Classes

Aug 23 2011

Free and Cheap After-school Classes and Programs for NYC Kids and Teenagers

Things to do with kids: Free and Cheap After-school Classes and Programs for NYC Kids and Teenagers

[UPDATED: August 12, 2012]

Back-to-school season is also back-to-after-school season, as families look for enriching and fun programs for their children.

There are tons of sports, arts, academics and other kinds of classes for New York City kids, many of them reasonably priced. In fact, a handful of high-quality after-school programs are actually free or super inexpensive!

Some places, like the Children's Aid Society and the New York City Parks Department, offer after-school coverage Monday through Friday. Other programs only meet once or twice a week. We've rounded up the organizations that offer these complimentary and cheap classes to kids and teens throughout the five boroughs.

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Aug 22 2011

Two Great Upper West Side Classes for Toddlers: Elliott's Gymnastics and Creative Play for Kids

Things to do with kids: Two Great Upper West Side Classes for Toddlers: Elliott's Gymnastics and Creative Play for Kids

[UPDATED: July 18, 2012]

As September approaches, New York City families are signing up their kids for extracurricular classes. As an Upper West Side mom of a very energetic two-year-old, I've spent countless hours trying out various kids' classes in our neighborhood. We've sampled quite a few, everything from music to gymnastics to art. I call it our "toddler class crawl," and it's been a great way to figure out which programs work for my son without making a major time and financial commitment to a class he ends up hating.

Here's the scoop on how our toddler class crawl came to be, and two Upper West Side tot spots that, in my opinion, stand out from the rest.

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Aug 16 2011

Film Classes for NYC Kids

Things to do with kids: Film Classes for NYC Kids

[UPDATED: August 14, 2012]

These days, kids can make movies using their cell phones (just look at YouTube). But since my older son's really into cinema, I've been researching film classes for kids in New York City.

Although he may not turn out to be the next Scorsese, he can learn lots of interesting skills in these programs. Many of them go way beyond the camera; he'll also get to try his hand at auditioning, storyboarding, editing and maybe even animation (depending on which class he ends up taking).

If nothing else, once he finishes, he can help me go through that hard drive of family footage I've amassed. Here are seven places that offers kids' film classes. And... action!

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Aug 2 2011

Cool Mommy and Me Exercise Classes in NYC

Things to do with kids: Cool Mommy and Me Exercise Classes in NYC

[UPDATED: July 18, 2012]

A few years ago, I never imagined that I'd become the kind of person who plans an entire day around my exercise class. I thought only old ladies and fitness nuts did that.

Not anymore. These days, I'm all over my Thursday morning Mommy & Me class. It's a great workout, and a lot of fun for me and my son. It really jump-starts our day.

We'e written about Mommy and Me swim classes and stroller workouts before, but there are other ways you can get back in shape while bonding with your baby. Local YMCAs, gyms and other outlets now also offer parent and baby yoga classes, Pilates and, my class of choice, aerobics.

Not all Mommy and Me classes are the same, though. We're got the scoop on the differences, as well as a roundup of other parent and baby exercise options in NYC.

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Jul 25 2011

Rubin Museum of Art: Learn About the Art of the Himalayas at Its Education Center

Things to do with kids: Rubin Museum of Art: Learn About the Art of the Himalayas at Its Education Center

[UPDATED: August 17, 2012]

As New York City museums go, the Rubin Museum of Art is just a baby, but it's definitely growing fast. The only museum in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to the art of the Himalayas (Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, China and many other Far East countries and cultures), its collection is varied and vast—there are countless figures of deities, shrines, instruments, textiles and more—and the institution as a whole is surprisingly family-friendly.

We wrote about the Rubin back in 2004, but so much has changed since then, we revisited the museum as well as this post. Not only is there an impressive slate of programming for kids, including drop-in workshops and festivals, the Rubin opened an education center in the summer of 2011, which accommodates children and adults.

Next door to the museum, the two-floor center features circular stairs that mirror the main space's dramatic spiral staircase. It's a lovely addition with large classrooms and a performance area, cute cubbyholes for backpacks, and colorful kid-made art interspersed with items from the museum's collection.

The Rubin is a wonderful destination on any day: The artifacts are stunning and easy for kids to digest (a solid gold statue of a deity doesn't need to be put in context; it's just cool), and there's a cafe with delicious eats. Happily though, there are kids' activities almost every day. Here's what's going on at the Rubin for families this season.

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