Preschoolers

I don't know about you, but this summer we've pared back on camps and vacations in an effort not to spend money we don't have. But our loss is your gain because, instead, what we're going to be doing this summer is exploring New York City and all the fun stuff we don't always have time to do during the school year.

To get organized for a full summer of fun NYC style (and 62 scarily empty days), I planned out an activity for just about every single day in July and August, 'cause, as my son would say, "that's what me do."

The following list is not comprehensive. These are the things I'm looking forward to doing this summer. These are the coolest family events coming up this summer, plus some great places I've just been meaning to get to. And most of them are free.

The Hamptons isn't all that, hang with me right here in New York. It's gonna be a blast (and don't forget to check out our Summer Activity Guide for even more great things to do with kids in NYC this summer).  I hope to see you there.

50 Things to Do This Summer With Kids in New York City:

Often thought of as the real “Little Italy” of NYC, Arthur Avenue is a wildly popular destination for foodies from all over.  There are countless Italian restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and bars along Arthur Avenue, as well as its lesser known counterpart, 187th Street.  Arthur Avenue is quite a popular day trip for families with small children because it is just a few blocks away from the world-famous Bronx Zoo. 

There are plenty of free swimming pools in NYC, but if the idea of putting your kids in a public pool makes your skin crawl, then you need another option. Ideally, you have wisely cultivated a friend with access to a free pool in their building, but for those of us who are mooch-challenged, don't worry. It's not commonly known, but there are plenty of private pools in New York that you can pay to swim in just for one day, or even have a moderate membership fee.

You can check the websites of each swimming pool for their varying hours, which change by season, but I strongly recommend that you call before you go because many of them close randomly for events or may have changed their policy.

Are baby strollers allowed in New York City Musuems?  The answer can be tricky. While many allow strollers, some have limitations on where you can bring your stroller, or the type of stroller you can bring. once you've wrangled your stroller through the subway, you hardly want to arrive only to be turned away, so we've compiled a list of popular museums and their stroller policies. However, calling ahead is always a good idea since rules change or you can find out if any current exhibits are off limits. 

So, your kids are longing for swimsuits, sprinklers and slides. Well, now you can make their dreams come true, whether the weather is cooperating or not. Load up the iPod, the towels and the kids and take a short road trip to newly opened Sahara Sam’s Oasis in West Berlin, New Jersey. This indoor water park is less than two hrs from NYC and the 286,000 gallons of water keep 11 rides and tons of kids wet and wildly entertained, rain or shine!

We traveled with four parents; and three boys and three girls aging from 2-8 yrs old, so believe me, the place was well-tested. The kids were awed into silence (SILENCE, I SAY ) as we stepped through the door. But after those two seconds, they immediately got busy. Favorites?

You don't have to go far to have an amazing kid friendly farm experience.  In nearby New Jersey your children can crack corn, collect eggs, see baby pigs, goats and sheep, and even see how cheese and bread are made.  The foodie in you will rejoice in the cheese tasting while your children delight in the baby lambs. 

Where to see farm animals in New Jersey:

Get out of the city this summer for a bit of festival fun in New Jersey.  We've got the low down for you on the best, super funnest places to be in June and July.  From jousting to racing pigs, strawberry shortcake to hot air balloon rides, there's a world of fun just outside the city. All you have to do is get the kids in the car and drive.

We have a guest post today from Jay Bushara who has started a new website dedicated to discovering and celebrating the very best children's books, ones that ar hard to find at big box bookstores. Find out about his site and some of his picks for the best children's books this summer. Thanks, Jay!

Children’s picture books are often useful, sometimes glorious, and they are everywhere, the stuff left over from growing up and moving on, proverbial needles in the hay.

Too often we settle for the hay. This is understandable. Still, new parents in particular are likely to be become disenchanted if they go looking for the magic of children’s literature amid the piles and glittery profiles of Hannah Montana biographies and Dora & Diego tie-ins and those books by Madonna where none of the characters have noses - what the heck happened to their noses? Consider, also, books deriving from major motion pictures. What is it these books are meant to accomplish, except, of course, Encourage Reading? Why would anyone choose to look at a photograph of Darth Vader if they can listen to James Earl Jones and that creepy respirator whenever they want with a monthly subscription to Netflix?

New Jersey does it big–even when it comes to pick-your-own strawberry farms. Whether you’re looking for an afternoon photo-op in the field and a few pints of berries to bring home; or a full-on weekend Strawberry Festival complete with Strawberry Shortcake, bands, craft fairs and a crowning of a Strawberry King and Queen–it’s here.

Contact the farms before heading out--Strawberry season in New Jersey falls roughly from the end of May and lasts 3-4 weeks into mid-June (we need two hot, dry days back-to-back to kick it off.) Plan to spend a couple hours at any field–and of course, weekends will be busy, but not crowded. Also, New Jersey will not allow your pets to enter the farms, so leave your furry friends at home.

The great thing about New York City's outdoor festivals is that everyone can enjoy them. At outdoor concerts, grown ups can enjoy being outdoors on a lovely day or evening, relaxing, even if the music is for kids. And, generally, kids will put up with an adult performance much better if they can run around, dance, play and picnic while you enjoy a little grown up entertainment for once. While you might not think of a classical music concert as a great kids event, it really can work. The people that are serious about listening to the music sit right up front, as you move toward the perimeter it's more about picnicking just with great music in the background.

This summer's line-up includes everything from a They Might Be Giants kids concert to the NY philharmonic to great reggae, folk and avant garde music. Seriously, something for everyone. We've rounded the free outdoor music festivals that, while not kids festivals, are the most family friendly with nice locations for picnicking and/or kid-friendly music. Also make sure to check our post on Children's Summer Music Concert Series for concerts just for kids.