Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in new orleans, LA

Best Bet: Opa!

by Kelly Leahy

May 22, 2009

My daughter's preschool is next door to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Lakeview and we have been watching them prepare all week for the 36th annual Greek Fest. Greece on the Bayou invites you to be Greek for the weekend while sipping pomegranate iced tea and eating gyros.

We attended the festival in 2006 with our then nine-month-old and we had a great time. We did the Cathedral tour (very informative) and bopped to the many versions of Zorba the Greek. Now that I have "bigger" kids I'm looking forward to taking advantage of other activities.

The festival this year looks like it's going to be huge as tents have taken over the grounds. There will be rock climbing, archeological digs, face painting and lots of bouncing.There are even canoes available to rent so you can paddle down Bayou St. John.

Pull out your blues and whites or simply don a sheet (those sporting togas on Sunday get in for FREE). We'll be there Saturday stuffing our faces and dancing around the grounds.

Greek Fest starts today and ends Sunday. Admission is only $5 and kids under 12 are free.

Tumbling Toddlers

by Kelly Leahy

March 24, 2009

When a friend of mine asked if I would like to enroll Adelaide into gymnastics with her three-year-old I didn't even hesitate. Adelaide is a very cautious kid. She was a late walker and her one-year-old sister is a more ambitious climber than she is. I hoped that something like gymnastics would boost her confidence.

The trick was finding a gym in or around New Orleans that fit our schedules. We settled on Empire Gymnastics Academy in Jefferson which I've gone into brief detail below. Surprisingly there are a number of other options in the area as well. So, if you are looking for a place for your preschooler to learn some tumbling skills or just work off some of that energy, look no further.

Top 5 Things to Do in New Orleans on a Rainy Day

by Kelly Leahy

May 27, 2008

We are fast approaching rainy season here in New Orleans and that can mean anything from a gray drizzle all day long to being locked in the house for hours due to street flooding. Nothing's easy about living in the Crescent City but here are some tips to make a rainy day with your pre-schooler something to look forward to rather than dread. 1. Go Fish. The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is a  Read more...