In the United States, New Year’s Eve means ball drops, fireworks, and champagne (or sparkling Martinelli’s) toasts. But in different parts of the world, New Year’s celebrations look a little different and might include eating grapes, smashing plates, or even getting tapped with an onion. All fun and easy celebrations you can do with your kids!

Welcome the New Year with these unique, family-friendly traditions from across the globe. And if you’re looking for more fun ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home with kids we’ve got you covered!

Whether you're looking for an enrichment activity to help round out your child's schedule between Zoom classes or need remote learning assistance that includes art classes, Brooklyn families are in luck. Playday, the beloved LIC creative space, has expanded, opening a sprawling new location in Cobble Hill.

Playday dubs itself a "micro-school" and offers a wide range of art classes and creative programming to inspire children's imagination and foster their creativity. It meets the moment with a mission is to "celebrate your child’s individuality by exploring, creating, and activating in a safe, socially distanced environment."

Don’t let a little cold weather keep you cooped up! With many indoor spaces closed right now, it's extra important to find fun new ways to get kids outside. There's a saying: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes." Well, with the right winter gear (and a little ingenuity) there is plenty of fun to be had during even the shortest and coldest days. 

Before a bad case of cabin fever sets in, try one of these 40 outdoor activities that are sure to get the whole family outside and moving. From backyard campfire cooking to outdoor science experiments, these activities help keep kids away from screens and devices and get them fresh air and exercise in these chilly winter months.

A visit to High Point State Park was recommended to my family during a random, chance meeting with a stranger on the street, and it has served as a wonderful day trip destination just a short drive away in Sussex, New Jersey.

With outdoor adventures en vogue, High Point State Park is a great all-seasons destination. Featuring a spring-fed lake, miles of easy hiking trails—including a leg of the Appalachian Trail—and opportunities to fish, camp, picnic, swim, cross-country ski, go for a horseback ride, even dog sled, there are tons of activities for an active family to enjoy.

Read on for more details on the fun activities in this New Jersey state park, which may be worthy of a spot on our list of the best NJ parks and reservations for family-friendly fun.

These trendy hot chocolate bombs are the perfect antidote to cold winter adventures and stay-at-home orders. The sweet treats offer double the fun because crafting hot chocolate bombs at home is an easy baking project that results in one tasty snow day boredom buster.

These popular chocolate concoctions are small chocolate spheres filled with hot cocoa mix that explodes into a steamy, dreamy cup of hot chocolate when hot milk is poured over the top. Read on for our step-by-step recipe for homemade hot chocolate bombs.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza announced sweeping admissions changes for public middle and high schools. Spurred by pandemic-induced limitations, middle schools will put a one-year pause on all screening requirements. High schools are eliminating geographic priorities over the next two years, plus conducting the specialized high school entrance exam at local middle schools, and allowing auditions for selective performing arts schools to be completed online.

In addition to announcing admissions changes, officials detailed the long-delayed application timeline; in a normal year, applications are submitted by the holiday break.

Find plenty more information about the NYC Department of Education, plus after-school classes and distance learning support in our Schools Guide.

Ready or not, Santa Claus is coming to town! For kids who may not have gotten the chance to deliver their letters in person this year, let them call Santa for a big thrill. We've rounded up several ways to call Santa, get Santa to call your kids (or text them), and more Christmas fun, like tracking Santa on the big night.

Want to really blow their minds? There are apps that let you share a photo of Santa handing out presents in your very own living room. Christmastime is already among the most magical seasons for children, but these fun tools take it to the next level. Read on for our favorite ways to check in with Santa before Christmas. Our special gift for you: These special Santa calls and experiences are (mostly) FREE!

For 2020, the elves have taken it a step further with virtual visits with Santa Claus, where kids can interact with the big guy from the safety of home.

Lights are as synonymous with the holidays as trees and trains. From festive holiday window displays to luminous drive-thru installations and dazzling residential displays, lighted artistic creations evoke holiday magic throughout NYC and beyond. In 2020, the New York Botanical Garden has added a brand new spectacular light display, NYBG Glow, to its seasonal calendar.

A long-time seasonal destination for its annual holiday train show, which is limiting attendance to members this year, NYBG Glow is a creative outdoor light exhibition offering holiday cheer and fun for the whole family.

Read on for more details on the inaugural light display, and be sure to peruse our Holiday Fun Guide for more ways to enjoy the season.