Governor Andrew Cuomo cleared New York's public schools to reopen this fall for in-person classes if they choose given the state's current "low viral infection rate." New York's more than 700 school districts were expected to submit reopening plans to the state by now but were awaiting the governor's final decision on in-person learning. 

"If any state can do this, we can do this," said Cuomo on Friday, August 7, 2020. "New Yorkers will decide how they want to do it, school district by school district."

A number of New York school districts also released tentative 2020-2021 school reopening plans to their communities while they awaited the state decision, including New York City, the country’s largest school district. NYC is offering a hybrid schooling model, or a full remote option, to the city’s 1.1 million students.

Before long, we'll be singing the back-to-school blues, but in the meantime, NYC parents are staring down a few more weeks of unstructured time with kids who—like their parents—are tired of being cooped up. We know the struggle and have rounded up 50 summer activities in NYC for kids that are sure to take the edge off a little.

Though many of our favorite summer haunts (like industrially cooled museums!) are still dark, we've managed to find plenty of things to do in NYC with kids this summer. From fun, at-home summer activities for those rainy days, to plenty of action in our favorite playgrounds, and enjoying the sand and surf on our newly reopened seashores, here are 50 summer activities in NYC. Find more seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide for NYC Kids.

Whether your kids are returning to the classroom, distance learning, or following a hybrid model, back-to-school shopping looks a little different this year, including stocking up on school supplies. If you're still waiting for your school to send out an official school supply list, or just want to know how to set up the homeschool, we've put together a shortlist of essentials for the 2021-2022 school year.

Whatever your school plan is for this year, this list has all your bases covered. From face masks to at-home school supplies and organizational tools, we’ve rounded up all the things needed to have a happy and healthy school year. Find more ideas in our Back-to-School Guide.

This summer is unusual for sure, but there are still plenty of fun things to do in Boston before kids are back at their desks (or Zoom rooms). From a magical, lantern-lit nights at the zoo to free museum days, these end-of-summer activities will keep kids entertained, with safety and social distancing in mind.

Our Boston summer fun guide has even more ideas for making the most of the shortest, but sweetest, season of the year. 

With its in-person programming still on hold, one of the world’s leading children’s choirs has moved its music lessons online! Yes, the world-renowned National Children's Chorus Academy recently launched a virtual conservatory for students as young as five through the college level—and auditions are open now. No longer limited to local chapters in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, NCC is now bringing in-depth training to young singers across the U.S. through live virtual instruction in small groups from some of the country's leading music educators.

Life is better at the lake, right? A summer getaway to a nearby swimming lake can be as relaxing or thrilling as you make it. Whether you nap on the shaded porch of a lakeside cabin rental or bounce over tranquil waters on jet skis, a lakes vacation is a great way to spend family time while slowing down a few days of summer.

We've put together our top 10 lakes near Northeast destinations, from the Pennsylvania Poconos to tranquil New England. Get ready for some incredible scenery, happy hiking, quaint towns, and plenty of adventure on the water.

Worried about the safety of in-person school? Concerned about the quality of your school's distance learning plan? A well-established online school may be the answer for some parents on the hunt for school alternatives in fall 2020.

Online schools have long existed to serve kids who need them (due to health issues, extended travel, or athletics or performing arts schedules), but are now poised to serve families who want something different than what their local school is planning for 2020. The following online schools have a track record of providing full-time, comprehensive curriculums for students in grades K through 12, and are currently registering kids who'd learn best in the safety and comfort of their own homes in these uncertain times. Certainly, many carry a price tag that make some of these an option for families of some privilege, but we've also included free online school resources and more moderately priced options, too.

As you weigh your options for school in the fall, check out these CDC guidelines for school openings and our picks for great education workbooks and free online learning resources. Find ongoing online learning and virtual activities for kids on Poppins@Home, too.

Transform milk into plastic with this cool science trick! Environmentally conscious kids will be amazed that you don't need to use harsh chemicals to make plastic in this science experiment. Plus, the resulting casein polymer creation can be dressed up with paint and glitter, turning it into a bonus craft project for kids.

One of our 64 Easy Experiments for Kids, this cool experiment can be completed by kids of various ages and makes use of common household items that you might already have in your pantry. (Cheers for skipping that extra trip to the store.) Read on for a great way to engage kids—and sneak in a science lesson at the same time.