Anyone who’s raised kids in the past decade is likely familiar with Magna-Tiles. And if your house is anything like mine, there are never enough no matter how big your collection. Enter Genius Gems, the long-beloved, STEM-inspired play space that’s been a mainstay in Millburn, New Jersey, since 2018 has just debuted its first NYC location, and its collection of 100,000 (yep, you read that right!) magnetic tiles are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun things to do at this interactive, educational fun zone.

We spent an evening building, exploring, and designing in Genius Gems’ new Chelsea location and are already plotting a return visit. Read on for our review of Genius Gems and find more STEM-inspired fun in our Guide to Science Experiments and STEM.

Break out those roller skates because The Roller Wave, a Black-owned roller skating rink, is now open at the Atlantic Terminal Mall in Brooklyn. While there are a number of seasonal roller skating rinks in the city, The Roller Wave is unique because it revives the classic pastime with some modern twists.

I visited The Roller Wave roller skating rink on opening weekend with my tween daughter and her friend, and we loved the vibe, music, and overall energy.

Read on for all the need-to-know info before you go roller skating at The Roller Wave, and plan your visit soon: It's only open until June 4, 2023.

A goody bag or party favor is the icing on the cake of a kids' birthday party. But they're also the bane of the party planning parent's existence. No parent wants to give or receive plastic garbage that heads straight to the landfill. The best goody bags contain unique party favors that please both parents and kids. These ideas below hit that sweet spot, and allow you to bring your kiddo's personality or party theme into play, as well. Sometimes, creating the goody bag at the party even becomes one of the party activities. (Score!)

Read on for unique ideas to take your little guy or girl’s goody bag from basic to brag-worthy. These aren't the only birthday hints we've got in the bag. In our Birthday Party Ideas Guide, you'll find instructions for making a pinata at home, great cakes for kids' parties, and even birthday freebies for kids.

You know what else a birthday needs? Gifts! Get tried-and-tested favorite gift suggestions the Best First Birthday Gifts, and more in our Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays.

The world's longest indoor electric go-karting track has opened at RPM Raceway Jersey City, just outside of NYC, so if you've got daring kids who feel a need for speed, this indoor go-karting track is a must-visit. Dubbed the RPM Raceway MegaTrack, this new experience is the fruition of a six-month, multi-million dollar renovation project.

To get a taste of the action, I recruited my teen and his best friend to be my test drivers. More laps than I could count later—and plenty of playful trash-talking—it was clear this visit to RPM Raceway Jersey City would not be our last. Read on for all the details on our visit to RPM Raceway Jersey City, its MegaTrack, and the rest of the attractions at this action-packed indoor fun spot, which is close enough to NYC to make for an easy day trip, too.

We've got more top picks for teen-friendly fun in our New Jersey Tweens and Teens Guide.

Climate change is an overwhelming problem, but kids of any age can be part of the solution. For kids who are growing up hearing doomsday headlines almost every day, climate change can feel too big to tackle. However, one of the best ways to tackle climate anxiety is to take charge of what you can control. Even one kid can make a big difference when it comes to climate change.

Here are the best things to do to make a difference for the planet at any age, from reducing individual (and family) carbon footprints to becoming a youth activist. Then, read about more climate-saving actions you can take in our Earth Kids Guide and sign up for our Earth Kids newsletter for more ideas and activities every month.

February's Winter 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 25 fun-filled Winter Break 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 free things to do during February's Winter Break Visit our Free in NYC Guide for more money-saving options for school break or any day you need to entertain your kids on the cheap.

These puppet shows in NYC are the perfect first-time theater experience. Even if your kids can't sit still for more than five minutes, chances are they'll make it through a puppet show. The colorful characters are captivating, the stories are often adaptations of familiar fairy tales, the tickets are FREE or cheap (and certainly a lot less than nabbing seats for our favorite Broadway shows). Puppet shows are also short, and if your kids make silly faces at the stage, the puppets won't get offended (and neither will the puppeteers—they get it).

While the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park is the best-known destination for children's puppet shows in New York City, there are many other companies regularly mounting puppet shows for families, and a few offer birthday party packages.

A few other NYC theaters, notably the New Victory, also present puppet shows, like the upcoming Baobab and Wink. DR2 Theatre is also hosting a return engagement of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. Be sure to check our Event Calendar for even more puppet fun, including a variety of interactive Puppetsburg puppet show productions.

The Westfield Century City mall in Los Angeles is hands down the best mall in LA for kids. And it only keeps getting better with recent additions like the American Girl Store and The LEGO Store. 

This attractive outdoor shopping mall and celebrity hot spot (we’re looking at you, J-Lo, and J-Law) make it feel like you arrived at a luxury vacation spot in the middle of the city. From swanky family lounges to interactive stores, special holiday events, a movie theater, and even an escape room, it’s easy to spend several hours discovering all the family-friendly pockets. We’re here to help guide you through the hidden spots, like the pirate ship in the play space, amid the cacti feng shui. 

Shop beyond the mall at the best baby stores and black-owned businesses, and browse our restaurant guide for Los Angeles and Orange County families for other favorite spots to dine with kids (besides Eataly and other favorite noshes at the Westfield Century City mall!).