Looking for a new take on holiday lights displays this year? Head to Battery Park where The Luminaries once again lights up Brookfield Place in a seasonal art display with a decidedly downtown feel.

A canopy of 650 gorgeous lanterns bathes Brookfield's glass-enclosed, Christmas-spirited Winter Garden in a glow of lights as families and holiday shoppers gather below. Adding an interactive element to the display, kids can control the lights via the installation's multiple Wish Stations—and each interaction equals a donation to the GRAMMY in the Schools music education program.

There’s nothing worse than a rainy Halloween. Especially for kids. Who wants soggy candy and running from house-to-house to avoid the raindrops? Plus, princesses and superheroes don’t need raincoats covering up their cute costumes. I know my kids don’t. From safe trick-or-treating to costume parties, Long Island offers a ton of fun activities and alternatives if the weather turns stormy this year. The best part? These events are fun for kids (and adults) even if the weather stays fair.

When you are looking for something to do with your toddler, there are two priorities: that your child will be allowed to touch things and that you don't have to drive too far to get there.  There is nap time to think about!  Below are twenty-five awesome places to take your little ones before they start Kindergarten.  For further reading, don't forget to check out 120 Things to do with Kids Before They Grow

Deciding where to send your child to preschool isn’t easy, but selecting a specific type of school can really help narrow down your options. We have written about bilingual and language immersion preschools throughout the Boston area, and now we're focusing on Montessori preschools in the city so you can see which one seems like a good fit for your child.

The Montessori method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori about 100 years ago. Most Montessori schools place children in mixed-age classrooms, allow students to self-direct their activities, allow large blocks of uninterrupted time to work, focus on discovery rather than instruction and use specialized materials. There are five preschools in Boston that use the Montessori philosophy to help children learn and grow:

I've paid my dues at New York City's playgrounds after a decade of parenting in this city. My family has visited our share of parks and even ranked our favorites, but we're always looking for our next big adventure. With kids ages 3, 7, and 10, it's no easy task to find a playground where all three are entertained, but our recent visit to the newly opened Gertrude Ederle Playground on West 59th Street was an all-around hit.

If your kids are fans of Pixar movies (and who isn't?), if they are into any element of STEAM (as in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), then there's a treat waiting for them at the California Science Center. The Science Behind Pixar takes a never-before-seen look at the artists, engineers, and computer scientists at Pixar, and how they use STEM concepts in the creation of Pixar films. Videos, interactive computer activities, and hands-on physical activities use characters, scenes, and elements from Pixar movies to explain concepts and challenges and explore solutions created by Pixar staff. Lighting Nemo under water, getting Merida's hair to bounce as she runs, putting the gleam on Lightning McQueen—it's all in the hands of our kids.