Imagine this scene: the kids are anticipating a trip to a new playground and you're anticipating a few moments of peace and quiet, only to pull into the parking lot and see old swings, steep climbing towers, and unprotected play areas. Finding a great playground isn't always easy, and preschoolers need play spaces that are fun, safe, and age-appropriate. With that in mind, here's a list of the best toddler playgrounds in Connecticut for little ones to explore.

From castles and fire trucks to music installations and more, preschoolers will have a blast at these Connecticut tot lots. For more great outdoor spaces for kids, visit our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in Connecticut.

There are many amazing parks and toddler playgrounds in Chicago for kids. If you have a little one, however, a visit to a park with 15-foot slides and climbing walls can be stressful. Watching your toddler try to follow a 10-year old up a rock wall is anything but a walk in the park for parents and caregivers. This is why we’ve rounded up our favorite tot lots and toddler playgrounds in Chicago that are made just for little fun-seekers. 

For more playground fun, check out our list for the top destination playgrounds in Chicago that are worth the trip.

Year after year, teachers continue to prove how amazing they are! Teacher Appreciation Week 2024 is the time to show teachers how much we care, what a massive impact they have on our kids' lives, and how truly deserving they are of our appreciation.

We surveyed a whole bunch of teachers and found out the gifts they really want for Teacher Appreciation Week. Their answers are simpler than you might think—a heartfelt thank-you, the realization that students have listened to them, and coffee!

Read on for our top ideas for teacher appreciation gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week 2024. You can also find more inspiration for homemade gifts in our roundup of 100 Crafts for Kids.

New York City is unlike any other place in the world, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Still, it's great to take a break and skip town for a weekend with the family. If you're looking for family-friendly weekend getaways near NYC, you don't have to travel far to feel like you're a world away.

We've rounded up a baker's dozen of our favorite kid-friendly destinations for city families—all within 3 hours of NYC. If you're looking for other comprehensive guides to weekend getaways near NYC, check out our definitive list of the Hudson Valley's top attractions, our exhaustive survey of family-friendly options in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and our directory of some of New York State's top attractions for families. 

If you’re looking for a small town full of energy and neighborhood pride, Scotch Plains in Union County fits the bill. Scotch Plains is a family-oriented community with a downtown anchored by a village green, year-round community activities, an abundance of playgrounds, and a mini-golf course.

The town is located off Routes 22 and 78 and accessible from NJ Transit trains at the Fanwood station or via bus lines. Thanks to its walkable downtown, there are tons of family-friendly things to do in Scotch Plains, so now's the time to plan a day trip to this lovely enclave.

Babies come with a lot of stuff, don't they? From tiny cribs to fit in a nook of your city apartment and compact strollers light enough to schlep up subway steps to the trendiest mini streetwear for your budding fashionista, there's no shortage of essentials needed for your little ones. Now the question is, where are the best baby shops in NYC to find everything you need?

Over the last year, our life has been flipped upside down most amazingly with the arrival of our daughter. But goodness, after raising 17 and 11-year-old boys, shopping for a baby girl feels like we're completely starting from scratch. From the mom-and-pop shops with unique finds to the big box baby stores that carry the necessities, NYC is filled with great baby shops places to load up on everything you'll need for life from the newborn stage to toddlers and beyond. These local baby stores cater to families and offer finds that are not only functional but cater to your family's style. Find more great resources for little New Yorkers in our NYC Baby Guide and bookmark this baby bucket list for 20 must-do's before your little one turns 1.

A trip to the movies is always a good bet for family-friendly fun, but before you go into hock taking the kids to the local theater for a first-run blockbuster, consider this: There are FREE and cheap movies playing in New York City all year long. You just need to know where to find them—and we do.

We've found a handful of local spots where you can find FREE or low-cost movies in New York City, which should provide enough big-screen entertainment to tide you over until the return of the Parks Department's FREE summer movie series.