Get crafty Art projects are one of the best ways to keep kids’ hands and brains busy, but when they do them at home you wind up scrubbing paint off the floor and glue off the ceiling, which adds a whole new level of misery to your day. Instead, visit a crafts studio, where you can paint a teacup for Grandma and still come home to a clean house. Drop in for some soothing pottery painting at Color Me Mine (116 Franklin St between Church St and West Broadway; 212-941-0120, colormemine.com) or Make ( •1566 Second Ave between 81st and 82nd Sts; 212-570-6868, makemeaning.com; •506 Amsterdam Ave between 84th and 85th Sts; 212-579-5575). If your kid is into beading, mosaics or T-shirt painting, check out the Little Shop of Crafts ( •431 E 73rd St between First and York Aves; 212-717-6636, littleshopny.com; •711 Amsterdam Ave at 94th St; 212-531-2723). The Artful Place in Park Slope (171 Fifth Ave between Sackett and DeGraw Sts; 718-399-8199, theartful place.com) has open studio time on weekends for painting, collage making and drawing.

Hit the books It must have been a tired parent who came up with the awesome idea of putting coffeebars in bookstores. Head to kid-lit mecca Books of Wonder (16 W 18th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves; 212-989-3270, booksofwonder.com)—or your local megachain—to grab a latte and a slab of pound cake, and chill while your kids hang out with Junie B., Harry Potter or the latest Mo Willems board book (if they get drool or toothmarks on the book, be a sport and pay for it). Plan your visit around storytime and you’re good for another half hour or so. If you’re willing to sacrifice the caffeine, check out Bank Street Bookstore (610 W 112th St at Broadway; 212-678-1654, bankstreetbooks.com), which has a great reading series but no café, or your local public library branch, for storytime and weekly kid flicks. For nine- to 12-year-olds, the Thalia Kids’ Book Club at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St; 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org) has an amazing lineup of top authors, who sit for Q&A sessions and book-signings (children $10, adults $15). Kids attending are also kept busy with writing and art projects.

Fancy fingers and toes Instead of just playing salon, indulge in the real thing at Dashing Diva (dashingdiva.com; five locations in the city), which offers “Little Diva” manicures ($8) and pedicures ($20) for kids under eight. While your daughter is being doted on by the adoring staff, you can catch up on Britney’s latest exploits as someone soaks, rubs and beautifies your aching arches.

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