Advice - Activities

Staying home for school break? No matter the season, there are lots of wonderful ways to fill your time right here in Brooklyn and its environs!

What’s the PSP Chinese Group talking about this week? Our parents have some recommendations for the best Lunar New Year picture books. Put in your order now to keep the festivities going!

Did you know that Park Slope Parents has more than a dozen bilingual and heritage groups to help you get connected to families in Brooklyn who share your cultural background? Click HERE to get connected; and if you’re not yet a member of PSP, join us HERE!

NYC.Gov’s Snow Response Page (you can track the snow plows!)

Ready.Gov’s Winter Weather Resources

Your Family:

• Shop early and shop smart.Definitely pick up hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows, but also make sure you have easy-to-eat foods on hand in case the power goes out.

• Buy some “hot hands” or other hand and feet warmers.

• Keep your cell phones and other devices chargedin case of a power outage. 

• Check in on family membersoutside your

NOTE:This post is from early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual programming may not still be running, or may have moved back to in-person. We still recommend checking out the awesome folks mentioned in this post and learning about their current offerings!

It might feel tough to keep connected when you’re at home. You might not know what to do with yourself, or feel lost. Maybe we can turn those feelings into something better, a day of

Summer is on its way, and lazy, hot days are the perfect time to wile away the hours with a good book. We’re collecting recommendations from PSP members on books for various age groups, so here are some time-tested titles to expand your little ones’ minds, cure boredom, and nurture a lifelong love of reading.

This article is now a full, downloadable GUIDE available to Park Slope Parents members!

Click HERE for the resource; and if you're not yet a member, click HERE to join us and get access to all of our comprehensive guides, including Daycare, Preschool, Kindergarten, the Nanny Agreement, and more!

Basics:
Swimsuit – depending on the age, either a float suit with adjustable buoyancy or “puddle-jumper” floaties
Rashguard – longer-sleeved suits that protect best from sun
Sun Hat – with tie and long back
Beach Towels (2/child) – reserve one for an end-of-the-beach-day-scrub
Sunscreen (check the use-by date and get a baby-friendly one)**
Swim diapers (even if kids don’t go in the water these are good)
Wipes
Water bottle/cup – Yeti or

Below, you’ll find resources to help you support LGBTQI+ kids, educate yourself on gender and sexuality, and help your young ones discover the wide range of identities that may describe them.

Not yet a member of Park Slope Parents?Join us today to get access to a community of families who can offer advice and support on all aspects of raising children in Brooklyn. Once you become a member, headhere to join the LGBTQ+ group!

Also check out

PSP members talk about books for young kids with a compelling father character.

What to watch with your little ones on family movie night!

Also check out our page with Marvelous Movies for 3s and 4s.

If you’re not yet a member of PSP, join us today and connect with a community of parents who will watch movies with you and so much more!

Off-Broadway WeekNew to the city? Been here for years and now moving away? Read on for the quintessential Brooklyn and New York activities that received glowing reviews from Park Slope Parents members.

Tips on having parties at the Prospect Park Carousel

A Guide For How To Do It Right!

A block party is as Brooklyn as brick oven pizza. A block party makes your street, avenue, or building a place for fun, games, and connecting with neighbors. Here’s how to make one summer’s day (or spring or fall day) a delightful memory.

Home is the safest place right now, but as the weather continues to warm up and cabin fever hits in full force, venturing into the great outdoors is growing more and more appealing. NYC is already struggling with overcrowding in our much-loved parks, so if you want to maintain social distancing while enjoying the fresh air, hitting the trails can be a wonderful option. We hope this advice sourced from PSP members will help you stay safe while

Looking for activities for your kids, tween or teen?  From afterschool programs to sports classes, ideas for fun in the winter/ fall/ summer, this page points you in the right direction of where you can get ideas & suggestions from fellow PSP members!

The event application process - from the 76th Precinct Community Newsletter

Looking for fun and creative ideas for a Birthday Party for your Girl?  Here are some suggestions from local parents about what to do, where to go, and more!

Be sure to also check out the Birthday Tip for a Tween Girl - which might also give you ideas!

Also don't forget about the Party Resources we list in the PSP Recommendations section of the site - you'll find recommendations for local bakers, tips for where to buy all your party needs, as well as

Park Slope Parents has put together a guide with 25+ pages of wisdom on throwing a fun and fabulous party for kids, tweens, and teens of all ages and party preferences.

Looking to hold a themed Birthday party this year?  Why not try the Transit theme.  Here are tips from parents across the 'hood on how to throw a bash that is va va voom.

All you need to know about getting permits for throwing a party in Prospect Park.

 There are many ways to celebrate a birthday in the park. Prospect Park offers lots of options. Check out this link. But if you want to keep it simple and your costs down, here are some ideas and tips for a “Do It Yourself Park Party”.

It's Christmas! Turn off the TV! Shut down the computer! Here is a compilation of popular games you can play with your family members this holiday time.

Children's parties don't needn't be large, elaborate or expensive to be great. You can create a wonderful at-home party your child will remember for years to come.

Tasty cakes to make for those with food allergies, plus advice for when you're attending a birthday party and need to bring your own allergy-safe treats.

Not yet a member of Park Slope Parents? Join us today to get connected to our supportive and resourceful Allergy Group!

Ideas on how to make a character cake at home.

Here are some suggestions for working with cakes with complicated shapes...

Wondering where to take a kindergartener or elementary schooler for a memorable outing in New York City and its environs? Look no further—Park Slope Parents members who have been there, done that have suggestions to fit every preference.

If you’re not yet a member of PSP, join us to find a community who can answer your questions at all stages of the parenting journey, from the expectant months to the college years!

We asked Park Slope Parents members for the greatest and grandest grandparent/grandchild activities in NYC, and they delivered. Check out the recs below, from cruises to kid-led tours!

The PSP Grandparents Group keeps in grand touch through online chats, Zooms, and in-person meet-ups. If you’re a PSP member and the grandparents of your family want to get in on the fun, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need

This page includes tips and recommendations of where to hike close to NYC from members of the PSP Hiking and Camping Group, plus resources around the web they recommend.

Want to join the PSP Hiking and Camping Group? Head HERE. Not yet a member of PSP? Join HERE!

Lake Minnewaska is a favorite hiking destination for PSP members. Photo via here.

Looking for fun ideas on things to do with your toddlers and kids this summer? Here are some tips & suggestions that PSP members have shared. If you have more awesome ideas, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PSP members share the cultural experiences their family has enjoyed!  

Here are a few tours ideas and NYC activites suggested by PSP Members on how to get to learn more about Brooklyn.

A Park Slope parents shares her tips for playing in the snow in Prospect Park.

Indoor Activity Ideas for those bad weather days in Park Slope!

Head HERE for the updated full list of Snowy Fun Tips!

A book review of Subway, by Christop Niemann

Tips for playing in the sandbox, from the expert nannies in the Slope!

We've got 22 top tips for making snow days in Brooklyn manageable!

Recommendations from the PSP community on iPhone apps their kids love.

Want to go Apple Picking but you don't have a car?  Here are a few options:

NOTE: The actual apple picking only takes less than an hour-- so consider another activity (many farms have harvest days and corn mazes) so you don't travel 4 hours for a very short visit. 

We've got a new and improved list for cheap (or free!) to do with kids of all ages in NYC in the summer. 

Also, check out our NYC Family Bucket List for year round activities!

Words of wisdom about choosing music classes from PSP member who is a music teacher, a former violinist and opera singer.

Explore playgrounds with water features and other awesomeness, from Washington Heights to the Rockaways!

Looking for ways to keep cool this summer? Also check out the PSP Best and Easy Meet-Up Map, where the BLUE icons denote playgrounds with water features!

Want to connect with a community who will splash and play with you? Join Park Slope Parents!

Park Slope Parents is known around town for bringing our giant bubbles and face stamps to events, and a few people have asked us for more information about how to make bubbles and rainbow paints happen on their own. We have info to help make you a super pro in no time!

We're giving you our secrets—so make it official by joining Park Slope Parents! As a PSP member, you'll be the first to know about events, members-only meet-ups, and so much more.

Craving some oinks, moos, and baaaa’s on your next family outing? Read on for PSP members’ advice on the best city-accessible spots to commune with some barnyard buddies.

Considering a day trip to the shore, but not interested in being jostled by hordes of maskless sunbathers? Before you make your getaway, read on for member reports and recommendations on the most and least crowded beaches.

After a dismally empty three months, NYC’s beloved playgrounds are once again up and running—but in the Covid era, even typically carefree activities like swinging from the monkey bars require an extra level of caution. These top tips can help keep your kids safe and keep you sane.

As the warm weather continues, our local area presents plenty of possibilities for Covid-conscious fun. Check out tips for planning, play, and safety below!

For a crash course on planning an awesome distanced meetup, download the Marvelous Meet-Up Tip Sheet; and for top hang-out spots, head to our interactive map of Best and Easy Meet-Up Spots!

"I got a great responses to my question about good foods for a hot weather food strike," shares a PSP member. "Some won't work for my pasta-hating, cheese-rejecting vegetarians, but I got several requests to post to list and I've included all responses below, from Mom to Two who subsist on breakfast and air..."

Our outdoorsy members share what they like best and least about camping with babies—and share a few tips about making a camping trip a success. We've also added PSP member ideas about how to hike with little ones, what to cook, and how to simplify a camping routine!

Sabrina and Samantha Van Putten had a recent adventure to Coney Island...

a PSP member shared that the NYC Guide is now available to download! "This indispensable guide is a collaborative effort between New York City
Agencies, museums, youth groups, libraries, arts organizations and cultural institutions. Many of these events are free or low cost.

Download it HERE.

And for some more PSP member suggestions of summer activities for kids, tweens and teens, go HERE.

NYC's outdoor public swimming pools open the Friday after NYC public schools start their summer vacation. Here is important information of what to bring, where to go, and more.

PSP member, blog writer and photographer Amber Ceffalio visited the aquarium & Coney Island last weekend, and post Sandy, is still an ideal outing for young ones.

It's FALL and the leaves are beautiful right now.  Take some time to use the backdrop of the fall to get some great photos of your family. 

image made available here via a Creative Commons license

Park Slope Parents has an extensive list of apple and fruit picking destinations HERE with tips & suggestions from fellow parents. Make sure to call these places before you trek out (we got to one place and they were out of apples in one field and not opening another one for a few hours!). 

Tips for toddlers who prefer to dress like they’re on their way to a tropical vacation even when it’s 0 degrees outside.

Need help finding the best winter gear for kids? Check out our article on Dressing Kids for Outdoor School & Play.

Want to connect with a community that will keep you warm all winter? Join PSP today.

There are lots of ways to get out of the house and enjoy Brooklyn even during the chilliest months. Here are the best of the best ideas for enjoy what NYC has to offer in the winter!

Need help bundling up before heading outdoors? Check out our article on Dressing Kids for Outdoor School & Play, featuring product and brand recs from members.

Not yet a member of Park Slope Parents? Join a community that will help keep you warm all year round.

NOTE:

The following quesiton was asked to the Park Slope Parents group: "My rising 6th grader has summer homework to “visit a science museum and write a journal entry describing what you saw and what you learned from it”. What’s your favorite Science Museum?"
Here are their votes!

Go here for an updated and expanded version:

Family Movie Night: Tween/Teen Edition

Park Slope Parents was invited to take part in a roundtable discussion about whether young children should attend concerts.

If you’ve never taken the kids to the Chinese New Year Parade, put it on your bucket list of family excursions in New York City!

 Here's a checklist to help you do your part in keeping Prospect Park (and our other wonderful Brooklyn parks) safe, healthy, and thriving!

Here is a cheat sheet of playgrounds across key areas of the city.

More information about permits and more in Prospect Park.

All you need to know about visiting the Rockefeller Park in Battery Park, Manhattan

A review of all of the activities and sites to see at the Park Slope Armory.

A review and run down of indoor playspaces for kids in Brooklyn.

A review of a Manhattan playground that's perfect during hot summer months!

Looking for a movie the whole family—even the persnickety tweens and teens in your household—will enjoy? Here are recs from PSP members!

If you’re not yet a member of Park Slope Parents, tap into the wisdom of parents across Brooklyn and join us today for less than the cost of your Netflix subscription. Already a member? Click here to connect with the Tweens & Teens Group!

Need to switch up your cinematic rotation? Park Slope Parents members have ideas for movies that are sure to be a hit with the three-to-four-year old set—including a few that might just be equally loved by parents.

If you’re not yet a member of PSP, join us today and connect with a community of parents who will watch movies with you and so much more!

Got a tween who’s starting to ask some questions about sex, puberty, and all of that good stuff that comes with growing up? PSP members have the book recs you need to help educate your kids in the most age-appropriate, not-scary way possible.

Raising a tween in Brooklyn and not yet a member of Park Slope Parents?Join us today! And if you’re already a member,headhere to get connected to our Tweens & Teens Group.

This article also includes

One PSP member on our 3s group asks: “I am looking through PBS Kids to find the next show to get my daughter hooked on, but I'm noticing that the characters tend to be boys or are all pink and girly.” Our media-savvy members came to the rescue with high-quality kids shows that feature girl characters without reinforcing stereotypes. Read on for the recs!

"My daughter has asked for books for her birthday. I am trying to find some books that highlight girls/women and all we can do. Or positive messages to help spread love and hope right now. There are so many (and some aren't that on point--Not all Princesses Wear Pink was disappointing)."

Update: the second half of this article now includes recommendations for children's books with characters who do not conform to gender stereotypes.

Here are

PSP members share fun - and some funny - books to read with your kids and tween.

Your tweenager is curious about current events. Here, parents share some of the news outlets that explain current events in an educational, engaging and appropriate way for a tween.

As one PSP member asks: “Might anyone have any favorite books about going to the beach and taking a plane ride for their toddler? Our son recently developed a fear of the ocean, and we are also taking a plane ride soon and would like to start warming him up about the experience.”

Check out the recs below!

Reading IS fun! Parents share book their kids have enjoyed...

Go here for an updated and expanded version:

Family Movie Night: Tween/Teen Edition

Park Slope Parents share the favorite boardgames they like to play with their kids.

So you have a teenager (or tween) coming to visit or you are looking for something fun to do with your own energetic young adult.  What are some fun, slightly more grown up and erm, "cooler" things you can do with them?  Here are some suggestions from local parents.

The PSP Best and Easy Meet-Up Map is an interactive, crowd-sourced resource featuring the best spots all over Brooklyn to meet up with your pregnancy, baby, toddler, or kid group.

If you're a parent in Brooklyn who's not yet a member of PSP, head HERE to get connected to your new community.

A round-up of podcasts, articles, and resources shared by PSP members to help you educate yourself and your family on the legacy of anti-Asian racism in the United States and how we can move forward.

Photo via Elvert Barnes

A curated list of movies, books, and resources to help families of tweens and teens educate and engage.

Planning a staycation this winter? Here, PSP members share ideas of what to do with kids in New York City during the December school break and beyond.

Thinking about summer and Block Parties? Since it can take 60 days (or 90 in some areas), you might need to get crackin’ on plannin’.

Here’s some information about throwing a great party as well as links to applying in Community Board 6 and CB7.

Face painting is almost always a hit with the 3-8 year old set. Hiring a face painter can be expensive, but they bring all the equipment and it's good stuff. You can also decide to try your own hand at making it happen.

Here is a recommendended list of books for kids that feature all types of wonderful families.  If you have any you would like to add, email us at hello@parkslopeparents.

Park Slope Parents has groups for Single/Divorced/Separated parents, Single Parents by Choice, LGBTQ+ parents, Blended Families, and more. If you're not yet a member, join us today!