The Bronx Zoo lights up at night during the 2024 holiday season. Photo by Ally Noel
Holiday Light Shows, Luna Luna, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids
The Tianyu Lights Festival transforms the Citi Field parking lot into a magical holiday destination with larger-than-life lanterns and kid-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of the festival
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New York City for Kids
All aboard a festively decorated Polar Express train ride for some holiday magic and memories. Photo by Gwendolyn Tundermann
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains near NYC
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is an event unto itself. See the larger-than-life balloons come to life the night before the parade. Photo by Anthony Quintano/CC BY 2.0
See the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation with Kids
Many organizations throughout New York City are offering free turkey giveaways, plus full, hot Thanksgiving dinners this season. Photo by John McCarten for the New York City Council
Where To Find Free Turkey in NYC This Thanksgiving
See the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC with our insider's guide and tips!
GUIDE
Guide to Thanksgiving in NYC for Kids and Families
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Leuca. Photo courtesy of the Noho Hospitality Group
26 Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in NYC
Experience the magic of the Tianyu Lights Festival at Citi Field this holiday season. Photo courtesy of the festival
21 Best Things To Do in NYC November 2024 with Kids
Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become an enchanting holiday tradition for many families. Photo courtesy of the garden
Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC to Book Now!
GUIDE
NYC Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Farms, Festivals, and Kid-Friendly Getaways 2024
Canstruction is free and open to the public at Brookfield Place through Monday, November 11. Photo by Heidi Lee
39 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC this November with Kids
Join Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero on a walk of wonders at NYBG's The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail. Photo by Ally Noel
Fall Bucket List for Kids: 35 Top Things To Do in NYC this Fall
Classics, like Tom Turkey, and newbies alike take flight in the 98th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: Where to Watch, What's New
The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025
Visit the 180 Pool at the Crystal Springs Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort
14 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by Jody Mercier
47 Fun Indoor Activities in NYC for a Rainy Day
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Explore modern humanity through all-new world-wandering exhibitions at Mmuseumm.
Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love
Hell's Kitchen is a cool coming-of-age piece loosely based on Alicia Keys' life story. Photo by Marc J. Franklin
Best New Broadway Shows This Season Plus Can't-Miss Classics for Families
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Attractions and Things To Do near NYC that are Kid-Friendly
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
Twinkle Playspace in Williamsburg offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
21 Top Indoor Play Spaces in New York City
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
101 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Indoor Playgrounds, Play Spaces, and Fun Zones in NYC
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids

School Break Camps in NYC: Winter and Spring Break Camps to Keep Kids Busy on Days Off

Chelsea Piers holiday break camps offer a variety of programs from preschool camps to elite training, where children are able to pursue their passions and fuel their athletic potential. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Piers
Chelsea Piers holiday break camps offer a variety of programs from preschool camps to elite training, where children are able to pursue their passions and fuel their athletic potential. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Piers
1/19/24 - By Diana Kim

Finding a great school break camp to keep kids busy during spring break and other NYC school vacations is a breeze thanks to these local school break camps. If kids need something to do, these NYC winter and spring break camps offer activities ranging from STEM to sports, visual arts, performing arts, cooking, and more. Many offer programming during week-long breaks and single days off. We have found school break camps in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, and we're sharing them all below.

Be sure to check out our NYC Kids' Camp Guide for more options for school holidays and all summer long, and find more top NYC spring and winter break camps in our camp directory.

Another reminder: It's always worth checking with your local play space or other neighborhood kid spot to see if it's offering programming. Be sure to click through to the camps' official sites for more details, including hours and pricing, and register ASAP.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Taste Buds Kitchen cooking camps are the perfect recipe for gaining kitchen confidence, learning essential cooking skills, and making new friends. Photo courtesy of Taste Buds
Taste Buds Kitchen cooking camps are the perfect recipe for gaining kitchen confidence, learning essential cooking skills, and making new friends. Photo courtesy of Taste Buds

Best General Interest Winter and Spring Break Camps in NYC

Taste Buds Kitchen Cooking Camps

Chelsea
Ages 4-13
Taste Buds Kitchen allows kids to get hands-on in its cooking camps. With delicious themes like All You Knead is Love, Around the World, Super Foodies, and Culinary Cocoa, children can join for a single day or the whole week.  READ MORE

Park Slope Day Camp

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Ages 4-15
Park Slope Day Camp provides kids entering pre-K to 8th grade with a wide variety of activities, including traditional day camp, circus camp, travel camp, and sports academies. Plenty of time is spent outdoors in local parks. School break mini-camps are offered. READ MORE

NORY STEM + Sports Camp

Multiple Manhattan and Brooklyn Locations
Ages 3-10
Children are makers and creators at Nory's holiday break and summer camps. Children can engage in woodworking, robot building, Roblox coding, and more. Questions are encouraged as kids build confidence and new skills. READ MORE

YMCA of Greater New York Summer Day Camps

Citywide
Ages 5-12
With 70 sites throughout the five boroughs and summer programs for kids of all ages, there's a YMCA camp to fit your family. Choose from options like swim and specialty camps, traditional day camps, and sleepaway camps. School break camps are also offered. READ MORE

The Brooklyn Magic Shop

Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
Ages 7-15
The Brooklyn Magic Shop is a family-owned magic store where kids and adults can explore their magical interests. Owner and founder Daniel Morales puts a wonderful family-friendly magic show on the weekends while offering magic classes during the week. Camps are offered during the summer and school breaks. Patrons can also purchase magic supplies from their carefully curated inventory.  READ MORE

The Brooklyn Strategist

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Ages 5-14
The Brooklyn Strategist offers half-day and full-day programs that let kids build kingdoms, strategize takeovers, save the planet, and cure disease together—all by playing games. Kids have a blast while developing important cognitive skills. After-school classes, summer camps, and winter and spring break camps are offered.  READ MORE
TADA! is a place for children to learn, grow, hone their skills and, above all, perform! Photo courtesy of TADA!
TADA! is a place for children to learn, grow, hone their skills and, above all, perform! Photo courtesy of TADA!

Visual and Performing Arts Winter and Spring Break Camps in NYC

TADA! Youth Theater

BOLD Arts

Upper West Side
Ages 5-10
BOLD Arts offers week-long summer camps and school break camps. A different, thought-provoking theme centers each week's activities, including dance, music, and art projects. Every session ends with a performance where kids are the stars and the costumes, scenery, and performances are their own creations. Creative kids can invite a BOLD Arts educator to lead their birthday party and choreograph a dance to their favorite song. Parties culminate with a performance and family dance party.  READ MORE

The Fashion Class School Break & Summer Camps

Midtown West
Ages 6-12
At this boutique fashion camp, kids ages 6-12 learn to sew and make actual wearable garments, while also participating in fashion illustration and design classes. Each session features a different project and theme. READ MORE

Playday

Multiple Locations in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan
Ages 5+
This micro-chain of creative hubs offers a variety of creative classes in NYC for kids in a safe, small-group atmosphere with experienced, passionate art instructors. Camps are offered during school breaks and all summer long. You can also book a creative birthday party here. READ MORE

The Art Farm School Break Camp

Upper East Side
Ages 3-5
Campers can experience music, art, science, nature, games, cooking, and live animal science lessons in the petting zoo where children meet new animals every day. School break campers can attend for full- or half-days depending on your needs. READ MORE

Creatively Wild Art Studio

Dumbo, Brooklyn
Ages 6-15
Creatively Wild Art Studio provides an inspiring, artistic class experience to nurture and enrich creative minds. Classes are offered for all ages and abilities in a gorgeous, light-filled, airy studio. Budding artists work with authentic professional art materials, dabble in techniques like color mixing, texture, and brushwork, and learn fun paint applications as well as explore non-traditional media. The studio also hosts birthday parties, plus summer and school break camps. READ MORE

The Craft Studio

Upper East Side, Tribeca, and Brooklyn
Ages 4-13
The Craft Studio offers art classes and summer and school break camps in NYC for kids as young as 18 months. Older kids can learn techniques and apply them to the coolest, trendiest crafts. The Craft Studio can supply staff and supplies to any party location and lead kids in a wide variety of activities, including decoupage, tie-dye, baking, dioramas, and that ultimate kid-pleaser, slime.  READ MORE
SKATEYOGI camps are designed for students ages 7-13 of all levels. Photo courtesy of SKATEYOGI
SKATEYOGI camps are designed for students ages 7-13 of all levels. Photo courtesy of SKATEYOGI

Winter and Spring Break Sports Camps in NYC for Kids

SKATEYOGI - Camps

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Ages 5-15
These small-group camps offer aspiring skateboarders ages 7-15 the chance to learn how to shred at three Brooklyn locations. Beginners can take advantage of complimentary rental gear as they learn the sport. A mini-camp is available for ages 5-7.   READ MORE

Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camp

Chelsea
Ages 3-13
Chelsea Piers features a variety of unique sports camps for kids, including gymnastics, ice skating/hockey, parkour, soccer, golf, and so much more. Half-day and full-day options, short weeks, aftercare, and more are offered. School break camps are also offered. READ MORE

Asphalt Green at the Post in Brooklyn

Upper East Side and Battery Park City
Ages 4-12
Kids ages 4½ to 15 participate in sports, arts, field trips, and daily swim time at state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor facilities, including a 1.5-acre field and 25-yard and 50-meter pools. READ MORE

Fastbreak Sports - Camps

Upper East Side
Ages 3-14
Kids' Camp at Fastbreak goes way beyond basketball. Depending on your child's age and interest, kids are schooled in multiple sports, and camp sessions include field games, arts and crafts, and plenty more. Serious athletes can opt for its Elite Training Academy track. School break and summer camps are offered by Fastbreak.  READ MORE

The Movement Creative

Citywide
Ages 7-15
The Movement Creative holds personalized kids' parkour classes throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens and offers school break camps, summer programs, birthday parties, and one-on-one sessions. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: