Free Skiing for 5th Grade Kids at These Ski Resorts in the West

Skiing - it sounds so appealing, doesn't it? Getting some much needed exercise, filling everyone's lungs with fresh mountain air, letting the kids play in snow, enjoying an activity the whole family can do together -- ah, right. That's what stops you every year. Because the whole family sounds like a whole lot more people when you're counting lift tickets rather than heads.

The good news is that some ski resorts seem to understand this dilemma and have been inspired to create 5th Graders Ski Free programs around the country. Not only did you read that right, there are no tricks or strings. No, you don't have to give anyone a credit card number that auto-pays annual ski passes every year until college. In fact, you don't really have to do anything but choose the right ski resort and prove that your kid is in the 5th grade. The rest is a win-win for all involved: the ski resort takes a gamble on hooking your kids for life after letting them ski free for an entire season. Fair enough. Mom and Dad get to ski without coughing up the extra cash to find out whether Junior loves or hates snow sports. Everyone wins; everyone skis, and all just for reaching the ripe old age of ten.

Mostly Free & Fun Things to Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Jan 10-11: Winter Walk, Family Scavenger Hunt, Rainbow Fish Live & More!

Happy New Year, Jersey! The holidays are officially behind us and the month of January is a great time to get back to normal routines and enjoy some down time as a family after all of December’s craziness. If you’re craving some fresh air, bundle up and check out flora and fauna at Mountain Lakes Preserve with a Welcome Winter Walk, discover Winter Waterfowl along Liberty State Park’s beautiful boardwalk or let the kids roam the wintry trails at Tenafly Nature Center during a Seasonal Scavenger Hunt. If the thought of the outdoors has you shivering, we’ve got you covered – let the kids get crafty at the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts Family Fun Day or take in an energetic performance of Wild Kratts Live at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. For even more weekend fun, check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

25 Things to Do in Bridgeport, CT with Kids

It hasn't been the flashiest city on the map for decades, or maybe ever, but Bridgeport still has a HEAP to offer families in terms of fun.  It is a coastal city, and there are lovely pockets of shoreline to explore here, just like the rest of Fairfield County.  It also has a wide range of entertainment venues, whether your tribe is into sports or science.  Most of all, Bridgeport has a Mayor in place that deeply believes in the Park City and its potential -- and he isn't alone, as evidenced by a handful of devoted developers at work. If you've been inclined to write off this town, we'd suggest checking this list, and keeping an ear to the ground for what we might add next!

Pizza Making Birthday Parties for Long Island Kids

What kid doesn't love pizza? After all, there's a reason why it's such a staple at birthday parties. And now, parents can show their culinary cuties a perfect birthday with these pizza making party ideas. Several venues on Long Island allow little ones to roll up their sleeves and be a chef for the day.

For more fun birthday party ideas, check out our Long Island Party Guide.

Camps for LA Kids on School Vacation Days

Remember when a day off from school sounded like a good thing?

Now that we’re the grown-ups, of course, it’s a different story. And as if Monday holidays to honor veterans, presidents, and the like were not enough, our current economic struggles have also left us with a legacy of “Furlough Days” – which translates loosely as “random days when we need to find childcare.”

Luckily some enterprising local camps who know how to show a kid a good time offer fun options for school kids on days when there is no school. If you’ve suddenly discovered that tomorrow is one of those days, try checking out one of the camps below that generally have us covered on LA school vacation days - whenever they come.

Where To Start Skiing and Boarding - Local Ski Schools for New York City Kids

When my 6-year-old son started skiing, I was advised by a former ski instructor friend to I enroll him in skiing school and under no circumstances attempt to teach him myself. She claimed that even if you are an Olympic-level skier, which I am not, it is best that they learn how to turn and stop from the pros. Plus there is the added benefit of hitting the slopes solo while your kid is in school. Heeding her advice, we enrolled him in ski school for a day during the Christmas holidays, and he loved it!

Back home in NYC I started looking for local ski resorts providing schools for weekend day trips and was surprised to find they weren’t as common as I thought they would be. Of course most ski resorts offer private and group lessons, but I was hoping for more of a half-day or full-day option for my son. After a ton of research, we've rounded up the area resorts with ski or snowboarding schools for kids, plus everything else you need to know to get them started. So grab your skis and get going!

Brooklyn Preschool of Science: A Unique Learning Experience for NYC Kids

Once upon a time, preschool was all about learning shapes, colors and the ABCs. These days, the curriculum is way more advanced, with many kids having already mastered these basics before they set foot in a preschool. So it’s no surprise that parents are looking for a place that can not only prepare their children for kindergarten, but also inspire a love of learning and encourage them to find and explore new interests. As mom to a preschool-age son, I was intrigued by our sponsor, the Brooklyn Preschool of Science, which is opening its doors to kids ages 2.5 to 5 years in Park Slope this September.

When I first heard about the school, I immediately thought, why a preschool with a focus on science? But after reading about how the school uses a variety of science-based activities and lessons to teach kids about the world around them, as well as providing a foundation to excel at math, language and more, I can see the benefits of giving little ones this kind of specialized learning experience.

Introducing Weekday Picks for Boston Kids: Movies, Puppets, & Free Yoga January 5-9

We're kicking off 2015 with a new feature to help you enjoy even more fun activities with your kids. Starting this week, every Monday we'll share weekday activity picks to enjoy Monday through Friday in addition to our weekend events round-ups. We're also adding an additional newsletter so our subscribers will get the new weekday events right in their in-box Monday mornings. Not a subscriber? Sign up now!

With many people heading back to work or school this week, families might have to work a little harder to find bright spots in the dark winter days. Thankfully, there are some fantastic options for both outdoor and indoor activities to keep everyone busy.

If temperatures stay cold, skating at one of the outdoor rinks in the area could be the perfect activity to get the kids moving. Once there's some snow on the ground, snowshoeing at Gore Place is another way to enjoy the nip in the air. For those of you who prefer indoor fun, Planes: Fire & Rescue movie night or Bellydance Evolution's Alice in Wonderland could be just right for your family. Read on for our picks of the week, and find even more family activities on our events calendar.

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