Christmas in New York City for little kids

People ask how to do NYC with small children. Take them on the Midtown Pedicab Tour, where in just 45 minutes they will see:
M&M's World
Hershey Store
The Toys R Us Ferris Wheel
MTV & Nickelodeon's building
ESPN Zone
McGraw-Hill, where their textbooks are made
NBC, Nintendo World
American Girl Store
Today Show
Ice-skating rink (in winter)
CBS
1700 Broadway with DC character decals against the windows (They make comic books).
Those places are in addition to the places the adults will appreciate.


What, what to do
with a 5 and a 2?
Under Delacorte Clock
To the Central Park Zoo?


Fun them and feed them
With knife and a fork
On the wonderful isle
Of Manhattan, New York.

Small-child-friendly things in Midtown Manhattan:

Burgers & Cupcakes Restaurant, Ninth Avenue between 36th and 35th Streets. No need to tell you what's on the menu. This isn't Christmas dinner; it's just fun.

Build-a-Bear Workshop, Fifth and 46th, design your own Teddy bears. Speaking of whom, the famous pooh-bear who belonged to Christopher (Robin) Milne is currently housed in the NY Public Library, Fifth and 41st. Unknown if it's on display there; it had been in the Library branch on 53rd across from MoMA, which is now renovating. The bear's name is Winnie-The-Pooh, and he lives with a piglet, a kangaroo, a rabbit, a tigger and a much-patched up old blue donkey.

The Fire Zone is a tiny museum of firemen of NYC, at 34 W. 51st, the northern edge of Rockefeller Center. You'll probably come for the Tree anyway :) The Fire Zone teaches kids what to do in a fire.

Toys R Us, Times Square, at Seventh Avenue and 45th Street, has a Ferris wheel (expect lines) and a roaring full-size T-rex that makes tiny kids glad they wore diapers! Note to the savvy: restrooms are on the top floor. Take the elevator, and they're right in front of you.

What my kid called "The Ball Machine" is a kinetic sculpture in the northern first-floor wing of the Bus Terminal. It stands in a plexiglass cube and features about 15 billiard balls running around a slew of tracks, bells and levers, making lots of noise and fascinating kids of all ages. The sculpture is about 20 years old, and sometimes it doesn't run.

On Eighth at 43rd Street is Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, delightful any time of year. A percentage of their profit goes to the older residents of the permanent-stay hotel that houses the shop. Eat up.

FAO Schwarz Toy Store on Fifth at 58th. Your 5-year-old will run for the toys. Brightly-colored clothes would be a good idea as the store will be loaded with kids. Easier to find yours that way. Your 2-year-old will be awed by Bobby, the toy soldier who mysteriously is able to man all three doors; and storybook characters who walk the aisles. Restrooms, second floor.
TourguideStan