Liz Baill

Liz Baill is an educator, writer, and mom of three in the Philadelphia area. She loves developing resources that inspire kids and families to engage in creative play and open-ended exploration. She has taught children and their grown-ups in museums across the country including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Liz has developed award-winning content for kid-friendly audio guides, labels, exhibitions, websites, and lesson plans, and is the author of "Armor & Animals" and "What Can Colors Do?" Follow her attempts at momming creativishly and her work pursuits in the art education world in Instagram @creativishmom.

Latest posts by Liz

31 No-Carve Halloween Pumpkin Painting Ideas for Safer Jack O' Lanterns

Submitted by Liz Baill on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:37am

Keep sharp objects away from kids, while still getting gorgeous pumpkins, with these tips. Photo by Charles Parker via Canva.com

No-carve pumpkin ideas for safe pumpkin decorating, from pumpkin painting to mess-free, stress-free pumpkin primping.

Maybe the gourd’s guts gross your kids out, or you’re avoiding the knives and flames that Jack O' Lanterns require, or you just want less mess. We’ve got hacks that require zero actual hacking, but are still a fun and creative activity that leaves you with festive pumpkins. If even paint is too messy for you, we have a whole list of no-carve and no-paint ways to primp your pumpkin. Get ready to trade seeds for sequins and goo for glue to jazz your Jack O' Lantern without the carve.

For older kids who can handle a good carving session, browse our piece on Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas featuring links to 20 free pumpkin stencils! For more ways to make the most out of this Halloween, check out our Halloween Guide and look for festive activities near you in our Local Halloween Fun and Activities Guide.

8 Genius AI Parenting Hacks That Will Blow Your Mind

Submitted by Liz Baill on Wed, 09/03/2025 - 10:43am

Let a chatbot help you decide what to make for dinner with picky kids and a limited pantry.

Parents are adept at finding life hacks to make the joys (read: logistical nightmares) of raising kids just a touch easier. And despite buckets of reservations, I've found a new one: Hello ChatGPT. Yes, we’re talking AI Parenting hacks and ChatGPT prompts for parents that can assist with everything from meal planning for picky eaters to personalized bedtime stories told in the style of Taylor Swift.

I was a longtime holdout for using AI for anything. And truthfully, I still have concerns, from the ethical to the environmental (more on that later). But with AI here to stay, I nudged aside my existential anxiety and looked into how parents are using it responsibly to make life easier. I asked the Mommy Poppins team their favorite AI/Chat GPT prompts and was floored to discover how quickly it became like a personal assistant.

So I tested these hacks and fine-tuned each prompt to get them just right for you to try, whether you're in the throes of toddler tantrums or depths of teen drama. Turns out, delegating the small stuff to AI so that you can focus on the big stuff is a total parenting game-changer.

Turns out, delegating the small stuff to AI so that you can focus on the big stuff is a total parenting game-changer. Here are my 8 favorite prompts:

Best Gifts for New Moms: What They Actually Want (And Will Use)

Submitted by Liz Baill on Thu, 08/07/2025 - 10:51am

Support is better than stuff! Photo courtesy of Canva

Searching for the best gifts for new moms that won't just become cute clutter? From practical gifts for new mothers (pass the peri bottle!) to pampered purchases (looking at you, fancy lounge wear) to the help she really needs (A nap! A meal! A shower without an audience!), we’ve got you covered. Whether it's her first or her fourth, there's lots of ways to help make those blurry baby days a bit easier.

Our New Mom Gift Guide is packed with thoughtful gifts new moms really want, ideas for how to show up and help without overstaying, and ways to make new parents feel seen and supported.

One of the best things you can send new moms? Mommy Poppins, of course! Ping the new mom in your life with her local Mommy Poppins site, with a special shout-out to our Parenting Guide where she’ll find our Baby Registry Must-Haves, along with our list of stuff she absolutely does not need in our Deinfluencing Your Baby Registry run-down.

Advice for New Parents: Most-Googled Questions With Answers from Experts!

Submitted by Liz Baill on Tue, 07/15/2025 - 10:52am

New parents are giddy, sleep-deprived, and prolific Googlers!

New parents are not only among the most sleep-deprived in the population, but they also happen to be some of the most prolific Googlers. With a new baby comes new baby questions, and today’s new parents have the internet at their fingertips–for better or worse. It’s hard to find trustworthy answers in the abyss of information out there, and don’t even get me started on the number of Googled anecdotes that have sent me into my own personal new parent panic.

We've taken the 10 most Googled new parent questions—some of which surprised us!—and got answers from the experts and our own veteran parents. Read on for real-life tips that really work. And slowly back away from search engines and AI chatbots...

For more expert parenting advice, including potty training tips and developmental milestones for baby's first year, visit our Baby and Maternity Guide.

12 Philly Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While Parents Eat

Submitted by Liz Baill on Fri, 06/27/2025 - 9:49am

Parents eat while kids climb and slide at Craft Hall.

We've all been there. You bravely take the kids out on the town for a fun family date night, hoping the novelty of it all will be enough to enjoy some semblance of a grown-up outing. But it's not long before the troops get restless and you're desperately searching for the check. Luckily, Philly has loads of kid-friendly food options where children can stay occupied so that parents can eat and talk at a slightly less frenzied pace. From game cafes to bona fide indoor playgrounds (!!!), here are our favorite family-friendly restaurants in Philly where kids can play.

For more of the best places to eat in Philly with kids, check out our Philadelphia Restaurant Guide for Families.

Moms, Get Your Pink Back - What That Means and How To Do It

Submitted by Liz Baill on Thu, 04/24/2025 - 12:00pm

Losing your pink? Find out how to get it back!

Congrats! You just had a baby! Enter motherhood overwhelm and cue the anxious Google searches. Somewhere in your scrolling you’ll likely come across “get your pink back” as a way to reclaim your identity as a mom. Get your what back?

Full disclosure: I cringed as a postpartum mom the first time I heard “get your pink back." Why’s it gotta be pink? Because we’re moms? Haven’t we evolved past thinking pink is for girls? Turns out that’s not why at all. It’s actually science…as in flamingos.

Read on for ideas on how to revive that pink (or whatever color you want it to be) and reclaim your identity as a mom. And, when you’re ready, browse our Baby and Maternity Guide for everything from the top baby-led weaning foods to common types of parenting styles.

3 Days in Philadelphia with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom

Submitted by Liz Baill on Sun, 02/23/2025 - 7:25am

Take in 300 years of history on Elfreth's Alley. Photo courtesy of the museum

We've planned the best things to do in Philly during your next trip to the City of Brotherly Love.

Welcome to Philly, home of the cheesesteak, the Iggles, Rocky, and, oh yes, the birthplace of America. Whether you're visiting for the history, the food, the art, the sports, or the friends, there's something for everyone in the always-sunny City of Brotherly Love. We've planned a 3 day itinerary for exploring Philly with kids, including good eats, sites to see, and all the best family-friendly destinations. A kind warning--for your own good, don't wear sports gear unless it's a Philly team, mmmkay?

While you're at it, browse our list of Philadelphia's top attractions for kids, or get inspired to think like a local with our list of 100 things to do in Philly before your kid grows up. Don't forget to check our weekend events roundup while you're here for all the happenings that are, well, happening during your visit.

50 Awesome Things To Do Indoors in Philly On Cold and Rainy Days

Submitted by Liz Baill on Sun, 02/02/2025 - 7:57am

The bright and whimsical play space at Kith + Kin. Photo courtesy of Kith & Kin

Caught cabin fever when it's too cold to play outside? We've compiled all the best spots for kids to have fun inside, including all the best indoor play spaces and indoor playgrounds near Philly. Cozy up and channel creativity, get tuckered out at a trampoline park, meander through a museum, and so much more.

Need more ideas for great times indoors? Be sure and check out Free Indoor Play Spaces for Philly Kids and our Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones Guide. Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox!

Liz Baill

Latest posts by Liz

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