February is a busy month with President's Day, Valentine's Day, and Black History Month, but one sometimes overlooked holiday is the Lunar New Year. There are, of course, world famous events in NYC including the Chinatown Parade and Festival on February 14th (a great excuse to trek into the city), but there are many celebrations all over Connecticut continuing throughout the month as we welcome the Year of the Monkey!

The short, dark days of winter are over but long, sunny days are still ahead of us. February seems like a wedge between winter and spring: stores are already tempting us with swimsuits and garden gear yet the weather still beckons us to either bundle up or head indoors. Luckily, Westchester families have some new options to get them in a warm weather mindset. 

While some tweens are hardwired to think in zeros and ones and are ready for advanced instruction in computer science, others are leery of the whole thing. I have one of each.

Luckily, both my enthusiastic coder and my reluctant techie found something to enjoy at the New-York Historical Society’s exhibit Silicon City: Computer History Made in New York, on view through April 17 where kids can see early computers, typewriters, phones and even try out classic video games like Space Invaders. Read on for what to expect from this uptown STEM art exhibit where drop-in coding classes are also on tap.

As the popularity of yoga has increased in recent years, so too has the interest in introducing children to its benefits at a young age. Yoga has been associated with stress reduction, concentration and agility, and even public schools have begun offering in-school yoga and relaxation instruction.

We recently provided you with a roundup of family-focused yoga classes offered by centers devoted to the subject. Augmenting that resource, below is a list of yoga classes for kids offered by Westchester libraries, with options for teens, tots and even special needs—all of which are FREE!

Read on for details and contact the libraries directly to register. These classes can fill up quickly, so reserve your spot and get your downward dog on!

Ready or not, it's February, and camp registration is in full swing. (If you're not ready, you are in good company—we're still looking for our kids' snow boots.) Attending a large camp fair is a great way to gather information about a variety of local day camps, sleepaway camps, and other summer enrichment opportunities in a short amount of time. We've rounded up some major upcoming fairs and open houses in and around Boston to get you started on your search for the right summer program for your child.

We are also busy updating our Summer and Vacation Camps Guide, so you may want to check it out as you consider the different options for your kids' summer fun in the coming months.

Just when you thought everyone was back on track from winter break-- bam! February break sneaks upon us. While some New Jersey schools are closed the Monday of President’s Day only, others have four day weekends or even that whole week off. If you’re in need of child care during the break, or just something to occupy the kiddos, don’t fear. Our list of February break camps is here. February breakers can spend their time off exploring nature, playing their favorite sports, learning science and even tubing down mountains. Check out these drop-off camps offered for various portions of February break.

A new indoor art gallery and play space in Astoria, Queens, is offering drop-in art-making and play sessions for toddlers and preschoolers and loads of creative classes for older kids. 

Shastye Art Gallery and Play Space is an intimate indoor play venue in this family-centric Queens neighborhood founded by professional artist Shasta Molnar. While not the largest play space we've reviewed—it is easily spotted by its red awning—it has a huge personality, offering family-friendly activities from crafting to indoor fort-making.

When the seemingly endless cold and gray of Winter is giving you a case of cabin fever, it’s time to bundle up the family and head to one of your local parks.  Winter brings its own magic to the local parks and preserves of Fairfield County.  Less crowds means more peace and quiet to enjoy your natural surroundings.  Take in a refreshing breath of cold air and see how many animal tracks you can find in the snow or just spend some time gathering materials to make an awesome Ice Suncatcher.

No snow? No problem! You don’t need snow shoes, skis, sleds to enjoy these parks and preserves - a pair of weatherproof boots and your winterwear should do the trick. So, disconnect from the screens and devices for an afternoon and reconnect with nature.