Planning a trip to the Great White Way with your children doesn’t mean sacrificing your sanity—or your fun. It just means doing things a bit differently. If the idea of bringing your energetic little ones into a theatre filled with velvet seats and curtain calls gives you pause, don’t worry. This isn’t a lesson in theatre etiquette—it’s about keeping it fun and doable so everyone, including you, can enjoy the experience.
Pick the Right Show (And Watch It First)
Start by choosing the right shows. Not all Broadway productions are designed for young eyes (or short attention spans). Look for family-friendly options with shorter run times, familiar storylines, or music your kids already love. Think The Lion King, Wicked, or Aladdin.
Before buying tickets, watch trailers or clips with your kids. This builds excitement and gives them an idea of what to expect.
Pick the Right Show Time
Matinees are your new best friend. While evening shows may be atmospheric, they’re often a gamble for families. Tired kids and late curtains don’t mix well. A 2 pm matinee? That’s the sweet spot—everyone’s fed, no one’s melting down (yet), and bedtime isn’t completely wrecked.
If it’s your child’s first theatre experience, one show may be more than enough for the whole trip.
Stay Somewhere That Makes Life Easy
Location is key. That’s where a spot like The Pearl Hotel near Walter Kerr Theatre shines. It puts you right in the heart of the theatre district without making you feel overwhelmed. You’re close enough to walk to most shows but also tucked away enough to unwind between outings. A perfect mix of convenience and calm for families.
Balance Theatre with Play
Even your most enthusiastic theatre buff needs room to run and let off steam. Mix your Broadway schedule with time to play—Bryant Park, for instance, is nearby and often hosts free events. You can also check out the Intrepid Museum or the giant LEGO Store at Rockefeller Center.
There’s a lot more to New York than the stage—let your kids explore and reset.
Set the Right Expectations
This might not be the trip where you catch five shows, explore avant-garde theatre, and stay out till midnight—and that’s perfectly okay. A Broadway adventure with kids is about sharing your love for theatre and helping them discover their own interest in it. Maybe they’ll fall for the costumes, the live music, or even just the oversized playbill they take home as a souvenir.
Built-in Breathing Room
Leave some room in your schedule. One of the best things about seeing New York with children is providing everyone with room to breathe. That might mean spending an hour relaxing in the hotel between lunch and a matinee or opting to walk to the theatre instead of hailing a cab, just to burn off a bit of energy.
What’s the best part about staying near the theatre district? You don’t have to rush. You can walk, take breaks, and adjust plans on the fly. That kind of flexibility? It’s gold.
Make It Memorable—But Keep It Simple
Don’t go overboard. One performance, one dessert, one special dinner. Capture the small moments—snap some pictures, save the playbill, and talk about what you saw over a shared meal. Those are the memories that really stick.
And you? You’ll remember something important too: Broadway with kids is absolutely doable—and surprisingly joyful.
