New York is a giant playground for children if you know where to point them, and this week there is plenty on. A beloved PBS character has taken up residence at the Bronx Zoo, a free family carnival is spinning in Astoria, and the city's zoos, aquariums and hands-on museums are all open and ready. Here is your guide to the best things to do with kids in New York City for the week of 1 to 7 June 2026, with live prices from our catalogue. Prices are in US dollars and correct at the time of writing.
New York with kids this week in 30 seconds. Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is at the Bronx Zoo all week, included with admission, and the Astoria Park Carnival is free to enter from Wednesday to Sunday with rides from $1.50. Around them, the city's family favourites are open: the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo and New York Aquarium, the dinosaurs at the natural history museum, and the rides and water park at American Dream just across the river.
Family events this week
The highlight for younger children this week is Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood at the Bronx Zoo, an immersive experience built around the much-loved PBS character with hands-on activities, character meet-and-greets and live shows. It runs all week and is included with zoo admission from $44, though timed tickets are worth reserving ahead. The week also brings the Astoria Park Carnival, free to enter from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 June under the RFK Bridge in Queens, with a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and games; you pay only for rides, from $1.50 a ticket.
Animals and aquariums
New York's animal attractions are some of the best in the country. The Bronx Zoo is one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the world, home to more than six thousand animals, from $44. The smaller Central Park Zoo is perfect for little legs and easy to pair with a play in the park, from $23. And out on the boardwalk at Coney Island, the New York Aquarium brings sharks, sea otters and a walrus, from $30.
Museums kids actually love
Two museums are guaranteed winners with children. The American Museum of Natural History is the one with the towering dinosaur skeletons and the giant blue whale, from $37, and a morning there can easily turn into a whole day. For older kids with a taste for machines, the Intrepid Museum lets them climb aboard a real aircraft carrier and stand beneath a genuine Space Shuttle, from $35.
Pure fun: rides, slides and sweet treats
Just across the river at the American Dream complex, Nickelodeon Universe is the biggest indoor theme park in the western hemisphere, from $64, and the indoor DreamWorks Water Park is a brilliant rainy-day plan, from $70. North of the city, Legoland New York is a full day of brick-built fun, from $50. Back in Manhattan, the wonderfully silly Color Factory is a hit with all ages, from $42, and the Museum of Ice Cream ends in a sprinkle pool, from $48.
For calmer hours, the city has plenty for younger explorers. The Brooklyn Children's Museum, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, is built entirely for under-tens, and the Central Park Carousel and the park's many playgrounds make an easy, low-key afternoon. Out in the harbor, car-free Governors Island has a giant slide, hammocks and gentle bike paths, and the High Line is a stroller-friendly walk in the sky with lawns to stop and play on along the way.
If the weather turns, New York is ready for it. The American Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid can each fill a rainy day on their own, the indoor DreamWorks Water Park stays warm whatever the sky is doing, and the whole American Dream complex, from the theme park to the mini golf and the ice rink, is built for days you would rather not be outside. The Color Factory and the Museum of Ice Cream are indoors too, which makes them a reliable backup plan with younger children.
For curious older children, two lesser-known museums are worth the trip. The New York Hall of Science in Queens is a hands-on temple to experiments, light and tinkering, with hundreds of interactive exhibits, and the New York Transit Museum, set inside a genuine 1930s subway station in Brooklyn, lets kids clamber aboard vintage trains and slide into the driver's seat of a city bus. Both are a welcome change of pace from the headline attractions, neither draws the Midtown crowds, and each is easy to pair with a nearby playground and a slice of pizza afterwards.
A family night on Broadway
If the children are old enough to sit through a show, Broadway has some of the best family entertainment anywhere. Disney's The Lion King is still the great crowd-pleaser for younger audiences, with an opening number that has been making children gasp for a quarter of a century, and Aladdin is its equally magical stablemate. For tweens and teens, the pop-fuelled and Juliet, a jukebox musical set to Max Martin hits, is a guaranteed singalong from $197. Matinees are the family-friendly choice, and with the Tony Awards in town this week it is wise to book ahead.
Free family fun
You do not have to spend to keep children happy in New York. Central Park alone has around twenty playgrounds, the Bethesda Fountain, a carousel and acres of space to run, almost all of it free. The Staten Island Ferry is a free boat ride right past the Statue of Liberty that kids love, the High Line and Brooklyn Bridge Park are made for energetic legs, and this week the Astoria Park Carnival is free just to walk into. Pack a picnic, find a fountain to cool off beside, and a free day in the city can be the one they remember most.
Know before you go
A few practical notes for a family week. Most of the zoos, museums and attractions use timed-entry tickets, so reserve your slot before you travel, and aim for opening time to beat both the queues and the midday heat. The Bronx Zoo and Coney Island are a subway ride out from Midtown, so factor in travel time and pack snacks. And build in a park afternoon: Central Park alone has playgrounds, a carousel and the zoo, all in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What can families do in New York this week?
For 1 to 7 June 2026, the standouts are Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood at the Bronx Zoo, on all week and included with admission, and the free-to-enter Astoria Park Carnival from Wednesday to Sunday. The city's zoos, aquarium, natural history museum and the rides at American Dream are all open too.
What are the best attractions in New York for kids?
The Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo and New York Aquarium are family favourites, the American Museum of Natural History has the dinosaurs and the blue whale, and Nickelodeon Universe and DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream are full days of fun. You can book all of them with tickadoo.
Is there anything free for kids in New York this week?
Yes. The Astoria Park Carnival is free to enter from Wednesday to Sunday, with rides from $1.50. Central Park, the High Line and the Staten Island Ferry are free every day and all are great with children.
Are there family-friendly Broadway shows?
Yes. Disney's Aladdin and The Lion King are the classic choices for younger children, and and Juliet is a fun pick for tweens and teens. Matinees are easiest with kids, and booking ahead is wise during Tony Awards week.
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