50 Best Things to Do in Park Slope with Kids

Rent a boat at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

It's hard to beat Park Slope for a day of family fun. With its tree- and brownstone-lined streets, high-performing public schools, destination playgrounds, family-friendly restaurants, and host of cultural and kids' activities—not to mention the natural beauty and kid-friendly things to do in Prospect ParkPark Slope is one of the best family neighborhoods in NYC.

The Slope is a true community: Local shopkeepers know their regulars by name, neighbors sit and chat on their front stoops, and parents share info and swap baby items on the massive online board Park Slope Parents. For our purposes, we're defining Park Slope as stretching from Fourth Avenue to the eastern side of Prospect Park, and from Flatbush Avenue south to Prospect Avenue. Here are our top 50 things to do with kids in Park Slope, from culture to eating, shopping, and playing.

20 Easy Magic Tricks for Kids

Abracadabra! These videos teach kids how to do magic at home! Photo by Amina Filkins/Pexels

Abracadabra! Hocus-pocus! Open sesame! With these easy magic tricks, kids can learn to impress their friends with some sleight of hand stunts. If you have a little magician at home, look no further than these easy magic tricks for kids: After watching the video and practicing a bit, coins will disappear, spoons will bend, and glasses will levitate.

Learning how to do magic is not just for fun; like brainy puzzle games, magic tricks keep kids thinking while they play. These easy magic tricks can boost confidence, improve fine motor skills, and spark a child’s interest and engagement in science, games, and much more.

Check out our At-Home Guide of 100s of Activities for Kids for even more ways to learn through play—like these Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home.

DIY Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas Cool Enough for Big Kids

There's no need to go to The Plaza for tea, when you can use a pretty park as a picture-perfect backdrop for a treat-filled DIY birthday party.

Throwing a big kid’s birthday party in the winter months has been tough these past couple of years. Nothing guarantees a sad birthday tween more than a cold, masked, socially distanced, and minimally attended birthday party. While there are some cool big kid birthday party venues in New York City, most people still aren't comfortable celebrating indoors. But, armed with a little creativity and a can-do attitude, we've found eight DIY—or do-it-with-a-little-help—ideas for outdoor birthday parties that ensure your next big kid celebration ends in some wide birthday smiles!

Find more all-ages ideas to celebrate in our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC.

Top Attractions in Westchester: Best Things To See and Do with Kids

Be on the hunt for butterflies at Lasdon Park in Katonah.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned living here, it’s that there’s no shortage of amazing things to do and see in Westchester. From kid-friendly museums and outdoor spaces to annual events that are on every family’s must-do list, it’s easy to keep little ones engaged, and to have a blast while doing it.

So whether you’re visiting family and friends, are thinking of moving to the area, or simply want to play tourist in your own backyard, read on for are some of the top attractions for families in Westchester.

Looking for even more things to do? Check out our Guide to Westchester, see what’s happening in our events calendar, and be sure to sign up for our newsletter.

Cool Summer Internships for Teens in Los Angeles: When and How To Apply

Summer internships in Los Angeles are a way for teens to showcase their drive. Photo courtesy of The Intern Project, lacounty.gov

High School students who step up really stand out in the college admissions process, and summer internships in Los Angeles for teens provide a way for kids to showcase their drive and get them working in their chosen field. Universities want more than impressive GPAs and SAT scores; they want well-rounded, engaged, passionate students. When your child has a hands-on internship experience, it leads to a leg up on the competition, and also gets them excited about the future—and it gets them out of the house for the summer! Whether your teen is looking for some real-world experience in the entertainment industry, has a head for business and can't wait to start crunching numbers, or loves working with kids, a wide range of professional opportunities are just a few clicks away.

Find more teen-friendly things to do with this list of 20 Things To Do with Tweens and Teens in Los Angeles They'll Actually Enjoy and in our Los Angeles Activity Guide for Tweens and Teens.

Festive and Delicious Birthday Cakes for Atlanta Kids

A birthday cake from The Baking Grounds will make any child feel special on his or her big day. Photo courtesy of The Baking Grounds

After you’ve selected a birthday party location, booked an entertainer, and sent out invitations for your child’s birthday party, it’s time for the yummy part – picking out a birthday cake! No longer limited to round and rectangular shapes, today's birthday cakes can be tiered like wedding cakes or sculpted into baseball bats, cars, purses, and more.  

Look to our list to take the guesswork out of your sugary search. We’ve got everything covered, from a traditional sheet cakes to a custom birthday cake, throughout metro Atlanta. If you don’t want to slice into a beautifully decorated cake, consider cupcakes, cake pops, or cookies that many of these bakeries also prepare. 

Where to Throw a Birthday Party on Long Island for Teens and Tweens

Hit the bullseye at Axe Kicking Entertainment.  Photo by the author

Don't fret if your preteen's birthday has rolled around and you realize he or she has outgrown the bouncy house circuit. There are plenty of party options on Long Island specifically for this age group. Discerning tweens know what they like, so we've rounded up a list of awesome party spots that will impress this picky crowd.

From zip lines to fashion shows, these tween birthday bash ideas at cool Long Island spots fit the bill for that special day. Call the venues for the most up-to-date pricing information.

Got a not-so-little kid? You'll want to take a look at our guide to tween and teen fun on Long Island for exciting things to do. And for more birthday party ideas, check out our Long Island party guide.

The Best Hot Chocolate in Boston: From Hot Chocolate Bombs to Steaming Cocoa!

Everyone loves creamy hot cocoa on a cold Boston day.

When you're looking for the best hot chocolate in Boston, whether it's to warm up after swooshing down the local sledding hill or just hoping to satisfy your seasonal sweet tooth, you don't just want a boring powdered mix. You want the good stuff. The great stuff. Hot chocolate bombs and melted chocolate with local, organic milk. Luckily, we know exactly where to find the best hot chocolate in Boston. The stuff worth indulging in.

So, gather the family, pull off those mittens, and sip on some sweetness at one of these places—from Boston to the North Shore—serving up the season's most delectable drink. If you need something sweet to go with that drink, check out our favorite Boston-Area Donut Shops. Or, if a nor'easter is hitting and you can't leave the house, get our Easy, 5-Step Recipe for Hot Chocolate Bombs to make at home.

 

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