Family First

Family First: Summer Activities For Kids

NEW YORK (CBS) ― If you're looking for free family fun, check out these great activities that'll keep the little ones entertained and they won't hurt your wallet.

For activities to help continue your July 4th celebrations, why not Declare Independence at Prospect Park's Lefferts House Museum? The all-age event takes place this Friday, from 1-4 pm. Families can re-create that revolutionary day when our fore fathers gave us freedom. Bring hearty appetites along with your quill pens; you'll be treated to homemade ice cream.

"Declare Independence"
*Wed, 7/4-- Fri, 7/6
*1:00-4:00 pm
*Lefferts Historic House Museum, Prospect Park
Time Out Kids Click on the Museum & Sights section for more
information about the venue.
*All ages


If you would rather work off all those hamburgers with a more strenuous activity, hit the Hudson for some Kayaking! From 10:00- 5:00 pm, every Saturday and Sunday, (weather permitting) Riverside Park offers the unique opportunity to paddle around the Hudson for 20-minutes. All you have to bring are your bathing suits and swimming skills. The Downtown Boathouse provides life jackets, kayaks and paddles.

"Kayaking on the Hudson"
* Saturdays Sundays 6/23- 10/14
* 10:00 - 5:00 pm
* 72nd St. & the Hudson River, Riverside Park S, Manhattan
* For more info: nyc.gov/parks and Riverside Park Fund
* (646) 613-0740 for daily weather status


Spend Saturday afternoon enjoying story-telling adventures during the Ezra Jack Keats Story Hour. Hear stories written and illustrated by the award-winning author known for including multi -cultural, child-characters in his story-telling. The sessions will be held Saturdays, from 2-3:00 pm, at Prospect Parks' Imagination Playground.

"Ezra Jack Keats Story Hour"
* Every Saturday through 8/31
* 2:00- 3:00 pm
* Imagination Playground, (near Ocean Ave., btwn Parkside Ave. & Lincoln R.) By Train: Q, S, or B to Prospect Park
station. By Bus: B-41 to Flatbush Ave. and Ocean Ave.; B-43 bus to Ocean Ave. and Empire Blvd.; B-48 bus to Lincoln Rd.
* For more info: Prospect Park

On Sunday...Cinderella with a Latin twist. The classic tale of the girl and the glass slipper gets a Brazilian remix, when Cinderella performs the Samba in a dance competition to win the heart of the Prince. Still not impressed? The tale is brought to life by hand puppets.

"Cinderella Samba"
* Sun, 7/8
* 2:30 pm
* Bennett Park, Ft. Washington Ave at 185th St.
* For more info: City Parks Foundation
* By train: A to 181st St.

For a mid-week treat, catch a movie at AMC's Summer Movie Camp. Every Wednesday, until August 15th, participating theaters will play family-friendly movies at 10 a.m. The next scheduled movie: "Ice Age: The Meltdown." For more information on participating theaters, visit wcbstv.com

"AMC Summer Movie Camp"
* Every Wednesday through 8/15
* 10:00 am
* Participating Theaters: Bay Plaza 13, Brick Plaza 10, Bridgewater Commons 7, Clifton Commons 16, Danbury 16, Essex Green 9, Freehold 14, Galleria 16, Garden State 16, Port Chester 14, Rockaway 16

Movie schedule:
* June 27 Happy Feet
* July 11 Ice Age: The Meltdown
* July 18 Barnyard: The Original Party Animals
* July 25 Flushed Away
* August 1 Charlotte's Web
* August 8 Open Season
* August 15 Over the Hedge
* For more info: AMC Theatres

From tots to teens, it's not too late to get your kids active this summer. Soccer Tots and Pee Wee Basketball lessons are being offered on Wednesday mornings at Riverside Park for the little ones. City Parks Foundation offers free track & field, golf and tennis lessons to 5-16 year olds, at various parks throughout the boroughs. Track & field lessons begin this Monday. The New York Junior Tennis League also offers free tennis instruction for 6-18 year olds. But hurry, registration for these events are on a first come, first serve basis.

"Soccer Tot & Pee Wee Basketball"
* Every Wed., 7/11- 8/8
* 9:00- 11:30 am
* 71 st St. soccer field and basketball courts, RIverside Park S, Manhattan
* For more info: nyc.gov/parks and Riverside Park Fund

City Parks Foundation Sports Instruction
* Tennis, 7/2- 8/14
* Golf, 7/2-8/29
* Track & Field, 7/9-8/15
* Days and times vary by borough; registration at sites during instruction hours
* Please call (212) 360-8162 or log-on to City Parks Foundation for more information.

"NY Junior Tennis League Instruction"
* Mon, 7/2 - 8/24
* Days and times vary by borough
* Kids must bring sneakers; provided with loaner racquets and balls
* For more info: New York Junior Tennis League


If your kids love bubbles! Fan Yang who holds a Guinness record for making the world's largest soap bubble wall (156 feet long), will amaze the audience with as he kicks off the Word for Word Kids Series at Bryant Park in Manhattan.

"Fan Yang Bubble Show"
* Sat, 7/12
* 12 - 1 pm
* Bryant Park, 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue
* Ages 5 and up
* For more info: Bryant Park


Danna Banana kicks off Carroll Park's Kid's Summer Concert Series. He'll take the stage playing a mean guitar and silly music for kids.

"Carroll Park Kid's Concert Series: Danna Banana
* Sat, 7/7
* 4 pm
* Carroll Park, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
* Ages 2 to 10
* For more info: Carroll Park

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