Visiting Christmas light displays on Long Island is a magical holiday tradition. Long Island homes sparkle with spectacular holiday light displays, Santa and his reindeer, nativity scenes, jolly inflatables, festive music, and an abundance of Christmas cheer each year. 

From Nassau County to the East End, we've rounded up the top homes that light up in a big way to dazzle kids of all ages. Some homes collect money for charities, so you can also contribute to a good cause this season. We've also featured the best commercial holiday lights activities this year, along with some insider tips to plan your merry visit. 

Read ahead for all the details to plan your Christmas lights viewing adventure with the kids. For more seasonal fun, check out our Holiday Guide.

'Tis the season for brilliant Christmas lights! Every year it seems the Christmas light installations in New York City get more elaborate, making a visit to the top holiday lights displays a must-do seasonal activity.

We've rounded up the best holiday light displays in NYC. Most of these attractions are in the far-flung stretches of the five boroughs, such as Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, the Rockaways and Howard Beach in Queens, and on Staten Island, but all of these holiday houses are worth the trip.

So, start your own holiday tradition this year by checking out these spectacular Christmas lights when dusk hits. To find more seasonal fun, visit our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday Fun.

Philly zoos, farms, and public spaces all boast dazzling Christmas lights. But in many neighborhoods, families will find Christmas lights on houses that rival the best professional displays. Entire city blocks, suburban streets, and private homes throughout the region give commercial holiday lights a run for their money, and we've found the best houses to stop by for a fun family outing.

So for a quick post-dinner trip or an extended local tour, read on to find the brightest Christmas lights on houses near you. We've got loads more holiday cheer in our Guide to the Best Christmas Events in Philly.

Get answers to parents’ most asked questions about BrightPath Child Care centers—with 22 thoughtfully-designed locations across Connecticut.

Searching for reliable, high-quality child care can truly feel like a full-time job. As parents, we want safe, nurturing daycare centers with strong early learning programs and teachers we can trust—all at a location that actually fits into our family’s routine.

For many parents, BrightPath Child Care checks all the boxes with its welcoming atmosphere and thoughtful curriculum, plus 22 locations across the state, including West Hartford, Simsbury, Mansfield, and Avon. We connected with the BrightPath team to get answers to families’ most common questions about the daycare centers.

These easy Christmas crafts for kids will keep them busy until Santa comes! And when they get tired of crafting, we've got more Christmas games and at-home holiday activities, too.

Although some of us may wish it was Christmas all year long, the truth is there are only 25 days in December to squeeze in a whole lot of Christmas cheer. Get your holly jollies with a smattering of fun from our giant list of Christmas crafts, Christmas crafts for toddlers, Christmas games, and more. These favorite family Christmas activities will keep the smell of peppermint and pine flowing through your home all month long. We’ve got all the festive fun with a little bit of everything from sugar cube igloos to sock snowmen. So pour yourself a cup of cocoa (made from your homemade Hot Chocolate Bombs) and throw in a few more marshmallows for good measure. You are going to need all the energy to get through this giant list of Christmas crafts for kids!

For more Christmas activities for kids, from the best Christmas cookie recipes to easy Elf on the Shelf ideas—and more—check out our Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide for Families.

'Tis the season to get the gang all dressed up to see some holiday shows in NYC! While the city is lucky to have amazing Broadway shows for kids all year-round, during the holidays there is a range of joyous seasonal productions for families, from inexpensive, low-key offerings perfect for fidgety preschoolers to over-the-top spectacles that are worth the investment.

From live stage adaptations of classics to amazing circus, dance, and impossible-to-describe performances, here are our top 17 holiday shows in NYC for families—that's in addition to all those beautiful Nutcrackers. You can find additional show picks in our Guide to Children's Theater in NYC and more seasonal outings in our Holiday Fun Guide for NYC Kids.

This holiday season, Santa has added a new spot in Midtown Manhattan with the opening of Passport to Santa at Columbus Circle. A brand-new NYC holiday experience, this seasonal pop-up is full of North Pole magic, festive characters, and fun activities that keep kids engaged from start to finish. It makes for a perfect family day out with younger children who are excited by holiday fun or new adventures.

Explore more festive and family-focused activities in our NYC Kids’ Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Holiday Fun, where we've got all our top picks for must-do holiday experiences in NYC and more festive places to take pictures with Santa.

There are probably as many opinions about screen time and kids as there are parents. You may believe in limiting screen time overall, but like to see your kids doing creative things. Or you may not have any issues with screen time, but worry about children’s safety online. We could probably argue all sides of these issues, but one thing I think most parents would agree on is that setting up parental controls, managing screen time, restricting inappropriate content, and protecting kids across all their devices feels like just another overwhelming job that we don’t have time for. 

As cynical as I currently am about big tech, I recently previewed the new Apple parental controls suite and left feeling pretty strongly that every family that uses Apple products, from iPhones and iPads to Macs and Apple Watches, should take five minutes to learn about this and, at a minimum, do the one thing I’ll recommend below that will significantly improve your child’s safety online.