Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the Family

Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be about more than just a three-day weekend for your kids. Take the opportunity to teach your whole family some of the rich history involved with the Civil Rights movement. These eight celebratory events are child-friendly, educational, and most importantly, fun.

All Weekend

African American Leaders Scavenger Hunt at New York Historical Society
11 am-5 pm
Families are invited to search for historic documents and objects related to Martin Luther King Jr. and other inspiring African American leaders like James McCune Smith, Pierre Toussaint, and Frederick Douglass. Free with admission. 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street); 212-873-3400

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Weekend Celebration at Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Times Vary
All weekend, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is hosting multiple events in honor of the holiday. Kids will love Martin’s Mosaic, a workshop where children recreate MLK’s portrait from recycled materials. There’s also Heroic Heroines: Ruby Bridges, a book reading, and Little Artists: Community Installation, a decorating party for tots 4 and under. But don’t miss the National Jazz Museum in Harlem All Stars Band performance Monday night! Free with admission. 212 West 83rd Street; 212-721-1223

Let’s March! and Let’s Join Hands at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Times Vary
Learn about the Civil Rights Era with two events from Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Let’s March! will educate children about the March on Washington with stories and footage, then let them create a banner and march themselves. The Let’s Join Hands workshop, geared toward younger children, teaches about tolerance and diversity through songs, storytelling, and crafting. Free with admission. 145 Brooklyn Avenue; 718-735-4400.

Saturday, January 18th

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Youth Dreamers at Dweck Center
1 pm
Enjoy poetry readings from young artists and performances by the Noel Pointer Foundation, a string musical education program. The event is being held in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. at Dweck Center at the Brooklyn Public Library (Central Library). Free. 10 Grand Army Plaza; 718-230-2100

Family Art Project: Mapping Freedom at Wave Hill House
10 am-1 pm
Wave Hill Garden and Cultural Center is reflecting on the Underground Railroad for the holiday. Families will draw secret maps to places they want to go, then transfer the images to muslin. Get creative by decorating the printed fabric in honor of traditional African American quilts. Free with admission.West 249th Street and Independence Avenue; 718-549-3200

Monday, January 20th

Community Conversations with Kids at Lefferts Historic House
1 pm-3 pm
New York City Council for Humanities is sponsoring a reading of the award-winning biography, Martin’s Big Words in Prospect Park. Later, the children will discuss the themes of the book, like service, freedom, and democracy. Free. 452 Flatbrush Avenue; 718-789-2822

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Historic Harlem Walking Tour
1 pm
Visit historic homes, churches, clubs, and theaters in Harlem on this two-hour Big Onion walking tour. Potential stops include Abyssinian Baptist Church, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and The Apollo Theater. Adults $20, Students/Seniors/Members $15. Meet at Northwest Corner of 135th Street and Lenox (Malcolm X Avenue); 888-606-9255

Artists Celebrate the Living Legacy of Dr. King at JCC in Manhattan Media
6 pm to 7:30 pm
This community celebration honors MLK Day with performance artist Judith Sloan and keynote speakers Susannah Heschel (Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College) and Joshua Nelson (Prince of Kosher Gospel). Registration is recommended, but seating is on a first come, first served basis. Free. 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street; 646-505-5708

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.

The Tutorverse

Join The Tutorverse for the highest quality in academic enrichment and test preparation! Whether your student is gearing up for the&nbsp;state exams, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, or SAT/ACT, their team of experienced and local professional educators&nbsp;can help. Have your student join a&nbsp;small-group class&nbsp;at our downtown or Upper East Side locations. Or, they can meet with a&nbsp;private tutor when and where it&rsquo;s most convenient for your family. Does your student need help building study skills or improving grades? Whether your middle or high schooler needs help with&nbsp;STEM or humanities, The Tutorverse's patient and affirming tutors will teach them how to build confidence and content mastery.&nbsp;<a style="color: #1155cc; background-color: #ffffff;" href="mailto:info@thetutorverse.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Send an email</a> or give them a call.

WCS Education - Wildlife Conservation Society

Explore nature, learn about the planet, and get close to animals&mdash;all in New York City! WCS zoo and aquarium day camps are for every young adventurer, from toddlers to teens. Campers experience hands-on learning, from STEAM classrooms and animal exhibits to nature trails and the beach. Recognized as industry leaders, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Education Department was the first of its kind to offer zoo camps and continues to provide award-winning programming. Visit wcs.education/camps to explore summer camps at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and New York Aquarium!