New York City is full of the best museums, parks and festivals, many of which cater to the children of New York. Everywhere you turn, there are engaging events taking place for parents and their children. Often for NYC grandparents it can be challenging to find events that cater specifically to grandparents looking for something to do with the grandkids.
Wendy Kantor, real estate agent with Town and grandmother of five, wants to fill that gap. “There was a real void in Manhattan – there was no link for grandparents, there was no network, there was no activities, there was no presence of any substance.”
To fill this void, Kantor created Grandparent’s Day, at the Children’s Museum of the Arts, in SoHo. Located at 103 Charlton Street, CMA is well-known in Manhattan for its fantastic programs and events for kids. Grandparent’s Day will take place on September 25th from 11am to 1pm. There will be all sorts of art projects, and the featured program is GIFS With Grandparents. With the help of the museum’s Teaching Artists, grandparents and grandkids will take a series of pictures, photo booth-style, and the pictures will be turned into an animated GIF! You will be able to email the GIF to yourself so you can share with friends and family.
Kantor wanted to create this event, because she feels there is a lack of connection between grandparents in the city. She hopes that Grandparent’s Day will be a way to create that connection. “I am looking forward to hearing from other grandparents…we have this common bond; we’re so blessed and lucky to have little ones.” Kantor also wanted to promote the social component for the grandparents. She believes events like this will allow grandparents to communicate with each other all the important things for grandparents to know, from how to properly discipline a child that is not their own but still a member of the family to how much you should spoil them. “I am hoping there is going to be a grandparent connection…not everyone has friends they can rely on, that have grandchildren the same age.”
Kantor has been bringing her grandchildren to CMA for years, and she always walks away with a newfound love of the museum and staff. She especially enjoys the layout and feel of the building. “It’s a wonderful museum to navigate. The size is very user-friendly…it’s welcoming and friendly and well-planned.” Kantor’s grandkids also walk away with a memory to cherish in addition to having spent quality time with their grandma. “They kids always leave feeling it was a very positive experience.”
For more information on Grandparent’s Day and the Children’s Museum of the Arts, check out their website at cmany.org. RSVP is required for Grandparent’s Day – please send your name, number of participants and ages of children attending to rsvp@cmany.org. Admission for children and adults under 65 is $12 per person upon arrival.
