With dipping temperatures and forecasts predicting even more snow on the horizon, keeping your kids entertained, active and happy (read: without going crazy or destroying the apartment) can seem like a daunting undertaking.To help, we’ve put together 10 great ideas for being the winter weather blues, from exploring a new museum or science center to taking tea at a festive cafe to bonding in the kitchen over a new recipe. Enjoy! —
1. Get a cup of specialty hot chocolate. From elegant outposts like Jacques Torres and MarieBelle’s Cacao Bar and Tea Salon to kid-friendly chocolate havens like Dylan’s Candy Bar, there are tons of great NYC cafes where you can indulge your sweet tooth and clink your cups of cocoa.
2. Get crafty. If you’re feeling a spontaneous burst of creativity (or you’d simply like to get the craft project away from your kitchen table) why not trek to one of the city’s wonderful craft emporiums? Aspiring scribes can publish their own books at Scribble Press, kids can make seasonally-inspired candles, beads, soaps and more at Make Meaning, do seasonally-inspired art projects and play in the interactive, multi-media Funky Forest at Moomah, or design their own skateboards (or princess costumes) at the Craft Studio. Click here for all of our favorite craft shops that offer drop-in play.
3. Have a tea party. Another wonderful winter activity? A tea party at one of the city’s famous cafes or shops, perfect for kids. Put on your party shoes, grab some friends and head to one of our favorites, like the Russian Tea Room, the Plaza Hotel or American Girl Place.
4. Just drop in. Tons of local activity centers offer drop-in open play times or special workshops. Check in with your local or favorite center to see what’s going on this week!
5. Explore a new exhibit (or an old favorite). There are tons of great exhibits at some of your favorite museums, like "On Line: Drawing Through the Twentieth Century" at the MOMA, "Brain: An Inside Story" at the American Museum of Natural History. Or, why not visit a museum you’ve never been to before? Click here for all of our favorites.
6. Conduct some experiments. Have an aspiring scientist on your hands? Cultivate their interests at one of the city’s wonderful nearby science centers, like the New York Hall of Science, Liberty Science Center or Sony Wonder Technology Lab.
7. Do something new! A cold winter afternoon is the perfect time to try out a play space or venue you have yet to experience. Our somewhat under-the-radar favorites? The indoor, simulated pop-up park "Park Here" at the Openhouse Gallery in Nolita (it features grass, trees, birds chirping and more to make you feel like spring has sprung), a visit to the Scandinavia House’s colorful Heimlich Family Children’s Center, the beautiful (and indoor) Winter Garden at the World Financial Center.
8. Whip up a batch of something sweet (or savory). If you feel like indulging your sweet tooth, how about these adorable melting snowman cookies, these irresistible coconut toffee bars or these Austrian pancakes. If you’d like to bond in the kitchen over a delicious dinner recipe, we also love these spiced sweet potato wedges, this easy recipe for roasted sausage with grapes and onions,
this healthy and hearty lentil soup, or this flavorful beet and farro salad.
9. Break a sweat. Don’t let the cold weather keep you on the couch! Get moving with a trip to the indoor climbing gym Brooklyn Boulders, NYC Paintball and Lasertag (a short subway ride away in Long Island City), or a trip to Chelsea Piers or Asphalt Green.
10. Shop ’till you drop! There are plenty of specialty kids stores that are an adventure in themselves — whether or not you go home with something new. We especially love the newly revamped (and amazing) World Disney Store, FAO Schwartz and The NBA Store.
Photo: Moomah. Courtesy of Moomah.
