Preschoolers

Get out

We swear: A trip to the Staten Island Children’s Museum doesn’t take as long as you think. The space houses a pirate ship, a fire engine with firefighting gear, and a dogsled, among other preschooler magnets. And there’s a wealth of programs to engage little ones when you’re not at your most engaging, such as crafting (Tue, Fri 1:30–4:30pm), cooking (Fri at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30pm) and “Explore & Discover,” which employs recycled household items (Thu at 1:30, 2:30, 3:30pm). The museum is ensconced in the 83-acre parklike setting of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, which also includes the Staten Island Botanical Garden, the Noble Maritime Collection and the Staten Island Museum. For full calendar of events, go to statenislandkids.org.

FREE Board the free Ikea shuttle bus in Brooklyn or, if the weather cooperates, the free Ikea ferry from Manhattan or Brooklyn, and cruise over to Red Hook’s outpost of the big-box store. If your child is between 37" and 54" and potty trained, you just hit the jackpot: a free hour of babysitting. No need to shop; you can retire to the café and dine on the 99¢ breakfast or the Swedish meatballs. Or, if no one’s looking, curl up in one of those Himmelsk bed tents and take a nap. •The shuttle bus stops outside the following subway stations: F, M, R at Fourth Ave–9th St, Park Slope; F, G at Smith–9th Sts, Carroll Gardens; and 2, 3, 4, 5 at Borough Hall on Court St, Downtown Brooklyn. •The ferry leaves from Pier 11, east of South St at Wall St; and from Fulton Ferry, Old Fulton St, Dumbo (see info.ikea-usa.com/Brooklyn for schedule).

FREE The Prospect Park Audubon Center, situated inside the landmarked Boathouse, offers free activities every weekend throughout the year. The Nature Crafts workshop (Sat, Sun 1–3pm) makes use of natural and recycled materials. Stop for a treat at the center’s café, which serves baked goods, snacks, smoothies and caffeinated bevs. Afterward, follow a naturalist on an hour-long Discover Tour through the park (Sat, Sun at 3pm). The fresh air just might snap you out of your stupor. For a map, go to prospectpark.org/audubon.

FREE The under-the-radar Teardrop Park, nestled among the residential towers of Battery Park City, was designed by respected landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh with input from the Natural Learning Initiative. The southern half of the park contains a play area where kids “rock hop” to the top of a giant slide, then zip down to a soft, sandy landing. The northern half, accessible through an Olmstedesque tunnel in a stone wall, is an open lawn where your Tasmanian devil can spin in circles till he’s dizzy, while you rest on a bench and count the minutes until bedtime. Between Warren and Murray Sts, east of River Terr. Subway: 1, 2, 3 to Chambers St.

Stay-at-home games

Preschoolers love secrets. Ergo, lie down in the bedroom while your partner or friend stretches out as far away as possible within your abode. Then play a version of “telephone.” Essentially, whisper the longest and most complex message your child can handle (“How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?”). Have the messenger run to the other adult to deliver the information, and see what comes up.

Another low-key activity is sippy-cup bowling. Strategically place your supine self at the end of the “bowling alley,” set up some cups, and give the babes a soft ball. They roll, you reset. Repeat ad snooziam.

When you’re really in dire straits, hand over a full box of character Band-Aids and let them dress their imaginary owies. Merely tearing open the bandages and peeling off the backing takes little hands a good long while. SpongeBob bandages, $3.30 for box of 20, at drugstore.com

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Toddlers | Preschoolers | Grade-schoolers | Tweens | Mixed ages

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