If every pencil, ruler or ear of corn becomes a potential weapon in the hands of your young swashbuckler, it may be time for a sword or stage combat class where those instincts can be channeled in a fun and productive way. Japanese and Korean martial art traditions stress the "art" of sword play as well as the importance of respect for the weapons and the opponent. Plus kids can improve their body mechanics, breathing patterns, agility and speed in a safe space with trained instructors.

Here are three places where New York City kids can work on their sword play and stage combat skills—far away from your fine china. You can find lots of other offbeat and enriching programs for children in our Classes Guide.

Indoor water parks are popular family destinations year-round; unlike a trip to the beach or a weekend in the woods, you don’t have to worry about the weather ruining your good time. Great Wolf Lodge is always a favorite with the kids, but the resort recently invited us to check out its newest attraction in the Poconos: the interactive Slideboarding water slide. 

Faneuil Hall might be a great place for tourists, but it's a pretty fantastic spot for locals, too. With one of the 10 coolest stops for kids on the Freedom Trail and some of the best places to eat along the Trail, along with tons of fun activities especially for children, you can easily spend a full afternoon without once hearing, "I'm bored." Read on for the 10 best kid-tested things to do while visiting Faneuil Hall with kids.

With school over and more free time available, summer is the perfect time to learn a new skill, though we know how pricey summer fun can be with camp tuition, pool membership, vacations and so forth. That's why we’ve identified several FREE class series to help you out.

Whether your kids are looking to indulge a newfound interest, or you simply want to find a productive way to spend free time, you and your kids are sure to find something from the list below that will add extra substance to the eventual “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” recap.

Interested in more? Our Events Calendar includes many other skills-building workshops that don’t require a multi-session commitment.

Where can you find a two-headed calf, Mark Twain's bicycle, and an alligator dangling from the ceiling? At Connecticut's Old State House, of course. It took us a while to “discover” this museum – because sometimes it’s difficult to persuade kids that anything featuring the word “old” in the title can be enjoyable – but once we visited, we realized that this Hartford County attraction is a historical treasure and a fun destination. In fact, the kids became so immersed in one activity (keep reading) that only a bribe persuaded them to leave.

We're just one week into summer break and already my kid has made her own chocolate, gone to her first commuter camp outside the city and changed her name to Blue. I can't wait to see what adventures the rest of the season has in store!

Two things I know we'll be doing this 4th of July weekend are stalking the Good Humor Truck that's giving out FREE ice cream and staking out a spot to watch Macy's Fireworks. But if your family is itching to hightail it out of town for a holiday day trip, our regional sites have posts about the most explosive Independence Day celebrations in Westchester, New Jersey, on Long Island and beyond, all probably much less crowded than Macy's.

Looking to plan out the rest of your month? We just published a roundup of the best things to do throughout July in NYC, and our Travel site has a list of awesome summer travel deals to destinations near (Boston) and far (Rome!), plus details on a Puerto Vallarta trip giveaway.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

The words "Mommy & Me" don't always have to preface responsible activities like infant swim classes; Mommy & Me movies allow even the most devoted parents a chance to revel in adult pleasures. New moms and dads can get out and see a movie that they want to see - not an animated or children's film - without having to leave their baby at home or worry about their little one disturbing other guests. Participating theaters focus on making it work for babies, with amenities that include changing tables, soft lighting, and a place to park your stroller. And the best part: little ones can cry and nurse and fuss without fear of dirty looks or shushing. Plus, because the films are shown during the day, prices are of the lower, matinee variety - and the infants are free!

It's officially summer and what better way to celebrate than with ice cream—FREE ice cream!! Good Humor is marking the birth of our nation with not one, not two, but 12 days of complimentary ice cream all over downtown Manhattan. Moving throughout the area, one neighborhood at a time, the newfangled Good Humor Truck and a lineup of pedicabs and cars will be spreading joy with no-cost treats for all. We've got the scoop on how you can catch up with the Good Humor Man and get your free frozen treat.