Crimson Kids

Children's Resources

Trails
Outings
Gymnastics & Dance
Music Classes
Other Classes
Singing & Story Hours
Playgrounds
Pools
Child Friendly Restaurants


General Information
Boston Go City Kids - A great website with tons of information on Boston events for kids and families.
Massachusetts Community Pages - Look up info about any town in Massachusetts
Boston Moms
Boston Parenthood This is an incredible resource!
Daily Candy, Boston Kids

Public Transportation in Boston is free for kids under the age of 12

Helpful Books
• Fodor’s Boston with Kids guidebook
• Fun With the Family in Massachusetts by Marcia Glassman-Jaffe

Trails
Friends of the Community Paths- A website with information on walking and biking paths in the Boston metro area
The Minuteman Trail - An eleven mile paved trail that is great for running with jogger stroller, biking, or walking.

Outings
Boston Public Library
A Boston Public Library card is a must-have for families. The Honan-Allston branch is the closest to HBS. At the circulation desk you can get a library card with identification and proof of current address.  With your new library card, you can reserve free or discounted tickets to many of the local museums.
300 North Harvard St, Allston
617-787-6313

Cambridge Public Library
The Cambridge Public Library also participates in the museum discount ticket program.
449 Broadway, Cambridge
617-349-1040

PJ Library
Free Jewish book club for kids. Each child gets a new book or CD each month. (There's no catch, it's privately funded.) Signing up for this club also adds you to an email list this sends out information about upcoming Jewish events for kids in the Boston area.

Marino Lookout Farm
One of the oldest working farms in Massachusetts with seasonal activities and U-picking.
89 Pleasant St, South Natick
508-651-1539

New England Aquarium
The aquarium is accessible from the Blue Line Aquarium stop.
Central Wharf, Boston
617-973-5200

Boston Children's Museum
Four floors of interactive exhibits for children of all ages. Also includes an enclosed Play Space for children under 3. Discounted parking is available at the Farnsworth Parking Garage for $8 for the day. Fridays after 5 pm, museum tickets are $1 per person. The museum is located 3 blocks from the Red Line South Station stop.
300 Congress St, Boston
617-426-8855

Duck Tours
Ride a World War II amphibious duck on a tour of Boston, then splash into the Charles River for a short cruise. Boats board at the Prudential Center and the Museum of Science.

Boston Common & Public Garden
The Public Garden has two things to draw kids: life-sized sculptures of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings from "Make Way for Ducklings" (Mrs. Mallard is large enough for kids to sit on) and the Swan Boats, which take you for a leisurely "cruise" around the Lagoon (including the island Mrs. Mallard was getting back to). Across the street is the Boston Common, where the Frog Pond offers a spray pool in the summer and skating in the winter.

Franklin Park Zoo
One Franklin Park Rd, Boston
617-541-5466

Museum of Science
The museum has a play area for children under 3. It is open late on Fridays, and parking is a flat $5 after 5 pm.
Science Park, Boston
617-723-2500

Lexington Community Education
Adult & child "take it for fun" classes.
251 Waltham St, Lexington
781-862-8043

Walden Pond
Visit a replica of Henry David Thoreau's home and take a dip in the pond.
915 Walden St., Concord
978-369-3254

Indoor Play Areas
Atrium Mall indoor play area
Belmont Kid Space
Chuck-E-Cheese For desperate winter days, empty on weekdays
Indoor Kid's Playground in Woburn
Magic Beans Fun toys and a play area
Together in Motion

Gymnastics & Dance
Tumble Kids USA
Tumblekids USA in Watertown offers tumbling or gymnastics classes for your children ages 15 months and up.
201 Arlington St, Watertown
617-926-2640

My Gym Children's Fitness Center
188 Needham St, Newton
617-243-9496
Commonwealth Ave., Boston
617-789-3669

Boston Gymnastics Academy
Gymnastics classes. Lots of people just go for open gym ($5).
Smith Place, Cambridge
617-441-9700

Boston Ballet School
For ages 3 and up
Boston Studio
617-695-6950
Metrowest Studio (Newton)
617-45- 6263

Fresh Pond Ballet
Mass. Ave, Cambridge
617-491-5865

Wright Dance Studio
47R Cuba Street, Watertown
617-924-6255

Crimson Kids Ballet
Ask Crimson Kids for more details.

Gymboree Play and Music
3 Crescent St, Waltham
781-209-2000
244 Needham St, Newton
781-209-2000

Music Classes

Music Together
Movement and music for newborns to toddlers.
Locations in Boston, Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, & Newton

Suzuki School of Music
11 Homer St, Newton Centre
617-964-4522

Kindermusik

Longy School of Music
Music lessons. Violin and eurythmics.
One Follen Street, Cambridge
617-876-0956

Crimson Kids Music Class
Ask Crimson Kids for more details

Other Classes

Children's Theatre

YMCA Swimming Lessons
Central Square YMCA offers swimming lessons for young children from 6 months and up. It is $80.00 for non-members for 8 weeks of class.

BU Swimming Lessons
Boston University offers swimming lessons for Toddlers (first course starting at 6 month of age).

Beyond the 4th Wall
In central square, my son takes an "art class" for 2 years old, he loves it so much that I regret to leave Boston in June : "With a different theme each week, children will start by creating process oriented art projects such as collages, play dough sculptures, water color silks, and more. After a brief snack and story time, we end the class with singing and dancing in our music and movement section."


Singing & Story Hours

The Cambridge Public Library
Cambridge Public Library
Toddler sing-along on Wednesdays at 10:30 am and 11:30 am at Main Branch.

Central Square Branch
Toddler Storytime- Wednesday 10:30-11:30
Toddler Sing-along- Thursday 10:30-11:30

Finagle a Bagel in Harvard Square
Sing-along Mondays at 10:30 am. On JFK Avenue across from Curious George Bookstore

Harvard Coop
Storytime is Tuesday at 11am for babies and preschoolers.
Storytime with a craft is Saturday at 11am for children under 7.

Honan-Allston Public Library
Storytime is Tuesdays at 10:30 am for children aged 1 1/2 - 3 1/2 years, accompanied by an adult.
Storytime is Fridays at 10:30 am for children aged 3-5 years, accompanied by an adult.
Occasional Saturday events for preschoolers.

Stella Bella Toys
Inman Square store- Music Together on Monday and Thursday. Playgroups offered on Tuesday. Sing along on Saturdays.
Porter Square store- Sing alongs on Monday and Thursday.

Barefoot Books Storytime
Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 am.

Henry Bear's Park
Locations and Story hours: Arlington - Thursdays at 11:00, Cambridge - Thursdays at 11:00, Brookline - Mondays at 11:00
Playgroup at Cambridge Store on Tuesdays at 11am

Porter Square Books
Story Hour Wednesdays at 11am. This is one of my favorites!

Playgrounds
A map of the many playgrounds in Cambridge.

Bergin Playground
Located on Haskell Street. I’ve heard good things, but haven’t been

Corporal Burns
Right next to Peabody Terrace, on Flagg St. Swings, small kids play structure and big kids play structure. Water in the summer. One of my favorites!

Hoyt Field
Located at the end of Gilmore St, on western Ave, lot of sand, quiet and sunny, far from the street, I love it!

Dana Park
Located on Magazine Street in Cambridge, very famous, need to be mentioned.

Shaler Lane
On Memorial Drive at Shaler Lane. Great park for small children. Sand box.

Trapelo Road Playground
Located in Belmont, spray pool in summer.

Riverside Press Park
Memorial Drive and River St., right across from Whole Foods. Swings, play area and water in summer.

Cambridge Common
Up Massachusetts Ave. towards Porter Square, at north end of Common. Another great park for little ones. Play area, swings and sand box.

Cambridge Library Park
On Broadway, right next to library. Play area for little kids and play area for big kids, swings, and sand box.

Cooper Playground
On Hancock St., one block up from Massachusetts Ave. Play area, sand box, swings and great water area in summer.

Allston/Brighton
Smith Playground
On Western Ave, just past North Harvard St. Brand new, but kind of urban feeling.

There is a great little park over by the Honan Allston Library. It's just down one of the side streets right next to the library. It's a hidden gem. When it's warm my kids and I like to pick up donuts from Dunkin Donuts and then head over there to eat them and play.

Soldiers Field Park
Play area with swings, slides and big grass lawn next to SFP apartments.

Artesani Park
Along Soldiers Field Road towards Newton, right on the Charles River. Separate play areas for little and big kids. Wading pool/spray ground in summer.

Boston
Boston Common
In downtown Boston. Great playground for kids.

Esplanade
Parkland along the Charles River between Boston University and Museum of Science.

River Park
Along Charles River, approx. 20 minute jog/40 minute walk/15 minute bike ride campus. Brand new park with separate play areas for little kids and big kids.

Southwest Corridor Park
Lots of playgrounds, 2 spray pools.

Pools
Pool Schedule

McCrehan Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool
Cambridge

Tufts Pool, Medford
This is last years information. Check for 2009 pool hours.

Veterans Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool
Cambridge

Magazine Beach outdoor pool
Free public outdoor pool off Memorial Drive.

War Memorial
Indoor Pool and much more!

Wellbridge Athletic Club
One of the few gyms with an indoor Pool.

YMCA in Central Square
They offer child and adult swim lessons for non-members.

Child Friendly Restaurants
Full Moon
Pricey. Has a play area for children, but can get crazy when busy.
344 Huron Avenue
Cambridge MA 02138
617-354-6699

Bertucci's
Good food at reasonable prices. Has crayons and play dough.
Harvard Square
21 Brattle St.
Cambridge - Harvard Square
617-864-4748

Caffe Paradiso
A little café with good coffee, sandwiches, pastries and cute little kid's cookies with animals painted on them.
1 Eliot Square (Winthrop St.)
Across from Charles Hotel, Harvard Square
617-868-3240

Hi-Rise Bread
Yummy sandwiches and baked goods. Located in a cute yellow house with outdoor seating when the weather is nice, otherwise seating upstairs. Can get crowded on the weekends.
56 Brattle St.
Cambridge
617-492-3003

Johnny's Luncheonette
A diner with great breakfasts. Fills up on the weekends with the college brunch crowd so get there early. Also have burgers, etc.
1105 Mass Ave
Cambridge
617-527-3223

The Rainforest Cafe
Great for kids and the menu is good for adults
Burlington Mall
75 Middlesex Turnpike Burlington, MA
781-272-7555
**Many malls are open early for walking when the weather is bad.