New York City offers plenty of options for healthy activities to enjoy with your six-year-old boy. There are a few things to keep in mind to make your NYC trip even more health-conscious. Try walking between attractions rather than taking taxis or the subway. Bring healthy snacks, like fruit and veggies, so you are less inclined to stop for fast food. Most of all, remember to focus on play and fun so your six-year-old boy learns to enjoy an active lifestyle and never gets bored.
Museums
Most major New York museums offer special exhibitions or programs designed for children. The American Museum of Natural History will delight your six-year-old boy, as he'll see dinosaur bones and an array of animals from around the world up close. Besides regular exhibitions, the museum offers Ology, a kids' group designed to focus on learning and active play. Special programs Ology has put on over the years include "A Night at the Museum" Sleep Over; Lizards and Snakes: Alive!; and the permanent Discovery Room exhibition, where children are allowed to touch and play with artifacts from the museum's collection.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art features MuseumKids, where your six-year-old boy can participate in a drawing class inspired by one of the Met's exhibitions before going on a specially designed children's tour of the museum's collections, which focuses on interaction and fun facts.
The Children's Museum of Manhattan offers an extensive toy collection, with healthy living in mind. Your six-year-old boy can participate in the Healthy Lifestyles program for children five and over. Kids play with toys while learning life lessons like cleaning up, loving veggies, and playing active games like red light/green light.
Central Park
Central Park offers a variety of activities to entertain your six-year-old boy. In the winter there's ice-skating at the Wollman Rink. In the summer, rent a remote control boat or wind-powered sailboat to set sail on the Conservatory Water. The summertime Storytelling program also takes place near the water, next to the statue of Hans Christian Andersen. Children can enjoy a walk through the park to see the Reservoir or Conservatory Garden in all seasons. Your six-year-old boy may enjoy a trip to Belvedere Castle, which offers an expansive view of the park, as well as a display of natural artifacts at the Henry Luce Nature Observatory. Your six-year-old boy might find the most exciting option to be a trip to the Central Park Zoo and the Tisch Children's Zoo. The Central Park Zoo features everything from polar bears and penguins to a rain forest house. The Tisch Children's Zoo has year-round educational programs, a petting zoo, farm animals, and the Enchanted Forest aviary where families can enjoy watching exotic birds.
Local Food
New York City offers so many food choices it is nearly impossible to choose. When you are traveling with your six-year-old boy, you might be inclined to visit a child-friendly national fast food chain in Time Square. This is rarely the healthiest option, however, and if you want to encourage your six-year-old boy to learn about other cultures and eat healthy meals, there are other choices. Check out local health food or organic restaurants for a smart choice. These can be expensive, however, so if you are traveling on a budget, you might try exploring different ethnic restaurants. If your six-year-old is willing to try something new, go to Chinatown, and opt for a rice or noodle bowl; check out some of NYC's famous sushi places; or choose one of the salad bars/cafes that offer buffet style lunches with many healthy fruit and veggie choices. For a treat, you and your six-year-old boy might love a gelato from Little Italy or a cupcake from one of NYC's famous bakeries.
Landmarks
NYC offers a wealth of landmarks to awe a six-year-old boy. Take him to the Empire State Building, where he can learn a bit of history while looking out over the city. Your six-year-old boy may also enjoy a boat ride to the Statue of Liberty, or take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. Take your six-year-old boy for a walk along the iconic Brooklyn Bridge or through Times Square. Be sure to keep him close in these heavily toured areas. Times Square, especially, must be traveled at your discretion because of the pushy pedestrian traffic, though it does have points of interest, including the Disney store and arcade games.
Theater and Concerts
To entertain your six-year-old boy in the evening, take him to one of the many children's theater shows playing in Manhattan. While theater listings are constantly changing, there is usually at least one Broadway show suitable for families. These shows have included "The Lion King," "Mary Poppins" and "Peter Pan," among others. There are also children's theaters that feature child performers for child audiences. These include the Manhattan Children's Theatre, the Children's Theatre Company and the City Lights Youth Theatre. These theaters offer year-round programming appropriate for your six-year-old boy. Children's concerts vary throughout the year, but NYC is a must-stop on any nationwide tour, so check concert dates for your six-year-old boy's favorite performing artists.
The Bronx Zoo
Not only is the Bronx Zoo a world-class zoo and wildlife preservation organization, it also offers a wide range of children's programming. From daily book readings by the authors of popular children's books to performances by everyone from Barney the Dinosaur to children's performing artist John Farrell, the Bronx Zoo can offer a fun-filled day for your six-year-old boy. He can listen, learn and explore the educational programming and petting zoos directed at young children.
Sports
Your six-year-old boy may be a sports fan, and in that case the NYC area is certainly the place to visit. Whether he wants to watch the Yankees or the Mets play baseball, the Giants or Jets play football, the Islanders or Rangers play hockey, or the Knicks or Nets play basketball, there will be a game for him no matter the time of year. Check his favorite team's schedule to confirm they are in town when you're visiting. If your six-year-old boy is more into playing sports than watching them, grab a ball and head out to Central Park or one of NYC's smaller parks, and encourage his active lifestyle.
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