School is out until Jan. 6 and that means parents need to find ways to keep their children busy until then.

Albert Lea has many options for keeping children occupied. The city library, the Albert Lea Family Y, and the Rock-Youth for Christ center, all have programs or are open for children during the two week break.

&uot;When school is out, the library is over-run with school children,&uot; Lori Barkema, library director, said. &uot;We want to keep them busy while they are here, so we’ve planned some events.&uot;

On Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. the library will have Book-It Pictionary, the game is played like pictionary but with book based questions such as titles, characters, and authors. On Dec. 27 at 10 a.m. children can come and make gingerbread houses. On Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. children can come to participate in the uno tournament. On Dec. 31 at 10 a.m. it will be story time with a library employee reading a selected text. On Jan. 2 there will be a checkers tournament at 2 p.m. On Jan. 3 at 11 a.m. there will be a Junie B. Jones trivia contest. Jones is a popular children’s book character.

All events at the library are free. The library will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. You can get more information online at www.city.albertlea.org or by calling 377-4355.

At the Albert Lea Family Y parents can drop their children off for the day for the Y’s ‘Kids day off’ program.

The program runs from 7 a.m. to around 5:45 p.m. each Day that they are open. They will be closed on Christmas day,

and close early on New Year’s Day, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

The program will keep children busy through the day with crafts, swimming, games and gym time.

The cost for one day is $15 per child. Each extra child is $13.

For more information call the Y at 373-8228.

One other organization that will be open for children through the break is The Rock- Youth for Christ. The Rock acts as a community center for children from kindergarten to college age. According to Robin Gudal, a Rock employee, adults are welcome to accompany their children, mentees or siblings, but she says that the center

is more for youth. The center is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on most days, but has shorter hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s and New Year’s Eve.

Inside there are pool tables, games, and televisions. There is no cost to be there.

For more information call 373-6120.