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

Volunteering Opportunities and More Ways To Help Houston Families Weather the Storm

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 02/19/2021 - 8:17am

It's been a tough week all over Texas, and plenty of Houstonians we know are still without power, battling burst pipes, unable to get their homes warm enough, or even unable to stay in their homes. Whether you are in need of help, or fortunate enough to be able to offer help, we thought a few of the resources below might be good to have on hand. We've collected some food banks, some lists of warming centers, and other ways to help your fellow Houstonians through this challenging time.

Best Roller Skating Rinks in Houston: Where To Skate with Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 02/17/2021 - 1:18pm

Let's show these kids how we roll! Disco music, retro carpet, strobe lights, and a smell that is entirely unique to roller rinks have made a big comeback. There are at least a dozen roller rinks around Houston where families can get the retro vibe and roll away the hours skating circles around each other. Escape the weather indoors, schedule a killer birthday party, or just show off your vintage moves to the kids. Some of the rinks below even offer toddler skates or daycare programs.

Wondering what else you could be doing today? We've got a list of all the kid-friendly stuff currently open in Houston!

Favorite Outdoor Summer Camps in Los Angeles for Summer 2022

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 02/14/2021 - 9:29am

Where else are kids going to learn archery, besides summer camp? Photo courtesy of Tom Sawyer Camp

Los Angeles parents are blessed with the widest range of summer camps choices imaginable (just check our camp guide and directory!). Kids who are driven to spend their summers focusing on musical theater, art, surfing, science, horseback riding, or even making movies have all the day camp options in the world, right in our backyard. But sometimes, summer needs to just be about being a kid and having fun. Kids need to let loose and play, play, play. At these traditional outdoor summer camps from Santa Monica to Altadena, that's exactly what they can do.

For more summer camps in Los Angeles, including picks for preschool summer camps in LA and the best free and cheap day camps in town, be sure to bookmark our Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for camps by type, age, and town.

Rodeo Houston News: Livestock Show and Rodeo 2021 Update

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 02/04/2021 - 1:39pm

Photo courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced the sad news today that COVID-19 has stopped Rodeo Houston in its tracks for yet another year. The annual staple event on the Houston calendar was at first rescheduled for May, in the hope that by then the beloved community celebration could be safely launched. Sadly, this won't be possible. While a few associated activities are still planning to go forward in a limited way (see below), the rodeo itself is reining it in until 2022.

Best Horseback Riding and Trail Rides for Families in and near Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 01/26/2021 - 4:28pm

Riding horses with Ojai Valley Trailriding Company, photo by the author

One of the best parts of raising kids in Los Angeles is giving them the life everyone else watches in the movies. And what could be more Hollywood than galloping through the Hollywood Hills, kicking up sand on the beach, or riding a horse into the sunset under the Hollywood sign? Yes, that's a rhetorical question. There is a special thrill for most kids about swinging into a saddle, sitting high on a horse's back, and shouting, "Giddy up!" Why not give them that thrill this weekend? The wonderful stables and ranches below all accommodate riders from beginner to advanced; and a trail ride is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors, get exercise, and live out a few movie scenes!

If your kids really love the horse experience, you might want to sign them up for one of these summer riding camps.

When Can Disneyland Open? Avengers, Annual Passes, and More News for 2021

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 01/23/2021 - 8:11pm

But, when can we go back? Photo by Matt Stroshane/Disney

Of the many tough things about 2020, one of the big ones for Southern California families was the loss of Disneyland. Last year kicked off with a major price hike that left SoCal residents scrambling to enjoy a few last weeks of locals only deals, before being cut short by the park's abrupt closure for COVID-19. The ten months since then have marked the longest some people have ever gone without visiting the Mouse House, and there is still no end in sight.

So what can we expect of Disney in 2021? Will we get to see the inside of Disneyland, and if so will it wipe out the college fund? Is it true that annual passes have been canceled? And will last summer's canceled Avengers Campus opening ever see the light of day? With so many unknowns in the year ahead, we thought hunting down a few of these answers might make the wait more bearable.

Holiday Road Christmas Lights Drive-thru: Christmas Cheer without Leaving Your Car

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 12/10/2020 - 1:00pm

If Christmas lights are your jam, you may have wondered about the oodles of drive-thru holiday light displays that have sprung up around LA this season as antidotes to the pandemic blues. With so many holiday traditions canceled for Christmas 2020, it's pretty exciting to find new ones. But are these commercial drive-thrus worth the price of admission? In the case of Holiday Road at King Gillette Ranch, I'm going to go out on a Christmas tree limb to say yes! If you're able to spend some of the cash you're saving by missing out on Disneyland and holiday travel, then Holiday Road could be a delightful and festive evening excursion for the whole family.

Christmas Trains, Polar Express Rides, and Holiday Railroad Fun around Los Angeles and Orange County

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 11/10/2020 - 2:19pm

Holiday trains, like many of our annual traditions, have been hit hard by the restrictions of a pandemic holiday season—but the good news is that there are still a few running! Some of our favorites, most notably the two rides families love in Griffith Park, are on hiatus in 2020, but the train rides below have found ways to make their holiday experience COVID-friendly. Obviously masks are a must, and Santa Claus won't be hugging anyone, but there are seats available (so far!) on the train rides below, from Thanksgiving weekend until just before Christmas. We recommend booking ASAP, especially since fewer seats are being offered, to allow for social distancing.

If you don't manage to book the Polar Express experience, though, you could always play the Polar Express soundtrack while driving your crew through one of LA's Holiday Light Drive-thrus!