New York City with a 3, 6, and 9 year old
 

I will be in New York City for three days with my son and three grandkids the first part of August. He will be attending a business meeting and I will be attending the girls. Any suggestions would be appreciated - we will be staying at the Marriott Eastside.

Central Park (has zoo, kids zoo, carousel and a bunch of playgrounds) - and you can rent a boat for the lake or bikes (with a passenger seat for the little one)

Top of the Rock

Museum of Natural History

Staten Island Ferry

Toys R Us

The area you're in is primarily business and VERY busy during the day - so do be sure the kids know they have to stick WITH you - and try to get them to hold hands (we see lot of elementary school kids on school trips in NYC, all holding hands with a partner)

Will you have a stroller for the 3 year old? (kids in NYC often use a stroller until 5 or so - since the walking distances are so long)

Have a look at the web site of the local 24 hour news channel - NY1.com, They feature special activities for kids each weekend - puppet shows, children's dance troups, etc - with brief programs appropriate for small kids.

I would think your biggest challenge will be to keep all 3 entertained at the same place. I can think of lots of places for the younger 2 OR the oldest, but not sure how many places will be interesting to all 3. The zoo/central park certainly. Children's museum will be fun for the 2 younger ones. It's near the Mus. of Nat. History.

gocitykids.com
also has a calendar of events that might be useful. This theater might have some matinees.
newvictory.org

Stroller is a must for the 3 year old. Plan to take a mid-day break and go back to the hotel so everyone can take a rest for an hour or so.

Keep snacks, water, and juice boxes in the stroller because it's not cheap to stop in a convenience store and get a snack if the girls get hungry and it's not time for lunch.

- Take them to the FAO Schwarz. It's a kids' dreamland of toys.
- Go to Battery Park and you can see the Statue of Liberty across the water.

Keep cash with you for taxi rides. You can only do some much walking. Bring comfy walking shoes for everyone.

As nytraveler said, everyone has to hang on to everyone else at all times when you're out and about.

Put your cell phone number in one of each's shoes, your 9 yo may protest, but do it anyway.

Some of these ideas are very commercialized:
The American Girl Store - this store is huge, they have luncheons and shows (reservations required). All 3 of your girls will love it, but be prepared to spend, we used to give our DD a set limit on how much she could spend there.

Toys R Us Times Square - they have an indoor ferris wheel, tons of Barbie, Legos, etc. Also clean bathrooms upstairs and a Candyland.

Build a Bear has a large store on 5th Ave (I have never been)

Some kids love the Museum of Natural History with the large dinosaur displays you can rent Night at the Museum before you go - it was filmed there.

Central Park - the zoo is nice and not too large, the Alice in Wonderland Statue, the small pond where they have motorized mini boats (remember the Stuart Little movie)

A free ride on the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty up close (this may be too out of the way for you)

Definitely get an umbrella stroller for the 3 yo.

Thanks to all for the tips.....I had thought about Kids R Us and FAO, but the other tips are very helpful. We just spent a couple of hours at the new American Girl store in the Atlanta area ($$$$$), so I will pass on that one! We'll concentrate on the other sights...thanks for the idea about putting my cell # in the shoes. Great idea! The 9 year old will likely be the only one who won't object!!!

Having your numbers on the kids is a really good idea.

When our kids were young, we put an emergency phone number -this was before cell phones- on one side of a blank business card. We put a picture of their favorite cartoon character on the other side so they'd like wearing it. We laminated them and hung them on a lanyard necklace.

A friend of mine used plastic hospital ID bracelets with her cell phone and emergency contact numbers written on them.

Luckily, none of our kids ever needed to use them!