There are so many fun and festive family-friendly holiday activities to take part in each year, from taking a Christmas train ride and attending a Santa breakfast, to shopping for gifts at a local market. One more tradition that we love is taking a cozy sleigh ride, and warming up after with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. We’ll be dreaming of a white Christmas so we can go dashing through the snow at one of these six spots in Massachusetts that offer sleigh rides! 

In our house the kids’ birthdays fall in April, May and June. So right around March 1st, I start my annual birthday party panic. While I love having kids’ parties at home, I often decide to have one of my three parties at another venue in the hopes that, when the birthdays are through, I will have some semblance of sanity remaining. Happily, Fairfield County offers numerous places where one can hold a great kid’s party. For even more party ideas check out our Party Guide!

Exploring the Liberty Science Center with kids who want to crawl through the Touch Tunnel or scale the Climbing Challenge can work up quite an appetite. While we appreciate the convenience of museum-cafe pizza and chicken fingers after a day of hands-on exhibits, sometimes a more varied menu—away from the crowds—hits the spot. 

A new NYC-based app, GooRoo, is connecting students (and their parents) with pre-screened tutors. It launched last spring from its home base on the Upper West Side, drawing on tutors from Columbia University, but has since expanded into all five boroughs, and more recently, Northern New Jersey, with tutors serving Bergen County, Jersey City, and Hoboken.

It’s a time-saver for busy parents, because each tutor has been interviewed in-person about his or her teaching style and passed a background check. Parents can peruse tutor ratings, pictures, and even videos. Read on for our review of this new app, and be sure to peruse the NYC Classes Guide or NJ Classes Guide to find more local enrichment options for your kids.

The holidays are just around the corner, and nothing says "I love you" quite like a homemade gift. Treat your loved ones and family members to something really special with an awesome DIY gift that will blow them away! Or, make something special for your own home- like a wreath or ornament. The family bonding time alone is worth it, and you'll have something beautiful (or delicious) to bring home. Check out some of these great classes and workshops being offered in the area this month to learn how to make something unique.

The Westchester Winter Wonderland at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla has returned, and we recently returned to check out the full experience. We have some tips for the fun winter carnival, which will be open on select dates through December 31.

Check out our Event Calendar for more holiday events for kids and families, and be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters to keep up with all family-friendly Westchester happenings. 

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The holidays are in full swing, and kids everywhere are dreaming of toys they want and are counting down the days until it's time to open presents. However, the holiday season is as much about giving as it is about receiving, and during this time parents have a unique window of opportunity to teach children the importance of volunteering and giving back to those in need. One way to do this is by donating toys to a local holiday toy drive, and we've rounded up several organizations in and around Houston that are dedicated to bringing holiday cheer to families unable to afford gifts this holiday season.

There are so many family activities in Westchester this time of year that it can be hard to decide which ones to choose. To help you out, we’ve collected our favorite 25 things to do during the holiday season.

Need even more inspiration? Check out our Holiday Fun Guide and Event Calendar to stay in the holiday loop, or follow us on Facebook to share some of your experiences!