Fun Family Friendly Events in NYC

Throughout February, hear from Field staff, collaborators, and guest speakers about a variety of career paths in museums and the sciences. Learn about the contributions of African American scientists, artists, and educators—past and present.

This year we are safely celebrating Lunar New Year at the Garden throughout the month of February! Enjoy festive décor, pick up one of our free monthly seasonal craft activity kits, and take part in our Plant Sale to bring home a lucky plant for the Year of the Ox!

Rise and dine (virtually) with us! Stay comfy in your pj's as you ZOOm with some WILD friends during their morning routine. We'll take you behind the scenes to see the variety of tasty treats our animals look forward to every morning as you enjoy your own!

Frederick marks our first, but not last, venture into releasing fresh online content for children and families via CCTv. The Caldecott Award-winning picture book by Leo Lionni comes to brand new life as a clever and colorful virtual puppet show.

Yes, you can see high-flying performers for free at City Point, where New York City Professional Circus Performers will be showcasing training and creative process as well as rehearsals of works-in-progress and show-ready acts. (Performers will be in BKLYN STUDIOS and audience will be in City Point main passageway.)

New York City Children’s Theater (NYCCT) premieres "Forest of Feelings" - A New Musical. Performance dates varies 30 Minutes Best for ages 2-5. Developed for and performed Live on Zoom. NYC Children's Theater virtual 2020-21 season kicks off with the premiere of "Forest of Feelings". The Forest of Feelings is a magical place filled with a vast landscape of emotions. When two friends discover a lost laugh, with the audience’s help, they must take a physical and musical journey through the forest!

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and Nickelodeon are joining forces to bring you a kid-friendly exploration of goo. Discover how different species use slime to survive, from squid ink to snail trails to bubble-blowing insects. You will never see nature’s sliminess the same way again!

A magical wonderland awaits visitors with the return of this holiday tradition. Featuring toy trains, figurines, and miniature models from the renowned Jerni Collection, Holiday Express transports young and old alike to a bygone era. The installation includes a variety of toy train stations dating from the turn of the 19th century to the World War II era, showcasing the evolving designs of American and European toymakers. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

This program includes a special Little New-Yorkers hello song, silly dances and songs, a story book reading, and a craft to do at home. Celebrate Women’s History Month and talk about amazing friendships! Discuss your favorite friends and read about the camaraderie between Fredrick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony in the book Two Friends written by Dean Robbins and illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko. Following storytime, create friendship bracelets to share with someone you love.

Take the whole family on a virtual trip to the birthplace of jazz as the joyful sounds of the Crescent City fill your home. Dance, swing, play, and second line with the WeBop Family Jazz Band from the comfort of your living room. This fun, interactive 40-minute concert is recommended for families with children 8-months to 8-years-old, but all ages are welcome!

Come to the Children's Room during library hours to complete a Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt! Prizes will be given to children who complete the hunt.

Join animal experts and take a virtual dive into the aquatic world. With opportunities to look nature in the eye with up-close animal encounters, explorers will investigate the impressive world of aquatic animals and uncover adaptations that will leave them in awe. Each session will have a different animal or habitat focus and is designed to be engaging for learners. Kids will tour a specific animal or habitat from the animal world through encounters and hands-on activities.

Join The Art Farm for arts and crafts, limited playtime, storytime, and…live animals! Advanced registration required.

Join The Art Farm for arts and crafts, limited playtime, storytime, and…live animals! Advanced registration required.

Located on the Waterfront Terrace, The Rink at Brookfield Place opens in November for another memorable season. New York residents and tourists alike can skate on the 7,350 square-foot outdoor rink while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Hudson River and cityscape. Book your time slot in advance.

Move aside Tom Hanks, these dogs are ready for the pup-arazzi. The AKC Museum of the Dog is excited to announce their latest exhibition opening in the new year, “Hollywood Dogs.” This new exhibition examines the history of dogs on film from the very genesis of the medium all the way through the “Golden Age of Hollywood Dogs.” It features original movie posters of some of the biggest canine blockbusters, Lassie to Old Yeller and more.

Look, listen, sing, and have fun with Storytime from home! Join The Met every week for a picture-book reading and an activity connected to The Met collection. Recommended for families with children ages 18 months to 6 years. Please note: This program is prerecorded. Watch on Facebook, YouTube, or on the Met website.

Get ready for some messy fun! Each Week toddlers will experience a story in an exciting new way. Every story is paired with a unique sensory experience to stimulate young minds through all their senses. All classes offer open play, story time, and a variety of sensory experiences. Advanced registration required.

Tour the various exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from home!

The Brooklyn Public Library is now offering virtual programming for all ages including story time with local librarians, foreign language learning, SAT test prep, virtual Mario Kart and much more.

During this time of social distancing, it can be difficult to think of ways to keep kids active while indoors. Legendary children's musician Laurie Berkner is giving families a reason to get up and move during this time indoors with live "Berkner Break" concerts, streamed most weekday mornings at 10am on Facebook. Berkner's songs, movement activities, and stories will lift spirits and get the kids dancing and singing along to well-loved favorites by Berkner!

The museum has put together a one-stop-shop of all its digital resources, -- “Experience Intrepid Anywhere” – where the public, including educators, parents and students, can stay engaged with the museum digitally through teacher and home-school resources, virtual tours, oral histories, virtual talks, virtual veterans programs, and much more.

CuratedCare.Com is offering one-on-one, interactive, virtual lessons with an epic community of babysitting teachers and artists (Juilliard grads, Rhodes Scholars, Alvin Ailey dancers, Broadway actors, and more).These our super accessible, cost effective and one-on-one which offers face to face interaction and a chance to go with the flow if your 4 year old decides half way through they want to switch to a different activity :) We are waiving the $45 membership to all fams during this wonky time.

Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre presents Remote Dance Learning, an opportunity to keep students moving while they are out of school. These free sessions are led by Notes in Motion teaching artists and are available online. Classes are available for children by grade level: PreK-2nd Grade, 3rd-5thGrade, Middle School, and High School, and include Yoga, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, among others.

During challenging times, the power of plants connects people and provides inspiration more than ever. While the Garden’s gates may be closed temporarily, NYBG's virtual gates are wide open. Stay connected through the collections’ vast digital resources, creative educational programs, and many other online offerings. As spring unfolds, see the brightness and color of the season, a reminder of how the natural world brings everyone joy.

In light of the current pandemic and quarantine, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is reaching out to families all over the world offering educational and recreational tools to help children, parents and caregivers create meaningful moments and keep academic goals on track. Includes a digital library of 57 read aloud by top Hollywood talent who engage young viewers with their animated interpretations of historic, adventurous and fantastical tales that promote imagination and inclusion.

J.K. Rowling launched the Harry Potter at Home portal, giving kids access to a free collection of "child-friendly activities, videos, puzzles, illustrations, quizzes, creative ideas, articles, and more," according to the Wizarding World Team, to help combat the boredom during this period of social distancing (with a little magic). The portal will give kids new to the Wizarding World and those who have been lifelong fans access to fun and engaging content to keep the magic alive during this time.

Frick, yeah! This mansion-turned-museum (and research center) recently had renovations done, so they were already prepared for virtual museum viewing.

Check out a virtual field trip with your kiddos by checking out the Staten Island Zoo from your home!

Pandas. Live. All day long. Need we say more?

During the strange new normal presented by the challenges of COVID-19, the team at Historic Richmond Town remains dedicated to creating opportunities for the public to explore the diversity of the American experience from the colonial period to the present. Arts & Culture in Quarantine is a free, online series our staff has put together to continue to provide diverse programming and digital content to our audience. New content posted every day for your kiddos to learn about history & art!

As China's most famous attraction, the Great Wall of China is an essential stop on all China tours. Commonly considered a wonder of the world, the Great Wall boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient structures on the planet. Take a virtual tour to learn from home!

Check out a 360-degree virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel, the Niccoline Chapel, Chiaramonti Museum and more.

An all-inclusive, A-Z virtual tour collection of hundreds of museums all over the world. Tour museums across the globe from your computer.

Explorer Classroom’s live video events occur daily at 2pm and connect students with National Geographic Explorers across all seven continents to bring exploration to life.

Get an inside look at NASA Glenn Research Center’s facilities. Perfect for your little astronauts!

Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.

Enjoy a wild rollercoaster ride - from your house!

Enjoy this Coney Island classic from the comfort and safety of your house!