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

99 Sensory Activities for Toddlers, Infants, and Kids of All Ages

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 04/07/2022 - 9:20am

Did you know a pillow fight is a great way to get proprioceptive input? Photo by Mommy Poppins

All kids can be affected by sensory processing issues, where certain situations and feelings just become overwhelming. Exposing kids to a variety of sensory activities in a calm, playful manner can alleviate some of these problems.

In that spirit, we've put together this list of 99 sensory activities for toddlers and babies up through big kids; in fact, they're even helpful for adults. My kids' school's occupational therapist once gave a seminar to parents on sensory balance and activities for maintaining a sensory-savvy schedule. I now realize my engine tends to run too low and I need to work harder at energizing myself throughout the day. I have incorporated some of these activities to keep my own energy up.

For more tips and sensory activities for kids of all ages, see our posts on Sensory Bin Ideas for Busy Toddlers, DIY Sensory Activities for Babies, and Sensory Savvy Snacks for Kids.

New Earth Kids Guide and Newsletter to Share Activities for a Greener Planet

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 03/29/2022 - 12:06pm

Children are natural advocates for the planet and our actions truly can make a difference.

The environment is one of the most critical issues facing our children’s futures. Our new Earth Kids Guide and newsletter will provide meaningful and fun activities to engage children and families with sustainability.

When I started Mommy Poppins in 2007, my vision was to organize information about the most interesting, especially free and affordable, cultural activities and destinations for families to create greater access to things that were not at that time always easy to find out about. I wanted to promote a vision of parenting that was about enriching the lives of families with culture and amazing experiences, rather than products and unachievable (for most people) luxuries.

15 years later, as our world seems to be wobbling on its axis, my concerns as a parent are so different. The climate crisis is front and center because without a healthy planet, what else matters? But how do we change course on this road we seem to be so far down already?

Mexico's Velas Vallarta All-Inclusive Family Resort is Eco-Friendly Earth Check Certified

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 11:13pm

All-inclusive resorts are popular with family travelers because they make life so easy, but all those options can also take a big environmental toll. An all-inclusive resort may create tons of food waste on a daily basis, not to mention loads of electricity for air conditioning and water for washing pool and bath towels. Nobody wants to feel guilty while trying to enjoy a relaxing getaway, so a resort that meets the needs of families and the environment too seems like a real dream vacation.

Velas Vallarta, a family friendly all-inclusive resort with 10 acres of oceanfront in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has an impressive green initiative that goes beyond the typical superficial hat-tip to eco-friendliness. Their efforts have been recognized by EarthCheck, the world's leading organization in certifying sustainable tourism, with gold and silver status for the resort. Plus, the all-suite resort, with kitchens in every room and a free bottomless mini-bar, offers an affordably luxurious all-inclusive experience.

30 Exercise Games and Indoor Activities to Get Kids Moving

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 01/18/2022 - 10:30am

Try a little freeze dancing, robot style! Photo courtesy of Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels

Whether it's rainy, snowy, or simply too cold or hot to hit the park or backyard, exercise games and indoor activities that keep kids moving are a great way to get everyone in the family moving, giggling, and away from the screens for a bit.

We've put together a list of 30 easy indoor exercise games and fun exercises for kids at home. It's a really simple way for a family to integrate movement and exercise into any day. Most of these can be done right in your living room and will even work in tight city apartments (or hallways). We promise that everyone will be tired and laughing after attempting just a handful.

Looking for more indoor activities for kids? We have lots of ideas, including science experiments and sensory activities for all ages.

Keystone Wants To Be Colorado’s Best Family Ski Resort

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 01/15/2022 - 12:00pm

Keystone offers amenities, perks, and free skiing for kids! Photo courtesy of Keystone

Many ski mountains want to attract families, but Keystone Resort in Colorado is raising the bar for family ski resorts with more amenities, perks, and free skiing for kids.

One of the closest ski towns to Denver airport, Keystone does all it can to make itself a fun and family-friendly destination. On top of conveniences like ski-in/ski-out condo accommodations and wagons for hauling all that gear, Keystone has a full lineup of children's programming to keep kids entertained on and off the mountain, plus special perks like an express family gondola line and free family parking. And, perhaps best of all, kids 12 and under ski free.

About 75 miles west of Denver and a roughly two-hour drive, I visited Keystone Resort to check it out. Here are the top things that make Keystone one of the most family-friendly Colorado ski resorts. For more kid-friendly ski resorts, check out our Skiing, Snowboarding, & Snow Sports Guide for families.

10 Family-Friendly Ski Areas Near NYC For Your Next Winter Getaway

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 01/07/2022 - 4:52pm

Mount Peter, in the heart of the Hudson Valley, is a great place for beginning skiers.

Embrace the chill of winter by getting out and hitting the slopes at one of these family-friendly ski areas near NYC. We've rounded up 10 nearby options sure to entertain any family, whether you're bringing along beginners, looking for an all-inclusive weekend away, or want entertaining perks beyond the slopes.

A winter sport like skiing is a great way to get outdoors as a family. Read on to find out which of these family-friendly ski areas near NYC matches your skill level and interest.

Want more family-friendly ski areas or picks for other snow sports? Check out our skiing and snow sports guide, which offers more options in the tristate area, New England, and even California. We've also got picks for the best snowboarding parks and snow tubing spots nearby.

Westgate Resorts Orlando: Budget Hotels Near Disney World with Kitchens and Water Park

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 12/25/2021 - 12:00pm

Treasure Cove water park offers a full day of fun for kids right on site.

When planning a trip to Orlando theme parks, staying at one of the off-site hotels near Disney World or Universal can be a big money saver—especially if you also want to do things in Orlando other than the theme parks. Westgate Resorts Orlando offers two properties near Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa is closer to SeaWorld and Universal Studios, while Westgate Vacation Villas is slightly closer to Disney World, but both of them offer large family-sized rooms with kitchenettes, on-site water parks and activities, and budget-friendly prices.

We recently stayed at one of the Westgate Resorts Orlando budget properties, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, to see how it stacked up for an Orlando family vacation. Here is the inside scoop.

School Closings: How to Know if it's a Snow Day in New York City

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 12/06/2021 - 8:03am

Snow days are the stuff of childhood magic during the winter. Photo by Anita Gregorio Marsault

How do you find out if your kid's New York City school is closed because of snow? In short, snow days are unlikely for public school students during the 2021-22 school year. The mayor made waves by announcing there will be no snow days this school year at all, instead public schools are expected to host remote lessons on stormy days. Still, you'll want to know if you need to bundle up and head to a school building, or hunker down and sign on.

If you've got children in the city's private schools and nursery schools, they tend to close more often.

Here are the best resources for finding out if New York City schools are closing for a snow day, as well as ideas for what to do in the event of snowmageddon, like NYC's Top Sledding Hills and snow day boredom busters to do indoors.