Wobbly World, located on the second floor of the museum, is a result of a collaboration with toy designer Cas Holman, who created Rigmajig – the award-winning pop-up playground at the High Line in Manhattan. Here at the Liberty Science Center, she has created a magical, whimsical world where teeny-tiny babies can explore movement in interesting, fun ways.

The brightly-colored exhibit is a playscape with a variety of items that babies and toddlers can touch, climb, roll on, build and more! At the center, there is a giant body mobile, which is a carousel of sorts, where kids can balance and spin on. There are also oversized balance blocks, as well as a scales and stacking station, where kids can sort, stack and balance a variety of blocks.

Here are some of my favorites from the exhibit:

The gorgeous mobiles are not just for playing – they are also on display on the walls!

Click here to learn more about the exhibit and the Liberty Science Center. All visitors ages 12 and up are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

This is a sponsored post. All opinion is my own.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a PR consultant and freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for over twenty years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree. Maytal is a mom to three kids, ages 14, 12 and 9.

The post Don’t Miss Wobbly World at Liberty Science Center appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I’m happy that our infection rate in NYC is down and things are slowly starting to open up. I’m going to post all the information as I see it.

Zoo and Gardens

The Queens Zoo is open and we were there last weekend. Things are very different now – facecoverings and timed tickets are the way to go. Check out my post and video to see what the changes are.

https://www.themamamaven.com/visiting-the-queens-zoo-in-nyc-during-the-pandemic/

Queens Botanical Gardens

Masks will be available for purchase at Garden entrances.

Hand sanitizer dispensers are available at multiple stations throughout the Garden. Feel free to inquire with Staff to help locate the nearest dispenser.

Restrooms are accessible by the ramp next to the Visitor & Administration Building. Please follow on-site instructions on how to enter restrooms.
They are limiting the use of paper materials.

entrances may be temporarily closed when and if the Garden is at capacity. Should you arrive at such a time, you must wait on the socially distanced line or return at a later time. The Visitor & Administration Building (Gift Shop and Gallery) will be temporarily closed until further notice. Indoor facilities are closed to the public.
For a Visitor Map, click here.
They are closed on Mondays.

https://queensbotanical.org/

Museums:

American Museum of Natural History – is open to members right now and as of 9/9

Open to Members! Reopening 9/9 to the public.

• All tickets—including Member tickets and complimentary and pre-paid passes—must be reserved online.
• All tickets are for timed entry, from 10 am to 4 pm, to limit attendance.
• All visitors aged 2 and up must wear a facial covering throughout the visit.
• See Plan Your Visit to find out what’s on view.

The Met open as of August 29!

Timed entrance tickets now available. Complimentary bicycle valet service will launch on opening day. Facecoverings will be required. More info:

https://www.metmuseum.org/

Gyms

24 Hour Fitness opens on September 2

Masks

We made sure we have plenty of masks at home. If you need more masks, here are some we like.

Buy here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QmLZwP

I also like these masks for kids from Target –

Get here: https://rstyle.me/+1tLi4pRpTKSPKkP0iPL0FQ

Or a collapsible hat with a face shield. Buy on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3gApPCg

The post Family Guide to NYC Reopenings appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

My kids are happy this coming holiday season because they get a week and a half off from school here in NYC. Me? Not so much. Keeping them home is not an option as they’ll get cabin fever, but I’m also not going to let incontinence prevent me from having a blast with them and making memories. While I make sure to scope out the bathroom no matter where I go, I’m always protected with Depend® FIT-FLEX® Underwear. It’s ultra-soft, and I feel comfortable and more confident when I know I have all-day protection.

My game plan? I’m putting together a list of fun holiday activities I’m hoping to do with them this winter vacation. I’ve made sure they’re all bathroom friendly, so I can stay confident. I’m sure you can find a few of them that appeal to you too!

Skiing

Skiing is so much fun! If you’re lucky enough to live close to a mountain, skiing can be a great activity for even young kids and something that families can spend time together doing. My husband grew up in the Poconos, which is a couple of hours drive from us now. Before you put on your snowsuit, scope out where the restrooms are located beforehand. And if the rest of your family enjoys skiing but you don’t, just curl up with a good book by the fireplace in the nearby lodge and enjoy the warm, cozy atmosphere. We’ve been a couple of times and I love it, even if I have to stick to the bunny trail. Hint: Go before you get on the slopes and take a lesson or two.

Ice Skating

No matter your level – whether you can pirouette on the ice or barely move without holding onto the railing – ice skating is a fun activity. If you can find a place to go ice skating outdoors, you’ll get the bonus of a beautiful scenery. Restrooms will typically be located near the rink, or close enough. My kids have a blast and I love getting some exercise in the rink, too (though I’m not as graceful).

Museums

Visiting a local museum in the winter is a great activity since you can probably kill a few hours, depending on the size of the museum. Not all kids will be able to spend hours upon hours in a large museum, so consider a smallish museum, or a museum that can cater to kids – whether it’s a museum made specifically for kids or a museum that has cool artifacts, such as a natural history museum. You can also find specialty museums that showcase unique items, such as antique cars or watches. Be sure to grab a map for restroom info.

Visiting Historic Mansions

Historic mansions are always a cool place to visit – it’s the closest you’ll ever get to stepping back in time. This time of year is perfect because many mansions and historic homes are decorated for the holidays and have a festive atmosphere. It’s interesting to learn about the history of the place and about the historical context of the time when people lived there, plus you’ll likely find out about some juicy family stories. The only tricky part is taking kids – an infant in a baby carrier will be relatively easy to take, especially if you can time the visit around nap time. However, if you have school-aged children, you’ll have to make sure they are old enough to pay attention and listen, or at least can behave and not touch anything. Many historic homes do not have a usable restroom on premises but there should be one nearby – just ask the tour guide.

The Zoo

One great  reason to visit your local zoo in the winter? There are virtually no lines – you avoid the crowds and the humid, sticky days of summer. Many exhibits are indoor and have animals that live in tropical climates. There are animals, such as pandas, polar bears and Siberian tigers who thrive in cold weather and other animals that have adapted to the colder weather. Be sure to grab a map of the zoo to see where the nearest restroom is located.

Indoor water park

Winter vacation is the perfect time to visit a water park. It’s always perfectly warm and gives you a feeling of summer even if outside there’s a blizzard or torrential rain. Luckily, indoor water parks always have convenient restrooms everywhere.

Shows/Concerts

Going to shows or concerts is fun and there’s a variety of different shows and music events for any taste and budget. Restrooms are always available but there are usually long lines, so that can be tricky. It may be helpful to find a seat that’s close enough to the door and on the isle so that you can get quicker access to the restroom, if you need to. I usually ask right when I get inside to make sure I know where I am going.

Playing Tourist in Your City

You may know your city like the back of your hand, but there’s always an area you’re never explored before. Put together a mini walk and explore streets you haven’t yet discovered. Or try a new restaurant you’re never been to. Always check for local public restrooms if you’re in an area of the city you’re not familiar with. Most coffee shops and restaurants will let you use the restroom.

Library

If your kids are familiar with your local library, consider venturing out to a library they’ve never visited before. Older kids will enjoy a selection of books and younger kids will love playing with new toys and discovering picture books that interest them. Restrooms should be easy to find and are super clean. Some libraries even have small cafes or places you can bring a packed lunch.

As I’ve shared, I, along with nearly 65 million Americans, experience bladder leakage. But I definitely don’t let it get in the way of how I want to live my life and how I spend time with my family. In fact, I’m more confident with Depend. Don’t let bladder leakage stop you from living your best life. If you or someone you know is looking for advice and resource on bladder leaks, join The Incontinence Community, a private Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/InconCommunity.

The post Holiday Activities Your Kids Will Love appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I’m lucky enough to live in New York City. The best thing about the city that never sleeps? It’s ALWAYS open! You can always find things to do, even in cold weather. Snow everywhere? Things are still happening. Sleeting rain? Put on a heavy raincoat and boots and catch a subway into Manhattan!

From flurries to scheduling, nothing should stop you from exploring with your family this winter. I don’t even let bladder leaks get in my way. I always chart out restrooms before any city adventure, but I also use Depend® FIT-FLEX® underwear to keep my confidence up. The fabric is ultra-soft and comfortable, and keeps me protected all-day long, so I can focus on taking the city by storm with my family.

If you’re not letting anything stop you from family fun this winter, this guide is for you! Here’s my list of fun things to do with your family in New York city (plus a few things to do just for you, sans kids!):

We’re updating this to add an 11th pick — The Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights are back! Open until Jan 5 (Check select dates). Get tickets here: https://fxo.co/DCCA

MoMath

This super-fun, interactive museum will get your kids hooked on math. Conveniently located in Midtown, you can spend hours there and you won’t hear any complaints of boredom. Adults will enjoy themselves too! Restrooms are located on both floors of the museum and have really cool geometric-shaped sinks, in line with the math theme.

Spyscape

A unique interactive experience, Spyscape lets you be a secret agent for a day as you go through various challenges to test out your skills and talent. At the end, you get to find out what type of spy you will be. Restrooms are located on the main exhibit floor, which is accessible via elevator. There are tons of quick serve restaurants nearby where you can grab a delicious lunch!

https://spyscape.com/

Children’s Museum of the Arts

This museum is geared towards slightly younger kids and allows them to engage in various forms of art, from painting to play dough and everything in-between. Two restrooms are located on opposite sides of this museum.

Tenement Museum

Although this museum can only be accessed via a tour, it’s well worth it and most tours are appropriate for kids ages 6 and up. The tours are often given by a costumed actor and enable you to see what life was like for the immigrants in NY in the beginning of the 20th century. During the tour there is no access to the restroom, but they are located in the adjacent building and you can always leave mid-tour if necessary.

New York Public Library

Don’t miss this incredible library. Be sure to stop by the kids’ room to view real artifacts from A.A. Milne’s personal collection of toys that inspired him to write Winnie the Pooh (including Pooh himself). Older kids will enjoy the free library tour. Restrooms are located near the kids’ room, as well as other areas. Also check out the prettiest public restrooms in NYC right in Bryant Park, where you’ll enjoy fresh flower displays and classic music.

https://www.nypl.org/

Broadway Shows

There are a lot of family-friendly Broadway shows going on right now. For tweens and teens, Mean Girls is a good option as it is both fun and with a strong anti-bullying message. Restrooms are located in the theater and are easily accessible.

If you need Broadway (off Broadway Tickets), we are a TodayTix affiliate and we highly recommend them! Go here to get tickets for such shows like The Rockettes and a Christmas Carol – plus you can get HAMILTON!! Makes such a great gift! We’re a TodayTix affiliate, purchase through our link! TodayTix.com.

Cooking Classes

Who doesn’t love home-made, fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza? Your kids will love the pizza-making class at Rossopomodoro. Call to find out when the next class will take place. Restroom is one flight down.

Go on an Interactive Tour 

Check out Fable and Lark – a company that provides interactive tours. The Harry Potter-themed tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is especially popular and really fun. There are several restrooms throughout the Met Museum.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not

This fascinating museum, located in Times Square, holds a vast collection of the world’s most bizarre artifacts. In accordance with the theme, the restroom has lots of fun tidbits, as well as fart noises, to the delight of kids (and kids at heart).

Museum of Natural History

Lovers of all things nature can spend all day at this museum and still not see everything. If your kids are fans of dinosaurs, be sure to check out the new T-Rex exhibit. Don’t like dinosaurs or other animals? There’s plenty of other exhibits, such as exhibits about people from different cultures, about space and also about the environment. Restrooms are conveniently located throughout the museum.

As I’ve shared, I, along with nearly 65 million Americans, experience bladder leakage. But I definitely don’t let it get in the way of how I want to live my life or my winter adventures. That’s exactly what I would tell a friend – don’t let bladder leakage stop you from living your best life. If you or someone you know is looking for advice and resource on bladder leaks, join The Incontinence Community, a private Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/InconCommunity. Ten Fun Family Activities to do in NYC During Cold Weather

New York City Photo Credit: Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

The post Ten Fun Family Activities to do in NYC During Cold Weather appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

We got to MoMath at 11 in the morning and left at 4:30 in the afternoon (we took an hour to go to lunch). During our time at the museum my kids (ages 6, 10 and 12) had a blast doing all the activities (there are 42 total!) and I was thrilled to find several employees roaming throughout the museum, happy to explain how to do them and helped with solving some challenges. As mentioned, my kids complained when we had to leave and I never once heard from any of them “I’m bored”. In fact, they were so excited they went back to some of the exhibits, just because it was so much fun for them.

Here are some of our favorites:

Square-Wheeled Trike:

Motioncape:

Light Grooves:

Tesselation Station:

Human Tree:

Robot Swarm:

Sixth Sense:

Edge FX:

Enigma Cafe has tons of mathematical puzzles, such as these metal wire brain teasers: (I was able to solve one!)

Math Square had a variety of games that changed periodically, such as this: (follow the path from start to finish without making any left turns)

Structure Studio:

We had a great time!

Visit the MoMath website to learn more and to purchase tickets. Appropriate for kids ages 6 and up. Many activities are also fun for adults.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets. 

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 10 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

Things to Do with Kids in NYC

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The post MoMath: The National Museum of Mathematics That’s Especially Fun for Kids appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

T-Rex: The Ultimate Predator is an in-depth exhibit that’s all about Tyrannosaurus Rex where you can learn details about the T-Rex from hatchling to adult, find out just how many Tyrannosaurus types there are and learn what makes the T-Rex unique. The exhibit is interactive so it’s especially great for kids but it’s geared for all ages.

My kids loved touching a replica of a thigh bone:

There was a friendly “T-Rex Explainer” who helped us understand some more facts about the T-Rex:

It was cool to see where various Tyrannosaurs were found around the globe.

The life-size replicas had skin (and feathers for the hatchlings) so it was cool to see what they must have looked like:

The virtual reality experience (for ages 12 and up) was amazing! You’re basically in a forest with a live T-Rex right in front of you. I had to keep reminding myself it’s not real. (tip: since the exhibit is timed-entry, go through the rest of the exhibit first, then get on line once most people have gone through so you’ll only wait a few minutes.)

Hands-on activities are geared for toddlers as well as older kids, such as this puzzle:

My kids especially loved doing the “survival challenges”, scattered throughout the exhibit. Those challenges really give you an idea of what day-to-day life may have been like for the T-Rex.

There was so much to learn about the T-Rex. For example, did you know that the hatchlings grow at five pounds per day until adulthood? 

Another cool fact: The T-Rex’s teeth were so powerful they could chew other animals’ bones!

T-Rex: The Ultimate Predator is ongoing until Agust 9, 2020. Visit the American Museum of Natural History to learn more and to order tickets. Since it is a special exhibit you will need to get General Admission +One or +All tickets in order to view it. Expect to spend about 45 minutes at the exhibit.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets. 

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 10 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

Looking for more things to do in NYC with kids? 

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Read More

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Read More

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TADA! Youth Theater Offers Special NYC Workshops on Nov 5 & 11th (When the Kids are out of School)

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The post Special Exhibit: T-Rex: The Ultimate Predator at American Museum of Natural History appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

ry Potter Fans Alert! A Wizarding Tour at The Metropolitan Museum

Everyone in our family is a Harry Potter fan to some degree, ranging from die-hard to at least a fan of the HP movies. My daughter has read all of the books in the series (several times) and has seen all the movies. My middle son is on the fourth book in the series. I have read the first book and currently reading it to my youngest and my husband has seen all of the movies. 

We met our tour guide at the Met museum and began a two-hour tour that took us to various galleries. Our guide used an iPad to show us images from the movies and of places in the UK and pointed out various artifacts and artwork that look similar to what J.K. Rowling wrote about in the books, as well as artifacts that may have inspired her when writing the books. For example, some of the items in the museum are artwork of mythological statues and the guide spoke about how they relate to the books and also discussed mythology in general.

I don’t want to give too much away but I will say that, as mentioned, the tour is interactive and there are various fun activities throughout. The guide also gives away some cool souvenirs but I’ll keep those as a surprise. The tours are always in groups of 12 people or less which makes it easy to hear the guide and learn so many cool facts and tidbits about the Harry Potter series and films. 

By the end of the tour we all became experts on Harry Potter! It was so much fun to learn about Harry Potter and other subjects, such as mythology, as well as history and literature. It was a perfect combination for people who love reading and art.

Tickets to the tour also include tickets to the museum so after the tour ended we walked around through various other galleries. When we left my youngest son announced that he liked “the first part much better!” I was simply happy he was entertained for two hours and learned that museums can be fun.

Fable and Lark offers several other themed tours about shows and books such as Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings (also the Met and only for adults), plus more kid-friendly tours from other famous books, such as Percy Jackson.

Visit Fable and Lark to learn more and to purchase tickets. The price for a public tour is $47.50/adult; $37.50/child 12 and under. The tour is appropriate for ages 7 and up. There are also tours that are modified for younger kids (ages 5-7) and are only one hour long, as well as private tours. Prices for private tours start at $60/adult; $50/child 12 and under.

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the tour.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 10 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post Harry Potter Fans Alert! A Wizarding Tour at The Metropolitan Museum appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

The exhibit takes you back to the Cretaceous period (145-65 million years ago). It features two types of environments: a land of fire, with volcanos and hot lava, and a land of ice, in Alaska.

T-Rec and Triceratops lived in the warmer climate.

Here’s the Troodon, who lived in cold climates:

My youngest had a blast dressing up as an insect:

The kids had fun uncovering fossils:

The exhibit is appropriate for kids ages 3-10. My 11-year-old loved it as well! Here she is with the Edmontosaurus, who lived in cold climates:

We learned that dinosaurs did indeed live in Alaska, but the climate at the time was probably close to Minnesota’s current climate. Researchers believe that dinosaurs who lived in Alaska at the time likely migrated south during the cold months or adapted to the cold weather by either slowing down their metabolism, thus requiring less food, or by being warm-blooded like the mammals and birds that live in polar environments today.

I was surprised to learn about the Western Interior Seaway that existed during the Cretaceous time and split North America into two.

My kids had fun exploring other exhibits at LICM. Click here to read a previous review of LICM.

Take advantage of the cold winter months to visit the LICM – be sure to check out the dinosaur exhibit, which is closing May 13.

LICM is located at 11 Davis Avenue in Garden City. Click here for more info.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary admission.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman writes for Little Spoon and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for seventeen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 11, 8 and 5) and loves finding great products for her family. 

The post We Checked Out the New Dinosaur Exhibit at the Long Island Children’s Museum appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

The museum currently has a very special exhibit: the Centennial Ball that drops at Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The ball is huge and made of lots of crystals that are illuminated by colorful light bulbs that change colors. It is absolutely dazzling when seen up close. 

Ripley’s has over 500 exhibits in 20 galleries and we had a blast spending time in each gallery. This gorilla stands 12 feet tall and is made entirely of recycled car tires:

Robert Pershing Wadlow – the tallest man in medical history, was 8 feet, 11 inches:

This two-trunked elephant had two fully developed usable trunks:

Sports fans can enjoy a baseball exhibit which includes sports memorabilia, such as dozens of bats from the Hall of Fame and original stadium seats:

Not many kids know what a typewriter is, but they can see parts of it in this Darth Vader bust, made in part of typewriters:

This wall is made of 70,000 stamps or stamp pieces:

A woman of the Kayan-Lahwi tribe of Myanmar wearing brass neck rings :

Visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not at 234 West 42nd Street in Times Square. Click here to purchase tickets. The museum is appropriate for all ages; my kids, ages 4-10, had a blast and loved seeing all of the exhibits and learning cool facts!

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written ffor The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 7 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Visiting Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Times Square, NYC appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

We began with Tot Spot – a pretend-play area that’s perfect for toddlers:

Tot Spot also has an adjacent room with books and puzzles, and convenient restrooms and a nursing lounge.

Next to Tot Spot is a room dedicated to creating bubbles:

Next, we headed upstairs – the kids climbed on Climb-It @ LICM, a two-story climbing structure:

The kids loved the Communication Station exhibit where they got to pretend they were newscasters and learn about all forms of communication:

Sound Showers is an exhibit all about sounds that you can create and hear:

The Broken? Fix It! Exhibit was my personal favorite – it has elaborate hands-on exhibits allowing kids to try fixing a variety of things – great preparation for real life!

I’ve never heard of KEVA planks before but they were a big hit with my kids: (you can buy a set at the museum store)

Pattern Studio has been around forever and is always a favorite with the kids. They had so much fun with the mirrors:

There is also a traveling exhibit: Klutz Amazingly Immature, where we got to try out silly tricks and learn about science. The kids made a paper airplane (with the Nakamura lock)

They tried their hand at lifting a tablecloth while keeping the bowls on the table:

Trying again:

Dad did it!

We had a blast!

Click here to learn more about LICM. Memberships start at $75 and include unlimited visits. Be sure to check out the calendar for special activities and shows.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets.

Long Island Children’s Museum: Kids Can Learn Through Playtime!

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier. S

Long Island Children’s Museum: Kids Can Learn Through Playtime!

The post Long Island Children’s Museum: Kids Can Learn Through Playtime! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

We started the day in the Cantina where we had delicious treats before some surprise guests arrived. As soon as we finished eating, a life sized working R2D2; complete with battle scars, sounds and lights rolled in.

There is no other way to describe what happened next except that the kids flipped out (in a good way). They were so excited to see R2 that we had to pry them off him after we took their pictures.

Then, just as the kids settled down, around twenty Mandalorians (look like Boba Fett), Storm Troopers, Rebels and Jedi march into the Cantina and stood in an array. All the kids stood still in shock. It took a few minutes before they could react and go up to the and take pictures with them.

It was amazing. Their costumes were incredible and the Storm Troopers even had voice modulators to sound like the real thing.

But that was just the beginning. We went to the Tesla coil show. The coils produced real indoor lightning bolts streaking across the stage while playing music from Star Wars.

If that wasn’t exciting enough we learned about Faraday boxes and two participants stood inside a cage as it was struck by lightning. It was absolutely riveting. Even little kids sat listening attentively. It was one of the coolest exhibits I have ever seen. We learned about plasma and how a lightsaber could work and then we went to a booth where we made our own lightsabers.

Having watched every movie and cartoon about Star Wars the kids were total experts. Each one made a different style, with our daughter proudly using the Ahsoka Tano backwards curved handled type.

Of course we had to get some space battles in, so we went by the drone exhibit where the Millennium Falcon and other spacecraft hurtled through the air. Then we took part in the Battle of Yavin, with the kids building their own ships and launching them at the Death Star. We didn’t quite have the force with us that day as one over shot the Death Star and the other had some serious technical difficulties while launching but it was a lot of fun.

The museum is so massive that we could not possibly see everything in one day. At one point we split up with my oldest going to the Titanic exhibit while the two younger ones played and learned in the Sid the Science Kid area.

Then we all regrouped for the suspended wire mesh maze and the reptiles, amphibians and insects exhibit. We were there for hours but I don’t think we saw half of the exhibits. However, I think it is safe to say that like the Jedi, we will return.

Thank you to the Liberty Science Center for hosting us.  Science, Sabers and Star Wars at Liberty Science Center

The post Science, Sabers and Star Wars at Liberty Science Center appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

My kids loved the train sets on the first floor — you can enter the display through three little crawl spaces (adults, you’re not going to fit). Note: If you have a child who may wander off, there are three exits you’ll have to keep an eye on.

Yep, that’s the Batmobile from 1969.

We headed upstairs to the Superheroes of Gotham Exhibit. However, I wasn’t allowed to take any photos or video inside.

They had a cool photobooth for the kids. Here’s my daughter saving Lady Liberty from a giant octopus.

And here’s my youngest, saving a subway train (he had his hands the wrong way…)

Check out my video and remember to subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

We paid for our own admission. This was not a compensated post. NY Historical Society and Dimenna Children’s History Museum  

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As the father of a future fashion designer/President of the United States, you need to look at things differently. My daughter is the sweetest girl but she is anything but passive. At two, she decided had enough of being fed by my wife and I. So she took a spoon full of yogurt out of my hand and said that she would do it herself. In the last few months she has blossomed as an artist. She works so hard at it and is very serious about her artwork. She draws and paints and has done multimedia that she calls “Art vs. Art”. She is also super excited to start her afternoon sewing class this fall. 

With all this energy directed towards artwork, I assumed she would love museums. However, when we visited museums, instead of looking at exhibits, she almost sprinted through them. I suppose this is another instance of her feeling that instead of seeing what others are doing, she would rather do it herself.

Throughout this summer, the biggest exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has been China: Through the Looking Glass, which demonstrates the impact of Chinese culture on haute couture. Everyone that we know that saw it told us that our little fashion designer had to see it but every time we asked her she said she was not interested. With the exhibit closing, I thought I would give it one more try to see if she would go with me to the museum. 

This time I tried a different tact. I asked her if she wanted to bring her notebook and sketch the mannequins and their dresses. This really appealed to her but it turned out to be more effective than I could have imagined. When we arrived she got straight to work. She meticulously studied every detail, carefully drawing the dresses that she liked. Other people at the exhibit could not believe how hard this little girl was working to capture the artwork in her sketchbook. She also came home and was so proud to show what she had done. She found a way to do it herself.

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If you are coming from Queens or Long Island, it’s a short ride. We are usually able to make it in an half hour or so (if there isn’t traffic).

We’ve covered it on this blog before – here is our post from two years ago – http://www.themamamaven.com/2013/08/11/legoland-discovery-center-westchester-ny-review-video/ .

My favorite part is Miniland. It never disappoints.

My husband and two sons got into building this time.

While my daughter preferred the climbing area (shown right behind her in this picture).

Check out my video tour:

Help LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester and its charity Merlin’s Magic Wand give back to those in need during their Back to School Drive. Visitors to the attraction from now through September 8^th,  2015 are encouraged to bring school supplies such as pens, rulers, notebooks and backpacks. All donations will benefit The Lakeland Children’s Center, a non-profit organization supporting families and children. Visitors who show a valid receipt for their donations ($20+) will receive one free adult admissions ticket. More details on the drive and ticket offer can be found here.

Tickets * BUY ONLINE BEFORE YOU GO, it’s CHEAPER!!

Child – $15.00
Adult – $17.50

Children under 2 yrs visit for free!

Please be sure to like LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester on Facebook for updates and to see what’s going on at LDC!

And for a special treat, we are giving away TWO Family 4 packs of tickets to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. There will be two winners and each will win a family 4 pack of tickets, good anytime and anyday (up to December 30, 2015)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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We were spending the day at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. New Balance sent us their new Vazee sneakers, water bottles from Kleen Kanteen and snack bags from Lunchskins, as well as tickets to CMOM.

We set off to NYC with a spring in our step. My youngest was just toilet trained and this was the first time we were attempting Manhattan WITHOUT a stroller for him (milestone!).

We had a fantastic time and enjoyed ourselves. It didn’t hurt that our New Balance Vazee sneakers were comfy and great for kids that just don’t stop, like mine. We are huge fans of New Balance and usually purchase them for our children and ourselves. It was the first shoe we bought for my daughter when she learned to walk.

My daughter loved that her sneakers were hot pink. She’s at the age where anything pink is amazing to her.

My little guy rocked his new bright blue kicks.

My almost 10 year old loved running around in his new sneakers, which he immediately deemed, “Cool”.

Here’s a video of our day out.

I like that New Balance offers excellent foot support for my children. Their new Vazee line is lightweight and perfect for very active kids.

B. rocked the Vazee Rush Sneakers in grey with orange. Note: is a bright, florescent orange. Little Miss A. had the Vazee Rush Sneakers in pink zing with yellow ($54.99), and S had the Vazee Rush Sneakers in bolt (blue) with white ($44.99).

Features include:

• Hook and loop closure for easy on/off
• IMEVA (injection-molded EVA foam) midsole for firm yet flexible cushioning
• Synthetic/mesh upper

I was wearing the Vazee Coast sneakers and being the typical mom – didn’t get any pictures of myself wearing them at the museum! I like them because they are so lightweight and still give terrific support. Vazee Coast is designed for running, also stylish enough to look cute while you’re out and about. They’re well cushioned with sleek bootie-like upper and deconstructed heel. And I can easily pop them in my gym bag and not groan under the weight of heavy sneakers.

Thank you to New Balance for sending us sneakers and tickets to CMOM. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own. 

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Sadly, this will be the park’s final season in Secaucus and the last chance for fans to experience all their favorite dinosaurs in their current setting before they move on to their next home.

Check out our video from Field Station: Dinosaurs

Highlights for 2015 include the live show, “Talking with Dinosaurs.” Kids will roar, chirp and rattle as the Dinosaur Troubadour conducts the world’s first ever dinosaur Glee Club and learn what kind of sounds scientists believe dinosaurs really made.

The new 3D movie, “Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet,” narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, features photo-realistic dinosaurs set in live action landscapes in an epic prehistoric adventure.

Paleontologists’ Laboratory is the Field Station’s fun new hands-on activity where junior dinosaur hunters can dig for bones and learn the science of fossils. Visitors will also get to meet the Field Station’s new 15’ Tyrannosaurus rex which will be featured in the park’s live shows at the Field Station’s Goya Amphitheater.

Pricing:

Additionally, prices for Day Passes to Field Station: Dinosaurs have been lowered to only $15.00, and a new “anytime” ticket can be used any day during the 2015 season. The Town of Secaucus has lowered the environmental fee collected for parking to only $5.00 per vehicle.

Hudson County is repurposing the land on which Field Station: Dinosaurs currently resides, making it necessary for the dinosaurs to find a new home starting in 2016.

Field Station: Dinosaurs is located at 1 Dinosaur Way (off Exit 15X of the New Jersey Turnpike) at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus, NJ. If you are using a GPS, input 1000 New County Road, Secaucus, NJ 07094.

Admission to the park starts at $15.00 (when purchased prior to July 4) and tickets are available online at www.FieldStationDinosaurs.com and by phone at 855-999-9010.

The park is open from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM from through June 28 on Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day and from June 30 through September 6 from Tuesdays through Sundays and Labor Day. Season passes and add-ons for access to all of the park’s programming and activities are also available.

Field Station offers over thirty life-sized, realistic dinosaurs come to life thanks to the brilliant engineering of the world’s leading roboticists and the imagination of our artists.
Scientists from the New Jersey State Museum have worked to ensure that the exhibition encompasses the latest theories and discoveries in the fields of paleontology, geology, and environmental studies but at the center of it all is the fun, the joy and the wonder of dinosaurs.

Field Station: Dinosaurs is sponsored by Goya, Beyer Ford, and Franklin Templeton Investments. Puppets designed, created and provided by Erth Visual & Physical Inc. All rights reserved.

For more information on the adventure, tickets, special passes and offers visit our web site at www.fieldstationdinosaurs.com

Thank you to Field Station: Dinosaurs for giving us complementary admission. As always, all opinions are our own. 

The post Field Station Dinosaurs – A Roaringly Fun and Educational Time appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Kids love interactive performances and when it comes to music even the quietest kid will pick up an instrument and participate. The hugely popular Lincoln Center program, WeBop! is coming to the Jewish Museum this month for a special concert: WeBop! Family Jazz Party: Painted Beats.

Children ages 3-8 and their families can participate in the concert which is actually an interactive party and explore the connections between jazz and the art works of abstract expressionists Lee Krasner and Norman Lewis (at 12:15 there’s a gallery tour of Krasner and Lewis). Families will learn how jazz and art share many similar qualities and compose and conduct their own sound collages. WeBop! provides creative experiences for parents and children featuring jazz as a vehicle for self-expression, communication, and play through singing, movement, playing instruments, and storytelling.

When: November 23rd, 2014 at 2:30pm

Where: The Jewish Museum
1109 5th Avenue (at 92nd Street)

Price: $18 per adult; $13 per child

For more information click here.

Click here to see upcoming kids’ concerts at the Jewish Museum (Hot Peas N’ Butter are scheduled for December!)

Photo by Elizabeth Letizell

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the event.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 2) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Family Jazz Party With WeBop! of “Jazz at Lincoln Center” appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

My youngest is turning two next month and although he’s still in diapers, I’m glad he’s almost always 100% dry in the mornings when he wakes up. We’ve been using Pampers exclusively since my oldest was born for various reasons, such as the quality of the diaper, the affordable price and my kids’ comfort (they have an allergic reaction to other brands). This is why when I was invited to celebrate with Pampers “fun morning moments when babies wake up dry” I was thrilled!

The event took place at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and featured a large pop-up disco-style crib where babies got to dance and show their moves, as well as an appearance by actress Ali Larter.

Here’s a recap of the event:

My almost-two-year-old refused to go in the disco crib to show off his moves, but he did like exploring the little play area that Pampers set up nearby. He had a blast playing at the museum. It’s perfect for very young kids. We took our oldest when she was 10 months old and she had a great time!

My older kids had just as much fun with the museum’s exhibits.

Ali Larter looked absolutely glowing. She’s expecting a baby later this winter and looked gorgeous in person. Check out her new show, Legends – a drama series on TNT.

You can post videos of your baby’s best morning moves on facebook, twitter or instagram and use the hashtag #BabyGotMoves. Who knows, your kid might be featured in their next video!

I was not compensated for this post. I received a gift bag.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 1) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Celebrate Fun Morning Moments with Pampers #BabyGotMoves appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Confession: I’m not very organized at times. Especially when my darling children come home bearing art projects. I’ve been known to pile them up, tack them up on the fridge (on top of their other artwork), misplace them or throw them out (I know, bad mom). It’s just so much stuff comes home and I’m overwhelmed. And with back to school upon us, I am dreading the piles of papers and projects, however precious it may be, coming home to clutter, my already cluttered home.

Two of my artists, hard at work.

But Keepy can help. Keepy is an app that let’s you take a photo of your child’s artwork, schoolwork, anything your child is proud of — but get this, their app makes it look SOO much better than just taking a picture (advanced technology recognizes the borders of photographs, creating a perfect crop). Then you can put your child’s artwork in their own gallery in the Keepy app and then share it with their fans (ie. the relatives). While there are apps similar, this one has special features including the narrative function, which enables kids to record the story behind the picture and the keepy-cam, through which loved ones can leave video comments on each keepy – so Grandma Sheila will get notified and she can respond by making a video reply (so cool and creates a special memory).

You have the option to share it on facebook or twitter or keep it private (and share with anyone YOU choose). You can also use your child’s art to make a custom iPhone case, print it out in a book, etc…

We attended the Keepy Launch at the Children’s Museum of Art in NYC recently and had such a blast.

Nice to “Moustache” you!

We got to make glitter moustaches, silkscreen bags, paint, play with our shadow, play in the huge ball pit, and decorate cookies.. Basically, it made my little artists very happy. The space was great and we loved having the run of the place. The Children’s Art Museum is definitely a great place to visit with kids.

At the event, I quickly sat down with the co- creator, Offir Gutelzon, who is a dad. Gutelzon, a serial entrepreneur, sold his decade-old image recognition company PicScout to Getty Images in 2011 and moved to the United States. He saw a need for this when his son kept bringing home art projects and they were piling up (boy, do I know that feeling!) Gutelzon explains, “After moving to New York, I discovered that sharing my kids creativity with family around the world was a daunting task. Keepy is a new way for families to connect and preserve memories by simply snapping and sharing.” He continues, “The experience is a game changer as it takes the smartphone, a device used by three generations, and uses its technology to offer synergized voice, video and photo capabilities and merges them into one keepy, a new form of content.”

Details:

Keepy is free at the iTunes App Store now for the iPhone and iPhone Touch (you get 50 Keepies free) and then there is an option to increase storage with an in-app purchase. It will be available on Google Play in the fall 2013. The price is still pretty reasonable and you do get 50 Keepies free– so I think that Keepy is a good idea.

The platform provides the space and the storage on the Keepy cloud forever. Keepies can also be shared on Facebook, Twitter and the Keepy Gallery, a community photolage. You can also send your Keepies to your dropbox.

We think it’s a great solution to keeping folderfuls of art or bogging down your refrigerator. Call me a convert! And it just may make me a better mom.

What do you do with all the art your children bring home?

www.keepy.me

I was not compensated for this post.

The post Keepy: A Great Way to Digitally Store and Privately Share Your Child’s Artwork appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

We recently headed up to LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Westchester (Ridge Hill Shopping Center in Yonkers to be exact). Check out our video to see our tour!

After 4pm Saver Ticket

Booking Online is the only way to guarantee entry (tickets are limited)!

• Tickets $19 per adult and $16 per child visits after 4pm
• Valid Monday to Thursday Only, for entrance between 4pm – 7pm.

There are special events — we’ve got a review of the recent CHIMA event coming up soon. There is a Star Wars Event coming up on September 21-22nd.

Food
We recommend packing your lunch and eating in the LEGO Cafe or hitting one of Ridge Hills many restaurants. We ate at this lovely Greek Restaurant, right next to to LEGOLAND. They were very kid friendly and my almost 8 year old loved the souvlaki. My almost 3 year old was all about the french fries!

Parking
There is paid parking in a garage. It may only run you around $5 – $6, depending on how long you stay. Click here for directions (there are event transit instructions).

Thank you to LEGOLAND Discovery Center for giving us complimentary tickets. As always, all opinions are my own.

The post LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester Tour [VIDEO] appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Recently we attended SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure, an interactive, multi-media exhibit containing more than 500 artifacts from deep-ocean expeditions around the world. This not to be missed exhibit brings the world’s most amazing deep-sea discoveries to the crossroads of the world at New York City’s Discovery Times Square.
Produced by Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. and Discovery Times Square, SHIPWRECK! offers visitors a unique look into the depths of the ocean through a mix of actual historical artifacts and hands-on, interactive computer games and exhibits. This exhibit helps to bring history to life by uncovering priceless knowledge from the depths of the sea.

Artifacts found at the exhibit, such as rare bottles, porcelain figurines, and a 300-year-old carpenter’s folding ruler, lets visitors travel back in time as they get an up close and personal look at over 2,000 years of nautical history. My kids got to touch real gold and silver, recovered from the deep, including the first ever display of silver recovered from the SS Gairsoppa over three miles deep.

One of the exhibit’s most coveted highlights is the wreck of the SS Republic, a Civil War-era side-wheel steamship which sank to the bottom of the ocean in 1865 due to a ferocious storm. The Republic, yielding over 51,000 silver and gold coins and 14,000 artifacts, was discovered by Odyssey 1,700 feet below the surface of the Atlantic in 2003 and now provides visitors with a detailed look at life in America in the late 19^th century.

SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure also offers guests the chance to put their skills to the test by piloting a virtual submersible over the Republic wreck site and scouring for artifacts with an operable model of Odyssey’s remotely Operated Vehicle ZEUS’ robotic arm. The exhibit’s Hurricane Simulator also pushes guests’ strength to the limit as they face up against 75-mph winds.

SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure will be on display at Discovery Times Square, located at 226 W 44th St New York, NY 10036. For more information, visit http://www.discoverytsx.com/exhibitions/shipwreck

For details on Odyssey’s activities and its commitment to the preservation of maritime heritage please visit www.shipwreck.net.