Fun for Kids at Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM (Parent Review)

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Forgive the rhetorical question, but can anyone make acrobatics more exciting than Cirque du Soleil? The Canadian circus phenomenon has umpteen touring productions in at least umpteen cities, and what keeps us all coming back for more goes beyond the gymnastics, the tumbling, the trapezes, the unicycles, the silks, the flying rings, the trampolines, and the tightropes. It even goes beyond those unexpected flourishes like the steampunk waterskiing flamenco rollerskating bullfights. What takes our breath away is the all-out drama of a celebration of the human body. Or, as my 10-year-old more succinctly put it midway through TOTEM at the Santa Monica Pier, "Talk about impossible!"

Celebrating the Winter Olympics 2014 with Kids - Boston Style

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Boston may be over 5,000 miles from Sochi, but it’s not too far away to catch some of the Winter Olympic Games fever.

From the Opening Ceremonies on February 7 through two weeks of grueling competition, many of us will be eagerly cheering on Team USA as they go for the Gold. And we’ll be keeping an eye on the local athletes, too; New England is sending its fair share of athletes to the Olympics.

To help families get in the spirit of the games, we've rounded up some special events that local museums are hosting in honor of the Olympics as well as places you can go to (sort of) simulate your own athletic games. Do your kids dream of Olympic gold? We'd love to hear about it, so feel free to add a comment below, or post to our Facebook page.

Queens Restaurant with a Playroom: BCD Tofu House

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Finding family-friendly restaurants in New York City is as easy as boiling an egg—there are a ton of them. But a restaurant where kids can actually run around and play? Now that's a tall order. In the past, we've written about a few NYC eateries with play spaces, and recently my family and I came across another one: BCD Tofu House in Queens.

Part of an international chain, the Bayside BCD Tofu House serves up yummy Korean cuisine and also has a cute playroom for kids with toys and equipment, even a rock-climbing wall. It's the only restaurant I know of in my home borough that has a place for kids to play, besides fast-food chains, and of course the food is much better. My family and I recently visited BCD Tofu House and a good time was had by all: preschoolers and grown-ups alike.

Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Jan 25-26: LEGO Morristown, Winter Festival, Dinosaur Train & More!

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Don’t think for a second that frigid temps and some snow mean you have to stay indoors all weekend. There are plenty of hands on activities for families in New Jersey: Build Historic Morristown with LEGOs at Morris Museum, discover the Science & Art of Color at Newark Museum or learn about Winter Waterfowl at the Basking Ridge Environmental Center. And if you don’t mind a little cold, strap on those snow boots and check out the Winter Festival at High Point State Park or the annual Wassailing of the Apple Trees at Terhune Orchards. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

WeeWork Kids Craft: Make Ice Lanterns

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Today's project is a perfect way to make something fun out of the freezing temperatures. Kids find freezing things fun and mysterious. This project is an especially cool way to turn ordinary ice into something magical. And if you aren't in the deep freeze, you can just use your freezer and have the fun without the frostbite. And it's much prettier than finding frozen underwear in your freezer. (Please tell me I'm not the only mom this has happened to.)

Touching Jellyfish at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

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Jellyfish are equally mesmerizing and intimidating.  More than once while at Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium, I’ve wished the kids would just wander into that darkened corner room and plant their faces in the tower of plexiglass encasing the pulsating jellies, long enough for me to nod off on the benches nearby.  Nice try, Mommy.  They’re so soothing to watch I’ve had a picture of those jellies as my phone wallpaper since the last time I was there for the aquarium's massive refurbishment.  They’re lovely … behind that glass.  I think we are all in agreement on this.  I think we can also agree that if you see one at the beach you BACK AWAY or get out of the water … pronto!  And this is a marine biology major talking here.  So, join me in my surprise when the Maritime Aquarium announced their latest exhibit — Jiggle-A-Jellyfish.  The premise being, you touch. a. jellyfish.  Come again?

Museums Free-for-All in LA

Submitted by Martha Hall on

The best things in life are free, right? Well, maybe. Raising kids is one of the best things in life, but it's certainly not free. Except on some days, like when several spectacular Los Angeles area museums waive their entrance fees. That's right, free admission. We've shouted from the rooftops about free museum days in LA and OC before. And now we're singing the praises of a special Museums Free-For-All happening Saturday, January 25. A free outing with the kids to explore a treasure-trove of art or science or craft or culture? One of the best things just got better.

News: Free Art Classes for NYC Teens, Kid Circus Performers & Mom Storytellers Wanted, Disney's Frozen Coming to Broadway

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We've got a little something for all ages this week, from online kindergarten applications to FREE art classes for high schoolers, to auditions for a kids' circus spectacle and a mom-themed storytelling show (yes, mothers, for once you can be in the spotlight). Plus: One of our favorite Brooklyn ice cream parlors announces a second location, the Brooklyn Children's Museum plans a goodbye party for its beloved python, Disney says Frozen is coming to Broadway, find out when tickets for the New York International Children's Film Festival and Off Broadway Week go on sale, and more.

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