Staten Island

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at These NYC Spring Brunches

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Sun, 03/17/2019 - 9:13am

Looking to kick off your Easter celebrations by hanging with the Easter Bunny? Get into the springtime spirit by joining one of the city's handful of Bunny brunches for kids this April. We've rounded up several festive New York City meals—from inexpensive pancake affairs to a lavish spread at a high-end restaurant—where families can take pictures with the Easter Bunny along with other kid-friendly springtime activities. Bring your camera, and your appetite.

Easter falls on Sunday, April 21 in 2019. Tickets for these meals always sell like hotcakes, so get them before they're gone. (And be sure to check our Event Calendar for more seasonal and holiday fun.)

Meet the Easter Bunny in NYC for a Photo Op with the Kids

Submitted by Yuliya Geikhman on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 5:00pm

The Easter Bunny is making appearances all over New York City this spring, including on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019—so you'll have plenty of opportunities to snap a picture with your child cozied up to the festive rabbit.

We've rounded up some of the top places in all five boroughs to take a picture with the Easter Bunny, beginning in March. These range from professional shots you can have taken ahead of time to DIY opportunities at your local egg hunt. Get those reservations booked!

Best Spring Events for NYC Preschoolers and Toddlers

Submitted by Sara F on Thu, 03/14/2019 - 2:14pm

Spring may be the most exciting season of the year for parents and caregivers of preschoolers and toddlers who have been stuck inside for the 5,000 weeks that make up winter. With the arrival of warm weather, it's like New York City itself wakes up from hibernating, and families stream out of their houses to take advantage of all the city has to offer in springtime.

There are so many wonderful things to see and do during April and May, and we've rounded up the best ones specifically for kids ages 5 and under. What's not included? The piles of Easter celebrations, Mother's Day extravaganzas, and Passover observances. Too.Much.Information. (But don't worry, we're covering all the spring holidays in depth in coming weeks.). Without further ado, here's the best of the rest!

Best Indoor Play Spaces on Staten Island

Submitted by Katie Nave Freeman on Fri, 03/08/2019 - 9:58am

For rainy, snowy, too-hot, or too-cold days, NYC parents know you've got to have a go-to indoor play space. Brooklyn and Queens have tons of indoor play options, but did you know that Staten Island is stocked with indoor play spaces too? If you can’t face another freezing day at the playground or stuck inside the house, grab socks and let the kids visit one of these spots to jump, climb, slide, and bounce out all of that energy.

Whether you have to hop on the ferry or reside on The Island, these spots are sure to please families looking for a change of scenery. Visit our Indoor Play Spaces Guide for more indoor fun, or our Family Fun Guide to all of NYC's top family attractions.

Roller Skating Rinks for Kids in NYC and the 'Burbs

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 03/04/2019 - 3:05pm

All city dwellers seem to go crazy for ice skating season, but once the ice thaws and spring is upon us, where's a skater to go? It's time to introduce the kids to the old-school art of roller skating at one of these rinks within city limits and just beyond.

In addition to retro skating fun, many of these spots offer extras, including arcade games, bounce houses, and party packages. So lace up your skates and get moving at these rinks!

Register for Free Spring Swim Lessons for NYC Kids

Submitted by Katie Nave Freeman on Mon, 03/04/2019 - 8:30am

The New York City Parks Department offers FREE swim lessons for children and adults all year round, but you have to apply through an online lottery for each session. The FREE spring swimming lessons are on the horizon, and the lottery for registration opens Monday, March 11, 2019, at noon.

Read on for the details on where to swim for free, or check our directory of paid kids' swim classes, and mommy-and-me swim lessons for babies and toddlers, including those in Brooklyn and in Queens.

St. Patrick's Day Events and Free Parades for NYC Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Fri, 03/01/2019 - 3:05pm

If your days of celebrating until you're green around the gills on St. Patrick's Day are a distant memory, don’t worry: There are plenty of kid-friendly ways to mark the holiday in New York City this March. After all, everyone in the city feels a wee bit Irish around St. Patrick’s Day. Best of all? Most of these festivities are FREE.

This year, St. Patrick's Day—Sunday, March 17, 2019—is a Sunday, but you can get started a day early with the Midtown Manhattan parade. The festivities continue with additional popular parades in Rockaway and Sunnyside, Queens, as well as Staten Island. In addition to St. Patrick's Day processions in all five boroughs, there are family fests, stepdancing performances (and places to learn), Gaelic workshops, and kids flicks.

Here are our favorite ways to celebrate Irish culture and St. Patrick’s Day with kids in New York City. Sláinte!

NYC Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 3:00pm

Most NYC kids have a diet that's heavy on eating out, and why not? New York City has some of the best kid-friendly restaurants anywhere. Of course, dining out doesn't come cheaply, especially in this town—unless you happen to be a child. For NYC kids, there really is such a thing as a free lunch, brunch, and sometimes even dinner ... if you know where to go. At these local eateries, you can feed those hungry mouths for the unbeatable price of $0, while you get a break from playing chef. We know what you'll be making tonight: reservations.

Night at the Museum: 5 NYC Museum and Zoo Sleepovers for Kids

Submitted by Allison on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 3:32pm

Sleepovers are all the rage (even Governors Island has gotten into the overnight game). And while a night chaperoning a group of small night-owls might not rank high on your to-do list, kids will get a big kick out of sleeping over at one of their favorite cultural institutions. From the Bronx Zoo to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum to the new Sharks! exhibit at Coney Island, there's a museum sleepover to fit every kid's interests. And you'll earn some serious cool parent cred—some of these overnight adventures are so extravagant, they landed on our list of NYC splurges worth doing at least once.

25 Free Activities to Check Out During Midwinter Break

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 02/08/2019 - 4:00pm

Midwinter break always seems to sneak up on me. We're barely into a post-holiday groove and yet again we've got a full week off from school to fill. While we've already rounded up 35 fun-filled activities for the week, many of them come with a high price tag. To give your budget a bit of relief, we've got 25 more ideas for the February school break that are completely FREE. Visit our Free in NYC Guide for more money-saving options for school break...or any day.