Fancy is, in no way, a pre-requisite for a fun family picnic. But there’s something to say for a gourmet spread in a lovely outdoor setting. For inspiration, we asked some of New York’s top food-minded moms to share with us their thoughts on the ideal picnic.

Instilling good social skills might seem a lost cause on a two-year-old. But it’s a case of sooner the better, according to Faye Rogaski, founder of Socialsklz, which offers manners and etiquette workshops for kids and teens in New York. When it comes to play date etiquette, Rogaski says the best bet is to get kids involved in the planning aspect of the play date, teach them what’s expected before hand, and reinforce the concepts with good old-fashioned practice. Here, her top tips for successful play date manners.

Playground sprinklers open citywide just after Memorial Day. Time to stock up on safe-but-cute water shoes. Crocs seem to divide parents into two camps: lovers and loathers (the former should take note that a new Crocs store is opening soon, on the corner of Spring and Wooster Streets, in Soho). For the loathers, we sought out some great alternatives.

The parenting apps just keep on comin’. The latest is BlueleoGuide, an at-your-fingertips directory of every imaginable children’s resource in the five boroughs. (Think Yelp, but organized for the needs and wants of parents.)