Battery Park City

13 NYC Restaurants with Backyards and Patios for Kid-Friendly Dining

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 05/23/2019 - 3:20pm

Great outdoor dining makes summer in the city tolerable, at least in my book. An hour sitting on a shady patio, sipping a cold drink, steels me for the rest of the week on sweaty NYC subways and dog-pee-scented streets. It's also a great way to savor those first sun-filled days of spring.

Of course, eating out with kids is never as simple as that, so we’ve selected not just sublime outdoor dining spots but ones with enough room to roam. Hopefully, these family-friendly Manhattan restaurants, from the Battery up to Inwood, will make you forget you are in New York City with that backyard living life, even for those of us whose apartments are too small and too dark with nary a leaf to be seen.

We’ve also covered the best backyard outdoor dining in Brooklyn and Queens. See all our restaurant recommendations in the Mommy Poppins NYC Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide.

Best Water Playgrounds and Sprinklers for Kids in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 05/19/2019 - 9:00am

When we were growing up, New York City playgrounds had sprinklers. Now parks and playgrounds across the five boroughs have "water features"—fountains, geysers, rivers, pumps, and beautiful spraying statues. Kids just love them, and we parents prefer these newfangled playgrounds because they're pretty and cool, and make us feel as if our exorbitant NYC housing costs are justified.

Sprinkler season in NYC parks kicks into gear when the temps reach 80 degrees, although some parks may turn on water features earlier. There are hundreds of water features in NYC parks, and we've highlighted some favorites by borough: the best in Brooklyn, best of Queens, and best of the Bronx. Some are cooler (literally and figuratively) than others, and more amazing ones seem to open every year. When we first published this article in 2008, we had five favorite splashing spots. Now we're up to 27 fancy playgrounds where kids can get wet in NYC. See if your favorites made our list.

Statue of Liberty Museum Opens With a New View on Lady Liberty

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 05/17/2019 - 10:00am

If you haven't visited Lady Liberty lately, it may be time to add the tourist hot spot to your list of summer must-dos. The brand new Statue of Liberty Museum has now opened, bringing with it an immersive theater, plenty of Statue of Liberty history, and kid-friendly, touchable artifacts that bring a new interactive element to your visit. Read on for a look inside the museum, plus tips on how to visit.

13 Brain-Boosting NYC Playgrounds That Build Physical and Mental Skills

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 05/05/2019 - 10:54am

Playtime should be fun, but that doesn't mean you can't learn a few lessons along the way. In an age when STEM activities are all the rage, and we race our kids from class to class, sometimes it's worth slowing down and setting the kids free in a park or playground to see what skills they pick up on their own.

We've rounded up a baker's dozen NYC play areas that foster old-fashioned playground skills—like balance, strength, and coordination—while also offering unique features that encourage brain-boosting skills—like problem-solving, engineering, physics, cooperation, imagination, resilience, and teamwork. Plus, they're some of the coolest play zones in the city.

NYC's Best Playgrounds: 18 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 04/21/2019 - 11:35am

Playgrounds may be as much a part of childhood as potty training and the tooth fairy, but to city families, having a go-to playground is a real sanity saver. When you live in a tiny apartment, the neighborhood park is like your backyard.

While New Yorkers are lucky to have many awesome local play spots, some NYC playgrounds are a cut above the rest. These spots offer plenty of space to romp and enough outdoor entertainment to make them worth a schlep on the subway. Without further ado, read on for 18 of the city's best playgrounds—our NYC playground hall of fame.

16 Great Parks and Playgrounds for NYC Kids' Birthdays

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 04/09/2019 - 3:20pm

Savvy DIY parents know that during the warmer months, New York City's parks make a fun (and inexpensive) backdrop for a birthday bash. Granted, this type of party requires more work than booking one of those all-inclusive packages, but you get to control most of the details, including the cost (though sadly, not the weather).

Find more party spots in our NYC Birthday Guide, including inexpensive room rentals for when bad weather threatens the fun.

Up with the Sun? 21 Early Morning Spots to Entertain NYC Toddlers

Submitted by Louise Finnell on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 9:27am

New York is "the city that never sleeps," especially for parents of young children. Kids can spend countless hours at parks and playgrounds, museums, play spaces, and more. But if you have an early riser, it's not always easy to find an age-appropriate play spot.

Toddlers and babies are often ready to start their day before sunrise, so we've put together a list of awesome places to go and things to see around NYC in the wee hours with your youngest New Yorkers.

9 Top Sports Camps for NYC Kids

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 12:00pm

Got a tot who loves to tumble? A teen who dreams of being a basketball hall-of-famer? Or maybe your high-energy kid just never stops moving?

Not only can New York City kids choose from a number of day camps that have their athleticism in mind—offering karate, tennis, soccer, beach volleyball, parkour, gymnastics, horseback riding, and so much more—but the facilities are mind-blowing. You'll find rock climbing walls and driving ranges, indoor ice rinks and outdoor ball fields, 50-meter Olympic size pools and state-of-the-art sports complexes. Oh, and it doesn't stop with athletics at these summer programs. When campers aren't flexing their muscles, they can participate in activities like cooking classes, science experiments, drum circles, magic shows, and regular field trips.

Where to Find Free Classes for Kids at NYC Stores and Public Spaces

Submitted by Sydney Ng on Tue, 01/15/2019 - 3:53pm

We'll just say it: Raising a kid is expensive. Weekend classes, summer camp, after-school care, and dance and music lessons can add up. A 2018 study by Sun Trust Bank found that a majority of parents spend at least $1,000 a year per child on extracurricular activities. And let’s face it New Yorkers, we’re most likely paying much more than that.

That’s why we’ve rounded up more than a dozen FREE classes that run year-round in NYC to lighten the financial load. All the classes listed here are free within free-to-access stores and public places, but there are also plenty of free and low-cost activities inside of NYC museums and gardens that have monthly memberships. Don't forget that your IDNYC card will give you free or discounted access to many cultural institutions.

Check out our Free in NYC Guide for more budget-friendly family fun.

10 Most Exciting Kid-Friendly Openings Coming to NYC in 2019

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 01/10/2019 - 4:00pm

If there's one constant in New York City, it's change. The dawning of a new year has us looking at our calendars and into our crystal balls, anticipating all the fun that's still to come for NYC kids. We opened 2019 with some welcome family-friendly news, but that's not the biggest change in store for city families this year. Read on for 10 new places to play, museums to explore, shows to catch, and goodies to eat. If that's not enough kid-friendly fun for you, make sure you've visited our favorite spots that opened last year, too!