Long Island Parent Talk

Looking for things to do with the kids this weekend? From festivals, carnivals and crafts to brunch, competitions and more, there's so much to do on Long Island. Here are my top five picks for fun, family-friendly activities this weekend:

1. Strawberry Festival at Nassau BOCES (2351 Jerusalem Ave., North Bellmore). Starting tonight until Sunday, enjoy everything strawberry, from strawberry...

Who hasn't used the expression "If only I had more hours in a day?" I often think about that when I finally drift off to sleep, after Maggie's bedtime routine (which consists of what I call the three B's: bath, books and bottle), after cleaning up all the toys that are covering my living room floor and  finally after I'm able to read one chapter in a book or watch a TV show. I'm not...

This week I wanted to try something new with Maggie -- tomatoes! She loves fruits and veggies these days, so I figured now is the time to keep introducing her to different foods. She's had tomato sauce before on pasta and meatballs, even pizza, but I wasn't sure if she'd like a tomato.

When I saw a fun, kid-friendly stuffed tomato recipe in "Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have...

We all have our favorite childhood memories and one of mine is visiting the Bronx Zoo. And since I want Maggie to experience all the things I enjoyed as a child, naturally I brought her there for a visit.

What I love about the Bronx Zoo is that even though there are new exhibits and attractions, some things are exactly the same. For example, the children's zoo. As soon as you walk in, you...

When my relationship with Andre turned serious and we began talking about a life together I remember him telling me that he wanted five children. The youngest of eight, I understood his wanting a large family of his own. I, however, informed him that my limit was two.

Now that we’ve had our first baby, he is the one who is reluctant to have another. I’m ready, although admittedly a little...

Here’s a new product in the-kid-really-doesn’t-need-it category that moms might find themselves wanting to covet — Squishy Baff (suggested retail price $9.99). Those of us who regularly go for pretty foot maintenance will compare it to the powder nail salons use for a spa pedicure that turns water into a beaded, soft substance that soothes tired feet.

After evenly sprinkling a pouch of the...

Every kid on the block has one. I'm sure you've seen and even heard a child from your neighborhood sporting his or her new ride — ride-on toy that is. I can't believe how many there are now — from motorized cars and jeeps to tricycles and bikes that can adjust as a child grows to classic buggies that children can push themselves — a long way from the original Big Wheel I had as a kid.

Maggie...

So you’ve made the decision to ditch those disposables and use cloth diapers -- good for you! My wife and I diaper our son exclusively with reusable cloth diapers, and it has been a rewarding and relatively low-maintenance decision. But here’s the thing about cloth dipes: your kid can only wear the diapers if his parents can get them on his behind. Cloth diapering is especially easy when your child...

See the Whitney Biennial, dine at Mac’s in Huntington, watch “Mad Men,” go to a big band Sinatra tribute show at Five Towns College, attend a Mansions & Millionaires Designer Showcase in Mill Neck, catch “Rent” at the Engeman Theater at Northport …

These are just a few of the things I have taken my 8-year-old son, Harrison, to do over the years. Just a few.

The latest event was a...

Our son, Jonathan, has done quite a bit of traveling in his 2 years. He’s flown to Atlanta, Chicago, Maryland and Puerto Rico. And I am very happy to report that I have not yet been the parent with the screaming child on the airplane (although I’m sure it’s coming, he is after all, a toddler).

So when trying to figure out how we would travel to Baltimore for a friend’s wedding, I dreaded the...