Keeping Kansas City’s Kids BUSY over Winter Break
Sunday, December 14th, 2008
One more week and it’s here. WINTER BREAK. We’re moms too - so we know that you’re probably feeling excitement tinged with a little bit of dread. What the heck are we going to do with these kids for more than TWO WEEKS?! And how can we keep it fiscally under control after we’ve spent too much on Christmas?
Here are few free, cheap or relatively inexpensive ideas for things to do with the kids over break:
1. Swimming at indoor pools - lots of community centers have open swim during break for a daily fee of $3 to $7 - some of these pools are really neat with a water park feel - some of the less expensive ones include Park Hill Aquatic Center, Blue Springs and the KCMO Community Centers. We’ve got a pretty extensive list of indoor pools to check out.
Or you can check out your local YMCA for indoor pools and more! Did you know that you can use the YMCA facilities up to THREE TIMES as a guest for FREE?! (And, if you love it and want to join, they’re running a Friends and Family deal on December 26, 27 and 28, waiving the membership fee - a savings of up to $150!)
2. Check out some of Kansas City’s museums with cheap or free admission - the Puppetry Arts Institute, the Johnson County Museum of History (with the new Kidscape exhibit), the National World War I Museum, the Toy & Miniature Museum, The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve (for older kids) and the art museums (Kemper, Nelson & Nerman). Some of these have free admission - others will cost you a few bucks a person (with lower admission prices for the little ones).
3. Kaleidoscope at Crown Center - FREE Family Art Sessions almost every day of winter break
4. Visit Moon Marble Company in Bonner Springs for free glass marble making demonstrations
5. Open Gyms - most are for the preschool crowd but there will certainly be some open to the school-aged kids over break - check our list of Open Gyms - prices range from $1 to $10 for several hours of fabulous, exhausting play!
6. A few locations around town are having free movies during winter break - Legends in KCK will have their last free holiday movie on 12/20; the Westport library is showing Polar Express for free that day; the Irene B. French Community Center in Merriam, KS will have at least two free movies during break (Alvin & the Chipmunks & Snow Buddies). Check them out!
UPDATE: Paramount Pictures is screening the new movie Hotel for Dogs on 12/29 at 6:30PM at the Cinemark in Merriam. You can e-mail kcintern3@alliedadvpub.com for free passes for the entire family!
7. And don’t forget your local library! Many have fun holiday programming - there are regularly scheduled storytimes, craft sessions and holiday performances - or just hang out there for an afternoon for a change of scenery! Many library activities are listed in the KC Kids Fun Events Calendar.
8. Some of the local parks and recreation departments are also offering winter break camps and activities. For example, Blue Valley Rec is offering basketball camps, open gyms and art classes. I’m sure others are doing the same.
So, if Christmas has broken the bank - don’t despair. There are still great things to do with the kids that won’t involve the television, the computer or video games! Have a fantastic break!
