Getting Ready for a New School Year

January 28, 2026

School is starting next week at public schools across the region, and a lot of us are thinking about how to make the transition back to school as smooth as possible. Last year and this year, we talked with parents, caregivers, young people, and school staff about what they find helpful. Here are some of the tips that came up again and again!

Tips from Parents, Caregivers, Youth, and School Staff

Schedule and structure

a hand-written list titled "My Morning Checklist" to remind kids of things to do in the morning: make my bed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on clothes and shoes, each with a picture that goes with the item.
A morning checklist from 4SC Coordinator Ilana’s house! (OK, making the bed didn’t always happen…)
  • Sleep. Now is a great time to get back on a school sleep schedule. For many families, that means going to bed earlier and waking up earlier.
    A few minutes earlier each day for several days in a row works well for two high school students we talked with: They explained “It’s less of a shock to the system than a couple hours all at once!” and “I’m way more awake during the day and don’t hate the morning as much when I do it over a few days.”
  • Morning and evening routines. To help ease the morning crunch time, some families suggested practicing school year routines, like making breakfast and picking out clothes the night before (and getting backpacks ready) to reduce the morning scramble! 
    Also, it can help to set up a system that reminds each person what they need to do, especially if each person is involved in setting up reminders that work for them. For non-readers, it could be a visual checklist; for people who like digital tools, it could be on a phone, etc.
  • Practice leaving the house on time. Shortly before the first day of school, try making an appointment or scheduling a fun activity at the same time that school starts so there is a clear reason to get ready. 
  • Meals. Several young people said they really like knowing what they’ll have for lunch, whether it’s school lunch or lunch from home. Families suggested making lunch together the night before or looking at the school meal menu together. School meals are still free for all K-12 public school students in Massachusetts! 
  • Phone use and other screen time. One of the hardest things for some youth about going back to school is not using their phones during the school day. A ideas that can ease the transition:
    • Fun family or youth activities without phones (e.g. swimming, hiking in an area without good cell service, a meal or outing they pick with the expectation that phones will be away, etc). 
    • Some families have tried fun “screen-free” challenges for the whole household or had a friendly competition with another family to see who could spend the most time without screens. (Prizes included a pie and new fidget toys.)
    • Tech-focused tips for reducing screen time and social media use.  

Build positive anticipation about the school year.

This can help the whole family, especially kids and youth feeling anxious about going back to school. A few things to try: 

  • Visit the school grounds (younger kids may enjoy playing on the playground) and meet a teacher or another school staff member if they are available. 
  • Try brainstorming positive parts of the school day (e.g. seeing a favorite teacher or other school staff member) or something special that the family will do together after school or on the weekend.
  • Plan to check in after the first day.

More on easing back-to-school anxiety

Include refreshers during the day about things students will be doing at school.
You can help students of all ages get back in the swing and feel more confident by reviewing info from last year and talking about what they will be doing in the coming year.

  • For elementary school students, try including things they’ll be doing at school in daily activities like reading out loud, sending a postcard to a family member or friend, or doing some math when baking together. 
  • For middle and high school students, educators suggest talking about what they learned last year, especially what they learned about themselves as learners or something that connected with other parts of their lives. Encourage them to ask questions about what’s coming up this year. If there is a movie or show that connects to something that interests them, watching it together can be a fun conversation starter.

Helpful tips for families with a new kindergartener. 

The transition to kindergarten feels big for most kids and families. This is especially true for children who haven’t been to preschool. Here are a few tips from families, school nurses, and educators:

  • Drop off: 
    • Practice saying goodbye by acting it out beforehand at home or on the school grounds.
    • Quick transitions are usually easier on kids than slow ones.
  • Meals and snacks:
    • If your child will eat school meals, tell them what is on the menu for that day. If they don’t like the hot lunch, most schools have a sandwich or other simple alternative meal option. It can help to talk through the options.
    • Items that are higher in sugar (e.g. chocolate milk) or foods the family doesn’t eat at home can be a concern for parents and caregivers. If you don’t want your child to have something, the promise of a healthier treat at home is an option that works for some families. 
    • If your child has allergies or dietary restrictions that are important to communicate to school staff, send an email to the school nurse and your child’s teacher. 

What to bring to kindergarten:

  • Most schools encourage kids to bring water bottles.
  • Change of clothes. Accidents and messes happen!
  • School supplies. Many schools ask families to pack these, but if you forget or supplies are hard to afford, schools almost always have extras!
  • What not to bring: stuffed animals, toys, and anything that would be really upsetting to lose.

Find more tips on starting kindergarten in this article in English and en español. We especially liked the sections about the first day and weeks of school. (And don’t stress if you don’t follow the article’s advice about labeling – a child’s name on important things is usually all you need!)

Check-ins after the first few days – and throughout the year

Check in time
Setting a time for other important aspects of your day can help to fit it in, including when you are going to check in and connect with family members about how the new school year is going. Mealtimes can be great opportunities to do this. The Family Dinner Project has ideas for talking with children and youth, including these Resilience-Building Back-to-School Questions.  

Support and community

You don’t have to do it alone! Local families we spoke with prepare for school by checking in with friends and family about helping each other with hand-me-down clothes, carpooling, childcare, and being an emergency contact for school pick up. 

Local, Year-Round Support

Local organizations, including the Community Action Family Center, Valuing Our Children, and The Brick House help families to navigate challenges, get help with school-related issues, and support their children and youth all year round!

Local Volunteer Opportunities for Youth (and Adults too)

January 28, 2026

For many people, volunteering is one of the most fulfilling ways to stay involved in the local community. Some people just love to volunteer and some people say it especially helps them to give back when they are feeling down or isolated.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County has volunteer opportunities for adults and high school students to be mentors for kids. They also often have spots available for kids who would like a mentor.

“I was really nervous to sign up to be a Big Sister because I was worried about not having anything to talk about with my little sister. But actually it’s been really fun! Susannah [Big Brother Big Sisters staff] give us ideas every week of what to do, but now we usually just make dance videos or chat.”  
– 10th grader in the virtual program

Greenfield Housing Authority is often looking for volunteers (especially high school age!) for the monthly Mobile Food Bank at Oak Courts.  Volunteers help put together bags of food and/or assist with food distribution.  Email Kim “at” greenfieldhousing.org to find out more!

Stone Soup Café in Greenfield continues to serve meals on Saturdays during COVID. They have a variety of volunteer options for youth and adults. Some are very flexible with no long-term commitment. Check out their post from last year about a youth volunteer.

The Franklin County Community Meals Program (FCCMP) has multiple sites in Greenfield, Turners Falls, and Orange. They have volunteer opportunities for adults and youth. For more info on volunteering, contact the staff.

The ACT Volunteer Center in Greenfield helps to connect people interested in volunteering with agencies looking for volunteers.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter accepts volunteers who are 17 and older on their own, and 16 and older with an adult. CORI check required.

Dakin Animal Shelter in Leverett is temporarily closed, but they usually have volunteer opportunities. Their Springfield site is still open and accepting volunteers.

For people 18 and older:

The Literacy Project in Greenfield accepts volunteers who are 18 and up.

We are always on the look out for more volunteer opportunities for youth and will update this page as we hear back! If you know of an organization you’d like to help out, give them a call and ask if they have opportunities for youth.

Emergency Preparedness is for Everyone

January 28, 2026

Thank you to Mark Maloni and Nick Licata from the Western MA Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition (HMCC) at the FRCOG for sharing resources and helping us understand how families can prepare for emergencies.

Why prepare for emergencies?

Preparing ahead of time can make challenging situations much less stressful and can also give us peace of mind now. Emergency preparedness can help us to know what is happening in our local area, get in touch with family members, meet up in person, have supplies we need to stay healthy and comfortable, and more. 

Emergencies happen everywhere. 

Emergencies are situations that disrupt daily life. Sometimes they affect many people all at once. For example, during the last few years in our region we have had blizzards, rainstorms that caused flooding, and microbursts and other storms that caused wind damage. Sometimes emergencies are more limited to individual households, like frozen pipes, house fires, and COVID quarantining.

What does “preparedness” mean? 

Preparedness means taking steps to be prepared for emergencies and other challenging situations. 

Being prepared means you will have what you need to be safe, healthy, and comfortable during emergency situations. Some examples include:

  • Making a plan with family members about how you will get in touch
  • Having a plan for meeting up in person if you can’t be at home
  • Knowing how to get information about what is happening 
  • Having supplies like food, water, and first aid supplies ready to use at home or on the road
  • Gathering important documents and other items in case you need to leave home quickly

Emergency Preparedness for Busy Families

You don’t have to do it all at once. If you feel too overwhelmed or too busy to prepare, break it down into steps and aim to do something each week or each month. Anything you do can make a positive difference. 

You can start by learning basic info that can make a big difference. 

For example, what is the communication system for your child’s school? Did you know that text messages often go through even when cell towers are tied up during an emergency due to extra phone calls? (We just learned this!) Check out the resources below for more info.

Resources for Step-by-step Preparation

Emergency Preparedness infographic, with a house and the words "Make a plan", a picture of a first aid kit and the words "build a kit", and a picture of a phone getting an alert and the words "be informed."

www.ready.gov has a step-by-step guide for emergency preparedness and resources for tailoring your plan for your family’s individual needs. 

You can find information on www.ready.gov about:

How to receive alerts, which can give you information about what is happening during an emergency. 

How to create a family or household communication plan, which can help you to get in touch and meet up in person. This includes creating a list of important phone numbers that each person can access if cell phones are not available or the battery runs out and agreeing on a spot to meet up. 

How to tailor your plan for your family’s specific needs (See step 2), like medications, diapers, pets, and other individual considerations that will help create a successful plan for you.

How to create an emergency kit, including extra supplies that are helpful during the pandemic. 

Try this family challenge!

  • Make a list of phone numbers for your household members and any other people you would contact in case of an emergency.
  • Try memorizing one new number each day this week until you have up to 7 numbers memorized.
  • You can make it more fun by coming up with mnemonic devices that help you remember certain numbers or having a prize for the person who memorizes the most first!
  • Young children can help by decorating the list or learning the full names of important people. 

Concerned about being able to afford supplies?

There are many aspects of preparedness that are free or low cost.

  • Focus on the aspects of the plan that do not cost money, like the communication plan and having important documents in a place where you can find them.
  • Set aside small amounts of important items, like 3 or 4 diapers and a few first aid supplies if you can’t afford an extra package of something. 
  • Rotate supplies so they are not wasted. If you can afford to buy or can get a few extra low-cost, non-perishable items from a food pantry like canned soup or chili, you can use them before they expire and then get new ones when possible. 

Want a Preparedness Checklist to sum things up?
Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Chinese, and Vietnamese.

Talking with People Who Have Different Views

January 28, 2026

Tips and Resources for Talking Across Differences

Talking with family and friends can be tricky. There have been quite a few recent articles about the challenges of navigating relationships with loved ones who have different political, social, or religious views. Some people worry about arguments if they try to talk openly, while others prefer to steer clear of divisive topics to keep the peace—or they’re simply tired of politics.

Here are some easy-to-skim tips and resources to help reduce stress and strengthen connections—while staying true to yourself. Feel free to share these with anyone who might find them helpful!

You can decide how much you engage in conversations about politics or other sensitive topics.
Do you prefer to focus on subjects that might lead to less conflict, or are you hoping for a deeper conversation? Although you can’t predict what topics others will bring up, it can be helpful to think ahead about how much you want to discuss potentially tense issues during a particular gathering or with certain people. Having a few strategies in mind for navigating loaded conversations—or shifting the focus to something else—can help things go more smoothly.

If you Decide to Talk about Tricky Subjects…

Things to Do Before the Conversation
Clarify Your Goal. Think about what you want to achieve—whether it’s understanding the other person’s perspective, sharing your own, or finding common ground. Approaching the discussion as an opportunity to connect or learn, rather than to “win,” helps keep things respectful and strengthens relationships.

If You Feel Strongly About the Subject:
 Consider an alternative approach to debating. It’s natural to feel the urge to debate when you care deeply about a topic. Interestingly, research shows that debates rarely change minds. People are more likely to be open to new ideas when they feel heard and respected. Approaching the conversation with curiosity rather than confrontation can make a big difference. Learn more:  Want to persuade an opponent? Try listening.

 Take a Moment to Ground Yourself. Pausing before or during the conversation to reduce emotional tension can help you stay calm, open, and less defensive. Here are five quick grounding techniques from the American Psychological Association that are backed by science.

 Research Thoughtfully. If you plan to share information, make sure it’s factual and comes from trusted sources. Keep in mind, though, that people with opposing views may not see the same sources as credible. As noted above about the research on listening versus debating, it is often more effective to focus on understanding each other’s experiences than to rely on “facts.”

 Having an Ally Can Help. If you’re worried about others being harsh about your beliefs or identity—like your gender or sexual orientation—having an ally can be helpful. This could be a family member or a friend you bring along if that’s welcome. Before the gathering, talk about how they can support you—joining the conversation, offering a supportive look, or being there for emotional support afterward. If an in-person ally isn’t possible, checking in with someone after the event can still provide comfort.

Things to Do During the Conversation
 Start with Shared Values: Find common ground to build trust and connection. For example, “We both care about creating a better future for our kids.”
 Listen Actively: Let them explain their beliefs without interrupting. Repeat back key points to show you’ve understood.
 Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage them to elaborate on their views. Examples: “What led you to this perspective?” or “How do you see this affecting people in our community?”
 Avoid Loaded Language: Use neutral terms to avoid triggering defensiveness. For example, you could say “policy” instead of “agenda.”
 Use “I” Statements: Frame your perspective with phrases like, “I feel…” or “I’ve noticed…” instead of “You…” statements, which can sound accusatory.
 Acknowledge Valid Points: Respectfully agree where possible, to show you’re doing your best to stay open.
 Focus on Solutions: Discuss practical ideas or actions rather than dwelling on differences.

If Things Get Heated
 Pause and Redirect: If emotions rise, you can take a breather or shift to a less contentious aspect of the topic.
 Express genuine caring despite differences: It’s okay to conclude that you see things differently and still respect each other and care about each other.

After the Conversation
 Reflect and Learn: Consider what you learned about their perspective and what might improve future discussions.
 Stay Open to Dialogue: If it feels healthy for you, keep the door open for future conversations, even if this one was tough.

If you Decide to Steer Clear of Tricky Subjects…

 Set Boundaries Ahead of Time: If certain topics are known to cause conflict, it can be helpful to agree as a family to steer clear of them. For example, “Let’s focus on celebrating and save political debates for another time.”
 Redirect with Humor or Gratitude: If a tense topic arises, shift the focus to a positive or light-hearted subject. For example, “That’s a big question! But first, can we talk about how great this pie is?”
 Set Boundaries in the Moment: If you haven’t had a chance to talk ahead of time about avoiding certain topics, you can let others know in the moment that you prefer to focus on connecting as a family. You can’t control what other people say, but you have choices about how you respond. E.g. “I’d rather focus on being together than topics that can lead to arguments.” If someone continues to push you to talk, you can let them know you need to end the conversation, or go use the bathroom, help with dishes, talk with someone else, etc.

Whatever Happens, Be Kind to Yourself.
Although these types of tips can be helpful for many people, they may not work for you or your family. Whatever happens, give yourself credit for trying to maintain relationships while being authentic. It can be hard work! We hope that this is a helpful place to start. 

Resources for Talking Across Differences

Interested in how receptive you are to viewpoints different from your own? 
Take an anonymous survey, designed by researchers at Harvard and other research universities, and see your results.  Can you “talk the talk?” This tool allows you to type or paste in a (real or imagined) message to someone you disagree with, and the tool will provide a score to tell you how receptive your message is likely to sound. 

Living Room Conversations (LRC) is an organization that “connects people within communities and across differences through dialogue to build trust and understanding.” They have guides and models for hosting facilitated conversations in public or private settings, and they also have educational materials for improving informal conversations that align with the tips we shared in this article. Their newest guide is about listening. 

5 Tips for Talking Across Differences and Disagreements
Intergroup Dialogue Training Center Co-Directors Jazmin Pichardo and Carlton Green offer Guidance for Productive Conversations in Polarized Times.

14 Minute Radio story from the NPR series, Seeking Common Ground: Have a politically divided family? These tips help you talk across the dinner table.

Things to Do!

January 28, 2026

Looking for inexpensive ways to spend time together as a family or local activities for children and youth? Check out these ideas from our friends at the 4SC Coalition and Connections newsletter. Please note that some of these may be no longer available, so please check before making plans!

Create Meals and Memories: Kids in the Holiday Kitchen

Love Your Library Challenge: a Fun Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Where to Find Family-Friendly Summer Activities

Inexpensive Activities for Building Family Connections this Holiday Season

Fun Family Activities for Staying Active this Holiday Season

Local Museum Info for Families

Local Volunteer Opportunities for Youth – and Adults Too

Local Museum Info for Families

January 28, 2026

Museums are a great option for indoor fun and education. Here are some museums that are within an hour away by car from most spots in Franklin County and a little farther from the North Quabbin, with some accessible by FRTA. We left a few out to keep this list more user-friendly. If you have a favorite, you’d like to see on here, email Ilana “at” frcog.org.

Looking for free or reduced admission?
If you have SNAP/EBT: Many museums that charge admission honor the EBT Card to Culture Initiative https://www.mass.gov/ebt-card-to-culture, which reduces the admission for people who have EBT cards/SNAP benefits. Some museums offer free admission to EBT card holders. Call ahead to find out!

Museum passes from local libraries: Many public libraries offer museum passes for free or reduced admission to museums and other venues in the region year round. You don’t have to live in the town that the library is in – a library card for any library in the CWMARS system will work to reserve a museum pass. You can reserve passes through
Greenfield Public Library, Athol Public Library, Arms Library in Shelburne Falls, or call your local library to see if they have passes available. 

Museums with Family-Friendly Exhibits

Discovery Center, Turners Falls  

Cost: Free
Why families like it:  This local center and museum is accessible by bus and has exhibits for people of all ages, including programs especially for children and youth.

Amherst College Museum of Natural History

Cost: Free, with free parking nearby on campus on the weekends. When school is in session, you can call the museum for parking tips or park in a public lot.

Why families like it:  This museum has fossilized dinosaur and ancient animal skeletons, gems and minerals, dinosaur tracks, and more!

Brattleboro Museum and Art Center

Cost: Admission is on a “pay-as-you-wish” basis (so it is free if you wish!). If you are in a position to pay admission, we recommend $5-$10 per adult.

Why families like it: It’s a small museum, so kids don’t tend to get overwhelmed. The museum often has child-friendly exhibits, including an annual Lego creation contest, open to Massachusetts residents of all ages as well as Vermonters.

Clark Art Institute in Williamstown

Cost: Free through March 31, 2026! Always free for members, anyone age 21 and under, and students with a valid ID.

Why families like it: The Clark offers a variety of ways to involve children in the museum experience – check out their ideas here.  

How far is it? This is the farthest option we included for most people in Franklin County and The North Quabbin – about an hour from Greenfield, over an hour and a half from Athol, and less than 45 minutes from Berkshire East in Charlemont. 

Smith College Art Museum

Cost: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, free for youth under 18 and k-12 teachers. Free on second Fridays.

Why families like it: The museum encourages families to bring children and has a page with guidelines and ideas. It is also next to the Smith College’s Plant House and Conservatory, a multi-room greenhouse which includes a tropical room and other warm spots to enjoy the feeling of a warmer time of year.

Historic Deerfield

Cost: Children 17 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult (admission is $7 for adults). They honor Card to Culture and have other free/reduced ticket options.  

Why families like it: It’s in Franklin County and has extra programming during vacation week, open February 20-24 from 10am-3pm each day aimed at children and families.

Eric Carle Museum   

Cost: Adults – $12. Children, youth, seniors, students, and teachers – $8. They honor the Card to Culture and other programs.

Why families like it: The museum focuses on picture book art and has a lot of programming aimed at children and families. 

Holyoke Children’s Museum

Cost: The museum has an EBT Card Holders Discount: $3.00 admission for up to four people. Find all discounts, general admission fees, and museum hours here.

Why families like it: It’s aimed at kids and has lots of interactive, fun activities.

The Springfield Museums 

Cost: Adults: $25, Seniors $16.50, Youth 3–17: $13 but they have reduced admission for EBT Card to Culture and have some other ways to get free or reduced tickets. There is one admission that allows entry to all five museums.

Why families like it: Whether your family is into art, history, science, or Dr. Seuss, there is probably something that will be of interest. They often have exhibits and interactive activities aimed at young people. 

Fun Family Activities for Staying Active this Holiday Season

January 28, 2026

We get it! During the winter holidays, sometimes we get so focused on holiday meals, travel, and seeing friends or family that we aren’t as physically active as usual.

Staying active is good for everyone’s physical and emotional health and can make the holidays more fun for children and adults. Here are some easy family activities you can do at home or in your neighborhood to keep moving during the holiday season. These activities can be done a variety of ways, so people with different levels of physical ability can choose how much to participate.

Outdoor Fun

A small child in a winter jacket next to a huge snowball that is taller than the child
  1. Snow Fun – Giant Snowball and More: If you have snow, there are many snow-related activities that you can do in a private yard or a local park. One fun activity that can be turned into a competition is to see which person or team of people (including kids and adults) can create the biggest snowball. Or work together to create the biggest one you can as a group! Or stick with classic snow fun like building snow sculptures or sledding. These activities are all great for burning energy and warming up on a cold day.
  2. Festive Nature Walks: Take walks in your neighborhood or local parks to enjoy the holiday decorations and winter scenery. Encourage kids to collect pinecones, colorful leaves, or other natural items to use for craft projects later.
  3. Hot chocolate walk: Does it feel too cold for a walk outside? Try getting everyone motivated by taking mugs or travel cups of hot chocolate (or tea or coffee) to stay warm.

Indoor Fun

Mom and daughter doing yoga together on the rug in a house
  1. Dance Parties: Put on your favorite holiday music and have dance parties in the living room. Dancing is a fantastic way to stay active and boost your mood. Let each member of the family or group pick at least one song, including a ridiculous one.
  2. Home Workout Challenges: Find kid-friendly home workout routines or yoga sessions on platforms like YouTube. Make it a family challenge to complete a set number of exercises or hold yoga poses for a specific time.
  3. Winter-themed Charades: Play a game of winter-themed charades in your living room by acting out winter-themed or holiday-related words or phrases. Find rules and a winter-themes charades word list in our other post on fun, inexpensive family activities for the holiday season.
  4. Obstacle Courses: Create obstacle courses using furniture, cushions, and other household items. Time each other as you navigate the course, and take turns setting up new challenges.
  5. Yard Games: Set up games like cornhole or horseshoes in your backyard or a nearby park. Throwing a frisbee to each other is also a good all ages activity and can work during the cold weather.
  6. Holiday Baking Workout: While baking holiday treats, use the time between steps to do quick exercises, like squats, lunges, or push-ups. It’s a fun way to include physical activity during a busy day.
  7. Stretch and Relaxation: Wind down the day with some family stretching or yoga sessions. This can help everyone relax and unwind before bedtime.

Or come up with your own ideas. You may end up creating new holiday traditions! Whatever you do, go easy of yourself! The purpose of this info is to have fun and enjoy quality time together as a family while staying active during the holidays or any cooler time of the year.

Inexpensive Activities for Building Family Connections this Holiday Season

January 28, 2026

Many local community members say that connecting with loved ones is their top priority during the holidays. At the same time, parents and caregivers know that it can be a challenge to find affordable family activities and keep kids occupied during school vacations. Here are some ideas for building connection and keeping kids engaged in fun activities during this time of year!

Bonus suggestion from a parent in Greenfield: “Sometimes I need something entertaining for my kids while we’re doing a chore or I just don’t want more screen time. My son loves this new podcast called “Sound Detectives.” Common Sense Media also has children’s podcast suggestions by age group.

  1. Include kids in holiday cooking. We know it can take time to figure out how to include them easily, so we created a post with a list of ideas of simple things that kids of various ages can do to help with common holiday dishes: Create Meals and Memories: Kids in the Holiday Kitchen.
  2. Do something physically active together. Want some simple ideas? Here are some fun family activities in our other post that you can do at home or in your neighborhood to keep moving during the holiday season.
  3. Indoor or Outdoor Scavenger Hunt: Create a winter-themed scavenger hunt in your home or neighborhood. Once set up, many kids can do this on their own! See complete instructions below for creating a winter-themed scavenger hunt!
  4. Winter-themed Charades: Play a winter-themed game of charades for laughs and fun. See complete instructions below for playing winter-themed charades!
  5. DIY winter-themed decorations: Make personalized ornaments or winter-themed decorations using craft supplies or natural materials. Pine cone bird feeders are fun, kid-friendly, and inexpensive to make.
  6. Bake and Decorate Cookies or (for a low-sugar option) fruit and veggie sculptures. Spend part of a day baking and decorating holiday cookies or fruit and veggie sculptures as a family. No cookie cutters? We like to use cups to make round cookies!
  7. Virtual Family Game Night: Connect with extended family over video calls for a virtual game night. Board Game Arena is an online site that has a lot of free online versions of board games that players in different locations can play together. (It’s also possible to play games and chat with strangers, so it’s important to monitor children if they are on the site.)
  8. Nature Walk: Take a stroll in a nearby park or nature reserve to enjoy the winter scenery. Try taking photos of details or landscapes together. Ask kids to find fun things to photograph, like bird tracks in snow.
  9. Homemade Gift Exchange: Have a family gift exchange with handmade or budget-friendly gifts.
  10. Storytelling Night: Share holiday stories, family stories, or other memories with each other.
  11. Volunteer Together: Give back to the community by volunteering at a local organization. Connections newsletter issue 73 has several local volunteer options for this year.
  12. Holiday Craft Session: Create holiday-themed crafts like paper snowflakes (directions for easy, medium difficulty, and fancy paper snowflakes) or greeting cards.
  13. Family Photo Session: Take festive family photos at home or in a local park. Let kids set up shots, suggest outfits, or take some photos.
  14. Board Game Marathon: Spend a day playing board games or card games together. Some local libraries lend out board games, so you might not need to own one or buy a new one!
  15. Holiday Karaoke: Have a sing-along session with favorite holiday tunes. There are a lot of karaoke versions of songs for free on YouTube.
  16. Write Letters to relatives: Sit down as a family and write letters to relatives who live far away.
  17. Winter Picnic: Pack a simple picnic and enjoy it in a local park, even if it’s cold.
  18. Candlelit Dinner at Home: Create a special dinner atmosphere with candles and festive decorations.
  19. Family Book Club: Choose a holiday-themed book to read together and discuss.
  20. Stargazing Night: Bundle up and go stargazing in your backyard or a nearby open space.
  21. Holiday Movie Night: Watch festive movies together at home with popcorn and blankets. Common Sense Media has recommendations by age for fun and age-appropriate movies.
  22. Holiday Puzzle Challenge: Work together on a jigsaw puzzle with a holiday theme.

Holiday or Winter Scavenger Hunt

Setting up a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood or around your home is a great way to add fun to your holiday celebrations. It’s also a fun activity that keeps kids engaged during school vacation days. Scavenger hunts can be free or very low-cost, depending on how you set them up!

Here’s a step-by-step guide for creating an indoor scavenger hunt with common household items or an outdoor scavenger hunt in your neighborhood. There are also optional riddles and suggestions for prizes that fit the theme.

Step 1: Decide on the Scavenger Hunt Theme:

  • Choose a holiday-themed theme for your scavenger hunt, like “Winter Wonderland,” or “Holiday Treasures.”

Step 2: Make a List of Hidden Items:

  • For Indoors: Create a list of household items related to your theme that participants search for to complete the activity. For example, if the theme is “Winter Wonderland”, you can include items that capture the feeling of the winter season, such as a paper snowflake (directions for easy, medium difficulty, and fancy paper snowflakes), a snow globe or photo with a winter scene, a pair of mittens or gloves, a sled, a packet of hot cocoa mix, a pinecone, a holiday greeting card, or a children’s book with a winter story.
  • For Outdoors: Create a list of easy things to find outdoors near your home during this time of year that participants will search for to complete the activity. Some possible outdoor items are: a pinecone, an ice scraper, a house with holiday decorations, a snow shovel, or other things particular to your neighborhood (something unique about a house nearby, a neighbor’s dog, etc.).
  • For all items, participants don’t have to collect the items, just see them and note where they are!

Step 3: Create Clues or a list of items

  • Riddles or clues lead participants to the location of each hidden item. The riddles can be fun and related to the theme. For instance:
    • “This snow doesn’t melt, though it’s cozy and warm. Much bigger and in a different form. A festive decorate, day or night, out in the open in plain sight. (for a paper snowflake)
    • Among the needles on the ground, the pine trees store their seeds here waiting to be found. (for a pine cone)
  • Or just make a list of things to find! For young children or others who don’t read, you can make a list with simple pictures of the items.

Step 4: Put the Items in their places if they’re not already there:

  • Put the items in the locations you chose if they’re not already there, making sure they are not too difficult to find but still require some searching.

Step 5: Provide Instructions:

  • Give participants the rules of the scavenger hunt, explaining that they need to solve the riddles to find each item (if you include riddles) and how much time they have to find as many items as possible.

(Optional) Offer a winter-themed prize for everyone who participates, like a mug of hot chocolate, a pencil with a snowflake pattern on it, or a scarf.

Winter-themed Charades

Charades can be a fun game for people of all ages – even babies and toddlers who are too young to act out words often love to watch! The lists and rules online tend to be on sites with a lot of ads or require you to download a list, so we put it all here in one place – no download required.

Simple rules for charades:

  1. Players take turns acting out a word or phrase without speaking.
  2. The rest of the players try to guess what the actor is portraying.
  3. (Optional) Use a timer to set a time limit for each turn (usually 1-2 minutes).
  4. No verbal hints or sounds allowed from the actor.
  5. Players can divide into teams or play individually.
  6. Rotate turns, and keep score if desired.
  7. The team or player with the most correct guesses wins.

Ideas for words or phrases for winter-themed charades:

You can use any words or phrases that are fun, seasonal, and easy to act out. If you celebrate a winter holiday, you can add holiday-themed words too.

  1. Snowball fight
  2. Ice skating
  3. Snowman building
  4. Sledding
  5. Hot cocoa
  6. Jack Frost
  7. Penguin
  8. Snow angel
  9. Shoveling snow
  10. Skiing
  11. Fireplace
  12. Winter storm
  13. Frozen
  14. Polar bear
  15. Mittens

Where to Find Family-Friendly Summer Activities

January 28, 2026

Looking for youth-friendly activities or for fun things to do together as a family during the summer? 

We often hear this from families with older kids and teenagers who still benefit from some structure, and also from families with younger kids who don’t go to camp.  

We’ve put together this list of community organizations and online groups that share event information for our region. Our focus is on free and low-cost options, but some of the groups may also list higher-cost events, so each listing has a note about cost. We will keep making updates, so feel free to send info to Ilana.

We hope you enjoy exploring these local options and have a fantastic summer!

North Quabbin Region

Greenfield

Montague/Turners Falls

Shelburne Falls/West County 

Deerfield

  • Historic Deerfield has a variety of educational workshops and exhibits related to local history. General admission is $20 for adults, $5 for youth 13-17, and free for children 12 and under. Historic Deerfield participates in the EBT Card to Culture program, so EBT card holders get a discount when buying tickets in person at Historic Deerfield.

Want to park for free at a Massachusetts State Park?

Across Western MA