Submitted by Sara F on
One day, your baby is barefoot in a bucket swing, and then you blink, and she's riding her scooter so far ahead of you that she can't hear you calling, “WAIT!"
Suddenly, you realize it's time for big-kid playgrounds, including in Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and other favorite spots. So leave those toddler slides behind and read on for our favorites in Brooklyn.
Submitted by Sara F on
When the sticky NYC summer heat sets in, kids need fun things to do to keep cool (bonus points if the kiddos also get a chance to burn off some energy). There’s no better solution than water playgrounds—get cool in the water, dry off to hit the other playground equipment, rinse and repeat. All afternoon.
And best of all, hitting a water playground is a FREE summer activity you can do every day. We’ve rounded up the best water features and playgrounds around Brooklyn so that you and the little ones can try a new place to spray and play every day of the week.
It's a long summer! Find more ways to keep cool with our NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide, which includes splash pads in other boroughs too!
Submitted by Sara F on
New Yorkers are lucky to be surrounded by water: When we get the urge to take a dip on a hot summer day, there are plenty of family-friendly beaches a short drive or subway ride from NYC. But for families with little kids, the ocean can be intimidating, with its choppy waves and miles of hot sand without an inch of shade.
Sure, there’s always the local pool, but if you’re itching to get the kids out of the city to enjoy a swim in the great outdoors, what better place than one of our area’s beautiful, placid, freshwater swimming lakes? We’ve rounded up the best lake swimming spots within a two-hour drive from the city.
Find more fun things to do this summer (and ways to cool down) with our Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide for NYC kids.
Submitted by Sara F on
Brooklyn is full of fun experiences for little kids, whether you live here or are just looking for new adventures. From pedal boating in Prospect Park to sharing Key lime pie along the water in Red Hook, we guarantee you’ll want to take your preschooler or toddler on these 30 must-do activities.
And one of the great things about these early years is that your kids may not be in school every day, so you often can avoid the weekends and enjoy some of these Brooklyn places without crowds.
Submitted by Sara F on
Even if you brought a bag full of snacks to your Brooklyn Botanic Garden excursion, kids will be hungry after all that time running through the grass, collecting sticks, and chasing butterflies.
The good news is that there are plenty of family-friendly options for a bite in the nearby Crown Heights and Prospect Heights neighborhoods, many with high chairs and changing tables available. These restaurants are also close to the Brooklyn Museum, and a short walk from the Brooklyn Children's Museum and Prospect Park.
Submitted by Sara F on
New York City kids are lucky to live in a city so infused with the arts and even luckier to have so many class options to help them explore their creative side. Ballet is a popular dance option for kids of all ages, and NYC is teeming with top-notch ballet schools. From tots to teens, we've rounded up top picks for ballet classes citywide—nearly two dozen of them!
Remember, though, this is just a sampling of ballet lessons in the city. Find more in our Classes Directory.
Submitted by Sara F on
Every year, your kid's birthday arrives even faster, right? It seems like you just had her last party! But here you are again, and you need some new ideas.
Good news! So many great new spots have opened in NYC in the last year, so you're about to be the coolest parent party planner. Whether your kid wants to make art, roll in a ball pit, dress up her dolls, play with dogs, or just bounce up and down for an hour, there's a new place for everyone. Read on for six new kid party spots that have opened in the last year.
Find more party spots and entertainers in our NYC Party Directory.
Submitted by Sara F on
When beautiful fall days turn into gray, wintry ones that get dark at 4pm, you need ideas of things to do indoors, including sneaky exercise games for the kids. Or, why not build an obstacle course for your kids? They'll love the challenge of having to complete each task, and you'll love the energy it can burn off and time it will keep them occupied. The best part? You can build this one with things you already have around the house. So read on for our guide to building your own in seven easy steps.
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