When it’s raining, don’t get stuck in your home. Here are nine things to do with kids on a rainy day in Brooklyn.
Romp around the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
718-735-4400
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm; Thursdays, 10am-6pm
Cost: $11; free for children younger than 12 months
Hush your children’s cries of boredom, for once they enter this go-to for Brooklyn families, they won’t want to leave. Permanent exhibits at Brooklyn Children’s Museum range from interacting with more than 29,000 collections of artistic and historic works at the Collections Central exhibit, to getting up close and personal with live animals at Neighborhood Nature exhibit, to recreating Brooklyn storefronts and shops at the World Brooklyn exhibit, and interacting with sensory play spots at the Totally Tots exhibit. The museum also offers daily programs during which you can participate in activities such as insect play time, open art studio, touch tank, block lab, sensory room, and live animal adventure. There really is something for everyone!
Take a pottery or art class.
Truth be told, no matter how good or bad you are at arts and crafts, the process of creating is always a blast, and it’s a bonding experience between your children and you. Visit Pinot’s Palette, which has locations in Park Slope and Dyker Heights, to learn how to paint various images step by step. Pinot’s offers many activities and classes such as private parties, fundraisers, open studios, and more. Another option is The Painted Pot, located in Bay Ridge and Carroll Gardens, which is a paint-your-own-pottery studio for ages 5 and older. It offers pottery painting, mosaics, glass fusion, and canvas painting, as well as wheel classes for children ages 8 and older. Although, you can walk in anytime without a reservation and get your creative side on!
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Explore sea life at the New York Aquarium.
602 Surf Ave., Coney Island
718-265-3474
Hours: Daily, 10am-4:30pm
Cost: $10.75 online; $11.95 at the gate; free for children younger than 2
 Julie Larsen Maher © WCS |
| You can see discus fish in the Conservation Hall at the New York Aquarium. |
Sharks, penguins, and otters, oh my! At the NY Aquarium, your child is guaranteed some water-filled fun without having to go outside, let alone in a pool. Although a majority of the aquarium is outside, there are two exhibits that are safe on a rainy day. Stop by Conservation Hall where you can sneak a peek at the Cownose Ray and Green Moray Eel, or check out the Glover’s Reef exhibit and see for yourself how much fun you can have on a rainy afternoon! Keep in mind that not all exhibits are open while the aquarium is under construction; check website.
Try a new family-friendly restaurant.
When all else fails, food is a great option, and trying out new cuisines is always a good time for the entire family. So on this rainy day, try out a new eatery! One option is Greenhouse Café, located in Bay Ridge, complete with a bar, three dining rooms, brunch, happy hour, and a menu that will fit whatever appetite you or your children have worked up for the day. Another great restaurant to try out is L’Isola Ristorante in Williamsburg, at which you can order a pasta or seafood dish, while your children chow down on wood-fired pizza. After dinner, we highly recommend stopping at Uncle Louie G’s for some Italian ice or ice cream at one of its 11 locations in Brooklyn!
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Sign up for a class together.
Sneak in some true bonding time with your child by taking a class together. This will not only help them learn instruction in a fun and entertaining setting, but also allow them to become closer with you. If your child has any interest in music, we suggest Music Together. Here, the motto is combining music and movement, so get ready to sing, dance, play, and more, and for a range of ages! Parent attendance isn’t required, but recommended. Another unique experience can be had at Edamama Cute Cuts & More in Greenpoint. While it may seem just like any ordinary salon, there are many activities to take advantage of, such as a Braiding Workshop for Dads & Daughters, Mommy & Me Yoga, Morning Mama hang-outs, sing-alongs, story times, and more.
RELATED: Find More Parent-and-Me Classes in Brooklyn
Climb at Brooklyn Boulders.
575 Degraw St., Boerum Hill
347-834-9066
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday-Sunday, 8am-12am; Tuesday and Thursday, 7am-12am
Cost: $28 for day passes; $22 for student day passes; $250 for a 10-pack of day passes; $195 for a student 10-pack of day passes
 Climbers of all ages and skill levels can find a route to climb at Brooklyn Boulders. |
Whether you’re a beginner rock climber or an expert, this 22,000-square-foot climbing surface surely has something for everyone and all ages. You can reserve climbing time, attend climbing, yoga, and fitness classes, utilize boulders and ropes, and more. Memberships are available, as well as summer camp registration. Now, get your climb on!
Visit a library or go to a read-aloud.
We all know it–children love to hear a good story (even if it’s the same story six times in a row before bedtime). So, instead of telling it yourself, take your child to story time at your local library—find a storytime near you. And, maybe pick up a few new books while you’re at it! Visit Mini Max Toys and Cuts in Cobble Hill for story time every Wednesday at 10am, where all ages are welcome. Mini Max even hints for you to bring your favorite book—it may be chosen to be read aloud. For bilingual speakers, on select Fridays there is also a French story time. Lastly, Greenlight Book Store, located in Fort Greene, offers a Saturday Author Story Time every Saturday at 11am, during which an author visits to read his or her book aloud to the kids. Arts and crafts and other activities are also available. For the older readers, Greenlight Book Store offers a Young Readers Book Group the fourth Tuesday of each month (pizza will be involved).
Discover how the city moves at the New York Transit Museum.
Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights
718-694-1600
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm
Cost: $7; $5 for seniors; $5 for children ages 2-17
Chances are you’ve lived in the borough for years, and just never put aside the time to go. Today’s the day. The NY Transit Museum truly is one-of-a-kind, as it’s the largest museum in the U.S dedicated to urban public transportation. The exhibits look back on the story of New York’s 100-year-old subway system, as well as the history of our buses and trolleys. Since most of us are forced to use these modes of public transportation on a daily basis, this museum definitely holds interest of many New Yorkers. In addition, the museum has a gallery annex of changing exhibits in Grand Central Terminal, in midtown Manhattan. There is also an education workshop, computer resource center, and Lunch Room.
Give back to the community.
Although this may not be at the top of your children’s to-do list, it will surely do them good. And with you by their side, they can have a good time while doing it. That’s right–spend a day volunteering with your children. This will not only show them the importance of helping those in need, it also shows them that it can be fun to help others. There are many ways to help, whether through feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, going green, or visiting the elderly. Check our where-to guide to find options near you, if this is the direction you decide to go for your day.
Main image: BRT Brooklyn Union Elevated Car 1407 (1907), which can be seen at the New York Transit Museum
Photo by Black Paw Photo
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