Are you a "Special" parent - a single parent, parent to a special needs child, parent to multiples? Suburban Mom is looking for great ideas, tips and places to visit that are of particular interest to our 'special' parents so NJ Kids can help all of our friends! Email me your suggestions at suburbanmom@njkidsonline.com By Jenny Tananbaum Jenny Tananbaum is a writer, wife and mom to three. suburbanmom@njkidsonline.com. read more

Did you know that aardvarks can eat up to 50,000 insects every day AND that each of their donkey-like ears can move separately?  Learn more fun animal and insect facts at a local zoo! Check out our ‘Visit the Animals’ page at http://www.njkidsonline.com/Where-To-Visit-The-Animals.php for zoos or natural history museums near you! By Jenny TananbaumJenny Tananbaum is a writer, wife and mom to three. suburbanmom@njkidsonline.com.. read more

SYNOPSIS: Determined to write her own life story, Princess Merida bucks Scottish tradition and asks an old witch to cast a spell and change her fate. Things go awry, and Merida must rely on her bravery and archery skills to undo a beastly curse. Official Site:  http://disney.go.com/brave/index.html REVIEW: Sometimes a movie comes along that’s so gorgeous and magical that you want to tell everyone to go see it. Tha.... read more

Small nature centers, such as Trailside in Mountainside, are just the right size for younger children (plus older children will love them as well!).  There are often fewer exhibits so they don’t become overwhelmed, and lots of fun things to do and see. Many offer special programs as well – at Trailside every Wednesday, ‘Summer Matinees’ – including Bubble Trouble (6/27) and Rizzo’s Reptiles (7/25).  .... read more

So you want to get organized – the first thing to do is to run to your nearest Container Store (which is more than two hours away) and purchase everything you see.  With all of those containers who could help but be organized, right?  Wrong.  Being “organized” means different things to different people but one thing remains clearly the same: you can’t buy it.  You can’t buy time if you run.... read more

Don’t miss Jenkinson’s Free Kiddie Beach Shows at Jenkinson’s South Beach Shore, Point Pleasant. 7PM. Every Monday during the summer! By Jenny Tananbaum Jenny Tananbaum is a writer, wife and mom to three. suburbanmom@njkidsonline.com. read more

Suburban Mom Tip of the Day - Mark your calendar: Tomorrow through July 8th is the State Fair at the Meadowlands.  17 fun-filled days of rides, games and prizes, food and more. Free shows daily. Meet Dora on June 30th and July 1st (after 4PM). Fireworks shows - July 3rd and 4th. By Jenny Tananbaum Jenny Tananbaum is a writer, wife and mom to three. suburbanmom@njkidsonline.com. read more

Suburban Mom Tip of the Day - Celebrate the summer solstice with music and stars in the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, NYC. Enjoy a detailed look at the solstice sky and live music from the Cassatt Quartet. 6:30pm. By Jenny Tananbaum Jenny Tananbaum is a writer, wife and mom to three. suburbanmom@njkidsonline.com. read more

Enjoy a FREE concert this summer – fresh air, good music and lots of fun. Tonight in Ridgewood: The Kassachau Memorial Shell Concert. 8:30 – 9:45 PM. Bring a chair or blanket. By Jenny Tananbaum Jenny Tananbaum is a writer, wife and mom to three. suburbanmom@njkidsonline.com. read more

The US Department of Energy reported in 2010 that one-quarter of Americans with a two-car garage have so much stuff stored in it there is no room left for vehicles.  How much room is in your garage?  Why do we have so much stuff?  The why’s aren’t nearly as important as the question of what to do with it all.  This is a classic situation of filling up an empty space.  When we have a large cavernous spac.... read more