Summertime splashing is right around the corner. Queens parents looking to give their kids a pool refresher or just introduce their tot to the water, will find a number of affordable and grow-with-you swimming classes across the borough. Kids can advance from baby-and-me sessions on up to competitive racing at these community and private pools. 

Read on for great swim classes in your neighborhood, from FREE sessions hosted by the city to a safety-first nonprofit that offers a 30-minute basics lesson. Be sure to check out our Queens Kids Guide for even more ways to explore the borough with kids and find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

New York City's annual Easter Parade was as fabulous as ever in 2016, with creative costumes ranging from the political to the very silly.

New Yorkers always seem to outdo themselves in their Easter attire, including some outlandish bonnets, at this spring tradition. We were there for the Easter Sunday festivities as onlookers and participants crowded onto Fifth Ave between 49th and 51st Streets, and saw all manner of hats and costumes. Read on to see photos of some of our favorites.

Summer day camps come in all shapes and sizes, catering to a variety of ages and interests. We’ve rounded up 13 camps in Somerville and Cambridge that focus on the creative pursuits: fine arts, theater, music, and filmmaking. For more ideas, including wicked cheap day camps and theater camps throughout the Boston area, check out our Summer Camp Guide. 

Beloved children's characters spring to life on stage this season. Our top theater picks for the coming months include musicals starring popular little-kid icons such as Curious George, Peppa Pig, Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Runaway Bunny. But there are plenty of cool shows for tweens, too, including an interactive adventure staged throughout Lincoln Center's grounds, a trio of offbeat circus performances and a revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown starring theater pros who are still in middle school.

While there are some big Broadway shows debuting this spring, including a musicalization of Tuck Everlasting and Cirque du Soleil's first-ever Main Stem spectacle Paramour, there's no need to shell out big bucks to give your kids a memorable live entertainment experience in NYC. A dozen of the 14 shows we're highlighting are just $25—or less—per ticket.

This is, seriously, one of the cutest towns in Fairfield County.  Classic New England.  Classic Connecticut.  It is something straight out of a Norman Rockwell.  I quickly googled just to make sure none of them actually was based on a New Canaan setting, and learned I'm certainly not the first writer to make the comparison.  That being said, it's also home to some of the nation's wealthiest ... so, yes, you did read that price at the pump correctly. Our first list of 25 Things to Do in New Canaan was written a few months ago but there is so much to do we've added another 25 here. Enjoy!

What’s the difference between humans and animals? Do all living beings have a soul? What happens to us after we die? These are pretty heavy questions to ask of your kids, but if you’ve been looking for a way to broach the topic with your little ones, the Anima exhibit at The Invisible Dog Art Center in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood may be your way in.

The small art installation, part of the Tilt Kids Festival, creates a quiet space away from the outside world, where you and the kids can marvel at the calm and power of nature, and all its living beings. Inspired by Mayan mythology, the installation asks, “What if all living things are equal?” We visited this unusual, immersive FREE exhibit and have details to help you decide if it's right for your little one and tips to help you plan your visit.

The weather is finally starting to warm up, and it’s time to kick the winter blues to the curb and start planning those spring and summer birthday parties. Party planning can be a hassle, but there are so many options in the area for great outdoor fun. A fine weather birthday is the perfect excuse to do something exciting and new outside. We’ve rounded up some really fun (and easy) spots to host a birthday party for active kids who love the outdoors.

There's a new hike in town! OK, maybe it's not completely new—but, for the first time since the winter storms of 2005, the entire Lake Hollywood perimeter trail is open. And, with the exception of the northern section (which is partly packed dirt sidewalk and partly concrete sidewalk along a fairly quiet road), the trail is paved and so wide it's more a street than a trail. That means more than three miles of car-free walking, running, or biking—with a touch of Los Angeles history and amazing views of the Hollywood sign thrown in.

(For more hike ideas, check out our family hiking guide!)