There are many great reasons to expose children to music early on, including research that links a musical mind to a higher IQ. While listening to Mozart won't necessarily turn children into geniuses, listening to musical patterns stimulates the brain. Music classes are a fun and engaging way to interact with babies, toddlers, and other parents. Here's a list of several Long Island classes that offer a variety of musical styles. Most classes offer free demos, so try one out to see which one is the best fit. For additional class suggestions, see our Classes and Activities Guide for Long Island Kids.

If you're still lamenting the fact that Toys "R" Us left a giant Ferris-wheel-sized hole in Times Square for the past two years, you can get excited again because...it's returning! Well, at least for the holiday season. The big-box toy brand is opening a 35,000-square-foot, three-floor location at 42nd street and Broadway, beginning Saturday, August 26 at 9am, and running through the holiday season. (I guess "just in time for the holidays" means different things to different people.)

The three-story pop-up shop is full of new and classic buys for the little ones on your holiday list, but it's offering more than just a shopping trip.

Whether you couldn't put down the classic book or can hum along to all the hits from the iconic movie, most adults remember Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from our childhoods. Producing a new musical version of such a popular story might sound risky, but Warner Brothers took that challenge and ran with it, with a Broadway production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that opened this past April at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. There are definitely a couple of things you should know about this dark tale before deciding to take the kiddos, but all in all, the show received a well-earned round of wild applause from children and adults alike.

Surrounded by the flat, meandering Charles, Boston has a reputation for some great kayaking and canoeing. But whitewater adventures? Not so much. However, in just a few hours or less, you can find real-deal rapids that rival many you might find in the southern mountains or even out west. Even better, southern New England is home to some experienced guide companies who run family-focused trips that introduce beginners to whitewater rafting with an eye toward safety, education, and fun. If you think your crew is game to try some whitewater rafting, here's a breakdown of three companies who operate trips in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and southern Vermont.

Nothing compares to the beauty of New England Falls: the breathtaking colors of the foliage with the reds, oranges, yellows and browns cannot be found anywhere else. A beautiful, sunny October day is the perfect time to head out to explore one of Fairfield County’s many, beautiful parks. We have many favorites and look forward to nice autumn weekends to be able to visit them all. Check out our complete Fall Fun Guide for more ways to savor the season. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and don't miss out on any fun this season!

Monroe is a quiet, little outpost north of Bridgeport on the way to Danbury, with the obligatory (and lovely) town green/gazebo this state is known for.  But that old town center is now a long way into town from the highway — most of Monroe's hustle and bustle these days is along one of two corridors — route 25 or route 111 (Monroe Turnpike), near the Trumbull line.  That being said, there are a couple of outdoor gems off the beaten path that make a trek out from lower Fairfield County worth the time spent getting there, whether your kiddos are tiny or teens.

It’s never too early to teach kids the importance of eating healthy, and what better way to do that than by showing them how to cook nutritious meals? (OK, fine, sweets-baking is also fun for kids.)

Not only will kids master important kitchen skills, these classes also improve fine motor skills, boost math comprehension (thanks to all that measuring), and encourage kids to try new foods.

We’ve rounded up more than 10 places that offer cooking and baking classes for kids in Nassau and Suffolk counties. So go ahead and encourage your future Emeril or Giada to get cooking! And for more enrichment programs, check out our Classes Guide.

On the list of things Boston is flush with—green space, top universities, a maddening number of rotaries—museums are a particular point of pride. We boast some of the world's best, but it's been awhile since one could call itself "new." Enter Dreamland. As visitors to Government Center may have noticed, the Dreamland Wax Museum just had its grand opening in July. With more than 100 wax figures, Dreamland is definitely a different sort of experience than you might find on the neighboring Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall. I recently visited with my 12-year-old son, my seven-year-old daughter, and an eight-year-old friend, and here's our take on whether the museum is cool or creepy. (Spoiler alert: It's a little bit of both).