Disney's Christmas day film release at El Capitan is quite different from movies of Christmases past; Into the Woods is definitely no Frozen. In some circles, the release is just as big if not bigger than last season's yuletide kinder-blockbuster, but I don't foresee many three-year-olds memorizing these lyrics. The question on many parents' minds, therefore, is what the right age is for kids to see Into the Woods, and the film's PG rating doesn't go very far to answering the question. Anticipation for this film has been huge - Sondheim fans are arguably as loyal as Star Wars fans - but should you bring your kids? There are those who say no, but I'll go with a qualified yes.

Happy New Year!  As 2014 turns into 2015, the best place to be is Pasadena and its environs. There is a unique way to celebrate the historic 126^th annual Tournament of Roses Parade each day this week. 

Of course every family should try to get to the parade at least once, but if you’ve already done it, or crowds aren’t your thing, there are multiple opportunities before and after to see the floats, meet the horses, and enjoy the marching bands. Though perhaps more of a grown up holiday, we also have lots of ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve with the kids; and of course there are many non-parade activities on our event calendar, including a holiday opportunity to check out the Bunny Museum - which also happens to be in Pasadena.

So, you’ve made some family resolutions for the New Year. Perhaps this year you want to get outdoors and be more active with your kids. Or you want your children to get excited about science and technology. Maybe you want to eat healthier foods, be more creative, or encourage intellectual curiosity. Those aspirations sound great, but where to start?

We have some ideas! Read on for activities you can do with your kids on New Year’s Day to jumpstart your family's resolutions. Even if you don’t believe in making resolutions, keep reading for 15 things to do with your family on January 1, 2015.

For those lucky children born between Labor Day and Memorial Day, a summer birthday pool party can often be a foregone conclusion. Kids and water-- what could be better? Fall, winter, and spring children need not despair! Just because summer is over there's no reason to put pool parties behind you. For a small splash of season all year long, consider one of these INDOOR alternatives. Many local fitness centers have for pool party packages that are guaranteed to please. Read on for details on where to throw an indoor pool party no matter the season. 

The holiday season is coming to a close, so whether you went and cut down your own Christmas tree or bought it at the corner deli, it's time to start thinking about how you are going to get rid of it. You want to make sure your tree goes back into the land, not the landfill. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation has a great program for turning your Christmas tree into mulch that's FREE and easy. Even those of us who don't buy Christmas trees appreciate smelling yours as we walk through our city parks, so please recycle your tree. Another option is to leave your tree curbside for pick up by the New York City Department of Sanitation, but there are certain rules you need to follow for your tree to be recycled. Read on to find out how simple it is to recycle your Christmas tree in New York City.

New York City public schools are closed Presidents Day week for midwinter break, and a lot of kids (like ours) are already counting down the days. You could take a mini-vacation, or do a day trip to a nearby ski resort, snow tubing spot or indoor water park. There's just one problem: While the kids get a break, many grown-ups still have to work.

Luckily, lots of NYC spots offer February break camps where kids can pursue all kinds of interests, from athletics to arts to academics. Some programs offer full coverage throughout the week; others are only a few hours a day in case you just want to get the kids out of the house for a bit. And while some of these camps are expensive, we've included lower-priced programs that sound like great deals. One is even free!

I used to celebrate New Year's Eve by staying up into the wee small hours, but now I consider the most indulgent New Year's celebration one that involves getting the kids to bed early--and there's no better way to tire them out than with a little ice skating. There are quite a few rinks across Fairfield County that will be open for public skating New Year's Eve (and if you have little ones not quite ready to hit the ice, bring them to Stepping Stones for a sock skating adventure!)
 

The holiday season is in full swing in NYC. Everywhere you look, there are amazing seasonal sights throughout the five boroughs, not to mention the entire country beyond.

The school break is a great time to enjoy all of those cool holiday experiences you didn't get to earlier. Santa may be gone, but Christmas trees, department store windows, decked out houses and holiday train shows stay up at least until New Year's Day.

Speaking of New Year's, we have roundups of the best ways to ring in 2015 with kids in NYC, on Long Island, in New Jersey, and further afield in Boston. Of course, you don't need to go out to enjoy the spirit of the season. If you're looking for festive, at-home family activities, be sure to check out our WeeWork Guide, which is filled with holiday crafts, recipes and projects.

Here's what else we covered in NYC this week: