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Make way for all the family fun coming to Boston in May 2025! Duckling Day event photo courtesy of Friends of the Public Garden
Best Things To Do in Boston May 2025 with Kids
Vermont's Mountain Top Resort is as picturesque as a New England family getaway could be. Photo by Gary Hall
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This Activity-Packed Resort in Stunning Vermont is an Ideal Family Getaway
Ziplining is one of many adventurous activities at Camp Birch Hill. Photo courtesy of the camp
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Boston Summer Camp Guide
There's something for everyone, even teens, at Apex in Marlboro! Photo courtesy of Apex
25 Fun Things To Do in Boston with Teens
See spring flowers and cherry blossoms in the city and around Greater Boston. Boston Public Garden photo by Joe Shlobotnik via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Top Places to See Cherry Blossoms and Spring Wildflowers Near Boston
From outdoor events to indoor fun, explore the free things to do in Boston with kids! Riverfest at Assembly Row photo courtesy of Federal Realty
100 Free Things To Do in Boston with Kids
Jump into fun with the top kids indoor playgrounds and play spaces in Boston! Photo courtesy of Boston Playground
Best Kids Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Boston
Indoors and out and about, there are so many thing to do in Boston with kids before they grow up! Photo courtesy of the Rose Kennedy Greenway website
100 Things To Do in Boston Before Kids Grow Up
Mommy Poppins Family Travel Guide
Teatime meets playtime in Beverly. Photo courtesy of the Children's Piazza
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Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun for Boston Kids
Don't sweat the weather, because the best indoor water parks in New England are waiting for year-round fun! Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort
Best Indoor Water Parks in New England for Easy Family Getaways
Big league fun awaits at Boston's top attractions for kids. Photo courtesy of Fenway Park
Top Attractions in Boston: Best Things To See and Do with Kids
Photo courtesy of Fire+Ice
15 Boston-Area Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While You Eat (and Relax)
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Peek inside a rainforest at Providence's Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Boston Zoos: There's More Than Just the Franklin Park Zoo!
Get active and have fun as a family at the top spots for indoor golf in Boston!
Best Indoor Golf in Boston: Indoor Golfing Fun for Kids and Families
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Guide to Boston Classes and Activities for Kids
Explore a new area on a weekend trip with the kids from Boston
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Day Trips and Weekend Getaways from Boston Guide
From outdoor events to indoor fun, explore the free things to do in Boston with kids! Riverfest at Assembly Row photo courtesy of Federal Realty
100 Free Things To Do in Boston with Kids
Free, fun activities can be as simple as blowing bubbles on a sunny day
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Free Things To Do in Boston with Kids Guide
Hiking is just one of many things to do in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, but it sure delivers great views!
25 Things to Do in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with Kids
10 One-Mile-or-Less Hikes to Take with Your Preschooler Around Boston
Perfect for a day trip from Boston, Cape Ann has miles of beaches, great food, and plenty of family fun. Good Harbor Beach photo by Bex Walton via Flickr 2.0
Things To Do on Cape Ann: Day Trips from Boston to Gloucester and More
Step into family fun in the Merrimack Valley. Photo courtesy of the Salisbury Beach Partnership.
25 Things To Do in the Merrimack Valley with Kids
Nantucket's Daffodil Festival is one of many spring celebrations around Massachusetts.
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Spring Break Ideas Guide for Boston Kids and Families
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
Take flight at Story Land in New Hampshire, one of the top New England theme parks for kids and families! Photo courtesy of the park.
Best New England Theme Parks for Kids and Families
The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial. Photo courtesy of the National Parks Service
Black-Owned Restaurants, Shops, and Landmarks to Discover in Boston
Who you lookin' at?! The Tropical Forest at Franklin Park Zoo. Photo by Don Crasco/Franklin Park Zoo
Franklin Park Zoo: Top Tips for a Great Visit with Kids
Try a little freeze dancing, robot style! Photo courtesy of Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels
30 Exercise Games and Indoor Activities to Get Kids Moving
Science experiments and STEM activities for kids entrance children with their
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Guide to Science Experiments for Kids and Fun STEM Activities
New England sleepaway camps get kids out into nature. Photo courtesy of Night Eagle Wilderness Adventure Camp
New England Sleepaway Camps Where Kids Completely Unplug
No messy, dripping fingers when you eat watermelon on a stick.
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Photo by Liz Baill
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A water park, beach activities, and more await at Coconut Bay's all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia.
Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the US, Caribbean, and Mexico for Kids
Photo courtesy of the Franklin Park Kite & Bike Festival
Festivals, Community Days and More Things to Do in Boston This Weekend with Kids
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Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Little Explorers
Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary - 9:30 AM
Emeralds
Havard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
The Garden at Elm Bank - Open Daily
The Garden at Elm Bank - 10:00 AM
Toddler Time on Wednesdays - Big Bouncy Party
Big Bouncy Party - 10:00 AM
Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Emeralds
Havard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
The Garden at Elm Bank - Open Daily
The Garden at Elm Bank - 10:00 AM
Grúpa Súgartha - 'Children's Play Group' at the Irish Cultural Centre
Irish Cultural Centre - 10:00 AM
Playspace - Coolidge Corner
Coolidge Corner Branch Library - 10:15 AM
Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Emeralds
Havard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Musical Tot Shabbat & Challah Bake
Beth Menachem Chabad - 10:30 AM
The Garden at Elm Bank - Open Daily
The Garden at Elm Bank - 10:00 AM
The Escape Game Dedham
The Escape Room Dedham - various times
2025 Greenway Spring Fest
Rose Kennedy Greenway - 11:00 AM Pick
Franklin Park Kite & Bike Festival
Franklin Park Playstead, - 12:00 PM Pick
Self-Guided Spring Orchard Walk at Cider Hill Farm
Cider Hill Farm - 8:30 AM
Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
21st Annual Union Square Farmers Market
Union Square Plaza - 9:00 AM
North Andover's 53rd Annual Sheep Shearing Festival
North Andover Common - 10:00 AM Pick
Esplanade Community Day Celebration
Hatch Shell/Esplanade - various times Pick
Self-Guided Spring Orchard Walk at Cider Hill Farm
Cider Hill Farm - 8:30 AM
Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Emeralds
Havard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Emeralds
Havard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Future Readers Story Time - Grove Hall
Grove Hall Branch Boston Public Library - 10:30 AM
The Garden at Elm Bank - Open Daily
The Garden at Elm Bank - 10:00 AM
Slime Time - Coolidge Corner
Coolidge Corner Branch Library - 3:00 PM
Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination
Harvard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Emeralds
Havard Museum of Natural History - 9:00 AM
Family Storytime - Coolidge Corner
Coolidge Corner Branch Library - 10:30 AM
Building for Babies and Toddlers - Brookline Village
Brookline Village Library - 10:30 AM
Family Storytime - Brookline Village
Brookline Village Library - 10:30 AM
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DIY Halloween 101: Decorations and Costume Accessories to Make With Your Kids

9/1/14 - By Tara D

Halloween is a holiday that celebrates creativity. Decorations and costumes provide opportunities to let your imagination go wild and to see old things in a new way. The policy in our house is that costumes must be created primarily from things we already have. Last year, my Smurfs-obsessed child went as Gutsy Smurf – his kilt and sash were made from an old flannel shirt we had stashed in a “get rid of” bag in the basement. In that vein, I've found a few DIY costume pieces that could be the inspiration for (or cherry on top of) a great costume. I've also rounded up some Halloween decor to create with your kids. Why buy decorations when you can make fabulously spooky ones like these? (If this post inspires your inner crafter and you're looking for even more ideas, take a look at these cheap and easy Halloween crafts from our LA editor.)

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Redbook has a whole slideshow of fun Halloween decorations, but the Tangled Webs craft is my favorite because it’s simple, the supplies are easy to get, and even little tykes can make the sparkly glitter webs (with help from a parent, of course).

While you have the glue and wax paper out, go ahead and make this adorable Ghost Necklace. If you tie the ghost on, you can actually make two or three ghost and string them along the necklace. These little ghosties can also be used for decorations (which may be a good idea if your little one really gets into the project and wants to make multiple ghosts, or if you have a kid who doesn’t like to wear necklaces).

I’ve always liked the crafts and recipes from Family Fun (which is now Spoonful), but this Ghostwriter pen project thrills me. The coolest Halloween party favor. Ever.

Say what you want about Martha Stewart, but when it comes to creating something fabulous, she really knows her stuff. I think these Collage Halloween Masks are genius. If you ditch the templates provided and use paper plates and old magazines, you can make this a green project and as wild, spooky, creepy or funny as your imagination allows.

Keep those magazines out and grab some paper shopping bags. The Paper Bag Gargoyles from Spoonful use a very similar collage concept to make super fun decorations. You can keep it simple for little ones, or let your older kids go wild with the “hairdos” and facial expressions.

These Recycled Haunted Houses from Parents Magazine are great – they reuse milk cartons and newspapers to create a fun, open-ended project that can be spooky or cute, depending on your child’s taste.

This easy, very inexpensive Egg Carton Animal Nose Mask Craft could really make a costume. Just add ears, a tail and possibly a little face paint. You and your child could make a whole zoo of animal noses and keep them around for dress up. This would also make a good party activity, whether it’s a Halloween hootenanny or a birthday celebration.

I think Crafting Mom may have been snooping around my house, because I literally have all the supplies for her Halloween Ghost Jars craft just lying around. I always save jars, thinking that they will make a good craft someday, and apparently I’m right! Thank you, Crafting Mom, for validating my recyclables hoarding habit.

The Halloween Ring Critters from AllFreeCrafts.com are so cute, and definitely do not need to be limited to the Halloween season. Just be careful of the potentially pokey ends of the chenille stems (you may want to cover the tips in glue). To avoid frustration, I recommend using glue dots as the adhesive – otherwise, your kids could be sitting there a while, holding the pompoms together to dry, only to watch the whole thing fall apart as soon as they let go.

The Handprint Mask Craft from About.com is quick, easy, good for all ages, and absolutely brilliant. You may want to Pin this tutorial for future Mardi Gras celebrations; or, if you have an American Girl fan in the house, it could be used for a Marie-Grace and Cécile themed event.


Originally published October 17, 2012; updated October 2013, September 2014

Crafts & Recipes Halloween Preschoolers Kids Tweens & teens New York City Boston Houston Philadelphia Los Angeles Connecticut Long Island New Jersey Westchester

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