Stores that Offer Free and Cheap Classes for NJ Kids

Home Depot hosts free Kid Workshops on the first Saturday of every month.

Extracurricular activities create enriching experiences for kids, but they can also take a toll on your wallet. The good news is that several stores throughout New Jersey offer free—and nearly free—kids' classes that allow you to save money while developing your family’s interests. These low- or no-cost classes, crafts, storytimes, and other activities are great ways to fill in schedule gaps without busting your budget.​

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Balto, Baseball Card Show, Open Boat

Catch a showing of Balto at the Jacob Burns Film Center on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

There are tons of great events for Westchester and Hudson Valley families happening on this January weekend. We've identified happenings that focus on an assortment of topics like sports, animals, history, film, and even American Girl dolls.

For starters, browse the collectibles at the return of the three-day Baseball Card Show. Show your kids how food was made before the advent of the microwave (shocking!) when they learn how to make Bread and Butter in old-school style. In a similar vein, get a glimpse of a servant's life in a 79-room historic mansion à la "Downton Abbey" at A Life in Service Service Tour. More indoor fun can be had creating fashion for an American Girl doll. And if your kids are prone to steering the conversation toward the subject of poop, Scat! gives the topic acceptability, as animal leave-behinds are explored through a naturalist's eye. 

There's more! Check out our hot-off-the-press roundup of 50 winter activities for kids (some of which should be booked early) and our Event Calendar to plan your entire weekend—and beyond!

Giant Seesaws Invade Two NYC Neighborhoods

 As visitors put Impulse's giant seesaws into motion, they radiate light and emit musical elements. Photo by Alexandre Ayer

It's no secret New York City is our favorite playground. Always on the hunt for a cool place to play, we were thrilled to visit Impulse, a public art installation that brings giant seesaws to the Garment District and to hear about a second similar installation entitled Wave-Field at the South Street Seaport.

These innovative installations give New Yorkers young and old a pair of unexpected new playgrounds in the heart of the city. Read on for details and plan your outing whether you live uptown or downtown. But hurry: Both displays are here for a limited run.

10 Free Things To Do in Brooklyn When it's Freezing

It's hard to leave CAMP empty handed.  Photo by Ros Muggeridge

The nights are long and the weather outside is frightful during the NYC winter—but little ones always have energy to burn. If the temperature is too cold for the playground, and you've already run through your usual list of playdate buddies and indoor boredom busters, take heart: We've compiled a list of 10 FREE ways to have fun in Brooklyn, even when it's freezing. 

Ready to venture out to other boroughs for more indoor fun? Check out our guides to free things to do in Staten Island and Queens when it's freezing, plus free times to visit NYC museums, zoos, and other hotspots and a cool trick for getting into more than 50 of the city's greatest cultural institutions for FREE. You can also find out what’s happening daily in your neighborhood in our Events Calendar.

Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Teddy Bear Tea, Winter Festival, Train Show

Take your teddy bear to tea at the Morris Museum on Saturday. Photo courtesy of the museum

It's play time this mid-January weekend in NJ! Load up your calendars with playful events that spotlight teddy bears, trains, and storytimes. Little ones can treat their favorite plush friends to a tea party at Morris Museum. Young train enthusiasts will be on board with The Museum of American History's Annual Antique Toy Train Show. And kids can find free fun at Barnes & Noble and Hoboken Fire Department Museum storytimes.

Keep warm at indoor performances this weekend, including productions of Mr. Pennygaff's Cirkus Sideshow Spectacular and Reza: Edge of Illusion. If you choose to brave the outdoors, enjoy rides and activities at the Winter Festival Bonfire & Fireworks or hit the beach at the Seashore Open House. Learn more about outdoor fun at the Garden State Outdoor Sports Show.

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Fun Guide, including Indoor Obstacle Courses, Ninja Warrior Training, and Aerial Arts for NJ Kids. And look to our event calendar and January GoList for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Kanga's Indoor Playcenter: What to Expect Inside This Massive Play Gym

Kids can explore for hours at Kanga's Indoor Playcenter in Cypress and The Woodlands.

It's easy for kids to get lost in their imaginations at Kanga's Indoor Playcenter. The towering play structure is a dream for little explorers, with multiple levels and slides and secret rooms and areas to discover. Kanga's has two locations in the Houston area, Cypress and The Woodlands. Read on for what to expect inside.

To see more great places to play around Houston, visit our Indoor Fun Guide.

Hot New NJ Birthday Party Spots To Celebrate in 2020

Host a birthday party at Nailed It, where guests can make their own creations to take home.

We've all been there: Your little one is counting down the days until his next birthday, while you're secretly sweating it out to find the perfect spot to celebrate. Luckily for NJ kids, the Garden State's 2019 crop of new kid-friendly venues has brought a bunch of fresh places to host amazing birthday bashes. From indoor playgrounds to trampoline parks and a new sprayground, here's a taste of some new NJ birthday party spots where kids will have a blast celebrating with their friends.

Looking for more ways to celebrate? Check out our NJ Kids' Birthday Party Ideas Guide!

25 Things To Do in Barcelona with Kids

Tour Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and discover countless symbols that Gaudí scattered in his most famous piece of architecture. Photo by Anna Fader

Barcelona is a city so gorgeous and lively that you’ll never run out of things to look at or do here. But plan your family trip with our list of kid-tested top 25 things to do in Barcelona and even the fussiest kid will be charmed by the Catalan capital.

I've visited the city several times with my two kids under age 8 and found the people welcoming, the public transportation reliable, and an abundance of cafes open around the clock for hungry little travelers. From giant slides to aquariums to Gaudi—and with a good dose of ice cream thrown in, these Barcelona attractions are sure to keep everyone engaged. Plan ahead for some of these activities with online tickets but leave room in the daily sightseeing schedule for a few spontaneous adventures, too, including picnicking in local gardens. Read on for the top things to do in Barcelona when traveling with kids. 

Find more cities to visit with the kids in our Europe Travel Guide for Families.

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