Jody Mercier

When asked to illustrate her dream job as a first grader, Jody drew a picture of a mom with one kid on each hip and another clinging to her leg. All these years later, that is her reality, raising three kids in New York City. Since that gig only pays in hugs and kisses, she has spent her professional career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting topics. She's currently the regional editor overseeing the Mommy Poppins NYC, New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester sites and can be reached at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody Mercier

Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sat, 05/27/2023 - 11:04am

The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.

If you've got a child in public school, you live by the public school calendar. Many local NYC preschools follow the public school schedule, too. The New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2024-2025 school year is below, and you'll want to bookmark it now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

Once again, there will be no snow days. Plan on logging your kiddos on for a day of remote learning whenever buildings are closed for snow or other emergencies.

These are all of the dates you can count on your kiddos being out of school during the 2024-2024 school year. If you're looking for the 2023-2024 school year calendar, you can find it here.

Visiting the New Harry Potter Exhibition in Midtown: Tips for a Magical Trip with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 05/19/2023 - 11:52am

Harry Potter: The Exhibition is popping up in Herald Square and promises to be one of the it tickets of the summer in New York City. Wizard-loving muggles who are fans of the franchise would be wise to snap up tickets now because this touring exhibition is only in NYC through mid-October.

Grab your wand and your house robes and read on for a first look at this new-to-NYC exhibition, which invites visitors on an interactive journey throughout the Wizarding World with cool immersive experiences and top-notch technology that leaves you feeling like you're smack dab in the middle of Hogwarts Castle. Want more Harry Potter fun? Don't forget to check out our take on the magical Harry Potter New York just a few blocks south.

Best Strawberry Picking Farms and Strawberry Festivals from NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 05/07/2023 - 5:41am

Strawberry picking at Bishop Farms makes for a sweet day trip. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

Strawberry picking season is one of our favorite milestones in late spring and early summer. Picking your own strawberries makes the season even sweeter. As we move into the height of strawberry picking season, there are a slew of local farms for strawberry picking near NYC, and a visit makes for a great day trip.

Read on to discover more than a dozen strawberry picking farms all less than two hours away from Midtown Manhattan. We've also found a handful of strawberry festivals celebrating the season's bounty. You'll find even more pick-your-own fun in our Guide to Family-Friendly Farms near NYC.

Best Outdoor Water Parks near NYC for Family Fun

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 05/05/2023 - 11:42am

Catch some thrills at Hurricane Harbor, the water park for kids at Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari.

While there are no full-fledged outdoor water parks in NYC, you don't have to go too far to find awesome water parks for kids. Below, we've rounded up 15 of our favorite water parks near NYC for families.

These tri-state area water parks include water parks in New Jersey—including the newest, set to open this summer in Atlantic City—and Pennsylvania, plus in-sate picks like the spectacular Splish Splash water park on Long Island.

No two are alike: Each one of these water parks for kids near NYC has different experiences and thrills, and all are within a two-hour drive of Midtown Manhattan.

Find more summer thrills in our Theme and Water Parks Guide, including indoor water parks for kids near NYC to explore on those rainy or cold days.

25 Things To Do on Mother’s Day 2023 in New York City

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 05/01/2023 - 6:08pm

Beautiful blooms and family time are guaranteed to make mom smile at the New York Botanical Garden's Mother's Day Weekend Garden Party. Photo by Marlon Co/courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 14, 2023, and mothers everywhere deserve a great weekend. Start planning a day mom won't forget by giving her one of these 50 Mother's Day gifts moms actually want.

Another can't-miss addition to the holiday? We're partnering with ANA Bar and Eatery for a heart-shaped pizza making workshop on Saturday. Or book your Mother's Day brunch reservations now. When tummies are pleasantly sated, enjoy one of these fun Mother's Day outings and family-friendly things to do in NYC. No matter how you choose to celebrate, Happy Mother's Day from the team at Mommy Poppins.

AMNH's Gilder Center Opens Bringing Butterflies, Bugs, and More Kid-Friendly Exhibits

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 04/28/2023 - 11:00am

Invisible Worlds is one of the new exhibitions at the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation set to open at the American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 4.

Even before the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation opened, the American Museum of Natural History was one of NYC's most iconic cultural institutions, so hulking in its square footage you'd be hard-pressed to see it all in one day. That statement is doubly true now that the Gilder Center is set to debut on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

A modern-looking new wing, the Gilder Center adds a whopping 230,000 square feet to AMNH and, for the first time, allows visitors to traverse the entire 10-building campus without hitting a dreaded dead end.

We got a sneak peek at the brand-new building and walked away in awe and anxious for a return visit with kids in tow. Read on for our review of the Gilder Center, which further cements AMNH's place on our list of the best museums in NYC for kids to visit, and learn about all the family-friendly attractions this brand new wing houses, including a year-round butterfly vivarium, 18 species of live insects, and an impressive, immersive exhibition backed by the science and data the American Museum of Natural History holds at the core of its mission.

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants near Madison Square Garden

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 3:50pm

Zou Zou's has a chic vibe and serves a flavorful selection of Mediterranean-inspired fare. Photo by author

Madison Square Garden is a hub of activity no matter the season. Whether you've caught playoff fever and are cheering on the Knicks and Rangers or are seeing the latest family-friendly show on stage at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, when you hit the Midtown West hot spot, you're likely going to need a meal!

Avoid paying those sky-high stadium prices by opting for lunch or dinner out at one of these family-friendly restaurants near Madison Square Garden before or after the main event. Our picks include everything from fast-casual spots and excellent pizza—by the slice or pie—to unique sit-down establishments that will make your trip to Madison Square Garden a truly special occasion. All our top picks are below, but you can find more kid-friendly picks for many NYC destinations in our Guide to Family-Friendly Restaurants in NYC.

Best Mother's Day Brunch in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 04/23/2023 - 7:17am

Enjoy seasonal food at Blue Dog's Mother's Day brunch in Midtown West.

Mother's Day brunch reservations in NYC don't make themselves. With the holiday fast approaching, on Sunday, May 14, 2023, consider this your reminder that it's time to start planning a special Mother's Day brunch for the well-deserving mothers in your life. Speaking from experience, all moms want is a little time off.

We've rounded up a host of scrumptious restaurants for Mother's Day brunch 2023. These family-friendly restaurants are located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. As if that wasn't enough, we have tons more picks in our Guide to Family-Friendly Restaurants in New York City, and Mommy Poppins can even help you get the celebration started a little bit early, too, with our heart-shaped pizza-making workshop in honor of mom on Saturday, May 13—there's even time to make a sweet Mother's Day craft while the pizzas bake!