Everything about how to compost sounds like a recipe for disaster: it takes up loads of space, it's super smelly, and everyone knows it attracts mice. Throw kids into the mix, and what parent wants to start that project? Unless ... none of that conventional wisdom is actually true. Composting is clean, stink-and-critter-free, reduces landfill, is great for the earth, and is a task that kids are eager to take on. Ok, mostly critter-free. If you have a backyard, you might want to get some worms—but for your kids, that will be part of the appeal!

Many cities, including New York and Los Angeles, offer composting programs where residents have a separate bin for organic waste. Other cities have private organizations with receptacles in designated locations for compost. But you can also compost in your own yard or kitchen, and with these easy steps to get started, your kids can be a part of the process.

For 26 Tips for Living More Sustainably Every Day and more ideas for creating more earth-friendly habits for your family, check out our Earth Kids Guide and sign up for our Earth Kids newsletter for more ideas and activities every month.

New York can be a big, intimidating place for anyone, and that's especially true when you're looking for fun things to do in NYC with preschoolers. Thankfully, pint-sized visitors and residents alike can enjoy plenty of fun activities for preschoolers. While NYC has preschool-friendly zoos and gardens, and a top-notch collection of children's museums, we wanted to provide something a little out of the ordinary. So, we've crafted five itineraries perfect for preschoolers. Whether you're looking for activities for preschoolers as a visitor, or you're a local who wants to check out a new-to-you neighborhood, we've rounded up five mom-tested outings meant to give you and your kid a glimpse of the city without totally wearing everyone down.

Find more fun things to do in New York City in our Guide to NYC's Best Preschool Activities, and bookmark our Family Activity Calendar, where you can search for fun things to do by age or neighborhood.

Graff Lab Studio is an immersive experience that offers graffiti-style art where kids, teens, and adults can create one-of-a-kind items. Graff Lab Studio offers drop-in workshops, summer camps, birthday parties, and private events in industrial spaces in Holtsville and New Hyde Park. The company can also come to the location of your choice for on-demand graffiti fun. What are you waiting for? Tag someone you want to visit with.

Want more options for your mini Monet? Visit our Museum and Art Guide and our Directory of Art Classes on Long Island.

If you're craving some waterfront family fun in the DC area, look no further than National Harbor. This 350-acre Maryland town on the banks of the Potomac River seemingly has it all: over 150 shops, 40 restaurants, a 180-foot Ferris wheel, world-class hotels, and gorgeous views and sunsets. Plus, there are so many things to do in National Harbor with kids, from free festivals, outdoor movies, and concerts to the famous Christmas activities at the Gaylord National Resort. Plus, it's only minutes away from the city, making it one of the best day trips from DC for families.

Here are 21 fun things to do in National Harbor, Maryland with kids, including fabulous National Harbor hotels and kid-friendly National Harbor restaurants.

If your family really wants to get into the Halloween spirit, skip your local pumpkin patch and make a pilgrimage to a truly terrific Halloween town. A Halloween town might be a city that goes all out on Halloween, like Los Angeles; it might be a town with a storied history, like Salem, MA or Sleepy Hollow in NY; or it might even be an actual ghost town.

Here are 15 of the best Halloween towns, haunted locals, and spooky cities in the country to visit with kids. Here you'll find haunted attractions, ghost tours, creepy parades, and more—these towns just ooze Halloween. For more Halloween happenings in your own city, check out your local Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids—if you dare!

Situated on the outskirts of Southeast Houston in Alvin, Froberg's Farm is home to locally grown produce, homemade baked goods, and good old-fashioned fun! Known primarily for springtime strawberry picking, Froberg's Farm is also home to one of the area's best fall festivals. Each weekend from late September to early November, families can participate in Froberg's fall activities, including a pumpkin patch with plenty of photo ops, flower picking, tons of games, a corn maze, playground, mining sluice, jumping pillow, and more.

New Yorkers and tourists alike love a view, and when it comes to finding an observation deck in NYC to take in the sights, there are five to choose from. Each offers breathtaking views of the iconic New York City skyline.

From Lower Manhattan's One World Observatory to the classic experience at Midtown's Empire State Building and the awesome inside-out immersion of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, how do you choose which observation deck in NYC to visit?

We've done the legwork for you, visiting each of NYC's iconic observation decks, and detailing the experiences so you can choose the best observation deck in NYC for you and your family. Take heart, though, no matter which NYC observation deck you choose, there's no bad view in sight.

If you want something where everyone in the family, from your tiniest toddler to your most sullen teen will have a Halloween blast, look no further than Haunt O'Ween! Grab the fam, hop in the car, and head to the hills, Woodland Hills to be exact. Ghosts, ghouls, and more Halloween oddities await you at this immersive family-friendly experience, along with candy, face painting, and other eerie-sistible family-friendly experiences. From green screen witchy fun to bouncy house boos, Haunt O' Ween has skele-fun for everyone. Pardon the puns, but I'm pretty punchy and feeling pleased with finding Halloween entertainment that my whole family adored. Read on to get the scoop on this fabulous haunt.

For more Halloween fun for kids of all ages—from the best not-so-scary Halloween events for preschoolers to super scary Halloween houses for big kids—check out our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids.