New York City has pushed back the start date for its public school children to Wednesday, September 16, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. The move is part of an agreement between the city and the UFT, which had long been pushing for enhanced safety protocols before schools reopened, even threatening legal action and laying the groundwork for a strike if its safety concerns weren't addressed. 

In-person instruction will not begin until Monday, September 21, meaning all students will start with remote learning.

Ziplining is about as socially distanced as an activity can get. If you're raising a kid who loves a good rush of adrenaline, maybe it's time for a family outing in the treetops. Ziplining is a thrilling, exciting, and safe activity that is great for adventurous kids—and their daring parents. We've pulled together several zipline locations that make great day trips or weekend trips from LA; the following treetop tours are currently operating unless otherwise noted.

Haunted houses are a Halloween tradition for all the thrill-seekers out there, but the idea of big groups moving through tight spaces naturally raises social distancing concerns. Enter: Haunted Drive. A drive-through Halloween scarefest in Splendora, Haunted Drive gives visitors the opportunity to get their screams in while keeping a responsible distance from others.

Read on for the scoop on what Haunted Drive is adding this year to make the spooky drive-thru experience bigger, better, and safer than ever before. For more thrills and chills, check out these other Houston-area haunted houses as they consider 2020 opening plans, too.

Is Halloween saved? Even as Disney, Universal, and others cancel Halloween events due to coronavirus concerns, new spooky—and contactless—Orlando Halloween fun is popping up for 2020. Two new Halloween drive-thrus are opening near Orlando in late September, and we've got all the details.

This new type of socially-distanced haunting fun might just help to keep the Halloween spirit alive for Central Floridians. Dare to drive into a world of twisted fairy tales at the Haunted Road Drive-thru in Orlando, while the new Scream n' Stream in Kissimmee offers a younger kid drive-thru trick-or-treat trail or a chilling immersive horror movie experience in a haunted house for the teens and up. Read on for more details on the new Halloween attractions coming to the Orlando area.

One of the sweetest parts of summer is an outing to a local ice cream shop. Whether you're cooling down with a shake or lounging on a bench and licking a cone, these frozen treats hard to pass up.

Westchester has its fair share of independent ice cream parlors. We've rounded up 18 of our favorites below so that families can get in their "last licks" of the summer. Whether you prefer to keep things simple with traditional treats or get excited about inventive confections like donut ice-cream sandwiches, we've got the goods.

Pennsylvania is filled with amazing state parks to explore. In fact, there are over 300,000 acres of land managed by Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Nature Resources that offer everything from horseback riding and fishing to biking and overnight camping. By far, the most popular activity is hiking. Some hikes consist of short loops that are less than a mile while other trails are extensive and challenging.

If your family is looking for a PA state park to hike, check out our top 10 list below. Whether you want to see beautiful scenery, search for wildlife, or get some exercise, the list does not disappoint. Included in the descriptions are additional activities available at each park.

Looking for even more outdoor activities? Browse through our Parks & Playgrounds Guide, nearby camping, and tubing and water rafting options for additional fun things to do with Philly kids. 

Toddlers and young children are notorious for getting into everything, especially with their hands. They grab, lunge, and just generally stick their hands into whatever you don't want them to, right? That's one of the reasons I love creating sensory bins for toddlers. It's a nice way to redirect all that crazy toddler energy into something totally fun and (mostly) contained.

Besides, it's a great way for little kids to learn, by actually touching and experiencing something. I've gathered up 10 sensory bin ideas that parents can easily create at home using basic household items. Some employ water, others use soft things or even items that make a sound. Once you discover which sensory bin most appeals to your kid, you might also just have discovered some new free time and a little independent playtime for your youngster.

For more tips on dealing with sensory issues, see our posts on 99 Sensory Activities for Toddlers, Infants, and Kids of All Ages, DIY Sensory Activities for Babies, and Sensory Savvy Snacks for Kids.

Back to School doesn't sound nearly so bad when the way you get there is by careening through a wall at Platform 9 3/4, pushing a trunk and an owl.

If your kids are feeling wary about starting the new school year remotely (or in person wearing masks), it might help to join Harry Potter and the gang on their first ever virtual back-to-school trip to Hogwarts. After all, who knows better than Harry, Ron, and Hermione what it feels like to be a little scared of danger and the unknown in a new school year?