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Time Out New York Kids | Things to Do with Kids & Family in NYC

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Your guide to New York's best kids' events and things to do with kids in NYC, fun restaurants, kids' shows, classes and birthday parties

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The 'American Dream' may have dominated the last few decades, causing a mass exodus to the suburbs, but today's families are reversing the trend and turning their attention back to the city. The reasons are many: An appreciation for cultural offerings, the camaraderie and creative cross-pollination of networks of colleagues, friends and family, the convenience of being able to walk or bike to school, work or child care without a long commute-just to name a few. New York City has always been a haven for the forward-thinking, albeit a challenging one. And its newly-"discovered" outer boroughs as well as an unprecedentedly low crime rate have made the city a prime choice for family living.

But what is it about those city kids -the ones with parents who planned from the start to raise their kids in a non-stop urban environment? We interrupted the busy schedules of five families currently raising school-age (or soon-to-be) children in New York City's many diverse and multifaceted neighborhoods to get some insight about why they wouldn't have it any other way.

The Parents: Amy, civil rights attorney at an office that provides legal services to low income New Yorkers, and Peter, law professor
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, 13 years
Home: Co-op in a five-story apartment building
Kids: Oscar, 9, Marlow 6, Ruby, 3

We both grew up here so family is close. It's so much easier to raise kids in this crazy city with family to help and we have three sets of grandparents nearby. We are both New Yorkers to the core so never even discussed the possibility of leaving. I grew up in a small apartment sharing a room with my sister so it never fazed me to live in a small space and not have a backyard-the city is our backyard. Although, that being said, I would love a backyard!
Image © Matthew Richmond
The Parents: Lori, creative director and illustrator, and Matthew, creative director
Neighborhood: Downtown Brooklyn since 2005
Home: 2BR/2BA condo
Kids: Two boys, ages 7 and 4

We'd always planned to stick it out as long as possible. Getting into a decent school is a huge milestone, so once we did that, we knew we were good for at least another 5 or 6 years before the next stage of school. I love the idea of raising kids here because it is such an exciting place to live. There's constant stimulation, so much to do, and so much to learn.

The Parents: Malcolm and Liz, both work in advertising-he's a media planner, she's a brand strategist
Neighborhood: Kensington, Brooklyn, 1 year
Home: Detached house
Kids: One girl, age 2

We were always pretty sure that if we had kids we would bring them up in a city. There are few jobs in what I do outside of New York so moving to a smaller city wasn't really an option. That aside, I think it provides children with a richer set of experiences-experiencing greater diversity, easy access to jobs, better contacts, museums and galleries, classes, activities and so on. It's all on your doorstep. The commute is shorter so you get to spend more time with your kids. I see my daughter for a couple of hours in the morning before going to work, take her to school, and am with her for an hour before she goes to bed. Many people I know who live in the suburbs only see their kids on weekends.

Parents have to be happy too. We're city people-I've lived in cities for the past 25 years. I agree with Ed Koch:

Have you ever lived in the suburbs? It's sterile. It's nothing. It's wasting your life, and people do not wish to waste their lives once they've seen New York!

I don't necessarily think growing up in a city makes kids more intelligent but I think it gives them more knowledge, experience and opportunity to apply their particular talents. I grew up close enough to a major city in the UK to get a lot of inspiration from it in terms of life's possibilities but too far away to really take advantage of them fully. When I went to college, many of the true city kids I met were more confident, had broader experiences-sometimes for better or worse-and were more confident in being entrepreneurial and had a greater sense of what was possible for them to achieve.

The Parents: Michele, graphic designer/real estate agent, and Lucien, real estate agent
Neighborhood: Bed-Stuy, one year
Home: Rental duplex in a brownstone
Kids: Langston, 9 and Kenji, 4

I had the experience of growing up in both rural and urban settings so I have an educated basis for comparison. I lived in a log cabin in a (pre-internet) rural area that felt dull and isolated. My dad was an actor living in SoHo and after every visit, I would pine for the city and all it had to offer and everything I was missing out on living in the country. I would watch movies like Desperately Seeking Susan and Hannah and her Sisters to stay connected to that edgy, downtown '80s scene that has, of course, vanished now.

The kids I knew from here just seemed more well-rounded and worldly having the whole world at their fingertips. I love the fact that riding the subway, my kids get to hear a dozen different languages and every day is an adventure. They are surrounded by the best and the brightest and the most interesting. Every time I think about moving, I think how hard it would be to leave it all behind.

The Parents: Chrissy, fitness instructor, and Russell, lawyer
Neighborhood: The Mount Morris Park section of Harlem since 2006
Home: A 1890s brownstone
Kids: LuLu, 6, and Gigi, 4

We both grew up in Virginia, so the idea of raising kids in the city was completely foreign to us. We moved here in 1997 for a postgraduate program at NYU Law School. At the time, our plan was to spend the requisite nine months here and then head back to Virginia as quickly as possible. But we fell in love with the city after just a few months and decided to give it a go. We thought that we would probably spend a few years here and then move to D.C. or Virginia. After a living here for a few years, we couldn't see ourselves anywhere else.

We also knew that we wanted kids, so the two desires collided. At first, the idea of raising kids in the city was daunting. We were concerned that it would be difficult to keep our kids grounded. At the same time, we were excited about the access to all sorts of things that growing up here would allow. Some of these are tangible benefits; others are more amorphous.

Amy: Beyond being (biased) New Yorkers, we both really value the diversity that our children are being raised in. We ride the subway with people from all over the world and their friends come from all kinds of families. And that is all normal to them. We see poor people and rich people when we walk down the street. There are so many places in this country where people drive around and don't interact with people in the community beyond their schools and immediate neighborhoods. I think growing up in a diverse community does make kids less spoiled. We really value the elbow-bumping and exposing our children to the world. We also both are public interest lawyers and do work that is very important to us, and that is part of NYC too-the communities we work with and exposing our children to careers that make a difference.

There are so many places in this country where people drive around and don't interact with people in the community beyond their schools and immediate neighborhoods.

I think city kids are greatly advantaged in terms of access to culture. My older son, when he was around five or six, used to read the Magic Tree House book series and there was one book about ancient Egypt. I took him to The Metropolitan Museum of Art to see a real sarcophagus and hieroglyphs that were mentioned in the book. That was one of those "Wow, we are so lucky to live here" moments!

We also live across the street from the New York Transit Museum. For a long time, it was essentially our backyard. We would take the kids there and they'd learn about all the trains and get to run around in the old train cars. Every little boy's dream!

Michele: My kids have advantages I never would have anticipated being able to give them. Langston goes to a public Gifted and Talented school that is prestigious and competitive. It's the absolute best education he could possibly receive and we feel incredibly fortunate that he is in a racially and economically diverse environment full of smart kids all day. Kenji goes to a Chinese pre-school that is taught in Mandarin-which is what all the math-based schools are learning these days-where he has friends from many backgrounds and cultures.

But it's more than that. Living in an urban environment forces you out of your comfort zone on a daily basis, which is where I feel the real personal growth occurs. My kids have learned about the real world from a very young age-they are very connected to others. I bought them a special coin purse for them to keep their own change to give to street musicians so that I wasn't constantly getting my wallet every five minutes. My kids give up their seat on the train, hold the doors for people, help moms with their strollers up the subway stairs. I make sure they're always on the lookout for ways to be gentlemen.

Russell: The city is a hotbed of art, entertainment, landmarks, culture, sports, history, food, and many, many other things. Our children are constantly immersed in all of these things and are receiving a cultural education every time they walk out the door. Experiences that would have been extraordinary to us as children are commonplace to our kids, but no less influential. Last year, when LuLu was five, she said to me out of the blue in a very unassuming way, "Dad, my favorite painting is 'Starry Night.' I saw it at MoMA." This blew us away. I didn't have a favorite painting when I was five. I certainly didn't know what "Starry Night " was, and I most certainly had never seen it.

Of course, these things are all available to anyone who visits the city, but living here allows us to access the events easily. But the experience is more than just museums, sporting events, and shows. It's the people that make the city and the experience. Our children live among and interact with people of all different shapes and sizes from many different cultures-what falls under the rubric of "diversity" in current parlance. They can see that not all people hold the same beliefs and values, and they're not afraid to converse with people who appear different from them.

For example, Gigi and Chrissy were on the subway recently with a woman in a burka. Gigi was fascinated by this and asked the woman a number of questions about her attire. The woman explained that, pursuant to her religious beliefs, only her husband, father, and brothers were allowed to see her without the burka. That sort of cross-cultural experience is something that we never would have experienced as children. I don't know whether that actually makes them more empathetic, but it gives them the tools to relate better to others.

I do think that the city requires a certain overall competency and generally instills a drive-what some might call pushiness. It's part of life in the city from a very young age. There's a natural competition. With a large and expanding population, people are jockeying for limited resources, which plays out in crucial ways, like finding that apartment, and in the mundane, like getting a cab in the rain. At our kids' age, it's much more subtle, but I do think that they are inevitably picking up drive and also resiliency and flexibility. There are also so many unforeseen circumstances that require a quick change of course. So the 2/3 train is delayed, how do we get to school? Walk to the B/C? Take a bus? Hail a cab? A rapid response is required. These tools will be valuable to our kids as they face a society whose rate of change is accelerating exponentially.

Amy: I wish my 9-year-old could walk down the block by himself. That is a real limit. There is much less freedom for kids here. When we leave the city and they can wander and be free, that is very magical for them.

I think city folk-adults, that is-tend to be healthier when compared to the rest of the country. We get out a lot; when you have kids, you have to be outside as much as possible. Crime is big though, I wish I didn't have to worry about it.

I feel very safe here, and haven't had many safety concerns. All kids, no matter where they live, need to understand things like "stranger danger" and personal safety. We've also had our share of broken bones by now and have had access to excellent emergency medical care. Our kids are used to walking everywhere, so we all get lots of exercise.

Malcolm: New York has undoubtedly become safer. Some people bemoan this as a loss of its grit and edge. I have some sympathy with that, but it has made it easier to raise a kid in the city. Of course, much of this is income-dependent and the same opportunities aren't necessarily available to all.

Michele: Of course, crime worries me-but not as much as being exposed to unvaccinated children. And, honestly, I am way more afraid of the kind of crime that happens in the country. Part of my kids' upbringing is safety training that includes the obvious things like crossing the street, not talking to strangers, wearing a bike helmet. But, I also make a point to teach them street smarts. They are becoming really good judges of character.

Nutrition, exercise, and health care providers are not a concern. We live in a neighborhood that, I understand, was once a food desert. Now, there are plenty of options for healthy fare at both high and low price points. In my mind, this is largely the result of gentrification, but I also think that there has been a campaign to bring healthy choices to underserved areas. Our kids also get plenty of exercise. Walking is our main mode of transportation. The city also offers some of the best health care providers.

However, cleanliness, public health, personal safety and, particularly, physical danger are all issues of which we are acutely aware. The city is a mechanical marvel, but the gears of the city can be dangerous.

The city is a mechanical marvel, but the gears of the city can be dangerous.

Love it. Love that we can wake up on a Saturday and stroll around the neighborhood, see our friends, decide to hop a ferry to Governor's Island and go to some wacky art fair or a children's fair imported from France, or go eat Dim Sum in Chinatown or walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. That is why we live with the struggle of it because it's not an easy place to live.

Lori: I love living here. It is hard-we need more space in our apartment. The cost of living is so high that we really can't "size up" at this point unless we moved much further out. We're going to a reach a tipping point in the next few years where we'll have to make some tough decisions. The kids are only getting bigger.

But we both work close to home with very short commutes, which means more family time. That's the tradeoff of having little space. If we lived further out, or in the 'burbs, that would cut into our family time during the week. What is more important-a bigger living room, or time together?

What is more important-a bigger living room, or time together?

I love that we have so many fun adventures and unique moments. We went on a playdate recently to the Brooklyn Museum, and my son and his friend were sitting and drawing in a children's gallery. A gentleman came and sat with us and starting sketching beautiful line drawings. He spoke no English, but through charades and a postcard he handed us, we learned that he is an acclaimed painter in his country of Azerbaijan. He signed and gave us the drawings.

The other weekend I took my daughter to a playground where she made friends with some Russian kids, to a Native American rug shop in Williamsburg, to the Sculpture Park at Pratt, to an Uzbek restaurant, to the West Indian Day Parade and then for pizza. It's the richness of experience on your doorstep that does it for me.

It's the richness of experience on your doorstep that does it for me.

I love Brooklyn. I love the vibe and the architecture and being center of the universe. Because there are so many mixed-race families here, I know my own mixed-race family is not going to be regarded as unusual, which is very comforting. I love that you can take a walk around the block and all of a sudden chance upon a street festival or some sort of performance art. But I hate the winter. Last winter kicked our ass and I made plans to move to California. But then spring comes around and I can't ever imagine leaving here.

Russell: Living in the city with kids is not without its challenges. The city seems to have evolved around the individual adult. Navigating the city with a stroller can be difficult and exhausting. Most things are adult-sized and sometimes the tolerance of strangers for the unpredictability (or flat-out irrationality) of small children can be thin. It's certainly not for the timid. Yet, from day-to-day, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Clinton Hill is a real neighborhood where people know each other. It's beautiful. It has a lovely diversity of people and families, young kids from Pratt and an artist scene and the best freaking yard sales in NYC! It has Pratt Sculpture Garden and the Brooklyn Flea and Fort Greene Park and great playgrounds. It has not yet been taken over by corporate Manhattanites. Hold on to your seats though, that's coming, sadly...

Our neighborhood is very family-friendly. There are many parks nearby, schools, restaurants, and open areas for kids to play. It's also close to Manhattan and a lot of subway lines.

I love the amount of space we get in Kensington. We have a detached house with a massive yard for the same price as a small apartment elsewhere and it's just a few minutes from Ditmas Park with its restaurants and bars, and a short-ish walk to Prospect Park. It's also a family area with a great elementary school. Our daughter goes to pre-K in one of the massive Victorians and there's a DIY attitude-e.g. a neighbor does free Chinese classes in her home.

Bed-Stuy is cool because we're very close to many of our friends, the subway, the park. Though our favorite, Brower Park, is in our old neighborhood of Crown Heights. We've got some good restaurants opening up close by. Fresh Direct delivers here!

When we moved to Harlem from Union Square, we joked that we had moved half way to the suburbs. The avenues are wider, the sidewalks less crowded, and the buildings lower. It's the feel of the city, without the crushing population in every direction. While much of the city has become homogenized, the neighborhood in which we live has retained character. Perhaps this is hyperbole, but I think that it has the feel of living in a village within the city. We have lived in Harlem since before kids, and it's the only home that our kids have ever known.

There are numerous parks around, including the northern stretch of Central Park, which still appears to be a largely undiscovered gem, and there are at least six playgrounds within walking distance. Transportation is easy. With the advent of green cabs, there are now cabs all over the neighborhood. Space is always an issue in NYC, but our neighborhood offers more space for the buck, so it has been attracting families for some time.

We've watched the neighborhood change fairly rapidly over the last eight years.

When we first moved here, services and amenities were severely lacking, at least from our perspective. Now, it seems that a new restaurant opens every month, and we have friends from the Upper West Side asking to go to dinner where we live. Of course, there have been the usual issues associated with gentrification, but the neighborhood is vibrant and thriving. Access to quality schools remains an issue in the neighborhood.

Amy: We've been lucky to have our kids in excellent schools, but I think the school search is really hard here. Although there are a lot of great schools, they're hard to find and get into, and parents stress over that a lot.

I'd really love a brownstone, or a gigantic 3-bedroom apartment with a roof deck. But I don't have several million bucks for either of those. Space is really the biggest issue. All our furniture does double duty and has multiple uses. It definitely gets frustrating at times. Or all the time.

Malcolm: For us it's being so far from family in the UK but now we have a spare room it's easier for them to come and stay.

Michele: Getting the kids to school in a different borough, getting them to practices and commuting to work is a daily challenge. Everything is really spread out and I feel like it always takes us forever to do get anywhere. We got a car in order to make it a bit easier, thereby removing one of my bragging points-that you don't need a car to live here and our carbon footprint is smaller-and that's also a challenge in its own way.

One thing I regret is that my kids are not around nature on a regular basis. When we go to the country, they love playing outside with animals and don't even ask to be on a screen. Langston says he wishes he lived in the country because he thinks the city is dirty and noisy and cramped. I'm sure that if we lived in the country, though, they would be missing all the cool stuff they take for granted here.

I think a big issue for me is that raising kids in the city means they are always around us. I fear that being around adults so much not only impedes children's creativity but it also creates a level of familiarity with grow-ups in which we are almost seen as equals. It is a constant battle to maintain the authoritative hierarchy.

Russell: It should come as no surprise that the two biggest challenges are living space and quality education.

They love riding the subway. That's how we get to school! But I also think that they'd love their own backyard. That's the tradeoff.

Michele: They love all the cool stuff they get to do. But, in many ways, they are exactly like any other (non-urban) kid: they play legos, video games, watch tv and hang with their friends.

Russell: Although they don't know it, I think our kids appreciate that there's never a dull moment. There are quiet moments, certainly. There's downtime. But the cure to boredom is just outside the door.

Lead image courtesy of Amy Taylor

Neighborhoods : Bedford-Stuyvesant, Clinton Hill, Ditmas Park, Downtown Brooklyn, Harlem, Kensington

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City Kids: Why Parents Pick City Living Over the Suburbs | 6sqft

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The 'American Dream' may have dominated the last few decades, causing a mass exodus to the suburbs, but today's families are reversing the trend and turning their attention back to the city.

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Living in a big city is an amazing experience. They are centers of civilization, each with unique and interesting features. Of course, certain benefits of city life are universal to all metropolitan centers. Here's a look at eight things that are great about living in a city :

1. Public Transportation

While public transit can be a pain (buy me dinner before you squish me into that other guy!), as a whole, it's pretty awesome. If the system in your city provides a lot of coverage, you really don't need to own a car-- that alone saves you tons of money every year.

Plus, you don't have to worry about who in your group of friends has to be the designated driver (the bus driver is!) and you can pop into other neighborhoods without running into rush hour highway traffic.

2. Dining Options are Endless

In many suburbs, your eating-out options are confined to chain restaurants and maybe a handful of mom-and-pop places, but most cities are populated with good eats. Within a few blocks of my apartment are Mexican food, pizza, Moroccan, American, and Thai restaurants. Were I to travel farther, I'd also hit a Michelin Star-awarded restaurant and tons of other cuisine-- and I can walk to all of them!

Having endless dining options means never getting bored of what you eat and always having a chance to try something new. The not-so-great part? I don't have the money to eat all of them whenever I want.

3. The Commute is Short

This one doesn't apply to everyone, but for those of us who work downtown, living in the city is essential. Traveling from the suburbs to a downtown office can take an hour or more, both ways! My commute from my apartment to my office is less than half of that.

That means I get to wake up later and take my time getting ready in the morning. What's more, because I take city public transit as opposed to a suburban train, I don't have to worry about schedule-- another train will come every seven minutes!

4. The Skyline is Stunning

If you live in a city, you may take your skyline for granted, but let me remind you how cool it is. Skyscrapers are amazing feats of engineering and a testament to humankind's progress. What's more, skylines offer an array of architectural styles, as cities certainly weren't built in a day. Why do you think so many postcards depict city skylines?

5. Social Clubs are Everywhere

Need to meet a friend or a potential romantic interest? Cities are a great place to do it! Many neighborhoods have local clubs where you can get to know like-minded people. From wine tastings at corner haunts to fitness groups, no matter your interests, you can find a social gathering where you'll connect with others while doing what you love!

Check community forums and sites like Meetup to find a group to join.

6. Entertainment Comes in a Lot of Forms

From live theater to museums to galleries to gardens and everything in between, cities are plain fun. And because they harbor diverse entertainment options, you can pay as much as you want. Locations range from totally free (parks) to pricey (multi-day concerts). You'll never be bored living in a city, and your social calendar will be full-- unless you need to relax in your PJs and watch Netflix, which is also a great form of entertainment.

7. They're Diverse

Cities are diverse in general, including in food, people, things to do-- you name it! Your neighbors likely all have interesting and unique backgrounds, and you can learn a ton by having conversations in the laundry room. My upstairs neighbor is a sheriff and he always has crazy stories to tell me.

I love living in a building where everyone is different, especially if they're willing to strike up a conversation. No two people in any city are the same.

8. They're Energetic

Cities buzz with energy . There are always people around doing something, and that can be exciting. However, some people may not like that kind of atmosphere. But for those of us who do, it makes leaving your apartment every day a joy.

Cities have tons of awesome features that make them a great place to live. What do you love about your city?

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8 Things That are Great about Living in a City

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Living in a big city is an amazing experience. They are centers of civilization, each with unique and interesting features. Of course, certain benefits of city life are universal to all metropolitan centers. Here's a look at eight things that are great about living in a city : 1.

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This list of tallest buildings includes skyscrapers with continuously occupiable floors and a height of at least 350 m. Non-building structures, such as towers, are not included in this list (see list of tallest buildings and structures).

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a bedtime kiss for chester raccoon (the kissing hand series)

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children's / teenage fiction & true stories

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juvenile fiction / social themes / emotions & feelings

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juvenile fiction / stories in verse (see also poetry)

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A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon (The Kissing Hand Series)

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The sun is up, it's time for little Chester Raccoon to go to bed, but he is frightened by the shadows the sun is creating on the walls. Mrs. Raccoon soothes him with a Kissing Hand, and he is able to go to sleep.This sweet and decidedly unscary board book is both a light-hearted way to calm child...

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wild animal neighbors: sharing our urban world

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science & nature - environmental science & ecosystems

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juvenile nonfiction / science & nature / environmental science & ecosystems

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juvenile nonfiction / science & nature / zoology

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Wild Animal Neighbors: Sharing Our Urban World

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What would you do if you found an alligator in your garage? Or if you spotted a mountain lion downtown? In cities and suburbs around the world, wild creatures are showing up where we least expect them. Not all of them arrive by accident, and some are here to stay.

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juvenile nonfiction / lifestyles / city & town life

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Some neighborhoods are parts of cities. A city is a very large community. It may have thousands or even millions of people. Most cities have a downtown with many tall buildings. Other neighborhoods have homes and businesses. A city and the communities around it make up a metropolitan area.

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juvenile nonfiction / lifestyles / city & town life

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Some neighborhoods are parts of suburbs. A suburb is a community that is near a city. Suburbs are smaller than cities. They are less crowded, too. A city and the suburbs around it make up a metropolitan area.

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[tminus t="2012-10-04″ style="carbonlite"]World Animal Day[/tminus]
World Animal Day - Day 5
It all started with this question :

Q: Where do animals live ?

A: Mommy they live in the zoo.

I couldn't believe my ears - I knew I had to correct that , but how do I explain? We decided to do animals and their habitats with our very own play-doh.

We picked out 7 animals and 2 insects to start with - why 7 & 2 ?? Just what she wanted 🙂

The goal here was to introduce the animals and give some insight into their habitat and their diet. Just some facts that will go well with the kids.

Bears live in caves. They are just like us - they eat meat and plant food. Winnie-the-pooh bear likes honey! They hibernate in winter and sleep for 6 months .

These are a farmers pets. "Domestic Animals" . They live in a barn. They eat plants and plant food.

Big S's own Barn Tale : The cow and horse were best buddies and wanted to have a sleep over so, the farmer made a barn . The friends ate grass and had a really fun time.

They live in big oceans. They eat smaller fish.

Dolphin Story : There was once a dolphin and he was very lonely. He did not have any friends, then one day one friend came and they played and lived happily ever after.

They live in oceans and they have sharp teeth. They eat other fishes and animals. They are called "Predators"

Learning Prey and Predators with a story:

Once there was a shark swimming in the ocean. He was very hungry. He found a sea-lion swimming in the water. He waited and waited and then he grabbed the sea-lion and ate him.

What we learnt : The shark is the Predator and the sea-lion is the prey and sometimes animals need to eat other animals for food. That's nature.

They can grow into very big humongous animals. They eat fish and other sea creatures.

They can live in sea and land. The ones that live on land are called tortoise. They eat plant food and some can live up to 100 yrs !

Learning Prey and Predators:

Story time: Some turtles who live in the seas, came to the shore to lay eggs and have babies. There were some hungry sea lions on shore looking for some food. When the turtles came to land, the sea lions ate all the turtles .

Now , the sea lions became the predators and the turtles the prey .

They are the insect form of a butterfly. They are always very hungry always and feed on leaves . They have lots of legs.

Read : The very hungry caterpillar.

They bite! They live in colonies in an anthill. They are very hard workers and gather food. They have 6 legs.

This was learning and fun , all in one !
Thanks for reading Happy Sharing Please take a moment to comment Linking up with Angelique Felix at Children Loving animals

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tminus t="2012-10-04″ style="carbonlite"]World Animal Day[/tminus] World Animal Day - Day 5 It all started with this question : Q: Where do animals live ? A: Mommy they live in the zoo. I couldn't believe my ears - I knew I had to correct that , but how do I explain?

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Cockroaches can eat just about anything and can go a long time without food. They are scavengers who have been on earth for hundreds of millions of years! Cockroaches like to be touched so they squeeze into small spaces so they feel surrounded.

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Cockroach Information for Kids: Cockroach Facts for Kids

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Did you know that a cockroach can live for up to one week without its head? Find more fun facts about cockroaches and other cockroach information for kids in our student pest guide, with downloadable Pest I.D. cards that are perfect for the classroom.

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Does the word, "cockroach," make you shudder? If so, you're not alone. Cockroaches rank right up there with mice and mosquitoes as the most unwanted animals on the planet. And with good reason. Cockroaches live in dirty places like sewers and trash cans. They pick up lots of germs and can spread disease to people.

Another reason people dislike cockroaches is because they eat almost anything. They'll crawl in your cupboards and eat your food or even crawl on your toothbrush to eat any remaining toothpaste. They eat wallpaper paste and books! Yuck!

Not So Fun Facts about Cockroaches for Kids

Most cockroaches dislike the light. They come out at night to eat food in your kitchen. If you turn on the light, they'll quickly scatter.

The American cockroach can grow up to 2 inches long.

The Oriental cockroach is especially dirty. It has a foul smell.

Cockroaches are a big problem in crowded cities and apartment buildings. They like warmth and often live in warm areas, such as Texas, Florida and Arizona.

Cockroaches can live for one month without food.

A cockroach can live up to one week without its head.

Cockroaches can run up to three miles per hour.

Cockroach Vocabulary

Learn More All about Cockroaches

Watch this cool video of how cockroaches are very helpful to scientists:

A documentary video of the secrets cockroaches contribute to science.

Cockroach Q&A

Question: How can I get rid of cockroaches?

Answer: An exterminator is a person who sprays chemicals to kill cockroaches. Calling an exterminator is usually the best way to get rid of these pests. You can also keep your kitchen very clean and store food in covered plastic containers. Vacuuming frequently can help kill the eggs.

Enjoyed the Easy Science for Kids Website all about Cockroaches info? Take the FREE & fun all about Cockroaches quiz and download FREE Cockroaches worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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Does the word, "cockroach," make you shudder? If so, you're not alone. Cockroaches rank right up there with mice and mosquitoes as the most unwanted animals on the planet. And with good reason. Cockroaches live in dirty places like sewers and trash cans. They pick up lots of germs and can spread disease to people.

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They can almost always find their way home. They work together to raise their young and they are mates for life. These birds have been known to fly at 110 mph and live around 20 years.

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Pigeons love to fly, hang around outside, and sneak the occasional sandwich crust or French fry. These peaceful birds don't ever bother us, but some people think that it's OK to chase, kick, and scare them for no reason at all. Undercover investigations have even revealed that cruel pigeon-racing clubs force millions of these highly intelligent birds to "race" over the open ocean for long distances.

Pigeons deserve to live free. Help these innocent birds!

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Cool Facts About Pigeons | Videos | PETA Kids

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Pigeons love to fly, hang around outside, and sneak the occasional sandwich crust or French fry. These peaceful birds don't ever bother us, but some people think that it's OK to chase, kick, and scare them for no reason at all.

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I have seen you, little mouse,Running all about the house, Through the hole your little eye, In the wainscot peeping sly,

Hoping soon some crumbs to steal,

To make quite a hearty meal. Look before you venture out,

See if pussy is about.

If she's gone, you'll quickly run,

To the larder for some fun;

Round about the dishes creep,Taking into each a peep,

To choose the daintiest that's there,

Spoiling things you do not care.

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A city is a large town with a high population of people.

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Cities - an intro for kids - Sanger Academy

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Today I am excited to share with you 5 fun activities with maps for preschoolers. These activities are designed to teach geography, letters, organization, and creativity. These wonderful ideas have been put together by the Creative Preschool team that I am so lucky to be a member of.

Have a great day!
Love, Katie & the Kiddos

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Preschool Activities: Exploring All Kinds of Maps -

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Today I am excited to share with you 5 fun activities with maps for preschoolers. These activities are designed to teach geography, letters, organization, and creativity. These wonderful ideas have been put together by the Creative Preschool team that I am so lucky to be a member of.

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If You're a Kid [Animal Remix] (song for kids about animal sounds & movements)

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After doing our tape maze of numbers. The maze stuck (yes, pun intended) around awhile.

On one of those 'no-nap' days, Henry and I kept busy (while George was napping) with blocks and the tape maze and made a Block City!

Henry and I added blocks around the tape maze. The tape posing as the streets of the block city. It became our town, with landmarks that we have in our town.

MORE ACTIVITIES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Although, it was not at all geographically correct, the buildings were somewhat put in the correct placement relative to each other. Henry was pretty good about finding where to put each block building.

The bakery was the first on the list to be 'built' in the city.

Along with other store landmarks throughout our town.

Then block houses got put in... and pets were even added to the corresponding houses.

Wait... how did a dog get in our house? We don't have a dog... maybe Henry's hinting at something that he wants. Sorry buddy.

Then we drove our cars around the block city!

Put out fires (yes, even a block fire station was built).

And went to the block library to get some books.

For a little bit at least.

When George woke up, a tornado hit the block city and has yet to be rebuilt.

More of our block activities:

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Block Activity: Build a City | Hands On As We Grow

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After doing our tape maze of numbers. The maze stuck (yes, pun intended) around awhile. On one of those 'no-nap' days, Henry and I kept busy (while George was napping) with blocks and the tape maze and made a Block City! Henry and I added blocks around the tape maze.

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They can find food almost anywhere! They make sure to store enough so that when food gets low, they always have a back up. They live around 8-10 years.

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They like to eat fruits, insects, worms, reptiles and rodents. They spray because they need to protect themselves and are typically out at night.

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Skunks live all over North and South America, in rural areas, suburbs, and the city. But if you see one, watch out!

You may not have seen a skunk in your neighborhood, but you've probably smelled one. Their smelly spray, called musk, is not easy to ignore!

The spray, which comes from two glands near the base of the skunk's tail, can hit a target 12 feet away. If you are lucky, you may get a warning before being sprayed. If threatened, skunks stamp their front feet, lift their tail, and growl. Some species of skunk even spring into a handstand before spraying, which puts the skunk's warning markings on full display. If the person or animal doesn't retreat, the skunk aims the spray at the eyes, allowing the skunk to escape. The spray can remain on its target for days.

Skunks are most active at night. They sleep in dens lined with leaves during the day. Their favorite foods include fruit and plants, plus insects, bird eggs, small rodents, and birds. Birds like the great horned owl prey on skunks. Scientists believe it's because the birds don't have a very good sense of smell, which makes the skunk's spray useless in an attack.

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You may not have seen a skunk in your neighborhood, but you've probably smelled one. Their smelly spray, called musk, is not easy to ignore! Skunks live all over North and South America, in rural areas, suburbs, and the city. But if you see one, watch out!

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Their hands look like people hands! They use them to open their food and grip. They eat plants, small animals, and garbage. This is why they live around cities. The average raccoon likes around 3 years.

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Raccoons are active-at-night, or nocturnal, mammals that live throughout much of the world, from North and South America to Asia, in wooded areas and big cities alike. During winter in cold northern climates, raccoons sleep for extended periods, although they don’t actually hibernate. To prepare for cold winters, raccoons pack on extra body fat in fall. This extra fat helps provide the raccoon with energy when it’s too cold to search for food. On land, raccoons lumber around on all four paws like a bear. Among the raccoon’s favorite foods on land are: fruits, seeds, nuts, birds’ eggs and plants. In cities, raccoons scavenge around garbage bins and will eat scraps of food and other trash found there. Raccoons are also excellent swimmers, hunting fish, frogs, and crayfish. Raccoons live for around one to three years in the wild. In captivity, where the raccoon doesn’t need to worry about finding food or outwitting predators, some have lived as long as 20 years.

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Information and Facts about Raccoons - HD Video The Portal of Life on Earth - Visit us! - http://bioexpedition.com/raccoon/ Find us! Facebook: http://facebook.com/bioexpedition Twitter: http://twitter.com/bioexpedition Youtube: http://youtube.com/bioexpedition Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bioexpedition

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Cute Raccoon Stands up Close to Say Hello!

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Many animals need to change in order to survive. Watch this video to see how some of them have changed.

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How Wild Animals Are Adapting to Our Cities

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See these amazing cases of animals adapting to populated, urban cities. Our cities are becoming homes for wild animals...and they are not living at the zoo. Stan Gehrt, a professor at Ohio State University, has been studying and tracking a group of coyotes that have been living and thriving within Chicago.

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Urban is a characteristic of a city! There are many people living very close to one another.

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An urban area is the region surrounding a city. Most inhabitants of urban areas have nonagricultural jobs. Urban areas are very developed, meaning there is a density of human structures such as houses, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and railways.

"Urban area" can refer to towns, cities, and suburbs. An urban area includes the city itself, as well as the surrounding areas. Many urban areas are called metropolitan areas, or "greater," as in Greater New York or Greater London.

When two or more metropolitan areas grow until they combine, the result may be known as a megalopolis. In the United States, the urban area of Boston, Massachusetts, eventually spread as far south as Washington, D.C., creating the megalopolis of BosWash, or the Northeast Corridor.

Rural areas are the opposite of urban areas. Rural areas, often called "the country," have low population density and large amounts of undeveloped land. Usually, the difference between a rural area and an urban area is clear. But in developed countries with large populations, such as Japan, the difference is becoming less clear. In the United States, settlements with 2,500 inhabitants or more are defined as urban. In Japan, which is far more densely populated than the U.S., only settlements with 30,000 people or more are considered urban.

Throughout the world, the dominant pattern of migration within countries has been from rural to urban areas. This is partly because improved technology has decreased the need for agricultural workers and partly because cities are seen as offering greater economic opportunities. Most of the worlds people, however, still live in rural areas.
Towns
One type of urban area is a town. A town is generally larger than a village, but smaller than a city. Some geographers further define a town as having 2,500 to 20,000 residents.

Towns usually have local self-government, and they may grow around specialized economic activities, such as mining or railroading.

The western part of the United States, for instance, is dotted with "ghost towns." Ghost towns no longer have any human population. They are full of abandoned buildings and roads that have been overtaken by shrubs and natural vegetation.

Many ghost towns in the western U.S. are the remains of "boom towns," which developed after gold and silver were discovered in the area in the 19th century. Economic activity boomed in these towns, most of it centered on mining. When all the gold and silver was mined, economic activity stopped and people moved away, leaving ghost towns of empty homes and businesses.
Growth of Suburbs
Suburbs are smaller urban areas that surround cities. Most suburbs are less densely populated than cities. They serve as the residential area for much of the citys work force. The suburbs are made up of mostly single-family homes, stores, and services.

Many city residents move to suburbs, a situation known as suburban migration. Homes in suburbs are usually larger than homes in cities, and suburbs usually have more parks and open spaces. Residents may move to escape the traffic, noise, or to enjoy a larger residence.

Large groups of Americans began to move to suburbs in the late 1800s. The invention of the streetcar made it possible for residents to commute from their homes to their city jobs.

At the end of World War II, the U.S. government enacted a program that gave home loans to returning war veterans. This created an explosion of single-family homes and increased the growth of suburbs across America.

The establishment of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 also contributed to the growth of suburbs and urban areas. The Highway Act created 66,000 kilometers (41,000 miles) of interstate roadway systems. The original plan for the highway system was for the evacuation of large cities in case of a nuclear or military attack. What the Highway Act created instead was suburban sprawl.

Suburban sprawl continues to be a phenomenon in the U.S. First, outlying areas of a city widen. Slowly, these outlying areas become more crowded, pushing the suburbs farther into rural areas.

Housing and businesses that serve suburban communities eat up farmland and wilderness. More than 809,000 hectares (2 million acres) of farmland and wilderness are lost to development every year in the U.S.
Smart Growth
Recently, experts have tried to curb the spread of suburban sprawl, or at least create urban areas that are developed more purposefully. This is known as "smart growth." City planners create communities that are designed for more walking and less dependency on cars. Some developers recover old communities in downtown urban areas, rather than develop the next piece of farmland or wilderness.

States such as Oregon are passing laws to prevent unplanned urban sprawl. They have created boundaries around cities that limit the growth of development. Officials have created laws stating that the minimum size of a plot of land is 32 hectares (80 acres). This is to prevent developers from creating suburban communities. An 80-acre plot of land is too costly for a single-family home!

Other smart-growth communities are creating new types of development. Some have large amounts of undeveloped "green space," organic farms, and lakes.

Urban areas typically drain the water from rain and snow, which cannot collect in the paved-over ground. Rather than use drainage pipes and ditches, smart-growth communities create wetlands designed to filter storm runoff.

More city planners are developing urban areas by considering their geography. Engineers build structures that blend with their natural surroundings and use natural resources. White roofs, for example, reflect the suns rays and lower the cost of air conditioning. Homebuilders in urban areas as diverse as Los Angeles, California, and the island communities of Greece create homes and businesses with white plaster or tile roofs for this reason.

There is also a move toward preserving and maintaining more green areas and planting more trees in urban areas. Landscape designers often consult with city planners to incorporate parks with development.

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An urban area is the region surrounding a city. Most inhabitants of urban areas have nonagricultural jobs. Urban areas are very developed, meaning there is a density of human structures such as houses, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and railways. "Urban area" can refer to towns, cities, and suburbs.

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Look at places like New York City, Boston, Miami. etc. Look up your hometown. Is it a city?

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here.

Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

Learn more about Google Earth.

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

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What is it like living in a busy city? Most people walk from place to place because its faster than driving. Or they take a bus or train. Some people in cities live way up in high buildings and their house is surrounded by other peoples houses

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In ‘The Future of Cities,’ innovative responses to urban issues

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Suburbs are residential areas where people tend to live rather than apartment buildings.

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How do they make those buildings so tall? Watch here to see people building way up high!

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Watch a 57-Story Building Go Up in 19 Days | WSJ