Play (or Craft) on President’s Day in NJ

If your brood hasn’t experienced quite enough bonding and cabin fever courtesy of New Jersey’s many snow days, you’re in luck! President’s Day will soon be here and with it another day (or two) of scrambling for activities that don’t involve turning on the TV and time-outs. Fortunately, New Jersey’s museums deliver with some great family-friendly events, or if you feel like staying in and crafting the boredom away, we’ve found some clever crafts that will have you hailing to the chief in no time.

Presidents’ Day at Newark Museum

Newark Museum is offering a full afternoon of activities that, while not strictly presidential, will celebrate and explore how ‘We the People,’ aka Americans, are represented through art and science. Art projects will include making Native American dolls from different tribes, inspired by the many antiquities in the Museum’s impressive Art of the Americas collection; Victorian silhouettes that mimic the cameos from late 1800s Newark that are on display at the Museum; and self-portraits like those in Posing Beauty, the exhibit of African American images currently at the Museum. A scavenger hunt will send children around the Museum in search of the pieces that motivated their crafts. The science activity will focus on fingerprints and our enduring individuality. Monday, February 21, 12:30-4:30pm. Admission: Free to members; non-members free with suggested general admission of $10/adults, $6/kids. 973-596-6550.

Vacation Day Workshop at Morris Museum

Go back in time with our forefathers, the big daddies of Presidential power, Washington and Lincoln. Children will use mixed media craft materials to re-create George and Abe. Monday, February 21, 12-2pm. Admission: Free for members and children under 3, $10 for adults and $7 for children.

Of course, some days just call for a little Commander in Chief crafting. No? Well, just in case, head over to kaboose.com for detailed instruction on making everything from a powdered wig — perfect for recreating the signing of the Declaration of Independence–to a ‘Yes We Can’ charity collection jar, a fun way to encourage kids to ‘do for their country.’ Also, for all the aspiring politicians in your house, a ‘Future President’ pin. Over at dltk-kids.com kids can learn how to make a log cabin just like those that belonged to the pioneer settlers and one of the country’s most heroic presidents, Mr. Lincoln.