See Canstruction
One of our November Go List picks, this annual exhibit features amazingly detailed sculptures constructed entirely from full cans of food. This year's edition has some pieces that are big pleasers, like a pair of Minions from Despicable Me, the Staten Island Ferry and an all-can recreation of Nathan Sawaya's signature work "Yellow" from The Art of the Brick. Once the exhibit ends on November 13, all the cans will be donated to City Harvest and visitors are encouraged to bring cans of food for the charity, too. After you're done gawking and snapping pics, hit one of the playgrounds in Battery Park. We're particularly partial to Nelson A. Rockefeller Park.

Celebrate kid lit at the NYPL's The ABC of It: Why Children's Books Matter
I've been meaning to see this exhibit at the main branch of the New York Public Library since it opened over the summer. More than 200 items from three centuries of children's literature are on display, notably a copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that belonged to the real-life Alice, the umbrella owned by Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers and lots of original artwork. But the interactive bits sound particularly inviting for kids, like a life-size installation of Margaret Wise Brown’s room from Goodnight Moon, an Alice-style rabbit hole and a fur wall inspired by Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. Afterward, hit Bryant Park right next door to browse the holiday shops and food kiosks, take a spin on the carousel or to...

Go ice-skating in Bryant Park
Although many of NYC's outdoor skating rinks are already open for the season, only one offers FREE admission: Winter Village at Bryant Park. My daughter and I passed by this past weekend and there wasn't even a line since it's so early in the season. Go now before the tourists descend and don't forget to bring your own skates: rentals cost $15.

Commune with nature at Wave Hill or the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Two of our favorite NYC oases, Wave Hill in Riverdale and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Crown Heights, offer FREE admission to all on Tuesdays. They're both great places to relax and get away from it all without leaving NYC.

Enjoy high-tech fun at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Even though we frequently rave about this always-free hands-on museum, we suspect there are a lot of families who've never been. Time to cross it off your bucket list. At more than 20 hands-on stations, school-age kids can try their hand at virtual surgery, movie making, news broadcasting, robot battles, dance motion capture and lots of other cool activities, including a bunch of PlayStation®3 games. Although admission is FREE, timed tickets are required and are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. That said, I've gone with my daughter many times and never been turned away.

Donate some of that Halloween candy
Last week we published a post about donating Halloween candy to various charities. Tomorrow is a great day to make that happen. My daughter and I plan to bring our haul to children's boutique Torly Kid in Tribeca, which is collecting sweets on behalf of Operation Shoebox in exchange for a 15% discount on purchases. You can also send your donations to many organizations directly or even sell your treats back to dentists participating in the Candy Buy Back program. See our post for all the details.

Of course there are countless other things to do in NYC with kids, especially if you're willing to spend a few bucks. Here are some other ideas:

Go bowling or play pool

Make some Thanksgiving Day crafts to get excited for the upcoming holiday

Head to the DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New-York Historical Society to participate in an educational mayor-themed scavenger hunt or...

Visit one of NYC's other fabulous museums—many are FREE for children under 12

Explore a new-to-you area with help from our in-depth Neighborhood Guides

Bundle up and hit one of NYC's many Destination Playgrounds and Parks

Figure out how many of our top 100 things to do with kids in NYC you've done and then see if you can cross one or two more off the list