If there is one thing all organized religions have in common, it is this: children are bored at the services! They don't really want to be there. It was true for Tom Sawyer who took out a beetle (or "pinch bug") at his church, and it was true for my 7-year-old son, Adam, who was becoming hyper-fidgety at a Bar-Mitzvah last Saturday, until we replaced his prayer book with his own sacred text, Pokemon: Ultimate Handbook. As the ceremony neared its end, the Rabbi asked the congregation to offer their support for the Bar-Mitzvah boy. "Let us all rise to bless Jake," he said. I tapped Adam on shoulder. "I don't want to," he responded matter-of-factly before returning to his book.    

*From Thanksgiving-inspired books & crafts to watching the parade and giving back--we've compiled a fun-for-fams Turkey Day To-Do List. So have the kids dive into the festivities, like sponge-painting placemats, serving a meal to the needy or simply taking in the wonder of the balloons tonight as they are inflated from 3 to 10pm. And don't miss this special piece on how to talk to your children about giving thanks. They'll gobble it all up! P.S. In case you missed it last week, we gathered a great line-up of recipes that incorporate the foods everyone is used to, with some fun twists and tweaks. 

*With access to world-class performing arts institutions and renowned music and concert halls, it would be hard not to be inspired by music in NYC. Fortunately, there are venues offering everything from mommy & me music classes to violin and voice. To learn more, we spoke to some accomplished city kids about how they got their start in music and what it means to them. We've also included a great list of venues that offer instrument lessons for kids from tots to teens.  

Kick it into gear at a fun-filled Super Soccer Stars Mini Camp. Athletics, arts & crafts plus snack time await your mini Mia Hamms. (Friday-Sunday)

We love you, Knuffle Bunny! The beloved Mo Willems story comes to life on the Skirball Center's stage for a limited three-day engagement. (Friday-Sunday)

Didn't make it to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Good thing you can relive all 85 years in a tribute exhibit at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Check out old time photographs, snow globes, Melissa Sweet illustrations and days gone by on a newsreel. (Saturday-Sunday)

See some sparkle at the 28th Annual South Street Seaport Christmas Tree Lighting. Santa, the sounds of the Soul Tigers Marching Band and festive cheer await the whole fam.
(Friday)

Kids ages 7 and up can enjoy a very special virtual field trip to Plymouth Plantation at the Scholastic Store. Little ones will learn about the first harvest meal in the Imagination Clubhouse and tell their own Thanksgiving story using Pilgrim vocab. (Saturday)

Watch Santa float into the New York Harbor as tour boats, charter yachts and private boaters sail into the city skyline for a holiday parade on water. (Saturday)

Catch the opening matinee of A Christmas Carol at the Literally Alive Children's Theatre. A perfect pick for Dickens fanatics and out-of-town guests alike! (Sunday)

Be sure to bring some family stories (plus a video camera) to a special storytime event at the New-York Historical Society. Record and share your tales, plus, tour the Children's Museum. (Sunday)

For even more events and activities this weekend and beyond, check out our Family Calendar.    

*To encourage artistic creativity in the next generation, MoMA and Chronicle Books have teamed up to create the perfect kit to cultivate the next Picasso. My Museum is an art activity pack that allows kids to view classic works of art, gather inspiration and get to work making masterpieces. $19.99, chroniclekids.com 

SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: And to help NYC kids of all ages get started, we're giving away five My Museum activity packs! To enter, send us an email about your budding artist with the subject line "My Museum." Then, post on our Facebook Page telling us who your family's favorite artist is and why. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, December 7.

*Presented by HBO and the Poetry Foundation, A Child's Garden of Poetry is a gentle yet inspiring introduction to the world of poems. The DVD consists of work from writers like Robert Frost, e. e. cummings and Emily Dickinson, spoken by great performers including Dave Matthews, Julianne Moore and Ziggy Marley. Accompanied by colorful illustrations and animation that will enchant young minds, this DVD captures some of the written word's most heartfelt pieces. $9.97, hbo.com 

*In the fourth installment of EA's Family Game Night video game series--The Game Show--Connect Four, Yahtzee, SCRABBLE, Bop It and SORRY! all get a makeover that will have everyone up and on their feet. This new entertainment experience via XBOX 360 turns your entire room into a giant, 3D board game. If you want to get the family moving or have any hosting duties coming up, we're giving away five copies of the game! Simply send an email to familygiveaways@manhattanmedia.com with the subject line "Game Night." Then, post on our Facebook Page telling us about your favorite game as a child. Deadline to enter is Friday, December 2.       

*The season of giving is upon us. For a great and convenient way to give back, YouGiveGoods, a community-oriented for-profit company, allows you to give food to those who need it most: food pantries, homeless and animal shelters. All you have to do is log on to see which items you'd like to contribute and pay, and YouGiveGoods will deliver. Interested in starting your own drive? Visit YouGiveGoods.com for more details.     

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