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

Free and Cheap After-School Classes in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 09/04/2025 - 12:18pm

The Children's Aid Society provides free and low-cost after-school classes to kids in New York City.

After a summer of expensive entertainment, we could all use this list of free and cheap after-school classes in NYC for kids!

The school year has arrived, and that means it's (past) time to start thinking about after-school classes in NYC, too. Families looking for reasonably priced, enriching, and even free after-school programs for kids in New York City have plenty to choose from. There are tons of after-school programs for sports, arts, academics, and other options to choose from. With offerings in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem, and more, you're bound to find a great inexpensive or free after-school program for your kids, no matter their ages, interests, or address.

We've rounded up 18 local organizations offering free or cheap after-school classes in NYC for kids, tweens, and teens throughout the five boroughs. If you're looking for more options, see our New York City Kids' Guide to Classes, and use our directory to search for programs by age, interest, and neighborhood.

Hidden Gem in NYC: Home for Retired Playground Animals in Flushing Meadows Park

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 09/02/2025 - 11:20am

Come nose-to-nose with the adorable aardvark at the Home for Retired Playground Animals in Queens.

Longtime readers know we're always on the hunt for New York City's best playgrounds, but even our favorites get a revamp from time to time. When it's time for a refresh, some of NYC's beloved playground animals are put out to pasture—literally in the Home for Retired Playground Animals, an enchanting destination in the middle of the sprawling Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

A lovely spot to visit in any season—or a diversion from the action at the nearby Billie Jean King National Tennis Center—here's where to find this hidden gem for families in NYC. You can bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Parks and Playgrounds for all our favorite outdoor places to play.

Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2025-2026

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 08/19/2025 - 9:24am

The 2025-2026 public school year for NYC kids starts on Thursday, September 4.

If you've got a child in public school, you live by the public school calendar. Many local NYC preschools follow the public school schedule, too. The New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is below, and you'll want to bookmark it now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

Once again, there will be no snow days. Plan on logging your NYC kiddos on for a day of remote learning whenever buildings are closed for snow or other emergencies.

Family-Friendly Hotels with Bunk Beds in NYC for Visiting Families

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 08/10/2025 - 6:43am

Channel your inner child in the BIG-inspired bunk bed suite at The Graduate on Roosevelt Island. Photo courtesy of the hotel

For many New York City families, bunk beds are a way of life where small-space living means many city kids share a room. So, if you're planning an NYC getaway, why not live like a New Yorker and book one of these NYC hotels with bunk beds?

These local hotels with bunk beds are packed with family-friendly amenities and close to many of our favorite local attractions in tourist-heavy neighborhoods, including Midtown Manhattan.

Find all our top picks for NYC hotels with bunk beds below, or more options for family-friendly hotels in NYC in our NYC Visitors Guide, which has all our top tips for tourists, including a curated three-day itinerary for visiting families crafted by a local mom.

Visiting West Point with Kids: 37 Top Things To Do near the United States Military Academy

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 08/08/2025 - 7:26am

A visit to the United States Military Academy is a lesson in history and patriotism, but also tons of fun for families.

The United States Military Academy is a jewel in the Hudson Valley. The country's oldest continuously occupied Army post, its history precedes the academy that now calls the land home. Recognized by then-General George Washington as a strategic stronghold, it played a key role in America's defense during the Revolutionary War and has remained important ever since. Today, West Point serves as a jumping-off point for the next generation of Army leaders, who endure a 47-month educational journey that prepares them in the classroom, on the battlefield, and in feats of physical and military fitness.

Whether you visit the United States Military Academy for one day—or are lucky enough to send your son or daughter to this prestigious institution and make repeat visits—you're in for a treat. Its strategic location perched on the west bank of the Hudson River is one of the most beautiful vistas in the region. Here are our tips for visiting West Point with kids, plus the top things to do near the United States Military Academy. You'll find more ideas for day trip destinations in our Guide to Local Day Trips and Getaways in the Hudson Valley.

Don't Let Summer End Without Doing These 40 NYC Activities with Your Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 08/03/2025 - 11:56am

Hit one of the amazing beaches in NYC, by train, ferry, bike, or car. Photo by Sara Marentette

With August upon us and the start of a new school year looming, my kids and I are in a panic about all the fun, summery things to do in NYC we haven't yet crossed off our NYC summer bucket list.

Sure, we've had a lot of fun tooling around the city, enjoying our favorite local swimming pool, reigniting a love for some of the best playgrounds in NYC, chilling out with some kid-pleasing ice-cold treats, and soaking up all the FREE things to do in NYC with kids in the summer. But, there are plenty of great activities we haven't gotten to. So, we've crafted this list of 40 can't-miss activities to do before the school bell rings in September.

For more ideas from Brooklyn to the Bronx, and even at home, check out our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide. Soon summer vacation will be a mere memory.

Step Into the Future: Tomorrow Brings Mind-Blowing Tech Experience, Shopping to Midtown

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 07/29/2025 - 1:00pm

Midtown Manhattan overflows with fun, destination-worthy stores where kids can play for free, but the newest retail addition to the Crossroads of the World is unlike anything we've ever seen before.

Tomorrow—or tm:rw—celebrates its grand opening today as a 20,000-square-foot retail experience. So, what exactly, does the Tomorrow experience bring to the heart of Times Square? Read on to find out.

Your Ultimate NYC Summer 2025 Bingo Cards for Kids [PRINTABLE]

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 07/08/2025 - 1:55pm

These FREE printable NYC Summer Bingo Cards provide a jumping-off point of exploration!

We created free, downloadable, printable NYC summer bingo cards for kids as a summer boredom buster!

We're roughly 10 days into summer vacation in NYC, and it might already feel like an endless abyss. Sure, filling those first few days with fun things to do was easy. Then, we had a whole holiday weekend complete with hot dogs and fireworks, and now the going gets tough: There are weeks and weeks to fill with summer activities for kids in NYC. And, you need to do it without spending a fortune. We have hundreds (thousands, really!) of ideas for free and cheap summer fun in our Ultimate New York City Kids' Guide to Summer Fun.

But sometimes you need a jumping-off point, something that gives you a goal, and even puts your kids in charge of picking the activities in a fun and interactive way. Enter these free printable bingo cards. Summer boredom busted! We have both a pre-filled and a DIY summer bingo card for you to use to give kids the reins to design a summer full of fun.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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