Mommy Poppins - Get more out of NYC with kids - NYC as Classroom

Making Math fun for everyone at the NY Hall of Science: The Math Midway Exhibit

Stephanie — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:38:43 +0000

The Math Midway is a hands-on, side show styled, action packed “carnival” that illuminates mathematic principals and applies them in fun, surprising ways for kids. My family and I got a peak at the Math Midway last year when it debuted at the Science Festival in Washington Square Park but it was so unbelievably crowded we couldn’t really tell what it was. We were excited to hear it was coming back to the NY Hall of Science in Queens and wanted to give it another try.

Night at the Museum: 7 Museum Sleepovers in New York City

Allison — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:12:30 +0000

We recently wrote about the new Extreme Sleepovers at Ripley's Believe it or Not! Odditorium. Museum Sleepovers are all the rage ever since the Night at The Museum movie hit theaters. Not only can you spend the night at the Museum of Natural History, just like they do in the movies, but you can sleep over at 6 other cool spots as well.

5 Best NYC Street Art Finds

mommy — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:39:05 +0000

Walking around NYC seems to always lead to some adventure or another. One of the things I particularly love is when we stumble upon some cool street art. When we do we always make sure to stop and enjoy it. Last Friday we came across an interactive video art piece which is installed in an empty storefront on Lexington and 33rd St. The kids had a great time playing with it (see video below) and it inspired me to share some other cool public artworks that you might want to check out.

Where to Meet a Fire Fighter and Learn about Fire Safety in New York City

mommy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:08:18 +0000

My daughter who is 7 years old had an educational workshop about fire safety at her after school program. I'm interested in taking her to a real fire house to help bring his lesson home. Do you know of any? — Yolanda

It's great to teach our children about fire safety and I've always found the firemen at our local firehouse to be really friendly. If they're not rushing off to a fire, they generally will welcome kids into the station to check out the trucks and see what they do. But, there are also two special museums set up just to teach children about fire fighting and fire safety rather than just trying to show up at your local fire house.

Historic Opportunity to Visit Aboard The USS New York

mommy — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:16:13 +0000

Let me put it out there that I'm not a big fan of war, but I am intrigued by the arrival of the brand new, not yet commissioned, USS New York in our harbor. This is not something that happens every day and, I have to say, reading about this ship, it's pretty interesting.

Day of the Dead in New York City: Mexican Culture Comes Alive with El Dia de los Muertos Events

mommy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:46:03 +0000

By now you probably have all your Halloween events and activities down. Trick or treating, maybe a Halloween costume parade, maybe even a haunted house, if you dare.

How about mixing something a little multicultural into your celebrations? El Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, is the Mexican version of Halloween, and a time to celebrate the lives of friends and family members who have passed away with festivities, food and fun.

Culture Dem Kids: Celebrate Diwali in New York City

mommy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:11:06 +0000

Sure, New York City is expensive, but think how much money you save by not having to travel all the way to India with your kids to experience the culture and customs of Diwali. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights and New Year, is a time to celebrate good fortune, family and friendships. While October 17, 2009 is the official holiday date, there are events and activities for kids to celebrate Diwali in New York as early as this week. Enjoy performances of the story of Diwali, create traditional decorations to take home, eat yummy Indian foods at Diwali Mela street fairs...all you need is a Metrocard and a sense of curiosity.

Here are some fun Diwali activities and events for kids in New York City:

5 Fun Ways to Learn about New York History and Dutch Culture During NY400 Week

mommy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:39:40 +0000

Four hundred years ago Henry Hudson and his Dutch ship, the Halve Maen ("Half Moon") arrived at what is now New York Harbor. This week, from September 8-13, NY400 celebrates the anniversary of Henry Hudson's historic voyage with a sea of events culminating in NY Harbor Day on Sunday, September 13th. NY400 Week gives New Yorkers a chance to immerse themselves in Dutch culture, New York history and lots of fun stuff long the way. Here are some highlights:

The Best Places to Go Stargazing in New York City

charlotte — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:41:10 +0000

On any given night, it can be hard to find a visible star, let alone a constellation, here in the City. With all of the ambient light, you might think it's near impossible to do any star gazing at all. But even with the neon signs and lights, there are amateur astronomy clubs that gather weekly and find wonders in the nighttime skies, not to mention the university observatories that are open to the public.

Must-See New York: New Sony Wonder Technology Lab

mommy — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:50:58 +0000

We recently visited the newly renovated Sony Wonder Technology Lab and by the end of the visit this great venue had shot up to the top of our list of must visit spots for kids in New York City. The Sony Wonder Technology Lab has always been a great find, with free movie screenings and a fun children's museum with interactive exhibits. But the new renovation and exhibits leap-frog the Sony Wonder Technology Lab to the forefront of NYC children's museums for kids.

New York is full of great children's museums, but the Sony Wonder Technology Lab does one thing really, really well that none of the other children's museums in New York City currently do: it teaches kids about the stuff they want to learn about most, technology.