Gina Massaro

Latest posts by Gina Massaro

25 Halloween Party Game Ideas for Tweens and Teens

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 12:00pm

Tweens and teens are not too old to enjoy Halloween!

Throwing a Halloween party is a fun way to celebrate the spooky season with kids. But when you've got tweens or teens, you need to think beyond the cute Halloween activities and crafts and opt for more scary and active fun. In other words, you need to up your Halloween party game—literally. Luckily, there are so many great Halloween party game ideas for tweens and teens that will help you do just that.

Here are 25 Halloween party game ideas for tweens and teens to make your next Halloween party epic. For the younger guests, check out our list of 25 fun Halloween games for kids; for great Halloween activities near you check our Local Halloween Activities Guide, and for at-home Halloween fun all season long, see our Halloween Activities Guide for Families.

Special Needs Programs on Long Island for Kids

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Mon, 09/12/2022 - 6:50am

Children can take part in music classes at the Adler Center in Plainview. Photo courtesy of the center

Looking for special needs programs on Long Island? Read on for some of the options in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Finding proper care, schooling, activities, and services can be frustrating for Long Island parents with children who have special needs. Special needs children often want to–and can do–many things other children do, they just go about it in different ways. Schools and classes that focus on those with special needs, or offer an inclusion setting, are an important part of a special needs child's circle of care.

For more information on programs, classes, and more for Long Island kids, check out our classes and enrichment guide and our Long Island Special Needs Guide.

7 Games Like Wordle for Kids: Daily Word Games Online

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 11:52am

Kids can play these daily word games alone or with a friend. Photo by Sara Marentette

Even if you didn't get today's Wordle, there are plenty of chances for your kids to avenge your defeat with other games like Wordle for kids. While some word games may be too difficult for them, there are quite a few word games online for kids of all reading levels. These are brain-teasing, educational word games online that the whole family can conquer together; parents might even like these games more than the original. Playing with words and word games teaches a love of words, and kids who love words at a young age become lifelong readers and word nerds. The best kind of people!

Looking for more online fun? Check out 20 great online games for kids to play together and so much more in our Virtual and Online Guide for Family Fun.

Visiting Long Island's White Post Farms: 15 Things to See and Do

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Fri, 08/19/2022 - 6:47am

Goats love to drink the milk from bottles, bottoms up.

Visiting Melville's White Post Farms with kids means an animal-packed outing featuring more than just your usual farm friends. You'll find giraffes, zebras, camels, lorikeets, marmosets, and plenty more, all of which can be fed. Spring and summer are perfect for animal fun, while autumn brings a fall festival. White Post Farms is a must for animal-loving parents and their kids.

For more fun family outings, check out our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds on Long Island, and be sure to bookmark our updated Long Island Family Activity Calendar.

20 Fun and Easy Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Tue, 08/09/2022 - 12:00pm

Make these magical unicorns with toilet paper rolls. Photo by Mommy Poppins

Don't toss out those empty toilet paper rolls and paper towel tubes just yet. They're the perfect canvas for some awesome crafts for kids. And toilet paper roll crafts aren't just for little ones. They can be used by everyone from preschoolers to make simple animals and mummies, all the way through tweens and teens to make more advanced projects like desk organizers and wall art.

Here are 20 fun and easy toilet paper roll crafts for kids of all ages. Once you use up all those toilet paper rolls, repurpose your empty cardboard boxes with some of our 50+ cardboard box crafts and activities for kids. Let your family's creativity run wild!

15 Toddler-Friendly Hiking Trails on Long Island

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 7:24am

Hike through the grassy terrain at Sweetbriar Nature Center during a toddler-friendly hike on Long Island.

Toddler-friendly hiking trails and nature walks are ideal after your baby officially graduates from a stroller and starts to assert independence, and Long Island is home to many amazing parks and preserves.

Read on for our roundup of 15 trails across Long Island that aren't too taxing for little legs. All are sure to exercise your little one's muscles and stimulate their brain.

For other outdoorsy-activity ideas, be sure to check out our Guide to Playgrounds & Parks on Long Island.

First Day of School Activities and Traditions for Families

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 12:00pm

Excitement, and nerves, build for the first day of school. Photo by Joe Shlabotnik

Summer is winding down and the stores are replacing their outdoor displays with pencils, backpacks, and binders. The first day of school is just around the corner, and there is still so much to do: unique and must-have school supplies to be bought, back-to-school clothing to be tried on, and nerves to be soothed.

To make your family's transition into the new school year a whole lot easier, we've rounded up a list of first day of school activities and traditions. We've got you covered on what to buy, what books to read, where to get those cute first day of school photo boards, and more. For more great ideas for kids heading back to school, visit our Back-to-School Guide.

21 Kid-Friendly Ghost Stories and Spooky Stories for Kids

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Thu, 07/28/2022 - 12:00pm

Are you brave enough for some of these spooky ghost stories?

If you're planning a camping trip with the kids—whether it's in the forest or backyard camping—picture this scene: Everyone is gathered around the roaring campfire. The marshmallows have been roasted, the campfire songs have been sung, and the crickets are chirping. What better time to whip out the flashlight and share some ghost stories?

Here are 21 not-so-scary ghost stories and spooky stories for kids of all ages. For more family fun while camping, check out our list of 17 camping games to play with kids.