Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids - Anywhere

Mexico City with Kids: 30 Best Things To Do in Mexico City, Mexico

Jennifer Marino Walters — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

I recently took a girls' trip to Mexico City with friends, thinking it was not a place that would be great for kids. Once I got there, I quickly realized how wrong I was. This extremely walkable city has some of the best parks and playgrounds I've ever seen, loads of kid-friendly museums, spring-like temperatures year-round, fantastic food, and friendly people. It seemed like everywhere I looked, there were parents pushing strollers or kids playing. The city is also safe and very affordable.

Many areas of Mexico City have a very European vibe, with Spanish Baroque and Art Deco architecture, tons of sidewalk cafes and Paris-like bakeries, ornate churches, and trendy shops. But the city is also very green and lush, with palm tree-lined streets, bright colors, and Mexican flavor. And even though I've always equated Mexico with the beach (as many people do), I never even missed the ocean!

Here are some of the top things to do in Mexico City with kids, including what to eat and where to stay in Mexico City with kids. I've also provided tips and tricks for your visit and answered some of the most-asked questions about Mexico City. Check out our Mexico Family Travel Guide for even more great places to visit in Mexico, including the best Cancun all-inclusive resorts for families and the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta with kids.

61 Birthday Freebies for Kids: Where Kids Get Free Food, Gifts, and Fun

Audrey M — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000

These birthday freebies for kids are free food, gifts, or special treats offered by restaurants, stores, and brands to celebrate a child’s birthday.

Birthday freebies for kids are a huge help: the sticker price for kids' birthday celebrations can be huge! So every little birthday freebie for kids is a gift to parents, too! Here, we've rounded up 61 places that offer up free stuff on your birthday.

Read on to discover how to score Starbucks birthday freebies, free burgers and ice cream, calls from favorite characters (like Paw Patrol or SpongeBob), discounts on clothes, surprise gifts, and even more birthday freebies for kids.

For more birthday freebies near you, check out your city's Guide to Free Things To Do with Kids; and when you're ready to plan that party, be sure to check out our Birthday Party Ideas Guide for Unique Goody Bag and Party Favor Ideas, 100 Kids' Birthday Party Themes, and more.

Kids and Crafts at Artful Souls and Wellness

jferdowsi_186385 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:43:47 +0000

Friday, January 30, 2026 - 10:30am to 11:30am

https://themommyarchives.com/product/kids-and-crafts/

Cost:

Free

A cozy Kids & Crafts Meet-Up at Artful Souls and Wellness invites adults to connect with fellow parents and caregivers while little ones enjoy simple crafts and open play.

This event is free, but RSVP is required as space is limited.

Recommended Age:

0-6 years old

Age:

Artful Souls and Wellness

105 S 5th St

11249 Brooklyn , NY 40° 42' 41.7096" N, 73° 57' 50.8104" W

New York

Ticketed:

Activity Category:

Free

Indoors

Admission Services

Where To Score Amazing Student Discounts and Free Stuff for College Students (Parent-Tested Secrets!)

Jennifer Marino Walters — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Between tuition, room and board, textbooks, school supplies, and more, being a college student is expensive. And all those hours spent going to class, hitting the books, and doing extracurricular activities don't exactly leave much time for earning money.

But that doesn't necessarily mean your college kid has to live on ramen noodles and wear their high school wardrobe. There are tons of stores, restaurants, technology companies, entertainment venues, subscription services, and other businesses that offer student discounts and free stuff for college students. Many of these deals are available online through student discount apps, while others are offered in person with a student ID.

Here are 70 of the best college student deals, student perks, and free resources for college students to help your kiddo save money and still enjoy life. Our list of free stuff for kids and teens in the mail can help college kids get even more freebies. Be sure to also check out our Guide to Free Activities, Events, Classes, and Camps.

Free STEM Summer Camp from Girls Who Code Opens Registration 2026

Tara D — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:40:00 +0000

Looking for more than mindless hanging out and screen time for your teenage daughter this summer? Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that aims to increase the number of women in computer science fields, is once again offering its FREE summer program for girls and non-binary kids entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school. Called Pathways, the 6-7-week STEM summer camp is completely virtual and accepting applications now.

Keep reading to find out who is eligible, how to apply, and when this Girls Who Code STEM summer programs is happening in 2026. Hurry, because the early application period for this FREE summer program is already open.

Find more STEM activities in our Science and Tech Guide for Kids, or check out more summer programs for teens and kids in our Camp Guide. You can also find free coding for kids websites and apps.

St. Lucia With Kids: Stay at Coconut Bay and Explore the Island’s Best Family Adventures

Meghan Rose — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 13:10:07 +0000

I live in LA, so for tropical vacations, we tend to head to nearby Hawaii. But we took the long flight to the Caribbean this fall, and I have to say, I’m sorry we waited so long. For a fantastic mix of awesome adventures, gorgeous beaches, relaxing cabanas, stunning nature, great food, loads of animals, and a plethora of activities for kids and the whole family, you can’t beat the island of St. Lucia. Yes, the island famous for honeymooners and romance is actually a wonderful family vacation.

We stayed at the all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort and had maybe the most perfectly balanced tropical family vacation I’ve ever experienced. Think chocolate tasting/making, drive-in volcano, snorkeling with endangered turtles, and the best Kids Club I’ve seen.

Below, I’m sharing the real insider stuff. Not just the list of top things to do, but the details: what you need to pack (and what to not pack!), which days you should plan on adventures and which you should lie by the pool, and even what to eat.

Check out our complete Guide to Caribbean Family Vacations. Now, here are my tips on making a trip to St. Lucia with kids a rousing success:

Best Shared Family Calendar Apps (Tested by a Real Parent)

Ally Noel — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:02:52 +0000

If you’ve ever missed a Spirit Day, double‑booked soccer practice, or realized after pickup that early dismissal was today... "Hi! Welcome to the club." This is exactly why I went down the rabbit hole of family calendar apps in the first place.

For Mommy Poppins, I didn’t just research these apps; I actually used them with my own family. On iPhones, Android devices, and laptops. With kids who sometimes check apps… and sometimes make me wonder why I pay for cell phone service

Below are the best shared family calendar apps I’ve personally tested — what actually worked in real life, what felt over hyped, and which families each app is truly best for. For more tried-and-tested parenting hacks, check out our Mommy Poppins Parenting Hacks Guide.

January Holidays for Kids: A Kid-Friendly Celebration for Every Day

Meghan Rose — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:16:16 +0000

Welcome to a NEW year! Whether you’re wondering “Is today a holiday?” or just need a quick way to make an ordinary afternoon feel special, this list of January holidays for kids gives families something to look forward to every day of the month. There's Pass Gas Day (what kid won't want to celebrate Fart Day?), Rubber Ducky Day, and of course, a long weekend for Martin Luther King Jr Day, to make it feel like the holiday season isn’t over yet!

Scroll down for all 31 fun holidays in January, plus links to holiday-a-day ideas for every month of the year.

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. In January at Mommy Poppins, we also celebrate all things FREE, so check out our national guide to freebies and also your local guide to free things to do near you!

A Guide to Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary in the US with Kids (2026)

Nicole O'Donnell — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 15:56:00 +0000

The upcoming year will be a big one for America—the country is celebrating America 250, its semiquincentennial (say that five times fast!). In easier-to-pronounce words, it's the US's 250th birthday—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And there are so many ways to celebrate the America 250 anniversary 2026.

America's 250th celebration events will take place in all 50 states. Everywhere from big cities to small towns will host festivals, parades, special museum exhibits, some seriously next-level July 4th celebrations, and other amazing America 250 events. That means 2026 is the perfect year to take a family vacation packed with history, learning, and fun!

Read on for our ultimate America 250 travel guide for families, including the best places to celebrate America 250, handy travel tips, and answers to your biggest questions about this major milestone. And if you want to make America 250 part of a larger family vacay, our Family Travel Guide will help you plan the perfect patriotic trip!

The 131 Most-Loved (Best) Kids’ Books: Parent-Tested, Kid-Approved

Ally Noel — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:20:03 +0000

There is nothing quite like immersing yourself in the pages of a good book, and you truly can’t start too young! This is a list of the best books for kids that are all picked to instill a lifetime long love of reading. These aren’t classics kids should read. These are books kids will beg to read. (Or have read aloud to them!) We talked to parents who see what their kids are actually devouring. These books are beloved, re-read, dog-eared, and passed to siblings.

They are all books that we see our kids reading over and over. That we read aloud until we got so sick of the books we hid them for a while. There are classics we read as kids ourselves, and new books we discovered with our kids.

Discover your next favorite family bedtime read aloud, your kid’s next favorite book, or a great book to get your reluctant reader reading. Find even more great books in our guide to children's books and literature, including the Best Board Books for Babies and Toddlers You’ll Love to Read Over and Over, for your pre-readers!