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

Superpowered Metropolis Debuts at CMOM

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 02/17/2020 - 4:00pm

Strike a power pose with new friends Zip, Zap, and Zoom.

Big things are happening at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. The museum we already love for so many reasons has opened two new exhibits in the past six weeks, including the just-introduced Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City, which debuted over the weekend.

The exhibit takes over the ground floor space, bringing to life a trio of super-hero inspired pigeons who are ready to lead the institution's youngest visitors on an interactive, city-inspired journey meant to build early learning lessons and set them up for success in school and beyond.

Read on for an introduction to the new feathered friends, Zip, Zap, and Zoom and to learn more about this exhibit that's big fun for little kids and their grownups.

Why Your Frozen-Obsessed Kid Will Love Disney’s Frozen on Broadway

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sat, 02/15/2020 - 12:00pm

Following in the footsteps of Disney on Broadway’s blockbusters The Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Mary Poppins, Frozen on Broadway is a not-to-be-missed spectacle packed with colorful characters, memorable music, stunning sets, and important lessons about love, belonging, daring to be different, and finding the courage to look inside oneself.

Your kid’s first trip to Broadway is pretty much a rite of passage, so deciding on that inaugural show can feel a bit daunting. Well, unless of course you’ve got an Elsa superfan on your hands like I do (or Anna, or Olaf…), in which case making the decision to snag tickets to Frozen on Broadway might not be so tough.

Top Things to Do at Hudson Yards With NYC Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 10:01am

Midtown West's Hudson Yards neighborhood offers tons of new places to snap a photo, play, shop, and eat.

Hudson Yards, the new towering development on Midtown Manhattan's far west side, is a new neighborhood that seemingly sprang to life overnight, bringing with it places to play, eat, and explore. The Vessel and The Edge have become top NYC attractions, while the area offers parks, culture and great eats too. Whether you view Hudson Yards as a tourist trap, a marvel of urban planning and engineering, or somewhere in the middle, we've rounded up the top 10 fun things to do in this new neighborhood with kids.

Enjoy a Family-Friendly Day Trip to Celebrate Your Kid's Next Birthday

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 02/09/2020 - 4:04pm

Book a birthday party at Sesame Place and celebrate with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street Friends!

Birthdays are big business in New York City, but there comes a point when the last thing you want to do is throw another big blowout party, especially in a small city apartment. Perhaps, then, it's time to consider a new way to celebrate: the family-friendly day trip.

From cool outdoor explorations to awesome animal adventures, water fun, and skiing, we've rounded up 13 family-friendly day trip spots within two hours of city limits—some are even accessible by public transit—to celebrate your kid's next trip around the sun. Read on and start planning an epic birthday, no goodie bags required.

Little League Baseball Programs in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 10:05am

Many city Little League programs start with T-ball catering to kids as young as age 4.

The Yankees and the Mets aren't the only ones stepping up to the plate this spring. Thousands of kids across the city are eagerly dusting off their cleats in anticipation of Little League season. As a proud, long-time baseball mom, I know parents are often surprised at just how early in the year you have to register to ensure your child can join them. If you want to get in the game this spring, the time to register for Little League Baseball programs in NYC is now.

Joining a Little League team can be fun for the entire family. Moms and dads volunteer to help manage the leagues, coach the teams, run the concession stands, and maintain the grounds. Since most leagues are nonprofits, registration fees are relatively affordable. Most cost less than $300 for the entire season, and that includes nifty uniforms. If that's still out of your range, some leagues offer financial assistance.

Indoor Play Spaces With Weekend Hours for NYC Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 01/31/2020 - 4:06pm

Explore everything that CMOM has to offer. Photo by the author

Indoor play spots are an essential resource for NYC families with young children—and limited square feet—as temperatures begin a steady decline into winter. Unfortunately, so many of the city's indoor play spots are limited to weekday hours. While that's great for caregivers Monday through Friday, mom and dad are left out in the cold, scrambling to fill weekends with their preschoolers in other ways. But, lucky for you, we've uncovered nearly three dozen fantastic play spaces with weekend hours.

The spots all offer drop-in play hours for kids; no membership required. All include playthings sized just right for the little ones, including babies in many instances. They are stroller-friendly and equipped with changing stations, making them no-fuss options for the toddler squad.

February GoList: Best Things To Do With NYC Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 01/26/2020 - 4:12pm

Get your calendars ready! Here are the top 15 things to do with NYC kids this February, plus 10 more great events happening this month.

Even though it's the shortest month, there are still plenty of awesome family activities in NYC. Our February GoList includes annual favorites such as Chinatown's Lunar New Year Parade, the activity-filled Intrepid Kids Week during the public school midwinter break, and the city's most prominent movie fest for families: the New York International Children's Film Festival. Of course, there are some brand-new, exceptional shows, concerts, and other extraordinary experiences for kids of all ages. We made sure to highlight a range of options, whether you have toddlers, elementary schoolers, or older kids.

16 Epic Kid-Friendly Openings Coming to NYC in 2020

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 01/16/2020 - 4:00pm

Improve your Spinjitsu skils at Lego Ninjago World. Photo courtesy of Legoland New York

So far this month, we've ushered in a new decade, taken a ride on an interactive art installation, and celebrated the news a Harry Potter megastore opens this summer. City kids have it pretty good but dare we say, the best is yet to come. Our 2020 calendar is already packed with epic kid-friendly openings.

We've scoured the five boroughs to pull together this list of the most anticipated kid-friendly fun on the horizon, and there's something for everyone. We're psyched to celebrate the 150th anniversary of two of our favorite museums and are excitedly anticipating new thrills at Coney Island's Luna Park. We're dreaming of hot summer days and cooling off at a sprawling new splash pad, and killing time until then by twirling on a sky-high ice rink that's already open.

Here are 16 can't-miss openings, premieres, celebrations, and must-do activities for New York City kids this year.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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