What to do with kids on a Friday afternoon

("them" being a reference to the kids- I realize that west67th could (will?) surely suggest activities to tire out the parents)

in good weather - central park, playgrounds, zoos, botanical gardens, general exploration on foot...
in bad weather - museums, bowling, um...museums...

weather for saturday looks nice. friday, less so. you should send them to the museum on friday and spend time outside on saturday.

in bad weather, Chelsea Piers. kids like Madam Tussauds in Times Square. Subway to the aquarium in Brooklyn?

New York Hall of Science in Queens.

I always want to borrow my friend's kids so I can attend some of the family activities at The Met:

" Explore art in the Museum in free drop-in programs for kids ages 3–12 together with their adult companions.
For more information about Family Programs, please call 212-650-2217 or email familyprograms at metmuseum dot org"

" Start with Art at the Met/Start with Art at the Met Plus"
Friday, March 16, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Carson Family Hall, Uris Center for Education
Sketch, explore, listen to stories, and discover the meaning of art! For families with children ages 3–7.
Free with Museum admission.

Family Guides and Maps etc (with stuff like "find the animal" hunts ):
http://tinyurl.com/6o6hj64
http://tinyurl.com/6rr3ulw
http://tinyurl.com/7pv4z3q

The Met has several family and kid activities -I always want to borrow a friend's little ones so I can go!

- Start with Art at the Met
For families with children ages 3–7
Look, sketch, and listen to stories to get a head start on art. Start with Art at the Met Plus includes art-making activities.
Friday, March 16, 4:30–5:30 p.m.

- Storytime in Nolen Library
For families with children ages 3–7
Start with a book, then learn to look! After a story in the library's special corner for kids, head to the galleries on a treasure hunt.
Toddler Storytime in Nolen Library
Friday, March 16, 10:30–11:00 a.m.

Storytime in Nolen Library
Friday, March 16, 3:00–3:30 p.m.

More information and downloadable Kid-friendly maps and guides here:
http://www.metmuseum.org/learn/for-kids

Helen: the art activities sound a lot more fun than they are, IRL.

How about the Intrepid? Staten Island Ferry? Legoland?

Or truly evil - Chuck-E-Cheese :) by 116th.

Legoland?

Lego store - we had friends from out of town, and they liked it (also did Staten Island Ferry & Moma the same day). http://stores.lego.com/en-us/New%20York%20City/LandingPage.aspx

Come to Brooklyn! Transit Museum (2/3 or 4/5 or R) to Court St or F or A/C to Jay Street. It is an actual subway station and has subway cars from the the early 1900's on. Kids 4-9 generally love the place. Younger kids also love the Children's Museum - a bit further in and not so easy to get to but you could catch a car from Transit Museum and walk back to the 4/5. There is a (very) slight tinge of good old NY grit in that nabe - something us old timers miss! If the kids are older the Brooklyn Museum is a lot of fun too and if the weather clears a bit the Botanic Garden is right next door.

Take those kids to the nearest construction site. Little boys that age love to stand there and watch the trucks. That's good for a few hours.

Or just go to the nearest Con Ed manhole activity. They love to watch them climbing in and out of there. Jackhammering is a big favorite.
On Sat. morning Con Ed/Verizon ,whoever, start at 8am.

give them a mop, pail, and towel and tell them to earn their keep. that should tire them out too.

Liberty Science Center