Living on Long Island isn’t cheap, so when parents find something that doesn’t cost them a fortune—or is free—then we're obligated to spread the word. And believe it or not, there are plenty of activities around town that won't break the bank. From storytime and art to train and carousel rides, here are some ideas to keep your preschooler occupied both inside and outdoors. And for more ideas, be sure to check our Long Island Events Calendar, which is updated daily.

If your kid has graduated from NERF battles to laser tag, don’t be surprised if he or she starts clamoring for a laser-themed birthday party. Super intense and requiring skill, patience and precision, laser tag is a huge hit with the middle school crowd. We’ve covered nearly all kinds of birthday parties in the past, and now we’ll focus on locations in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley that offer this high-tech game, as well as some options for throwing a bash at your own house.

During the summer months your child may crave more freedom, more opportunity for creativity, and more time outdoors. If so, the adventures below might be perfect for them. Here are a few summer camps in the Hartford area that focus on art, pottery, and farm life. This will allow young minds to take a break from formulas and to get their hands dirty with paint, clay, or soil. At the end of the summer, they'll be left with beautiful memories, and maybe even a few beautiful works of art.

The Space adventure The Wong Kids at ArtsEmerson's Paramount Mainstage sweeps families across the universe in a side-splitting, colorful romp that cleverly shows audiences that it's more than okay to be different.

Older kids who love Star Wars and superheroes are going to adore Violet and Bruce Wong, the unlikely heroes of this imaginative and unique tale. The production hooks the audience from the very first moments with the appearance of the quirky siblings. They look different, they act different, and they are different. They discover their shared superpower just as a Space Chupacabra appears in the sky, threatening the destruction of the universe. What are quirky kids with a strange superpower to do but pony up and try to save the universe?

This post is sponsored by The Palace Theatre.

Many Connecticut families already know that seeing a show at The Palace Theatre in Stamford is a unique and memorable experience. A one-time vaudeville house, it has been restored with plush red seats and gold decorative work that frames the bigger-than-Broadway stage. But while its décor might be reminiscent of old Hollywood, the line up is fresh and sure to please youngsters. In fact, kids truly rule at The Palace this spring, with family favorites you won't want to miss that include fun with both Disney and Sesame Street.

If you'd like to introduce your kids to the magic of theater, check out the performances and theater-related activities that are a part of the 2016 New Jersey Theatre Alliance Stages Festival. With over 80 kid-friendly performances, workshops, classes, and camp samplers offered throughout New Jersey free or at low-cost, The Stages Festival is the perfect introduction to professional theater for children of all ages.  All events are produced by the professional theaters of New Jersey. According to Ruth Zamoyta, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance Stages' Development & Communications Director, parents love live performances because "they get the kids off the computer, off the phone, and even away from the screens that you find on the TV or in the movie theater."  She adds,  when it comes to the workshops, mini-camps, and classes, "kids get to express themselves freely and creatively. In all Stages events, participants come away with a feeling of togetherness--live theatre is a shared experience, and the workshops and classes are collaborative."

Do you have stacks of stories your kids have drawn for you? Does the spelling in all the thought bubbles make you fear for your child's future? (Maybe that last part is just at my house.) If you have a budding Stan Lee, Hayao Miyazaki or Becky Cloonan, there are loads of classes in New Jersey at great studios and arts centers that will teach your youngster the basics of cartoon, comic book and even picture book illustrations and storytelling. Maybe they'll even learn how to spell 'mwah, ha, ha, ha!!" correctly.

With highlights including everything from Faneuil Hall to the Freedom Trail and some of the best places to eat along the way, the Orange Line boasts every bit as much fun as the Green Line and Blue Line. Read on for the 10 best stops for families and what kinds of activities you can find there.