What's better than a free day at a museum? How about a museum that's free every day? A place where you can expose your children to some of the best artwork, science, and history that Los Angeles has to offer without paying admission, ever. Several of this city's most iconic museums offer free admission every day (if you don't count parking, that is). And then of course there are the ones that just offer free admission to kids. So what are you waiting for? Take your whole crew out for some culture and creativity at one of these FREE museums.

To get more free fun at home and in your town delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters—and discover all the free events and activities near you in our Los Angeles Free Things To Do with Kids Guide.

Believe it or not, 2021 wasn’t all pandemic and social distancing. As a testament to the human spirit, there was a ton to celebrate and embrace. From simple pleasures like enjoying nature and a movie night on the couch, to larger adventures such as taking in a Broadway show or heading to an amusement park, 2021 was a bit of an emotional roller coaster (and that might be the understatement of the century). We polled our readers, our staff, and our kids to come up with the things that kept us going this past year.

We've rounded up the best of 2021 for kids and families, including the best movies of 2021, the best books of 2021, and more. Our Best Recipes of 2021 list was too long to include here; be sure to check it out if you haven't yet. Enjoy working your way through this list of favorites, and here's to more "bests" in 2022!

Following a two-year closure, the doors to Smith Playhouse are finally open and welcoming kids back for three floors of never-ending fun. The century-old iconic play destination has received extensive upgrades thanks to a multimillion-dollar investment, and Mommy Poppins recently had the chance to preview all of the cool new features, along with improvements to existing favorites that Philly families have come to know and love.

We sure spent a lot of time in the kitchen this year! All you have to do is scroll through our Instagram to see photos of TikTok pasta, homemade Pop-Tarts, or easy-to-make dinner recipes for kids. Below you’ll find our most popular recipes of 2021. From healthy recipes for kids (like savory teriyaki chicken) to kid-friendly recipes for young chefs (like chocolate mug cakes)—and everything in between—we’ve cooked and devoured it all.

We’ve got more kid-friendly recipes and treats, like these yummy Hot Chocolate Bombs, in our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids. Looking for more favorites from 2021? We've got a great list of the Best Things in 2021 for Kids and Families.

Down with Omicron; we've picked ten fun and inspiring things to get excited about as we head into 2022.

Just as my kids were finishing up their last days of school before the holiday, the Omicron spike hit. Each day, I watched their spirits dip further as our Nutcracker tickets became useless, our family's traditional Christmas Eve restaurant closed, and family and friends decided it was safest to postpone getting together. When I sat down to write about the things I'm loving for January, I was stumped. Then, as I began to pile through my inbox, our Facebook pages, and the event calendars, I realized there’s actually a lot to look forward to in 2022.

Because this is what Mommy Poppins is about: treasuring the time we have with our kids and inspiring families to have amazing and enriching experiences together. Sometimes that might just be watching a great movie, snuggled up on the couch. And it turns out there are a couple of new ones this month—read on. Or it might be baking with kids; at the top of my list is a dessert that Maureen, our Chicago Events Editor, passed around to our team. My daughter also shared a couple of tips she’s picked up in her school’s yoga class, for how we can all head into 2022 with grace, peace, and joy. I hope you find inspiration in our picks below, and that we all head into the New Year safe, healthy, happy, and together.

It’s that time of the year again: “best of” season! This year, there's a special extra pleasure we take in looking back and highlighting fun things to do with kids that have opened this past year, instead of closed. We searched our archives, our memories, your Facebook recommendations, and more to compile this list of the best kid-friendly openings, renovations, and exhibitions in Connecticut in 2021. From an amazing renovation at the Discovery Museum to a great new shop in Mystic—there have actually been lots of cool new things to do with kids this year.

As 2021 comes to a close and it’s time to start making New Years’ resolutions, it’s also a perfect time to look back and mark all of the new things that made the past year special. There have been delicious additions to Boston's culinary scene, including ice cream and donuts. Museums have had new exhibits and reopenings welcoming kids back to these important discovery spaces. And the joyful sounds of Symphony Hall are back with the Boston Pops holiday show. Our picks for best openings in 2021 brought a little magic to a challenging year.

Check our Boston holiday guide for terrific seasonal activities to close out the year.