Whether you live in New York City or you are visiting with your family, you know there is no shortage of fun things for kids in NYC. The city that never sleeps has plenty of options for children who hopefully sleep sometimes.

If you are looking for things to do with kids in NYC and New York family activities, the team at Sawyer has you covered. With our large variety of in-person kids activities in NYC offered by hundreds of educators, New York becomes a child’s playground! Keep reading to see some of our favorite fun things for kids in NYC.

• Things to do with kids in NYC
• ~Things to do with toddlers in NYC
• Places for kids in NYC
• New York family activities

Things to do with kids in NYC

There are so many fun activities for kids in NYC that it gets tough to choose. To help you, we’ve outlined some of our favorite things to do with kids in NYC, so you can spend less time deciding and more time doing!

1. Get messy with art classes. Let the city be your child’s inspiration for mixed media art, sculpture, drawing, painting, and more. There are so many benefits of art classes for children, including stronger motor skills, increased creativity, and better self-expression. Explore art classes in NYC.
2. Enjoy open play. NYC has a wide variety of play gyms and enrichment centers that offer open play hours so children can have fun on their own and with their friends. Some places, like Brooklearn, even offer coworking space for parents while their children play. Check out open play options for children in NYC.
3. See a show. Whether it’s on Broadway or Sesame Street, seeing live theater is always a treat. Find an age-appropriate show for your children and then watch them take in the magic. Then, book them into one of the great acting classes in NYC if they get inspired.
4. Take a walk around the block. If you’re a local looking for things to do in Brooklyn with kids, taking a walk is easy and free! Go to Prospect Park, the waterfront in Williamsburg, or DUMBO for some beautiful views, outdoor games, and people watching. You and your child will benefit from the fresh air and the bonding time.
5. Eat classic NYC foods. Get to know the city by way of your stomach. NYC is known for bagels and pizza, so start there. Then, explore some of the foods from the many cultures that call the city home. 

Things to do with toddlers in NYC

We all know that keeping toddlers entertained is a job on its own. Here are some of our favorite things to do with toddlers in NYC to keep them learning, having fun, and, best of all, busy.

1. Learn about nature. New York might be known as the concrete jungle, but there are still plenty of green spaces for little ones to explore. Cottonwood and Little Lola & Tots are 2 great Sawyer educators who offer nature classes for toddlers in NYC.
2. Get moving with dance classes. Does your toddler love the Rockettes? Sign them up for dance classes so that they can get the foundation they need to fulfill their high kicking dreams. Curious about the benefits of kids dance classes? Check out our article.
3. Visit a playground. NYC has some of the most fun (and beautiful) playgrounds around. Check out Domino Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO, or Central Park in Manhattan. 
4. Enjoy storytime. Take your toddler to the local bookstore or library for storytime. This is a great activity for little ones to help them fall in love with reading. Plus, it’s a great way to give yourself a break from reading the same book over and over again.
5. See a puppet show. Toddlers and puppets are a match made in heaven. For a real NYC experience, check out Puppetsburg, which offers “hipster, tattooed puppet shows for 0-3.5 year olds.” With dancing, instruments, dress-up, photo ops, and bubble time, you and your child are guaranteed to enjoy it.

Places for kids in NYC

Knowing good places for kids in NYC is essential to surviving the cold months of the winter and the hot and humid months of the summer. Here are some of our favorite spots to take your children.

1. Museums. NYC has lots of great museums especially for little ones, like the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and the Children’s Museum of the Arts. However, there are also great activities for children at more traditional museums like the Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid.
2. Zoos and aquariums. As an adult, you might think zoos are sad, but children love them. Check out the Central Park Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, or the Prospect Park Zoo. There’s also the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, which can lead into a fun day exploring the beach.
3. Botanical gardens. Teaching children about plants can be fun and beautiful. Check out the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or the New York Botanical Garden so you and your child can explore what nature has to offer.
4. Carousels. There are so many beautiful and fun carousels in NYC. Check out Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Seaglass Carousel in Battery Park, the Pier 62 carousel in Hudson River Park.
5. The beach in the summer and the Christmas tree in the winter. Enjoy what NYC has to offer seasonally with your children by checking out Coney Island or Jacob Riis Beach in the summer and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in the winter. 

New York family activities

If you have young children, family activities usually mean mommy and me (also called caregiver and child). Studies have shown that there are many benefits of mommy and me classes. Their bond grows stronger, plus the child learns social skills and becomes more used to physical movement and language.

But older children and their parents can also benefit from attending activities as a family. According to research, spending time as a family improves mental health, academic performance, self-confidence, and conflict resolution. It also reduces stress and lowers risk of behavioral problems. 

Check out our list of New York family activities to find great options to foster this growth for your child and yourself.

1. Cooking classes. Families can enjoy cooking classes together as a way to bond with each other and learn important life skills. Likewise, better hand-eye coordination, stronger math skills, and improved language development are among the benefits of cooking with kids. There are lots of great kids cooking classes in NYC that you and your family can enjoy.
2. Music classes. Adult and baby music classes are a great way to introduce your infant to other children their age and interact with new parents as well. Other benefits of music classes include better sensory awareness and sound distinction and improved communication skills. Check out these music classes in NYC and break out the tambourines.
3. Ice skating and rollerblading. Going ice skating in the winter and rollerblading in the summer are great outdoor New York family activities. You can check out the ice skating rinks in Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, or Central Park. When the weather warms up, go rollerblading at a park or at the rink at Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
4. Pottery classes. Trying something new like pottery is a great way to spend time as a family and get your hands dirty. Artshack Brooklyn and Clay Space offer family pottery classes that you can enjoy together. Learn more about the benefits of pottery classes for kids in our article.
5. Explore a farmer’s market. Get the family together and check out one of the local farmer’s markets in your neighborhood. This is a great way to encourage your children to try new fruits and vegetables. It also gives you an opportunity to discover small businesses and relay the importance of shopping small to your family.

We hope this list of fun things for kids in NYC has provided you with some inspiration for you and your children! If you are looking for even more in-person and online activities for children, there are classes and activities from thousands of educators on the Sawyer marketplace. We can’t wait to see what your family chooses!