Whether you are looking for a low-key petting zoo near you or a more exotic experience with wild animals, there's no shortage of places on Long Island where children can interact with nature's noble creatures. If they want to, Long Island kids can do everything from feed a giraffe to visit an alpaca and even ride a safari train.

Be sure to check our directory of zoos and gardens on Long Island, and peruse our Pick-Your-Own Guide for more local farm fun. Many outdoor petting zoos operate on a seasonal schedule, opening in spring or summer, and closing in fall before the snow arrives.

Legoland New York is set to open for its second season on Friday, April 8, and we had so much fun visiting the mega theme park last season, we just can't wait for a full season of fun. Here are five things we're looking forward to at Legoland New York in 2022.

Find more local theme park fun in our Guide to Theme Parks and Water Parks.

All kids can be affected by sensory processing issues, where certain situations and feelings just become overwhelming. Exposing kids to a variety of sensory activities in a calm, playful manner can alleviate some of these problems.

In that spirit, we've put together this list of 99 sensory activities for toddlers and babies up through big kids; in fact, they're even helpful for adults. My kids' school's occupational therapist once gave a seminar to parents on sensory balance and activities for maintaining a sensory-savvy schedule. I now realize my engine tends to run too low and I need to work harder at energizing myself throughout the day. I have incorporated some of these activities to keep my own energy up.

For more tips and sensory activities for kids of all ages, see our posts on Sensory Bin Ideas for Busy Toddlers, DIY Sensory Activities for Babies, and Sensory Savvy Snacks for Kids.

Among one of the top things to do with kids in New Haven, Connecticut is a visit to the Yale University art gallery. Right on the corner of York and Chapel streets, you’ll find a collection of more than 200,000 works of art, including Picassos, Van Goghs, and Monets, definitely in our list of the best museums. The best part, Yale offers a number of family-friendly guides and programs inviting you and your children of any age. to enjoy and learn about art. 

Siblings can often seem like they're on an emotional roller coaster—best of friends one minute and at each other's throats the next. But no matter how much they may argue and fight, siblings also share a bond like no other. On National Siblings Day 2022, kids can celebrate that bond in some fun and special ways.

Each year, National Siblings Day is celebrated on April 10. National Siblings Day 2022 happens to fall on a weekend (a Sunday), so that means there's even more time to have fun! Though it may not rank up there with Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, or Halloween, your kiddos will surely enjoy showing each other how much they mean to each other.

Here are 10 fun ways for kids to celebrate National Siblings Day on April 10, 2022.

Spring has sprung in NYC. The daffodils are blooming, and it’s about time to soak in the beauty of the gorgeous cherry blossoms. It's also time to celebrate the return of the New York Restoration Project's (NYRP) popular FREE tree giveaway program. This year, 2,000 native species trees will be distributed to local NYC residents and the best part is, they're all FREE!

After a 2-year pandemic-induced pause, NYRP has reinstated its tree giveaway program and is distributing FREE trees across all five NYC boroughs. Read on for details on these green giveaways and learn how to complete the required registration to get your own arbor. Find more ideas for a greener planet in our new Earth Kids Guide.

Summer unofficially starts at the Jersey Shore over Memorial Day weekend. That’s when the traffic and beach fees start, not to mention the parking headaches. If you're hoping to avoid that, take note: Springtime at the Jersey Shore is a real treat. Visitors are spared those hassles. So, whether you're searching for something to do on spring break or just a lovely spring weekend, take a ride down the Garden State Parkway or along Route 34 to check out one or more of these Jersey Shore treasures that are ripe for a spring day trip.

Be sure to bookmark our Jersey Shore Family Guide for all-season fun down on the Shore.

New York City has opened applications for its Summer STEM Matters NYC program, which includes FREE STEAM summer camps for elementary school students and hands-on internships and classes for high schoolers. Don't delay: Applications for all programs are due Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The popular annual summer day camps are available to NYC kids entering kindergarten through ninth grade in September. Students entering grades 10-12 can apply for STEM courses and internships.

The programs occur at more than a dozen popular NYC institutions known for STEAM programming, including popular family-friendly spots like the Bronx Zoo, the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, the Queens Botanical Garden, and more museums, gardens, zoos, and maker spaces. Public, charter, and home school students in NYC may all apply.

Read on for all the details on the STEM Matters NYC program. Find more summer camps in New York City, including our picks for free and affordable summer camps, in our Summer Camp Guide and Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.