If your kids (especially your tweens and teens) have some energy to burn, laser tag and paintball are the perfect way to do it. Almost like playing a live-action video game, laser tag and paintball are a great way to get your kids to take a break from their devices and play IRL.

In laser tag, players try to take down their opponents by shooting them with infrared laser beams in an elaborately designed indoor arena. In paintball, they navigate outdoor terrain while attempting to splat their opponents with colorful paint capsules. Perfect for playing in groups, laser tag and paintball are fun for older kids, tweens, and teens and make great teen birthday party ideas.

Read on for our list of 10 top places to play laser tag or paintball in Maryland and Northern Virginia. For even more fun activities for big kids, check out our lists of fun things to do with teens and tweens in DC and extreme sports and other thrilling activities for kids near DC.

We’ve rounded up indoor trampoline parks in Westchester and the Hudson Valley where kids can jump, hop, and leap to their hearts' content–so that next time they're bouncing off the walls, it doesn't have to be in your house. 

Looking for more places to play when the weather isn't so great? Check out our Indoor Play Guide for Westchester and Hudson Valley Kids. 

These days you can tell the kids to take their sibling rivalry into the arena at one of Long Island's thrilling laser tag venues. This competition-style activity engages players physically and mentally as they strategically attempt to tag the opposing team while not getting tagged themselves. But think fast … or tag, you're out.

There are some great spots to play laser tag in Nassau and Suffolk counties, so get ready to think on your feet and have fun. Many of these facilities offer other attractions like go-karts and arcades to get the whole family playing together. We've also included a couple of options where the laser tag comes to you, so you can plan the activity in a convenient location like your backyard or a nearby park. 

For more ways to have fun indoors, check out our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces on Long Island. There's always something great to do for families on Long Island and we've got the info you need at our events calendar.

The Battleship New Jersey is a decommissioned ship-turned-museum docked on the Delaware River in Camden, and your kids will love it even if history isn't usually their thing. What’s not to love? It's a giant ship that's bigger than the Titanic, with chains so large each link weighs more than your child, plus bunk beds galore, tall chairs on the deck to sit on, and buttons all around (so many buttons!).

Visiting the battleship is a great experience for a wide range of ages: those old enough to understand and appreciate the history and even little ones who are just having fun running around and touching everything. And since the battleship is right next to the Adventure Aquarium, if you aren’t too tired you could make a day of it and do the aquarium as well. Or you can hop aboard the ferry on the waterfront and ride it over to Philadelphia for an adventure.

Read on for our tips about visiting the Battleship New Jersey, which was a big hit with all our three kids, ages 7, 5, and 2. 

Children's museums in Los Angeles and Orange County offer immersive and interactive amusement to engage young minds and foster creativity, curiosity, and exploration. Southern California has plenty of local museums to excite and inspire visitors of all ages. 

A museum where kids are encouraged to touch exhibits, climb on furniture, and ask as many questions as they want is the holy grail of indoor activities. However, some of these children's museums have exciting outdoor water features that are great for summer fun. Here are the best children's museums in Los Angeles and beyond to entertain and enrich curious kiddos. 

For more museum outings, discover free museum days in Los Angeles, and let the kids run wild at the top indoor playgrounds and play spaces in LA. There's plenty more to explore in our Museum Guide for Kids in Los Angeles and Orange County.  

Manhattan's Upper West Side is home to popular spots, including Lincoln Center with the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet, but it’s also one of the most famously family-friendly neighborhoods in NYC. Upper West Side families enjoy easily walkable access to tons of parks and playgrounds, plus kid-friendly museums ranging from the world-class AMNH to the tot-haven of CMOM. There are also plenty of kid-friendly stores, restaurants, and activities for little ones to enjoy on the Upper West Side.

Here are our top picks for the best things to do on the Upper West Side with kids, all guaranteed to keep your family busy year-round whether you live here or you're just visiting.

Winner winner pizza dinner! And one that the kids made for themselves, at one of Square Peg Pizzeria kids' pizza-making classes. Wanting to involve my kids in food making at home, we decided to sign up for a free pizza-making class at our local Square Peg Pizzeria. During this event, kids are shown how to shape their dough, spread sauce, and add toppings to their very own personal pizza. The restaurant's chefs engage with the kids and their families, showing them how to get their pizza just right.

My kids learned how to make food, we all got our hands on dough together, and did I mention that it's FREE? Read on to get the details, including where the classes take place and how to sign up.

For more great restaurants for kids in CT, including the more great pizza spots (because Connecticut has the best pizza on planet earth—I said it!) and restaurants where kids can play while parents eat, check out our Family-Friendly Connecticut Restaurant Guide.

Bruh... if it feels like your tweens and teens speak a different language, it's time to brush up on your gen z slang. Trust us, you're not alone: When we asked readers and fellow parents to share which teen slang words and phrases baffle them, we seemed to have hit a nerve. Moms and dads across the country bombarded us with gen z slang words and terms they just don't understand, from "bet" and "bussin'" to "drip" and "no cap."

And, NGL: Texting your teen can get you even more shook, FR. Mind-boggling acronyms have made deciphering teens' text messages similar to solving a puzzle, TBH. IYKYK.

We're here to help with our list of 50 common gen z slang words and text acronyms to help you understand your teens. Once you've mastered the lingo, score even more cool points with our teen and tween gift guide and our list of over 100 ideas for college care packages. Will your teens appreciate it? Bet!