10 Fun Winter Break Activities for Kids in Rockland County

Wondering what to do on winter break with your kids in Rockland County? Check out these winter break activities for families!

By Katelin Walling December 16, 2021

5. Spend an afternoon sledding.

If there’s enough snow on the ground, of course! Bundle up, grab your sled, and head over to Veterans Memorial Park or Bear Mountain State Park for an afternoon of downhill fun! Want a little more thrill? Head to a nearby snow tubing park, like Mount Peter in Warwick or Campgaw Mountain in Mahwah, NJ.

6. Bowl a strike!

Or spare, or just try to knock some pins down…whatever your score ends up being, your family is sure to have a blast! New City Bowl & Batting Cages, located in New City, and Break Point Bowl & Entertainment, located in West Haverstraw, both offer family bowling times.

7. Have a movie marathon.

Sometimes you just want to stay in your pajamas and lounge on the couch all day, especially when it’s freezing outside. And there’s nothing wrong with that! After all, Winter Break is the perfect time to slow down, spend uninterrupted time with your kids, and just relax. Let each member of the family pick out a movie or decide on a theme. The options are endless!

Need some ideas? Check out these roundups:

• Kid-friendly documentaries
• Black History movies to stream with kids
• 80s movies your kids will love
• Women’s History movies and documentaries

8. Explore sea life at a nearby aquarium.

Sure, it’s winter. But that doesn’t mean you can’t explore sea life (you’ll just have to do it at a nearby aquarium instead of the beach). Plan a day trip to visit American Dream in New Jersey. There you can visit New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium, an NYC-themed experience. Or head out to Norwalk, CT to visit the Maritime Aquarium and see the special exhibits on sharks and goldfish.

 

 

 

 

 

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9. Help your kids flex their DIY skills.

Whether you pick up a craft kit at the store or find a cute and easy DIY on Pinterest, spending some time crafting is a joy! Bonus: Your kids will be so proud of what they made from scratch; it’ll make your heart smile. Need some ideas? Check out these easy kid-friendly DIYs:

• Tie-dye T-shirts (no, it’s not just for the summer…)
• Grassy Garden Gnomes (add a little greenery to your home!)
• Make your own moon sand
• Decorate mugs with permanent markers
• Pom-pom hand puppets (it’s a low-mess craft!)
• Starry slime
• Winter bird feeders

10. Check out our online calendar for family activities in Rockland County.

Seriously. We strive to have the most robust of things happening in the area that are great for kids and the whole family. Whether you’re looking for a fun event at a library, a show, or something going on at one of our borough’s museums, you’ll find it in our calendar. Below, you’ll find a selection of what’s going on in Rockland County during winter break:

PAW Patrol: Adventure Play
WHEN: Through May 1, 2022: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, NJ
AGE: All
WHAT: In the PAW Patrol: Adventure Play exhibition, you'll join the pups of PAW Patrol to answer every yelp for help! Enter the Lookout Tower where the pups live, guide the Sea Patroller through Adventure Bay and Beach, climb Jake’s Mountain, and drive the PAW Patroller. Along the way, you can help make daring rescues. There are puzzles and challenges for everyone. Work together, and you can do it all!
WANT TO GO? At the door: $29.99; $24.99 children ages 2-12. In advance: $27.99; $22.99 children ages 2-12

FREE Family Movie: The Mitchells Vs. The Machines
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 20, 5:30-7:30pm
WHERE: Haverstraw King's Daughters Public Library, Main Library, 10 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville
AGE: All
WHAT: Make it a movie night with the library.
WANT TO GO? Registration begins two weeks before the program for HKDPL district residents and one week before for everyone else.

Jurassic Quest
WHEN: Dec. 29-Jan. 2, 2022, Wednesday-Thursday, 9am-8pm; Friday, 9am-6pm; Saturday, 9am-8pm; Sunday, 9am-6pm
WHERE: New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison, NJ
AGE: All
WHAT: Jurassic Quest features the biggest Dinosaur Exhibit, which includes more than 100 dinosaurs that are true-to-detail (and size!) including an incredible 50-foot-long megalodon, 60-foot-long, sky-scraping spinosaurus, the 80-foot-long apatosaurus, and a gigantic, lifesize T. rex. Walking Dinosaur Rides & Stationery Dinosaur Rides, which include some of the largest rideable dinosaurs in North America! See an incredibly realistic and interactive Baby Dinosaur & Raptor Training Experience. Plus, a giant fossil dig, an animal art tattoo station, inflatables, crafts, games, and more!
WANT TO GO? $36 kids unlimited rides; $22 kids standard and adults; $19 seniors.

Guided Nature Walk
WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, 1-2pm
WHERE: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ
AGE: All
WHAT: Enjoy the season with a guided walk along one of Tenafly Nature Center's trails with an Environmental Educator. Whether a first time visitor or a regular on the trails, participants will enjoy different sensory experiences in the forest.
WANT TO GO? Program will be held entirely outdoors. Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended.

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