When calls from pleading parents started pouring in last year as the COVID-19 pandemic waged on, JCC MetroWest wasted no time reimagining their children's programs to help bring some much-needed relief to burnt out West Orange area moms and dads. For the Early Childhood Center, that meant finding a way to maintain the same level of meaningful learning the New Jersey community had come to know and love while prioritizing the health and well-being of kids in a whole new way.

For 55 years, the JCC MetroWest Early Childhood Center has provided a beautiful collaborative learning environment for infants through kindergarteners, while thoughtfully weaving Jewish traditions and values into the classroom. Curiosity is encouraged, interests are engaged, parent involvement is prioritized, and all cultures, genders, races, religions, nationalities, sexual orientations, and abilities are embraced to create a vibrant community-driven space for all.

Chess is a great game of critical thinking, strategy, and creativity. It's also a game that many parents have forgotten how to play! (Horse goes up and over, right?) One way to brush up on the rules, and give kids a tireless opponent, is to play online chess games or chess game apps!

Ice skating is a staple wintertime activity for Boston kids, but who says they need to freeze while having fun? After a hiatus during the pandemic, these Boston-area indoor ice skating rinks are now offering public skate times again, allowing families to avoid the elements while enjoy some healthy exercise. Schedules may fluctuate with school vacations and events, and most rinks require advanced registration in 2021, so make sure to check each rink's website or call before visiting.

When the sun is shining and fresh air calls, try out one of Boston's outdoor ice rinks. And keep the seasonal sports fun going by hitting the slopes for some skiing or tubing adventures. Need even more ideas? Make sure to check out our Boston Winter Fun Guide.

This has all the earmarks of a big Hollywood hit. Super secret location? No one knows where it will be yet, just somewhere in Downtown LA. Headlined by a huge (and temperamental) star? Doesn’t get much bigger than Vincent Van Gogh. Hard to get tickets? It sold out in Paris and Toronto, and it has been the hardest ticket to come by in Chicago and San Francisco, prompting months-long extensions. The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit comes to LA this May and pre-sale tickets are available now. Here’s everything we know about this hot new art pop-up, and why we can’t wait to Gogh.

With Midwinter Break upon us, we've found the perfect excuse to blow bedtime: Strike out after dark for a Lower Manhattan art crawl where you can see Electric Dandelions, Talking Heads, and more fun public art sure to brighten these long winter nights.

So bundle up and hit the cobblestoned streets for a safe night on the town. From South Street to Wall Street, here are seven pieces of outdoor public art to see downtown right now.

Of course, we've got plenty more ideas to entertain your crew this school break week (30 to be precise!), plus this giant list of what's open now in NYC for families.

Imagine walking into a building and suddenly you’re 500 feet high, clinging to the narrow ledge of a skyscraper. Minutes later you’re defying the laws of gravity and physics, walking on the ceiling or shrunk to the size of a mouse. Hollywood’s Museum of Illusions doesn’t literally give you those supernatural abilities, but the dozens of pictures you’ll have after your visit sure makes it look real. Taking the family for a fun outing in Hollywood to play tourist in our own town is a real pick-me-up.

Check out more of the Top Attractions in Los Angeles for Kids in our Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families.

If your family has exhausted Chicago's best winter outings and cabin fever is starting to set in, there’s a quick fix less than two hours away. Take a day trip just over the border of Wisconsin to explore the shores of Geneva Lake with kids. Along the way, you’ll see historic homes, lush gardens, boats, and wildlife in the crystal-clear water. My family and I have been coming up to Lake Geneva for years from Chicagoland to walk the shore path and explore the lake. Here are my inside tips to making this a day trip your kids love so much it becomes a tradition for your family, too. Read on for the best starting points, must-see sights, and the low-down on strollers, bathrooms, and pets.

Festive car parades may have stood in for your child’s birthday party last year due to the pandemic, but this year they probably want the real thing: a celebration with friends and family. And, although we’re not quite back to normal, things have opened up somewhat, so a birthday party is possible—it just may look a little different.

Keeping in mind that the only guests may be your immediate family or your close-knit pod, we've rounded up a dozen venues offering birthday parties right now. From venues that let kids get creative to boats that take you on a seal-watching cruise and animal encounters, both real and virtual, our party ideas give you many ways to celebrate right now.

For more ideas and party planning tips, be sure to check out our Birthday Party Guide for Long Island kids.