Up to 85% off Prescription medications at your local pharmacyPrev Please Get Off My Back! (The Perils of Overprotective Parenting) Next When Your Child Bullies YouWhen I wrote my NYC guide last fall, we talked about 10 amazing things to do as a grown-up. But now I’d love to share our eight favorite kid activities (Toby approved!) The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (Upper West Side) is a five-floor wonderland for little ones (and a lifesaver on rainy days!). The interactive exhibits include a tongue you can slide down; a fire truck you can pretend to drive and a dragon you feed books to. Toby’s obsessed with the outdoor water area with toy boats and fishing rods. (In the photo above, doesn’t he look like Merrywether from Sleeping Beauty in his smock?) Bonus tip: If you work up an appetite, head around the corner to Hampton Chutney for Indian dosas and yummy sandwiches. They have high chairs and a window seat with toys and books. Central Park (Upper West Side).
At this enormous (843 acres!) park, you can explore the children’s zoo (with adorable sea lions), ride a carousel, take rowboats onto the lake, ride rental bikes (with child seats) around the loop on weekends, and play with charming toy sailboats. But, if you feel wanderlusty, you don’t need to plan anything: Just walk around, and you’ll come across street musicians, grassy lawns, playgrounds and ice-cream stands. And it’s not just a wonderful place on sunny afternoons; in the fall, the changing leaves are gorgeous, in the winter, you can take kids ice skating and sledding, and in the spring, the cherry blossoms and magnolia trees are in full bloom. Bonus tip: On certain summer evenings, you can bring a blanket and watch movies in the park; find the schedule here. The American Museum of Natural History (Upper West Side). This huge museum is mindblowing for little ones, with animal exhibits, dinosaurs and a family-friendly Discovery Room, where you can play with flashlights and dig for fossils.
My favorite room is the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life with a model of a blue whale suspended from the ceiling. It’s dark and peaceful and magical—and if your kids are six or older, they can sleep over! Bonus tips: The entry fee is a suggested donation, which is great for families on a budget. For lunch, walk across the street to the wildly popular Shake Shack for delicious burgers and milkshakes. Pier 25 Playground (Tribeca). New York Magazine featured a list of the city’s 19 best playgrounds, but our favorite by far is Pier 25. Jutting out onto the Hudson River, the pier has a giant sandbox, swings, climbing structures and tons of sprinklers. (These photos don’t do it justice!) It’s gorgeous on warm evenings; as you watch the purple sunset over the river with the sand in your toes, you’ll feel like you’re on a beachy vacation. Bonus tips: The pier also has mini golf, volleyball courts and a soccer field. If you get hungry, walk a few blocks south to the Whole Foods, where you can enjoy your dinner in the family seating area upstairs, which has kids’ toys and a play kitchen.
Children’s Museum of Art (West Village). This bright, airy museum has two big art rooms, where kids can draw, paint, play with homemade playdough, and assemble crafts. But the coolest part of the museum? Toby used to be timid but now he dives right in there! Bonus tips: The museum offers pay-as-you-wish admission on Thursdays from 4-6pm. Also, on Saturdays and Sundays, the museum has free-with-admission music sessions at 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm in the main arts room. Two guys play guitars, and all the kids drum on bongos! Brooklyn Bridge Park & Jane’s Carousel (Dumbo, Brooklyn). One breathtaking way to spend an afternoon is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to the waterfront park underneath. The views of the Manhattan skyline are stunning, and there are fantastic playgrounds, a historic carousel and an ice-cream shop. Bonus tip: If you’re up for more adventures, walk over to Pier 6 (about a 15-minute walk along the water), which has the COOLEST playgrounds, including Swing Valley, Slide Mountain and the Water Lab (pictured above).
Transit Museum (Brooklyn Heights). Housed in an old subway station, this museum is Toby’s dream come true: It’s full of vintage subway cars, old subway maps and a bus you can pretend to drive. Whenever we go here, he literally runs around the entire time in a state of giddy joy. (My favorite part are the retro subway ads.) Bonus tip: On Saturdays and Sundays, the museum has free-with-admission kids classes at 1:30pm, like build-your-own-bridge and shadow-puppet storytelling. Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village). At this historic park, you’ll find old guys playing chess, two great playgrounds, and a giant fountain that you can wade in on hot summer days (apparently, it’s perfectly clean, and kids flip out over it). But Toby’s favorite part is the street musicians dotting every path, from jazz quartets to guitar players to pianists. Bonus tip: If you work up an appetite, just head half a block south to Peanut Butter & Co., and don’t forget your camera: The iconic arch makes a great backdrop for family photos.
(We also took this photo there!)Any favorite activities or playgrounds for kids in New York City? We’re still working on our list, so I’d love to hear!!!The rest of the Cup of Jo Guide to NYC, including a secret playground and how not to look like a tourist. (Top photo of Toby, with graphic design by HipHipGinGin for Cup of Jo. Children’s Museum of Manhattan photos by New York Daily News and me; Central Park photos from the Village Voice, Gotham Girl Photography, Marvelous Kiddo and myself; Transit Museum photos by Zach Summer, Elissa Englund and me; Natural History Museum photos by Hither & Thither, Zirkel, Marvelous Kiddo; Brooklyn Bridge photo by us; Jane’s Carousel photo by New York Magazine; sunset photo by Chris Schoenbohm; Children’s Museum of Art photos by Sharon and me; Washington Square Park photos by us, Kate Spade and Whitney)As we neared 100 facebook fans, I wanted to do something extra special!! So I figured a giveaway was a good way to go. Since I love the company Seventh Generation and they are very baby & kid-friendly in their products, I asked them if they would be willing to sponsor this giveaway for us.
Being the AWESOME company they are, they immediately jumped on board!! So, one lucky mom is going to walk away with an amazing prize package! Here's what it holds: Natural Baby Starter Kit Their only request was that I also try each of these products (which they sent me!) and provide an honest review of them. So here is my honest opinion............ :) - I REALLY like their diapers. I think they work great, hold leaks (maybe not perfect for my heavy wetter overnight though), and hold up well. I love that they are chlorine-free, hypoallergenic, fragrance and latex free for my little guy's sensitive skin. One of my favorite things about them (and this is probably weird!), but I love that they are neutral-oatmeal colored and don't have goofy characters. The biggest thing is you have to watch out for is their sizing. I think that they tend to run small, so even if your child wears size 4, they might easily fit size 5. - I have to admit, I'm kind of a Huggies snob when it comes to wipes.
And once you've used Huggies wipes, I think nothing else is quite as thick! That being said, I think the wipes did a great job of cleaning and were very moist, which I liked a lot. - I do use cloth diapers much of the time, and as I said before, my little guy has extremely sensitive skin. So I have to be very careful in what detergent I use for his diapers. I have found that 7th Generation is one of the few laundry detergents that I can use, so I love that. The only downside is, the last time I purchased it, it cost $10 and I personally think that's a little too high for detergent. - one of the first "green" switches I made when I had my baby, was to look for cleaning products that were safe & non-toxic for using around children. I definitely like their cleaners and because they always have $1.00 off coupons on their website, I can usually get them for a great price! Their website promises - Formulated to be safe for your family and the environment, this product does not create harsh fumes and is a non-toxic, biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based cleaners.
I had not tried this bathroom cleaner before and I thought it worked very well. Again, a great option when your toddler likes to hug the toilet. - with kids around, we can go through these by the canful! Love having these around for quick cleans. - can always use a nice reusuable bag to use while shopping or throwing extra toys in or whatever! - these 2 items were on backorder for me, so unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try them out yet! Please leave a comment on this post RADical Days is a month long event for Living Pittsburgh fans! Now in its ninth year, RADical Days features free admission, musical and dance performances, take-home art and other family activities offered by dozens of arts and culture organizations, in addition to libraries, parks and sports facilities all funded in part by the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). 2010 offers the public a record-setting 41 free admission sites! Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Free Admission 10AM-3PM (tours only)
Allegheny-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum Experience Pittsburgh’s three rivers in a flat-water kayak. Kayak Pittsburgh, under Clemente Bridge at PNC Park (North Shore) Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh And there are many more as well! Check them all out as well as find out specific details for each event here! September 25, 2010 is National Museum Day and over 1,000 museums are offering free admission. Find a museum participating in your area here and then print your ticket for up to two free admissions here. (You must have a ticket to gain entrance!) Participating Pittsburgh museums include: A great freebie to take advantage of! FREE Family Fun Fridays with Venture Outdoors Location: Kingsley Association, 6435 Frankstown Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Date: The following Fridays in 2010: April 23, May 28, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 19, December 17, 2010
Start Time: 5:30 pm Description: Join Venture Outdoors at the Kingsley Association for their monthly Family Fun Fridays. They’ll bring a few kayaks for a half hour kayak introduction and bike bike bowling kit so you can roll a few rounds for prizes. Enjoy many other gym, pool and social activities throughout the evening. All ages and families welcome (remember this is a family event, so parents must be in attendance). Babies “R” Us and Toys “R” Us stores nationwide are hosting the event, starting Aug. 27 and ending Sept. 19. Customers will be able to trade in used cribs, car seats, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards, high chairs or toddler beds in exchange for 25 percent savings on the purchase of any new baby item from select manufacturers. The point of this event is to draw attention to safety concerns for some of these items, which means they may not be the best candidates to be handed down or resold. The items do not even have to have been purchased previously from Babies R Us!