Activities for 2 Year Old Children in New York City

They say New York City never sleeps, and when it comes to providing fun activities for toddlers age 2 and younger, it doesn't even nap. There are zoos, centers, theater programs and museums especially designed for the city's littlest visitors and residents. And as a pedestrian-friendly city, New York City sidewalks are perfect for strolling, toddling and stopping periodically for ice cream.

  1. The Bronx Zoo

    • The Bronx Zoo is a 265-acre park, home to more than 4,000 animals. Toddlers will enjoy watching trainers feed the penguins, sea lions and tigers. There are also monkey-training sessions to observe, and feeding time for the White Throated Bee Eaters, who feast on a cloud of live crickets while performing aerial acrobatics.

      The zoo is open all year, but is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Day. Spring and summer are the zoo's busy season. Some animals become more active in the cooler weather, however, so fall and winter are great times to visit, as the crowds thin. Strollers are permitted, and there is a limited number for rent at the zoo entrance.

      The Bronx Zoo

      2300 Southern Blvd.

      Bronx, NY 10460

      718-220-5103

      bronxzoo.com

    Central Park

    • Central Park offers an array of interesting sights, from horse-drawn carriages and street performers, to flowers, ducks, ponds or snow. Two-year-olds should especially enjoy the Central Park Carousel near 65th Street, or watching the miniature sailboats navigate Conservatory Pond near East 72nd Street. During the summer, there is storytelling near the pond at the Hans Christian Andersen statue.

      Central Park also features a zoo at its southeast corner. There, children can watch sea lion feedings and see the snow leopard, polar bear, snow monkey, red panda and tamunda, a type of anteater. There's also a petting zoo where children can touch the nubby wool of the friendly sheep and alpacas.

    New York Aquarium

    • Take the little ones to Coney Island for the afternoon. Enjoy the fabled boardwalk, Nathan's Famous hot dogs, the sandy beach and the New York Aquarium.

      Children can watch trainers at work during daily feedings for sea otters, penguins, walruses and sharks. There are daily shows in the Aquatheater, and a Touch Pool where children can experience the texture of sea stars, horseshoe crabs and other beach creatures. Also, there are tanks and tanks of amazing underwater animals, enough to delight any toddler. The aquarium is open 365 days a year, with a special Friday-afternoon admission by donation.

      The New York Aquarium

      602 Surf Ave.

      Brooklyn, NY 11224

      718-265-3474

      nyaquarium.com

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