Melanie Preis
Melanie Preis is a writer, editor, wife, and mom of three (including her beloved bernedoodle). Before joining Mommy Poppins, she worked at StyleBlueprint, Turner Broadcasting, and HowStuffWorks. She loves reading, anything Bravo, art fairs, and, of course, her bernedoodle.
Latest posts by Melanie
There's nothing more enticing to a child than a blob of sticky, stretchy, soothing slime; and they can get oodles of the gooey stuff at Sloomoo Institute Atlanta. This mecca of slime is a wacky experience that pays homage to the best of Elmer's Glue. Kids will fan out over the amount and variety of slime, showcased in cool, colorful ways at Sloomoo Institute. And parents will love the fact that all the slime experimentation stays at the Institute and not stuck in their carpet.
My young daughters are definitely working on their doctorates in Slimeology, and by attending Sloomoo Institute Atlanta, their passion in the sticky science has only increased! I can only hope these little graduates go on to make their alma mater proud by coming up with even more insane slime inventions...in our backyard.
For the whole month of November, we've rounded up some of our favorite, fun, and most significantly, FREE events in Orlando, perfect for families of all ages and sizes. There are outdoor movie nights happening in Orlando, Longwood, and Maitland, as well as Veterans Day weekend events, including a wreath ceremony and parade. And make sure to keep fall festivals alive and well by attending free Orlando events like Fusion Fest, Maitland Rotary Art Festival, and much more.
With the start of November comes the inevitable start of holiday programming! Get ready for Santa's arrival later this year with FREE holiday events kicking off in November, like those in Mount Dora, Celebration, and Orlando. Start shopping and get into the holiday spirit at Disney Springs or spend time meeting mischievous elves in Kissimmee.
We've amassed Orlando's top activities for the month in our Best of November piece. Get even more ideas of what to do in our wonderful city by visiting the Mommy Poppins Orlando events calendar!
Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta is a utopia of everything magic. This fantastic Atlanta attraction is the closest many of us will ever get to Hogwarts, celebrating the beloved book and movie series. Fans of all ages need to experience Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta as it immerses visitors in the culture, history, and nostalgia of this magical world.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta comes to downtown for a limited engagement, where visitors get a behind-the-scenes experience of the Harry Potter books and movies, as well as the Fantastic Beasts films and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play. Take a look at authentic props, original costumes, J.K. Rowling's inspirations, as well as innovative exhibits that use modern magic (i.e. technology) to create truly transformative experiences that will astound kids and kids-at-heart.
Conjur your patronus, wear your House colors, and grab a broom because we're taking you through Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta!
Living in Atlanta during the fall means two things: sweater weather and college football. And as fun as sweaters are, it's really all about the rivalries and drama of college football in the South. Sports-loving kids choose their favorite college football teams at a young age, usually based on mom and dad's alma maters, hometowns, Pop Warner youth football names, and more. And the best way to root their beloved teams on is by taking kids to watch college football at the fun Atlanta restaurants and venues. It's also great prep for 2025, when Atlanta hosts the College Football National Championship!
Whether you're a Bulldog, (purple and gold) Tiger, Gator, (orange and blue) Tiger, Yellow Jacket, (orange) Tiger, Rebel, or just like screaming, "Roll Tide," there are some fun places to watch college football in Atlanta with kids. So let your tiny fans slather on the team face paint, wear their favorite jerseys, and holler with their adult counterparts during college football season! And on that note, go Dawgs (sorry, we had to root for the home team)!
Preschools offer the chance for children to explore their worlds in entirely different ways —through the exploration of friendships, academics, the arts, and much more. Every Atlanta preschool follows its own philosophy to open that educational and social path for kids, and it's up to parents to discover which philosophy lines up best with their own personal values. In addition to teaching philosphies, like Reggio Emilia and Montessori, there are also other elements to consider when finding the right preschool for your family, including spiritual, environmental, and cultural connections.
Finding the right Atlanta preschool can be tough so make sure to ask questions! We've come up with a few helpful questions to ask during your next preschool tour but make sure to come up with some the directly affect how you'll make your choice.
There are so many amazing preschools in Atlanta that it's nearly impossible to spotlight every one, so keep an eye out as we constantly expand this group. We've rounded up a few of our faves after talking to local parents. Always let us know what you recommend by visiting our Facebook page and getting in touch!
Becoming a bat or bar mitzvah is a huge accomplishment for any Jewish child and her or his parents. These kids spend years studying, practicing, and nervously preparing for the big day, around their 13th birthday, where they then officially become adults and take on the large responsbility of leading a congregation. So it only makes sense to throw these kids a mega awesome bar mitzvah in Orlando!
Though it may be a bit daunting to find the "perfect" bar mitzvah spot in Orlando, we're here to help! Central Florida has wonderful spots for bar mitzvahs, parents just need to ask themselves a few questions during the planning stages: Is the crowd big or small? What theme is my child thinking? Will the food be kosher or non-kosher? Do we prefer a traditional setting? Answering these questions will definitely help you narrow the search and find the perfect venue for your little mensch!
Let's raise a glass to these chic places for bar mitzvahs in Orlando that will satisfy parents AND teens. L'chayim!
Learning how to swim teaches confidence, grit, and most importantly, life-saving skills. Swim lessons in Atlanta start as for babies to learn water safety at a young age. Depending on schedule, budget, and accessibility, there are a variety of Atlanta swimming lessons parents can choose from: individual or group lessons; public locations or at-home pools; daily or monthly swim class schedules. For the younger set, many of these swimming classes can introduce your child to the water when he or she is less than a year old; but be advised, children who are not potty-trained will almost always be required to wear swim diapers.
We've rounded up a few of our favorite swim lessons in Atlanta, both intown and beyond the perimeter, that offer a well-rounded aquatic curriculum—fun and informative!
Celebrate dad with some fun Father's Day events in Orlando this year! Whether your dad is the outdoorsy type, the tech-savvy type, the sporty type, or whatever other type in between, Father's Day is a special moment to let your dude know how much he's appreciated. We've collected some of our favorite activities for Father's Day in Orlando to bring a smile to any dad's face.
Need more ideas about how to spend your summer (beyond Father's Day in Orlando)? Take a look at our extensive Orlando Summer Activities Guide for more ideas about what to do under the hot Florida sun. Or need an idea to put the kiddos while they're out of school? Try searching one of the many Orlando summer camps we've reviewed in our Summer Camp Guide, organized by interest, age groups, and more!
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