Think of New York City and you probably summon a mixture of mental images from a lifetime absorbing its literature, music, theatre, and films. However, what is the city to a kid, and is it a good family destination? A decade into parenting, writer Tasmin Waby explored the city that never sleeps with her daughters.
New York City is Surprisingly Child-Friendly
The streets may be bustling in Midtown, but for a city of its size, New York is remarkably family-friendly. There are numerous museums and interactive attractions, including:
- American Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Modern Art
- Brooklyn Museum
- Lower East Side Tenement Museum
- Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum
- New York Transit Museum
Additionally, green spaces are plentiful despite the population density. From Central Park to Battery Park and the High Line, you’ll find many areas to enjoy without the noise of cars. Plus, small squares are scattered throughout, ideal for picnicking or relaxing on a park bench.
The rules for free public transport in New York state that children under 44 inches (112 cm) can ride the subway and buses for free. Consequently, they can easily slip under the turnstiles, meaning that until around five years old, traveling won’t cost you anything extra.
After that, children pay the same adult fare. A reduced-fare option (about half price) is available but is specifically for locals over 65, students in local schools, or individuals living with a disability, requiring a personalized card with your name and photo.
However, before you worry about expenses, New York’s public transport is reasonably priced, especially if you purchase the unlimited 7- or 30-day ticket. Single-trip tickets add up quickly at $2.75 per ride on a pay-per-ride MetroCard, but a week-long unlimited ticket is only $33.00 (plus an initial $1 for a reusable MetroCard).
Pre-Purchase Tickets to Popular Attractions
New York is an iconic destination for many travelers, known as “the capital of the world.” Consequently, it attracts a large number of visitors during peak travel periods. Over the last few decades, tourism has increased dramatically, making New York’s key sites even busier.
For this reason, it’s highly recommended to plan ahead (even just a day or two) and pre-purchase tickets for popular destinations. No one wants to stand in a two-hour-long queue to catch a ferry to Ellis Island, especially children who are uncertain about what to expect.
If you wish to take your kids to a Broadway musical like Wicked or The Lion King, start planning six to nine months in advance. Sign up for ticket release notifications from the production or the theatre directly. While last-minute tickets and lotteries exist, demand often far exceeds supply.
New York Really Needs More Public Toilets
Finding public restrooms in an urban environment can often be a challenge, particularly when traveling with children who may have urgent needs at different times. Hence, New York can be lacking in accessible public facilities.
Typically, people rely on major museums, art galleries, or libraries to find clean restrooms. However, in New York, many sites require tickets for entry, and some even have long queues just to get inside. Transportation hubs like Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, and Port Authority Bus Terminal do offer restroom facilities. Larger parks may also have coin-operated toilets. For convenience, many visitors head to Starbucks for some coffee and access to their restrooms, although these can get crowded by midday.
Things I Didn’t Prepare For
During our trip, we visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, a moving and beautiful experience. However, I realized I would need to explain this significant event to my children, as it’s part of my living memory and a trauma that still impacts many New Yorkers today.
While the 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers excellent resources on talking to children about terrorism, I went into these discussions unprepared. We decided not to visit the 9/11 Museum this time, as the children will be better equipped to understand such a complex topic as adults. However, the bronze bas-relief sculpture of NYC firefighters nearby provided a chance to discuss heroism and hope.
New York Exists in a Child’s Imagination Too
Don’t assume you need to do all the planning when visiting a city like New York with children. If your kids are around six or older, they likely have their own interests and ideas about what they want to see. My children were particularly excited to see landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, which was surprisingly smaller than they expected, and Central Park, which turned out to be much larger.
After watching episodes of Friends during a recent break, they expressed a desire to explore places they recognized from the show. Therefore, we visited the Friends apartment building in the West Village, along with dozens of other excited fans, providing a classic NYC moment—complete with honking yellow cabs.
My eldest led us to various Hamilton-related sites, including Trinity Church near Wall Street, where Hamilton and Eliza are buried, something she knew from the musical lyrics, and a statue near the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park that is easily overlooked.
Having spent my childhood in this city and having previously visited as an adult, it was magical to discover New York through my children’s eyes. This experience deepened my appreciation for the city, and I hope one day they’ll return with their own kids, creating new memories along the Hudson River line.
