1. See a puppet, circus, movement or other offbeat family show at the New Victory Theater
2. Or catch a kid-friendly Broadway production at a discount by hitting the Times Square TKTS Discount Booth
3. Slide down a giant leg on the whimsical Tom Otterness play structure at Silver Towers Playground
4. Get your geek on with graphic novels and action figures at Midtown Comics
5. Speaking of comics, dress up in your best superhero costumes for Kids' Day at the annual New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javits Center
6. See what else is going on at the Javits for families, like the annual FIRST Robotics Competition and the New York International Auto Show
7. Ride the massive Ferris or face the giant T.rex at Toys R Us, the best of the interactive Times Square megastores
8. Find more retail fun in the Disney Store, M&M's World or Hershey's Chocolate World
9. Run around Hell's Kitchen Park, which has separates play areas for toddlers and big kids, plus a basketball court
10. Explore all that Bryant Park has to offer, including the year-round Le Carrousel, the free summer and winter film series, the seasonal ice-skating rink and no-cost kids' events
11. Avoid the overpriced and underwhelming chain restaurants and try local family-friendly Midtown West eateries
12. Play Fruit Ninja, Skee-Ball and other old and new arcade classics at Dave & Buster's
13. Or go bowling with the family at three neighborhood alleys: Frames, Lucky Strike or my personal local favorite, Bowlmor Times Square, which has swanky themed rooms and a great finger food menu
14. Catch the hilarious Story Pirates' at the Drama Book Shop on Saturdays, where they do mini musicals based on kids' stories
15. See a family film in old-fashioned style at the historic Ziegfeld Theater, which has Hollywood Golden Age memorabilia on display in the lobby
16. Grab a snack and hang out at the spacious NY Waterways ferry terminal, and watch the boats come and go
17. Or hop on a Circle Line Kids' Cruise, which includes a concert, face painting, balloon twisters and a ride to the Statue of Liberty and back
18. Want to steer your own boat? Try free seasonal kayaking at Clinton Cove
19. Or landlubbers can get all wet on solid ground during the summer at the Pier 84 water play area
20. Explore a real aircraft carrier and space shuttle at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum—save on admission by using this discount code
21. Ride the great glass elevators up to the eight-floor lobby in the New York Marriott Marquis, where you'll find a space-age lounge with a view and no-cost restrooms
22. Enjoy free storytime and movies at the Columbus Library
23. Sign up for kids' gymnastics classes at the brand-new Bounce and Flip Unfortunately this venue closed in May 2015
24. Or join the local Kidville for a variety of preschool programs
25. All ages get a chance to go onstage at the gut-busting Improv 4 Kids shows—if your kids like it, they can drop in to Saturday classes and learn the craft
26. Head to Macy's for its annual spring Flower Show, amazing holiday windows and Kris Kringle's home away from home, Santaland
27. Bring a picnic to the underused DeWitt Clinton Park, which features a playground, ball courts and a bathroom that's open year-round
28. You don't need to wait until the Ninth Avenue International Food Festival to sample all of the diverse cuisines you'll find on the street
29. See underground art in the Times Square subway station, including a colorful Roy Lichtenstein Pop Art mural
30. Try one of the many family programs at the Museum of Modern Art, including free kids' movies on select Saturdays
31. Get creative at a Museum of Arts and Design family day
32. Pick up a few new tricks at Tannen's Magic and Fantasma Magic, which is also home to the no-cost Houdini Museum
33. Wander the Garment District to pick up fabric, trimming, buttons and beads for your next big craft project
34. See what's on display at Discovery Times Square—past kid-friendly exhibits include Harry Potter: The Exhibition and Spy: The Secret World of Espionage
35. See plays written by neighborhood kids but performed by big-name pros at The 52nd Street Project
36. Go behind the scenes at one of NYC's greatest architectural gems on the Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour
37. Learn about fire safety and New York's Bravest at the FDNY Fire Zone
38. Get spooked by the talking skulls and possibly the amount of your bill at the brand-new Jekyll & Hyde Restaurant and Bar
39. Pose for a dramatic picture on the majestic steps of the landmarked James Farley Post Office
40. Explore the shops at the Time Warner Center's high-end urban mall; around the holidays it hosts special events like the annual Winter's Eve

Read all of our posts about things to do with kids in Midtown West.