Meghan Rose

Before becoming a parent, Meghan Rose worked at pioneering internet companies like AOL, eToys.com, and eBay. After having twins, she shifted her focus to literacy, co-authoring Home is Where the Books Are (Choice Literacy, 2013) and launching LitforKids.com. Now based in Los Angeles, Meghan is all about finding fun things to do with kids. Please send her ALL your ideas and suggestions for national parenting and travel articles, or drop a note just say hi: meghan@mommypoppins.com

Latest posts by Meghan

Panama City Beach with Kids: 30 Best Things To Do in Panama City Beach, FL

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sat, 06/15/2024 - 8:02am

Cuddle a capybara at the ZooWorld Zoological Park.

Locals say that Panama City Beach has the most beautiful beaches in the world, and after days spent walking them, you won’t get an argument from my family. Whether you call it the Florida Pan Handle, the Emerald Coast (for its sparkling, emerald-green water), or the Sugar Coast (for its fine white sandy beaches), the northern Gulf Coast of Florida is a gem of a family vacation spot.

No need to choose between walks on white sand beaches and action-packed days at family-friendly attractions, Panama City Beach has it all. Plus, my daughter’s personal favorite: loads of animal interactions (Peanut, the cuddly baby capybara, we miss you!). All that, plus incredible seafood, welcoming locals, and totally reasonable rates. What are you waiting for?

For more places to visit along the Gulf Coast, check out our guide to the best things to do in Destin; Orange Beach, Alabama; and more fabulous Florida family vacations.

Climate Change Anxiety in Kids: Expert Advice on Helping Kids Cope

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Tue, 04/16/2024 - 10:31am

One way to battle the climate change anxiety in kids is to talk, research, and take action together.

Climate change anxiety is real, and can feel so scary and existentially threatening for kids that it poses a real mental health challenge. Fires, floods, unseasonal tornados, extreme heat, snowless winters—it's real, and the constant exposure on social media can lead to worry and depression that lead to what experts call "climate change anxiety" in kids.

It's hard to deal with as an adult, and it's doubly hard to know what to say to your worried and anxious kids that doesn't either belittle the problem or outright lie! So, we went to an expert: Aja Chavez, Executive Director of Adolescent Services at AMFM Healthcare. She answered our questions on why kids are experiencing anxiety, how it manifests, and what parents can do to help.

Keep reading for great tips to immediately calm anxious kids below. We've also rounded up actions kids of any age can take, how to live more sustainably, and more in our Earth Guide for Kids.

Best Trampoline Parks in Los Angeles: Sky Zone, Urban Air, and More!

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 04/04/2024 - 12:37am

Dodgeball takes on new dimensions when played on a trampoline. Photo courtesy of Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Looking for the best trampoline parks in Los Angeles and Orange County where kids can safely bounce off the walls? We found 'em, and they're perfect for rainy days, team activities, and birthday parties!

Bounce, flip, repeat. Big kids, little kids—they all like to jump. Even Mom and Dad enjoy some trampoline park exercise (though they might just prefer the trampoline park below that offers massage chairs on the sidelines). Bring a pack of kids for a birthday party, and they'll all sleep well afterward; bring an antsy one on a rainy day, and watch the mood change for the better. With sections for everything from raucous dodgeball games for big kids to tiny tot gentle bouncing play; there's a little something for every kid of every age.

For more indoor active activities, check out our roundups of the best indoor rock climbing gyms and extreme sports centers in the Los Angeles Guide To Sports Centers and Fun Zones.

STEM Summer Camps in Los Angeles: Robots, Coding, and More Tech Fun

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sun, 03/24/2024 - 8:35am

Rolling Robots brings the STEM fun. Photo courtesy of Rolling Robots

STEM summer camps in Los Angeles offer a dynamic and engaging learning experience for kids interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM camps provide an immersive and inspiring environment where children can develop valuable lifelong skills and gain confidence in their abilities.

Whether building robots, designing video games, or conducting experiments, STEM summer camps in Los Angeles are a unique and enriching educational experience. These summer camps will prepare young minds for the challenges of tomorrow's world.

Science rules, but in case your kids want to expand their summer camp interests, check out musical theater camps in Los Angeles, top LA summer sports camps, and more in our Summer Camp Guide and Camp Directory.

Top Family-Friendly Hotels in Las Vegas

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sat, 03/23/2024 - 12:00pm

Sail trough the canals with a gondola ride at The Venetian Hotel and Casino.

Vegas, baby! While Las Vegas may not be at the top of everyone's list of family vacation spots, it's actually extremely kid-friendly. With amusement parks and arcades, interesting museums, dazzling live shows, aquariums and animal adventures, and so much more, Las Vegas is full of fun things to do with kids.

Many of these exciting activities are centered around the amazing themed resorts along the Las Vegas Strip. But there are also some great hotels off the Strip that give families more space, a break from the non-stop action, and some fun amenities of their own, like fantastic pools.

Here are our picks for the best kid-friendly hotels in Las Vegas. Use this list, as well as our roundup of 50 awesome things to do in Vegas with kids, to plan the perfect Vegas vacation for your family. You'll find more fun places to visit out west in our Western US Family Travel Guide.

Free Valentine’s Day Coloring Pages and Valentine's Day Cards Printables for Kids

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Tue, 02/06/2024 - 12:25pm

Last minute, easy Valentine's Day cards, here we come. Photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins

Looking for printable Valentine’s Day coloring pages, word searches, and ideas for easy Valentine's Day cards kids can make?

Valentine's Day is all about sharing the love! It's a perfect time for crafting and creating, when you have perhaps dozens of Valentine's Day cards to make for family members and the whole class. We've rounded up loads of free Valentine's Day coloring pages and free printable Valentine's Day word searches, which can double as cards.

For bigger gestures, we've also got 5 easy Valentine's Day card ideas kids can make for everyone they know—all of which are made with things you can pick up at the last minute at any local craft store or even big box store, or even pharmacy.

For more sweet crafts and treats, check out our Valentine's Day Guide to Crafts, Activities, and Snacks for Kids. You'll find more paper craft fun in our roundup of our favorite 1000 Coloring Pages and Printable Activity Sheets for Kids.

30 Banned Children's Books You Should Read Today

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 02/01/2024 - 12:28pm

New Kid book signing with author Jerry Craft. Photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins

Books are getting banned at an alarming rate, especially children's books. When you think banned, you think there's got to be something controversial, mature, or upsetting in the books. But many of these books are classics that are beloved by generations of kids.

While kids might want to ban bedtime, bathtime, or broccoli, we're guessing that books like Charlotte's Web and Captain Underpants are things kids would rather celebrate than ban. We've compiled a list of frequently banned children's books that kids of all ages adore. So go ahead, be a rebel. Read a banned book. Books are magic, and knowledge is power.

For more of our favorite books that expand minds, thoughts, and hearts, check out our Best Kids' Books Guide to Great Reads, which includes incredible Kids' Books About Racism, Best LGBTQ Books for Kids, and more great book recommendations.

Winter Fest OC is an Old Fashioned Fair with a Holiday Twist

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 11/30/2023 - 11:08am

Costa Mesa's holiday tradition at the OC Fairgrounds, Winter Fest OC, is back—and better than ever. With a new Snow Play tent and an even better ice tubing hill, the traditional county fair with holiday flair is a blast for kids of all ages. There are plenty of rides perfect for the preschool pack, enough thrilling and upside-down rides for your teens, and then some rides that parents can't resist that offer up great photo ops, like the Merry-Go-Round and Ferris wheel.

Speaking of photo ops, there are enough throughout the fair grounds and in the North Pole Journey that you'll be able to grab a great family holiday card picture, too. With snow flurries, a holiday parade, and a holiday show, this throw-back to your childhood county fair is a perfect family outing for any of those myriad vacation days we have coming up!

For more holiday outings and adventures in the Los Angeles area from Santa meet-and-greets to dazzling holiday lights, visit our Guide to Christmas Activities and Holiday Events for LA Kids!