Ally Noel

Latest posts by Ally

Essex, Connecticut with Kids: Top 10 Things To See and Do

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sun, 04/03/2022 - 10:47am

Essex has genuine appeal for every family. Photo by Ally Noel.

If you're looking for a nearby escape in the Nutmeg State, look no further. Colonial vibes and New England charm ooze out of the town of Essex, which is nestled on the banks of the Connecticut River. This quaint Connecticut town is home to one of the oldest continuously running inns in the country, a packed calendar of annual events, and tons of lovely shops and restaurants.

Time and time again, Essex has earned a spot as one of the Best Small Towns in America. Whether you grab a burger at The Gris, a cone of Essex Mud, or spend the day coasting down a historic railroad, this small New England town is anything but sleepy. Read on for the top 10 things to do in Essex, Connecticut with kids. For more cute towns and the best kid-friendly Connecticut activities, don't miss the Top Attractions in Connecticut for Families.

15 April Fools Memes: Funny Tricks and Jokes for Parents for April Fools Day

Submitted by Ally Noel on Thu, 03/24/2022 - 12:00pm

Anyone in the mood for a fresh baked brownie? Photo by Ally Noel

It’s April Fools season, and you know what that means! April Fools Day is a time when parents get to turn the tables on their kids by bringing a little mischief—and a lot of laughter and fun—into their homes. If pranking your kids is not your style, you can also just wait for them to prank you. Either way, we promise you’ll get a giggle or two out of these hilarious April Fools memes.

When your finished with these April Fools Day memes, check out our lists of super easy April Fools Day pranks to play on your kids and hilarious jokes for kids to keep your family laughing all month long.

Best Debit Cards for Kids: Greenlight Debit Card, Chase Debit Card, and More Great Options

Submitted by Ally Noel on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 10:33am

Debit cards for kids come with apps that have safety features like face or fingerprint recognition.

Greenlight cards are the buzz these days in parenting circles, and once you know a little bit about these debit cards for kids, it's easy to see why. Like most parents, I never have cash on me and am constantly handing my daughter little slips of paper as IOUs. As families figure out how to navigate an increasingly cashless world, it is still important to teach our children a sense of financial responsibility. There are several options out there that provide a safe banking experience for kids, including Greenlight debit card for kids and Chase debit card for kids; all of them offer a variety of family-friendly safety features like real-time spending alerts and financially-incentivized chore charts.

Read on to determine which debit card for kids is the right one for your family.

Best YMCA Summer Camps in Connecticut for Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sun, 03/06/2022 - 9:30am

Take to the lake at the Camp Jewell YMCA camp. Photo courtesy of campjewell.org

YMCA summer camps in Connecticut have provided generations of families with a traditional day camp experience. Nationally, YMCA Camps have become the place to go for kids to unwind, make new friends, and learn new skills, all while spending time in nature. Luckily for Connecticut parents, there are likely some YMCA summer camps near you, but these options offer a little something extra. Pick from day camps, overnight camps, and specialty YMCA camps in Fairfield County, Hartford County, New Haven County, and beyond that will have your children counting down the days until school lets out.

For more summer camps in Connecticut, including picks for preschool summer camps in Fairfield County and the best summer sleepover camps around Connecticut, be sure to bookmark our Connecticut Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and town.

Best Summer Camps for Teens and Tweens in Connecticut

Submitted by Ally Noel on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:50am

Horse lovers will appreciate equestrian camp. Photo courtesy of the SJ Riding Camp in Ellington

Keeping tweens and teens entertained in the summer may feel like a daunting task. Planning a rotation of activities for the seemingly endless weeks of summer vacation can be extremely stressful. Thankfully, there's a wide range of summer camps for tweens and teens in Connecticut. These sports summer camps, nature summer camps, and everything in between are all geared towards kids aged 10 and up and their specific social-emotional needs. Read on for the best tween and teen summer camps in Fairfield County, Hartford County, and Eastern Connecticut.

25 Funny Parenting Memes that Will Make You Feel Seen

Submitted by Ally Noel on Thu, 02/17/2022 - 12:00pm

Beware: A funny parenting meme may make you spit out your coffee. Photo courtesy of Bigstock

Right about now, any parent out there can use a good laugh, right? Modern-day parenting is hard. I mean, really, really hard. All the meal planning, cooking, clothing, coordinating—I could go on, but you get the picture. Thankfully, there's no shortage of funny parenting memes to get us through the day.

We've all seen memes—those little squares of joy that stop us when we're scrolling through social media and make us think, "That's funny because it's true!" A good parenting meme allows us to feel seen; to realize that maybe we aren’t the only ones taking a ride on the struggle bus.

Hopefully, these 25 funny parenting memes will give you a little something to chuckle about and prove that laughter truly is the best medicine. If you need even more grown-up giggles, check out our list of funny school memes and our roundup of the best mom jokes and #momlife memes.

Top Attractions in Connecticut: Best Things to See and Do with Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 10:12am

Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel

Connecticut may be small, but the Nutmeg State sure knows how to pack in a ton of fun. From historic villages to sandy beaches to amusement parks, there are plenty of exciting tourist attractions in Connecticut to make a family visit well worth the trip any time of year.

It’s not easy narrowing down the list of things to do in Connecticut with kids, but we’ve made our picks for the 25 best kid-friendly activities in CT for residents and visitors alike. As locals, these are the places that we frequent with our children, and the first stops we make with family and friends whenever they're staying with us from out of town. So leave your FOMO at the door and start checking these spots off your CT bucket list.

Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT That Come To You

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sun, 02/06/2022 - 1:02pm

Make ponies the stars of your child's birthday party. Photo courtesy of The Little Party Ponies

If you're in search of fun, unique kids' birthday party ideas but you're not exactly a Pinterest maven, you might want to call a professional to do the job. So many different kinds of entertainers are available for your at-home kids' birthday party in Connecticut, whether your children like animals, arts and crafts, or exercise games. Read on for a list of kids party entertainers in CT that take the stress out of planning and ensure a good time is had by all.

For more kids' birthday party inspo, check out our Connecticut Kids' Birthday Party Guide. For more stories like this sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters.