Diana Kim

Diana Kim has been a contributor to Mommy Poppins for nearly 8 years. A Brooklyn mom of three (ages 7-16), she loves exploring family-friendly events and activities in Brooklyn and sharing the best finds with readers.

Latest posts by Diana

Virtual Reality for Kids in NYC: 8 Spots Where Kids Get Inside Games and Immersive Experiences

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 07/11/2022 - 3:55pm

Ride a virtual roller coaster—at more—at Escape Virtuality, a virtual reality for kids destination in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier

Virtual reality for kids in NYC is becoming an increasingly popular activity. With gaming technology growing ever more sophisticated, spending a day immersed in one of these VR for kids outings allows visitors to enter an immersive and interactive new realm of fun.

When it comes to virtual reality for kids in NYC, there are a number of futuristic pop-ups and permanent exhibits catering to kids. Some of these VR for kids experiences are located within kid-friendly attractions, like those at Harry Potter New York, while others are standalone destinations all their own, including the brand new RiseNY in Times Square. Read on for seven picks for virtual reality for kids in NYC.

Family-Friendly Mini Golf Pops up at The William Vale

Submitted by Diana Kim on Thu, 07/07/2022 - 11:21am

One of the most family-friendly hotels in NYC, The William Vale in Williamsburg has just unveiled a mini-golf course called VALE(mini)GOLF, a bespoke 9-hole course, just as the summer season gets going. It's a great addition to the hotel as well as a kid-friendly outing in the neighborhood. Read on for details on our mini-golf outing, plus more fun things to do at this local kid-friendly hotel.

Why We're Loving WildPlay Jones Beach Adventure Park

Submitted by Diana Kim on Tue, 06/28/2022 - 10:00am

Featuring ziplines, wobbly bridges, cargo nets, and more, WildPlay has something for every age group. Photo courtesy of WildPlay

If your family’s looking for a little adventure this summer, WildPlay at Jones Beach delivers with enough thrilling oceanside obstacle courses and ziplines to make for a great day trip! With four levels of adventure courses, featuring tight ropes, cargo nets, rope swings, wobbly bridges, swinging buoys, and more, WildPlay has something for every age group. And I can vouch because I recently took my three brave kids–ranging from 5 to 14–to visit, and they all had a fantastic time.

We headed out to Jones Beach on a beautiful Friday afternoon and, after filling out a few waivers, WildPlay’s friendly instructors strapped on our harnesses and walked us through a safety demo so we could get right to climbing. After learning how to maneuver the pulleys over the “lifeline cables” and getting a tutorial on how to ride the ziplines, all three kids had gotten the hang of it and we set off to have some fun.

Read on for a rundown of the courses, what to know before you go, and a WildPlay coupon code for Mommy Poppins readers!

Summer Bucket List for NYC Teens: Best Things To Do in NYC for Teenagers 2022

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 06/13/2022 - 5:06pm

What could be cooler than a trip to the eye-popping Summit One Vanderbilt? Photo by the author

Summer in New York City is the perfect time for teens to explore, get active, make friends, learn new skills and tackle one of these bucket list-worthy summer activities for teens. Whether they're enrolled in a teen-friendly summer camp, honing skills at a summer internship, or have landed a teen-friendly part-time job, NYC teens have plenty of options to keep busy.

When they do have some downtime, though, there are plenty of fun things to do. To help navigate the myriad options, we've rounded up 12 summer activities for teens that are guaranteed to deliver a good time, whether they're into fun in the great outdoors or want to check out a cool new NYC destination. If that's not enough to keep boredom at bay, bookmark this list of 15 all-seasons teen activities for NYC's ultra-cool big kids.

We've got even more teen activities in our Tweens & Teens Guide to NYC, and you can also search our Family Activity Calendar for teen-specific events.

Go Bouldering With Kids at The Cliffs at Gowanus, NYC's Newest Rock Climbing Gym

Submitted by Diana Kim on Thu, 05/26/2022 - 12:55pm

The Cliffs at Gowanus offers three floors of bouldering fun with kid-friendly classes, summer camps, and more family-friendly fun.

Families now have another great place in Brooklyn to go bouldering with kids: The Cliffs at Gowanus is open, offering tons of action-packed, family-friendly fun, including rope climbing, yoga classes, a gym, and more.

My 11 year old and I recently went on a tour of The Cliffs Gowanus and tried rope climbing. Read on for all the details of this new gym, where you can go bouldering with kids, and what you need to know about NYC's newest and largest kid-friendly rock climbing gym.

Best YMCA Summer Camps Near New York City

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 04/11/2022 - 6:26pm

YMCA of the Bronx is but one of the NYC-based YMCA summer camps catering to kids from diverse backgrounds with varied interests. Photo by Da Ping Luo/courtesy of YMCA of Greater New York

From summer day camps to sleepaway summer camps, it's easy to find just the right summer camp for your child at these local YMCA summer camps near New York City. Located throughout the greater tristate area, these Y summer camps offer a wide range of summer camp activities, sports, and adventures in beautiful, stunning outdoor surroundings.

YMCA summer camps give your child the chance to make new friends, gain confidence, and appreciate the outdoors. Bonus: Most YMCA summer camps are more affordable than other options. Below, we've rounded up our favorite YMCA summer camps in New York, New Jersey, and even some sleepaway summer camp options nearby.

If you're still searching for the perfect summer camp for your kid, be sure to bookmark our Guide to Summer Camps. Find more overnight camps in our Sleepaway Camps Guide, which profiles the best overnight camps nationwide.

Brooklyn Magic Shop Delivers Magic Tricks, Classes, and More in Cobble Hill

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 04/04/2022 - 10:00am

At Brooklyn Magic Shop, kids can see—and participate in—a magic show or take classes and learn how to perform magic tricks on their own.

Kids (and adults!) love magic—whether it's attending magic shows, trying their hand at tricks, or learning the secrets behind the illusions, and New Yorkers have a new magic shop on the scene willing to teach them a few tricks. Located in the family-friendly enclave of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Magic Shop is dedicated to all things to magic.

Read on for our full review and learn why you need to take your budding magician to this cool new shop.

Summer Jobs for Teens: How to Help Your Kid Find a Summer Gig

Submitted by Diana Kim on Tue, 03/15/2022 - 6:27pm

The Summer Youth Employment Program connects NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer. Photo courtesy of SYEP

Got a teen who's looking for a summer job? While NYC teens have a variety of summer internships to apply to, most of these are unpaid, offer school or volunteer credit, or provide only a small stipend. For a paid summer job, there's a different set of procedures teens must follow.

Read on to find out what you and your teens need to know before they begin their hunt for a summer job or after-school gig.

Diana Kim

Latest posts by Diana

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