Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

Photo by Frontburner, courtesy of The Melting Pot.

Our kids' birthdays deserve special treatment, and luckily, Los Angeles has tons of unique restaurants to help make the celebrations extra special. So many places throughout Los Angeles take a "Happy Birthday" serenade to the next level with delicious desserts, outlandish decor, impressive culinary displays, and incredible settings. Read below for the best restaurants for kids' birthdays in Los Angeles. 

For more birthday fun, try the craziest desserts in Los Angeles, enjoy birthday freebies, browse great places for indoor kids' birthday parties, and see even more ways to mark the milestone occasion in our Birthday Party Ideas Guide for LA Kids. 

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants near Madison Square Garden

Jody Mercier's picture Submitted by Jody Mercier on

Zou Zou's has a chic vibe and serves a flavorful selection of Mediterranean-inspired fare. Photo by author

Madison Square Garden is a hub of activity no matter the season. Whether you've caught playoff fever and are cheering on the Knicks and Rangers or are seeing the latest family-friendly show on stage at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, when you hit the Midtown West hot spot, you're likely going to need a meal!

Avoid paying those sky-high stadium prices by opting for lunch or dinner out at one of these family-friendly restaurants near Madison Square Garden before or after the main event. Our picks include everything from fast-casual spots and excellent pizza—by the slice or pie—to unique sit-down establishments that will make your trip to Madison Square Garden a truly special occasion. All our top picks are below, but you can find more kid-friendly picks for many NYC destinations in our Guide to Family-Friendly Restaurants in NYC.

Preparing for Summer Camp and a (Printable) Camp Packing Checklist

Submitted by Ally Noel on

Pack together, so kids know where to find their stuff! Photo courtesy of Canva

We've got the ultimate summer camp packing list included below, plus 10 great tips for preparing your experienced or first-time camper for summer camp this year.

You’ve done your research and picked out the right summer camp for your kiddo. Whether it's a shorter camp for first-timers or a unique summer camp that fits their latest obsession, now is the time to start preparing your child for a quintessential childhood experience: going to an overnight camp. These tips will help make going away to a new sleepaway camp as easy as a summer’s breeze. 

Looking for the best summer camp options in your city? Be sure to bookmark your local Summer Camp Guide and check out our Sleepaway Summer Camp Guide to the Best Overnight Camps in the US.

Best Montessori Preschools in New York City

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on

Battery Park Montessori's authentic trilingual Montessori approach provides an immersive language experience. Photo courtesy of the school

Picking out a preschool in NYC is no simple feat. From dual-language and immersion programs to outdoor and nature-themed classes, there are so many options and, as always, so little time. But, if you're considering sending your child to a Montessori school, we've got the details on some of the top Montessori preschools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

For the uninitiated, Montessori is an educational philosophy developed more than a century ago that encourages kids to be independent and learn at their own pace. Typically students are grouped by ability rather than age, classrooms are outfitted with specific learning materials, and specially trained teachers act as observers and facilitators. Read on to see what makes these 12 Montessori preschools in NYC extra special, and you just might find the perfect fit for your little one.

Find more options in our Preschool Guide and Directory, where you can search for NYC preschools by program type, philosophy, or neighborhood.

50 Magna-Tiles Games and Building Ideas for Kids

Submitted by Marisa Iallonardo on

What treasures will you find at the end of this Magna-Tiles rainbow? Photo courtesy of Magna-Tiles

Magnetic tiles—whether they're the classic Magna-Tiles brand or one of the many other variations—are one of the most beloved and versatile toys for kids of all ages. After all, there are so many fun Magna-Tiles games to play, interesting learning activities to do, and awesome structures to build.

Playing and building with magnetic tiles teaches kids STEM skills, helps them learn their shapes and colors, fosters their creativity, and so much more. I recently asked my third-grader and kindergartner to create whatever came to mind using their magnetic tiles and they had lots of inventive ideas, including a monster and a rainbow tower.

If you need some inspiration on how to have fun and learn with magnetic tiles, here are 50 Magna-Tiles games and activities, Magna-Tiles building ideas, Magna-Tiles printables and video tutorials, and more. For more at-home STEM and art ideas, check out our lists of easy science experiments for kids and 100 awesome art projects for kids.

37 Things To Do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with Kids

Submitted by Diana Kim on

Domino Park and Tacocina offer stunning views of the Williamsburg waterfront and Manhattan beyond. Photo courtesy of Tacocina

Williamsburg, Brooklyn has a reputation as a haven for the hipster set, but families are just as at home in this buzzy, culture-rich neighborhood. Sprinkled in among all the nightlife and trendy boutiques are lots of family-friendly restaurants, shopping, and activities. And the neighborhood is home to some of NYC's most action-packed parks: McCarren Park, a 35-acre green space with playgrounds, sports fields, and a pool; Marsha P. Johnson East River State Park, home to Smorgasburg and skyline views; and Domino Park, the exciting waterfront play space inspired by the former Domino Sugar refinery, a neighborhood landmark, that's getting a new lease on life.

Williamsburg is easily accessible by subway from the G, J, M, Z, and L lines, so even if you don’t live in the neighborhood, you can experience all of the culture and color of this unique Brooklyn neighborhood. Here are our picks for the best things to do with kids in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Find more new-to-you neighborhoods to explore in our Guide to NYC Neighborhoods.

Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays on Long Island

Submitted by Gina Massaro on

Light up lemonades at Burgerology are great for birthday celebrations.

The party is planned, the presents are wrapped, and there's only one thing left to figure out: What are the best restaurants for a birthday dinner on Long Island? 

We've got you covered: Whether it's super milkshakes, a cool theme, or a live band, the restaurants below will make kids feel extra special on their bday.

Find great birthday cake ideas for a kids' birthday party and much more in our Birthday Party Guide for Long Island Kids. 

Best Summer Camps in San Francisco for Preschoolers

Submitted by Sandra Lee on

Preschoolers will delight in camp activities. Photo courtesy of the Bay Area Discovery Museum

Summer camps allow kids to learn new skills, make new friends and new memories, and get away from the screen for a few hours. If you think enrolling kids in camp needs to wait until they are about five years old, we've got some good news. 

There are plenty of summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area for preschoolers, and they can be so much fun for your little one while giving you some free time when the school year ends to do, well, and everything else. We've rounded up the best preschool summer camps in the San Francisco and Bay Area and have something for every kind of kid. From ballerina camps to nature days and sports galore, check out our picks on where to send your little one for a summer of fun, learning, and exploring! 

Have older kiddos too? We've got plenty of options for camp, like free and cheap camps, STEM camps, and even more in our San Francisco Summer Camp Guide. 

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