If you’ve got a tween girl, unplug the telephone, turn off the Jo Bros album and pop over to the Helen Mills Theatre today, where the Arts Effect NYC is holding a free afternoon of acting and writing workshops tailored to adolescent gals. Kids will learn from local directors, producers and actors, and develop their interests in the arts. A live theatrical performance follows the workshops, along with a “Girl Power”-themed party. Reservations are required. Click here to snag your spot.

At this point, your family’s schedule for this weekend is likely jam-packed with Halloween happenings—and who has time to go see a show with all that spooktacular fun on the itinerary? That’s why you should take in some theatrical thrills with your brood today at Shadow Box Theatre’s presentation of The Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkin.  The show includes plenty of music (sing-alongs, too), as the actors tell the tale of an oddly-shaped pumpkin who, in true Ugly Duckling style, learns to accept himself for who he is—lumps, bumps and all.

From its playful architecture to its nontraditional exhibitions, the Guggenheim is one of the city’s most kid-friendly “adult” museums. That winding walkway makes it feel like a maze, a labyrinth of secrets waiting to be discovered by little art enthusiasts. No wonder such a wonderful children’s book was written about it.  Today, your brood can explore the museum free of charge in honor of its 50th anniversary. In addition to artwork, there will be film screenings, activities, tours, story time and more. Pop in anytime between 10am and 5:45pm to say “happy birthday” to this iconic New York institution.

Today, bring the brood to Cobble Hill Cinemas for a cinematic introduction to classical music with a screening of Beethoven Lives Upstairs. The live action flick follows a little boy who learns to love classical by listening to his upstairs neighbor, the great Ludwig Van Beethoven, play.

You would think that as a father of four, Christian Jacobs would want to leave juvenile antics at home when he heads to work. Not so. This kidult–who regularly skateboards around the set–feeds off kids’ creative energy and fuses it with his love for music and pop culture to create Yo Gabba Gabba! Jacobs chatted with us about his inspiration, his family, his critics and all the celebs who want in on the Nick Jr. action.

Symphony Space kicked off its Just Kidding series this month, and as always the Upper West Side culture spot is showcasing some of our favorite family-friendly entertainers, including Brady Rymer and the Little Band that Could and the tot rockin’ trifecta of Dan Zanes, Gustafer Yellowgold and Father Goose at the Super Duper Extravaganza. But some literary love is also on the roster: On Saturday, October 24, at 11am author-illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, of Snowy Day fame, will be celebrated in story and song, and Time Out Kids is giving away two family four-packs to the show. In addition to readings and big-screen projections of his colorful illustrations, the Deedle Deedle Dees and Randy Kaplan will croon Keats-inspired tunes. Click here for your chance to win tickets!

Tote your tot to the library today to take part in the fourth annual Read for the Record campaign, which is sponsored by Jumpstart, a nonprofit organization that provides books to low-income families. Thousands of events are taking place all over the country; here in the Big Apple, a bunch of book-related venues are hosting readings of Eric Carle’s classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. To find an event near you, visit readfortherecord.org or visit your local library.