Fun and unplugged activities for break

“I’m bored!” The words come so easily. It’s only a few days into winter break, but those words will be flying around houses all over Central Texas for the next few weeks, especially after the excitement of Christmas dies down.

Protect yourself and your children with a few great projects and places to go in your back pocket. Here are a few ideas, gathered from years of hearing “I’m bored!” one too many times and from new books “Unbored: The Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun,” by Joshua Glenn and Elizabeth Foy Larsen; “Geek Mom, Project, Tips and Adventures for Moms and Their 21stCentury Families,” by Natania Barron, Kathy Ceceri, Corrina Lawson and Jenny Williams; and “Show me a Story, 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children’s Storytelling,” by Emily K. Neuburger.

• Hit the lights. The Trail of Lights is open through Sunday, but there also are a lot of other light displays in neighboring cities. You don’t even have to leave your neighborhood. Bundle up and grab the flashlights for a moonlit stroll to enjoy your neighbors’ displays.

• Go window shopping. The 2nd Street District has turned windows into fairy-tale wonderlands. Walk beside Neverland, Little Red Riding Hood’s woods and Rapunzel’s tower.

• Head to a museum. Interested in physics? Check out the Austin Children’s Museum’s “Spin and Span” and “Ready, Set, Roll” exhibits. Have a couple of sports enthusiasts? Head to the Blanton Museum of Art for “The Rules of Basketball” exhibit.

• Go for a hike. Many local parks such as Dick Nichols,

Bob Heller; his wife, Phyllis Heller, (center); and Carolyn Jackson were students at Radio House at the Littlefield Carriage House (background).