Down with Omicron; we've picked ten fun and inspiring things to get excited about as we head into 2022.

Just as my kids were finishing up their last days of school before the holiday, the Omicron spike hit. Each day, I watched their spirits dip further as our Nutcracker tickets became useless, our family's traditional Christmas Eve restaurant closed, and family and friends decided it was safest to postpone getting together. When I sat down to write about the things I'm loving for January, I was stumped. Then, as I began to pile through my inbox, our Facebook pages, and the event calendars, I realized there’s actually a lot to look forward to in 2022.

Because this is what Mommy Poppins is about: treasuring the time we have with our kids and inspiring families to have amazing and enriching experiences together. Sometimes that might just be watching a great movie, snuggled up on the couch. And it turns out there are a couple of new ones this month—read on. Or it might be baking with kids; at the top of my list is a dessert that Maureen, our Chicago Events Editor, passed around to our team. My daughter also shared a couple of tips she’s picked up in her school’s yoga class, for how we can all head into 2022 with grace, peace, and joy. I hope you find inspiration in our picks below, and that we all head into the New Year safe, healthy, happy, and together.

It’s that time of the year again: “best of” season! Well, we’re not immune here at Mommy Poppins, and it’s such a delight to highlight fun things to do with kids that have opened this past year, instead of closed. We searched our archives, our memories, your Facebook recommendations, and more to compile this list of the best kid-friendly openings in Los Angeles in 2021. From a massive and amazing new museum to cool places for kids to play or do art—and of course all the new things at our local amusement parks, there have actually been quite a lot of new things to do this year.

Without further ado, here is our list of the 21 best kid-friendly destinations that opened in 2021 in Los Angeles. Wonder what 2022 will bring…

Dodger fans must have been very, very good this year, because Santa has a surprise: for the first time ever, there will be an ice skating rink for the public to skate on out in center field! The Los Angeles Dodgers are hosting a holiday festival with music and entertainment, the ice skating rink, holiday and Christmas light displays, holiday-themed snacks, photos with Santa (and the elves), and more. Read on for the scoop on this exciting new holiday festival in Los Angeles.

For more Christmas light displays, holiday festivals, ice skating rinks in Los Angeles, and more check out our complete Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities in Los Angeles in 2021.