Westchester

25 Holiday Activities for Westchester Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 11/16/2018 - 11:30am

The holidays are a special time for all children, but toddlers and preschoolers help keep the rest of us young with their awe and delight at simple holiday pleasures. No matter what holiday you celebrate, it’s a wonderful age to share family traditions—or introduce new ones.

We’ve rounded up 25 things you can do with your toddler or preschooler this holiday season, many of which are FREE! Looking for more ideas? Consult our Event Calendar and follow us on Facebook—we've got many, many more!

Best Kid-Friendly Nutcracker and Holiday Shows for Westchester Families

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 11/15/2018 - 2:00pm

The holiday season is fast upon us, and while it's good to remember to slow down and savor the season at your own pace, one bit of advance planning we recommend is to purchase tickets for holiday performances. Not only do they often sell out in advance, but claiming choice seats can avoid the familiar whines of “I can’t see!”

Fortunately for Westchester residents, there are various holiday performances to choose from. We’ve rounded up the best kid-friendly productions—from assorted interpretations of The Nutcracker to concerts and a couple productions of A Christmas Carol—to help you ring in the holiday season.

Read on and click through for details. Also be sure to visit our Event Calendar, where you’ll find an ever-growing number of other holiday events we’re curating for your family to enjoy! Looking for even more holiday options? Check out our Holiday Fun Guide.

Weekend Fun: Diwali, Star Wars Days, Carnival of the Animals

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 11/14/2018 - 2:00pm

All kinds of fun is coming up this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley kids. Whether you're a fan of Star Wars or STEAM, circus acts or parades, there's all this and more.

Thanksgiving starts early with the Annual Valenti Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is preceded by a pancake breakfast. A hot-ticket alert is for Circa: Carnival of the Animals, while FREE entertainment (plus cultural enrichment and interactivity) abounds at Diwali, Hindu Festival of Lights. The Mini Maker Faire is an extravaganza allowing families to be inspired by maker encounters and seeing their creations. STEM fans can get their fill of circuitry, rockets and more at the free STEAMFEST. And, although this year we don’t have a new Star Wars film to look forward to, kids can get their Jedi fix at Lego Star Wars Days.

These are just a few of our top picks for the weekend; the rest can be found below, and there are even more fun and enriching opportunities on our Event Calendar. Consult our November GoList to plan ahead, and sign up for our weekly newsletters to stay current with all our great findings!

Free Play Area Opens at Cross County Shopping Center

Submitted by Michelle Vames on Wed, 11/14/2018 - 10:30am

Last week, Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers opened a brand-new, free play area, the centerpiece of which is the area's first Luckey Climber.

The outdoor climbing structure—part jungle gym, part work of art—was designed by Hartford, CT–based "kid architect" Spencer Luckey, whose distinctive climbers can be found in public spaces and private institutions around the world, including Liberty Science Center in Newark, NJ; The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia; and the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City, NY.

12 Picture-Perfect Holiday Day Trips Near NYC

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 4:00pm

New York City is magical during the holiday season. However, if you're looking to experience some holiday happenings not too far from home, we've rounded up great options for family day trips, where kids can see Santa, dazzling Christmas lights, and even a North Pole village.

From right-in-our-backyard picks to rustic Christmas fun in Mystic, Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, here are a dozen holiday outings—listed roughly from nearest to farthest from Midtown—worth a drive or train trek this holiday season.

The Top Baby Names of the Next Decade Are Here

Submitted by Sally Chaffin Brooks on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 9:41am

Doesn’t everyone wish for a crystal ball during the baby naming process? Aren't we all looking for that perfectly unique but not too weird baby name? Just us?

Well, Nameberry.com just released its list of the baby names it expects to be the most popular in 2028. So get ready all you expecting parents! Pull up a chair and scroll through this futuristic list to see which baby girl and baby boy names are rising to the top in the next decade—and which are tanking. For those who have already gone through the baby naming milestone, Nameberry's list might just give you a hint as to whether or not your little Olivia or Oliver will be sitting next to half a dozen other kids who share their name come schooltime.

Disney Princess Subscription Boxes Arrive Just Before Holidays

Submitted by Sally Chaffin Brooks on Mon, 11/12/2018 - 11:08am

Disney has just launched a brand-new princess subscription box filled with tiaras, tulle — and fairy tales, of course. With the holidays right around the corner, and many kids (not just ours, right?) already working up their wish lists, we suspect this latest, kid-targeted subscription service will land at the top of a few most-wanted toys' lists.

Promising to deliver this Disney magic straight to your favorite princess-loving kid’s door for either a year, six months, or month-to-month, the first boxes will make it in time for Christmas delivery, we're told.

Must-Do Holiday Experiences for Westchester Kids

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Sun, 11/11/2018 - 9:00am

The holiday season is officially upon us, and Westchester families are fortunate to live in an area with so many different ways to ring it in.

We know it can be difficult narrowing down the choices, but planning ahead of time makes sense because many of these popular events require reservations—and they fill up very quickly! We’ve gathered a list of can’t-miss holiday events and activities in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley that we know are a hit with kids and grown-ups alike.

Looking for more holiday fun? Consult our Event Calendar and follow us on Facebook!

12 Family-Friendly Hotels Where Kids Stay Free

Submitted by Elaine Paoloni ... on Sat, 11/10/2018 - 12:30pm

Traveling with family can be a serious investment. After shelling out for planes tickets, you still have to book a hotel and cover the cost of meals. Package deals and all-inclusive resorts can be a great way to save, but an even better bargain is when kids stay and/or eat for free at the hotel.

While early fall seems to be the best time to book such family travel deals, it's not too late to get in on the savings. Whether your destination is the Caribbean, Mexico, or a U.S. city, hotels that offer free rooms and meals for kids are a big budget saver. Here are our picks for some of the best family vacations around.

Veterans Day Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 11/07/2018 - 11:00am

Such a motley assortment of activities are on tap this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families, there's something for every mood and taste. Take advantage of the lull between the holidays with some low-key adventures and freebies.

Several tributes to veterans are planned by local towns, including the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony in Somers. Families can experience local Native American history, including a wigwam, at The Lenape of Westchester. Hobbyists can indulge in their passion at the Train & Hobby Show, while fans of wee woodland creatures can search for them and build them a home at Fairy and Gnome Houses and Nature Walk. And though Thanksgiving hasn't yet arrived, it's already time to gear up for December holidays at Ring in the Season at Ridge Hill in Yonkers.

Read on for all this and more, and be sure to check our Event Calendar. Don't forget to sign up for our weekly newsletters, and consult our November GoList to plan the rest of the month!