Stuff To Do With Kids While School’s Out

School is out the rest of the week and now that it is safe to go outside, cabin fever kids are itching to do so. We’ve culled a list of open places—many are free. Keep in mind that kids aren’t the only ones needing to get out. Coffee shops from McDonald Ave to Ocean Ave are packed with telecommuters trying to get work done. The area’s most kid-friendly coffee shop, Lark, is open. If a planned activity isn’t taking place, kids can play in their activity space.

Walking Distance (depending on where you live)

• The Brooklyn Museum is open.
• Prospect Park Zoo has reopened.
• Midwood Martial Arts has resumed a semi-regular schedule of classes. Call before you head out.
• The Pavilion Theater is running a regular set of movies.
• The Brooklyn Public Library’s website is down, but I’ve walked by both the Cortelyou Branch and the Windsor Terrace Branch. They are open. Ask inside about their calendar.
• Older kids can volunteer to walk dogs at Sean Casey. This is a great way for kids to give back to a community in need.

Transportation may be necessary. Check which buses and trains are running before you head out.

• Transit Museum is open and admission is, temporarily, waved.
• The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is open.
• Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance is open Friday from 11am to 3pm. Pay as you wish.
• Brooklyn Robotics is open for engineers ages 5 and up.
• The Painted Pot locations in Park Slope and in Carroll Gardens are open. This is a great place to get holiday gifts for grandparents checked off your list.
• Is it too indulgent to buy a new toy? The Toy Space is open and you can simultaneously support a local business and get a treat for your child.

Closed

• Prospect Park is closed until further notice.
• Brooklyn Botanical Garden is closed for clean up.
• New York Aquarium is closed indefinitely.

Online activities

The Department of Education doesn’t want this week to be wasted time and has an online curriculum for each grade level.

One area principal has made a popular learning website, Brain Pop, available free through Sunday.

Kids love BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr at school, and due to Hurricane Sandy, “with schools closed and so many of you at home, we’ve made all our resources entirely free through Sunday.”

You’ll be able to access BrainPOP, BrainPOP Jr. (K-3), BrainPOP ESL, and BrainPOP Español with or without a current subscription. You don’t log in at all, just go to the topics or areas you want.

Older kids, no doubt, have their favorite websites bookmarked. (Minecraft anyone?) Younger kids may enjoy the educational games on PBS Kids and Nick Jr.

Good luck the next few days.