In one month, American Dream in East Rutherford, NJ, just outside of NYC, will officially open its doors—well, two of them, at least. The Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park and the Rink at American Dream will kick off the shopping and entertainment complex's grand opening on Friday, October 25.

Visitors will have to wait a bit longer for the DreamWorks Water Park, which is scheduled to open on Wednesday, November 27, and the Big SNOW indoor snow park, which debuts the following Thursday, December 5.

American Dream's stores, restaurants, and more attractions—including the Sea Life Aquarium, Legoland Discovery Center, KidZania experiential learning center, luxury movie theater, and 300-foot observation wheel—are set to open in March 2020.

Gowanus may be sandwiched between the famously family-friendly enclaves of Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Park Slope, but the neighborhood holds its own in terms of cool hangouts and play spaces for kids.

With the promise of a $500 million Superfund cleanup of its odoriferous waterway, the Gowanus area is transforming from an industrial pass-through to a destination in its own right, complete with new condo development. Following in the footsteps of nearby Red Hook, warehouses have become art houses, and boutiques and restaurants are opening up left and right. It's no surprise that this Brooklyn neighborhood is attracting young families in droves.

Encouraging healthy hobbies is at the top of my priority list when it comes to my kids, and I've tried to make being active a part of their lives since day one. Both kids have accompanied me on many runs in the jogging stroller since they were babies, and they know that if it's a nice day we're doing something outside. Now that my oldest is riding his bike, we frequently head out to different trails together where I'll chase after him with my daughter strapped into the jogging stroller as he flies down trails (his biking has been excellent for improving my running speed) or we'll bike together as a family if my husband is able to come along for the ride. 

The Museum of the Moving Image is one of Astoria's hidden gems. Situated right next to Kaufman Studios—the home of Sesame Street and nearly a century of film and television history—the museum features an amazing permanent exhibit as well as an ever-changing roster of special exhibitions, series, and events, including family movie showings and film series. There's something for every age range, making it one of our top NYC museums to visit with kids, and a favorite go-to spot for my Queens family.

Read on for details on what to see at the Museum of the Moving Image, plus other useful tips for making the most of your visit with kids, including the best time to visit, and the scoop on family programming.

Color Factory, a new interactive pop-up exhibit, opens in Houston this fall and it's bursting with color and fun for kids (and adults) of all ages. If your kids couldn't get enough of summer's Candytopia, then Color Factory needs to be on the top of your to-do list. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. today (Sept. 24)!

Autumn marks the start of a new theater season, but you don't need to shell out big bucks on Broadway shows to give your kids a memorable live entertainment experience in NYC. In fact, this fall boasts more high-quality theater productions for young audiences than ever—so many in fact, we have a whopping 24 picks, and that's after whittling down the contenders.

Preschoolers will be excited to see a slew of puppet shows, a stage adaptation of Peter Pan, and the unstoppable Baby Shark Live!. Older kids can check out the return of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical and the silent spectacle of Mummenschanz. Plus everyone in your family can enjoy the Big Apple Circus. Best of all, many of our picks are $25 or less per ticket.

Crafting the perfect science fair project is a right of passage for most elementary-school kids. The ideal experiment involves a few key ingredients, a little bit of parent involvement, and can be completed in under two weeks.

Traditionally, science fairs take place in fifth grade, but many schools are now incorporating STEM experiments into the curriculum as early as kindergarten, so we've put together a list of 19 easy science fair project ideas, ranging from the tried-and-true “exploding volcano” to extracting DNA from a strawberry. There are chemistry science projects for 5th grade and plenty of hands-on, get messy ideas for the youngest inventors.

When you have a kid like mine (obsessed with airplanes, grilled cheese, and curvy slides at playgrounds) then a well-timed trip to the new Aviation Park at The Proud Bird is an afternoon dream come true. We were excited to attend the new playground's recent opening day festivities, featuring models of life-size fighter planes, a view of the jets landing at nearby LAX, face painting, snow cones, and lots of playtime. Whether you're already heading to LAX to pick up the in-laws, flying off for vacay, or desperate for a new park to break up the after-nap routine, The Proud Bird is definitely worth a visit.