Long Island Parent Talk

Children love watching their favorite characters come to life on stage, and there's no shortage of theatrical events on Long Island. Since many of the shows require some forethought, here's a sampling of family-friendly shows throughout April to help you plan a fun-filled day.

Alice in Wonderland at John W. Engeman Theater (250 Main St., Northport) on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30...

I’m not a big fan of amusement parks. Maybe it’s because I never went to any as a kid. Fanny-packing crowds are vile, kids’ songs are annoying and I think it’s irritating that adults should go to such extremes to cater to a child’s every frivolous whim. How about skipping the teacup ride, silly hat and chicken nuggets and spending those entertainment bucks on an opera matinee, a souvenir from a...

Need weekend plans or something to do with the kids during the week? There are a ton of free children's events at local libraries, but we also found free and cheap ($5 or less) things to do elsewhere this month. Whether you have one, two, three or more kids in tow, here's a roundup of fun, budget-friendly events in April.

Free

Spring Soiree at Marose Spa and Wellness (127 E. Main St.,...

Ah, April Fools' Day. A day of clever tricking and cautious tracking, depending on whether you are on the sending or receiving end of the childish pranks which will inevitably be played.

In France, children and adults traditionally tack paper fishes on each other's back and shout "April fish!" (well they shout, “poisson d'avril!” which means April fish). Here in the states, our sweet,...

After hunting, what do you do with all of those leftover hard-boiled Easter eggs? Besides making egg salad, here’s a fun science experiment to try from "Jack and Jill" magazine: Use air pressure to suck an egg into an empty jar. Then help your kids figure out how to get the egg out.

Trapped eggs

What you'll need - Glass jar with a narrow neck - Peeled hard-boiled egg - 4 matches

*...

As the kids editor, I’ve learned at least one truth: There will never be a shortage of parenting books. According to the quality of some of the titles that cross my desk, this can be a bad thing. And it can also be a great thing, especially when a book like “How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare” (Crown Trade, $25) shows up in the mail.

The forthcoming book is by playwright and director Ken...

A new study confirms what smart parents ought to know about what they’re allowing their children to put in their mouths.

Pretty much all fast food aimed at children is unhealthy.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest report, released March 28, looked at almost 3,500 chain meals for children who are 4 to 8, finding that 97 percent failed to meet the Washington, D.C. nonprofit’s...

Between long work hours, after-school activities and other daily distractions, families today are feeling less and less connected and miss spending quality time together, according to a new survey from Disney.

I'm guilty of feeling this way, and I only have a 2-year-old -- I can't imagine how it will be in a few years. My husband and I try our best to have "family time" as much as...

Looking for things to do with the kids this weekend? From the Easter Bunny and egg hunts to Pinocchio, penguins and more, there's much to do on Long Island. Here are my top five picks for fun, family-friendly activities this weekend:

1. Penguin Brunch at Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center (431 E. Main St., Riverhead). Celebrate spring with the penguins, enjoy a seasonal brunch, make...

As a kid, I loved Easter egg hunts -- who wouldn’t love tearing through an emerald field on one of the first days of Spring, turning every rock in the name of chocolate and Peeps?

My wife and I are parents now, and this is the first spring in which our son will be old enough to appreciate the glory of the egg hunt. And we’ve found a venue to blend our love of multicolored eggs with our passion...