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

53 Things To Do on an NYC Staycation with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 5:01pm

Treat NYC as your playground and enjoy these staycation ideas across all five boroughs. Photo by Jody Mercier

Visitors never lack for things to do in NYC, but when is the last time you enjoyed a staycation and checked some of the city's must-dos off your list? With spring break on the horizon, you might be planning a visit to one of these family-friendly all-inclusive resorts, but if a big vacation is not in the cards, consider the glory of a staycation and let New York City provide a week's worth of entertainment.

We've pulled together this gold mine of activities for families looking to keep busy during spring break—or anytime—in the Big Apple. From exhibitions and excursions to our favorite zoos, to everyday fun in our beautiful parks and playgrounds, we've found 53 great things to do in NYC during a staycation. Find more top picks for the best NYC has to offer on our list of NYC's top attractions, plus our curated three-day itinerary for exploring our own backyard.

Beach Clubs for NYC Families

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 4:45pm

Sunny Atlantic Beach Club in Long Island offers plenty of family-friendly fun. Photo courtesy of Sunny Atlantic Beach Club

Beach clubs offer a surefire way to add more relaxation to a summer staycation with kids. These local beach clubs in New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey all offer top-notch amenities for summer fun, like massive swimming pools, organized kids' activities including sports and arts and crafts—sometimes even a day camp—plus spas, restaurants, lounges and, of course, access to pristine private beaches, so you have plenty of space to spread out.

So, much as we love the idea of jetting off to an all-inclusive resort for a couple of weeks, these local beach clubs provide a closer-to-home alternative escape that lasts all summer long. These top picks for beach clubs near the New York City metro area will jumpstart your summer plans. Find more wet-and-wild seasonal fun in our Family-Friendly Guide to Beaches and Lakes.

70 Life Skills Your Kid Needs Before College

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 11:00am

Make sure your kiddo knows their way around a washer! Photo courtesy of Canva

When it comes to life skills, I can’t be the only mom of a college-bound senior wondering whether I’ve done all I can to prepare my kid for life outside my day-to-day care. High school graduation is on the horizon, and my son will fly the coop shortly thereafter. He’s smart, poised, and well-spoken, and I marvel every day that I had any role in shaping this incredible human. I also worry that I haven’t done nearly enough to teach him how to handle the day-to-day life skills that seem almost innate to me.

So, to help him—and me—prepare for his college days, I’ve put together this list of 70 life skills for teens. Checking off even a few of these lessons before my son heads to college will ease my mind, and hopefully his!

Looking for life skills for younger kids? We’ve got a list of 65 life skills for kids of all ages that will get you teaching everyone from toddlers to teens. And, take it from me, you’ll need this list soon, because high school graduation comes quicker than you think!

Best Indoor Play Spaces with Water Play for Toddlers in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 03/08/2023 - 9:33am

Twinkle Playspace's water table let’s kids toss objects into its whirlpool.

At these indoor play spaces, few preschoolers can resist the lure of the water table where they can dunk their toys and hands in, fill containers just to spill them out again, and splash around. After all, in a tiny NYC apartment, not many of us have space for such messy playthings, so we rounded up a handful of NYC indoor play spaces that offer water-based sensory stations. No bathing suits or parental cleanup required.

Best of all, these soggy attractions are open year-round, even in summer just in case you can't face another sweltering day on the playground. So, for those who beg to play in water long after the lifeguards go home, there are options beyond the bathtub.

Union Square and Flatiron Guide: Things To Do and Where To Eat with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 12:51pm

Climb to the top of the huge, steep, slippery metal dome at Evelyn's Playground during your next visit to Union Square Park. Photo by Carey Wagner

The adjacent Flatiron District and Union Square neighborhoods are two of Manhattan's most unlikely kid-friendly areas. Even though both are filled with office buildings and chain stores, there are lots of amenities for families if you know where to look. Both Union Square and the Flatiron District boast beautiful parks with destination playgrounds, a great selection of family-friendly restaurants, and one-of-a-kind attractions like the interactive Museum of Mathematics, the foodie wonderland that is the Union Square Greenmarket, kid-lit haven Books of Wonder, the sculpture-filled Lego Store, and a very magical Harry Potter New York.

Because the neighborhoods encompass less than a mile together, families can easily explore both Union Square and the Flatiron District in one day, even with a short-attention-span toddler in tow. Of course with so many things to do, see, and experience in this 15-block stretch from 11th to 26th Streets between Fifth and Park Avenues, you'll probably need more than just a day to hit all the recommended stops in this guide to Union Square and the Flatiron District.

Find more local enclaves to explore in our Family-Friendly NYC Neighborhood Guide.

Genius Gems Debuts STEM-Inspired Play Space in Chelsea

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 4:09pm

Anyone who’s raised kids in the past decade is likely familiar with Magna-Tiles. And if your house is anything like mine, there are never enough no matter how big your collection. Enter Genius Gems, the long-beloved, STEM-inspired play space that’s been a mainstay in Millburn, New Jersey, since 2018 has just debuted its first NYC location, and its collection of 100,000 (yep, you read that right!) magnetic tiles are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun things to do at this interactive, educational fun zone.

We spent an evening building, exploring, and designing in Genius Gems’ new Chelsea location and are already plotting a return visit. Read on for our review of Genius Gems and find more STEM-inspired fun in our Guide to Science Experiments and STEM.

NYC Car Services with Car Seats for Babies and Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 02/14/2023 - 4:05pm

These car services with car seats allow parents to transport babies, toddlers, and even big kids safely.

It can be hard to find car services or taxis in NYC that offer car seats. Whether you're headed to the pediatrician, the airport, or just visiting New York City, the question of where to find car services with car seats in NYC is one we hear often from tourists and locals alike.

If you have a car seat of your own, taxi drivers are required to let you install it. I've had anxious drivers balk, but I've always made them wait. Pro tip: Keep your door open until everyone's buckled in to force the issue!

Jersey City's RPM Raceway Expands with World's Longest Go-Kart Track

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 02/14/2023 - 2:35pm

Get into the action at Jersey City's RPM Raceway, which has just debuted the world's longest indoor go-karting track.

The world's longest indoor electric go-karting track has opened at RPM Raceway Jersey City, just outside of NYC, so if you've got daring kids who feel a need for speed, this indoor go-karting track is a must-visit. Dubbed the RPM Raceway MegaTrack, this new experience is the fruition of a six-month, multi-million dollar renovation project.

To get a taste of the action, I recruited my teen and his best friend to be my test drivers. More laps than I could count later—and plenty of playful trash-talking—it was clear this visit to RPM Raceway Jersey City would not be our last. Read on for all the details on our visit to RPM Raceway Jersey City, its MegaTrack, and the rest of the attractions at this action-packed indoor fun spot, which is close enough to NYC to make for an easy day trip, too.

We've got more top picks for teen-friendly fun in our New Jersey Tweens and Teens Guide.