Time Out New York Kids news

It's safe to say that it's been a busy year for NYC public schools.  In addition to the typical events—camp planning, pre-k registration, snow days—the department of education named a new chancellor (but not without a bit of confusion first). Students became increasingly vocal on the issue of gun violence and new anti-bullying measures have been addressed. A lot has happened, and it's time to voice your concerns.  The final day to submit your 2018 NYC School Survey is fast approaching (Apr 20), and it's your opportunity share your thoughts on topics such as instruction, safety and family engagement. Parents, students in grades 6–12 and educators are invited to voice their opinion, so don't miss the opportunity.  So how do you get the ball rolling? Check out your unique access code, which you can find on the bottom right of the NYC DOE paper-based surveys. Once you have that, you'll be able to head online to complete the survey. If you can't find your access code, don't sweat it: You can call 877-819-2363 or use the code look-up tool to get the goods. Simple as that!  So mark you calendars and set aside a few minutes—time's almost up.  Looking for family-friendly activities? NYC has plenty of great offerings that will please even the pickiest members of your clan. Why not check out the best kids bowling, stop by an awesome kids playground when the nice weather hits or spend the weekend checking different family attractions off your list.  Sign up to receive great Time Ou

Taking a tot to La bohème or Carmen is pretty ambitious, but if you're anxious to expose your kiddies to the NYC art scene, you'll have to take baby steps—literally.  Thanks to BambinO, a masterpiece from Scottish Opera, Improbable theatre company and Manchester International Festival, NYC's babies and toddlers will be able to enjoy an opera exclusively for them.  “In the Met’s never-ending quest to develop audiences of the future, we’ve decided to start at the very beginning,” the institution's general manager, Peter Gelb, said in a statement. “This should be a formative experience for the infants of NYC.” The interactive show, which is meant for toddlers who range from six months to 18 months old, focuses on a bird named Uccellina (soprano Charlotte Hoather) who stumbles upon a golden egg. When it hatches and reveals baby chick Pulcino (baritone Timothy Connor), he immediately considers Uccellina his mama. During the 40-minute show, youngsters will be exposed to their relationship, and ultimately, their separation.  Though trips to the opera for adults can be costly, BambinO is free. However, reservations are required by emailing bambinoRSVP@metopera.org. At this point in time, this is a wait-list only event. The performance dates are as follows: Monday, Apr 30 at 2pm Tuesday, May 1 at 10am and 2pm Wednesday, May 2 at 10am and 2pm Thursday, May 3 at 10am and 2pm Friday, May 4 at 10am and 2pm Saturday, May 5 at 9:45am Enjoy the show!  There

NYC students refuse to be silenced.  In an effort to see stricter gun laws in the U.S., roughly 6,000 students in the city from institutions such as Stuyvesant High School, The Beacon School, BARD Manhattan, among others, will participate in a second walkout on Friday, Apr 20 at noon in Washington Square Park. They'll join forces with other schools across the country. This comes in the wake of the Mar 14 walkout in response to the horrific shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead.  Between these NYC protests and the national March for Our Lives movement, it's clear young citizens are becoming involved and taking a stand to fight for their beliefs. Just take a look at the organizer behind the NYC walkout, 16-year-old Arielle Geismar, co-founder of New York City Says Enough. The group is attempting to become a 501c organization and exceeded its $7,000 goal to raise funds for the Apr 20 walkout.    "I and so many other people my age are ready for change, and will not stop until we get it," she says. "We are no longer accepting responses from politicians that include 'in the future' or 'soon.' We are planning to file for incorporation for 501c4 status. Becoming official and being able to have a public statement on politicians we support is extremely important. This rally is the next step from the March 14 walkouts. In March, we mourn, and in April, we act." The walkout, which will take place on the anniversary of the Columbine tragedy, will include survivor

LEGO bricks are the toys that needs no introduction. For 60 years, they've been the building blocks of childhood fun and creativity (see what we did there?). In order to celebrate this milestone, the Scandinavia House will feature a new exhibit, "LEGO Bricks: A Celebration." Get ready for an experience like no other.  When children aren't wandering their way through 30,000 loose LEGO bricks in the interactive play zone, they can admire sculptures and mosaics by Brooklyn-based artist Sean Kenney (and perhaps feel inspired to create their own masterpiece). Kenney, whose traveling exhibit "Nature Connects" has made its rounds throughout the U.S., is pretty much the Picasso of LEGO creations, and his work will certainly entertain visitors of all ages.  Photograph: Courtesy Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America "I've always been a huge fan of LEGO toys, ever since I was a little kid," the artist tells Time Out New York Kids. "I think they reflect my personality well—I am structured and organized and logical, but I am also rather silly and love to laugh. What better medium than a primary-colored children's toy based on straight lines, rules, and math?" Photograph: Courtesy Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America The exhibit will kick off on Apr 28 and run through Aug 4. To ring in the occasion, there will be a party starting at 3pm on Apr 28 that will feature live music, snacks and of course, fun ways to play. Considering these little blocks are a ke

Feel like unleashing your spooky side? Not to worry, Morticia Addams enthusiasts, you and your newborn can take a nice long stroll among the dead thanks to this new tour (just make sure your best black attire is ready).  The Park Slope Parents Association partnered with Green-Wood Cemetery for a different type of mommy-and-me outing: a 45-minute walk through its historic grounds. New parents who can't quite cover the venue by lugging their child's stroller on and off a tour bus can now take in Brooklyn's past on foot. Save the playspaces for another time—you and your mini-me have a lot of ground to cover (literally).  It might seem a bit eccentric—considering Green-Wood is now home to the newly reopened Morbid Anatomy Museum—but this tour is actually a great way to take in the sites of Brooklyn people do not normally experience (think of it as a trip to see an exhibit rather than a haunted house). Parents might be in favor of visiting grave sites of famous figures such as soda fountain creator, John Matthews, but kiddies will definitely enjoy a walk past the cemetery’s koi pond and other animal-related pitstops. Yes, it's certainly a new way to spend an afternoon, but when rounds on jungle gym at your local play area become redundant, you'll need a way to spice things up. Those interested in taking a step back in time are required to register with the online group before participating in the Apr 24 tour, which begins at 10:20am and costs $10. Please note that this event is

Could this man be the answers to kids' prayers? We certainly hope so.   After a failed crowdfunding attempt to save Toys “R” Us, billionaire toy exec Isaac Larian didn't call it quits. In fact, he submitted a bid of $675 million so that he can buy 274 U.S. locations and continue to use the brand's name, according to CNN and The Los Angeles Times. But he didn't stop there—he also bid $215 for roughly 80 stores in Canada. Perhaps this isn't the end after all.  "The liquidation of Toys “R” Us  is going to have a long-term effect on the toy business. The industry will truly suffer," Larian said in a statement. "The prospect of bringing the Toys “R” Us  experience to a new generation, my new grandson's generation, is enough to motivate me to SaveToys "R" Us." Geoffrey, we're holding out hope!  For weeks, we'd been sobbing at the thought of losing our favorite go-to location. Now, perhaps Larian's efforts—in addition to help from banks and various investors—will chalk up the company's bankruptcy issue to a bad dream. The loss of Toys “R” Us  would certainly change the way in which children grow up, so we're grateful that someone is looking to keep precious memories in tact.  What's even more exciting is that Larian envisions the store to be more of a destination for shoppers, not just a place to spend 20 minutes. "Imagine a mini Disneyland in each neighborhood," he said in a statement. Music to our ears! Let's hope all goes according to plan and we can stroll through the st

Did you know that NYC got 3 million new residents this morning? If you're skeptical about these statistics, head over to Bryant Park and check out what all the buzz is about (don't worry, your apartment building won't overflow because of this influx).  On Apr 13, the park welcomed new honeybees to the grounds, and early-morning commuters stopped to take a gander at the move-in process. How fortunate for these little guys that they don't need to rent a U-haul! All 3 million of them seemed to adjust to their new digs nicely.    3 million honeybees were delivered the @bryantparknyc this morning! https://t.co/V0zuiWC4W0 — NYC Parks (@NYCParks) April 13, 2018 Now that the grounds are buzzing with activity from these inhabitants, you're probably curious why so many made their way to the venue. Last year, the Bryant Park Apiary was installed to give New Yorkers a little taste of nature in the backdrop of skyscrapers and Sixth Ave, and the sentiment continues.  "The goal of the Apiary is to allow the public to have a rare, close-up look at honeybees in an urban setting, as well as pollinating plants and flowers throughout the park and producing locally made honey available for purchase at the Bryant Park Shop," Owen Harrang of Urban Mgt says.  Photograph: Courtesy Bryant Park If you're feeling inspired by the new fellas in town, stop by for one of Andrew Coté's monthly beekeeping classes, which are free for park-goers. Perhaps you'll bee inclined

The much-anticipated kids' film Incredibles 2, arriving fourteen years after the first installment's release, features your favorite super-family in a brand new adventure. Mr. Incredible is at home caring for Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack (who is starting to show evidence of some unusual powers) while mom (Helen/Elastigirl) fights the bad guys. Samuel L. Jackson returns as Frozone, and the family faces a new nemesis: Screen Slaver. Needless to say, we're really, really looking forward to seeing it! The film arrives in theaters in 3-D on June 15, 2018.     While you're waiting, explore our favorite kids' movies, family comedy movies and kids' movies on Netflix. Sign up to receive great Time Out New York Kids deals in your inbox each day.

Looking to get in tune with nature? Believe it or not, you don't even have to leave NYC.  If you're anxious to swap your apartment (briefly) for a tent, NYC Park's Family Camping events will kick off next week. It's the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city...without actually leaving.  The free program, which operates on a lottery system, allows campers young and old to unleash their inner Henry David Thoreau. Visitors will enjoy an evening hike through the park, stories by the campfire and other exciting outdoor activities (hello s'mores!). We certainly hope someone brings a scary story or two for the occasion.  Fortunately, tents will be provided. All that's required of visiting campers is a sleeping bag and additional bedding (and perhaps a teddy for little campers). Although the event is free, registration is required. Visit the Urban Park Rangers' page to learn how to enter your family in the lottery. The first family camping event will kick off on Apr 20 at the Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park, followed by Blue Heron Nature Center in Staten Island on May 11 and Van Cortlandt Park Nature Center on May 25.  S'mores anyone? Looking for more ways to enjoy NYC with your family? Now that the weather is getting warm, grab a bite at one of the best outdoor restaurants NYC has to offer, make a pitstop at one of these cool kids attractions or stop by a kids playground for some fun on the monkey bars and tire swings. Happy adventuring!  Sign up to r

Where are the best places to put down roots if you have a family? Homes.com created an interactive map of the top 25 family-friendly cities in the U.S. based on a variety of factors. If you're thinking about setting up shop in a new environment, you might want to take a gander at these results before packing your bags and calling the movers.  Homes.com broke down each location based on crime rate, cost of living, availability of child care services, average commute times, school quality for kindergarten through 12th grade and park acreage per capita—all aspects that are relatively important to a family with youngsters. Some of the locales that made an appearance on the list include San Antonio, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Boston.  Naturally, I'm sure you're curious where exactly NYC stacks up on the list. Fear not Empire State residents—your beloved locale might not have cracked the top 10, but it is ranked at number 14 overall. What possibly brought down its status is commute time (go on, vent about the MTA and get it out of your system) and the cost of living. But when it comes to aspects such as child care services, we've got it on lock.  Curious about where other locations fall on the interactive map? Check it out here. Happy house hunting.  Need inspo for family-friendly activities in NYC? Grab a bite at one of the best outdoor restaurants NYC has to offer, then take a trip to check out these kids' attractions and finish up the day with a night on the couch watch