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One top tip is getting kids involved from the planning stage, and they'll want to help cook! Photo by Brooke Lark, via Pexels
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What kid doesn't love a game of pretend?
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Top Types of Parenting Styles from Gentle Parenting to Tiger Mom: Which Is Best?
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It's easier than you'd think to turn a simple paper lunch bag into a festive piñata!
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Learn some random fun facts that will leave your kids laughing. Photo by Sara Marentette
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Trader Joe's how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: for being inexpensive, gourmet and friendly.
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Snuggle up with one of these beloved bedtime stories for kids.
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Screen time doesn't have to be a solo activity with these fun, free online games for kids to play with friends.
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Take a spin around the lazy river at Mandalay Bay.
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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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Are you brave enough for some of these spooky ghost stories?
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A perfectly packed lunchbox helps kick the school blues. Photo courtesy of www.YumboxLunch.com
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Jump rope solo, skip with siblings, or round up the whole gang for double dutch.
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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
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Gather 'round the campfire and sing some fun songs. Photo courtesy of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
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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.
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Kids can give parents tickets if they forget to turn off the water to soap hands or brush teeth!
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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
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A zip line and more await at Portland's Eagle's Nest Treehouse. Photo courtesy of julian@hipcamp
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Did you know a pillow fight is a great way to get proprioceptive input? Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Find a bare patch of soil to place your seed bomb. Spread them far and wide! Photo by the author
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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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Weekly Wrap Up: Free Halloween Fun, the Last of Our Chinatown Posts, Librarian Book Lists

10/20/11 - By Raven Snook

Got your costumes ready? It seems like all the kids are thinking or talking about these days is October 31. While there are certainly plenty of Halloween happenings throughout the month, we've been writing about lots of other things, too.

For example, the Little Orchestra Society kicks off its new season of classical concerts this weekend, the New Victory has a new show specifically aimed at preschoolers and, of course, you can always find fun at the library. Plus we're looking for a few good writers to join the Mommy Poppins team.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut, as well as selected stories from our brand-new sites in Boston and Los Angeles.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

New York City

We started the week with a roundup of free Halloween parades. These family-friendly processions are a great alternative to the madness of the Green Village Halloween Parade.

Our series of Chinatown posts wrapped up with a look at the Museum of Chinese in America.

We debuted a new series of monthly book lists written by New York Public Library librarians. Dubbed Little Lions, the first one is a roundup of titles about Chinese culture and Chinatown.

Speaking of libraries, we're also spotlighting Destination Libraries around town. Our first pick: the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.

The fall culture season is in full swing. The Little Orchestra Society starts its new season this weekend with a classical concert for young children. Over at the New Victory, the show White is also specifically aimed at preschoolers.

A mom of two tots shares her gift ideas for new NYC parents (lots of space savers in there).

Know any writers looking for freelance work? Mommy Poppins is adding to our ranks of bloggers.

Our best bets for the weekend include Socrates Sculpture Park's annual Halloween Harvest Festival, Asia Society's celebration of Diwali the Hindi Festival of Lights and Central Park's Parade and Pumpkin Sail at the Harlem Meer.
 

New Jersey

In NJ, we've got a roundup of off-the-beaten path activities and destinations for families, including an urban farm in Morristown and the roller derby!

Halloween fun continues across the Hudson. We've got roundups of the best Halloween events and the coolest haunted houses for kids in the Garden State.

Weekend events include Sickles Market's Fall Festival in Little Silver, the Grove Fall Festival in Shrewsbury and Pumpkin Patch Day in Union.
 

Long Island

In LI, we've got a roundup of cool cooking classes for kids.

Things to do this weekend includes Sagamore Hill Day, Haunted 1880 Long Island Halloween in Old Bethpage and the eighth annual Bethpage Street Fair.
 

Connecticut

In honor of ADHD Awareness Week, one of our bloggers shared her son's story, as well as great CT resources for kids with the disability.

Looking for great places to see fall foliage? We've got lots of suggestions in CT.

For little science buffs, we've got a roundup of science, machine and nature museums in Fairfield County.

There's so much fun this weekend, we've got two posts with our best bets. One is a comprehensive list of Halloween fun Friday through Sunday. Other picks include the UniverSoul Circus in New Haven and the Danbury Kid's Fest.
 

Los Angeles & Boston

Our LA site is all about Halloween these days. Same thing up in Boston, which has posts on New England pumpkin festivals and 20 free or cheap Halloween celebrations for families.
 

Giveaways & Deals

We're giving away a family four-pack to one of our favorite NYC destinations: The New York Hall of Science. Explore the spot's new interactive installation Wild Minds – What Animals Really Think, and then check out the other exhibits, live demos and play spots. Find out how to enter.

We also have a new Poppins Perk: Half off tickets to Hudson Terrace's Family Halloween Pirate Party on Sunday, October 30. Just $10 per person! Remember, with Poppins Perks giving back is part of the deal: A portion of the proceeds are donated to public schools through DonorsChoose.org.