Spare Times - For Children, for March 2-8 - NYTimes.com South Street Seaport Museum You don't have to run away to sea at the newly renovated South Street Seaport Museum. You can toddle or even crawl there too. The museum, which reopened in January after almost a year of being shuttered - it now operates under the auspices of the Museum of the City of New York - has instituted three series of children's programs to welcome small visitors. Sometimes very small visitors. "We have a brand-new thing called Fish Tales, which is for 1-to-2-year-olds," said Franny Kent, director of the museum's Frederick A. O. Schwarz Children's Center. To begin on March 16, "it's only 30 minutes long, with music and stories." Mini Mates, already under way, offers children 18 months to 3 years crafts, along with songs, a snack and sea-theme tales. Every other week Saturday Family Programs (no whimsical title for this series for 6-to-9-year-olds) promise gallery explorations, scavenger hunts and discussions of maritime history, as well as projects to make and take home. "We're starting from scratch," Ms. Kent said. So if you came to a knot-tying class in the past, it doesn't mean you'll do exactly what you did before. Because we now have these beautiful galleries, most of the programs will start there. This Saturday's program will begin with "mystery bags": sacks filled with reproductions of 19th-century artifacts and tools. Children will pull out items sailors used and try to guess their function. Because Saturday's activity is knot tying, the contents will include lengths of rope and pulley devices. Future Saturdays will focus on model ships, on March 17, and sailors" valentines, on March 31. "They'll then do a scavenger hunt and look for rope in the museum, so they'll know where on board ship they might find it," Ms. Kent said. Children will get plenty of clues from the Super Models gallery, filled not with tall fashion plates but with small versions of tall vessels. The hourlong workshop will end with making three kinds of knots: the bowline, which forms a loop at the end of a rope, and the figure eight and the square knot, both named for their shapes. Even if young visitors don't leave ready to rig a ship, they should be awfully creative at tying their shoes. (Saturday, 10:30 a.m., 12 Fulton Street, between Front and Water Streets, Lower Manhattan; $15 a child, includes museum admission; $5 for adults. Space is limited; reservations are required by 3 p.m. on Friday via e-mail to reservations@seany.org. Information: 212-748-8753, seany.org.) For Children "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (Friday through Sunday) A murder plot, first love and, of course, the famous fence-painting scene unfold onstage in this adaptation of Mark Twain's novel, written by Laura Eason. The production comes to the New Victory Theater with original music and a cast of adult actors playing Tom, Huck, Becky and the gang. Through March 11. Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday at noon and 5 p.m., 209 West 42nd Street, Manhattan, (646) 223-3010, newvictory.org; $14 to $38; $9 to $25 for members. "Aesop's Fables" (Monday through Thursday) "What goes around comes around," the triumphant Wolf sneers at the Fox. That describes not only the moral of a fable, but also the action at Circle in the Square Theater, where animals run up and down the stairs and through the aisles in this revival of Michael Milligan and Joziah Longo's musical adaptation. A Theodore Mann production presented by the Alumni Ensemble of the theater's school, this inventive show for ages 5 and older uses elaborate masks to bring Aesop's characters (and four fables) to life. (Through March 16) At 10:30 a.m., 1633 Broadway, at 50th Street, (212) 307-0388, circlesquare.org; $5. Reservations are required via phone or an e-mail to admissions@circlesquare.org. "The African Drum" (Friday, and Tuesday through Thursday) Shadow Box Theater's multimedia presentation of traditional African tales features characters that include a talking leopard, a wise loon and a turtle who is just as resourceful as the hero of "The Tortoise and the Hare." All are shadow puppets, manipulated behind a lighted screen so that the colorful animals appear to be frolicking in the grasslands, along with Kijana, the young heroine. At 10:30 a.m., P.S. 3, the Bedford Village School, 50 Jefferson Avenue, between Bedford and Franklin Avenues, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn (entrance at the back of the school, on Hancock Street); (212) 724-0677, shadowboxtheatre.org; $10 in advance; $15 at the door; $7.50 for groups. "Alice in Wonderland" (Saturday) Literally Alive Theater, which adapts books into children's productions, has followed the White Rabbit to Greenwich Village, where it's mounting a new musical based on Alice's adventures. Written by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell, the show is preceded by a workshop in which young theatergoers learn about Lewis Carroll's work and made a story-related craft to take home. Through May 20. Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Sundays at 11 a.m.; workshop one hour before the performance; no show this Sunday. Players Theater, 115 Macdougal Street, at Minetta Lane, (212) 352-3101, aliceinthevillage.com; $25 to $40. "The Amazing Max and the Box of Interesting Things" (Saturday) Max Darwin, a k a the Amazing Max, promises not only interesting things, but also some interesting phenomena: levitation, strange appearances and disappearances, props that seem to move on their own. They're part of this 50-minute magic performance, which includes audience participation and has been extended through June 30. At 4:30 p.m., Manhattan Movement &amp; Arts Center, 248 West 60th Street, (212) 239-6200, theamazingmax.com; $29.50 and $49.50. "Angelina Ballerina the Musical" (Saturday and Sunday) That winsome white mouse who does all her scurrying in toeshoes has returned to the McGinn/Cazale Theater. Vital Theater Company's musical adaptation draws on the books by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig and the PBS series "Angelina Ballerina the Next Steps." The show, by Susan DiLallo and Ben Morss, features Angelina and her fellow students doing modern dance, the Irish jig and hip-hop, as well as ballet. Through April 22. At 3:30 p.m., 2162 Broadway, at 76th Street, fourth floor, (212) 579-0528, vitaltheatre.org; $29.50; $49.50 for premium tickets; $25 lap seats for children under 1 available at the box office on the day of performance only. "Archaeology Zone: Discovering Treasures From Playgrounds to Palaces" (Friday; Sunday through Tuesday; and Thursday) Children will step into the shoes of an explorer like Indiana Jones in this permanent exhibition at the Jewish Museum, but the adventures will be purely scholarly. Still, there is plenty of excitement in analyzing artifacts like a jar handle, a clay jug and a bangle and figuring out the purpose behind ancient pieces like a Greek helmet and a bull-shaped vessel. This interactive show, for ages 3 to 10, also includes a recreated room from the Ottoman period (about 1900), where young archaeologists can dress in costume. From 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.; until 8 p.m. on Thursdays; until 4 p.m. on Fridays; 1109 Fifth Avenue, at 92nd Street, (212) 423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org; free with admission: $12; $10 for 65+; $7.50 for students; free for under 12 and members. Archikids Family Program (Saturday) Aspiring architects ages 9 to 13 can practice making their own marks on the city skyline in this workshop, sponsored by the Skyscraper Museum and the educational organization Archikids. Working with the architect Yves Roger, each participant will experiment with different materials to create a skyscraper design, using vintage film and the museum's images and models as inspiration. From 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., 39 Battery Place, Lower Manhattan, (212) 945-6324, skyscraper.org; $5; free for members. Registration required via phone or e-mail to education@skyscraper.org by Friday at 5 p.m. B.Y.O.K.: Bari Koral Family Rock Band (Sunday) Once people become parents, they often leave their B.Y.O.B. days behind. Now 92YTriBeCa, the satellite of 92nd Street Y, has the perfect substitute: B.Y.O.K., or Bring Your Own Kid. As the title implies, this series is devoted to cross-generational fun, and on Sunday it will present the Bari Koral Family Rock Band. Ms. Koral, who's been compared to Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow, will be celebrating the band's new album, "Anna and the Cupcakes." At 11 a.m., 200 Hudson Street, at Canal Street, (212) 601-1000, 92ytribeca.org; $15; free for under 2. Backstage Tours at "The Fantasticks" (Monday through Wednesday, and Friday through Sunday) The producers of "The Fantasticks" think it's time to introduce the next generation of theatergoers to their show, the longest-running musical in the world. They have initiated a program for young audiences that will take them behind the scenes after performances, where they can tour the backstage area, meet cast members (Aaron Carter has returned to his starring role), learn how the show is put on and take pictures. And, of course, have their first experience with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's fable about love. Performances are Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Wednesday at 2 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Jerry Orbach Theater, Snapple Theater Center, 210 West 50th Street, Manhattan, (212) 921-7862, fantasticksonbroadway.com. Free with the purchase of tickets: $51.50 to $76.50; $160 for a family four-pack. Tour reservations are required and should be made through the box office. The Berenstain Bears Live! In Family Matters, the Musical" (Saturday and Sunday) The most famous bears since the three in the Goldilocks story are now onstage in an open-ended run of this adaptation of three of the titles in the long-running children's book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain. The show, by Michael Borton and Michael Slade, offers a pleasant hour for small theatergoers, with a pop-flavored score and actors who inhabit their fuzzy roles enthusiastically. But like the books, it's rather tame and tidy; after this many years of a formula, even the Berenstain cubs are starting to show their age. Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, 10 West 64th Street, Manhattan, (866) 811-4111, berenstainbearslive.com; $34.95 to $59.95. The most expensive tickets include wearable bear ears and foot-of-the-stage seating. "The Encounter of Juan Bobo and Pedro Animal"/"El Encuentro de Juan Bobo y Pedro Animal" (Saturday) The title characters of this show might be considered the Dumb and Dumber of Puerto Rican and Dominican folklore. Guys from different islands, they are involved in comical adventures in this production, presented in an easy-to-understand mix of Spanish and English by Teatro SEA, which specializes in Latino theater for children. Written by Manuel A. Morán, it includes music, puppets and audience participation. Through March 10. At 3 p.m., Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center, 107 Suffolk Street, at Rivington Street, Lower East Side, (212) 529-1545, teatrosea.org; $18; $15 for children. "Freckleface the Musical" (Saturday and Sunday) Based on the actress Julianne Moore's picture book "Freckleface Strawberry," about a 7-year-old redhead who earns that nickname from her teasing friends, this delightful production has come back onstage at a new theater and with a new cast. The musical transcends the usual themes about celebrating the differences that make us special with a winning score and inventive comedy, as well as an acknowledgment of the unfunny aspects of its young heroine's situation. The run is open-ended. At 1 and 3 p.m., Manhattan Movement &amp; Arts Center, 248 West 60th Street, (212) 239-6200, frecklefacethemusical.com; $45 to $85. "Gazillion Bubble Show: The Next Generation" (Saturday and Sunday) Children love bubbles, and this interactive show promises not just a gazillion but also some of the largest ever blown, along with light effects and lasers. The stars are the members of the Yang family: Fan and Ana Yang and their son Deni and others, who rotate as M.C."s for the production. Audience members may even find themselves in bubbles of their own. Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 and 4:30 p.m.; Sunday at noon and 3 p.m.; New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, Clinton, (212) 239-6200, gazillionbubbleshow.com; $44.50 to $89.50; lap seats for ages 2 and under are $20, at the box office only. Greenland Children's Day (Saturday) Ever wonder what it would be like to speak Kalaallisut? Or to learn kiinnamut saagoq? Now's your chance, as Scandinavia House presents Greenland Children's Day. Kalaallisut is a language spoken across northwestern Greenland, and kiinnamut saagoq is Greenlandic mask making. They will be part of the festivities as the organization Uummannaq Music salutes the country with stories, music, films, workshops and games. One highlight: children can create their own soundtracks of the far North. At 1 p.m., Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, at 38th Street, (212) 779-3587, scandinaviahouse.org; $7; $5 for members of the American-Scandinavian Foundation. "The Hundred Dresses" (Sunday) This moving but not maudlin new musical by Ralph Covert and G. Riley Mills, presented by Atlantic for Kids, the children's division of Atlantic Theater Company, dramatizes "The Hundred Dresses," Eleanor Estes's classic novel about Wanda Petronski, a poor girl who's teased for wearing the same dress to school every day. She says she has a hundred at home, and in a sense she does, only they're not the kind her tormentors would ever imagine. At 10:30 a.m., Peter Norton Space, 555 West 42nd Street, Clinton, (212) 279-4200, atlantictheater.org; $20; $10 for ages 12 and under. "Inspector Pulse and the Contrapuntal Contraption" (Sunday) Bruce Adolphe is a composer, author and teacher and the creator of the Meet the Music! series for children 6 and older at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. But when he's onstage for that series, he's also a detective: Inspector Pulse, whom he refers to as a "private ear." In this concert the inspector is investigating the principle of counterpoint, for which he's invented the contraption of the title. The concert selections will include Bach, Ravel, Stravinsky and Steve Reich. At 2 p.m., with a preconcert "instrument petting zoo" at 1 p.m.; Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, (212) 875-5788, chambermusicsociety.org; $15 and $25. The Jewish Museum: Purim Events (Sunday) The Jewish holiday Purim, which celebrates an ancient triumph, has more than a little wild spirit, and the Jewish Museum will celebrate it in more than one way this Sunday. At 10:30 a.m. it will take that wildness literally in "Wild Animal Masks for Purim," geared to children 5 to 8. The program will take young visitors on a hunt through the museum's galleries to find a peacock, a kangaroo or a lion. They will then design their own animal masks to wear during Purim revelry. At 2 p.m. the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, which may have the perfect name for dancing feet, will play an interactive Purim concert, to which children are encouraged to come in costume. The group's music, as exemplified on albums like "Sock-a-Delic," is a signature mix of klezmer, rock, funk, hip-hop and country, recommended for ages 3 and older. At 1109 Fifth Avenue, at 92nd Street, (212) 423-3337, thejewishmuseum.org. Workshop: $12; $10 for children; $10 and $8 for those with family-level memberships. Concert: $16; $11 for children; $13 and $9 for those with family-level memberships. "Jim Henson's Fantastic World" (Friday through Sunday) This is the last weekend for this exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image, which celebrates the man behind the Muppets and so many other feats of puppetry, film and imagination. Containing over 120 artifacts, it includes Kermit the Frog and Bert and Ernie Muppets; excerpts from Henson's experimental films and his Muppet movies; and animations, storyboards, props and photographs spanning his career, from the 1950s television show "Sam and Friends" to "Sesame Street" and beyond. Special closing programs include, on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m., a singalong screening of "The Muppet Movie" with Heather Henson, Henson's daughter, and costumed Muppet characters. Goodie bags, on sale for $5, will include beepers and squeakers to enhance the film's climax. On Sunday at 12:30 p.m. the museum will screen episodes of "The Muppet Show" featuring Julie Andrews and Gene Kelly. And on Sunday at 2 p.m. a closing program will feature Ms. Henson, guest speakers and a compilation of recent Henson programs. On Saturday and Sunday the museum will be open an additional hour, and visitors on those days will get a free commemorative bookmark while supplies last. 35th Avenue at 37th Street, Astoria, Queens, (718) 777-6888, movingimage.us. Museum hours: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; until 8 p.m. on Fridays and on this Saturday and Sunday. All programs except "The Muppet Movie" screening and singalong are free with admission: $12; $9 for 65+ and college students; $6 for ages 3 to 17; free for under 3 and members; free to all on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. "The Muppet Movie" is $15; $10 for members; free for those who are Silver Screen members and above. Tickets, which include museum admission, are available online or at (718) 777-6800. Kidrockers (Saturday) It's hard to imagine mature, self-respecting, childless adults wanting - much less needing - to sneak into a kids" show. But consider that the groups playing at the concerts Beth Lorge produces (for ages 3 to 13) are hot or up-and-coming rock bands, and you can understand why she's seen it happen. On Saturday she's presenting Soulive, the trio whose sound embraces funk, rock, jazz and hip-hop. The group will be giving a special afternoon show as part of Bowlive, its annual residency at Brooklyn Bowl. At 1 p.m.; doors open at noon; 61 Wythe Avenue, between North 11th and 12th Streets, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, (718) 963-3369, kidrockers.com; $5. "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical" (Saturday and Sunday) How do you turn a book into a rousing musical when its main character speaks only gibberish? The author and illustrator Mo Willems has taken on the challenge with this semiautobiographical show, based on his best-selling picture book "Knuffle Bunny." Manhattan Children's Theater is presenting the musical, which has a score by Michael Silversher and book and lyrics by Mr. Willems. It relates the fateful day when Trixie, a toddler, goes to the coin laundry with her daddy, and her favorite stuffed animal gets mixed up with the wash. Trixie realizes what has happened, but how can she tell the grown-ups? Through March 25. At noon and 2 p.m., Manhattan Children's Theater, 380 Broadway, at White Street, fourth floor, TriBeCa, (212) 352-3101, mctny.org. In advance, $18, and $16 for children; at the door, $20. "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (Saturday) If the children of the Pevensie family could travel to the magical land of Narnia through something as simple as a wardrobe, why shouldn't two hard-working actors be able to play them and all the characters found there? That's what Erin Layton and Andrew Fortman attempt in Off Broadway Family Theater's first production, le Clanché du Rand's adaptation of C. S. Lewis's classic novel. Saturdays at 11 a.m., St. Luke's Theater, 308 West 46th Street, Clinton, (212) 239-6200, narniaoffbroadway.com; $35. "Little Miss Muffet's Monster-Sitting Service" (Friday through Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday) This Little Miss Muffet, Molly, a descendant of the original, is certainly a lot braver: not only does she not fear spiders, but she's also willing to go into business with the very one that sat down beside her ancestor. In this new production from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater in Central Park, by Doug Strich and Emily Fellner, Molly and Al, the spider, start a baby-sitting service for infant monsters just as a huge winter storm is heading their way. Through Aug. 26. Friday, and Tuesday through Thursday, at 10:30 a.m. and noon; Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.; 79th Street and the West Drive, Central Park, (212) 988-9093, cityparksfoundation.org/swedish_cottage.html; $8, or $5 for under 12. Reservations required. Material Lab at the Museum of Modern Art (Friday through Monday, and Wednesday and Thursday) No matter how much talent artists have, they need the right materials to create their work. This new interactive space at MoMA invites families to explore a wide range of mediums that are reflected in the museum's collection. The stations in the Material Lab include a drawing table; a collage table; Discovery Boxes, with surprise materials within; Cornell Boxes, filled with found objects, in the spirit of the work of Joseph Cornell; and a digital painting experience using new technology from Microsoft. Through June. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month); Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building, (212) 708-9400, moma.org. Free with museum admission: $25; $18 for 65+; $14 for students; free for members and for ages 16 and under; also free on Friday evenings from 4 to 8. "Monkey King: A Story From China" (Friday through Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday) The Children's Museum of Manhattan has welcomed back a mischievous hero: Monkey King, the star of this exhibition, which has traveled many miles for years, just like the character it centers on. The interactive show, inspired by the Chinese epic "The Journey to the West," recreates many of the Monkey's adventures, like fighting the Bull Demon at a station that resembles a video game. Much of the fun teaches Chinese values: cooperation, perseverance, bravery and self-sacrifice. Through May 2013. Hours: daily except Mondays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; to 7 p.m. on Saturdays; this Friday, the museum will be open until 8 p.m. for Target Free First Fridays, with free admission from 5 to 8 p.m. Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, (212) 721-1223, cmom.org. Free with admission: $11; free for under 1 and members. "A Musical Toy Store" (Saturday and Sunday) The Lolli-Pops concerts from the Little Orchestra Society, for ages 3 through 5, use friendly characters like Bang, Bow, Buzz and Toot to introduce music. In this case they will show how composers like Prokofiev, Bizet, Schumann and Haydn often enjoyed games and toys as much as children do - so much so that playthings inspired some of their musical works. Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.; Sunday at 1 and 2:30 p.m., Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, 68th Street, between Lexington and Park Avenues, (212) 971-9500, littleorchestra.org; $15 and $40. New Museum First Saturday for Families: "New Monuments" (Saturday) Monuments can inspire mourning or celebration; sometimes both. Children will be encouraged to think about their designs and meanings as they tour the New Museum Triennial "The Ungovernables," which has several art pieces that either invent or reinterpret monuments. Young visitors will also be encouraged to create their own. At 10 a.m., 235 Bowery, at Prince Street, Lower East Side, (212) 219-1222, newmuseum.org; free. "Pinkalicious, the Musical" (Saturday and Sunday) In Elizabeth and Victoria Kann's adaptation of their children's book, the pink-obsessed title character, a little girl, finds out that sometimes being in the pink can be too much of a good thing - especially when eating too many pink cupcakes has turned her pink from head to toe. John Gregor wrote the score and some of the lyrics. At 11 a.m., Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, 248 West 60th Street, (212) 579-0528, pinkaliciousthemusical.com; $29.50; $49.50 for premium tickets. "A Poppy Seed Purim" (Sunday) Persecution isn't usually a laughing matter. Still, there's plenty of humor in the story of Purim, the Jewish festival, in which a plot to destroy the Jews is brilliantly foiled. Written and directed by Sean Hartley, this musical from the Poppy Seed Players of the Kaufman Center shows how Queen Esther saved the day and averted the wrath of her husband's evil minister, Haman. The show presents the tale at a child's level. Haman's tax plan: "From now on, everyone has to give me half their milk and cookies." At 11 a.m., Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street, Manhattan, (212) 501-3330, kaufman-center.org; $20. "Puss in Boots" (Saturday and Sunday) Cats are smart. But you knew that, and they certainly do. Puppetworks is now celebrating the archetypal clever cat - the hero of "Puss in Boots" - in this production, adapted for marionettes by Adam Kilgour. It has 1700s-style costumes, an original score and a living, breathing ogre: a grown-up. Through April 7. At 12:30 and 2:30 p.m., 338 Sixth Avenue, at Fourth Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, (718) 965-3391, puppetworks.org; $8; $7 for children; $6 for groups.