Jennifer Marino Walters

Jennifer Marino Walters is the DC and travel editor for Mommy Poppins and the author of over 20 beloved children's books. A proud mom of three—plus twins!—she lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and busy brood. When she’s not writing or editing, you’ll find Jennifer cheering from the sidelines of a baseball game, supporting her daughter’s cheerleading squad, diving into a good book, or exploring new destinations. Connect with her on Instagram @jmwalters718.

Latest posts by Jennifer

Best Baby Boutiques for Cool Baby Clothes in DC

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 04/18/2025 - 11:23am

You'll have one of the best-dressed babies in the DC area when you shop at one of these baby boutiques!

There's nothing quite as adorable as itty-bitty baby clothes. And if you're one of those parents who wants to see and feel clothing before putting it on your infant, there are plenty of baby boutiques in the DC area where you can do just that.

These baby stores include unique shops selling organic baby clothes, high-end boutiques carrying designer brands, and budget-friendly shops where you can find cute items without breaking the bank.

Here are 13 of the best baby stores in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Once you're done shopping, check out our Baby and Maternity Guide for more info about raising a baby, from the best baby bath toys and baby bath tubs to potty training tips that moms swear by.

45 Spring Bucket List Ideas for Kids in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 04/04/2025 - 12:19pm

Revel in the beauty of Blooming Wonders at ARTECHOUSE. Photo by Elvert Barnes via Flickr 2.0

Looking for spring activities for kids? Check out our ultimate spring bucket list for kids DC!

Spring has sprung in Washington, DC! That means it's time to put away the coats and hats and head outdoors to start checking activities off your spring bucket list for kids DC. There are so many fun family activities in DC to take advantage of the mild temperatures and the extra daylight. And on those rainy spring days, there are plenty of indoor options, too.

Read on for our list of the 45 best things to do with kids spring has to offer in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. For more spring activities for kids, visit our Spring Break Ideas Guide for DC Families, which includes our roundup of roughly 30 spring festivals in the DC area.

100 Fun & Easy Brain Breaks for Kids of All Ages

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Thu, 04/03/2025 - 12:00pm

Even kids can benefit from some mindful meditation!

It's easy for kids to get distracted when they're doing schoolwork, studying, or doing any other task that requires concentration. One thing that can help? Brain breaks! These quick activities for kids can be scattered throughout longer periods of work to help refocus kids' minds, increase their creativity and productivity, and give them a chance to blow off steam.

A brain break for kids can be a mental task, a physical one, or a combination of both. Our list of 100 brain breaks for kids includes both outdoor brain breaks and indoor activities for kids, classroom brain breaks that work for any large group, creative kids' activities, energy breaks that get kids moving their bodies, and more.

For fun ways to entertain kids for longer periods of time, our guides to crafts for kids and science experiments for kids have you covered!

Here's the DC Public School Calendar for 2025-2026 (Plus Other Area School Districts)

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 03/21/2025 - 8:17am

Keep the DC public school calendar handy so you'll always know what days your kids have class.

The DC area may be in the thick of summer, but the 2025-2026 school year is coming up quickly. If you haven't already, it's time to start gathering those school supplies, buying those back-to-school clothes, and planning family vacations and school-break camp coverage.

To help you do just that, here is the DC public school calendar for 2025-2026, as well as links to other public school calendars for Maryland and Northern Virginia school districts. Bookmark it now so you can easily reference it later!

For more back-to-school help, check out our lists of great lunch boxes for kids and the best kids clothing labels and name stickers for back-to-school. And if you really want to plan ahead, check out these 100 school lunch ideas for kids.

100 Fun Party Games for Kids of All Ages

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Tue, 03/18/2025 - 1:00pm

Tug of war makes for a fun party game for large groups.

If you're looking for birthday party games for kids, we've got all the fun ideas. Our list of 100 kids' party games includes both outdoor and indoor games for kids, active and creative party games, classic party games, group games for kids, and much more. You'll find party games for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens.

Our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties is full of more fun kids' activities and ideas for birthday party entertainment, like outdoor games for kids. And if you need board games for kids' party, see our list of the 100 best board games for family game night.

Yorktown with Kids: 18 Best Things To Do in Yorktown, Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 02/23/2025 - 10:00am

A Steamer Wagon tour is the perfect way to explore Yorktown Battlefield with kids! Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

Founded in 1691, Yorktown, Virginia is a quaint, gorgeous city steeped in history. Best known as the location of the last major Revolutionary War battle, it is home to Yorktown Battlefield and the American Revolution Museum, which my family of history buffs really enjoyed during our recent trip to Yorktown. But we were pleasantly surprised to find that Yorktown also has a beachy feel, with a two-acre public beach on the York River, riverside shops and restaurants, and an awesome walking and biking path along the water.

My husband, teen sons, tween daughter, and I visited Yorktown as part of a trip that included nearby Williamsburg and Jamestown. We started out thinking the other two cities would be the main attractions, but ended up loving Yorktown, its history, and its small-town feel just as much.

Here are 17 great things to do in Yorktown, VA with kids. A few of these activities are available only in summer, but we visited in October and still got to do quite a bit—and the weather was perfect! Check out our list of things to do in Williamsburg, VA and our guide to visiting Busch Gardens to round out your visit to Virginia's Historic Triangle.

Ultimate Virginia Bucket List: 100 Things To Do With Kids in VA

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 02/21/2025 - 10:00am

Go on a safari at Leesburg Animal Park. Photo by Sam Dean, courtesy of Visit Virginia

The slogan may be "Virginia Is For Lovers", but we say Virginia is for families! There are so many amazing things to do in Virginia with kids, we barely know where to start.

The birthplace of eight US presidents and the site of many Revolutionary War and Civil War battles, Virginia is full of fantastic historic sites to explore, from George Washington's Mount Vernon to Yorktown Battlefield.

There are so many fun ways to spend time outdoors in Virginia, from playing on awesome playgrounds to hiking in Shenandoah National Park to frolicking on the beaches of Virginia Beach.

Virginia is also home to museums galore, thrilling amusement parks like Busch Gardens, awesome neighborhoods to explore such as Old Town Alexandria and Clifton, and so much more.

Here is our ultimate Virginia bucket list for families, featuring 100 of the best things to do in Virginia with kids. We hope checking off this list will lead to loads of fun and lasting family memories!

The Art of the Brick, the World's Most Famous LEGO Exhibit, Opens in DC

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 02/07/2025 - 9:35am

Each room holds a new surprise at The Art of the Brick.

The Art of the Brick, the World's most famous LEGO art exhibit, is now open in Washington, DC! Named one of CNN's Top 10 "Global Must-See Exhibitions," The Art of the Brick includes over 130 incredible sculptures created from more than one million LEGO bricks.

I recently visited The Art of the Brick with my 10-year-old daughter, and I'm not sure which of us enjoyed it more! We were both mesmerized by the level of detail put into each piece, especially the ones meant to resemble real works of art.

Read all about our experience at The Art of the Brick—and find out all the details about this fantastic exhibition—below. If your family can't get enough of LEGO after that, head to the LEGO Discovery Center Washington, DC, then check out our post on 101 fun things to do with LEGO bricks.

Jennifer Marino Walters

Latest posts by Jennifer

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