By Julia Beauregard
Hometown Weekly Editor
February vacation, unless you’re one of the lucky people venturing out-of-state, can be a tricky time for parents. No one can depend on the warm weather and sunshine to come our way so children can play out in the great outdoors . Therefore, February vacation is the perfect time to engage children in fun and enriching activities. From crafts to movies to interactive workshops, there are plenty of free events happening in our town to keep kids entertained during their break.
The Main Branch of Westwood Public Library (WPL) will be hosting two showings of The Paw Patrol Movie for younger children on Friday, February 23. The first showing will be a sensory friendly showing, perfect for children who have sensory issues and/or are on the spectrum. According to the Westwood Public Library website, “Special features of a sensory-friendly movie: the lights will remain on but dimmed, fidgets and coloring sheets will be available, alternative seating, noise canceling headphones, and extra space if kids need to move around. The volume will be on the lower side, but kids don't have to be quiet the entire time.” There will be a regular showing later in the day at 2pm.
For elementary aged children, the WPL will be hosting their Children’s Poetry Festival during February break! There will be a mini poetry workshop on Tuesday, February 20 for children in grades 4 and 5. They are invited to join poet and author Nancy Tupper Ling in a workshop to find inspiration, make a word bank, and write a poem to take home. On Wednesday, there will be a Writing Poetry for Music workshop for children in grades 4 and 5 at 10:30am! These students can come to the library to write poems in small groups. Guitarist and local high school student Sam Schmitz will set poems to music on the spot and then sing the poems together. There will also be another workshop for students in grades 2 and three on Wednesday at 1pm for Poetry and Arts and Crafts; these kids are invited to the library to experiment with origami, watercolors, and more to illustrate short poems by well-known authors. There will also be a Poetry Story Hour on Thursday, February 22 for students in grades 2-3 at 10:30am.
Finally, on Thursday February 22, there will be a special poetry reading with acclaimed poet Richard Blanco! Children in grades 2-5 and their caregivers are welcome to attend as Blanco, the first Latino poet to read at a Presidential Inauguration, shares insights about his upbringing as a Cuban-American child in Miami. Please note that adults must accompany a child in grades 2-5 to this event and register their names along with the number of children they will bring.
Children in grades 2-5 are invited to participate in the STEAM Team: Coding Obstacle Course with MobileQuest program on Tuesday, February 22 at 10:30am, providing them with an opportunity to be a Robot Ninja Warrior! Children will have the opportunity to grasp coding concepts for their robots and endeavor to guide them through the challenging MobileQuest Obstacle Course!
For all ages, the Islington Branch of the WPL is hosting musician Matt Heaton for a family concert-fun for the whole family on Wednesday, February 21 at 3pm!
The WPL is proudly providing ample and free February vacation fun! Be sure to visit their website and register for these events to make the most of your child’s February break.
