New York City's universal pre-kindergarten plan is a boon for parents in many ways, offering FREE education a bit earlier to all of the city's 4-year-olds. But it can also make picking a school that much trickier. 

NYC parents must apply for spots at their preferred schools, often going on multiple tours, sitting on wait-lists, and then wading through multiple decision rounds to accept or reject offers. (We hear middle school selection is even more fun, by the way.) Last year wait-lists and assignments were fluid through August, so parents might even still have time to consider the right fit for their 4-year-olds for this fall, or get a jump start on next year. After all, those applying for private preschool for 2017 need to start the touring process in September, so there is no better time than summer to narrow down what you’re looking for.

We wanted to help parents stay sane through this process, and possibly even make your decision a bit clearer. Read on for five key considerations in determining which pre-K is right for you and your child.

Still sorting through options? Check out our NYC Preschool Guide and Listings for pre-K and nursery options.

Swings tend to be a big hit with all ages. But giant swings that play music while you sway back and forth? And deliver up water views? Oh, yeah.

Now that my oldest child is 10, the list of activities he enjoys with his little sister is dwindling. When The Swings, a free, interactive musical swing set, was installed right next to one of our favorite playgrounds in lower Manhattan, they were both pumped to visit.

Open daily through July 7 this year, The Swings: An Exercise in Musical Collaboration features 10 swings that trigger sounds as riders swing back and forth. Each swing represents one of four instruments—piano, harp, guitar or vibraphone—and when multiple swings are in motion they produce rich melodies. Created by Montreal-based interactive design studio Daily tous les jours, The Swings encourages people of all ages to interact and collaborate, fostering a sense of community and whole lot of fun.

Many parents enjoy a cold beer – and perhaps really need a brew after spending all day with their kids. As the weather warms up here in New England, let's cheer to these family-friendly choices for outdoor beer gardens and pubs.

Though hard-core campers may find it hard to believe, hauling a hundred pounds of gear out into the middle of nowhere to spend a night communing with mosquitos and tree frogs is not everyone's idea of a vacation. Perhaps you've never been camping and would like a low-risk way to get your feet wet (so to speak, of course) or you've been camping many times and are ready to try a trip where digging your own latrine isn't part of the charm. You're in luck! In addition to many conventional campsites, the Lower Hudson Valley also boasts several places that offer an alternative camping experience- one where you just show up and most of the work is already done for you! 

Father’s Day doesn’t generally come with quite the same pressure as Mother’s Day, but that's no excuse not to show Dad a good time. And while some dads are happy with a hot grill and a cold brew, others crave a little more adventure. If the dad in your life deserves some extra-special appreciation, consider one of these splurge-worthy, dad-centric indulgences guaranteed to raise a smile and then some. Notice not one is a necktie...

The Children's Museum of Manhattan debuted a brand-new water play station, Dynamic H₂O, just in time for the summer heat. The interactive exhibit is the second new addition for the Upper West Side children's hot spot this year. Earlier it added the well thought-out Muslim culture exhibit, which we thoroughly enjoyed.

The new Dynamic H₂0 exhibit seriously upped the wet fun factor in the Sussman Environmental Center behind the museum, where it added 800 square feet of outdoor exhibits to the area previously occupied by City Splash. The old City Splash table still stands, but is dwarfed by the new exhibit's 16-foot, custom-made water table and accompanying displays. These new tools focus on the importance of water to a healthy life and on water's journey from the Catskills to our city faucets.

Imagine eating breakfast while toucans soar from tree to tree just feet from your perch. By day, you hike the same trails that cougars roam at night. And your evening activity is prowling the resort paths spotting kinkajous, tree frogs, and spiders as big as your fist. This is not a canned jungle-themed ecotourism resort experience; this is the jungle. And you are in it.

Off the radar for many, Honduras offers 300,000 acres of protected rain and cloud forests and beautiful Caribbean waters with one of the last unspoiled coral reefs. The Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito, named for the national park it sits in, is one of the independent properties trying to draw more ecotourism to help ensure that the amazing natural resources, and the stunning array of wildlife that live in them, persevere.

A new sport is gaining momentum in the United States. Rhythmic Gymnastics is the number one sport for girls in Europe, and now it's making its way through New Jersey! According to Liliya Downs of Randolph's Freedom Academy, Rhythmic Gymnastics is "a very elegant and graceful Olympic Sport that combines the art of ballet and gymnastics, and moves from various dances such as classic and modern." What makes this discipline unique is that when performing a Rhythmic Gymnastics routine, the gymnast is also holding an apparatus such as a rope, hoop, ball or ribbon. We've rounded up places in NJ that offer Rhythmic Gymnastics classes for kids: