Do your kids take a school bus? Does its erratic schedule make you long for the Swiss precision of the MTA? Then check this out: One NYC mom was so unnerved by the lateness of her son's school bus that she created an app to help parents track their kids' in transit. Katherine Johnson teamed up with programmer and fellow P.S. 51 Elias Howe School parent Jared Alessandroni to develop Safer Bus. (Their kids currently have a wicked commute since their school was temporary moved from Midtown West to the Upper East Side due to construction.) Here's how it works: Children get a card that drivers scan via iPad to check them in and out of the bus. Once the vehicle is on the road, parents can track it using the iPad's built-in GPS. The app is not yet available to the public—according to WPIX.com, it needs to be approved by "the school, the Department of Education and the bus company"—but it's earned the support of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Assuming that school bus strike doesn't happen, this free app could come in handy.

We're big fans of taking our kids to NYC's fantastic museums, whether it's a play spot like the Children's Museum of Manhattan or a more mature cultural experience like the Whitney. If you've been missing the latter's iconic Circus installation by Alexander Calder, which used to charm visitors (especially the young ones) in the lobby, take note: The Whitney is bringing it back beginning Friday, December 9. This nifty toy-size artwork is a must-see mechanical marvel. Just watch this vintage video of it in action. Circus and other works by Calder will be on view as part of the Whitney's Singular Visions exhibit. You can get your kids interested in Calder by checking out the Whitney's For Kids section of its website, which features quizzes, photos and tons of information about this influential artist. As Calder once said about his work, "I want to make things that are fun to look at." He succeeded.

Another interesting exhibit for families: The Jewish Museum has brought back its annual display of menorahs but this season, the Hanukkah lamps were chosen by Maurice "Where the Wild Things Are" Sendak. The author picked 33 menorahs from the museum's collection of more than 1,000. His choices, which he describes as "very plain [and] severe looking," will be on view through January 29. Remember, you can visit the Jewish Museum for free on Saturdays 11am-5:45pm.

Everyone can use extra money these days, especially our kids' schools. And perhaps that can be arranged. Good Morning America's Elisabeth Leamy has helped people find close to a half a million dollars using online databases, and it turns out that school districts may also have unclaimed cash. Of course it's not as simple as kicking back and waiting for Santa to deliver it. Leamy suggests visiting unclaimed.org (not .com—that's a pay site and you should never pay to search for or collect unclaimed funds) and missingmoney.com, and then trying a few tricks, like entering the name of the school in last name field. Leamy's latest GMA story features a school that suffered massive damage during Hurricane Irene; she found more $6,000 for them, plus money for individual faculty members. Can't hurt to see what money, if any, your kids' school may have coming.

And finally, even though it doesn't feel like the colder months are coming, eventually they will arrive, so you'll be looking for inside spots for your kids to romp in. Last winter, we wrote about a cool pop-up park called Park Here, which was housed in the Openhouse Gallery on Mulberry Street. The creators decided to revive this indoor oasis, and the new-and-improved Park Here opened on Monday and stays up through February 15. In addition to lots of design additions—we're loving the bright flowers—the spot will also host special Mommy Mornings. Beginning Friday, December 9, families can enjoy exclusive access to the park 9am-noon daily as well as fun activities for kids like yoga with Yogi Beans, arts and crafts with House of Jem and rock bands, plus organic coffee for adults. There is a catch (isn't there always): These Mommy Mornings aren't free; $200 gets you a season pass. If you live in the area and plan on going regularly, it's a decent deal. If not, opt for a one-day pass for $25, or visit after noon when entrance is free. But be warned: On weekends the place is mobbed with hipsters and their iPads.