For many families on the West Coast, “Ski Week” or “February Break” offers a mid-winter break from school, often aligning with Presidents’ Day. While some may head to the slopes, not everyone can spend the week skiing. This break is a great opportunity to explore creative, engaging alternatives that keep kids entertained and active. From hands-on crafts and DIY projects to fun local programs and outdoor adventures, there are countless ways to make the most of this time off without hitting the mountains.
Plus, learn about some exclusive Family Engagement ideas at the end of this post.
Let’s dive into some exciting ideas for a Ski Week filled with creativity, fun, and memorable moments!
Suggested Schedule and Activities with S&S Worldwide Products
Monday: Welcome and Winter Adventure Theme
Kick off the first day of Ski Week with a fun-filled celebration of winter! This day is all about embracing the season through creativity, games, and active play, setting the stage for an engaging and memorable week.
Morning:
- Creative Craft: Begin the day by encouraging creativity by making DIY Snow Globes. Using the plastic jars, glitter, and other decorating supplies, kids can create their own magical winter scenes to take home as keepsakes.
- Hand-Eye Coordination Game: Follow the crafting session with a lively snowball toss game! Kids can test their aim using foam snowballs and enjoy a safe, energetic activity that brings the fun of a snowball fight indoors.
Afternoon:
- Outdoor Fitness Activity: Head outside for a Winter Sports obstacle course! Set up a dynamic course with cones, agility rings, and hurdles, encouraging kids to channel their inner athletes as they race, jump, and weave their way to victory.
Tuesday: Creative Competition Day
Dive into a day filled with creativity and some friendly competition as the February break festivities continue! Tuesday can be all about combining fun crafts, team-building games, and hands-on activities for an engaging experience.
Morning:
- Self- Expression Craft: Start the day by designing and creating tie-dye winter hats or scarves. Kids can choose their favorite colors and patterns to make a personalized accessory they’ll love wearing all winter long.
- Teamwork Game: After crafting, bring everyone together for an indoor curling game. This fun and strategic activity encourages teamwork and friendly competition, keeping the winter sports spirit alive.
Afternoon:
- Problem Solving Activity: Spark creativity and excitement with The Launcher Kit! Kids will have fun assembling and personalizing their own launchers before putting them to the test with mini challenges and competitions. It’s a hands-on activity that blends fun with problem-solving skills.
Wednesday: Camp Day
Embrace the great outdoors and the power of teamwork on Wednesday of Ski Week! Plus, add a fun craft to the mix. Make today about creativity and collaboration.
Morning:
- Mindfulness Craft: Start the day by creating a winter themed gratitude garland. Using our Gratitude Garland Activity Pack, everyone can write what they are grateful for on strips of paper, then string it together to create one large garland. A gratitude garland craft activity is a great way for students to practice mindfulness and self-reflection.
- Active Play Teamwork Game: After crafting, head outside for a giant kickball game! This oversized version of the classic game brings extra fun and excitement as kids work together and stay active.
Afternoon:
- Collaboration Challenge: Wrap up the day with a teamwork-focused activity called the Meteorite Mission Team-Building Game! Kids will work in groups to solve challenges and collaborate in this space-themed activity, building communication skills and trust along the way.
Thursday: Winter Carnival
Get ready for a day full of fun, laughter, and friendly competition as we celebrate Thursday with a Winter Carnival. From crafting colorful masks to testing your skills at fun games, today’s activities will allow kids to accessorize, and also elevate their heart rates!
Morning:
- Creativity Craft: Begin the day by making your own festive carnival mask! Kids can let their creativity shine as they decorate their masks with glitter, feathers, and colorful paints, preparing for the day’s carnival excitement.
- Team Coordination Activity: Set up an Indoor Ice Skating Game! Using felt floor spots or plastic grocery bags under their feet, kids can glide across the floor like they’re skating on ice. Set up cones to create a rink and encourage teamwork by having pairs hold a rubber ring as they “skate” together. This activity enhances balance, coordination, and teamwork.
Afternoon:
- Social Skills Development Indoor Activity: In the afternoon, set up multiple carnival stations with activities like parachute games and mini bowling. A parachute will be the highlight as kids work together to keep the parachute afloat, creating a fun and interactive group experience. For those looking for more individual fun, indoor bowling offers a chance to test their aim and score points.
Friday: Celebration and Show-Off Day
Celebrate the final day of Ski Week with a combination of creativity, fun games, and a chance for kids to show off everything they’ve learned! Today can be all about reflecting on the week’s adventures and showcasing individual talents.
Morning:
- Reflection Craft: Begin the day by creating a memory scrapbook that highlights the week’s exciting activities. Kids can add pictures, drawings, and decorations to personalize their scrapbooks. Use our Scrapbooking Kit or follow our scrapbooking guide.
- Collaboration Fitness Game: Keep the momentum going with an indoor relay race, handing off batons or hold a fun freeze dance game. You can use Jumbo Dice to create variations, adding a fun twist to the traditional races or games. Each number on the dice can corresponds to a specific activity or challenge. For example:
1: Hop on one foot to the next station.
2: Crab walk across the floor.
3: Spin around three times before continuing.
4: Balance a beanbag on your head while walking.
5: Skip to the next station.
6: Do a silly dance move before proceeding.
Afternoon:
- Talent Show: Conclude the week with a talent show where kids can display their crafts, perform songs, or demonstrate physical skills they’ve perfected during Ski Week. It’s a wonderful way for children to showcase their achievements and build confidence.
Weekend – Family Engagement
Ski Week or February Break is also a perfect opportunity for Family Engagement. With schools on break and families looking for meaningful ways to spend time together, this is the perfect time to host family engagement activities. Whether organized by afterschool programs, community centers, or even at home, these activities offer an excellent way to strengthen relationships, foster creativity, and promote teamwork.
S&S Worldwide offers a variety of exclusive Family Engagement Kits and Packs designed to bring families together during this time.
Family Engagement Night Activity Kits – a comprehensive solution that provides all the materials needed for an evening of fun and interaction. Families can work together to create arts and crafts projects, play group games, or solve challenges that encourage collaboration and communication. These kits are ideal for community programs looking to host events that appeal to families of all ages.
Family Engagement Take Home Bags – a popular option is our STEM Challenge Pack, which includes engaging science, technology, engineering, and math activities. Families can work as a team to build structures, solve puzzles, or conduct simple experiments, making learning fun and interactive. These challenges not only provide quality time for parents and children but also introduce educational components that inspire curiosity and critical thinking.
We also have some great Creative Reads Kits which are great for project-based learning.
By incorporating these exclusive kits and other activities into February break programs, organizations and families can make this mid-winter pause meaningful and memorable. These activities not only entertain but also promote connection, learning, and fun, ensuring families come away feeling more engaged and inspired.
We hope kids enjoy activities during their break! Comment below to tell us how you celebrate.
