginations.
30 Outdoor Activities in Nature for Kids for Hands-on Outdoor Learning
Rent a gorgeous backyard pool like this for your family for an hour or a day. Photo courtesy of Swimply
Resort Passes and Daily Pool Rentals Near You: Family Resort Daycations for Everyone
Alphabet Soup. Photo courtesy of foodwithfeeling
100 Top Easy Recipes for Kids: Kid-Friendly Recipes for Every Meal
Gather 'round the campfire and sing some fun songs. Photo courtesy of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
21 Classic and Funny Campfire Songs for Any Camping Trip
These funny jokes for kids will have them laughing in no time!
40 Jokes for Kids That Will Keep the Whole Family in Giggles
Timber Ridge Lodge in Geneva, Wisconsin features both an indoor water park and outdoor pools.
Best Family Resorts with Water Parks: All-Inclusive Family Resorts and More
Kids can give parents tickets if they forget to turn off the water to soap hands or brush teeth!
17 Tricks For How Kids Can Conserve Water: Make Water Conservation Fun
Things like having a children's museum with a view like this make it easy to leave your heart in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of the Bay Area Discovery Museum
Mommy Poppins Launches in Miami and the San Francisco Bay Area
A zip line and more await at Portland's Eagle's Nest Treehouse. Photo courtesy of julian@hipcamp
12 Family-Friendly Tree House Rentals to Delight Their Imaginations
Did you know a pillow fight is a great way to get proprioceptive input? Photo by Mommy Poppins
99 Sensory Activities for Toddlers, Infants, and Kids of All Ages
Find a bare patch of soil to place your seed bomb. Spread them far and wide! Photo by the author
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How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs: An Earth-Friendly Craft for Kids
The Outdoor Play Plaza at Greensboro Children's Museum in North Carolina.
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Enjoy stunning views of the Thames River.
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London With Kids: 60+ Best Things To Do in London on a UK Family Vacation
How does your garden grow? Photo by Filip Urban, Unsplash
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Taco Tuesday makes meal planning easy and dinner kid-pleasing.
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Enjoy the clear turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos.
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Why Ocean Club Resort Turks and Caicos Is Tops on Our Family Vacation List
Watch as kids become entranced by a live show. Photo by Alexis Buatti Ramos, courtesy of the New Victory Theater
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Our guide to living a more earth-friendly life.
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Sometimes #momlife just makes you laugh.
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Plan the perfect at-home kids' birthday party with these ideas and tips. Photo by Kampus Production via Pexels
How to Plan a Kids' Birthday Party At Home
A water park, beach activities, and more await at Coconut Bay's all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia.
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We found plenty of things to do in Paris to fill our days and nights!
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Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
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Children are natural advocates for the planet and our actions truly can make a difference.
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Abracadabra! These videos teach kids how to do magic at home! Photo by Amina Filkins/Pexels
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Try wrapping your tongue around a few of these tantalizing twisters! Photo courtesy of Saeed Karimi via Unsplash
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Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
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Science experiments and STEM activities for kids entrance children with their
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The outdoors are a natural playground for curious kids.
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Even the pickiest toddler will want to literally eat a rainbow.
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Homemade Strawberry Popsicles
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Need a kids' music playlist that will get you dancing, eating, and even learning state capitals? We found a playlist for every occasion.
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Have a Post-it party! Easy but fun games for toddlers can be made with household items.
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The Muppet Show never goes out of style. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprise, Inc.
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These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
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Laila's Lunchbos is a lovely introduction to a child's new country and Ramadan, the month of fasting.
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Photo courtesy of Language Workshop for Children
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It's so important for kids to see themselves on the pages of books.
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Milo Imagines the World, by Matt de la Peña was one of our favorite books of the year.
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Try a little freeze dancing, robot style! Photo courtesy of Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels
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The internet is full of coding programs for kids, but which are the best? We tested them all. Photo courtesy of Kodable
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Long car rides don't have to be boring!
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Selfies are fun, but make sure kids know how to be cell phone safe and smart. Photo courtesy of Kampus Productions, Pexels
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Mexican Instant Pot Quinoa warms on a chilly night.
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The Outdoor Play Plaza at Greensboro Children's Museum in North Carolina.
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Ride the San Diego Zoo Skyfari. Photo courtesy of Christina Simmons, for the San Diego Zoo.
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Canoe or swim in the many lakes and rivers in the Poconos. Photo courtesy of Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau
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Walk the rocks at Fort Williams for views of Portland Head Light and the waves.
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With Bestow, get a personalized term life insurance quote—no medical exam required—in as little as five minutes.
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River Falls Water Park at Orlando World Center Marriott opened in March 2022, just in time for guests to cool off this summer! Photo by Jackie Jones
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Keep babies occupied with highchair activities at their own baby activity center.
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Climb to the highest point in Tennessee at Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Meet and help feed the gorgeous Caribbean flamingos at Discovery Cove. Photo courtesy Discovery Cove.
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Dessert charcutterie boards, like this S'mores Board, delight kids and parents alike.
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Build trains, cars, houses, and creatures with cardboard boxes!
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A water park, beach activities, and more await at Coconut Bay's all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia.
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Sleep in a spaceship at the Area 55 Futuro House. Photo courtesy of Airbnb
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Use recyclables and household objects to build a better bridge.
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Climb Monument Mountain for panoramic views of the Berkshires. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
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The Saguaro in Palm Springs, California, beckons families with its pool and more.
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Hike the Appalachian Trail—72 miles are n New Jersey! Photo courtesy of Visit NJ
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The Skydeck at Willis Tower has spectacular views spanning four states.
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This Week: Macy's Santaland Opens, Cut Your Own Christmas Trees in NJ & LI, Holiday Illuminations, Thanksgiving Weekend Event Picks

11/27/14 - By Raven Snook

There's a lot going on this holiday weekend in NYC beyond Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our Thanksgiving and Holiday Guides are packed with plenty of ways to celebrate the season, including the best places to see Santa like Macy's Santaland, festive Christmas tree illuminations and the kickoff weekend for the jaw-dropping Dyker Lights displays in Dyker Heights.

There's lots of holiday fun in New Jersey, Westchester, Long Island and Connecticut, too. You can cut your own Christmas trees on LI and in NJ, take a train ride with Santa in NJ or gawk at amazing holiday displays in Philly.

If you happen to be traveling up I-95, our Connecticut site has a list of fun family pit stops if you need a break along the way. And if you're in the market for a virtual vacation, our Travel site has a slide show about the best family activities in Jamaica's Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week. We hope you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

We finished updating our Thanksgiving Fun Guide with a roundup of things to do on the holiday (besides the obvious), and a list of the top Black Friday deals in NYC

Santa flies into town on the heels of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We've rounded up the best places to pose for pics with Kris Kringle, and we have an entire post about Macy's Santaland, which is quite different than in years past.

Our biweekly news post includes good news about Lasker Rink in Central Park, plus details about a new marine center coming to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The big Rockefeller Tree Lighting takes place next week but we've got the scoop on less touristy (and a lot less crowded) holiday illuminations throughout the five boroughs.

This week's WeeWork activity is an easy-to-make Thanksgiving cookie recipe.

Best bets for the weekend include the awesome MTA Holiday Season Nostalgia Trains, Brooklyn Nets Kids' Day at Barclays Center, and lots of holiday shows and displays.