Tweens

Get out

Friends don’t let friends navigate the Metropolitan Museum of Art while sleep-deprived…unless they’re attending the Look Again! art program (Sat, Sun 11am–12:30pm; check for occasional 2pm sessions). Preteens can join in a conversation with museum staff and a sketch session, while you daydream about your From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler moment. This month’s offerings include “How Did They Do That?: Ancient Vase Painting” (Feb 7–8) and “Metropolitan Dress Up” (Feb 14). Free with museum admission.

The name Metro-North usually summons an image of glassy-eyed commuters, not glowing youngsters. One trip up the Hudson Line will change that. The view that inspired an entire school of painting starts before you even leave the city—some of the landscapes in northernmost Manhattan and the Bronx are stunning. The scenery only improves as you continue upriver, and having a sweets-related destination provides behavioral insurance. Jump off at Cold Spring (about 90 minutes from Manhattan), walk up charming Main Street, and stop in at the Foundry Café (55 Main St) for fresh-baked goods. Metro-North’s “Family Fare” deal lets up to four children ages five to 11 travel roundtrip for $1.50 each during off-peak hours with each purchase of an adult ticket. $21.50 round-trip off-peak from Grand Central or 125th St station at Park Ave. For schedule, go to mta.info/mnr.

Symphony Space has something going on for kids practically every weekend. It’s got a new dance musical, José Limón: The Making of an Artist, on Feb 1 ($23, children ages 1 and up $13), Bubble and Friends Do the Beatles: Abbey Road’s 40th Anniversary on Feb 7 ($27, children $17), Kirsten Miller talking about her popular middle-grade series Kiki Strike on Feb 8 ($18, children $12), and Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players on Feb 14 ($27, children $17), among other offerings. All you have to do is show up—the folks here will completely understand if you spend the performance “resting your eyes.” 2537 Broadway at 95th St (212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org)

FREE Brooklyn Bridge Park and adjoining Empire–Fulton Ferry State Park in Dumbo boast soft grass, a cove with a rock beach (great for throwing contests), the spooky ruins of a former tobacco warehouse, and subway trains rumbling over the Manhattan Bridge. You can park yourself on a bench with views of the East River and Manhattan, and let your tweens explore while you watch. It’s a great space for an impromptu game of football or Frisbee, and when you get cold, you can head to nearby Jacques Torres for hot chocolate that just might change your life. Subway: A, C to High St; F to York St; 2, 3 to Clark St

Stay-at-home games

In an era of rising unemployment, it’s never too early to teach your kids how to gamble. Seriously, though, it doesn’t hurt to learn card skills at a young age. Your tweens have probably moved on from war, old maid and go fish, so bring them up to the next level. You may know “I doubt it” by its more colorful name, but either way it’s just as much fun. Another crowd-pleaser for this age is spit, which involves more quick thinking than saliva. And a game that will help them learn the foundations of more advanced ones is gin rummy. Of course, if you’re truly too tired to participate, there’s always solitaire.

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

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