Anna Fader

Founder & CEO of Mommy Poppins
Anna was born in Park Slope, spent her early years in the West Village. By the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs. Growing up in NYC in the '70s meant the streets were her playgrounds. Museums and avant garde music venues were the kid-friendly activities. And living downtown taught her the importance of creating community for families in NYC.

Now, raising her own two children in the city, she tries to create the same sense of magic and community she felt growing up, despite today's more commercialized version of kid-friendly New York.

She started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to share a more artsy, educational, uncommercial, community-oriented vision of raising kids in New York City. Today Mommy Poppins is relied on by millions of families as the authority on the best things to do with kids beyond New York City: from Boston to Philly, Los Angeles, Houston and travel guides for dozens more cities and destinations.

Latest posts by Anna

School Lunch and Snack Tips and Ideas for Back to School

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 07/18/2015 - 12:52pm

It's back to school time and so we are thinking about all those little details of preparing for the school year. Making healthy school lunches and snacks is a big one. We asked the moms of Mommy Poppins what their best tips for easy healthy snack options and school lunch recipes were and they came up with a bunch of really original school lunch box ideas, as well as some old standbys.

Read on to find out what we're putting in our kids' lunch boxes for school lunch and snacks:

20 Classic Educational OT Toys To Help Children Prepare for School

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 07/18/2015 - 11:45am

Playfoam Pluffle Sensory Station is a great OT toy for kids. Photo of Playfoam Pluffle Sensory Station by Educational Insights

There was a wonderful article in the NY Times, “Watch How You Hold That Crayon,” about OT and handwriting. In the article Anthony DiCarlo, a principal stated, “In the last five years, I’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of kids who don’t have the strength in their hands to wield scissors or do arts and crafts projects, which in turn prepares them for writing."

He goes on to say that while many kids head back to school with accomplishments like music, yoga and sports classes, they may not have logged enough time in open-ended play. “I’m all for academic rigor,” he said, “but these days I tell parents that letting their child mold clay, play in the sand or build with Play-Doh builds important school-readiness skills, too.”

Make Your Own Granola Bars

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 07/18/2015 - 10:07am

Granola bars are a snack that kids love and parents can feel good about giving their kids - or so the ads say. But many granola bars aren't much better than candy bars and are loaded with sugar, fat, trans fats and high fructose corn syrup. I found a really easy recipe for granola bars on AllRecipes and I've been making our own ever since. We whip up a batch every weekend for the upcoming week - perfect for back to school time. You could also make more and freeze them. The kids love them and love making them. It's fun for them to eat healthy snacks they've made themselves.

Preparing for Kindergarten: Five Books to Help Children Transition

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 07/18/2015 - 2:01am

Last year at this time you may have been wracked with anxiety about finding your child the right preschool or elementary school. Now all of that is behind you and next week or soon there after your kid or toddler will be starting school for the first time or starting at big kid school for the first time. Either way, it's their turn to be filled with anxiety. Even the most cool NYC kid is bound to feel some jitters when faced with a completely new school situation.

5 Secrets of the Woolworth Building and New Public Tours

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 07/06/2015 - 10:00am

For years the Woolworth Building, located in the Financial District, has been off-limits to visitors, allowing only the lucky few who scored tickets to the annual Open House New York festival to gain entry. Now, finally, anyone can take a tour of the famous skyscraper built by five-and-dime magnate, Frank W. Woolworth. Although the sign outside still says "no visitors allowed," official tours are offered regularly, giving a glimpse into the lobby and lower level of what was once the tallest high-rise in the world. On the tour, guests hear fascinating bits of trivia and history about the Woolworth Building and old New York. Here are just a few of the gems my family and I learned from our guide.

Inside Scoop on Where To Find Good Humor's Free Ice Cream Trucks in NYC

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 10:00am

It's officially summer and what better way to celebrate than with ice cream—FREE ice cream!! Good Humor is marking the birth of our nation with not one, not two, but 12 days of complimentary ice cream all over downtown Manhattan. Moving throughout the area, one neighborhood at a time, the newfangled Good Humor Truck and a lineup of pedicabs and cars will be spreading joy with no-cost treats for all. We've got the scoop on how you can catch up with the Good Humor Man and get your free frozen treat.

A Bite-Size Trip to Asia at New World Mall Food Court in Flushing, Queens

Submitted by Anna Fader on Wed, 06/10/2015 - 11:33am

Last summer when my family and I were lucky enough to visit Singapore for a whole week, one of our favorite activities was going to the hawker food stalls, which are just what they sound like: stands in a sprawling indoor market. Going to the hawker stalls is quite an event; they are hot and crowded, and there’s exotic, interesting, amazing food everywhere you look.

Our travels in Asia were fantastic, but NYC never lets us down. It seems like no matter what adventure we enjoy around the globe, there’s a version of it right here at home. Yes, Queens, the undisputed center of the universe for international cuisine, has its own take on hawker stalls in Flushing’s Chinatown. It's the New World Mall Food Court, which offers incredible, inexpensive eats from China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand all under one roof.

With so many choices and lots of menu items not listed in English, the food hall can be a bit overwhelming and chaotic. We took a visit to share some tips on how to make the most of an ethnic food adventure in the Asian food halls of Queens with your kids.

Best Free Story Podcasts for Kids on Road Trips (or Anytime)

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 06/04/2015 - 6:08pm

Car time has become synonymous with screen time. It’s just so easy to keep the kids occupied in the backseat with a smartphone or tablet, that the "I'm boreds!" and "Are we there yets?" of our childhoods almost seem like a thing of the past. But I also remember the fun of long car rides: talking to each other, reading stories, playing car games and just looking out the window. Recently I have wondered whether my kids will ever know the pleasure of staring out a car window as the countryside goes by.

That’s why I have come to love podcasts. They are the ideal compromise: digital entertainment that keeps kids' eyes off their screens. And because we can all listen together, we can share the experience and have discussions about what we hear.

With summer coming, it’s the perfect time to discover some new podcasts to keep everyone in the family entertained whether you’re in the car, on a plane, a train or even at home. There are science podcasts, educational podcasts and many other types appropriate for children. I’ve rounded up my seven favorite storytelling podcasts that both kids and adults will enjoy.