Rosalind Muggeridge

When not busy trekking across NYC with her two little explorers in tow, Rosalind Muggeridge is covering events for Mommy Poppins for Brooklyn and Queens. Her career includes 10 years in the nonprofit world followed by four years as the events editor at Brooklyn Parent Magazine. She can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Rosalind

Make a Glitter Volcano Eruption with this Science Experiment

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Sat, 07/18/2020 - 2:00pm

Get ready for some glittery fun with this simple volcano recipe.

Young scientists will love watching their creation erupt before their eyes in this cool science experiment! Kids engineer their very own eruption, all while learning about how mixing different acids and bases creates an explosive reaction. One of our 64 Easy Experiments for Kids Using Household Stuff, this simple science experiment uses items you probably have on hand: white vinegar, baking soda, food coloring, and glitter.

Read on for a simple way to bring a little bit of sparkle into your day.

Pier 2 Uplands Debuts at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Mon, 07/13/2020 - 4:02pm

Three acres of new parkland debuted last week at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 2 Uplands.

With NYC slowly reopening, families are stepping out to explore favorite playgrounds, and now Brooklyn Bridge Park offers a brand new place to play. Three acres of parkland debuted last week with the opening of the Pier 2 Uplands.

The Uplands include a brand new sprayground, adding to Brooklyn Bridge Park's already spectacular playground scene and are a worthy addition to our summer staycation bucket list.

How To Get Toddlers To Play By Themselves

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Mon, 06/01/2020 - 10:00am

Children will flock to "new" toys—even if they're old toys that have been tucked away for a bit. Photo by Matthew Nighswander

It may be the holy grail of parenthood: Your toddler playing alone on the rug while you work on your laptop, chat with a friend, or just sip coffee. If you have a little one at home, you know what a dream this is (emphasis on the word "dream"). Getting kids to play independently is important for your sanity and for their development too. YOu can encourage toddlers to learn to play on their own. By developing the skills needed for independent play, they'll be able to access those skills throughout the day.

We polled parents, caught up with some of our favorite pediatric blogs, and came away with these seven tried-and-true ways to encourage toddlers to play independently. Our Big List To Keep Kids Busy While Mom and Dad Work and 30+ Toddler Activities to Keep Little Ones Busy (and Happy) at Home are full of more ideas for keeping kids busy while you are, too.

Ways to Support Local Businesses in NYC During the Pandemic

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 3:27pm

Shop the Union Square Greenmarket, which is open with social-distancing policies in place. Photo courtesy of the market

With lengthy shipping times online and long lines to get into big-box stores, shopping during the pandemic isn't easy. These inconveniences are an excellent reminder to shop small and patronize the many local businesses struggling to stay afloat right now in NYC. We've already filled you in on our favorite toy and book stores offering local delivery and curbside pickup, and tempted you with these restaurant picks delivering Mother's Day brunch (and more!), but now we're highlighting some other local businesses that may not already be on your radar. These local spots are offering their wares, and in some cases, your purchase also helps first responders, local charities, and neighbors, too.

When you're considering how to support a local business, keep in mind that ordering delivery or curbside pickup directly from a small business allows all of the profit to stay with the local business, rather than a third-party delivery company siphoning off some of the funds. If you don't need an item or a meal right away, purchasing a gift card to spend later is another great way to show your support.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps, and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

Fill a Balloon with Carbon Dioxide for an Exciting Chemistry Lesson

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Thu, 05/07/2020 - 2:01pm

Fill a ballon and your day with fun in this cool science experiment! Kids create carbon dioxide to fill up a balloon, all while learning about acid base reactions. One of our 64 Easy Experiments for Kids Using Household Stuff, this simple experiment uses a balloon, vinegar, and baking soda.

Read on for a simple way to bring a little bit of excitement into your day.

Toy and Book Stores Offering Curbside Pickup and Delivery for NYC Kids

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Mon, 05/04/2020 - 12:00pm

Phone in your order, mask up, and head to Park Slope's Little Things for curbside pickup of your goodies. Photo by Ros Muggeridge

For parents struggling to work and care for children at home during the pandemic, a couple of new toys or books may just encourage a little independent play and provide some precious quiet time. We've rounded up 17 toy stores and bookstores in NYC that are offering contactless curbside pickup and delivery of their goods. So, whether you're trying to celebrate a birthday during the quarantine, marking another of these 30 daily celebrations, sending a package to a loved one, or just sprucing up your collection at home, these shops are delivering some serious fun. The curbside pickup and free local delivery keep wait times to a minimum, too.

Science Experiments at Home: Making Rainbow Milk with Kids

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Thu, 04/30/2020 - 1:00pm

If you're looking for something to brighten your kids' day, we have just the thing! We've already created a Walking Rainbow, and now in this science experiment kids get to make colorful "rainbow milk" while learning about molecular reaction. One of our 63 Easy Experiments for Kids Using Household Stuff, this simple experiment uses only milk, food coloring, and liquid dish soap.

Read on for the step-by-step instructions to complete this bright (and easy!) science experiment.

Mother's Day Brunch and Dinner for Takeout and Delivery in NYC

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 4:38pm

Surprise mom with a Mother's Day brunch full of fresh treats from The Butcher's Daughter.

Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 10, this year, and despite NYC's shelter-in-place order, there are still plenty of ways to show our moms how much they mean to us. This is an especially apropos time to celebrate mothers, as many are selflessly serving in our communities as essential workers, others are working from home while serving as teachers, and cooking and cleaning around the clock. With that in mind, we've rounded up 15 restaurants throughout the city offering Mother's Day brunch or dinner. Many spots are also prepping cocktails for takeout or delivery, so don't forget to add on a mimosa (or two).

Let mom stay in her PJs and lounge in bed while she enjoys one of these delicious Mother's Day meals, made even tastier because she didn't have to prepare it herself. Encourage the kids to add a personal flair to the celebration, too, with one of these DIY Mother's Day card ideas.