Cat cafes are big in Japan, and it only makes sense that they're catching on in New York City, as well. After all, cats are the ideal apartment pet, and in a big, sometimes anonymous city, it can be comforting to spend some time with feline companions. If your kid is cat-crazy, but you can't commit to ownership, cat cafes may be the ideal solution.

And even if you already own a feline or two, cat cafes are still a fun place to explore your inner cat lady (or cat man). It's a great option for a family winter outing, especially for mature kids, tweens, and even teens, and we've got the scoop on three cat cafes that call the Big Apple home.

Really crazy for cats? Check out the upcoming Cat Camp, an adoption and conference about all things feline happening this March in Chelsea. You might even get to meet the internet famous Lil Bub.

Making things with your hands is one of those activities where patience, focus, and determination result in a tangible and potentially usable object. Craft classes are another opportunity like dance, technology, theater, or writing classes to give kids a creative way to express themselves. Here are awesome places where creativity is valued and encouraged and will result in bracelets, skirts, ceramic bowls, wood boxes, or an artwork that any parent will be happy to display.

Levy Park in Upper Kirby officially re-opened to the public on Feb. 25, 2017, and simply put, it's fabulous. This urban green space has been upgraded from neglected baseball field to a 6-acre mecca with tons of amenities parents and kids alike will love.

It's beginning to feel a bit more like spring, but that doesn't mean every day will be sunshine and roses (there's still March and its whole lion/lamb thing to endure). When the kids are bouncing off the walls, the best thing to do is bring them somewhere it's encouraged—like an indoor trampoline park!  

We previously told you all about our visit to Mount Kisco’s Rockin’ Jump, and since then another Westchester outpost of this franchise opened at Ridge Hill in Yonkers, near Legoland Discovery Center. We recently hopped on over to the newer—and larger—Rockin’ Jump to size it up.

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The news is finally here from LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia! We've all been waiting for this HUGE announcement. When will it open? Legoland Discovery Center hosted a press conference earlier this week and finally spilled the beans. The Discovery Center also unveiled its first MINILAND Philadelphia display- Liberty Place.

Getting out into nature serves us all well. Going out on a family hike is a wonderful thing to do with the kids. Most of the hikes listed are easy enough that even your little ones can join in. Get your sneakers on, head outdoors and enjoy some of New England’s beautiful foliage along the trails in Hartford County. And for a change of pace, check out some of these family friendly hikes in Fairfield County.

My family goes crazy for sports. We love baseball and Sundays are definitely reserved for rooting on our favorite NFL teams, but our recent  afternoon to see the New Jersey Devils was our first taste of the action-packed family-friendly entertainment of a hockey game. The fun afternoon has me confident we'll be heading back again soon. And you should too. In fact, we're giving away a family four pack to the upcoming NJ Devils Kids Day on March 19th. Read on to hear more about my family's newest sports passion and how you can enter to win. 

Kids are transported immediately upon entering the theater for a showing of Please Bring Balloons, a toddler-friendly production by New York City Children’s Theater.

Whimsical animal cutouts hang from the ceiling: a tiger, a horse, a zebra. The floor is covered in turf, evoking the grass of the park you’re entering. Carousel music and bird noises play in the background. Kids are invited to sit on a shared blanket on the floor, essentially putting them onstage and making them part of the play. An affable carousel operator, played by Brandon Schraml, comes around, crouching in front of kids to take their "tickets" to the merry-go-round, asking them questions and generally getting them relaxed.

Aimed at kids ages 2-5, Please Bring Balloons is one of our top picks for children's theater in NYC this winter, and among the best events for preschoolers this season.