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

Best Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals for Parents and Kids

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 11/16/2023 - 10:43am

Gerber Childrenswear already has Black Friday deals going! Photo courtesy of Gerber

Getting bombarded by Black Friday, early Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Cyber Week, etc deals. It’s fantastic that all these sales are taking place, so parents can save money on all the toys and gear we want to get our kids for the holidays.

What’s not so great? Spending time away from your family to scroll through pages and pages of deals, trying to find ones that are really worth it, actual money savers, truly great & useful products. So we did it for you! From Barbie’s Dream House to Nintendo Switch to stunning wooden indoor/outdoor playhouses, we’ve rounded up the best Black Friday deals for kids.

For more holiday ideas, from gifts for all ages to affordable stocking stuffers, we've got a fabulous NEW Gift Guide.

3 Days in Seattle with Kids: Your Ultimate Itinerary

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sat, 11/11/2023 - 9:19am

Pike Place Market is the beating heart of Seattle and a perfect place to start exploring. And eating!

Seattle is a city you fall in love with instantly. While there are so many things to do with kids in Seattle, I promise you that in three short days, you can explore enough of the city to feel like a native. It's a vibrantly green, friendly, walkable, delicious, coffee-tinged, slightly weird, and yes, rainy city. It's also a city that knows how to handle the rain: with a smile, no umbrella, fabulous coffee, and plenty of fun things to do indoors.

Let's also not forget the gorgeous summers, stunning views when sun peeks through, and great sports teams. It's such a welcoming, easy city, that if at any point tired kids make you ditch your well-thought-out itinerary (see below) and just play, shop, eat, and walk around, you won’t regret that for a second.

For more things to do in Seattle, check out our list of 35 Things To Do in Seattle With Kids. To explore more of the great Pacific Northwest, explore 50 Things To Do in Portland, OR With Kids and more in our West Coast Family Travel Guide.

Mommy Poppins' New Web App and Notifications Are the Easiest Way To Find Fun Things To Do

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sun, 10/22/2023 - 10:34am

Now we can send you articles about things to do in your neighborhood that match your interests!

We're super excited to tell you about a new way to get updates from us and use Mommy Poppins more easily on your phone. Introducing notifications from Mommy Poppins, which you can sign up for instantly on your phone—right from our brand new web app.

That new popup around the corner? We’ll let you know when it’s open—and if it’s worth the hype. We’ll also give you inside tips on how to get there, when to go, how to make the most of your outing with kids, and if the food is varied enough for your picky eaters and worth the price!

Read on to learn how to sign up for notifications and how to get the Mommy Poppins app on your phone.

Baby Registry Must-Haves: Your Guide to the Best Tried and Tested Products

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 10/05/2023 - 10:32am

If you only put one chew toy on your registry, it should be Sophie the Giraffe. Photo courtesy of the Vulli Store on Amazon

Putting together a baby registry? We pooled a whole lot of parenting expertise to put together the ultimate baby registry list!

This baby registry must-have list includes everything, from car seats and strollers to mobiles and snot-suckers. We've got recommendations for a range of items that all the moms and dads at Mommy Poppins have really put to the test—and we’ve included a range of price points. We also point out which products you’ll use multiple times a day and which are fun extras. And finally, we’ve got some unique and surprising ideas that you don’t even know you need!

Read on to get the scoop on just which products belong on your baby registry. For more baby recommendations and expert advice, from where to babymoon to all about baby developmental milestones, check out our Baby and Maternity Guide.

Take a Ghost Tour in Los Angeles and Discover the Terrors of Tinseltown

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 09/28/2023 - 11:22am

The Hollywood sign's spooky history is part of the tour. Have you seen the sign's ghost when hiking?

Ghost tours are perfect Halloween (or anytime!) fun for teens, tweens, tourists, and even locals who love LA.

My kids are teenagers. That means they are too old for pumpkin picking at Underwood Farms. They also have inherited my horror of a jump scare, which means they have no interest in Halloween Horror Nights or the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. But these kids raised in the era of true crime podcasts can get down with some real-life spooky stories. So when I heard about US Ghost Adventures LA tours, it sounded like a perfect family Halloween teen outing.

I signed us up for the LA Ghosts: Terrors of Tinseltown Tour, and guess what? I was right! An evening of laughing, walking, learning, spooking, and eating chocolate with your teens is worth its weight in gold. Read on to learn more about just how scary the tour is, where it goes, and why it's my family's new Halloween tradition.

For more fun with teens, check out our Los Angeles Activities Guide for Teens and Tweens. And, since this tour made me remember how fun it is to play touring in my own town, I really recommend checking out our Ultimate 3-Day LA Itinerary by a Local Mom. Man, I love LA.

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 35 Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Fall

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Fri, 09/08/2023 - 8:36am

Visit the rescue animals at Kfar Saba Urban Farm. Photo by Limor Ness

Here's the fall bucket list for kids, jam-packed with fun things to do in Los Angeles this fall!

It’s easy to buy into the notion that Los Angeles doesn’t have seasons. LA’s pendulum only swings from summer heat to a more temperate 70ish as fall falls. But that doesn’t mean Angelenos don’t look forward to fall activities and autumn adventures!

Fall means we can start to do the things that it was too hot for in the summer (like hiking, camping, and taking trips to the desert) while still hitting the beach. We can even get our fill of fall fun like fall festivals in Los Angeles, apple picking near LA, pumpkin patches in Los Angeles, and leaf peeping near LA.

Without further ado, here are fabulous fall activities near Los Angeles. For more seasonal fun, be sure to bookmark our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids.

20 Favorite Swimming Pool Games for Kids

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 08/17/2023 - 10:36am

Keep kids laughing and splashing in the pool with these fun games you can play anywhere! Photo by Blue Orange Studio courtesy of Canva

It's time to dive into some fun pool games! Whether you’re hitting a local pool or lake, on vacation at a hotel with an amazing pool, or hosting a pool party in your own backyard, these fun water games keep kids active and entertained all day.

We’ve rounded up the best swimming pool games that you can play anywhere because they don’t require props and a few more that you’ll need a good ball, rubber ducky, or pool noodle to play. From Marco Polo to Atomic Whirlpool to Colors, these games will keep kids occupied so mom and dad can catch a breather.

Don’t forget the reef-safe sunscreen for kids and babies, and for lazier days of just floating around, check out our favorite pool and water floats.

57 Alternative Activities to Screen Time

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 08/10/2023 - 12:57pm

Playdough, homemade or store-bought, provides hours of creative play. Photo by Jennifer Murray via Pexels

Can you accurately add up your kids’ daily screen time? With texting friends, social media, video games, and streaming services, it’s almost impossible to track. But all parents can agree that screen time can get out of hand! While it's tempting to let our kids stay glued to these devices, finding alternative activities for kids that are fun and engaging things to do is essential for their development.

Thinking outside the box is the best way to reduce daily screen time for your kids, without them complaining. Need some inspiration? We’ve rounded up our 57 tried-and-true activities for kids, games & crafts, and family fun that will keep kids entertained, happy, and screen-free!

For more ways to cure the boredom blues, check out our list of 100 Things To Do When Kids Are Bored - it’s in our aptly named Boredom Buster Guide that’s packed with games, activities, crafts, and more.

Meghan Rose

Latest posts by Meghan

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