Find kid-friendly outdoor adventure and more in Newburyport and Plum Island!

With a world-class city at our doorstep, there are so many things to do with preschoolers in Boston. And that's saying a lot. Preschoolers can be a finicky bunch. Maybe that's partly because they are straddling the fine line between little kid and big kid status: too old for some things, but too young for many others. 

Fortunately, from museums in the Fenway to outdoor activities on Boston's waterfront (not to mention tons of free stuff), Boston is filled with family fun that'll have your 3 to 5-year old jumping for joy. Here are 25 wonderful ways to enjoy Boston with a preschooler.

When you're looking for the best hot chocolate in Boston, whether it's to warm up after swooshing down the local sledding hill or just hoping to satisfy your seasonal sweet tooth, you don't just want a boring powdered mix. You want the good stuff. The great stuff. Hot chocolate bombs and melted chocolate with local, organic milk. Luckily, we know exactly where to find the best hot chocolate in Boston. The stuff worth indulging in.

So, gather the family, pull off those mittens, and sip on some sweetness at one of these places—from Boston to the North Shore—serving up the season's most delectable drink. If you need something sweet to go with that drink, check out our favorite Boston-Area Donut Shops. Or, if a nor'easter is hitting and you can't leave the house, get our Easy, 5-Step Recipe for Hot Chocolate Bombs to make at home.

The cold temperatures and snow have arrived, but that doesn't mean we have to hibernate. Bridging Boston and New Hampshire, the North Shore of Boston delivers New-England-style fun all winter long. In the spirit of 2021, many businesses and towns north of Boston have come up with creative ways to help families stay safe and socially distant while enjoying family time, outdoors and in. Whether the kids are keen to picnic at a fire pit, sample local chocolate, spot owls and arctic foxes, or marvel at a snow-swept beach, parents can cross some of these North Shore activities off their Winter Fun lists and show Jack Frost who's boss.  

When winter won't budge, and you've run out of at-home craft and project ideas, it may be time to hit an indoor play space. Head north and you can have your pick: From trampolines to crazy mazes to inflatables, Boston's North Shore is home to tons of play zones where kids can get their energy out. In addition to exercise and entertainment, many of these venues offer special events (like parents' nights out), healthy snacks, birthday parties, workshops, and classes. Here are 15 of our north-of-town favorites; for dozens more options in and around Boston, check out our indoor fun guide.

Movie theater birthday parties are always a hit – for the kids and parents. Mom and dad enjoy a stress-free experience while the kids revel in the excitement of an afternoon out at the theater.

Reserved seating for a current blockbuster hit or a private movie-theater showing of a favorite flick will make any birthday kid feel like a star. So, butter your popcorn, sit back and enjoy the show at any of these great theaters that host awesome parties for kids in and around Boston.

Whether your family is inspired by the amazing winners of our Boston Kids Who Really Rock contest or you've just been thinking about teaching your kids ways to be kind, you can start pumping the positive vibes of kindness right now. And you don't have to do it alone. There are a slew of organizations -- local, national and international -- that can help plant the seed that will grow your child into a pint-sized philanthropist. All it really takes is one small act of kindness, of which there are many to choose. Read on to discover how these organizations are hoping to change the world one act of kindness at a time, and how you can get started. 

If you've seen the movie, you might just wonder, How in the world could Shrek be turned into a musical?

The answer is simple. Start with a smash Broadway script and score, cast a bunch of talented actors, throw in a gifted musical director (who really knows how to translate the sounds of bodily functions to the stage) and a skilled crew, and there you have it. Well, then, of course, there's the director, choreographer, musicians, set and costume designers, prop master, puppet designer, lighting director...

Okay, so maybe it's not so simple to create an engaging and entertaining show that appeals to both kids and adults. But the Wheelock Family Theatre's production of Shrek the Musical, about a grouchy ogre, a feisty princess and a loquacious but kindhearted donkey, does it, and does it so well that when the curtain closed on the final makes-you-want-to-dance-in-your-seat song, my 9-year-old son and I looked at each other and said, "We want to see that again!"