During the holiday season, families gather to enjoy delicious meals, exchange gifts, and celebrate the year gone by. But for many New Yorkers, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time. Volunteering is a wonderful way to help others in the community and an ideal opportunity to teach children the true spirit of the season.

We've rounded up some of our favorite kid-friendly volunteering opportunities. No matter where in the tri-state area you live, the age of your children, or your family's interests, chances are there is a program that can use your help.

The Nutcracker: It's among the most enduring of holiday family traditions in these parts. And just as there are many kinds of Boston families, there are different Nutcrackers appealing to different tastes, from the Boston Ballet classic to a high-energy, hip-hop interpretation. But Tchaikovsky's beloved confection is hardly the only holiday-themed stage performance delighting kids across Boston this month and next. Families can carol with the Pops, sing along with Rudolph, discover what your elves on the shelf are up to and more. All the shows are terrific, but tickets will go faster than cookies at Christmas Eve, so we'd advise booking sooner than later. 

Attention, ocean and animal lovers: New Hampshire now has its own aquarium! Boasting 32,000 square feet of tide pools and hands-on exhibits, newly opened Living Shores differentiates itself from other aquariums by offering more opportunities to interact with sea life. Plus, it's next door to Story Land amusement park, so you can plan a trip to Living Shores as a standalone winter escape or a counterpart to an amusement park visit in the warmer months. 

For days when you want to marvel at underwater worlds but can't make it all the way to New Hampshire, The New England Aquarium is one of our favorite attractions closer to home.

If Thomas, Percy, and James are a part of your daily conversations, take advantage of the many train and railroad attractions throughout New Jersey. From North Pole excursions to the world's largest model railroad, the Garden State has it all.

The holidays are an extra-special time for train-lovers, with Christmas train rides, model train shows, and rides through holiday lights. We've rounded up all these and more below, so read on for a list of places where you can ride the rails with your little one, check out amazing displays, and more. 

Before the Thanksgiving festivities begin (not to mention the eating frenzy), why not get the whole family up and moving with a good old-fashioned turkey trot. These runs and walks are held in Nassau, Suffolk, and the East End around the time of the holiday, and many are open to all ages, often featuring a "fun run" just for kids.

Many of these races start bright and early, so even if you're the one putting the turkey in the oven or have to hit the road by noon to get to grandma's, you still should be able to fit in a holiday trot. For more seasonal adventures, check out our Long Island Events Calendar and our November GoList.

Starved after your visit to one of the top kid destinations on the Upper West Side? Home to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), the DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New-York Historical Society, and the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), few Manhattan neighborhoods scream kid-friendly quite like the UWS, and that means the area's restaurants are overwhelmingly welcoming to families.

So while you really can't go wrong, we've rounded up a dozen of the best spots where you can grab a quick bite or even sit down for a full meal. For more family-friendly eateries, check out our NYC Restaurant Guide.

The Museum of Modern Art, fresh off a years-long expansion and renovation, has officially re-opened, and even by NYC standards, it's a big deal. Really big: MoMA's new, flexible layout means a 30 percent increase in gallery space—that's about 165,000 square feet of art, sculpture, and exhibits. The 90 year-old New York institution has never felt more...well, modern.

While we're smitten with all the city's world-class cultural institutions, the MoMA has always been one of our favorite NYC museums to visit with kids. Read on for the scoop on what's changed, plus 10 reasons to love the new MoMA, then plan your next visit to this updated gem.