Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in boston, MA

Places to Learn about Science and Natural History

June 02, 2009

Just cuz it's (almost) summer doesn't mean we need to neglect educating our children.  Schools's out, but in order to avoid the dreaded summer brain drain, consider using wet days and/or super hot days to hit one of Boston's best science or Natural History spots.

1. If you're looking to sprinkle a little culture into your summer and visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History. A 7-10 minute walk through the historic Harvard Yard, the museum features exhibits on all kinds of life - plants, animals, and humankind. Your kids will be enraptured by the incredibly life-like animal structures, from giraffes, tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos and hippos, to bears, wolves, giant moose and buffalos. The Fossil Mammals exhibit houses skeletons of hoofed creatures, including a 15-foot long ground sloth! Adults will get a kick out of the Glass Flowers exhibit, so realistic, you won't believe they're made from glass! Afterwards, head over to the Harvard University Science Centerto cool off in the spray park, located just outside.

2. Boston's Museum of Science is a definite must-see for children and adults of any age. What makes this place so special is that they feature many different exhibits and there's always something appropriate for your child. Some of my family's favorite exhibits include The Discovery Center which is designed as a hands-on play & discovery area for kids up to age 8, the in the Park exhibit, an indoor park-like setting that allows for running, jumping and swinging with a touch of science built in, and the beautiful Butterfly exhibit.

3. The lesser know MIT Museum combines science and technology and aims to inspire people of all ages through its many exhibits. Kids will get a kick out of the Robots exhibit as well as Holography feature. The museum offers programs for families, mostly during the school year and with some throughout the summer too. Click here for more info.

4. What kid doesn't love live museums? The Ecotarium in Worcester teaches kids about the Secrets of the Forest, SmartArt: Exploring Science & Art, and animals in their natural habitats. They can play and investigate in the Discovery Room, walk the scenic Nature Trails, and learn about the stars in the Planetarium.

5. The Science Discovery Museum, located within the Discovery Museums in Acton, brings science to life for kids. Learn about what the earth was like in prehistoric times, examine fossils under a magnifying glass and see what creatures were alive and how they have evolved.

Boston's Best Kept Secrets

by Jill Notkin

January 28, 2009

Lately, I've been coming across all kinds of indoor events and activities that I had never heard of. I thought maybe you hadn't either, and perhaps you wanted to? Rock Spot Climbing - There's a good reason I hadn't heard of this cool new spot in town. It's brand spanking new! In fact, as far as I know, it's not even open yet, but appears to be opening soon. Rock Spot is a rock  Read more...

Indoor Play on a Midwinter's Day

by Jill Notkin

January 20, 2009

If you're like me, the days spent indoors with kids are LOOOONG. So we are forever seeking out fun, indoor spots to spend the morning or afternoon. With a 15-month-old and an almost 3-year-old, it has to be somewhat easy, not too far from home, and worth the effort. Here are some of our favorite spots, along with a few we're looking forward to trying. We tend to spend a lot of time at  Read more...

Still No New Year's Plans?

by Jill Notkin

December 31, 2008

If you didn't find any event that tickled you in my last New Year's post , do not fear as there are plenty other activities that you and your family can participate in this year. Personally, I think my family will be heading over to Needham's New Year's celebrations , since it's close to home and many of the children's programs are taking place at my favorite family center, Creative  Read more...

The Children's Museum of NH

by Jill Notkin

November 24, 2008

Now that the weather is getting colder, I think we're all wondering how we're going to pass the looong days of Winter. Sledding, skiing and snow ball fights are all wonderful ideas, but some days you just can't brave the cold. When the city seems a little bit drab, jump in the car and head north to the Children's Museum of NH . Located in Dover about 65 miles from Boston, it seems  Read more...

It Takes TWO!

by Jill Notkin

September 23, 2008

Let's face it. There are just some activities that are best enjoyed with a pal. Since we've been making so many new friends at school, we have plenty of buddies to choose from for a day of fun in the city. But what to do? Here are the top 5 fun things to do with a pal in and around town. 1. Take in a Flick! Wait for a rainy day and check out Sesame Street's Abby in  Read more...

Layover Lifesavers: Logan Airport Guide

by Jill Notkin

July 02, 2008

With this month's Savvy theme being Escapes, it seems reasonable to begin with a tour of Boston 's biggest central airport, Logan . Though traveling with small kids is not necessarily the most fun part of any trip, if you arm yourself with these tips, I sure hope it can be bearable. The most fun way to entertain your children while visiting Logan is to take a trip to the  Read more...

Chill out! At the movies

by Jill Notkin

June 09, 2008

Summer is hot but there are plenty of ways to stay cool and still have a great time. Chill out! is a new summer series which will feature indoor activities to do when the heat is on. I just stumbled up Regal Cinema's annual summertime Free Family Film Festival . For nine weeks beginning June 24 th , the four participating theaters in Mass. will feature movies at 10AM each  Read more...

How to make the Museum of Science a place your child loves.

by Jill Notkin

June 02, 2008

Boston's Museum of Science is a definite must-see for children and adults of any age. What makes this place so special is that they feature many different exhibits and there's always something appropriate for your child. My family recently visited the museum and The Discovery Center in particular. Designed for children from birth up to age eight, this area offers a bunch of fun, hands-on  Read more...

Things you must do with your child before they grow up - Boston

by Jill Notkin

May 29, 2008

Boston is known for its rich culture, and kids culture is no exception. Here are a few examples of do-not-miss destinations with your kids before they (sniff) get too big for this stuff: Boston Children's Museum. There is nothing like the look on your child's face when they enter that bubble room or the excitement of singing with Arthur. The water room holds a certain  Read more...

Top 5 Things to do on a Rainy Day - Boston

by Jill Notkin

May 27, 2008

It's a typical scenario. You wake up in the morning on your day off from work looking forward to spending time with the kids. You stretch, grab your coffee, and look out the window. Expecting to see the sun peeking around the corner, preparing to warm the day for mindless outdoor fun, you find a grey and dismal sky. RAIN! But don't worry! While you didn't count on rain, what  Read more...

Work it Out!

by Jill Notkin

January 07, 2008

It's January.   Many of us have made New Year's resolutions.   Many of those resolutions include promises to lose weight, to get fit, to join a gym.   As parents of preschoolers, it's easy to use our kids as an excuse for not hitting the gym.   Well, think again.   Boston is FULL of area gyms that feature daycares that are more than willing to look after your kids while you sweat and  Read more...