Baseball season has arrived in New York! If you are looking for a way to enjoy a ball game with your kids this year, we have got your guide to family-friendly baseball in and around NYC right here. Family-friendly NYC baseball: Major Leagues New York Mets -- We've written many times over the years about how the Mets and Citi Field, by far, are the most family-friendly Major League Baseball option here in NYC. They offer ticket deals, giveaways and a post-game "kids run the bases" event on Family Sundays, which is every Sunday home game. They have an awesome fun zone to entertain kids, big … [Read more...]
Best Kids’ Spring Activities for Families in, around NYC
You've been cooped up with the kids long enough, mom and dad! Spring means it's time to start venturing outside, in and around the NYC area, for fun ways to entertain and even educate your children. We compiled a list of several of the best kids’ spring activities you can find in the boroughs (and few farther out) to help you exercise your child’s body and brain. Best kids' spring activities in NYC: Nature in bloom New York Botanical Garden — Head to the Bronx to see the azalea gardens and hundreds of cherry trees coming into bloom. Don't forget to check out the amazing annual indoor … [Read more...]
NYC School Buses to Get GPS so Parents Can Track Their Students
Disclosure: NYC Dads Group received compensation from Here Comes the Bus for this post. The quotes from our City Dads Group parents are genuine. Many NYC moms and dads in November experienced one of a parents’ greatest fears: they couldn’t locate their children. An early-season snowstorm paralyzed afternoon traffic, leaving students taking school buses home stranded on the road for hours and making parents frantic. This was especially upsetting to those with special needs students or little ones without cell phones. As a result, the New York City Council in January approved several … [Read more...]
Forge Your Own Parenting Path Despite Your Parents’ Teachings
The last thing on your mind the first week you have your newborn home is keeping a tidy house. So when my parents came over to see their new granddaughter, our coffee table was a disaster. Frantically scattered upon it lay every single parenting book we had bought, read, forgot about, and then frantically dug up again in the previous 72 hours when it became clear how woefully over our heads we were. Why the hell did I think I’d learn to swaddle a baby just by reading about it once? And why won’t she sleep? Wait … is she sleeping now? Is she dead? No … she’s definitely asleep. “Wow. Look … [Read more...]
King Kong on Broadway: A Gigantic New York Story
Midway through the first act, King Kong made his first appearance in the new Broadway show bearing his name, and the audience just didn't know how to deal with what they were seeing. "Is that ... is that ... video?" asked my wife, Robin, trying to make sense of things. "No," I answered, "I think that's actually on stage right now." But we're getting ahead of ourselves. My wife and I were enjoying a rare date night, and we'd gone to King Kong at the Broadway Theatre. Obviously, any story with Kong in it is going to need to have a gigantic ape -- the promotional materials teased his … [Read more...]
Why Toy Fair New York is Awesome (It’s Not Just the Toys)
Back in the day, I was a nerd who worked at FAO Schwarz. I read too many comics, collected way too many action figures, and lived and breathed toys. And every year, I tried to find a way to get into Toy Fair New York. Toy Fair, for those who don't know, is the annual trade show where toy companies show off their wares and try to get you excited about the products they have coming out in the new year. While that can be a hit or miss prospect for getting store buyers excited for new lines, it never fails to thrill nerds like me. You see, I used to agonize over not being able to get into … [Read more...]
Curse of When Your Kid Starts Using Swear Words
Over the weekend, my son unleashed his first swear word. The chosen curse was “bitch!” And as far as my wife and I could tell, he didn’t direct it at anyone. He just kind of said it. And it was pretty evident that he had no idea what it meant. But that didn’t stop the household from doing some soul-searching. I curse a lot, but that’s not the sum of my character. I usually curse for emphasis, or for laughs. But regardless of my rationalizations, those words – once so forbidden, both in my home and, more generally, in the world at-large – are a part of my vocabulary. And my wife’s too. … [Read more...]
February School Break Activities to Keep NYC Kids (and Parents) Happy
"Midwinter recess" arrives soon for NYC public schools so it's time to break out your list of best February school break activities to keep the kids entertained. Don't panic - we've got your back on this one. Start with our list of best family and kids' winter activities in and around NYC. The skating rinks, indoor play spaces and the like listed here are proven winners ... although we can't guarantee that there will be snow for sledding that week. Museums offering February school break activities Make sure you check the event calendars of your favorite NYC museums and public venues. … [Read more...]
‘Trolls The Experience’ Awaits with Delightful Hugs, Family Fun
As a father of two young children, our family has watched the Trolls movie at least a dozen times, especially since we're able to cue it up on Netflix anytime as we slog through these frigid wintry days. But we're an adventurous family that enjoys seizing any opportunity to experience the endless, cultural experiences in New York City. So we were thrilled to transport ourselves to Troll Village at the newish DreamWorks Trolls The Experience in midtown Manhattan to celebrate National Hug Week. With permanent smiles on their faces, my kids sprinted through the front gates on a quest to be … [Read more...]
Summer Camp Plan? Make One Now, NYC Parents
Another winter blast is coming our way this week, so now is a good time to hunker down and figure out your child's summer camp plan. Whether it's a series of one-week day camps or a month-long overnight adventure, you don't want to be caught scrambling. The most popular camps fill up fast so if haven't started looking and booking ... GET TO IT! Luckily our longtime friends at New York Family magazine and Mommy Poppins NYC make putting together a summer camp plan easier, whether you have a toddler, a tween or a teen. Camp questions and answers here Start with the New York Family annual … [Read more...]