53 places and programs for kids in and around Long Island City, Queens (10 free): sports, play spaces, dance. Includes Hunters Point Library and Long Island City YMCA Swim Lessons.
Little ones and school-age kids in Hunters Point can browse the picture-book and early-reader shelves at Hunters Point Library, borrow games and use the computers after school. Programs for young children and school-age kids have included Toddler Time, Family Fun and Crafternoon. The striking waterfront building sits next to Gantry Plaza State Park and opens on Sundays.
The Long Island City YMCA in Long Island City runs YMCA swim lessons in its indoor pool, from parent-and-child water play for babies and toddlers to preschool classes for ages 3–5 and stroke-building levels for school-age kids and teens. Families can also use scheduled family swim times.
A Long Island City waterfront park with restored gantry cranes, a tot lot playground, a fishing pier, mist fountain and famous views of the Manhattan skyline.
This branch serves local families with youth enrichment, swim instruction, sports leagues, and seasonal camps, giving kids a regular place to play and meet peers. Program offerings and times vary by season, so families check the branch schedule.
A family arcade and pizza spot where kids play games for prize tickets and bounce around the trampoline and obstacle-course zones. It is also a classic spot for birthday parties with a character show.
Long Island City's indoor clay-court club runs semester-long after-school tennis for ages 7-17, with optional transportation, and a junior elite track for competitive players. Kids train on four Har-Tru courts under a climate-controlled bubble.
A nonprofit gallery and performance space near the Long Island City waterfront hosting exhibitions, live music and theater, many of them free. Its Culture Lab for Kids programming includes music-movement-and-craft sessions for young children.
This Queens Guitar Center runs private lessons for all ages on guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice and DJ. Kids can rent gear and get instruments set up in the same store.
A Long Island City academy running gi jiu-jitsu classes for kids ages 6-15, with an older-kids-only session on Mondays. Kids train after school four days a week plus a Saturday morning class, and new families can take three free trial classes.
A contemporary art museum in a former public school in Long Island City, now free for everyone. Families can grab a free activity guide, make art in a self-guided classroom space and join monthly family workshops.
A children's art studio in Hunters Point offering drop-in hourly art classes, after-school programs and camps. Toddlers and caregivers can join a 90-minute Grown Up & Me art and sensory session on weekday mornings.
A Long Island City arcade packed with Japanese rhythm games, racing simulators, claw machines with ticket prizes and full-motion VR. Birthday party packages are offered per player.
A Long Island City taekwondo school teaching children from age 3, plus teen and adult classes. Kids build kicks, forms and discipline, and the school runs an after-school program.
The Long Island City branch of Book Culture runs weekend storytimes for young children. Kids listen to read-aloud picture books and then explore the store's children's books and toys.
A 25,000 sq ft climbing gym in Long Island City whose Kids Academy mixes climbing with classroom-style, process-based learning. Kids 5–12 attend after-school or weekend sessions, and older climbers can join the BKBEASTS team.
Youth Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes start at age 3 and are divided by age and skill level. Kids learn grappling, takedowns and anti-bullying self-defense in a renovated academy that opened in 2024.
At Long Island City Library, the youth collection covers everything from lap-sized board books to graphic novels, and the space doubles as a quiet after-school spot for Long Island City students. Current calendar offerings for kids include Baby & Me, Toddler Time, Kid's Crafternoon and Lego Thursdays.
Sculptor Isamu Noguchi's own studio building and serene garden in Long Island City, filled with stone and wood sculptures kids can walk among. Family guides help children look closely at shapes, materials and nature.
Children learn ballet through story-based classes that draw on famous classical ballets and their music. Levels run from caregiver-and-baby sessions for infants and toddlers up to primary ballet prep for early elementary kids.
A Long Island City studio with sensory art for babies and toddlers plus drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture classes for school-age kids and tweens. An after-school program runs through the fall semester.
Champions teaches kids martial arts in age-grouped classes, starting with a Little Tigers program for the youngest students and continuing through kids, teen and adult classes. Students work on kicks, forms and self-defense while building focus, and the school also offers after-school care, summer camp and a competition team.
A Queens-based company that blends traditional Chinese shadow and hand puppetry with Chinese opera and contemporary storytelling. Its family shows like Hao Bang Ah! Dragon! and Tiger Tales tour widely, and it runs hands-on workshops for preschoolers on up.
A Queens Latin dance company whose Cucalitos kids program includes seasonal classes, competitive teams, summer and day camps and school after-school programs. Styles range from salsa and bachata to hip hop and capoeira.
Long Island City studio whose Young Dancer Program groups children by age, from under-4s up to teens, for ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap and more. Families can also sign up for drop-in classes and seasonal day camps during school breaks and summer.
LittleGotham lists 53 places and programs for kids in Long Island City, Queens. The largest groups are 17 sports programs, 8 play spaces, 5 dance programs.
Yes. 10 of 53 are free to attend, including Hunters Point Library, Gantry Plaza State Park, MoMA PS1.
45 listings are indoors, such as Hunters Point Library, Long Island City YMCA Swim Lessons, Long Island City YMCA.