West Roxbury

25 Ways to Spend a Morning with Your Toddler in Boston

Submitted by Elizabeth Fisher on Fri, 04/05/2019 - 3:00pm

Once you've gotten through breakfast and downed your second (or third) cup of coffee, have you ever looked at your toddler and thought, "what the heck am I going to do with you today?" Too young for many full-time schools or camps, too old to just tag along on errands all day, toddlers are suited for fun, interactive activities that don't require a long attention span and will tucker them out for their afternoon nap. Fortunately for parents and caregivers, there are a plenty of great local activities that will get you both out of the house; and many attractions are 100% free for toddlers.

8 Great Bakeries for Birthday Cakes Around Boston

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Fri, 04/21/2017 - 10:00am

Whether you’re hosting a birthday party at home or at another location, you’re going to need a cake to celebrate your child’s big day. Ideally, we’d all have the time and energy to whip up a beautiful creation ourselves, but it's a tall order, especially during a busy week. That’s when we call in the pros. We rounded up eight of the best bakeries in Boston for when you want your child’s birthday to be extra special...while preserving your sanity!

14 Boston-Area Gyms with Childcare

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Mon, 04/10/2017 - 10:48am

Between family and career, it can be really tough for busy parents to fit in a workout. But we all know exercise is an important part of staying healthy and it can be fun to boot. With that in mind, we rounded up 14 local gyms that offer on-site childcare.

Boston Kids' Activities That Fit Working Parents' Schedules

Submitted by Therese Sison on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 9:00am

Music, art, swimming, dance, playgroups: When you're the parent of a young child, the opportunities to introduce your son or daughter to new experiences and friends can seem limitless. But if you're a working parent, the last thing you want to do is cram your already packed calendar with classes that happen at inconvenient times. Luckily, Boston is home to many stellar programs that are particularly accommodating to working parents' schedules. Here are some of our favorites.

5 Montessori Preschools in Boston for Little Learners

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Fri, 10/21/2016 - 6:23pm

Deciding where to send your child to preschool isn’t easy, but selecting a specific type of school can really help narrow down your options. We have written about bilingual and language immersion preschools throughout the Boston area, and now we're focusing on Montessori preschools in the city so you can see which one seems like a good fit for your child.

The Montessori method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori about 100 years ago. Most Montessori schools place children in mixed-age classrooms, allow students to self-direct their activities, allow large blocks of uninterrupted time to work, focus on discovery rather than instruction and use specialized materials. There are five preschools in Boston that use the Montessori philosophy to help children learn and grow:

10 Perfect Places to Fly a Kite in Boston With Kids

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Mon, 08/08/2016 - 3:33pm

Chicago may be the Windy City, but it often seems like Boston could have earned that nickname, too. Ocean breezes are a near-constant presence and there’s no better way to harness them than by flying a kite. Despite Boston’s low elevation, there are plenty of hills and beaches in the area that provide the perfect places to get some air. We’ve rounded up 10 of them, some of which also have awesome playgrounds. Now go fly a kite!