Jennifer Swope
Jennifer Swope, a DC resident since 2003, transitioned from humanitarian work to freelance editing in 2012 to stay home with her two kids. This shift sparked her passion for finding fun ways to keep them entertained—and inspired her to contribute to Mommy Poppins. When she's not navigating DC's chaos with her kids, she and her husband love watching sports, planning their next trip, and attending concerts. Follow Jennifer on Instagram @jenniferswope.
Latest posts by Jennifer
Farewell, giant pandas!
It's time to say goodbye to some of Washington, DC's most beloved residents. Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji, the Smithsonian National Zoo's giant pandas, are scheduled to fly home to China by December 7, 2023. While the pandas' departure is bittersweet for the DC area, it is also a chance to celebrate the conservation efforts for this species and the collaboration between the National Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
To help local families see the pandas off, the zoo is hosting a nine-day Panda Palooza full of panda-themed games, activities, entertainment, and more. Here's what to know about this celebration and the beloved pandas.
If you have an adventurous kid who likes to climb to great heights, race as fast as they can, and try new (and maybe a little scary) things, extreme sports like aerial arts, axe throwing, and go-karting might be right up their alley. Extreme sports may seem, well, extreme, but they're totally safe and quite thrilling for kids who need a little adrenaline rush. They're also perfect things to do with teens and tweens who may roll their eyes at less exciting activities.
We've rounded up the best extreme sports and activities in the DC area, from flying trapeze and indoor skydiving to archery and whitewater tubing. For even more thrills, check out our lists of trampoline parks, ninja warrior and parkour gyms, skate parks, and rock climbing gyms near DC.
One perk of raising children in the DC area is the volume of high-quality classes for kids of all ages, including dance classes. Whether you have a budding ballerina or Baryshnikov or a kid who wants to learn some smooth K-pop or break dancing moves, there's a dance class for them in DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia.
Read on for our favorite dance classes near DC, from ballet and tap to hip-hop, modern dance, and other styles. For more great classes for kids—including art classes, cooking classes, and swimming lessons—visit our Guide to Classes for Kids Near DC.
Do your children have specific interests they would like to explore? Zoo and museum summer camps are a great way for them to do that. Maybe your kids want to learn about spycraft or engineering. Maybe they want to test their skills with different art mediums. Or perhaps you have a future zookeeper in your home. Whatever your child's interest, there is a zoo or museum summer camp near DC for them.
Here are 11 summer nature, zoo, and museum camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia that will give your kids hands-on, educational, and fun experiences all summer long.
Looking for more options for summer camps near DC? Bookmark our local Summer Camp Guide, and peruse our full Camp Directory for more programs to fit any budget and interest, from sports summer day camps to overnight camps and everything in between.
February winter break is right around the corner for Washington, DC public school kids. When does winter break start? It begins Monday, February 20 and ends Friday, February 24, 2023. When you add the weekend before and after, you've got nine days to fill with fun for your kids.
To help you make the most of winter break, we've rounded up a variety of fun things to do with kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. With both indoor and outdoor options on the list, you're covered in any weather. If you need more fun ideas, check out our lists of 30 fun winter activities in DC for kids and families, 15 free activities near DC this winter, outdoor ice skating rinks near DC, and top indoor playgrounds.
From New Year's Day to MLK weekend and beyond, January can be a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don’t miss our favorite things to do in DC with kids this month.
Go wild outdoors on a Wild Child Hike, or explore nature while using your imagination during Wild Forest Time. Indoors, there are incredible theater performances for all ages, including Aquarium at Imagination Stage and No Excuses, No Limits, a performance by differently-abled dancers at the Kennedy Center. There are also many ways your family can honor Martin Luther King Jr., from joining the MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade to the MLK Service and Learning Day at Frying Pan Farm. And don't miss the beginning of Lunar New Year celebrations at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Burke Lake Park.
Find more things to do in DC in January in our list of the best places to go snow tubing near DC, our round-up of the best outdoor ice skating rinks near DC, and our Winter Activities Guide for DC Kids.
We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.
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