Anonymous wrote:DH has a work opportunity to spend June in the city. We would have a 5, 4 and 1 year old. Both of us have lived in New York and know the city well, but as young people. The idea of having three kids in tow is daunting. But it could be a great adventure? For background we live on six acres in a pretty rural area. My kids have never been to a big city but are pretty adventurous and open to new things. And it's only a month.

I guess my big question is how hard is it going to be to fill my days with three young kids in the city in June? Thanks for any advice!

Also side note...I found DCUM though Urban Baby. Man I wish that was around to ask now!

As long as you get a place pretty close to a park with a nice playground, it should be a lot of fun.

Get a list of indoor playgrounds and, if necessary, pay for memberships so you have a place to go in rotten weather.

I think the idea that you need to stay near Central Park is odd.

The area around the World Trade Center has glorious playgrounds and all sorts of restaurants.

If you can stay near Google, you can sign your children up for fun things to do at Chelsea Piers.

If you end up in Hoboken or Jersey City, you won’t have as many choices, but you just use the classes and playgrounds there. You’ll get roughly the same kinds of options for less money.

The only way to make this work is to enroll the older two in camp for the month.

This is a silly thread. Millions of kids live in NYC.

I grew up with my parents and 4 kids in NYC I was born in Manhattan and my mom did not drive, have a car or a license and dad at work all
Day. At one point mom had an infant and a 3,5 and 7 year old and we got around.

This doesn't help you ... but I'll add it anyway. I spent about a month in NYC with my grandmother when I was 5, and it was one of the best times of my life.

You'll need a stroller for the little one and the add on for one of your older kids to stand in the back.

I would recommend avoiding public transportation and just engaging in activities that are within walking distance. Depending on where you are, there are so many playgrounds and that will keep your children occupied for endless amounts of time. It's not that necessary to find activities to entertain them, although depending on where you live parks may have free activities for kids.

Also, in NYC we don't call it a splash pad. We call them sprinklers.

Oh gosh, that would be so much fun. A little exhausting, but worth it!

I would stay in Brooklyn near Prospect Park.
You've got Atlantic Ave and grand army plaza metro stops, there is a huge public main branch of the Brooklyn library with free kids story times, the Brooklyn Children's Museum (Thursday after 2 pm are free) and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden all within a few blocks. Further up north in Brooklyn is the NY transit museum which is fun for kids those ages.

It will be exhausting but so fun! Maybe you can plan on 2 weeks instead of the full month. June is usually the best weather. Agree on picking a place near a playground.

Can the 1 year old be worn in a carrier? That will make getting around easier.

If you stay on the upper West side near the park you have

Natural History Museum
gated public playgrounds
kid museum
the park itself

That is what I would suggest. We stayed in that area when our kids were 2 & 3 and that worked for us.

I would only if you stay very close to good park/playground options. Central Park for example would be ideal but there are other good options, for sure.

Transportation sounds like a nightmare. I would not want to be with a 5, 3, 1yo on the subway. And cabs are tough given the lack of car seats

Where in New York would you actually be living? If you can somehow manage to be near Central Park, that would make life much easier for you. But what an amazing opportunity, and how fun it will be. You can also entice people to come visit you (they can stay in a hotel or Airbnb or something) and join forces that way, spending time with visitors. I think you should go for it.

Go for it!

You can always go home, right, if things go wrong?

Not if you’re in a hotel.

But assuming you’re staying somewhere with at least 2 bedrooms, a living area, and a kitchen - I would do this no question.

I can’t imagine really struggling to find activities for your kids in NYC with just minimal effort, but you have months to plan. Weather is still reasonable many days in June, plus splash pads are open. There are playgrounds. Busses and the subway are a total adventure for little kids who aren’t used to it. Take them 3 stops and it makes going to a bodega and getting a popsicle a whole outing. Also, bodegas.

How is this even a question?

DH has a work opportunity to spend June in the city. We would have a 5, 4 and 1 year old. Both of us have lived in New York and know the city well, but as young people. The idea of having three kids in tow is daunting. But it could be a great adventure? For background we live on six acres in a pretty rural area. My kids have never been to a big city but are pretty adventurous and open to new things. And it's only a month.

I guess my big question is how hard is it going to be to fill my days with three young kids in the city in June? Thanks for any advice!

Also side note...I found DCUM though Urban Baby. Man I wish that was around to ask now!