Indoor/Rainy Day Activities
American Museum of Natural History and the Discovery Room
Central Park West
Subway: B, C to 81st St–Museum of Natural History; 1 to 79th St:
212-769-5100
Suggested admission $14, seniors and students $10.5, children $8.
The Discovery Room is an interactive space offers families, and especially children ages 5-12, a
gateway to the wonders of the Museum and a hands-on, behind-the-scenes
look at its science. It offers Gateway Storytime (Science and culture for preschoolers and their parents or caretakers). Meet the Scientist (Come and meet a Museum scientist and learn about their work!) and Roving Mars (This
engaging large-format film explores the surface of Mars through the
eyes of Spirit and Opportunity, NASA’s robotic Mars rovers.)
The Hall of Ocean Life features a life-size model of a blue whale,
suspended from the cavernous ceiling, while the Gem and Mineral
Collection is the setting for the 563-carat Star of India, the largest
sapphire on display anywhere. The Hall of Meteorites is home to the
34-ton Anighito meteor, while the museum’s IMAX theater screens
eye-popping nature documentaries. The Hayden Planetarium in the Rose
Center for Earth and Space—a giant silvery globe that’s dazzling to
behold after sundown—houses both the Space Theater, which uses a
customized Zeiss Star Projector to bring the night sky to life, and Big
Bang, where surround-sound and lighting effects transport visitors back
to the universe’s earliest days.- Time Out Kids
The Artful Place
171 Fifth Ave
718-399-8199
www.theartfulplace.com
In addition to
its treasure trove of art supplies (drawing, painting, printmaking,
mosaics, and beading) and kids’ (and adult) art workshops, The Artful Place hosts arts & crafts-themed birthday parties for children ages five to 12. On the weekends, parents and kids can drop by for open studio time,
and try drawing, painting, or collage. Reservations are not required
but be sure to call first to make sure the shop isn’t hosting a
birthday party.
Aviator Sports and Recreation
http://www.aviatorsports.com/
Hangar 5
Floyd Bennett Field
Brooklyn, NY
718-758-9800
(
Flatbush Avenue, Southern Brooklyn by Brooklyn Marine Park)
Aviator is located within an 800 acred decommissioned airport which is part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Free parking. Accessible by public transportation. Children drop-off, 3 bastketball courts, 3 volleyball courts, gymanstics/dance center, ice rinks, climbing wall, 2 turf fields, brithday fields, food court. The Child Center is for ages 6 months to 5 years for up to 2 hours a day whose parents are in the building. Reservations must be made in advance. $5/$9 per hour for members/nonmembers. Call 718-758-9800 for info on Child Center hours.
Baby Loves Disco
http://www.babylovesdisco.com/
Southpaw
125 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY
11217
Family disco parties the first Saturday of every month. Tickets are $12. Kids can party upstairs and parents have their own space downstairs with park slope businesses catering to the body, mind and soul.
Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
267 Seventh Avenue at 6th street
718-832-9066
Open daily from 9 am- 11 pm
Storytime on Tuesdays at 11 am
Big Movies for Little Kids
Cobble Hill Cinema
http://www.bigmoviesforlittlekids.blogspot.com/
Cobble Hill Cinemas
265 Court Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-596-9113
BIG Movies for Little Kids is the innovative, only-of-its-kind
classic
film series for children. Created by 3 Brooklyn Moms, this unique
series is a gentle introduction to the wonderful world of cinema. Every
other Monday is "Movie Day" for kids at Cobble Hill Cinemas. Mark your
calenders:
Time: Mondays at 4pm
Ages: 2-7 (all kids welcome)
Location: Cobble Hill Cinemas, 265 Court Street @ Butler
Subway: F train to Bergen St.
Cost: $6.50/pp (for all walking humans)
For more info: http://bigmoviesforlittlekids.blogspot.com or 718.596.4995
As always, special guests, giveaways, and fun surprises!
• Lobby level theater – the largest, with plenty of room to spread out
• Easy access stroller parking
• Safety first – clear Emergency Exits for quick getaways, if necessary
• Sound at a comfortable kid-friendly level
• Advanced-purchase tickets are available from the Tues prior to screening
• Booster seats provided
• Lighting – dimmed (for clear visibility)
• Deliberate timing = Twilight Time
•
Kids can are free to roam the aisles, kick the seats, ask questions
aloud – without fear of disruption or discipline. Laughing out loud is
highly encouraged!
The Backyard
www.backyardbrooklyn.com
info@backyardbrooklyn.com
20 Tiffany Place
Brooklyn NY (btwn Kane and Degraw)
718.624.2212
A
multi-use space designed for infants to age 6. Offering drop in
playtime, Bija dance and yoga classes, Baby Fingers sign language,
CPR/First Aid classes, prenatal yoga, music, half day summer camp,
story time, sing along, birthday parties and more. Playtime hours: Mon
- Fri 10am- 7pm and Sun 2pm- 7pm
Brooklyn Beads Boutique
www.brooklynbeads.net
244 Smith St between DeGraw and Douglass Sts
Carroll Gardens
866-390-8435
Subway: F,G to Carroll St.
Kids can get creative at this bead-it-yourself boutique, or use the play space so Mom can keep her creative focus.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
http://www.brooklynkids.org/
145 Brooklyn Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Phone: 718-735-4400
The museum has more than 15,000 square feet for exhibition space.
They have a Totally Tots program (singing, movement, role-playing), Play Pond, an Early Learning Performance Series, summer camp.
Admission is $5 per person, free for members and children under 1 year.
1 mile from Grand Army Plaza
Take the B43 or B44 to St. Mark’s Avenue or take the B45 or B65 to Brooklyn Avenue.
Brooklyn Museum of Art
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718-638-5000
Suggested Donation: $8 adults, free for children under 12
Monday-Friday 10-5 pm: Saturday-Sunday 11 am-6 pm
2 or 3 Subway to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum, B71 bus (closest) or B41 and B69
The museum has its regular exhibits, plus "arty facts" for kids age 4-7 to explore the galleries, Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Camp which is a 2 to 4 week day camp, art courses, and Target First Saturdays which are the first Saturday of each month where there is music, performance, films, storytelling and art workshops.
Brooklyn PLAY Spot
http://www.brooklynplayspot.com/
399 Atlantic Avenue (corner of Bond)
Lower Level
Brooklyn, NY 11217
M-F 10am-6 pm
Sat/Sun 9:30 am-6 pm
718-852-2494
Play space that hosts various classes or just play. They have 2 smallish rooms- you can become a member or do a drop-in fee. Classes occur daily, from storytime to language to knitting.
I did a trial class here and then stayed to
play. Birch went from one toy to the next (so many items to see!) and
loved all the distractions (a hanging jump rope, toy box that had
interactive elements, nooks and crannies) and playing with the other
child there. I wish that they had babyproofed better: there was a
stereo at toddler eye-level and 3 standing fans that posed obvious
danger concerns. I also would have liked to see some gross motor skills
toys that would promote real movement for the toddlers. Birch and I
both ate lunch here comfortably (I ordered delivery that came in 5
minutes) and we shared the dining room table together and then snacked
on some provided goldfish in between. The woman watching the play space
couldn’t have been nicer: she got a few delivery menus for me, played
with Birch when I went to the bathroom, and in general was a nice
presence. All in all, it was a great stop in the day and a nice place
to meet some new parents and play with some new toys.
-KarenIt is an essential resource that she is providing, but it needs to have more routine hours and be cleaner. I think the carpeting needs to be changed or have hardwood floors or everyone takes their shoes off.
-Caroline
Brooklyn Public Library
http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org
Central Branch
Grand Army Plaza
718-230-2100
Storytime and family film series. Storytime on Wednesdays at 10:30 and 11:15 and on Fridays at 10:30 and 11:15 and on Saturdays at 10:30 am. You need to pick up a ticket at the children’s reference desk in order to go.
The neighborhood branch library is better as the central one can be chaotic as it is big and there are a lot of bigger kids. I try to go there before 3 pm. When the big kids are there, they own the space.
-Caroline
Chelsea Piers Toddler Adventure Center
Field House
Pier 62
23rd St & the Hudson River
New York, NY 10011
212.336.6500
fax: 212.336.6515
fieldhouse@chelseapiers.com
The
Toddler Adventure Center features
one of the finest indoor toddler play areas in the city. The focus
is on fun through movement as
youngsters crawl, roll, jump,
and explore. Children participate
with a parent or caretaker in
an "open play" environment. State-of-the-art equipment provides your toddler
with the perfect environment
for exploration, learning, adventure
and fun. Please call 212.336.6500
to confirm the daily toddler gym times. $11 per session, but packages available.
Congregation Beth Elohim
Early Childhood Center and After School Classes
http://www.congregationbethelohim.org/content/view/50/71/
274 Garfield Place
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718)768-3814
Located in the residential community of Park Slope, in the heart of Brownstone Brooklyn, the Early Childhood Center enjoys an unparalleled setting, one block west of Prospect Park.
The Early Childhood Center offers a variety programs for children birth through five years old. The Tots Drop-in Center is open Monday through Thursday mornings for children birth through 20 months. The Drop-in Center is a large indoor play space with age appropriate toys and activities coordinated by an early childhood educator.
Early Childhood Resource and Information Center
http://www.nypl.org/branch/local/man/ecc.cfm
66 Leroy Street (off 7th Ave South)
New York, NY 10014
212-929-0815
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6 pm Thurs 10-6 Friday 1-6 Sat 1-5 Closed Sundays
The
Early Childhood Resource and Information Center (ECRIC)
is a unique center of The New York Public Library dedicated
to serving
the needs of young children (birth to age 6), their parents,
caregivers, teachers, and other early childhood professionals. ECRIC is
located on the second floor of the Hudson Park
Branch Library.
The Family Room is the heart of ECRIC. It is a place where the parent
or caregiver
and child can work together in an environment created to stimulate and
meet the
developmental interests of infants and young children.The room holds a
special collection of books, toys, and learning tools and includes
a carpeted block area, housekeeping and dramatic play spaces, drawing
easels,
climbing & sliding equipment, puzzles, and other learning tools.
They
have wonderful wooden toys, the largest collection of books on
parenting, education and board books for children. Sometimes it is
really active with a lot of kids, and other times I have been the only
one there.
-Elizabeth
Families First Brooklyn
http://www.exitfive.com/famfirst/
250 Baltic Street (bet. Clinton & Court)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Contact Linda Blyer
(718) 237-1862
This is a large space that supports children’s classes and activities (like science, cooking, language, adult-baby play, etc), workshops for parents and caregivers (choosing a nursery school, discipline, CPR, etc) and Support Groups. They also have Drop-In with child care staff.
Drop in play space open 9-4 Mon. thru thurs. and 9-1 pm on Friday.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
http://www.newyorkfed.org/
frbnytours@ny.frb.org
33 Liberty St btw. Nassau and William Sts
212-720-1630
Calling is recommended since
availability can be determined immediately.Tours are given Monday through Friday, except Bank holidays,
at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes. To accommodate for security screening, arrive 20 minutes before your tour.
Madd Fun
http://www.maddfun.com/about_us.html
303 Stanley Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11207
718-498-9002
This is an indoor entertainment center- near to Gateway Esttes (huge retail shopping). They have lazer tag, mini bowling, arcade, ball pit/tunnel and tubes arena, climbing wall, amusement rides, bumper cars, mini train, arts and crafts area, exclusive toddler soft play, private party rooms, food court, computer lab with classes.
Package prices vary from $6-$21.
Mamalu
http://mamalu.us/
232 North 12th Street (btw. Roebling and Driggs Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-486-6312
Mamalu has 80 square feet of play space for babies and kids. It has a multimedia center, reading area, dress up corner and mural sized chalkboard. They have organic food for adults and homemade organic food for babies. You can host a birthday party there complete with entertainment and catering.
Nice large play space with
rubber matting, sumo sand bags for lounging, cubby holes for shoes,
reading niche of maps and books, wall-sized chalkboard with a fun and
vibrant art
drawing where you can draw too, lots of gross motor skills toys that
are clean and that many can play on and
truly fabulous organic food from an extensive menu! The parents can sit
and chat in comfy loungers
while the kids play together. It feels clean, safe and vibrant. Great
for a couple of hours getaway. It gets my vote.
-Karen
Micro Museum
http://www.micromuseum.com/main/index.html
123 Smith Street between Dean and Pacific Streets
718-797-3116
publicrelations@micromuseum.org
New York Aquarium
www.nyaquarium.com
Corner of Surf Ave and W 8th St, Coney Island
718-265-3448
Subway: F, Q to W 8th St–NY Aquarium.
Prices from $310–$460.
The Aquarium hosts two deep sea-themed parties for kids. The Happy
Hermit Crab party for three- and four-year-olds incorporates stories,
song and crafts. A real hermit crab joins the party, too. Five- to
eleven-year-olds can throw a Designed for the Deep party complete with
a discussion on marine animals. Kids also get to handle real shark
teeth and whale bones, make aquatic crafts and take a behind-the-scenes
tour of the Aquarium. Parents provide the food and cake in the party
room afterwards; parties run from September to June only.
This is one of my favorite places to go with our son. It is a really nice aquarium with a cafe that you can eat in or bring food in to eat at. The cafe is on the beach so it feels like you have really "gotten away". You can also go out on the beach afterwards which is a lot of fun. The surrounding neighborhood has great electric offerings of food so it is fun to try a different cuisine while you are out there too.
-Caroline
New York Hall of Science
http://www.nyscience.org/
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11366
718-699-0005
The New York Hall of Science is New York City’s hands-on science and technology center. The Hall features more than 400 hands-on exhibits. Visit us and explore the wonder and excitement of biology, chemistry and physics.
September – March
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Thursday 9:30 am – 2 pm
Friday 9:30 am – 5 pm (free 2 – 5 pm)
Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 6 pm (free Sunday 10 – 11 am)
April – June
Monday – Thursday 9:30 am – 2 pm
Friday 9:30 am – 5 pm (free 2 – 5 pm)
Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 6 pm (free Sunday 10 – 11 am)
July & August
Monday – Friday 9:30 am – 5 pm
Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
(Free Hours suspended during July & August)
Holiday Weeks
Monday–Friday 9:30 am–5 pm
Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
Closed Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Please call 718.699.0005 for more information.
They have parent/child programs of interactive workshops, Science Technology Library Programs, Science Clubs, After school programs, camp, and The Preschool Place- a fantastic area for children 6 years and under that has plenty of multi-sensory activities.
The New York Hall of Science in Queens is awesome. Open 9:30-2 it is so wonderful. It has a great preschool play space. Also there is easy parking in a lot that is always empty and it is about a 10 minutes drive from Williamsburg.
-PerryIf you get there before 11 am it is
free. About 20 minutes drive from Fort Greene- less from Willamsburg. There are a ton of cool exhibits- we were engaged as much as Birch was. There were a lot of helpers who were exceptionally friendly and willing to guide us through the exhibits and engage Birch.
-Karen
The New York Transit Museum
http://www.transitmuseumeducation.org/
130 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 694-4915
We are located in a 1936
decommissioned subway station and provide a family friendly environment
where many of the exhibits can be touched, walked through or sat in.
For cost conscious families, admission for adults is $5; children under 3 years are free. Children 3-17
and seniors/ grandparents 62+ $3 and seniors are admitted free on
Wednesdays. The weekend educational workshops are free with paid Museum
admission and parents can feel free to also participate.
Birch and I went here this weekend. First, we loved the entrance, which is essentially the same as going down into a subway station. If you using a stroller, beware. Security will not help you up or down with a stroller and it is 2 flights of steps. Nontheless, it is a really fun way to arrive. You approach an old token booth and purchase your tickets. They have all the turnstiles from the past years and the kids love to test them all out- wooden, cage and metal. The rest of the very small museum has some engaging, interactive exhibits for the kids, but in general, could use updating and more pizzazz. I watched adults go through the museum with some boredom. The kids, on the other hand, loved trying their hand at driving various city buses and checking out a small trolley. You do get to go down into another subway station and walk in and out of the various subway cars over the years. I enjoyed that the most.
-Karen
Pacific Library
www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org
25 Fourth Ave. at Pacific St.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-638-1531
My son and I went there all yesterday on a lark and stayed for four hours and had a blast.However, there were no other toddlers there, so I had to recruit a girlfriend and her 1 year old! We’re going again at 2 we had such a good time.
-Eva
The Painted Pot
http://paintedpot.com/home.html
2 locations
339 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY (BOCOCA)
718-222-0334
8009 Third Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11209 (Bay Ridge)
718-491-6411
Classes
in painting, handbuilding, sculpture, turning pottery, beading.
Summer, after-school, birthday parties, and regular classes. Art on the spot is a trademark of The Painted Pot,
where families can, as the name suggests, drop by to paint ceramics,
mess around with some mosaics, or even make beaded jewelry.
Paradou
http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=7075
8 Little West 12th Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 463-8345
$40 a session,
"Pint-size cooks can learn to make dim sum, sopas and baba ghanouj. On a recent weekend, Alyssa Volland, the instructor and the wife of Alex Volland, the restaurant’s owner and chef, chose pizza for the day’s lesson. But this wasn’t a typical child-friendly pizza — frozen, on a bagel or dripping with pepperoni. Instead, Hanna Mandel, 5, set to mixing yeast pebbles, sea salt and extra virgin olive oil into an artisanal dough, which she topped with mozzarella and a nutty, slightly stinky Gruyère before choosing a vegetable topping. As she kneaded, she talked about her No. 1 food, sushi, declaring, “Seaweed is my favorite part.”"
-New York Times
Pick-a-Party
http://www.pickaparty.net
dreamparty4@aol.com
7103 Fort Hamilton Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11228 (Bay Ridge)
718.238.7278
When classes and parties are not in the offing, open play is often available – usually on weekday mornings. Call to check times. Pick-a-Party’s
Friday Night Freedom program invites parents to drop children off for
three hours of babysitting and fun. The fee is $25, from 6pm-9pm.
Prospect Park Audobon Center at the Boathouse
http://www.prospectparkaudubon.org/
Follow Lincoln Road into the park, across Central Drive. You will see
the Cleft Ridge Span on your right. When you exit the tunnel you will
see the Boathouse! Prospect Park
Free
There are scopes to examine elements from the park and singing birds
overhead. Special programs in the past have included storytelling and
crafts, drop-in crafts, discover tours, drumming circles and a history
cruise.
Prospect Park YMCA
www.ymcanyc.org/sub.php?p=about&sp=prospect/prospectabout
357 9th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues
718-768-7100
Swimming for all levels. You do not have to be a member.
Puppetworks
http://www.puppetworks.org/#Now%20Playing%20in%20BROOKLYN
338 Sixth Avenue (at 4th Street)
Brooklyn, NY
Reservations required: 718-965-3391
email: puppetworks@verizon.net
Puppetworks, inc. is a not-for-profit group dedicated to preserving and presenting classic puppet theater with special emphasis on the hand-carved wooden marionette.
Performances are every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 and 2:30 pm. Children are $7, adults $8.
Razzle Kids
http://razzlekidazzle.com/
131 Union (near President Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718-855-4818
You can rent their space out for parties- both supervised and private parties.It is also a play space. They have everything from a triple slide, ball crawl and crawling.
There is also a Mommy,Daddy, Nanny and me program for ages 1.5 to 4 years that including storytime, singing games and snack time.
Every third Friday of the month is "Family Friday Night" which is food, fun and dancing. $15 adult, $12 kids ages 1-9 and $15 for kids over 10 years.
The New York Transit Museum
http://www.transitmuseumeducation.org/
130 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 694-4915
We are located in a 1936
decommissioned subway station and provide a family friendly environment
where many of the exhibits can be touched, walked through or sat in.
For cost conscious families, admission for adults is $5; Children 3-17
and seniors/ grandparents 62+ $3 and seniors are admitted free on
Wednesdays. The weekend educational workshops are free with paid Museum
admission and parents can feel free to also participate
Birch and I went here this weekend. First, we
loved the entrance, which is essentially the same as going down into a
subway station. If you using a stroller, beware. Security will not help
you up or down with a stroller and it is 2 flights of steps.
Nontheless, it is a really fun way to arrive. You approach an old token
booth and purchase your tickets. They have all the turnstiles from the
past years and the kids love to test them all out- wooden, cage and
metal. The rest of the very small museum has some engaging,
interactive exhibits for the kids, but in general, could use updating
and more pizzazz. I watched adults go through the museum with some
boredom. The kids, on the other hand, loved trying their hand at
driving various city buses and checking out a small trolley. You do
get to go down into another subway station and walk in and out of the
various subway cars over the years. I enjoyed that the most.
-Karen
Union Temple Drop-In Center
17 Eastern Parkway at Grand Army Plaza
(718) 638-7600
For infants through 48 months
The Union Temple Drop-In Center welcomes children and their parents or caregivers to enjoy toys, music, play and snacks in a bright and friendly environment.
Waterfront Museum
http://www.waterfrontmuseum.org
290 Conover Street
Pier 44
Brooklyn, NY 11231 (Red Hook)
718.624.4719
Thu 4pm-8pm; Group tours by appointment. Ages 6 and up. $5/Person
The Waterfront Museum
was founded in 1986 to provide programs in education and culture aboard
an historic vessel and to advocate for and expand public waterfront
access in the NY Metropolitan area. The Museum relocated to Brooklyn in
1994.With
a permanent exhibit of artifacts and hands-on experiences – including
knot-tying, why boats float, identification of the different types of
vessels that crisscross the harbor daily, feeling the decks move
beneath their feet, hearing waterfront sounds, and understanding the
tides – the barge serves as a "floating classroom" for numerous school
visits.
Related Posts:
- Indoor photo shoot when the rain kept coming…. (March 15th, 2010)
- Rainy Day Suggestions and Brooklyn Summer Fun (June 19th, 2009)
- Outdoor Activities (October 21st, 2008)
- Indoor/Rainy Day Activities (October 21st, 2008)
- Audra Rox concert winner and Summer Activities (June 6th, 2008)
