Immerse Your Kids in Culture

With the reopening of our cultural and arts organizations comes not only great performances for adults, but also fun and educational activities for children. Check out some programs and events that you can look forward to with your family. Please note that for in-person, indoor events, vaccinations are mandatory for visitors over 12 years of age. Those under the age of 12 must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event.   

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and Riverside Library are hosting an Outdoor Toddler Storytime at Outdoor Reading Room outside of the Library for the Performing Arts on Thursday, September 30 from 10:30am – 11:00am and 11:15am – 11:45am. The event is recommended for children 1 year old and up. Tickets will be distributed 30 minutes before each story time begins, on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more here.  

Let's get spooky for Halloween! The American Folk Art Museum is hosting a Families and Folk Art: Halloween Edition virtual event on Saturday, October 2 from 10:00am - 10:45am. Families with children ages 4 and up are invited to join this virtual program for conversation and art-making related to some mysterious artworks that will get everyone into the holiday spirit. Learn more and register here. 

New York City Ballet is hosting a Children’s Workshop on Saturday, October 16 at 12:30pm for kids ages 5-7. The class is 45-minutes and guides children in a ballet warm-up and movement combination, concluding in a lively performance accompanying family and friends. No prior dance training is needed. Tickets are $15 per person, and both children and adults need a ticket to attend this event. New York City Ballet also offers a number of virtual movement programs for kids of all ages. Find more information here. 

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s WeBop is an early-childhood jazz education program for little ones ages eight months to seven years and their parents/caregivers. From Tuesday, October 12 through Saturday, December 11, you and your child will explore core concepts of jazz such as swing, blues, improvisation, and other jazz essentials. Together you will develop your imagination, creativity, and musicality while swinging nursery rhymes, singing the blues away, scatting like Ella or improvising like Coltrane, and of course jamming with a live jazz band! The tuition fee for the Live Virtual 8-week fall term is $260 per child. Click here to learn more and to register.

Registration for Broadway Dance Center's Annual and Fall Terms for Children and Teens is now open through Tuesday, October 19. Dancers of all levels and ages can register for Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Jumps and Turns, Breaking, Acro, Lyrical, and more!  In addition to working on technique each week, their dedicated faculty strive to nurture and develop a young dancer's creative side. They are offering the program both virtually and in-person at 37 West 65th Street (off Broadway and Columbus Avenue). Find more information here.  

The Lucy Moses School at Kaufman Music Center offers classes and lessons in music, dance and theater for children and teens at all levels of skill and experience. The school offers a broad range of programs including private instrument lessons, Early Childhood music classes, Suzuki, Dalcroze, dance, chamber ensembles, string ensembles, the Face the Music youth new music ensemble, musical theater, voice, theory and composition, summer camps and a Young Artist Program for advanced teen performers. Learn more and browse classes here.

If you are hosting a cultural event or program for kids that we missed, please let us know. To find more events going on around Lincoln Square, visit our Events Calendar.

Photo credit: Jazz at Lincoln Center WeBop