Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

53 Things To Do on an NYC Staycation with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 5:01pm

Treat NYC as your playground and enjoy these staycation ideas across all five boroughs. Photo by Jody Mercier

Visitors never lack for things to do in NYC, but when is the last time you enjoyed a staycation and checked some of the city's must-dos off your list? With spring break on the horizon, you might be planning a visit to one of these family-friendly all-inclusive resorts, but if a big vacation is not in the cards, consider the glory of a staycation and let New York City provide a week's worth of entertainment.

We've pulled together this gold mine of activities for families looking to keep busy during spring break—or anytime—in the Big Apple. From exhibitions and excursions to our favorite zoos, to everyday fun in our beautiful parks and playgrounds, we've found 53 great things to do in NYC during a staycation. Find more top picks for the best NYC has to offer on our list of NYC's top attractions, plus our curated three-day itinerary for exploring our own backyard.

70 Life Skills Your Kid Needs Before College

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 11:00am

Make sure your kiddo knows their way around a washer! Photo courtesy of Canva

When it comes to life skills, I can’t be the only mom of a college-bound senior wondering whether I’ve done all I can to prepare my kid for life outside my day-to-day care. High school graduation is on the horizon, and my son will fly the coop shortly thereafter. He’s smart, poised, and well-spoken, and I marvel every day that I had any role in shaping this incredible human. I also worry that I haven’t done nearly enough to teach him how to handle the day-to-day life skills that seem almost innate to me.

So, to help him—and me—prepare for his college days, I’ve put together this list of 70 life skills for teens. Checking off even a few of these lessons before my son heads to college will ease my mind, and hopefully his!

Looking for life skills for younger kids? We’ve got a list of 65 life skills for kids of all ages that will get you teaching everyone from toddlers to teens. And, take it from me, you’ll need this list soon, because high school graduation comes quicker than you think!

Best Indoor Play Spaces with Water Play for Toddlers in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 03/08/2023 - 9:33am

Twinkle Playspace's water table let’s kids toss objects into its whirlpool.

At these indoor play spaces, few preschoolers can resist the lure of the water table where they can dunk their toys and hands in, fill containers just to spill them out again, and splash around. After all, in a tiny NYC apartment, not many of us have space for such messy playthings, so we rounded up a handful of NYC indoor play spaces that offer water-based sensory stations. No bathing suits or parental cleanup required.

Best of all, these soggy attractions are open year-round, even in summer just in case you can't face another sweltering day on the playground. So, for those who beg to play in water long after the lifeguards go home, there are options beyond the bathtub.

Union Square and Flatiron Guide: Things To Do and Where To Eat with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 12:51pm

Climb to the top of the huge, steep, slippery metal dome at Evelyn's Playground during your next visit to Union Square Park. Photo by Carey Wagner

The adjacent Flatiron District and Union Square neighborhoods are two of Manhattan's most unlikely kid-friendly areas. Even though both are filled with office buildings and chain stores, there are lots of amenities for families if you know where to look. Both Union Square and the Flatiron District boast beautiful parks with destination playgrounds, a great selection of family-friendly restaurants, and one-of-a-kind attractions like the interactive Museum of Mathematics, the foodie wonderland that is the Union Square Greenmarket, kid-lit haven Books of Wonder, the sculpture-filled Lego Store, and a very magical Harry Potter New York.

Because the neighborhoods encompass less than a mile together, families can easily explore both Union Square and the Flatiron District in one day, even with a short-attention-span toddler in tow. Of course with so many things to do, see, and experience in this 15-block stretch from 11th to 26th Streets between Fifth and Park Avenues, you'll probably need more than just a day to hit all the recommended stops in this guide to Union Square and the Flatiron District.

Find more local enclaves to explore in our Family-Friendly NYC Neighborhood Guide.

Genius Gems Debuts STEM-Inspired Play Space in Chelsea

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 4:09pm

Anyone who’s raised kids in the past decade is likely familiar with Magna-Tiles. And if your house is anything like mine, there are never enough no matter how big your collection. Enter Genius Gems, the long-beloved, STEM-inspired play space that’s been a mainstay in Millburn, New Jersey, since 2018 has just debuted its first NYC location, and its collection of 100,000 (yep, you read that right!) magnetic tiles are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun things to do at this interactive, educational fun zone.

We spent an evening building, exploring, and designing in Genius Gems’ new Chelsea location and are already plotting a return visit. Read on for our review of Genius Gems and find more STEM-inspired fun in our Guide to Science Experiments and STEM.

Jersey City's RPM Raceway Expands with World's Longest Go-Kart Track

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 02/14/2023 - 2:35pm

Get into the action at Jersey City's RPM Raceway, which has just debuted the world's longest indoor go-karting track.

The world's longest indoor electric go-karting track has opened at RPM Raceway Jersey City, just outside of NYC, so if you've got daring kids who feel a need for speed, this indoor go-karting track is a must-visit. Dubbed the RPM Raceway MegaTrack, this new experience is the fruition of a six-month, multi-million dollar renovation project.

To get a taste of the action, I recruited my teen and his best friend to be my test drivers. More laps than I could count later—and plenty of playful trash-talking—it was clear this visit to RPM Raceway Jersey City would not be our last. Read on for all the details on our visit to RPM Raceway Jersey City, its MegaTrack, and the rest of the attractions at this action-packed indoor fun spot, which is close enough to NYC to make for an easy day trip, too.

We've got more top picks for teen-friendly fun in our New Jersey Tweens and Teens Guide.

Free Things To Do for Winter Break in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 02/13/2023 - 5:32pm

Join Prospect Park Alliance for school recess programs daily from Monday, February 20-Friday, February 24. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

February's Winter Break always seems to sneak up on me. We're barely into a post-holiday groove, and yet again, we've got a full week off from school to fill. While we've already rounded up 25 fun-filled Winter Break activities for the week, many of them come with a high price tag. To give your budget a bit of relief, we've got 25 free things to do during February's Winter Break Visit our Free in NYC Guide for more money-saving options for school break or any day you need to entertain your kids on the cheap.

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

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 01/27/2023 - 1:26pm

Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier

New York City overflows with things to do for families, and while you may have visited the city that never sleeps in your pre-parenthood youth, it’s a completely different experience with kids in tow. Lucky for you: I’m here to offer my parent-tested tips for the best NYC itinerary with kids for a family trip to NYC. Even locals can appreciate these picks, which are a combination of off-the-beaten-path destinations and New York City’s top attractions, all catering to a mix of ages and interests.

I’ve laid it all out in an easy-to-follow three-day NYC itinerary with kids, and while you can’t do it all in three days, you can definitely take a big bite out of the Big Apple. Read on for my top picks for things to do in on a family trip to NYC—or use these picks for a local staycation to explore some new-to-you sites and neighborhoods. You can find all our top things to do in NYC on our NYC kids’ bucket list and in our Visitors Guide to New York City.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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