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

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.

Brooklyn Ninja Academy Brings Parkour Gym to Park Slope

Submitted by Diana Kim on Thu, 03/10/2022 - 6:10pm

Brooklyn Ninja Academy lets kids train on ninja warrior-inspired obstacles.

The New York Ninja Academy is expanding, opening a brand new Brooklyn location for budding ninja warriors to train and get fit. Here, kids can experience the parkour obstacles made famous by the hit American Ninja Warrior television show. The Brooklyn Ninja Academy coaches kids (and adults) in skills and techniques to improve balance, agility, and strength to master its various obstacles.

I recently checked out the new ninja warrior facility with my 11-year-old daughter and her friend, who experienced first-hand what it's like to be trained by ninja champions. Read on for the full review and find more cool places to train in our guide to Sports Centers, Gyms, and Fun Zones in NYC.

The Sill Opens New Park Slope Store and Coffee Shop

Submitted by Diana Kim on Fri, 02/18/2022 - 10:15am

Plants—and coffee, hot cocoa, and more—make people happy at The Sill's new retail location in Park Slope.

Park Slope is indeed one of our favorite kid-friendly neighborhoods in NYC thanks to its great restaurants, activities, schools, and parks. Now there's one more reason to love The Slope: The neighborhood just got a little greener, thanks to the opening of The Sill's brand new retail shop.

The Sill, well-known for its mail-order plant business, has opened a brick-and-mortar store in the heart of Park Slope. Even better: It's partnered with Blank Street Coffee, so you can grab some takeaway snacks while you browse the amazing selection of greenery.

50 Best Things to Do in Park Slope with Kids

Submitted by Diana Kim on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 4:35pm

Rent a boat at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

It's hard to beat Park Slope for a day of family fun. With its tree- and brownstone-lined streets, high-performing public schools, destination playgrounds, family-friendly restaurants, and host of cultural and kids' activities—not to mention the natural beauty and kid-friendly things to do in Prospect Park—Park Slope is one of the best family neighborhoods in NYC.

The Slope is a true community: Local shopkeepers know their regulars by name, neighbors sit and chat on their front stoops, and parents share info and swap baby items on the massive online board Park Slope Parents. For our purposes, we're defining Park Slope as stretching from Fourth Avenue to the eastern side of Prospect Park, and from Flatbush Avenue south to Prospect Avenue. Here are our top 50 things to do with kids in Park Slope, from culture to eating, shopping, and playing.

Industry City Unveils Interactive, Light-up Public Art Display

Submitted by Diana Kim on Fri, 02/11/2022 - 10:00am

The Pool is a free, light-up, art installation in Industry City's Courtyard 1/2.

We could all use a little bright spot during these droll winter months. For fun little pick-me-up, head over to Brooklyn's family-friendly Industry City, which has unveiled The Pool, a new large-scale, outdoor interactive installation from Jen Lewin, the artist behind Reflect which illuminated Domino Park in 2021.

Diana Kim

Latest posts by Diana

Pages