This week the metro, the Daily News, and the Times ran stories about the dangers of overheated playground safety mats. These days playground burns are increasingly common and two of the papers share the story of an infant who suffered second and third-degree burns from a mat at Carl Schurz Playground that reached 166 degrees. Warning: If you’re squeezy about looking at pictures of burns, do not click on any of those links.

Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much of a solution for moms of children who suffered burns. Some are suing the city, but none of the cases have gotten very far in the courts. Adrian Benepe, the commissioner for of the Department of Parks and Recreation, advises against walking barefoot on the mats. While I agree, I also know that kids will be kids. Somehow, someway, a random body part will be in contact with the mat. I also like the idea of canopies or more shaded playgrounds, but as the nearly 100 comments on the Times piece proves, that’s merely a suburban wonder.

What do you think? What are your favorite playgrounds in the city? And do you have any playground stories; injury-related or otherwise?

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Today, as I was satiating my daily fill of parenting goodness, I learned that Broadway sensation Bernadette Peters wrote a childrens’ book. Remember, oh two years ago when every celebrity decided to create a clothing line? Apparently the same has happened with childrens’ books. I glazed over when Madonna came out with her books a few years ago. And they weren’t that bad, all things considering. Julianne Moore. Jamie Lee Curtis. Brooke Shields. Tiki Barber. Then I just stopped paying attention. Whether you’re into celeb-written (or ghostwritten) books for yout tots or not, there are plenty of reading-related events coming up. Here are some literary events for the littlest members of your family.

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Children + Animals. It’s always been a long standing love affair. The last time I babysat my co-worker’s daughter I mesmerized her with a lime green dinosaur. Not all NYC-sized apartments are accommodating when it comes to furry friends, but when it comes to decorating or playing, you can start by checking out the Etsy shops of these Manhattan and Brooklyn-based artists.

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It’s summertime. That means beach fever. As a rule, I try to avoid going to the beach on the three summer holidays (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day). It’s just too many people and hotels jack up the prices on holiday weekends and have all sorts of caveats like three-night minimum stay plus the cost of life insurance on your first born. So why not soak up the sun this weekend or the weekend after the Fourth? New York, published a mega-list of beaches, state park and other outdoorsy goodness in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. This past weekend my boyfriend and I spent three days in Point Pleasant Beach, one of the places on the list, and neighboring Bay Head.

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Summer is officially here—well as of June 20th—and that means it’s time for fun and festivities at Coney Island. Sure, it’s open year-round, but there’s just something about the boardwalk and the beach on a June afternoon that beats eating a hot dog on a windy fall day. And this weekend is the Mermaid Parade, my favorite thing about Coney Island besides Nathan’s and the hot dog eating contest each fourth of July. Here’s a list of kid-tastic events, places, and general mayhem.

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Instead, journey up—or down depending on where you’re coming from—to the New York Botanical Garden or the Bronx Zoo. Both are havens for curious tweens, bored teens, and busy parents. Bonus: It will be less than 90 degrees this weekend.

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It goes without saying that some weeks are more hectic than others. Sometimes, entire weekends are packed back-to-back with extracurricular activities, like when you volunteered to pick up your neighbor’s son from softball lessons because their babysitter bailed at the last minute, only to realize that you were supposed to be home for that can’t-miss Time Warner appointment and your in-laws came to visit on less than a week’s notice and informed you they would be staying at your place because, newsflash, hotels in New York are expensive.

Sometimes you just need to know how long a certain event will last before you even think about corralling the kids, packing a few snacks, and embarking on a long subway ride to another neighborhood or borough. So, whether you have a few hours or an entire day, here’s a list of ways to entertain the kids this week.

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Did you know you weigh slightly less with the moon overhead? Or that a piece of paper can be folded no more than seven times?

Science. It may very well be the one subject your children love to hate. That’s why Mayor Bloomberg and dozens, of scientists, journalists, and community leaders are joining together to create the first annual World Science Festival. Once you get past the impressive list of speakers, which contains enough variety to suit every taste, check out the listings of events ranging from today to Sunday.

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Get ready to enjoy a three-day weekend! If you’ve been obsessively checking your calendar like I have, you’ll know that Memorial Day is exactly one week from today. The reason being? I’m taking off Thursday and Friday, making it the longest weekend I’ve ever had. There will be plenty to eat, see, and do in all boroughs all weekend long. Here are some activities guaranteed to entertain every member of the family, from your cousin’s newborn to your mother-in-law.

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Birthday. Party. Those two words can instill fear into the hearts of even the most strong-willed parents. Luckily, there are plenty of places in the city that offer party plans for any budget. Here are a few ideas for various price ranges. If you have any other ideas or favorite birthday locations, feel free to leave them in the comments!

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