There's so much to do with your family in Brooklyn on the weekends! Interested in theater and museums? How about a festival or concert? Find it in our list of this weekend's best kids and family activities in Brooklyn. Or, check out NY Metro Parents' calendar for upcoming weekend family and children events.
Teen Poetry Workshop - Brooklyn Public Library, Mapleton branch
January 30, 2013 - Mapleton
Learn to free-up those ideas and get them on paper. Slam, haiku, whatever the style, it's time to wax poetic!
Babies and Books/Storytime - Brooklyn Public Library, New Lots branch
January 30, 2013 - East New York
Books, songs, and rhymes for babies up to 18 months old.
Knitting Circle - Brooklyn Public Library, Bedford branch
January 30, 2013 - Crown Heights
An all-ages event knitters young and not young. Bring your own needles and yarn.
Autism Support Group - Hebrew Educational Society
Through January 31, 2013 - Canarsie
Affected by or confronting autism? You are not alone. Share your experiences and support each other. While the support group is in session, parents/caregivers can bring their children and their siblings.
Computers for Teens Workshop - Brooklyn Public Library, Kings Highway branch
January 31, 2013 - Gravesend
Basic computer lessons for teens, ages 13-16.
Teen Tech Time - Brooklyn Public Library, Marcy branch
January 31, 2013 - Bedford Stuyvesant
Teens use computers for learning, researching, doing homework, and gaming.
Little Essentials' Annual Benefit Concert - Pillow Cafe-Lounge
January 31, 2013 - Fort Greene
A benefit for the Little Essentials’ community organization, which donates clothes, strollers, toys and more for those in need. Featuring a live acoustic performance by Americana artist Martha Redbone.
Groundhog Day Guess-a-thon - Brooklyn Public Library, Kensington branch
February 01, 2013 - Kensington
Come in and make a prediction for Groundhog Day, then stick around and read some books!
Blooming Babies: Tales of Winter - Brooklyn Children's Museum
February 01, 2013 - Crown Heights
Babies and toddlers hear cherished stories about winter and make a snowy craft to take home.
Hosh Kids Open House Week - Hosh Kids
Through February 01, 2013 - Williamsburg
Learn about the yoga and arts programs offered by Hosh Kids.
Family Movie Night - Moxie Spot
February 01, 2013 - Brooklyn Heights
The Moxie Spot combines its comfy food with a program of short movies and a family-friendly feature. Check website for movie titles.
Kidz Cook - Staten Island Children's Museum
February 01, 2013 - Staten Island
Kids make some red beans and rice.
Movies - Brooklyn Public Library, Bay Ridge branch
February 01, 2013 - Bay Ridge
Kids begin their weekend with a movie. (Call for title.)
Transit Time Travel - New York Transit Museum
February 02, 2013 - Brooklyn Heights
Kids learn about life back in 1913, the year Grand Central Station opened.
Blooming Babies: Tales of Winter - Brooklyn Children's Museum
February 02, 2013 - Crown Heights
Babies and toddlers hear cherished stories about winter and make a snowy craft to take home.
Groundhog Fun-Day - Brooklyn Children's Museum
February 02, 2013 - Crown Heights
Children, ages 5 and under, celebrate the groundhog's winter prediction while learning about these animals and what makes them different.
The Night Sky (Astronomy) - Wolfe's Pond Park
February 02, 2013 - Staten Island
The Urban Park Rangers lead an astronomy program for all ages. Did you know that winter is the best season for viewing meteor showers, phases of the moon, and the planets of the milky way?
Soul Steps - Brooklyn Public Library, central branch
February 02, 2013 - Prospect Heights
The NYC-based Soul Steps revel in step dancing, examining the style's early roots in South African mines up to its present style, which includes high-impact choreography and exciting call and response interludes that has the audience being active participants.
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - Symphony Space
February 02, 2013 - Upper West Side
A hip-shaking, head-bopping morning of music for the cool family crowd from award-winning singer and songwriter Lucky Diaz. With an audience base growing by the second, Lucky and crew are known for inspiring dance parties all around the country. Visit luckydiazmusic.com for song samples and more information.
BAMKids Film Festival - Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
February 02, 2013 - Fort Greene
76 short and feature-length movies from 24 countries, tailor-made for kids ages 2-10.
Program includes comedy, animation, and thought-provoking productions that kids will truly enjoy.
Nintendo Wii Dance Night - The Moxie Spot
February 02, 2013 - Brooklyn Heights
Kids play Just Dance, that video game dance in which they stomp around like beheaded chickens to robust dance music.
Shadow Box Theater presents The African Drum - PS 3, The Bedford Village School
February 02, 2013 - Bedford-Stuyvesant
A mainstay production of the Shadow Box Theater, using shadow puppetry to convey African folktales with accompaniment from drums and a guitar.
Groundhog Day Celebration - Staten Island Zoo
February 02, 2013 - Staten Island
Be there when Staten Island Chuck, New York City's only weather forecasting groundhog, will make his grand prediction. Join us for music and fun and greet the hog himself. The Ceremony is a free event. Stay afterwards for a special breakfast with Chuck ($10 adults; $5 children under 5.
Meet the Firefighters - Staten Island Children's Museum
February 02, 2013 - Staten Island
Meet some of Staten Island's volunteer firefighters and learn about fire safety.
Up 4 Art - Staten Island Children's Museum
February 02, 2013 - Staten Island
Create a quilt square in honor of Black History Month.
Target First Saturdays - Brooklyn Museum
February 02, 2013 - Prospect Heights
A chance to enjoy music, the Museum's galleries, food, beer and wine, and a featured theme, all for free. It's a family friendly event, too.
Vital Signs - New York Hall of Science
Through February 03, 2013 - Flushing
View original art inspired by our biological world with a special interest in what lies beneath its surface. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Discover Tour - Audubon Center at Prospect Park
Through February 28, 2013 - Brooklyn
Learn how to look for birds, discover the source of the Lullwater, and find out what you can do to protect nature on a tour led by expert naturalists. Every Saturday and Sunday.
Meet and Greet: Creatures of the Sea - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through February 28, 2013 - Crown Heights
Discover the diversity of sea life up close and personal!
Art Works - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through February 28, 2013 - Crown Heights
A different arts and crafts project at each session, usually tied to a theme such as a holiday or the seasons.
Winter Break Activities - New York Transit Museum
Through February 28, 2013 - Brooklyn Heights
The Transit museum is open and offering activities during February vacation week: The Great Subway Search scavenger hunt at 11am, and Create a Grand Central City (see Feb. 16 and 17) at 1 and 3pm.
Indoor Play - Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace
Through March 01, 2013 - Windsor Terrace
Toddlers and pre-schoolers will enjoy an indoor playground, rockers, blocks, play panel for theater, rock climbing wall, bouncy castle, musical instruments, and easel boards for drawing.
Global Shoes - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through March 10, 2013 - Crown Heights
Explore aspects of global cultures through a variety of hands-on, feet-in, multi-media activities within the context of a fantasy shoe store and factory
'The Prince and the Magic Flute' - Puppetworks
Through March 24, 2013 - Park Slope
Puppets present the melodramatic tale of a Prince who asks the Queen of the Night to remove the lock on the bird catcher's mouth. (You have to be there...)
Space No. 1 - Extreme Kids and Crew
Through March 31, 2013 - Bedford-Stuyvesant
An initiative of Extreme Kids and Crew, Space No. 1 offers a safe, sensory play space where special need children and their parents can play, teach, learn, sing, sprawl, and swing. An array of multi-sensory equipment provides for this.
The Child's Place for Children with Special Needs - Brooklyn Public Library, Sunset Park branch
Through March 31, 2013 - Sunset Park
This program accomodates all kinds of children inclusively for reading, story telling, and various kinds of play sessions. Parent workshops are also available. See Brooklyn Public Library for other locations throughout Brooklyn.
Fantasia's Feeding Frenzy - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through March 31, 2013 - Crown Heights
Look for animal curators in the Science Inquiry Center and see what's on the menu for Fantasia, the museum's 21-foot-long albino Burmese python.
School Tour - Brooklyn Free School
Through March 31, 2013 - Clinton Hill
Learn about this K-12 independent school known for its student-centered and student-directed initiatives. Email bfsadmissions@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
Tony Hawk / Rad Science - New York Hall of Science
Through April 22, 2013 - Corona
Find out how the physics of gravity, force, velocity and balance make radical tricks possible in action sports in this program that runs through April 22. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Natural History - Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Through April 30, 2013 - Crown Heights
Artist Patrick Dougherty and a team of volunteers constructed a monumental woven-wood sculpture in honor of Brooklyn Botanic Garden's centennial. The result, large-scale sculptures made from sticks and saplings, is an organic structure that changes over time as the materials settle and decay.
Wacky Tuesday - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through April 30, 2013 - Crown Heights
Kids under 5 explore art, science, and culture in a wacky, fun, and exciting way.
Little Scientists - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through April 30, 2013 - Crown Heights
Kids under 5 investigate the world of natural science with hands-on activities.
Tales for Tots - Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through April 30, 2013 - Crown Heights
Travel to far away places in your imagination by listening to tales from around the world.
Introduction to Birdwatching - Prospect Park Audubon Center
Through May 01, 2013 - Flatbush
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds. Take a tour and learn about the 250 species of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Arty Facts - Brooklyn Museum
Through May 19, 2013 - Prospect Heights
Children ages 4-7 and their adult friends explore the galleries, enjoy a family activity, and make their own art in this 90-minute class, each one a variation on a monthly theme.
Art classes - The Painted Cloud
Through May 31, 2013 - Brooklyn
The Painted Cloud classes offer a nurturing, dynamic environment that introduces children to many new techniques and materials, and allows them the freedom to express themselves artistically. unique and creative art projects using a wide array of high quality art materials.
Art Classes - Chroma
Through May 31, 2013 - Brooklyn
Kids enjoy exploration, interpretation, and reflection through art-making. Activities include drawing, painting, sculpture, puppet-making, mixed media, collage, printmaking, clay, and much more!
Namaste Yoga Health and Wellness - Namaste Yoga of Kensington
Through May 31, 2013 - Kensington
Namaste offers a range of yoga classes for all ages, as well as Zumba fitness classes, kickboxing, pilates, belly dancing, and more.
Nature's Helpers - Prospect Park Audubon Center
Through June 01, 2013 - Flatbush
Spend some time outside enjoying nature while helping to keep the Park clean. Families are encouraged to come and take a tour of the Park and its waterways and help keep it tidy along the way. Gloves, garbage bags, and trash grabbers will be provided.
Breastfeeding Support Group - New York Methodist Hospital
Through June 30, 2013 -
Discuss questions and concerns regarding breastfeeding and find support and encouragement with this group, which meets regularly.
Indoor Play - Powerplay
Through June 30, 2013 - Gowanus
Powerplay's play area is an environment that encourages physical and imaginative play. It's indoor play space is a warm embrace for the cold and frosty days. It provides amenities of a local playground in a fun and inviting atmosphere. Parents and caregivers must supervise their child.
Open Play - The Gym Park
Through June 30, 2013 - Greenpoint
Kids have fun, exercise, and enjoy alot of gymnastic-based sensory input. Use our 2,800-square-foot facility to explore, discover and help increase your child's awareness with positive play habits and a fun social environment. The Gym Park also offers a wide range of other programs including gymnastics and physical education for home-schooled children.
Kids' Yoga - Bend and Bloom Yoga
Through June 30, 2013 - Park Slope
Bend and Bloom Yoga offer children's yoga classes. Mondays are for 8-12 year olds. Tuesdays are for 3-5 year olds. Wednesdays are for 6-8 year olds. Kids are allowed to drop in ($18) or register for a series of classes. Family classes for moms and tots are also available.
So Smart Kids Fun Fitness Program - Vee Arnis Jitsu
Through June 30, 2013 - Canarsie
Fitness program helps build self-esteem and confidence, social skills, attention span and focus, gross motor development, and breathing and calming strategies for children with special needs.
Gymnastics - Aviator Sports Center
Through June 30, 2013 - Gravesend
Classes at Aviator's state of the art gymnastic facility is available for the home-schooling community.
Breastfeeding Support Clinic - Tribeca Parenting
Through July 31, 2013 - Park Slope
These clinics are helpful for moms who need a little reassurance or encouragement with breastfeeding. While many simple issues can be resolved in these helpful group sessions, please be aware that certain more complex breastfeeding issues may require more individualized attention which can be provided in a home visit.
ElectriCity: Powering New York's Rails - New York Transit Museum
Through December 31, 2013 - Brooklyn Heights
This long-term exhibit engages visitors in a compelling and participatory exploration of electricity's role in powering the metropolitan region's subways and commuter rails.
