Upper West Side

Great Art Camps for NYC Kids: Paint, Sculpt, Sing, Perform

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 6:45pm

There's really no place like New York City for kids to learn about art. There are many professional artists who moonlight as a talented pool of teachers. The demand for art programs has created an amazing wealth of exceptional art classes and camps. After evaluating a myriad of creative arts camps, we have selected 11 exceptional camps which excel for different reasons.

We found visual arts camps, dance and theater camps, music camps, and even creative writing camps. There are also camps that have programs in cool stuff like circus arts and art camps that allow kids to sample a little of everything. We found programs that run all summer as well as week-long intensives. No matter their age, if your child is ready to dive into a summer of artistic expression, read on to find the perfect camp.

If you need more ideas, check out our Camp Guide and full Directory of Listings for dozens more great camp.

10 Things to Love About the DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New-York Historical Society

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 02/19/2019 - 4:37pm

Kids are naturally intrigued by history—the "who, what, and when" of how the world as they know it came to be. Curious history buffs in the making (and their parents) take note: One of our favorite children's museums in NYC is actually tucked into the basement level of the the New-York Historical Society in the heart of the family-friendly Upper West Side, just steps from Central Park. If you haven't visited yet, read on for 10 reasons we love the DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New-York Historical Society, a hidden gem with plenty for kids to explore.

February Break Camps for NYC Kids: 10 Affordable Midwinter Recess Programs

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 2:00pm

Midwinter recess always seems to be the black-sheep break: It sneaks up on you and you have no idea how to handle it once it arrives. Here are 10 budget-friendly camp programs for the week. If you need more options, check with your local museum, playspace or enrichment center to see if they're offering coverage.

If you're able to take a few days off and spend quality time with the kids enjoying winter in NYC, check out our list of 35 Fun Things to Do Over February Break.

Lincoln Square: A Family-Friendly Neighborhood Packed with Culture, Parks and Play

Submitted by Suzy Q on Tue, 01/29/2019 - 11:00am

An entertainment Mecca for Manhattanites and tourists, Lincoln Square is a vibrant, bustling and sought-after community for families and professionals. It offers luxurious shopping, upscale dining and entertainment options, alongside top-notch family friendly amenities. Lincoln Square, the southern-most section of the Upper West Side, begins at Columbus Circle at 58th Street and continues north to West 70th Street. It’s bordered by Amsterdam Avenue on the west and Central Park, just blocks to the east!

Families who yearn to make Lincoln Square their home should check out the apartment rentals One Columbus Place. This family-friendly luxury building offers no fee apartments with select units offering up to 1.5 months rent free. The building offers a host of amenities such as an apple seeds® playroom, private outdoor spaces, and a wellness center with Peloton bikes. Read on for the 45 best reasons to make Lincoln Square your next stop for family fun and fabulousness.

Chinese Lunar New Year Parades and Celebrations for NYC Kids

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 1:30pm

Lunar New Year is one of our favorite winter celebrations in New York City, and we're particularly excited for 2019's family activities. School-aged kids ought to be excited, too, as the holiday gives them an extra day off from school.

Often referred to as Chinese New Year, although many Asian nations celebrate it, this year the holiday takes place on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, and ushers in the Year of the Pig. Mark this cultural holiday with a family-friendly celebration. We've got the scoop on the best Lunar New Year parades, family dance parties, museum events, crafts, and more for NYC kids.

Commemorating Lunar New Year is a great way to learn about Asian culture and enjoy the food. Check out one of these dozen NYC eateries where you can enjoy Lunar New Year banquets, snacks, or desserts. With celebrations and parades in almost every borough, it's also an opportunity to get out and explore a new-to-you neighborhood such as Manhattan's Chinatown, Flushing in Queens, Sunset Park in Brooklyn, or Midtown Manhattan's Koreatown.

11 New Summer Camps for NYC Kids in 2019

Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on Thu, 01/24/2019 - 4:00pm

Seasoned New York City parents know that summer camp search season starts when snow is on the ground and summer seems like a distant memory. Still, every year, I tend to put off summer planning until the February mid-winter school break shocks me into action.

Fortunately, the NYC area and surrounding suburbs offer tons of summer camp choices, from cooking to coding, from science to sports, and everything in between. And because NYC is always changing, there are always new camps opening. We've found a number of new summer camps for 2019, including some new locations for old favorites. Summer break will be here before you know it!

Kid Film Festivals and Indie Movie Theaters in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 01/22/2019 - 8:30am

A visit to the movies is tempting in the cold of winter, but big-budget family film options can be lackluster. Why not rediscover the magic of the movies at a children's film festival?

City kids can sit back and enjoy the carefully curated lineup at the 2019 BAMkids Film Festival and New York International Children's Film Festival. These showcase international and offbeat shorts and features. You'll also find cool classics every Sunday at Film Forum Jr., as well as a mix of indie and classics at BAM with its BAMkids movie matinee series. Each offers dozens of picks for preschoolers up to tweens. Plus, ticket prices can be less costly—most are less than $15 per person.

Read on for details on these festivals, plus a special discount just for Mommy Poppins readers on this year's New York International Children's Film Festival.

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.

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day with Kids at These NYC Events

Submitted by Andy Fenwick on Tue, 01/15/2019 - 10:55am

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is peaceful for New York City kids, but it sure isn't boring, with music and storytelling and volunteer activities all focused on celebrating Dr. King's life and teachings with kids. Enjoy interactive peace marches, a special story hour, a FREE bash at BAM in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and various museum events.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 21, 2019) is also a National Day of Service, when citizens are encouraged to help out in their communities. So we've included a list of family volunteering opportunities that are wonderful ways to honor King's work. You can find even more things to do on MLK Day in our Event Calendar.

Best Winter Theater for NYC Kids 2019

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 01/14/2019 - 4:02pm

New York City has tons of cool shows for families this winter, including the debut of two buzzed-about Broadway productions aimed at tweens: the Internet-fueled phenomenon Be More Chill and the big-budget musicalization of Beetlejuice. But you don't need to dig into your 401K to give your kids a memorable live theater experience in NYC—plenty of family-friendly productions are playing beyond Broadway for a lot less.

This winter there are wonderful options for kids of all ages from toddlers to teens, including shows aimed specifically at the preschool set (The Naughty Penguin, Sesame Street Live!), stage adaptations of popular picture books such as The Snowy Day, The Magic School Bus and The Stinky Cheese Man, and eye-popping spectacles for the whole family (Thunderbird American Indian Dance Concert and Powwow, Jedi Academy).

Best of all, most of these 28 shows are priced at $25 and under, so you can take the whole family for less than the price of one Broadway ticket.