Chestnut Hill

12 Boston-Area Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While You Eat (and Relax)

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Fri, 05/03/2019 - 2:02pm

It’s one thing to go to a kid-friendly restaurant, where you know you won’t get any dirty looks from the proprietors or other patrons. But family dining heaven might just be a place that also allows kids to play—the idea being that you can actually enjoy your meal after they wolf down theirs. We decided to round up a list of such restaurants, focusing on ones that serve up truly good food along with some sort of entertainment. We call that a win-win!

Santa Breakfasts for Kids and Families Around Boston

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Sun, 11/11/2018 - 9:00am

One of the quintessential holiday activities for kids is meeting Santa and telling him their Christmas wishes. Make this tradition even better this year when you and your family attend a breakfast or brunch with the big guy in red. At these events, you’ll get to enjoy a delicious holiday meal, spend some extra time with Mr. or Mrs. Claus, and participate in other seasonal activities. Bring your camera to capture all of the festive fun and make your reservation early—spots at some of these events go quick!

17 Science and Tech Summer Camps for Boston Kids who Love STEM

Submitted by Kelley Heyworth on Mon, 02/26/2018 - 11:00am

Surrounded as we are in Boston by so many tech start-ups, a world-class science museum, and some of the top college computer-science departments in the country, it's no surprise that many of our kids are fascinated by all things STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Luckily, a growing number of tech-minded summer camps are cropping up all over the Boston region to meet demand, and the options for local kids range from a program for wannabe inventors to a science immersion program just for girls. We’ve rounded up a dozen great school vacation programs where kids can tinker, make, build, code, invent, and experiment.

Read on to find a STEM camp that’s a good fit for your sci-tech lover, and sign up soon—early-bird specials are widely available this month, and some of these camps fill up fast.

Find more great summer camp options for your Massachusetts kids in our Camp Guide and Directory of listings, which is searchable by interest, age, or location.

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.

25 Things to Do With Kids in Newton

Submitted by Scott Wallask on Wed, 01/13/2016 - 11:12am

Newton, bordering Boston to the west, has long enjoyed a reputation as a family-friendly place with its excellent school system and standing as one of the safest U.S. cities to live in. Many of Newton's attractions cater to children, whether plans involve running around the many playgrounds in the city, enjoying the services of the Newton Free Library, or learning to swim at charming Crystal Lake. Below are 25 family fun ideas for Newton residents and visitors alike.

Participating in Research Studies with Kids in Boston

Submitted by Celeste Bocchic... on Tue, 06/24/2014 - 10:46am

As a new parent I devoured books about babies, trying to understand the tiny new life in my charge. How far can he see? What is going on in his little mind when he is playing with that toy? And then I started to wonder how all these experts on babies knew anything. So when I learned that many of Boston's universities recruit parents and their kids to participate in research studies, I thought it would be fun way to engage in science with my little one.