Although kids may also enjoy sitting around the house playing the same video game for a week straight (Call of Duty: Black Ops, anyone?) there are a lot more activities kids and their families can participate in together during the week off from school. Here are some basic ideas close to home:

• Behold: ZooLights at the Stone Zoo runs daily from 5-9 p.m. until Jan. 2.  Admission is $5 Monday-Thursday and $6 Friday-Sunday.
• Swim: The Melrose Y offers swim lessons each morning from Monday through Thursday. Signup fees are $17.50 for health club members, $35 for Y members and $65 for non-members.
• Challenge: For your high schooler, a Teen Chess Tournament will be held on Wednesday from noon-5 p.m. at the Malden Public Library. Registration is free, but must be made in advance. 
• Learn: The Beebe Memorial Library offers various free or reduced admission passes to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, and much more. 
• Ski: The closest mountains to Wakefield are Nashoba Valley, in Westford, MA, the Blue Hills in Canton, MA and Ski Bradford in Haverhill, MA. A little further out, at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, MA you can find night skiing.
• Sled: Not a skiier? Break out your sleds and head to Mount Hood for some tamer downhill action.
• Skate: The Stoneham Figure Skating Club runs ice skating lessons on Tuesdays (5 p.m.), Saturdays (noon) and Sundays (1 p.m.) at the Stoneham Arena. Register at anytime; cost is approximately $10 per class $90-110 for an entire session. Figure skaters and hockey players welcome.
• Skate again: Skating close to home is fun, but taking a trip out to Boston to skate on the ever-popular Frog Pond on Boston Common makes this activity even more special for children, teens, and the whole family. Hours of operation can be found on the Frog Pond's website.