As winter break continues, here are some activities for children and families
By CATHERINE CROW – Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa (TNS)
CEDAR FALLS — With holiday festivities still going on and winter break in session, a number of events and activities are taking place across the Cedar Valley this week for children and families.
A daytime New Years Eve event for children up to age 8 will be held at the Cedar Falls Public Library, 524 Main St. The dance party with a ball drop is planned from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
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Children play at the Cedar Falls Public Library on Friday.
A Noon Years Eve party is also planned for children from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday at the Phelps Youth Pavilion, 225 Commercial St. in Waterloo, but registration is already closed for the event. The pavilion is part of the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Activities during the event will include exploring ways many cultures around the world celebrate the new year.
“We’re doing activities for that (and) snacks. We will be doing a little ball drop on the stage,” said Angie Hickok, Phelps youth manager.
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Families play at the Phelps Youth Pavilion in Waterloo on Friday.
Besides the Tuesday party, the facility will be open regular hours Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission is $5 per person or $2 with the presentation of a valid EBT card for up to four people. Admission is free for Center for the Arts members.
At least a hundred residents and out-of-town visitors have come to the site every day since break started. Among those who enjoyed a fun-filled day at the pavilion Friday were Dan Kenya and his wife, of Colorado, and four grandchildren.
“I think it’s really good,” said Kenya. … “I think my favorite thing is that the kids are having fun.”
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Olivia Martin, 4, of Little Cedar, plays a game at the Phelps Youth Pavilion in Waterloo on Friday.
Back at the Cedar Falls library, there is also the popular scavenger hunt in the youth area of the library through the end of winter break. The fun doesn’t end there, though. At the beginning of January, a tape obstacle course will be set up.
“Essentially, there will be tape all over the ground. You have to follow a path and there’s a story that unravels as you go through it and a code to decipher as you go through it,” said Rebekah Hosford, youth librarian. “That’ll be tons of fun, as well.”
Throughout the week, kids can work on coloring pages and create a seasonal craft. Different monthly and weekly activities are planned for various age groups. On Thursday, those include the Sensory Station for Little Learners through age 5 at 10:30 a.m. in the youth department and the Curious Kids program, a STEM activity for children in kindergarten through third grade from 4:15 to 5 p.m. in the Co-Lab.
There are additional programs for toddlers and even expectant parents that families can get started on during the break.
For little ones, the program 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten exposes children to reading prior to reaching school age. Books and Baby Bumps focuses on encouraging a reading habit before a baby is born.
“They keep track of how many times they have read to their little baby bump and when they sign up, they get a book called ‘Bedtime Book for Bump,’” said Hosford. … “After they’ve finished and done five library visits and have read to their belly, they get a little board book.”
Beyond the break, weekly storytimes begin Jan. 6. Those will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the youth department for multiple preschool age groups.
The Waterloo Public Library, at 415 Commercial St., holds its “Terrific Twos” and family storytimes at 10:30 a.m. Thursday and Saturday this week. It will also screen “Despicable Me 4” for Family Movie Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. On Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m., the library will host Lego Lab for children and families.
Both the Waterloo and Cedar Falls libraries are closed Wednesday for the New Years Day holiday.
For children ages 5 and up, the Grout Museum of History and Science in Waterloo will hold a sensory friendly planetarium show 9:30-10 a.m. Friday. The Norris Corson Family Planetarium in the museum at 503 South St. will host these shows on the first Friday of every month. The cost is $2.
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Terry Ryan and his sons Carter, 10, Carson, 13 and Cody, 6, watch a World War II film at the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo on Friday.
Hours for all other programs and exhibits at the Grout and the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday. The cost is $15 for adults, $8 for veterans and children 4-13. Admission is free for children 3 and under and for museum members.
The Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, also part of the Grout Museum District at 322 Washington St., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The cost is $8 for adults and children 4-13. Admission is free for ages 3 and under and for members.
Art galleries at the Waterloo Center for the Arts and the Hearst Center for the Arts at 304 W. Seerley Blvd. in Cedar Falls are open Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday, and Sunday this week. Hours at the Waterloo Center for the Arts are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Hours at the Hearst are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Admission is free at both locations.
Photos: Staff photographer Chris Zoeller’s favorite photos of the year
Staff photographer Chris Zoeller’s favorite photos of the year.
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