Crown Heights Kids Neighborhood Guide

Originally developed in the early 20th century as an upscale residential neighborhood before it fell on hard times, Crown Heights, Brooklyn is in the midst of a revival. It's no surprise really. The area boasts top cultural institutions like the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Children's Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; the northeastern section of Prospect Park, which includes the zoo; and lots of lovely buildings, especially near its main thoroughfare, Eastern Parkway (which, like Prospect Park, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux).

While Crown Heights was emblematic of New York City's racial tensions in the '60s through '90s, today its diversity is one of the things attracting new residents. Though the neighborhood is still primarily made up of Afro-Caribbeans and Hasidic Jews, families of all ethnic backgrounds are moving into townhouses and joining the active Crown Heights Parents Yahoo Group, new shops and restaurants are opening up, and local organizations are working hard to keep everyone happy. Stark contrasts remain, with pretty rows of historic houses giving way to vacant tenements on some blocks. But overall it's a vibrant area, especially around Labor Day weekend when Crown Heights hosts one of the biggest and most colorful festivals in the city: The West Indian Labor Day Carnival and Parade, which celebrates Caribbean culture with incredible costumes, performances and two processions, one for adults, the other specifically for children.

Throughout May, we'll be taking an in-depth look at everything Crown Heights has to offer families, including our favorite spots to eat, play and experience. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are Washington to Howard Avenues, between Atlantic Avenue and Empire Boulevard (which transforms into East New York Avenue at Utica Avenue). Today we kick off our coverage with our top 25 things to do with kids in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy the Jewish Children's Museum. Although much less famous than that other Brooklyn Children's Museum (which happens to be located just a short walk away), the Jewish Children's Museum is the biggest institution of its kind in the U.S., and opened back in 2004. And yet my family and I had never been, a real shame (or shonda as we say in Yiddish).

Last month my kids and I finally made it to the museum and it was well worth the schlep. We originally intended to stay only an hour or so, but ended up spending almost four hours, there was just so much to see, do and try—including an indoor mini-golf course. Like a traditional children's museum, the displays are interactive and educational, the notable difference being that they all relate to Jewish history and culture in some way. And while there are certainly other places where you can learn about Jewish culture in NYC, the Jewish Children's Museum is the only spot that engages kids in such a fun, hands-on way.

Funky new play spaces always seem to be opening in NYC, but It Takes a Village really stands out from the rest. At first glance, it looks fairly ordinary: A bright playroom chock-full of toys for preschoolers and tots, with a backyard. However, what sets it apart from other play spaces isn't its facility but its membership structure.

Unlike many commercial play spaces that charge pricey monthly or annual fees, It Takes a Village is a nonprofit organization where its members collectively pay its expenses, including rent, and are directly involved in its upkeep, helping to clean and stock necessary supplies. Consequently, the spot feels really homey and casual, like a living room away from home. And since It Takes a Village is located on the cusp of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights, it brings families from different areas together. A visit here feels like a big community playdate.