Museums: School break is a great time to explore the area museums.

New England Aquarium: visit the penguins, seals and every type of marine life imaginable. Aqua Kids Family Day, on Friday, from 10am-12n, offers activities especially for families with young children. (included with admission - Adults $22.95; Children (3-11) $15.95). At the Simons IMAX Theatre, Happy Feet 2 shows at 4pm and 6pm this week (Adults $12.95; Children $10.95). 1 Central Wharf, Boston

Boston Children’s Museum: plenty of hands-on activities, KidStage performances, and exhibits, including the final weeks of Building Brainstorm, where children investigate aspects of city planning, architecture, engineering and landscape architecture.

Admission: $12. Children’s Wharf, 308 Congress Street, Boston

MFA: Vacation week activities include special events throughout the week, from musical performances to drop-in art-making activities. Free with admission: Adults $22; Youth (7-17) Free M-F after 3pm, weekends and boston public school holidays, otherwise $10. 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston

Read our post for information about other museums in the area and ongoing exhibits.

And if you have time for a day trip, consider visiting the EcoTarium in Worcester. The museum hosts a school vacation week program during which kids track a mystery animal across Mount Washington to solve a real wildlife CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). The wildlife investigation can be completed as a self-guided activity anytime from 11:30am-3:30pm. A staff-guided review of the case takes place at 11am and staff-guided reveals of the case solution take place at 1:45pm and 3:35pm. All activities are free with museum admission: Adults $12; Children (2-18) $8. 222 Harrington Way, Worcester.

Movies: There are a slew of new movies opening this week, but other options include free movies for kids at several BPL branches. (Please call in advance to verify that this event has not been rescheduled or canceled.)

• Preschool films at the South End Branch (Mon 12/26, 10:30am); the Dudley Branch (Tue, 12/27, 10:30am); Connolly Branch (Wed, 12/28, 10:30am), Grove Hall Branch (Fri, 12/30, 10:30am) and Fields Corner Branch (Wed, 12/28 & Fri, 12/30, 10:30am)
• Disney Movie Tuesday at the Mattapan Branch (Tue 12/27, 5:30pm)
• Children’s films at the East Boston Branch, 276 Meridian Street, East Boston (Fri, 12/30, 10am & 11am).
• Toddler films at the Mattapan Branch (Fri, 12/30, 1030am)
• Mr. Fantastic Fox plays at the North End Branch (Fri, 12/30, 3pm)
• The Fields Corner Branch hopes a New Year’s Even Open House, with a screening of Rudolph’s Shiny New Year and snacks (Sat, 12/31, 12n)
• The Teen Anime Society meets at the Central Library, where teens can watch and rate anime, learn Japanese, play the Japanese version of checkers called Go (Fri, 12/30, 3:30pm)

Family Friendly Theater and Concerts: Special holiday shows for families that wrap up this week include Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes, and The Christmas Revels. Also playing:

Mr. Punch's Christmas Carol - Puppet Showplace Theatre, Brookline
12/27 & 12/28
Mr. Punch's Christmas Carol is a fast-paced and funny holiday show with all the trimmings, told with colorful hand puppets, rod puppets, and shadow puppets that bring the classic tale to life. Shows at 10:30am, 1pm & 3pm. Cost: $10

The Snow Queen - Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge
Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tale comes to life in a new stage adaptation for children and their families. When a young boy named Kai is taken away by a wicked enchantress, his best friend Gerda must embark on a perilous journey to the north pole to rescue him. Using puppets, music and magic, this exuberant, heart-warming production takes a theatrical journey to a magical kingdom and the Snow Queen’s icy palace. Cost: $15

Disney On Ice Presents Treasure Trove - TD Garden, Boston
12/26-12/29
Families can enter the worlds of favorite Disney characters, from princesses like Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and Snow White, to Peter Pan to the Lion King and Alice in Wonderland. Cost: $20 & up

Catskill Puppet Theater - The Willow Girl - John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Dorchester

12/28When a young Chinese girl immigrates to the American frontier, she faces discrimination in a swirl of other immigrants and cultures. Find out what happens when they all discover the magic of the beautiful Willow Tree. The performance features an animated giant willow tree and blends humor, mystery, drama, and magical effects. Reservations required; call or register via the website. Free

Rolie Polie Guacamole Family Concert - Jam Time, Maynard
Fri 12/30
Rolie Polie Guacamole, the hippest new children’s band from Brooklyn, NY, play songs that are a mix of high energy rock, funk and folk music in a show that is lively and interactive. Make this a family night out - pizza and snacks are available for purchase. Cost: $7 to $15

Other Things To Do

• a visit to the Stone Zoo’s ZooLights, a winter wonderland with the animals (5pm-9pm, through 1/1/12);
• the Concord Museum’s Family Trees, also running through 1/1/12 (read our review);
• ice skating at one of the outdoor rinks in the area.

Planning Ahead: If you plan to attend First Night on New Year’s Eve, please check out our post with details to help you get the most out of the event.