Setting The Stage: Winter/Spring Arts Classes Now Enrolling At The Marcia P. Hoffman School Of The Arts
Discover all about the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts Winter Classes, beginning January 10, 2026 at Ruth Eckerd Hall!
Blog
Encouraging Wonder: What Happens When Preschoolers Ask Why
It happens almost overnight. You blink, and your baby suddenly has become a walking, talking little person with an intense desire to know things. The word “why” probably falls from their mouths at least a few times a day. Like most parents, you provide them with an answer. Sure, it might be a really good…
An E-Scooter Emergency: Cooper’s Story
It was a call no parent wants to receive. When John’s phone rang, his son, 14-year-old Cooper, was out riding his e-scooter. “I heard moaning on the phone, then the call dropped,” John recalls. “I turned around immediately and headed to where he was supposed to be.” He found Cooper badly injured after a fall…
The Not-So-Scary Facts About the Flu Vaccine
Halloween costume ordered? Check. Candy purchased? Check. Pumpkins carved? Check. Flu shot scheduled? Wait…flu shot? That’s what Dr. Marcy Solomon Baker, pediatric medical director for BayCare Medical Group, advises parents: By Halloween, make sure you’ve got your flu shot. Why? Because it takes about two weeks for the flu shot to become fully effective, and…
Opening New Chapters: New Worlds Reading Brings Free Books and Joy to Young Florida Readers
New Worlds Reading helps Florida children develop strong reading habits by delivering free books and activities to their homes. The program supports VPK through fifth-grade students in Florida public and charter schools who are not yet reading on grade level. Each month during the school year, enrolled children receive a free book and fun literacy…
The Art of Negotiation: High School Students Learn Essential Life Skills
Whether you are a teen asking your parents for an extended curfew or a seasoned professional closing a big business deal, the art of negotiation is a critical life skill that is not typically included in the average high school curriculum. At Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, students had the chance to dive into…
Celebrate the Holidays with Tampa’s Pirate Ship: The Lost Pearl
Tampa Bay has no shortage of holiday magic, but this season, one of the most unique ways to celebrate is by setting sail aboard Tampa’s only pirate ship, the Lost Pearl.
Tampa YMCA and the Tampa Bay Lightning Take Hockey from the Ice to the YMCA
Fall at the Tampa YMCA means the return of everyone’s favorite youth sports. From soccer and basketball to dance, flag football and more, our programs keep kids active, learning and having fun in a safe, supportive environment. Families across Tampa Bay look forward to this season as children build confidence, develop new skills and form…
Festive and Fun Lunchbox Ideas for October with @lunchboxmafia
Jenny P of @lunchboxmafia is dishing on some festive and fun lunchbox ideas for the kids and even adults!
Meet the 2025 Recipients of Hillsborough County’s Anti-Bullying Award
Get to know Tampa Bay’s Bully Busters: Hillsborough County students who go above and beyond to fight bullying in our community.
Halloween For Tweens and Teens: Teen-Approved Frights and Fun
Marisa Langford is sharing fun, safe and most importantly TEEN-APPROVED options for Halloween for teens and tweens in Tampa Bay.
Sensory-friendly Halloween Events in Tampa Bay
Halloween is a great holiday for kids to dress up, get LOADS of candy, visit a pumpkin patch, and carve it! For families with neurodivergent or sensory needs, many traditional Halloween celebrations and experiences can be intense and overwhelming. No one wants their child to miss out on a great holiday, so we’re lending a…
INSIDE LOOK: Galacticoaster, a New Space-Themed Ride to Launch at LEGOLAND® Florida in 2026
We’re sharing the details on LEGOLAND® Florida Resort’s groundbreaking all-new indoor roller coaster, Galacticoaster, to immerse us in a LEGO® galaxy in 2026!
Book-o-Ween Costumes for the Books! Easy DIY Costumes Inspired by Your Child’s Favorite Books
Karimah Henry of @CraftingaFunLife is sharing easy DIY Book-o-Ween costumes to make based on your child’s favorite books!
A Parent’s Guide to Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida 2025
We’re dishing on all the details about Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida to help you map out your family’s adventure this Halloween season!
Calling all pint-sized Bucs Fans: You can join the Jr. Bucs Fan Club today!
Kids can join the Jr Bucs Fan Club today and receive a super cool welcome kit, member perks, special event invites, and more!
A Parent’s Guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will be back for 2025! We’re sharing what we know so far!
Where to Eat Breakfast With Santa In Tampa Bay
Breakfast with Santa is a great way to let your kids see the big guy up close and personal. Fill the season with holiday cheer with one of these great breakfast with Santa options! As we are still a decent way away from the holiday season, many events haven’t been announced yet. Bookmark this page…
Scary Good: Our Team Shares Their Favorite DIY Halloween Costumes
Our team here at Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine share their favorite DIY Halloween costumes to spark some ghoulishly good ideas this Halloween!
INSIDE LOOK: Kandy’s Sweetacular at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Join us as we take you for a look at what to expect at this SWEET event for families that includes trick-or-treating, fun activities, and more!
Yes, you CAN cut down your own Florida Christmas Tree at Ergle Tree Farm!
Discover this adorable tree farm in Dade City where you can cut down your own Florida Christmas tree this holiday season, or shop for a pre-cut tree from North Carolina!
Target’s Car Seat Trade-In Program Returns Sept. 21-Oct. 4, 2025!
Target’s popular car seat trade-in program is returning September 21 through October 4, 2025.
10 Awesome Kennedy Space Center Facts to Share on Your Next Visit or Field Trip!
Check out the top ten secrets of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex from a former space reporter and current dad.
INSIDE LOOK: What to expect at Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 2025
Howl-O-Scream returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on September 5, 2025 and we’re dishing on all the details to help you plan a night of fright!
7+ Spookiest Haunted Houses Around Tampa Bay!
Halloween is on the horizon! What better way to get into the spooky spirit than to experience a haunted house?
The Most Adorable Places to Celebrate Christmas on the Farm in Tampa Bay
From single-day special events to family-friendly holiday events on the farms on weekends, there will be so much to explore and experience this year! Since we are still awaiting details for many of the holiday events this year, be sure to bookmark this page and revisit us. We will continue to update this post as…
Where to Celebrate Free Museum Day in Tampa Bay
Free Museum Day is on September 20, 2025! Check out the participating museums around Tampa Bay where you can take advantage of free admission.
Smiling Through It All: The Joyful Legacy of Dr. Michael McIlwain
Remembering the joyful legacy of Dr. Michael Mcilwain and what he meant to his patients and the Tampa Bay community.
Planning An Epic Family Night Out at the Disney Descendants/Zombies Tour in Tampa Bay
What to expect from the Disney Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour in Tampa, including songs, cast appearances, VIP upgrades, and more!
Kids Get in Free this Month at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering FREE, one-day admission to kids ages 3 – 11 during the month of September in celebration of “Future Voyagers Month”.
- MOSI | Museums | Things to Do
Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine to debut September 6 at MOSI
Can a machine think like you? Learn like you? Starting September 6, visitors at MOSI can find out in a brand-new way with the opening of Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine, a hands-on exhibit that makes the world of AI exciting, accessible, and unforgettable.
Savor the Season: Dine-In Spots for Christmas Brunch
You’ve got a lot on your plate during the holidays, so we’ve compiled the best list of places for Christmas brunch!
Tampa Bay’s BEST Restaurants for Christmas Dinner, Including To-Go Options!
The Best Christmas Dinner Spots in Tampa Bay – from Sit Down Restaurants to Amazing To Go Christmas Meals!
Where to find the most DAZZLING Christmas lights in Tampa Bay
Christmas Lights are starting to Sparkle in Tampa Bay! Get into the Holiday Spirit with a stroll or drive by these beautiful Christmas lights!
Celebrating National Walk To School Day
National Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 8th, and this year will mark Tampa Bay’s biggest and best celebration in history!
A Hub of Wellness and Growth: An Inside Look at Hillsborough County Children’s Board Family Resource Centers
An Inside Look at Hillsborough County Children’s Board Family Resource Center and how they promote healthy child development.
The BEST Things to Do with Kids at EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays
From the best eats to the best storytellers, here are the best things to do with kids at EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays 2023.
AHOY! Let’s board a Pirate’s Christmas Cruise on the Lost Pearl!
Come aboard with us as we share our adventure on The Lost Pearl’s ‘A Pirate’s Christmas Cruise’ in Downtown Tampa!
Rooted in Learning: Local Farm Helping to Grow Young Minds at Corbett Prep
The Lawrance family teaches life lessons to students at Corbett Preparatory School of IDS in Tampa through a new raised-bed garden system.
Tampa Bay Boy Inspires Book Series
Meet the local 6-year-old boy who became the inspiration for the book “A Boy with Blue Dino Glasses.”
INSIDE LOOK: YA BY THE BAY’s Story Warrior Festival
Meet Goosebumps legend R.L. Stine, meet bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson, and more YA BY THE BAY: Story Warrior Festival.
7 Easy Meatless Dinners for Busy School Nights
Work smarter, not harder with these easy meatless dinners that you can whip up between carpool runs.
Discover the Life Lessons Through Fall Sports at the Y
Fall is the perfect time to get your kids moving, learning and having fun through YMCA fall sports.
Moms to Know: LOL with the Mom Group Chat Podcast
Get to know Candace Donnelly and Whitney Williams, co-hosts of the popular parenting podcast, Mom Group Chat.
Innovative Tech Resources for Children at Your Public Library
Check out the Hillsborough County Public Library’s collection of hands-on kids’ tech for fostering curiosity and igniting a passion for learning in children.
The Play List: Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St. Pete
Check out why Great Explorations children’s museum in St. Petersburg is the perfect place to unleash your toddler’s imagination and creativity!
Kids to Know: Miller and Linden Brown
Triathlon siblings, Miller and Linden Brown, are making waves in Tampa Bay and sharing advice for other kids who dream of crossing the finish line.
Teacher to Know: Madeline Olivera- 5th-grade teacher at Corbett Preparatory School of IDS
Teaching is a calling, and for Madeline Olivera, a fifth-grade math teacher at Corbett Prep in Tampa, it was a lifelong dream to share her love of learning with a new generation of students. Olivera gets to share this love of education at one of the most unique schools in the Tampa Bay Area, where…
Carson’s Journey: Positivity, Purpose, and the Power of Giving
Sixteen-year-old Carson Scoville is strong. Despite two cancer diagnoses, countless treatments and a recent genetic finding that increases his risk for developing cancer, he stays positive. This summer, Carson learned he has Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a rare inherited condition caused by mutations in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital pediatric hematologist-oncologist…
Backpack Safety 101 for Parents: Keeping Your Child’s Back Healthy and Strong
Check out this quick at-home backpack safety check for parents from the experts at After Hour Pediatrics to help support growing bodies.
Aliyah is Cured of Sickle Cell Disease at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Discover how doctors at Johns Hopkins All Children’s were able to cure a patient born with sickle cell disease thanks to her bone marrow donor.
Glazer Children’s Museum Celebrates 15 Years of Play with $15 Admission in September!
This month, the Glazer Children’s Museum is marking a milestone: 15 Years of Play! To celebrate, Florida residents can enjoy $15 admission all September long.
Take a SAFE Seat: Car Seat Safety Tips for our Tiniest Passengers
Among the bottle warmers, sleep technology and adorable crib bedding that you might be putting on your baby registry, there is one thing that is so important that you cannot go home from the hospital without it: your baby’s car seat. In terms of safety, comfort and peace of mind, it may be the most…
Back to School—For the Littlest Learners: Help Your Child Learn and Grow
The Juvenile Welfare Board is sharing science-based tips to help your baby learn and grow during its first transformative 1,000 days.
Play More for Less This Fall at the Tampa YMCA
The YMCA is sharing everything parents need to know about YMCA membership benefits and how the Y works for the entire household.
The BEST Things to Do Labor Day Weekend in Tampa Bay
Our team of local parents has curated this list of awesome things to do Labor Day weekend in Tampa Bay with the kids!
Behind the Scenes: Creating the Magic of Jock Lindsey’s Halloween at Disney Springs
Step behind the scenes of Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs to see how chefs, designers, and Disney teams created its first-ever Halloween transformation with festive food, décor, and vintage tunes.
NEW and Tasty fun at the 2025 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
Take the kids on a culinary adventure around the world at EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival where you can taste and play all day!
Explore Arts Education Classes This Fall At The Marcia P. Hoffman School Of The Arts At Ruth Eckerd Hall!
Discover exciting arts education classes offered this Fall at the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts at Ruth Eckerd Hall for students ages 5 and up!
Leading the Way: A Vision for Excellence in Hillsborough County Public Schools
Learn how Van Ayres is shaping excellence in Hillsborough County Public Schools with a focus on growth and goals.
