Why I Created Tiny Times NYC— and How It Helps NYC Families
As a parent in New York City, I know how exciting it can be to raise a child here. There are storytimes, museum programs, performances, outdoor adventures, creative workshops, and family-friendly events happening every day.
But finding those activities isn’t always easy.
I often found myself jumping between websites, newsletters, social media pages, and event calendars just to figure out what I could do with my daughter. Even after spending all that time searching, it wasn’t always clear whether an event was appropriate for her age, where it was located, how much it cost, or whether registration was required.
What should have been exciting often felt overwhelming and unnecessarily time-consuming.
I didn’t want to spend hours planning one simple outing. I wanted one reliable place where I could quickly find activities that worked for my daughter, my schedule, and my budget. I also needed something I could easily access from my phone and share with my husband, our nanny, and anyone else helping to care for her.
That is why I created Tiny Times NYC.
One Place to Discover What’s Happening
Tiny Times NYC is a centralized, carefully curated calendar of toddler and children’s events happening throughout New York City.
Instead of searching multiple websites, parents and caregivers can visit one place to discover:
Free and affordable activities
Storytimes and literacy programs
Museum and cultural events
Music, dance, and family performances
Art, science, and maker workshops
Outdoor activities and park programs
Sensory-friendly experiences
Seasonal celebrations and community events
Classes and enrichment opportunities
Each listing includes helpful details such as the date, time, location, cost, age range when available, and a link to the official event page.
How to Use Tiny Times NYC
Tiny Times NYC is designed to work as an everyday planning tool—not simply as a list of events to browse occasionally.
1. Add the Calendar to Your Google or iCal Calendar
Subscribe to the Tiny Times NYC calendar so upcoming children’s events appear alongside your personal schedule.
Once it has been added, you can turn the Tiny Times calendar on when you want to search for activities and toggle it off when you only want to see your personal appointments.
You don’t need to manually add every event or repeatedly return to the website. As new activities are added to Tiny Times NYC, they will appear on the subscribed calendar.
2. Use the Schedule View
The schedule or agenda view is one of the easiest ways to browse upcoming activities. It displays events in chronological order, allowing you to quickly compare dates, times, locations, and costs.
This is especially helpful when planning your weekend or looking for something to do on a specific day.
3. Look for the Cost Symbols
Tiny Times NYC makes it easier to identify events that fit your family’s budget:
💚 means the event is free
💳 means the event is paid
🎒 means backpack giveaway (seasonal for back-to-school)
PWYW means pay what you wish
Always open the event link to confirm the current price, registration requirements, availability, and any additional fees before attending.
4. Review the Full Event Details
Click the link included in the calendar listing to visit the official event page.
The organizer’s website will have the most current information regarding:
Age recommendations
Ticket availability
Registration requirements
Schedule changes
Weather-related cancellations
Accessibility information
Event policies
Tiny Times NYC helps you discover and organize events, but families should always confirm the final details directly with the event organizer.
5. Save the Activities That Interest You
When you find an event your family may want to attend, save it to your personal calendar or make a note of it.
For ticketed or limited-capacity events, register as early as possible. Many popular children’s programs, museum workshops, and family performances fill up quickly.
6. Share the Calendar With Your Caregiving Team
Tiny Times NYC can be shared with your spouse, partner, nanny, babysitter, grandparents, or anyone else who helps care for your child.
Instead of sending multiple screenshots and links, everyone can refer to the same calendar. A parent can find an activity and share it with a nanny. A grandparent can use it to plan a special afternoon. A caregiver can quickly find a nearby storytime or rainy-day activity.
7. Check Back Regularly
New events are added throughout the week, so the calendar is most useful when you check it regularly.
Use it at the beginning of the week to plan ahead, before the weekend to confirm your options, or on the same day when you need a last-minute idea.
Follow @tinytimesnyc on Instagram and subscribe to the Weekend Edition newsletter for curated recommendations, reminders, family guides, and timely event highlights.
Helping Parents and Caregivers Save Time
Parents and caregivers already have enough to manage. Finding something meaningful to do with our children should not feel like another full-time job.
Tiny Times NYC does the searching and organizing for you. Whether you are planning an entire weekend or looking for a last-minute activity that morning, you can quickly see what is happening and choose what works for your family.
The calendar is designed for everyone who helps care for children, including:
Parents and guardians
Nannies and babysitters
Grandparents and extended family
Foster parents
Teachers and early-childhood educators
Homeschooling families
Family friends and community caregivers
Making NYC More Accessible for Families
New York City has so much to offer children, but many families do not know about the incredible free and low-cost programs available to them. Tiny Times NYC helps make those opportunities easier to find. By clearly highlighting both free and paid events, families can quickly identify activities that fit their budget. I believe every child should have opportunities to explore, create, learn, and experience the city—regardless of how much their family can spend.
More Than a Calendar
Tiny Times NYC is also about community. The platform helps parents and caregivers discover local libraries, museums, cultural organizations, parks, children’s businesses, and community groups doing meaningful work for NYC families. By featuring their programs, Tiny Times NYC helps these organizations reach more families while making it easier for parents to support the places that help our children learn and grow.
My goal is to continue building Tiny Times NYC into a trusted resource that helps families spend less time searching and more time making memories together.
Because childhood moves quickly—and finding something wonderful to do shouldn’t be the difficult part.
Start Exploring Tiny Times NYC
Visit Tiny Times NYC to explore the calendar and discover upcoming children’s activities across the city.
Add the calendar to your Google Calendar, switch to the schedule view, and share it with everyone involved in caring for your child.
Follow @tinytimesnyc on Instagram for weekly recommendations, family guides, event highlights, and last-minute ideas.
Know another NYC parent or caregiver who would find Tiny Times helpful? Share this post with them and help our community continue to grow. 💛
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