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

Top 10 Tennis Classes in NYC for Kids: Indoor and Outdoor Tennis Lessons and Programs

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 10:39am

Advantage Tennis offers kid-friendly tennis classes at a variety of locations citywide. Photo courtesy of Advantage Tennis

From tots to teens, New York City is home to kids' tennis classes for a wide range of ages and abilities. From outdoor tennis courts to some intriguing indoor options, you can find many options for tennis lessons in NYC, plus youth tennis leagues running year-round. And come August, make sure to catch the FREE Arthur Ashe Kids' Day on the US Open courts!

Find more tennis classes and tennis programs in NYC for kids in our directory of classes and listings. Bookmark our New York City Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes in NYC for kids of all ages and interests.

Disneyland for Halloween: Oogie Boogie Bash, Trick-or-Treating, and More Magic at Halloween Time

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 09/04/2022 - 11:30am

It's a tough call which kids love more, Disneyland or Halloween—so giving them Halloween and Disneyland together is the ultimate parenting slam dunk. With anything Disney, of course, getting the most out of the experience takes some planning ahead. What's right for your family? Halloween Time in Disneyland, the super-popular Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure, or a combination of the two? Since the Oogie Boogie nighttime extravaganza sells out months in advance, if you're reading this in September your decision is partially made up—though it's never too early to start a plan for next year!

Read on to find out everything that is special about a trip to Disneyland Resort at Halloween time, and all the ways that Halloween makes the happiest place on Earth even happier.

Everglades Airboat Tours: Take a Boat Ride To See the Alligators in the Florida Everglades

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 3:00pm

Photo courtesy of Everglades Alligator Farm

Florida's Everglades are world famous—mostly for alligators, but there is more to this enormous wildlife area than big toothy reptiles. Everglades National Park's swamps and mangroves cover 1.5 million acres of South Florida, with the broader Everglades region extending many miles beyond that. A full vacation exploring the waterways of the Everglades is a tropical treat, but there are also easy options for day trips from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Armed with the right info, an airboat ride through the Everglades to greet a few alligators can be an easy and exciting afternoon outing.

Butterfly World in Coconut Creek: Why Kids Love this South Florida Bug Zoo

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 07/08/2022 - 2:23pm

Of the many glorious ways there are to enjoy nature in South Florida, Butterfly World is one of our family's favorites. We might not always agree on going to the beach or taking a hike, but from grandparents to toddlers we all love spending an afternoon in a cloud of butterflies at this relaxing and beautiful spot in Tradewinds Park.

Looking for more ideas for things to do in South Florida? Check out our picks for things to do this weekend!

Father’s Day in Los Angeles: 25 Fun Things To Do with Dad on Father's Day 2022

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 06/05/2022 - 11:07am

Spend Father's Day at Dodgers Stadium. Photo by Alejandro De La Cruz /CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

There are loads of things to do on Father's Day in Los Angeles; the trick is figuring out what the dad at your house really wants. It's his day—you want to surprise him with something special and unexpected, like zipping through the treetops, driving his dream car, or indulging in a little tee time. If you want this Father's Day weekend to revolve around something more exciting than a new tie, check out our ideas for dad-friendly and kid-friendly Father's Day activities that he just might not see coming. We guarantee there are some Father's Day events on our list you hadn't thought of (and some you hadn't even heard of!).

To start dad's day with something sweetly homemade, check out our list of 15 Father's Day Crafts and Gifts That Kids Can Make, then keep him laughing all day with some corny dad jokes. However you celebrate, Happy Father's Day from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

Boat Cinema: See a Movie From the Lake!

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 05/19/2022 - 9:28am

Boat on over and see a show. Perhaps something like Titanic? Or Jaws?

Have you heard about Boat Cinema? It's billed as a sort of floating drive-in, a float-in if you like, and it just might be the coolest way to experience movies this summer. With Boat Cinema, families in LA can watch movies on a big screen while lounging in small, family-sized boats.

Read on for the current lineup of movies! You can also see a movie at one of the local drive-in theaters in Los Angeles, or at an outdoor movie on a blanket in a park.

Drive-In Movie Theaters in and around Los Angeles for Outdoor Movie Nights with Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 05/13/2022 - 11:29am

Head to a local drive-in movie theater for outdoor family movie night. Photo courtesy of Anaheim Town Square

For many years, the drive-in was a nostalgic throwback treat. While there used to be just a few year-round drive-in theaters in the Los Angeles 'burbs, in the last few years we have seen pop-up drive-in events proliferate just about anywhere you can fit a movie screen. If you’re looking to see the latest summer blockbuster, but don’t want to bring the kids to a crowded theater, simply pop the kids in their PJs and pile them in the car for an old-school outdoor movie night!

Keep an eye on our calendar to see all the outdoor movie screenings in parks across town, where movies are shown outside of cars and under the stars. (Or even on boats! Have you checked out Boat Cinema yet?) We're adding all of these cool outdoor movies to the calendar every day, as they're announced, so check back often.

Online Camps and Virtual Classes You Can Still Book for Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids, and Tweens

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 05/01/2022 - 2:01pm

Online classes, shows, camps, and tutoring offer enrichment without leaving home.

Online classes, camps, tutoring, and even Mommy & Me groups give families more options than ever before, and we're keeping it easy to find and book them on our Anywhere Activities calendar. Browse our options for school break camps that keep kids safe at home or on the road: wherever you are, you can book virtual classes and camps for kids, whether that's science and STEM classes, online coding courses, language classes, or even music and art programs. Some activities even offer discounts to Mommy Poppins readers, including the online art classes and remote guitar lessons described below. Let virtual be your playground!