Things To Do With The Kids, Through December 15: Holiday Train Show, Funkijam Family Musical, And Make Your Own Kwanzaa Wreaths

Looking for something to do with the whole family this week? There are a lot of great kid-friendly events coming up in Brooklyn, and we’ve selected some of our favorites. See the full details below!

For more things to do around Brooklyn, and to add your own upcoming event, check out our calendar.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

First Five Years Kids Create: Winter Holiday Cards
When: Wednesday, December 9, 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library, 380 Washington Avenue
What: Little ones up to age five will craft beautiful holiday cards from colorful paper strips and glue.

DIY: Magnified Magnets
When: Thursday, December 10 from 4-5pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Get ready to decorate your fridge or locker in style with these cool glass marble magnets! We’ll glue magazines to magnets and top them with glass marbles for some magnification magic! We have plenty of supplies so come in and make a whole set of magnets—enough to keep or give as gifts!

Holiday Train Show
When: Friday, December 11, 3:30-6:30pm & Saturday, December 12, 11:30am-2:30pm
Where: Brooklyn Free School, 372 Clinton Avenue, Clinton Hill
What: The annual event (recommended for kids from birth to 12 years old) returns with eight types of electric trains weaving in and out of four hand-made scenes. The second floor will house a play space for the younger visitors where they can watch a film and play with wooden tracks and trains.
How Much: Admission is by donation; suggested amount is $2 for kids and $3 for adults.

Creative Writing
When: Friday, December 11, 2:45pm
Where: Cortelyou Library, 1305 Cortelyou Road, Ditmas Park
What: Kids between the ages of 7 and 11 can write and share their work with each other in a safe atmosphere of respect and acceptance.

Kids Create: Kwanzaa Wreath
When: Friday, December 11, 4pm
Where: Flatbush Library, 22 Linden Boulevard
What: Kids are invited to make a handprint Kwanzaa wreath in red, black, and green — they suggest bringing some family photos to attach to the wreath when it’s finished.

The Star Wars Experience
When: Saturday, December 12, 1-3pm
Where: Central Library, Dweck Center, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Park Slope
What: Start getting super psyched for the new Star Wars at this free interactive event that encourages reading, physical activity, and creativity through all things Star Wars.

Funkijam Holiday Beat Family Musical
When: Saturday, December 12 from 3-4pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street, Fort Greene
What: Captain Jam comes to the rescue as Bongo, wants to throw a holiday party that all his friends can enjoy. Captain Jam takes Bongo and all the “junior agents” on a rocking trip around the world to learn about different cultures and how they celebrate. This is one all-new, high-energy interactive musical where kids become the stars of the show.

Family Fun Night: Holiday Decoration & Ornament Making
When: Saturday, December 12, 4pm
Where: Prospect Park YMCA, 357 9th Street, Park Slope
What: Families are invited to make beautiful holiday decorations and tree ornaments.
How Much: Free!

Story Time: The Thing About Yetis
When: Sunday, December 13, 11:30am
Where: powerHouse on 8th, 1111 8th Avenue, South Slope
What: Yetis, the mysterious snow creatures, apparently miss summer! Hear the tale from the author and illustrator, Vin Vogel.

Family Performance: Navidad Flamenca
When: Sunday, December 13, 12:30pm
Where: Central Library, Dweck Center, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Park Slope
What: Music, carols, and dance representing holiday traditions from the Spanish-speaking world will be on display at this performance by Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana II.
How Much: Free, but you should RSVP to guarantee your seat.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Read To Me
When: Tuesday, December 8 at 3:30pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Kids ages 8-12 practice reading aloud.  Vocabulary, comprehension, pronounciation and annunciation are emphasized.

Teen Tech Time
When: Tuesday, December 8 at 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come race your wheels off, battle your heart out, and dance your socks off with Wii games at the library! We have sports games, dancing games, racing games, and more! No registration or experience necessary.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9

Kids Concert Series: Jitterbugs
When: Wednesdays at 3:30pm
Where: DSK Brooklyn at 710 Fulton Street
What: Music for the whole family!
How much: Free

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10

Sing With Me
When: Every Thursday from 11am-12:30pm
Where: Ingersoll Community Center at 177 Myrtle Avenue
What: Sing, dance, laugh, and make music with your little one. Ages four months to four years.

Reading Is Fundamental
When: Thursday, December 10 at 11am and 3:30pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Babies aged 0-18 months at 11am; kids and teens at 3:30pm — Earn FREE books by borrowing and returning books with your library card!

Stutengarten Brooklyn
When: Thursdays from 2:30-5pm
Where: Die Stammkneipe/ Der Schwarze Kölner at 710 Fulton Street
What: Tuesdays & Thursdays playgroup! Parents and/or caregivers can bring their babies (infants and toddlers) for play and socializing.
How much: $10 includes food and drink

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11

Toddler Time
When: Friday, December 11 at 10:15am
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Stories, songs, fingerplays, puppets, and fun for toddlers and caregivers!

Babies and Books
When: Friday, December 11 at 11:15am
Where: Clinton Hill LIbrary at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Storytime is for babies, too! Come sing, play, hear stories, and meet with other parents and caregivers.

Free Movie
When: Friday, December 11 at 3:30pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Free movie screenings for kids ages 6-12 and their families.

Build with LEGOS and DUPLOS
When: Friday, December 11 at 4pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come help us think up new things to build – towers, house, cities, vehicles, monsters? Collaborate with your friends and get creative. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers will also have their own play area at the library with DUPLO blocks galore!

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12-13

Jill Lindsey Holiday Markets
When: Saturdays-Sundays, December 5-20, from 10am-7pm
Where: Jill Lindsey at 370 Myrtle Avenue
What: Several local vendors will be featured over the course of three weekends this month, beginning with this Saturday and Sunday! Stop by and do some holiday shopping and hands-on crafts while enjoying mulled wine and treats at the cafe. Also, check out the new JL Wellness initiative! Gift wrapping is also offered.
How Much: Free unless you buy items!

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14

Preschool Storytime
When: Mondays at 10:30am
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: A read-aloud for preschool-aged kids. Groups and classes are welcome to attend (please contact the children’s librarian, Emily Heath, at 718-398-8713 to let us know ahead of time that you will be bringing a group, if possible.

Homework Help
When: Mondays at 3pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Get homework help for children in grades k-8.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15

Story Play First RIF
When: Tuesdays at 11am
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Hear stories, sing songs and play with other children.  Ages 0-5

Toddler Time with First RIF
When: Tuesdays at 11am
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Come and enjoy books, songs and toy time. For ages 18 months to 3 years. Get free books with the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program.

Explore and Create: Arts and Crafts
When: Tuesday, December 15 at 3:30pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Come in and create a new craft project. Ages 6-12 yrs.

Read To Me
When: Tuesdays at 3:30pm
Where: Walt Whitman Library at 93 Saint Edwards Street
What: Kids ages 8-12 practice reading aloud.  Vocabulary, comprehension, pronunciation and annunciation are emphasized.