Learn more about polar bears - and what can be done to help them. The zoo offers twice-daily Arctic activities at 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Resident polar bear Anana will be in for some extra treats, and staff and volunteers will be giving away free passes to see To The Arctic 3Dat Navy Pier IMAX Theater.

If you're looking for an alternative to skating at Millennium Park this winter, look up. Way up-94 stories, to be exact. Touted as the World's Highest Ice Skating Rink, the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center gives ice skaters a bird's-eye view of the city and the lake.

At 20 feet by 45 feet, the rink is probably too small to be your solo destination of the day, but paired with a trip to see the view from the Hancock, it's a nice way for kids to burn off energy while parents enjoy the great view. And because it's synthetic ice, skaters stay warm and don't get wet.

The rink is scheduled to be open for skating from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. through April 18. A 25-minute skate session costs $6 (in addition to the cost to get into the Hancock Observatory). You can bring your own skates or rent some there for a dollar.

See a toy so amazing, so unbelievable, it has the power to transform into anything you want it to be. Enter a world where imagination rules, and ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Visitors become space adventurers and set off on a journey to discover the Universe in a way never done before. Travel a billion light-years and back, fly through space, orbit the Moon, zoom into a canyon on Mars, and soar through the cosmic web where a million galaxies shower down. The experience was created utilizing real telescopic data and the best scientific imagery.

Chicago Kids Company performs the classic tale from Feb. 6-April 12.

Watch men painted blue do unusual performance art and original slapstick comedy. It's fun to sit in the front, but remember to wear a plastic poncho to avoid the flying food and liquids. Buy tickets at the box office, online, via Ticketmaster or by calling (773) 348-4000.

Based on the book by Gary D. Schmidt, performances are 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays from Jan. 19-March 2 (no performances Jan. 26-Feb. 2). Recommended for children 9 and older.

The Cat in the Hat is the perfect friend for a boring rainy afternoon. From games and mischief to Thing One and Thing Two, The Cat brings all sorts of trouble to this gray day--but will Sally and her brother be able to explain the mess to Mother? Performances run Jan. 26-June 9, 2013.

When happily ever after isn't what he expected, the Frog Prince heads out for a new adventure. While searching for his true amphibian self, he meets witches from Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, and Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. Performances run Jan. 26-June 9, 2013.

This third installment continues the marriage of classic literature to music. Students will be introduced to Blues concepts along with other contemporary music. Playwright J. e Franklin reconstructs timeless fables about morals and values that stimulate critical thinking in a setting filled with music, fun, and laughter. Showtimes are 10 a.m. and noon Monday-Friday from Oct. 29-June 14. Summer performances are June 24-Aug. 2.