Once upon a time, in our pre-COVID lives, there was something special about heading to the local movie theater, grabbing movie snacks, and crowding into a theater to watch a new movie. Well, a visit to a crowded theater isn't happening right now, but a Netflix Party is actually a pretty great substitute. Hosting a Netflix Party is the next best thing to going to the theater, and you can host a watch party (on any platform, not just Netflix) with friends living across the street or family living across the country—or even on the other side of the world!

Here are some helpful tips on how to get started hosting your very own Netflix watch party. Make sure you check out our 50 Best Kids’ Movies for Family Movie Night to pick a flick you all can agree on. 

There are plenty of places that offer parent-child swim lessons for babies and toddlers in Boston, but that format doesn't work for all families. In some cases, parents aren't keen on the idea of getting in the pool themselves; in others, kids respond better to instructors when parents aren't around. Fewer places offer lessons for under-3-year-olds without a caregiver in the pool to participate, but some that do are highly rated by parents. Here are a few Boston-area swim schools that are open and accepting students now, with certain COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

Peruse our Boston classes guide for more enrichment ideas for your Boston baby and toddler, including music, soccer, and more.

Bowling is one of those activities that provides hours of fun for all-ages, and luckily, Long Island has no shortage of family-friendly bowling alleys.

We’ve put together this list of the best bowling alleys for Long Island families, so you can find one no matter where you live. From bumpers and ramps for toddlers to glow-in-the-dark game nights for tweens and teens, each venue offers a little something extra. Most offer specials during school breaks and some have after-school youth bowling leagues, too.

Read on for 15+ family-friendly bowling alleys nearby, and find more fun family outings in our Guide to Indoor Fun and on our always-updated Event Calendar.

If a stroll to the neighborhood park is not enough to stretch your limbs, pack that stroller and head for a trail—but make sure it's one that accommodates said stroller. Backpacking parents can enjoy our suggestions for traditional kid-friendly hikes; back-aching parents should read on to see nine suggestions for LA hikes with plenty of room for strollers to stride. From stroller-friendly hikes past waterfalls to hilly hikes with ocean views, there are stroller hikes here for every family.

For more hiking suggestions, be sure to check out our family hiking guide.

As your child begins to notice the first signs of a wiggly tooth, you may start asking yourself a lot of questions about how to be the Tooth Fairy. What does the Tooth Fairy pay these days? Does she leave something besides money? Does the Tooth Fairy take the teeth with her?

From tooth fairy letters to tooth fairy pillows to glitter money and more, we've rounded up some truly creative and fun tooth fairy ideas and traditions that provide inspiration for creating a little tooth fairy magic in your own home. Plus, we'll tell you what the average kid seems to be collecting for those pearly whites...

A family bowling outing is a classic go-to activity no matter the season. Nowadays, bowling alleys have become flashy, multi-faceted venues with added attractions like arcades, rides—even ax-throwing.

Read on for 10+ family-friendly bowling alleys in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and find more family fun at these indoor play spaces and in our Indoor Fun Guide.

My family and I recently took a trip to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for my son’s 10^th birthday.  As part of the trip we got to check out the new multistory play experience, Planet Play, which opened January 1.

Designed for ages 2-12, this indoor attraction includes interactive replicas of the planets in our solar system. Kids can slide down an asteroid field, walk on Saturn’s rings, race rovers on Mars, and more. Here's what you need to know about this new play experience.

Planning to visit Kennedy Space Center?  Make a fun family weekend out of it by staying at one of these nearby Florida beach communities.

New York families can finally start looking forward to a more "normal" summer thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo's announcement this week that summer day camps and sleepaway camps can begin making plans to reopen. Another boon to families: Indoor family entertainment centers and outdoor amusement parks have also been given the green light to reopen.

Read on for details on these newest reopening plans, and be sure to bookmark our list of what's open now in NYC for kids to keep up on all the developments as they happen.