Free and cheap ideas for the perfect playdate in NYC

Let little artistes unleash their inner Picasso without any casualties to your apartment. Sidewalk chalk is the perfect way for kiddos to stay busy while keeping the mess outdoors. (We're told that an order from Mister Softee helps with the creative process.)

Why not take your family movie night outside? Set up a projector in the backyard or on the roof for a new way to experience the best Disney movies of all time. Consider it a personal spin on the drive-in theater trend. 

It should come as no surprise that NYC is home to some of the coolest playgrounds around. When 45-foot slides, generous sandlots and fun splash pads are on the roster, it's hard to pick one favorite spot. 

The summer sun in NYC can be brutal, but a trip to one of the local water parks in your nabe is a great way to stay cool. We apologize in advance if the tots come home soaked. 

New York, New York—it's a wonderful biking town! From protected paths on the Bronx waterfront to the low-key cycling in Battery Park City, we'll help you find the best trails for families. (Don't worry: Training wheels are welcome.) 

Here's fishy, fishy, fishy! Grab the chumb bucket and cast a line into one of the city's catch-and-release freshwater ponds or see who's willing to bite at the waterfront piers. 

Just because you live in the Big Apple doesn't mean you can't spend time in the great outdoors. There are amazing family-friendly hikes close to NYC—in fact, the Bronx River Greenway and Inwood Hill Park are right in the middle of the city! So: Check the weather, pack a picnic and make plans to visit mother nature with the fam.

Sleepaway camps might be on hiatus this year, but that doesn't mean you can't gather 'round a makeshift campfire for a spooky story or two. We found the perfect spine-chilling tales that will keep little eyes wide open all night long! 

As much as we can't help but love a purchase from the ice cream truck, sometimes a DIY project goes a long way. Plus, little chefs will be able to experiment with flavors like mad scientists in a lab!

The creative juices are flowing! Kiddos are flexing their artistic muscles by way of virtual doodling classes, drawing on inspiration from the likes of Mo Willems and Dav Pilkey. (See what we did there?) And, luckily for parents, there isn't too much required in the way of clean-up. Grab a fresh box of crayons, untwist the marker tops and get ready to create a masterpiece! Here's where to find free coloring book pages for kids.

Ready, set, strategize! Check out our favorite kids' board games and bring on the competition. Kids can test their vocabulary with Scrabble, solve the who-done-it mudery mystery in Clue and so much more. All you need is a few friends or siblings and you're set. (We recommend setting up shop at the park!) 

This is shaping up to be the summer of reading. Titled "Summer Reading 2020: Quest for Adventure," the New York Public Library's program has a new homepage with online resources that will make reading that much more fun—and that will make your little bookworm feel connected to the library community. Why not host a storytime of your own while at home?

While en route to Rockaway Beach—like The Ramones—make sure to crank up the best summer songs for kids! They're the perfect way to celebrate the season of sand and surf.  From Disney songs and kindie rock hits to '80s classics and Beach Boys' favorites, our playlist has tracks that parents and kiddos will find equally inviting.