Liz Baill

Latest posts by Liz

8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Kids: Hanukkah Gifts, Fun Crafts, and a Little History

Submitted by Liz Baill on Mon, 11/21/2022 - 10:22am

Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to celebrate Hanukkah with your family. Photo courtesy Cottonbro Studios

Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to make your Hanukkah a whole latke (sorry) fun. For my family, Hanukkah is more than the Jewish footprint in the holiday season. Mixed in with those dreidel spins are lessons to be learned about having pride in our Jewish identity. From the songs and stories to the gifts and gelt, here are eight awesome ways to celebrate Hanukkah and make your Jewish festival of lights lit. (Again, sorry!)

For more ways to celebrate this holiday season with your family at home, creating new traditions and memories that last a lifetime, check out our Guide to Holiday Fun for Kids.

The Philadelphia Zoo is All Aglow for LumiNature

Submitted by Liz Baill on Sat, 11/19/2022 - 6:31am

What's that sparkle off 76? LumiNature is back. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo

LumiNature is back, transforming the Philadelphia Zoo into a winter wonderland decked with more than a million twinkling lights. While you won't see too many live animals out and about (it's past their bedtime), the light shows and displays celebrate the magic of wildlife and nature, from a mesmerizing African safari light projection to the new Penguin Prismatic spectacle that's loaded with love for Philly.

Best of November: LumiNature, Tinseltown, and More Fun Things to Do in Philly

Submitted by Liz Baill on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 7:31am

Photo ops abound at the gorgeous light displays at LumiNature. Photo by Winnie Chung for the Philadelphia Zoo

November brings plenty of things to do, as Philadelphia gears up for the holidays, from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Philadelphia this month.

November kicks off with Game 4 of the Phillies World Series, so let's hope the month begins with a bang and a bell ring. The city is already on fire and is about to get even more sparkly, with LumiNature opening at the Philadelphia Zoo and the Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular lighting up the Expo Center. Not long after Election Day (don't forget to vote!) is Veteran's Day, so head to the Museum of the American Revolution where families can honor those who have served our country during a weekend of special programs. The month rounds out with Philly's beloved 6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade, so tune in or bundle up and hit the Parkway before you stuff yourself with all the trimmings.

Before the falling leaves turn to snowflakes, make sure to check our Fall Bucket List and browse our Fall Activities Guide. And don't forget to book tickets now for these Polar Express and Holiday Train Rides!

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

Phillies World Series 2022: Make your Philly Kid a Phanatic

Submitted by Liz Baill on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 6:25am

Ring the bell! The Phillies are heading to the World Series 2022.

Everything you need to turn your family into a Phamily as the Phillies head to the 2022 World Series.

To have kids in Philadelphia right now is to be entrusted with great responsibility that no true Philly parent will squander. We are parenting during a Phillies World Series run. It’s been 13 years since the Phils were NLCS Champions. That means there’s a whole new crop of kids and basically the next generation of Phillies fans who have the opportunity of their childhood (Sound hyperbolic? Good.) to root for the Phillies in the World Series. So whether you’re a bandwagon fan (shh we won’t tell) or a die-hard phanatic who remembers McGraw's final out, we’ve got you covered for how to make the most of the World Series 2022, from the swag to the snacks.

Halloween Weekend in Philly: Trick-or-Treat and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Liz Baill on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 7:54am

Dress your goblins and ghosts in their Halloween finest for Winterthur's Tram & Treat. Photo courtesy of Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

It's finally time to celebrate the spookiest day of the year, and we've got the best things to do in Philly for Halloween weekend from the city to the 'burbs.

It's a Halloween weekend like no other, as the Phillies start their World Series (!!!) run on Friday to finish out what has indeed been a Red October. Get your Philly kids hyped and sugared up by collecting candy early along Passyunk Avenue, in Franklin Square, Chestnut Hill, or Manayunk. Halloween festivals (or are they Phestivals now?) pop up across the city, from Headhouse to East Falls to Fitler Square. Still need a costume? For kids not dressing as the Phanatic or Bryce Harper, we've got you covered with our list of Halloween costume ideas.

The 31st itself is the first home game of the series, so get that candy ready both for trick-or-treaters and stress-snacking. For even more spooky spectacles, browse our Halloween Activity Guide, featuring our 50+ Top Halloween Events and more.

Best of October: 25+ Top Things To Do in Philly with Kids

Submitted by Liz Baill on Fri, 09/30/2022 - 7:40am

Head to Bartram's Garden to honor Indigenous People's Day at this free, outdoor event. Photo courtesy of the gardens

October in Philly means fall festivals, sweater weather, pumpkin patches, and lots of Halloween anticipation.

There's a full month of Halloween festivities ahead this October, with tons of opportunities to get some extra mileage out of those costumes. Staples like Boo at the Zoo and Spooky Mini Golf are back, plus check out the new haunts on the block like Lincoln Mill Haunted House in Manayunk, opening its creaky doors for the first time this month. October 10th is Indigenous People's Day, so head to Bartram's Garden for a big family celebration that Sunday. Stage shows like Annie and Disney Jr. Live both arrive on Broad Street this month, and keep an eye on our calendar for neighborhood festivals like Roxtoberfest.

For all the best Halloween happenings, check out our Guide to Halloween in Philly, where you'll find our top 50 event picks for Halloween. Our Fall in Philly Guide, featuring our fall bucket list, will have you ready for sweater weather in no time.

10 Simple and Fun Light Experiments for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Liz Baill on Thu, 09/01/2022 - 12:00pm

Who needs a disco ball when you've got a flashlight and magnetic tiles? Photo by author Liz Baill @creativishmom

We've all made hand shadows with flashlights when the power goes out unexpectedly, but have you tried lowering the lights on purpose for playtime? Light experiments are a magical form of sensory exploration with well-documented developmental benefits for kids, while happening to be deceptively simple for even the laziest parent (like me). Setting up a dark environment and incorporating flashlights into your play unlocks a whole new way of looking at the world, mesmerizes tumultuous toddlers, and brings open-ended process play into your home with minimal effort. Light experiments can even work wonders on children who fear the dark.

So cut the lights and grab your flashlights (check for batteries first, because dead flashlights are a bummer) and try out these 10 easy light and shadow experiments for toddlers and preschoolers. For more preschool and toddler science ideas, check out our list of science experiments for toddlers, and more science fun for kids of all ages in our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids.

Visiting Philly's Museum of Illusions with Kids: Fool Your Eyes, Bend your Brain, and Strike a Pose

Submitted by Liz Baill on Fri, 08/12/2022 - 8:00am

Don't worry, Ben's keeping watch at the Museum of Illusions.

By now you've probably seen photos popping up all over your social media feed of friends defying gravity in a diner, playing cards with several versions of themselves, chilling with their heads on a platter, or sauntering down a spinning light tunnel while trying to keep their lunch down. Welcome to the Museum of Illusions, Philly's hottest selfie spot that also manages to strike that elusive note of being both genuinely entertaining and educational.

Here's what you need to know for Philly's most mind-bending museum, including all the best highlights to fool your eyes, challenge your brain, and seriously up your selfie game. For more stories like this sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, and browse our Guide to Philly Museums for Kids for more of the city's most kid-friendly museums.