Gina Massaro is a Long Island native who believes in whimsy, fairies, and the idea of never growing up. She’s a mom to 3 young kids and a small zoo, and she has over 8 years of experience and childhood education expertise as a preschool educator. She tries to find time to write and paint between school pickups, diaper changes, and dog walks. For more of her art and writing check out her website: ginamassaro.com.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Farmingdale's Schoolhouse Play & Cafe offers themed classes and open play in a unique setting, giving babies, toddlers, and preschoolers a new indoor space for adventures and learning. Read on for everything to know about this venue
For more indoor play spaces for littles, check out our Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces for Toddlers and Preschoolers on Long Island and Guide for Preschoolers.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Throwing a Halloween party is a fun way to celebrate the spooky season with kids. But when you've got tweens or teens, you need to think beyond the cute Halloween activities and crafts and come up with ideas that are a little more active and inventive. In other words, you need to up your Halloween party game—literally. Luckily, there are so many great Halloween party game ideas for teens (and tweens and even just bigger kids).
Start planning your Halloween party with these 25 Halloween party game ideas for tweens and teens that will make your next Halloween party epic. If you've got younger kids, check out our list of 25 fun Halloween games for preschoolers and little kids.
For great Halloween activities near you check your local Halloween Activities Guide, and for Halloween movies, games, crafts, costumes, and treats all season long, see our Halloween Activities Guide for Families.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
If you're planning a camping trip with the kids—whether it's in the forest or backyard camping—picture this scene: Everyone is gathered around the roaring campfire. The marshmallows have been roasted, the campfire songs have been sung, and the crickets are chirping. What better time to whip out the flashlight and share some ghost stories?
Here are 21 not-so-scary ghost stories and spooky stories for kids of all ages. For more family fun while camping, check out our list of 17 camping games to play with kids.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Long Island is full of bakeries to create your child's dream birthday party dessert. From cakes for a family-friendly restaurant extravaganza, to a mega bounce center celebration or bowling party, to an intimate backyard gathering, the options are endless.
We've compiled a list from Nassau to Suffolk County of Long Island's best custom cake bakeries to make your kid's perfect birthday cake. Whether you want an extravagant themed cake, a special character design, or a colorful, trendy creation, we have you covered.
For even more festive birthday inspiration, check out our Birthday Party Guide for Long Island Kids, where you'll find our story on LI's top indoor birthday party venues.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Lindenhurst's new indoor play space, Jetsetter Kids Club, reaches for the stars and delivers. Impressive and unique play structures, plus great thematic elements, make this a must-visit indoor play space for Long Island families. Read on below for all the details on this stellar indoor playground.
Looking for more active fun? Check out our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces on Long Island and our Playground and Parks Guide.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Every year, as the birthday party invites roll in, a pattern emerges. It's the same party spots over and over.
If you're looking to shake things up with a unique party venue for your child's birthday, look no further. We've rounded up some unique venues on Long Island, ranging from stately museums to immersive play spaces.
For more birthday party fun, check out our Birthday Party Guide, which includes our story on kids' birthday party entertainers on Long Island who come to you.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
There's a lot to pack when hitting one of Long Island's family-friendly beaches, from sunscreen to toys, and sometimes you don't want to have to worry about bringing snacks and lunch. Luckily for us all, Long Island has no shortage of beach eats, and many options are right on the beach or boardwalk itself.
Our list below showcases the best beach food Long Island has to offer, including ice cream options, burgers, tacos, and more.
For more kid-friendly food, check out our Restaurant Guide, and take a look at our Guide to Summer Fun on Long Island for more seasonal tips.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Can't remember the lyrics to your favorite kids campfire songs? We've got you covered.
There's no better way to end a day in the woods filled with hiking games and camping games than sitting around a fire and singing some campfire songs. We've rounded up the most fun, catchy songs to sing along to during your next camping trip, from classic campfire songs to funny campfire songs to campfire songs for preschoolers that are easy to sign along and learn. Some of the videos even have the campfire song lyrics in them. So grab the marshmallows, stoke the campfire, warm up your singing voice, and get ready to sing these 21 campfire songs with kids.
Be sure to check out our Camping Travel Guide for Families for more camping tips and fun.
