Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Finding a mom friend on Long Island who you connect with is gold, and can make this adventure of motherhood—with its sleepless nights and mountains of diapers and laundry—just a little bit easier. These are our top spots to get you out of the house and meeting your new mom tribe.
New parents and moms should also check out our Guide for New Long Island Parents, which includes a roundup of LI's best baby stores.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Long Island's indoor playgrounds make perfect birthday party places for active, fun-loving kids to celebrate the big day. And Long Island doesn't just have basic indoor play spaces, but mega indoor playgrounds! These massive spaces in Nassau County and Suffolk County offer endless activities to entertain kids of all ages on ninja courses, trampolines, ropes courses, and more.
These birthday party places make for one-stop party planning—with food, entertainment, hosting, and clean-up. From safe toddler zones to VR attractions for teens, these mega kids' birthday party places have it all. Bonus: You don't have to worry about the weather when hosting a party at one of these mega indoor play spaces.
For even more festive birthday party ideas, check out our Birthday Party Guide for Long Island Kids and the Best Winter Birthday Party Ideas for Kids on Long Island.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is not just the tri-state area's largest mall, but it's the second-largest mall in the United States. It has top-notch attractions, including the Nickelodeon Universe theme park, the DreamWorks Water Park, and even an indoor ski resort at Big Snow, as well as plenty of options for shopping, dining, and enough attractions to entertain you for days. Here is our list of the top 26 things to do with kids at the American Dream Mall, plus all the top kid-friendly picks coming soon to the entertainment complex.
For more fun local escapes, check out our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Are you looking for FREE things to do with kids on Long Island? We've compiled a massive list of 100 FREE, family-friendly, interactive adventures that you should not miss.
Finding free things to do with the family on Long Island is a great way to have fun, make memories, and stay on budget. From playgrounds and parks to museums and historic towns, we've rounded up 100 activities perfect for kids of all ages. Read on to plan your next completely free family outing.
For even more no-cost fun check out our Guide to Free Things To Do with Long Island Kids.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
The days are shorter and colder, and the winter blues are setting in. Why not cure them with a family vacation? While a trip to an all-inclusive resort or one of our warm and sunny winter vacation ideas would be nice, our wallets don't always agree. Luckily, there are plenty of fun and affordable vacation spots that won't break the bank.
Here are 18 low-cost winter vacation ideas for families in the US and abroad. Many of these affordable vacation spots have lower prices and thinner crowds in the winter months, making winter the perfect time to visit—even during February break. For more fun family vacation ideas any time of year, check out our Family Travel Guide.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Families love to celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating on Long Island, with its many walkable main streets, villages lined with festive shops, and elaborately decorated homes.
You can stay in your neighborhood, where kids know how to navigate the houses, or you can take Halloween as an opportunity to explore new areas of Long Island. We’ve compiled a list of the best Long Island neighborhoods for trick-or-treating in 2024.
We prefer neighborhoods that have houses close together, are well-lit with minimal traffic, and that also have merchants participating in the fun. Read on for our list of favorite places to trick-or-treat on Long Island.
For even more spooky fun, check out our Long Island Halloween Guide, including a rundown of the best scary haunted houses for teens and trunk-or-treat events for kids.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
A baby's first year is full of memorable firsts and, on Long Island, there's always something new to experience and explore with your little one. From a baby's first dip of their tiny toes into the ocean to their first play cafe fun to a first barnyard adventure, we have you covered.
The photo-worthy moments we've listed below will be plentiful. so be sure to have your phone or camera ready for some great pictures.
For more new parenting tips, check out our Baby Guide for New and Expecting Long Island Parents.
Submitted by Gina Massaro on
Sometimes all you need are a few really great bedtime stories for kids...
The homework is finished, the baths are complete, the children are snuggled in their beds... and they're still awake! A truly tantalizing tale is the final piece of the bedtime puzzle. Whether you read these books to your kids, read them together as a family, or play the audio versions, these beloved bedtime stories for kids will help them drift off to dreamland in no time. There are even some free bedtime stories you can easily access online, for those nights when you need something new.
Dim the lights, get cozy, and crack open one of these 30 great bedtime stories for kids. For even more great books, check out our list of 100 kids' books every child should read before they grow up, plus more beloved book recommendations in our Guide to the Best Kids' Books.
