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

Historic Carousel and New Ferris Wheel in Forest Park Are Sweet Rides for Preschoolers

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Wed, 06/05/2019 - 10:00am

Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village is open for the season.

Good news for pint-sized thrill seekers in Queens: There's a new ferris wheel just for kids at the preschooler-friendly Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village, now open for the season. This leafy, old-fashioned mini amusement park in Forest Park (located in the park on the bandshell side of Woodhaven Boulevard) has long been a hidden-gem favorite of Queens families, with its historic carousel, rides, and games. The opening of a ferris wheel specifically designed with little ones in mind makes the park the perfect activity for a slow summer's day. Here's what to know before you go.

Best Brooklyn Baby and Me Classes to Try Together

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Tue, 03/05/2019 - 3:00pm

Rebuild strength and soothe the aches of new parenthood while connecting with your newest addition at Bend and Bloom. Photo courtesy of the studio

It's not breaking news that Brooklyn is filled to the brim with babies, so it should come as no surprise that the borough is also home to dozens of destinations to hit up with a baby in tow—from play cafes to drop-in play spaces—where you can play and engage with your baby while meeting other local parents.

Although just hanging out with other caregivers and their babies is awesome, you may be looking to try something a bit more structured and enriching, and Brooklyn certainly delivers on that front too. We've rounded up what we think are the best baby classes, where you can introduce your little one to DJing, swimming, and working out—all before she's even spoken her first word.

Find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

Launch Opens in Queens with Trampolines, Ninja Obstacle Course, Games

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Thu, 12/27/2018 - 10:01am

With the cold weather officially here, most NYC parents are looking for a few good indoor play options. With the opening of Launch in Queens, another fun indoor attraction can be added to the list. Brand new as of November 2018, this trampoline park (and much more) boasts sparking clean attractions, super friendly staff, and lots of ways for kids of all ages to jump out their winter wiggles. Read on for the low down on everything this awesome space has to offer.

Kidmoto: NYC Airport Car Service With Car Seats, or Even More Than One!

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Wed, 11/21/2018 - 10:00am

If you’ve ever traveled to an NYC-area airport in a car service with a baby or toddler in tow, you’re likely familiar with your options. Either you lug your own car or booster seat along and install it on the fly, you take your chances and hold your little one on your lap for the ride, or you try out a service that offers car seats.

The problem with the last option is that many of the companies offering car and booster seats often arrive with improperly installed seats, a driver who doesn't know how to install them, or an old or out-of-date model. Or, sometimes, no car seat at all. The last time I tried using our local car service, the driver shrugged his shoulders and popped the trunk revealing an ancient car seat that was clearly the wrong size for my 3 year old. And, if you need more than one car seat? Fuggedaboutit.

Enter Kidmoto: a new service in NYC that is striving to solve this dilemma. Catering to those traveling with small children, the Kidmoto app connects parents to a network of professionally trained drivers who provide secured child car seats for safe airport and cruise ship transportation.

Read on for the lowdown on everything you’ll need to know to make your next airport trip a car seat success story.

Drop-In Storytimes for Kids in Queens

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Wed, 09/26/2018 - 10:00am

Check out the super popular Drag Queen Story Hour at the Jackson Heights Library.

Kids in Queens have no shortage of storytime opportunities, with popular library branches, bookstores, and playspaces all offering great choices. We've rounded up the best spots where babies, toddlers and preschoolers can enjoy listening to their favorite books in Jackson Heights, Astoria, Sunnyside, and other family-friendly Queens neighborhoods.

A number of these read-along sessions include crafts, music, puppetry, or even yoga, so it's a great way to pass the morning for parent and babe or caregiver and tot. After the stories are put away, peruse the bookshelves or nearby toys. Most are drop-in events, but we've noted if registration is required. Expect all sessions to be FREE or inexpensive. Read on for our insider's take on Queens storytimes with kids.

Best Fall Festivals for NYC Kids in September

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Fri, 08/31/2018 - 4:01pm

Halloween plus Coney Island equals a perfect fall day for kids. Photo by Mommy Poppins

Kick off autumn at one of September's fun-filled (and mostly FREE) fall festivals in NYC. Annual family favorites abound this month, including top September GoList picks such as the Richmond County Fair and the annual Queens County Fair. For more interactive fun, make sure you hit up the Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science. There are also plenty of cool under-the-radar events you may not have heard of, including a marine science fest in Tribeca, a sweet honey fest in Rockaway Beach, and Italian fairs in the Bronx and on Staten Island, which are both a lot less crowded than San Gennaro.

So banish the back-to-school blues by hitting one (or more) of these kid-friendly festivals this September.

NYC's First Interactive Museum of Tea Celebrates Tea Culture...and Bubble Tea!

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 8:22am

Room for Tea celebrates tea ceremonies, the history of tea, and everybody's favorite: bubble tea.

We've already filled you in on the Color Factory, Flow Separation, and Candytopia, and now the summer of the Instagram-ready, immersive art pop-up continues, with the first tea-themed interactive art space in NYC. Room For Tea is brewing, and is set to open in Tribeca on August 28. Read on for an advance look at photos of the imaginative space celebrating the diversity of tea cultures around the world (and especially bubble tea), plus everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Best Summer Festivals for NYC Kids This August

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Fri, 07/27/2018 - 12:00pm

Get your best beach game going at Summer Streets 2018.

Many families flee the city in August for end-of-summer vacations, but it's actually one of my favorite months to be in NYC. With summer staples like swimming, play fountains, and Governors Island, plus hundreds of free summer activities and only-in-August favorites like Summer Streets and Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, there's plenty to do if you stick around.

So we've rounded up a dozen FREE family-friendly festivals happening throughout the Big Apple in August to help you get the most out of NYC with kids during the last month of summer.