Indoor Activities
Free Fun Friday - the Great Children's Read, Atlantic Antic, Goody Two Shoes Discount and More
Posted on October 3rd, 2008 by Nina
Take advantage of the amazing fall weather this weekend with our pick of the best free outdoor kids events. Find out where you can hear They Might Be Giants, the coolest weekend activity for four-year-olds and why now is the time to hop on the Roosevelt Island tram. Plus, keep reading to get a special discount code for half price tickets to Goody Two Shoes kid-disco where you can party like it was 1999. Read more »
Foreign Language Playgroups for NYC Kids
Posted on September 11th, 2008 by Anna
Whether you want to preserve your heritage, develop your child's brain, or prepare them for the eventual Chinese world dominance, there are many foreign language playgroups in New York City, ready to help you out. Studies show that even brief, regular exposure to a foreign language at a young age can help your child's ability to pick up languages later in life as well as developing their ability think abstractly and to focus.
Here are some foreign language playgroups to try out: Read more »
Free Demo Classes For Kids Throughout NYC
Posted on August 5th, 2008 by NinaThis is first in a series of posts listing free demo classes for NYC kids. Find more free demo classes and exclusive discounts in our second Free Demo Class Post.
I admit, I have a fear of Mommy and Me classes. I'm not sure how it started but every time the idea was batted around in my house I came up with a million excuses why it wouldn't work. But, now that my daughter is two and we are both sufficiently bored of the playground, I've come to realize it's time to take the plunge. Even better, I've realized that she is now old enough to take classes without me having to participate!
If you are anything like me, here is the perfect baby step - FREE demo classes. Before you shell out the money for a weekly class, why not try it out? We have compiled a super long list of FREE demo classes, most of which are held in August and September. From pottery to gymnastics to music to miming so you can see how you and your kid like the class before committing to an entire semester. Plus, a lot of these places have offered amazing discounts to Mommy Poppins readers if you do choose to sign up for the class. Keep reading to check out our list. Read more »
Reader Tips: Water Taxi Bird Watching, Jump and Last Licks
Posted on July 22nd, 2008 by Anna
We have been getting lots of great tips from readers in our in box and in the comment section of the site. It's been hard for me to keep up with it all on top of our regular posting. Some of them I've been able to slip into regular posts, but the tips are all too good to let go, so this week and next week I set aside some days that I am going to be posting the great ideas for things to do with kids in New York that you have been sharing.
If you have some tips you'd like to share with us please send them to me.
Thanks to Sharon Kleinhandler, Tricia Gillespie and Neeta Vallab for these tips: Read more »
Cool Stuff for Families at the Queens Museum of Art
Posted on July 8th, 2008 by Nina
There is a lot going on this summer at the sometimes forgotten Queens Museum of Art nestled in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and well worth the trip if you havn't been. This summer's events at the museum include an international film, dance and music series, free archery, scavenger hunts and lots of art making and viewing opportunities with the family.
The Queens Museum of Art focuses on 20th-century works and is located right next to the Unisphere which is that awesome retro steel globe sculpture that was made for the 1964 World's Fair, check out Forgotten NY for some cool vintage photos and info on the Fair. And since school groups are the largest single community that visit the museum each year, they really appreciate and cater to kids and their staff is uniquely qualified to work with children.
As for getting there, while it is a bit of a trek, you can get there on the 7 train and the trade off is that once you are there its usually not too crowded and all their summer activities are free with admission ( $5 for adults, $2,50 for kids. Kids under 5 are free). Read more »
NYC Family Summer Fun Guide 2008
For many New Yorkers, as soon as the weather warms up, it signals a primordial urge to flee, but summer is one of the most fun times to be in New York. In the summer you can take advantage all the City has to offer — amazing beaches, gardens, pools, outdoor concerts and movies, events and activities. And much of it is completely free, turning New York in the summer into one big fest...and we don't mean a big "sweat-fest" — there's a million ways to stay cool and enjoy the summer in NYC with your family.
Whether you are visiting New York for the day, a week or hanging here with your kids for the whole summer, our Summer Fun Guide will tell you everything you need know to have an incredible summer right here in the city with the kids.
Be sure to check out our Free Fun Summer: A free activity a day for the entire summer!
Summer Concerts and Festivals
The Best Grown-Up Outdoor Music Festivals for Families
The Under(play)ground Music Scene
Free Outdoor Shakespeare for Families
Free Outdoor Movies at Waterside Plaza
Water Fun
Best Free and Cheap Swimming pools
Best New Swimming Pools for NYC Kids
Best Free Swimming Pools in Brooklyn
Top 5 Beaches Near NYC for a Family Daycation
5 Water Theme Parks Close to NYC
Best Water Playgrounds around NYC
Best Boat Rides for Families in NYC
Outdoor Fun
Four Excellent Summer Outings for NYC Kids
Where to discover wildflowers in NYC
Free Sports Programs in NYC Parks
Free Summer Sports Activities for Kids in NYC
Free Bike Rentals in Manhattan
Children Blossom at Free Brooklyn Botanic Garden Programs
Go Around to NYC's Nine Carousels
Indoor Activities
The Early Childhood Resource and Information Center
5 Museums You've Never Heard Of
Free Family Museum Programs:
Cool Stuff at the Queens Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Tips for visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Kids
Day Trips and Daycations
Long Island Farms to Visit with Kids
Farm Fun for City Kids at NY State County Fairs
Day Trips: Long Island's Best Parks
Four Ideas for Day Trips from NYC
Summer Family Travel
Top Resources for Family Travel
Taking a Babysitter on Vacation with You
How to bring your own water on the airplane
Neighborhood Outings and Expeditions Exploring the city is another great thing to do while the weather is warm. Just hop on the train or bus and head to a neighborhood you haven't been to before or would like to explore more. We've got loads of neighborhood outings and expeditions for you to explore in our Neighborhood Guide.
Summer Camps Just looking at all this make you exhausted? It's not too late to find a camp. Check out our Camp Guide.
Like what you see? Subscribe to Mommy Poppins through RSS or our free email newsletter and never miss out on all the great stuff going on for kids in NYC.
Story Times Around the City
Story times are a great free activity. Whether it's too hot, too cold or raining, a good story time is just enough to get you out of the house somewhere where you know your kids will be quietly entertained for just long enough for you to get your sanity back. Hosted at bookstores, libraries, toy stores and other fun places, sometimes a story hour can even turn into a whole morning or afternoon of fun if you are looking to stretch it out.
Indoor Activity: Lefferts Historic House
Posted on June 19th, 2008 by Anna
Reader, Carmen, submitted this great indoor activity tip. Thanks, Carmen!
Take a trip back to the late 1700's without ever leaving Brooklyn. The Lefferts House is one of a very small number of farmhouses to survive from Brooklyn's Dutch settlement period, over 300 years ago. This family-friendly destination features hands-on craft activities, a gardening program and furnished rooms to reflect daily life in the 18th century.
What my daughter and I enjoy best is the child's room, just off the entrance. Here, young ones can dress as they did on days past, play 'I Spy', color a mural, and play with toys and games from that time. Read more »
99 Sensory Activities For Any Child
Posted on April 14th, 2008 by Anna
Casey Halper, an Occupational Therapist who works at our school, recently gave a seminar to parents to teach us about sensory balance and activities for a sensory savvy schedule throughout the day. Many kids are now diagnosed with sensory integration issues, but the more I learn about this, the more I find that sensory issues are something that we all face and can all benefit from exploring.
For instance, I now realize that my engine tends to run too low and I need to work harder at energizing myself throughout the day. I have actually become more sensitive to when I am running low and have incorporated some of the activities below to help keep my energy up. I find this whole thing really interesting because I never really thought about actually trying to manipulate my energy level this way, and certainly for kids it can be invaluable as sometimes any kid can be too hyped up or having trouble getting going.
I thought it would be cool to put together a list of sensory activities. While these activities all revolve around sensory stimulation, I think they are just great all-around activities for any kid, and a great list to pull up when you are stuck at home and need ideas for how to pass that last hour in the day or when you need a calming or invigorating activity when your child is stuck in a bad mood. These sensory activities are perfect for any kid from toddlers on up and some are even good for babies. Read more »
More Free Storytimes and Arts and Craft Classes for NYC Kids
Posted on April 1st, 2008 by Anna
We're all itching to get outside, but the weather is still unpredictable enough that it's worth doing one more indoor activities post. every once in a while we like to update you with more free indoor activities like story times. You can see all our previous posts on free indoor activities, story times, and art classes in the Winter Fun Guide. Read more »
The Happiest Baby on the Block - The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Baby Sleep Longer (DVD)
