Articles

A nerdy little love letter about why I love public transportation and a call to help save it in the face of drastic budget cuts.

5 holiday coloring pages featuring iconic city scenes: the world’s largest menorah in Brooklyn, lights on Regent Street in London, ice skaters at Central Park, a Christmas market, and the Rockefeller tree! Download, color, and share.

Have you heard the news? Living room cities are growing at an astonishing rate! We’ve collected our favorite toys to build them well, and there’s always trusty cardboard for building roads and bridges.

Brianne of Stroller In The City is a native New Yorker raising three kids with her husband (also a NYC native). She shared how life in the city gives her life and how they keep perspective as a family of 5 in a small space.

Holidays looking a little different this year? Need a way to connect with your people from afar? We’ve found the best virtual party games that everyone in the family will enjoy.

Zoologist Liza Lehrer joins us in Episode 1 of Questions from A City Kid podcast to talk about wild animals living in cities. Listen in wherever you get your podcasts!

Neighborhood nature walks are the MVP when it comes to living in the city and maintaining a strong connection to nature.

Are you a kid? Do you have a lot of questions about the world? Our new podcast is for kids like you!

Marijn works as an urban planner for the city of Amsterdam making space for sports and play and promoting healthy city design. She lives in Utrecht with her partner and two children and shared some thoughtful insights about making urban life work well for families. Plus, they ride bikes everywhere!

Make time and space for play without even leaving the block with these practical tips from Marijn, an urban planner and mother living in the Netherlands. Play can happen everywhere!

A list of the coolest kids masks we could find and our best hacks for mask life.

Diana is raising her son in the same city she was born and raised in—New York! She’s known online as NYC’s Mamí on the Move and that’s not just a catchy name. These two move through the city like they were made to do it.

Homogenous communities aren’t my thing. I want a sidewalk and a falafel shop and anti-racist housing policies, please and thank you.

Dig in to the story and history of your neighborhood this weekend. It’s not just nerdy, it’s the first step to truly understanding your city and finding ways to give back. 💙🏙

Camp is cancelled but no sweat! We’ve got you covered with this activity guide that encourages your kids to dig into the history of your neighborhood and offers self-guided projects. It’s 35 pages of printable fun for just $7! Download and chill.

This summer will be different, but it doesn’t mean we have to skimp on fun. We gathered a ton of ideas for getting the most out of Summer 2020, even if you have to stay distant from your friends. ☀️

Cities everywhere are closing streets to through car traffic to make room for pedestrians and bikes as we continue to practice physical distancing. It’s a great opportunity for urban families!

The pandemic is pushing some people out of cities. Sometimes it’s unavoidable but sometimes we can wait it out. Here’s some encouragement to stay.

Brittany is a bookseller and mother who lives in Chinatown, NYC. She wrote this piece for us about reading habits during quarantine—turns out it’s not quite as straightforward as reading during healthier times, but still offers a chance for escape and new perspectives. And isn’t that what we’re all looking for?

How much is too much? How little is too little? Are their brain cells withering with each minute of Sesame Street? Is their social aptitude declining with each thumbed move of a pixelated character? We suspect there’s a balanced response to the idea of screen time for our kids.

Our new activity boxes are packed with toys, crafts, snacks, games, and a picture book your kids will love. Each box celebrates the culture of a different city and is like a mini adventure right in your living room. Preorder today! Perfect for quarantine life.

Coronavirus has stolen so much of what makes us feel human. But not forever.

Jenna and Gus live in a Vancouver high-rise with their two kids. They love city life something fierce! Jenna gave us a glimpse into everyday rhythms and shared her family’s intentions for urban living.

Spread rainbows, not coronavirus! 🌈 Paint a rainbow on your window as a sign of solidarity and hope to your neighbors—and yourself—while you’re stuck inside. Then go on a rainbow hunt with the kids!

Bus drivers and subway operators are among the many municipal workers who keep the city running (literally) day in and day out. Tell them thank you! 🚎🚇

With school closures and work-from-home policies being implemented to flatten the curve of coronavirus, what can we do to stay sane and help our neighbors? We’ve got ideas. And elbow bumps.

In Selfish Reasons To Have More Kids, Dr. Bryan Caplan argues that parents’ stress is largely self-imposed, our kids are hard-wired to turn out the way they will, and parenting is less important than we think. So why not have another kid?

Patrycja and Ibrahim have lived in Houston for only a few months but are already embracing life in their new city and are delighted to have proved some friends and family members wrong about city life with kids! Read on for more about this positive-minded family and their beautiful city.

Everything you need to pack (and nothing you don’t) for a day in the city. Find the balance between being prepared and packing light with our guide—then get out and explore your beautiful city!

It can be hard to break out of your normal routine and find ways to explore your own city but we think it’s worth it. Here are some simple ways to plan a city adventure—try one this weekend!

Winter is inescapable but that doesn’t mean we have to live in denial or enter survival mode to get through it. A mindset shift and adopting ideas from some hardy northern cities is all it takes to actually enjoy wintertime!

Subscription services and grocery delivery can save a heck of a lot of time. We’ve collected our favorites, from grocery services to meal kits to activity boxes for all ages. 📦 All really good reasons to ring the buzzer!

What do picking up litter, ID-ing butterflies at the park, and searching the night skies for constellations have in common? They’re all citizen science projects perfect for city kids. Learn how to find a project near you and join in!

This family of 6 in Pittsburgh lives in just 675 square feet but that doesn’t keep them from living a full and vibrant life. Jawaria shares her family’s perspective on the joys and sacrifices of city living in this exceptional interview.

Think experiences rather than things and give something that lasts longer than that package of batteries in the bottom of your stocking.

The Sidewalk Club Gift Guide is the best collection of gifts for city kids and their parents! More than 200 books, toys, games, t-shirts, gear, and other things that celebrate city life. Happy scrolling.

We know many city families who are choosing to live in small spaces for as long as possible, even with kids. Here are some simple but effective tips for shared kids bedrooms to help you get the most out of the space you already have.

Hardly a day goes by when we aren’t enjoying a public space in our city. Knowing that the unpredictability of these spaces can lead to conflict, how do we handle those moments when parenting in shared public spaces leaves us feeling strained or shaken?

Parent hack: take your kids on a walk around the block in their pajamas. It’s a no-stress way to debrief about their day, build genuine connection, and deepen a sense of place in your city. Slippers, anyone?

We couldn’t click fast enough after seeing the headline of a recent Vox article: The Case for Raising Kids in the City. The more we read, the more excited we became; the author was saying everything we wanted to say! Cities are often overlooked as great places to raise kids, and anytime we come across […]

It might be drizzly outside but chin up! With the right perspective and good waterproof gear, even rainy days in the city can be happy ones. ☔

Our handbook for train travel with kids walks you through everything you need to know, from making sense of train lines to booking tickets to locating the bathrooms on board. Bookmark it for your next family vacation!

City life is notoriously loud and chaotic and can easily overload our senses. These (simple) practices can help urban parents chill out and maintain a sense of balance in the midst of daily life.

You don’t have to bike with your kids to be a fantastic urban parent and raise kind, curious kids in the city. But if you’ve ever wanted to know a little more about urban family biking, you’ve come to the right place!

We interviewed six families from Santa Cruz to Manhattan about their experiences biking with kids. There may be some potholes and infrastructure issues to contend with but these families have no regrets!

Journalist and author Nathanael Johnson encourages us open our eyes just a little winder and really see the nature that already exists around us in the city. Hint: it’s a LOT.

We’re fans of the weird, wonderful, and hilarious stuff New York Nico finds in his city and we suspect his way of seeing humans isn’t limited to the five boroughs.

Beautiful books that love city life as much as we do. Check them out at your library and find a new family favorite! 💙🏙📘

We’ve met new friends, shared picnic dinners, learned manners, and are continuing to grow up, all under the gentle protection of our playground. It’s home.

From the Philippines to Macedonia to Great Britain to America to Taiwan, seven families tell what it’s like to move to a new home and adopt another culture. You’ll want to read this!

We’ve all heard about the latest unhelpful parenting style. Now for some simple alternatives to help us grow strong, resourceful kids.

There may be a particular flavor to the loneliness of the city, but it’s also a beautiful place to have deep, lasting relationships. Fight the isolation with simple ways to make connections with other city families.

A master list of meetup groups, event calendars, city clubs, and other resources for city families. 📇 Hope you love it!

We’re not advocating that you take your kids to every single dining experience, but you don’t always have to leave them at home either. Here are some time-tested tips for eating out with kids. Just add bacon.

Staycations are underrated. SPOILER: with a little planning they can be as much fun as a full-fledged vacation, minus the price tag and the extra stress.

Our first guest post from a Cincinnati parent who has mastered low waste packed lunches for the kids. Heather shares attainable tips for finding reusable containers and starting your own lunch packing drawer. 🥪🍎🍪

Our favorite magazine subscriptions for kids of all ages. Lightweight enough to stuff into the stroller or backpack for that extra-long subway ride, and good-looking enough for your coffee table!

Amelia and her son, Silas, have fallen hard for East Nashville with its accessible green spaces, walkability, pour-over coffees, and artsy vibe.

And by “wah wah wah” we mean, “yay yay yay”.

As the weather grows colder, the needs of our cities become more visible. It can be tough to know how to help – here are a few simple ways your family can work together to spread warmth in your city!

A day designated by the United Nations to innovate and celebrate with cities across the globe. We’re in! 💙🏙🌏

No playing cards, no screens, no pen and paper required; only your imagination. Play hard, but don’t miss your bus stop!

The perfectly curated activity list for your family. Your city is your oyster!

Ever have the feeling that you’re a seamless part of your city? Ever feel like something is out of whack? It’s not just in your head!

Green thumb or not, gardening is possible in your urban space. Our friends at Urban Gardeners Republic dished out expert advice for rooftop, balcony, indoor, and backyard green spaces in the city. Just add dirt!

Books hand-picked by our friends at Stories Bookshop to celebrate Women’s History Month! ✊🏾✊🏼✊🏿

Eric helps us see the importance of child-friendly cities and shows us the urban environment through a planner’s eyes.

Give-away boxes have become a household name and permanent fixture in our family with the help of two services that make donation effortless: Give Back Box and thredUp.

The Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics featured more than 100 children. They stole the show!

The “real world” of purchasing “real art” seemed so untouchable before I talked with Katharine, founder of Mason Lane Art Advisory Service. She shared her goal of making the process accessible to clients and talked about what it’s like to be a small business owner in Brooklyn.

Being a regular at the laundromat may never be a trending status, but follow these tips and you’ll probably win Most Efficient Launderer. Providing your laundromat gives out awards, of course.

Real reasons that real families love living in the city. #cityfamilysolidarity at its finest!

Think a family museum visit is just too much to ask? Melissa Tanner of the Art Institute of Chicago says it’s actually possible to enjoy the art museum with your children and gave some pro tips for doing just that.

The arrival of snow brings a special kind of magic to the city and a special case for extending a hand to our neighbors.

Rad podcasts for kids. You just might catch yourself listening after they’ve gone to bed.

Benjamin Zander’s role as conductor of an orchestra parallels ours as parents: we’re both unlocking potential. Shining eyes are a good sign it’s working.

We were so excited to hear about this new campaign to give all Americans a park within 10 minutes from home. Count us in!

We created the Sidewalk Club because we think it really is possible to raise a family in the city. Keep coming back for a regular dose of #cityfamilysolidarity.

Alison and Trevor live in a 600-square-foot home—with two kids. They’re totally rocking it.

Matt and YiLeng love taking public transit, and are inspired by the gritty beauty of LA. Here’s their take on city family life with two boys, SoCal style.

It’s always surprising to discover that simple changes can have a big impact. Two-handed coffee drinking is just that — an attempt to create one small habit that will have effects throughout the entire day.

Chad & Alicia tell all: why they love living in Chicago and where to find the best cocktails in the city.