Keep the Kids Busy (and Creative) During Midwinter Break

In the middle of the bleak winter weather is every parent’s conundrum: what to do with their kids during the midwinter school break. Even with this year’s lack of snow, the weather is often too frosty to stay outside for long. But staying inside the house all week will likely make them (and their parents!) stir crazy and bored. Throughout Westchester, arts organizations are saving the day with creative crafts, learning experiences and family fun.

Here’s a round-up of some family-friendly and kid-focused activities for the midwinter break on February 18-26:

“School’s Out/Stars Are In” Art and Science Activities

The stars will align during February break as Hudson River Museum offers an assortment of activities from February 20-24. For one, the Museum’s planetarium will screen three shows per day. Several family art and science workshops will also take place, including Black History Month and Lunar New Year themed projects.

A 4-Day Fiction Writing Class for Kids

On Feb. 21-24, Hudson Valley Writers Center offers Fiction Fun!, a four-day intensive for creative writers in grades three through seven. During the afternoon class, participants will explore character and plot development through prompts and games. By the end, each young writer will have a collection of new writings.

Filmmakers in the Making

During The Picture House’s four-day film camp on Feb. 21-24, students will learn the ins and outs of filmmaking, from character development to directing. They will apply these skills when they come up with a feature film idea and then create a trailer for that movie. Trailers will be screened at Picture House’s Student Film Showcase. The camp is offered in both Pelham and Bronxville locations.

Weeklong Art-Themed Workshops

Students can choose between several weeklong workshop themes at Rye Arts Center. The five-day workshops (Feb. 20-24) include: Drawing, Painting & Sculpture Week, a hands-on exploration of color and texture with artist Ann Ladd (offered for two age groups – 5-7 & 8-12 year-olds); Ceramics Week, in which students learn to work with clay while having one-on-one feedback from the instructor, Terry Taylor (offered for two age groups – 5-7 & 8-12 year-olds); and Stop Motion Animation, for which students will learn the basics of stop motion animation from James Paget and then collaborate to create short movies (offered for 8-12 year-olds).

Create a Comic Book Cover

Appropriate for all members of the family, this “Hip Hop Heroes” workshop by artist Evan Bishop will inform participants about the history of hip hop and its global impact on pop culture. Then, participants will create your very own superhero and original comic book cover, including drawings and lettering. The workshops take place on February 25 & 26 at Hudson River Museum and works created will contribute to an upcoming exhibition in the Museum’s new Community and Partnership Gallery.

Westchester Children’s Museum: Special Hours

Every day that the Westchester Children’s Museum (WCM) is open, it is packed with activities for little ones. During the February break, even the Museum’s closed days (Mondays and Tuesdays) are open for fun. WCM will be open every day of the break, even on Monday and Tuesday. Kids can create and explore the space by building roller coasters, reading stories in the book nook and more.

About ArtsWestchester

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest private not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to create an equitable, inclusive, vibrant and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue. artsw.org