Prospect Heights

Drop-Off Child Care Options in NYC for Date Night

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Mon, 10/14/2019 - 4:00pm

If date night is a distant memory, it's probably time to book a couple's night out. But in a city as pricey as New York, babysitting costs can really blow up your date night budget.

While you might luck into an occasional care swap with another family, you shouldn't have to wait until your kid is old enough for sleepovers or sleepaway camp to enjoy a night on the town. Luckily several play spots in the city offer safe, supervised drop-off care for kids, often for less than your average sitter. Better still: Not only do you get some adult time, your kids will have enough fun that they'll be begging for your next night out soon enough.

Read on for 10 cool date-night drop-off spots, plus some tips for dealing with child care emergencies day or night.

Great Party Spots in Brooklyn for Baby's First Birthday

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Fri, 08/16/2019 - 11:30am

Let’s face it: Your baby's first birthday isn’t just about celebrating the start of toddlerhood. It’s about acknowledging the fact that you’re still standing after a whole year of parenting, even if you can’t remember the last time you slept!

At this age, the kids in attendance probably won't be running in circles (in fact, many of them might not be walking), so you don't need as much space as you will in a few years, and there’s a good chance that your guest list is heavy on the grown-ups. We've already rounded up great best first birthday spots in Manhattan, and now we've put together a list of top Brooklyn baby-friendly first birthday bash spots that adults and kids will appreciate.

Looking for more party-perfect ideas? Take a look at these Brooklyn gym parties, or visit our handy Party Guide and Directory to find entertainers and more.

Money-Saving Deals for NYC Kids Classes and Fall Programs

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 08/06/2019 - 12:00pm

Hey, we know kids activities can cost a pretty penny, so we reached out to some of New York City's much-loved children's programs to see if they wanted to extend any special offers to our readers. Sure enough, we snagged 15 deals that'll help you save on kids classes this fall! Read on to find discounts on dance classes, kids cooking classes, art for kids, kids gyms, and so much more.

Don't dawdle, because these deals will quite literally disappear as they expire. If you don't see a deal listed below it means the offer is no longer available. If you're looking for even more kids classes, visit our NYC Classes Guide, or you can even search our Directory by location and age!

NYC Playgrounds With Shade: Play It Cool at These Shady Parks in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 07/25/2019 - 3:00pm

Need to find a playground with shade for a hot summer day in NYC? These shady playgrounds in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens offer a break from the sun, but no shortage of fun.

While kids can always cool off in NYC's many sprinklers, there's no reason for us parents to get stuck baking in the heat. A few NYC playgrounds are known to offer exceptional amounts of shade—Hippo Playground in Riverside Park and Discovery Playground in Fort Washington Park come to mind—but we asked our readers if they knew of any super-shady playgrounds in New York City. They came through with a number of great suggestions.

Please keep in mind that the name of the game here is comfort on a hot summer day; though we have visited plenty of destination playgrounds, with a few exceptions, these shady suggestions tend to be neighborhood standbys and small playgrounds that have plenty of shade, but perhaps not too many bells and whistles. But if you're looking for a cool place to play this summer, one of these spots should do the trick.

Best Brooklyn Splash Pads and Water Playgrounds for Summer Fun

Submitted by Sara F on Tue, 06/25/2019 - 2:00pm

When the sticky NYC summer heat sets in, kids need fun things to do to keep cool (bonus points if the kiddos also get a chance to burn off some energy). There’s no better solution than water playgrounds—get cool in the water, dry off to hit the other playground equipment, rinse and repeat. All afternoon.

And best of all, hitting a water playground is a FREE summer activity you can do every day. We’ve rounded up the best water features and playgrounds around Brooklyn so that you and the little ones can try a new place to spray and play every day of the week.

It's a long summer! Find more ways to keep cool with our NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide, which includes splash pads in other boroughs too!

10 Heart-Pumping, Thrill-Seeking Activities for NYC Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 06/21/2019 - 6:49am

I've got three kids with three decidedly different personalities. Even though my youngest is just a toddler, it's clear she's a daredevil at heart, never content to sit still for long and always looking for a challenge sure to scare me. She's already got me thinking of activities to thrill her spirit—safely of course. If you've got a like-minded child who refuses to keep her feet on the ground and operates at hyper-speed, New York City is filled with activities to satisfy young thrill seekers, from rock climbing to surfing to trapeze and more. Read on for 10 activities that will get kids' hearts (and yours!) pumping.

Destination Playground: Zucker Natural Area in Prospect Park

Submitted by Katie Nave Freeman on Tue, 05/21/2019 - 8:36am

Most New York City kids may not have backyards, but they do have no shortage of entertaining and engaging playgrounds and parks, including some playgrounds that are truly special. The Donald and Barbara Zucker Natural Exploration Area in Prospect Park definitely ranks high on our list of destination playgrounds worth a subway ride.

Located on Nellie’s Lawn in the northeastern section of the park, the Zucker Natural Area isn’t your traditional playground, so no swings, slides, or brightly colored plastic. The nature-based play space, opened in 2013, features romping spots made from some of the 500 trees that were downed during storms like Hurricane Sandy, along with other recycled natural materials that have been collected throughout the park.

7 Best Children's Gardens in NYC Where Kids Can Dig, Grow, Explore, and Play

Submitted by Katie Nave Freeman on Tue, 05/14/2019 - 10:00am

While we’re beyond grateful to live in a city with endless amounts of theater and museums to expose little ones to, sometimes it’s essential to get outside and let them be one with nature. Thanks to beloved children's gardens throughout New York, our city kids have a chance to explore different plants, participate in workshops, and get their hands in the dirt.

Now that the city is in full bloom, it’s the perfect time to head to one of the many children’s gardens in NYC. So bring your nature-obsessed kiddos to one of these top children’s gardens in NYC.

Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms as a Family in NYC

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 04/04/2019 - 1:00pm

There are few more delightful ways to celebrate the arrival of spring than by viewing the beautiful cherry blossoms flowering all over New York City. In Japan, cherry blossom-viewing is taken to almost religious heights. Blooming flowers are carefully watched, enjoyed, and celebrated. Traditional Sakura Hanami parties feature eating, drinking, and music.

Everyone seems to know about the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, but there are other places to enjoy these gorgeous blossoms without the crowds this April and even deeper into the spring season. Here are the best places to see cherry blossoms in New York City this spring.

Macy's Flower Show and 6 More NYC Spots to See Spring's Blooms

Submitted by Sarah G on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 3:40pm

After so many hours spent indoors during cold winter months, springtime in New York City is one of my family’s favorite seasons. Besides the warmer weather and increased outdoor playtime, we love spotting the season’s first snowbells, crocuses, and blossoming trees.

While plenty of flowers poke through the earth in neighborhood parks and along city sidewalks—not to mention community gardens—there are a few spots in the city where spring blooms are downright outstanding. Springtime also brings the annual flower show at Macy's, which kicks off this weekend on Sunday, March 24. To celebrate the arrival of spring, we've rounded up our favorite places to enjoy springtime.