Growing up in Los Angeles, I enjoyed a New Year's Day tradition that my own children have yet to experience up close: the Rose Parade. My parents staked out curbside viewing several times when I was small, and one year we even watched the floats get decorated before the parade. It nags at me that the closest my own children have come to this quintessential, rain-or-shine LA experience is the television screen in our living room. I can't guarantee we will get there this year, either; nevertheless, I am highlighting two opportunities this week—one before and one after the parade. See the floats as they are assembled, or see them as they are disassembled. Or just get your family to the parade.

There may be a few of you who have not made it to Star Wars:The Force Awakens yet, and others whose children are clamoring for a second viewing. There’s nothing better than a movie matinee in the quiet week between Christmas and New Year’s. A fun alternative to Star Wars is the Marx Brothers double feature at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre.

Finally, New Year’s Eve is not a holiday aimed at children, but the Discovery Cubes in LA and OC have a few ideas, as do the Zimmer Museum and Kidspace. One kid-friendly thing that caught my eye is the Skating Plus New Year’s Eve Party in Ventura. The roller rink celebrates with the clocks set forward to reach “midnight” at 3pm, after which parents can take the kids home, tuck them into bed, and crack open a bottle of well-deserved bubbly.

As 2015 comes to an end, Philly families can reflect on all the fun that was had throughout the year. Whether it was making memories on vacation, exploring a museum for the first time, or visiting Historic Philadelphia, we hope it has been a great year.

But 2015 isn't over yet, and this last week of the year does not disappoint! The Academy of Natural Science hosts its annual All-Star Days and Delaware Museum of Natural History features its Discovery Days. The National Constitution Center holds Holiday Week where kids can dress in period clothing, make crafts, and meet historical characters.

Continue reading for the top picks for the week. Don't forget to check out our Events Calendar for a complete listing of winter break fun and our New Year's Eve Round Up which offers lots of family-friendly ways to welcome 2016.

Kiss 2015 goodbye and give a warm welcome to 2016 this week! While the kids are on winter break, make their last week of the year a memorable one, with fun activities like Morris Museum’s Toyland Family Festival and Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s Holiday Scavenger Hunt. Then, New Year’s Eve, plus the next day, are family affairs at festivities including New Year’s Eve at iPlay America, New Year’s Eve Splash at Adventure Aquarium and New Year’s Day Kids Party. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

We have covered a variety of fun options for all your party planning needs whether your child wants a Princess party, museum or art themed party. Be sure to browse through our Connecticut Kids’ Birthday Party Guide for some great ideas. Here is a list of even more great choices in Central Connecticut if you still haven’t found what you’re looking for. Art, basketball, gym party, carousel and tennis themes all included!

Ring in 2016 with a variety of family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations. There's also live theater--and don't forget to enjoy the last bit of holiday fun in Bayville. Looking for more to keep the kids occupied this week? Check out our Holiday Guide.

For even more activities, check out our Long Island Events Calendar, which is updated daily. You can also get the best events of the week sent directly to your inbox each week if you sign up for our newsletter.

With Christmas now behind us, many Westchester families can use a breather! But New Year’s is coming, and school is out all week, so we’re making sure you have plenty of options from which to choose to keep the fun going. Because many of us have already spent a small fortune on the holidays, we’re emphasizing FREE activities to go easy on your wallet.

Entertainment abounds with programs such as the two Mr. Bungles workshops, where kids learn how to perform magic tricks and make balloon figures. More fun instruction can be had at Pop Culture POP Art, where comic books and canvas are two of the materials used to create art in the style of the 1960s movement. As for New Year’s, it would be hard to top the excitement at Ring in the New Year at Noon, which simulates Times Square (minus the madness) with a countdown and balloon drop at the respectable hour of 12pm, plus family activities and more.

Read on for more, and be sure to check out our Event Calendar for an ever-expanding list of fun and enriching options for kids. Sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter to get top picks delivered straight to your inbox!

The countdown is on! It's the last week of 2015 and the kids in NYC are school-free through New Year's Day, so we've rounded up some great family events and other kid-friendly happenings to help you enter 2016 on a high note, including our favorite new attractions that opened over the last year like the new Whitney Museum and the incredible SeaGlass Carousel.

Other highlights for the week of December 28-January 1 include watching the annual Polar Bear Plunge in Coney Island, taking in one of city's three New Year's Eve firework displays, enjoying a lovely puppet production, visiting the Staten Island Children's Museum for FREE and participating in hands-on maker workshops at the New York Hall of Science.

As always, you can find more family activities in our Event Calendar and Holiday Fun Guide. Best wishes for 2016!

It's hard to believe that we'll be ringing in the New Year this week! Now that the presents are unwrapped and the novelty of new toys is wearing off it's the perfect time to get out and play! This week there are some fun family workshops in West Hartford and Norwalk as well as a Star Wars party in Stamford. Ring in the New Year with the family at First Night Hartford. For more fun things to do, check out our frequently updated Event Calendar and Holiday Guide for all sorts of fun.  Happy New Year!