Ally Noel
Ally Noel has lived in Connecticut for over two decades. Before becoming a parent, she worked as an Educational Technology Specialist, helping schools and teachers integrate technology into learning. Now, she’s all about discovering the best family-friendly adventures, activities, and hidden gems. Share your tips, questions, or just say hi at ally@mommypoppins.com, and follow along for family fun at @mommypoppinsct.
Latest posts by Ally
Life in quarantine has forced families to think of creative ways we can get together during the novel coronavirus outbreak. And if you need a break from playing board games with whomever you share a home, a virtual game night makes for an excellent (and refreshing) alternative. Whether you choose Zoom, Hangouts, FaceTime, or Skype, there is virtually no end to the technological tools that keep us connected.
Group games are so important to kids for so many reasons. You can still sing your heart out with friends, challenge grandparents to a round of Pictionary, or ask your cousin to play a game of Battleship. Despite the circumstances, kids just want to have fun. So, let the games begin!
For more ideas on pandemic parenting, visit our Coronavirus Guide for Parents with hundreds of activities and things to do with kids of all ages.
Almost overnight, many parents have begun working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Juggling the challenges of keeping our families’ homeschool education on track while maintaining our work schedule from home is not an easy task.
The Mommy Poppins team are seasoned WFH pros. With a handy set of noise-canceling headphones, we can work in almost any situation. When the sign on the door that states “Working:Do Not Enter” stops ...well... working, this list of independent play activities should keep everyone engaged and entertained. Some of these activities require a little bit of set-up depending on your child’s age. Take one tip from this pro: save screen time for the end of the day. It’s the perfect activity to wrap up your workday or respond to a few last emails.
We've rounded up our favorite TV shows and movies to stream right now, as many parents are finding we need to rely more on screens these days! We tried to make these picks our favorites, meaning ones that we don't feel too bad about letting them gorge on or even watching with them (our laptops balanced in laps, of course).
Read on for more than two dozen of our parent-tested-kid-approved shows (and a few movies) that are streaming on Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Prime.
For families, creating a pantry with enough staples that you can make several meals when you don't have time to hit the store can be a lifesaver. We're big fans of Trader Joe's recipes for easy weeknight cooking, so whenthings get busy, I turn to Trader Joe's to start stocking up.
Kids may love going to Trader Joe’s for the free stickers, hidden stuffed animals, and lollipops. But, for me, I have always loved the number of convenience foods this specialty food store provides, aka, entire gourmet meals I can microwave or throw into a single pan from frozen—and have ready sometimes in as little as 7 minutes. The packed shelves can seem overwhelming for anyone to navigate, so we’ve created this list of 15 best meals from Trader Joe's recipes, combining veggies, proteins, whole grains, and flavor.
Cheers to being halfway through March! We’ve survived the transition to daylight savings time and spring is right around the corner. Several St. Patrick's Day parades are canceled because of coronavirus, but there are other ways to celebrate the Irish holiday this weekend, including shamrock-themed cookie decorating in Norwalk and a pot-of-gold treasure hunt in Newtown. There’s also a fishing demonstration, fantastic live theatrical performances, and a few more maple festivals as well. The annual cardboard sled race is in Middlefield was on at press time!
Due to coronavirus, some activities planned for this weekend have been canceled, postponed, or modified. We will do our best to keep our weekend picks up-to-date with any changes made by event organizers. Stay well, everyone.
This low-tech invisible ink science experiment lets kids send secret messages to friends and family. All they'll need is a little lemon juice or milk. We decided to try both versions of this invisible ink experiment to see if the results were any different.
Commonly found household items make up the ingredient list, including juice, milk, honey, and vinegar. At room temperature, these compound liquids are colorless, making them perfect for invisible ink fun. Put them in contact with heat and the oxidization process turns them various shades of brown, aka, the ink appears! Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to make invisible ink with your kids.
Find more science experiments for kids in our STEM Activities Guide.
Thanks to Leap Day, we have a whole extra day of February to squeeze in all the fun to be had across Connecticut! This weekend is filled with an eclectic mix of outdoor fun, Read Across America Celebrations in Norwalk and New London, a Purim carnival, and even some Leap Day activities in Litchfield and Norwalk. But, any true Nutmegger knows there's a short period between winter and spring when a certain sticky and delicious substance flows through our trees. We are in the thick of Maple Sugar Season! Our calendar is filled with tons of maple sugar fun this weekend.
We update our Events Calendar frequently so be sure to check back for even more great suggestions. To keep up with the latest family-friendly events and activities, sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. Have a fantastic weekend!
For such a short month, February is loaded with celebrations for just about everyone, and the first weekend kicks everything off! From learning the science behind groundhog's shadows to making Valentine's Day crafts to appreciating owls, Connecticut kids have plenty of activities to pick from on Saturday and Sunday.
Also check out the full calendar and take advantage of all the fantastic "Take Your Child To the Library" festivities happening around the state. Is there anything better to do on a cold February day than snuggle in with a good book? Read on, friends!
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