Roberta Brown

Editor-in-Chief

Years spent at Nickelodeon prepared Roberta to launch Mommy Poppins' Los Angeles branch in 2011, eventually becoming Mommy Poppins Editor-in-Chief in 2013. Previously she served as LA Editor for GoCityKids, National Editor for ParentsConnect, and Editor for NickMom—all of which works out well for her son, who has grown up serving as Chief Guinea Pig for all things fun in LA and beyond.

Latest posts by Roberta

Summer Camp Open Houses and Tours at LA Day Camps

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 03/10/2015 - 7:52pm

At this time of year we get loads of email from parents looking for guidance in finding the right summer camp for their kids. Of course, our LA Camp Guide is always a great place to find our recommendations for all sorts of camps; and browsing the listings in our camp directory also yields oodles of ideas and opportunities. But sometimes it helps to narrow down, to just look at a few—preferably a few you can look at or talk to in person. Below is a list of open houses offered by some of our camp sponsors in the coming weeks; these are great opportunities to talk to the people who would be spending the day with your kids. Click on a camp name to get more information about the camp's programs.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Parent Movie Review

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 02/03/2015 - 5:30pm

Taking my son to Paramount Studios on a school night to see the new SpongeBob movie is one of those little treats I enjoy being able to dole out as an LA parent. I knew I was scoring some high quality Mom Points, and I was not remotely surprised that my 11-year-old loved the film. What did surprise me was that I really enjoyed it, too! And I'll be brutally honest: I don't think I've ever uttered the name SpongeBob without making some kind of pained facial expression. I have a dad friend who has tried tirelessly to convert me to the Square Pants team, even citing parallels to Commedia dell'Arte, but the best I've ever managed is a polite smile. So with THAT context and background, it means a lot when I tell you that I really enjoyed The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Is it your family's cup of sea? I'll try to give you just enough info to help you decide, without spoiling any of the guffaws.

Smoke and Mirrors: a Play with a Magic Show up Its Sleeve

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 01/21/2015 - 4:52am

Not every play that we bring kids to needs to be a children's show. Just last week I brought my son to see the legendary Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit (partly because Ahmanson Hot Tix are cheaper than a babysitter), and he giggled himself blue in the face. And when Cirque du Soleil comes to town, it ain't cheap but a whole family can love it together. Fairy tales, puppets, and sing-alongs definitely have their place, but it can be a wonderful thing to find a play that the entire family can enjoy on different levels. Such a show is Smoke and Mirrors at The Odyssey, in which a master magician tells his personal story and performs some top-notch magic along the way.

Free Skiing for 5th Grade Kids at These Ski Resorts in the West

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 01/07/2015 - 3:53am

Skiing - it sounds so appealing, doesn't it? Getting some much needed exercise, filling everyone's lungs with fresh mountain air, letting the kids play in snow, enjoying an activity the whole family can do together -- ah, right. That's what stops you every year. Because the whole family sounds like a whole lot more people when you're counting lift tickets rather than heads.

The good news is that some ski resorts seem to understand this dilemma and have been inspired to create 5th Graders Ski Free programs around the country. Not only did you read that right, there are no tricks or strings. No, you don't have to give anyone a credit card number that auto-pays annual ski passes every year until college. In fact, you don't really have to do anything but choose the right ski resort and prove that your kid is in the 5th grade. The rest is a win-win for all involved: the ski resort takes a gamble on hooking your kids for life after letting them ski free for an entire season. Fair enough. Mom and Dad get to ski without coughing up the extra cash to find out whether Junior loves or hates snow sports. Everyone wins; everyone skis, and all just for reaching the ripe old age of ten.

Camps for LA Kids on School Vacation Days

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 01/06/2015 - 2:51am

Remember when a day off from school sounded like a good thing?

Now that we’re the grown-ups, of course, it’s a different story. And as if Monday holidays to honor veterans, presidents, and the like were not enough, our current economic struggles have also left us with a legacy of “Furlough Days” – which translates loosely as “random days when we need to find childcare.”

Luckily some enterprising local camps who know how to show a kid a good time offer fun options for school kids on days when there is no school. If you’ve suddenly discovered that tomorrow is one of those days, try checking out one of the camps below that generally have us covered on LA school vacation days - whenever they come.

Should Kids Go "Into the Woods" at El Capitan? Parent Movie Review

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 12/29/2014 - 4:49pm

Disney's Christmas day film release at El Capitan is quite different from movies of Christmases past; Into the Woods is definitely no Frozen. In some circles, the release is just as big if not bigger than last season's yuletide kinder-blockbuster, but I don't foresee many three-year-olds memorizing these lyrics. The question on many parents' minds, therefore, is what the right age is for kids to see Into the Woods, and the film's PG rating doesn't go very far to answering the question. Anticipation for this film has been huge - Sondheim fans are arguably as loyal as Star Wars fans - but should you bring your kids? There are those who say no, but I'll go with a qualified yes.

Hot Holiday Deals: Save Big on Kids' Karate, Swimming, Cooking, & Parenting Classes

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 12/07/2014 - 11:00am

The holiday season is upon us, and you may be wondering how you'll be able to afford to fulfill everyone's wishes. Our generous sponsors can help, with deals on everything from karate to cooking to swimming with an Olympian. We've even got discounts on classes for new and soon-to-be parents. Read on for all the bargain details; but don't delay, because when the holidays are gone, most of these discounts are, too!

Walking with Dinosaurs: A Roaring Good Time

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 09/05/2014 - 1:42pm

I can still remember the thrill when I first saw Jurassic Park, the whole new world that first time that Steven Spielberg brought dinosaurs out of the past and moved them around on a screen for us in a way that did not look remotely animated. It was breathtaking and would have been an amazing thing to show a child - if not for all of the violent death and destruction brought on by Spielberg's intensely PG-13 plot. If only there were a way to bring dinos to life with that same impact, but in a way that little ones could better handle - perhaps even learn from. And with that, we bring you Walking with Dinosaurs.