Needham

12 Boston Spots Where Kids Can Make Father's Day Gifts for Dad

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Tue, 05/30/2017 - 10:48am

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and there's a vast array of crafty places where kids can make a special gift for their favorite guy. Whether it’s making a masterpiece before the holiday or going as a family to make something together, Boston kids have plenty of opportunities over the next couple weeks to create gifts above and beyond a construction paper card or bottle of aftershave. From sand art knick-knacks to handmade wooden games, there's a gift-making opportunity to suit every child—and every kind of Dad.

5 Rock Music Camps for Kids Near Boston

Submitted by Fiona Haley on Mon, 05/15/2017 - 10:00am

If your house sounds like CBGB all day long, or you’re looking for a summer camp that will help your aspiring Hendrix hone some real skills, then you’re in luck. The Boston area offers a plethora of summer rock music camps that cater to kids of all ages, abilities, and specialties—guitar, drums, bass, or vocals. Thanks to these camps, blossoming musicians will be jamming from Andover to Seekonk.

Fun Purim Events for Families Around Boston

Submitted by Kelley Heyworth on Thu, 03/02/2017 - 11:31am

Technically, Purim is the Jewish holiday commemorating the defeat of Haman's plot against the Jews, as recorded in the Book of Esther; but to kids, Purim is mostly just pure fun. Across the city and 'burbs, schools, temples, libraries, and museums are hosting Purim parties and activities, in which kids can dress up in their favorite or zaniest costumes and nosh on traditional treats.

12 Summer Camps for Boston Kids who Love STEM

Submitted by Kelley Heyworth on Tue, 02/07/2017 - 11:49am

Surrounded as we are 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 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 one that’s a good fit for your Junior Einstein, and sign up soon—early-bird specials are widely available this month, and some of these camps fill up fast. And if your kids are itching for some STEM fun in the meantime, check out these brain-building boredom busters especially suited to cooler weather.

Best Places to Go Bowling With Boston Kids

Submitted by Scott Wallask on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 1:57pm

Bowling is fun for all ages, but hitting the lanes with children is particularly enjoyable because it's an activity that's hard to strike out with, whether a kid is on target hitting the pins or just whips the ball down the gutter. And not a lot has changed in bowling since parents were young.

Greater Boston offers a lot of bowling choices, many of them family-friendly places that have been around for decades. Be warned that this rundown skips some very cool bowling meccas, such as Lucky Strikes on Landsdown Street in Boston or the King's chain, because those places attract 20- and 30-somethings who come to drink and eat well while they bowl – not the best spots to bring your 5- or 6-somethings to. With that in mind, here are a dozen bowling lanes that cater to families looking for a fun afternoon out or an indoor birthday party place.