Weekend and After School Activities for Kids in New York City

Think living in New York City limits the fun and activities your kids can get involved in? Think again! No matter what age, no matter what type of personality, there is something for everyone in a city so diverse and full of life.

The Children's Museum of the Arts at 182 Lafayette Street is perfect for children anywhere from 2 to 10. The museum serves as an artistic playground for kids. There is an artist's studio, an actor's studio, a ball pond filled with physioballs, and even a magnetic artwork station. The fee is only $5 per person, and it will provide your children with invaluable experiences helping to build their creativity and motor skills.

During the warmer months, Central Park is filled with a wealth of activities for adults and children alike. The Children's Zoo is located at 65^th Street and offers children an opportunity to pet animals such as pigs, rabbits, cows, sheep, goats, and turtles. The Central Park Zoo, only a short walk away, plays host to monkeys, otters, snakes, penguins, bats, polar bears, and more! Regardless of age, this is a great place to spend an afternoon exploring the interesting life the zoo supports.

Other great places in Central Park include the Chess and Checkers House and Wollman Rink, a lovely place during the winter season. There are also an immeasurable number of outdoor activities available in Central Park, including but not limited to playgrounds, fishing, hiking, and simply exploring the outdoors and all the natural wonders that the park provides urban residents.

In addition to the Central Park Zoos, New York City offers up many other places to observe wildlife and plant life. The Bronx Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Park is one such place, and boasts over 500 acres of exhibits. Thanks to such an enormous size, the zoo can create realistic native habitats for larger animals. Your children will not be able to contain their excitement when they find lions, elephants, gorillas, giraffes, bears, buffalo, and a wealth of other species. The cost of admission is only $9 for adults and $5 for children 2-12 (children under 2 are admitted free of charge). More information can be found at www.bronxzoo.com

The other boroughs also contain some great zoos, aquariums, and gardens. Queens Wildlife Center, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the New York Botanical Garden are but a few.

New York also provides an endless supply of dance classes from ballet to jazz to tap. Broadway Dance Center, Dance Space Inc, and the Kids Co-Motion/Rebecca Kelly Ballet are just a few of the many places which offer classes to all ages and experience levels.

When your child's birthday rolls around, there are a wide range of activities and party types to consider. At Milk and Cookies Bakery, located at 19 Commerce Street, your child and his or her friends can create their own cookies, milkshakes, and malts. There are makeover parties, sleepovers at the Bronx Zoo, sports parties, pirate parties, and so on. Prices range anywhere from $140 to $5,000.

There is an almost endless array of activities for children in the city, from outdoor parks to children's theater and everything in between. Don't hesitate to pick up a magazine about the city, or to search the internet for places to bring your children. Ask your neighbors and coworkers, and most importantly keep your eyes open. New festivals and activities are popping up each and every day.