There seem to be two main topics on the minds of Westchester families this week: the holidays and Episode VII.

Gear up for the big premiere of the new Star Wars film with a marathon of the first six installments. This takes place in the midst of the holiday hubbub, which includes performances, crafting and other holiday fun. For a lively change of pace, remember to pose answers in the form of a question at Holiday Jeopardy or add depth to your wintry crafting at 3D Paper Snowflakes. 

These are just a few of our many finds. For more, read on—then visit our Event Calendar for numerous events happening every day of the week! 

'Tis the season for road trips, long-haul flights and other “Mom, I’m bored!” moments. You can be prepared with this stage-by-stage guide to fun, downloadable kid entertainment that won’t give you a headache or send you into a spiral of screen-time inspired parental guilt.

We’ve skipped the mental junk food in favor of TV shows for each age range that offer up some educational value, but that your kids still will love to watch. And we’ve ensured that all of these shows are fully downloadable so you don’t have to worry about spotty streaming access during your holiday travel.

It's a match made under the big top: If ever two creative forces were meant for each other, Cirque du Soleil and Steampunk must be the two—and KURIOS is the show that brings them together. All top hats, goggles, and time-traveling trampolines, the so-much-more-than circus comes swinging and spinning into DTLA to play its first engagement at Dodger Stadium. KURIOS is as memorable and innovative as we have come to expect from the Canadian troupe, and then some. Having seen a few Cirque productions before, I admit I didn't necessarily expect that we could be astonished again; I was looking forward to seeing the show, of course, and reporting on its family-friendly factor, but I figured there are only so many ways to bend, hang, and flip in fancy outfits. As it turns out, I was wrong; there is an infinite number of ways, and Cirque du Soleil never gets tired of finding them.

How much longer until Christmas? is the question posed to many parents throughout the Delaware Valley around this time of year. Children are full of anticipation, yet parents are weary from holiday preparations such as card sending, gift wrapping, and elf-moving. (How many times have you forgotten to move your elf so far?)

Make your life a little easier by keeping the kids busy with activities from our Events Calendar. This week does not disappoint. Check out Star Wars Night at Franklin Square. Make Crafts in the Playhouse at Smith Memorial Playground. Take a train ride on New Hope & Ivyland Railroad or stop by the Delaware Art Museum to see The Muppet Christmas Carol at Popcorn & Pictures.

Continue reading for our top picks for the week ahead but browse the entire calendar to view all of the options. To narrow the search, select age range, area, and type. Be sure to check out the free events on our calendar too! Have a great week.

Somerville has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years as young families have opted to stay closer to the city center when they have children. From festival-going to exploring a new neighborhood like LEGOLAND Discovery Center's home at Assembly Row, there's plenty to do with kids of all ages. Here are 25 ideas for family fun, whether you call Somerville home or are just visiting.

High-end baby retailer Giggle recently opened its new Soho boutique just blocks away from its previous store. The single-floor store—its third in NYC—aims to speak to design-conscious parents with a unique layout of its baby and toddler furnishings, toys, clothing and, of course, all that other gear like strollers and car seats.

At 1,800 square feet, it's smaller in size than its Upper East and West Side shops, but the cozier digs were intentional, it says. Giggle turned to a new store design that might remind some shoppers of a prettier, sweeter version of Ikea's showrooms. It carved out four separate sections within the store to create a series o nursery "vignettes," or layouts, so parents can see its stylish wares set up in different ways. Innovative shelving makes use of the vertical space giving the whole NYC children's shop a sophisticated and airy feel to it.

Ball pits. Kids love 'em but many parents worry that they're a cesspool of germs. (Most McDonald's and Chuck E. Cheese's have removed them because they just couldn't clean them properly.) But there are a handful of ball pits in New York City at places that seem to have a much better handle on the whole sanitizing thing.

Even if you're still a little skeptical, think about all the fun you had in ball pits as a child (because you know you did). Plus with winter upon us, ball pits are a great place for kids to have fun indoors when it's cold or rainy. Your kids will have a blast diving, tossing and romping around. Some of these places also make great birthday party spots.

If one writer is synonymous with the holiday season, it's Charles Dickens. The legendary Victorian author's novella A Christmas Carol and its iconic characters pop up everywhere this time of year, both on stage and on screen.

But rather than do another adaptation of this oft-told tale, New York City Children's Theater cleverly delves into the man behind the story, or rather, the boy.

Based on Deborah Hopkinson's picture book A Boy Called Dickens, Young Charles Dickens is an engaging bio-musical inspired by the 12-year-old Dickens' menial job at a shoe polish factory as he helps his family out of debtors' prison. Readers familiar with his famous books such as Oliver Twist, Great Expectations and, of course, A Christmas Carol will recognize many of the people Dickens meets during this dark period in his young life. However, even school-age kids unfamiliar with his work will pick up a lot from this gritty, but heartwarming tale.