Tribeca

As anyone who's gone toy shopping in NYC knows, the choices are endless.  For parents of children with special needs, shopping for toys brings on a whole different bunch of considerations.   I've learned this whether buying or receiving toys as gifts for my two children, both of whom received Early Intervention services. 

Whether you're shopping for your own special needs child or the child of a friend or relative, here are some New York City toy stores that carry outstanding products for children of all abilities.  There are no chain stores here, just excellent independent shops where you'll get personalized attention (if you want it) from a knowledgeable staff who has seen and heard it all....

We recently wrote about some wonderful places to Shop for Handmade Toys and Children's Items in New York City. We wanted to complement that list with some other great suggestions where you can buy natural and green toys. What's the difference? While some natural toys are indeed handmade too, others come from eco-certified production facilities. Most importantly, all differ from commercially mass-produced, run-of-the-mill wooden toys in terms of quality, origin, and construction from sustainable, safe, natural, non-synthetic materials.

Earlier this week we wrote about a website that helps you choose appropriate movies for your kids. Another way to find great movies for kids is to check out one of the local film series where aficionados have selected for you movies that are outstanding.

And this week there's a new option because the people who bring you the Tribeca Film Festival are turning their filmy goodness to movies for kids with the brand new Tribeca Cinemas Kids Club. Read on for the scoop on this new film series where you can catch cool flicks for kids every other Saturday starting this weekend, plus three other cool film series you won't want to miss.

If you have not heard of Ninja, a Japanese ninja-themed restaurant in Tribeca, I wouldn't be surprised. Like the warriors the restaurant is named after, it seems to hide in plain site, but this special occasion dining spot is worth discovering, especially with kids.

One of my favorite childhood memories from growing up in NYC was Halloween in the Village. The Village Halloween Parade back then was just a couple hundred artists and freaks who marched through the neighborhood and felt more like a neighborhood affair. After the parade, we would trick or treat throughout the brownstone blocks. Everyone was really friendly and fun and we would come home with our shopping bags completely filled. It was magical.

Trick or treating in your building is great for adults because it feels so safe, but it is nowhere near as exciting and magical for kids as getting to run around the neighborhood at night and go door to door. This Halloween, try going to one of the small neighborhood Halloween parades and then sticking around for the trick or treating. Below are some ideas of great places to trick or treat with kids around New York City.