KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Mon, Dec 29: Movie: Smurfs (2025) - All Ages at Framingham Public Library - Main Branch
Mon, Dec 29: Winter Hibernation with Hands-on Nature - Ages 4-12 at the Central Library in Copely Square
Tue, Dec 30: Felted Pikachu Hoops with Pop-up Art School, Ages 8-12 - at the Central Library in Copely Square
Wed, Dec 31: New Year’s Eve Noon Celebration at Boston Public Library - Hyde Park Branch
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Years Eve Celebration at Framingham Public Library - Main Branch
Wed, Dec 31: Bessie’s Rockin’ Noon Year’s Eve at Discovery Museum
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Year’s Eve at EcoTarium
Wed, Dec 31: Frog Pond Skating Spectacular at First Night Boston ( 2 Shows)
Fri, Jan 2: Hike into the New Year at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
Fri, Jan 9: Homeschool - Skull Investigation
(Ages 6-10) at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, Jan 10: Night in the Museum at Old Sturbridge Village
Thu, Jan 29:
Noli Timere at Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
Tue, Feb 17: February Vacation Adventure Days at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, Feb 21: Lunar New Year Concert with the Boston Pops
Sat, Feb 28: Maple Magic at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, Feb 28: Maple Sugaring at Boston Nature Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, Mar 14: Creatures of the Night at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Peace can come in many textures during the holidays. For some, it’s the energizing bustle of concerts and community events, or the warmth of a crowded house full of voices and motion. For others, it’s the stillness of a walk through snow-covered woods, a soft blanket at home, or the quiet company of someone who understands them. It shifts from person to person, and sometimes even
from one day to the next. Peace can be internal, external, or, at its best, a bit of both: a sense that life makes sense, within and around us. It’s easier to feel when we’re free from hardship, but even in the midst of challenge, it’s sometimes possible to find a quiet kind of peace when we know we’ve done our best with the time and energy we’ve been given. Peace can be elusive for parents; after all, we're the ones in charge of figuring out how to make the
family rhythm and flow work for everyone, and what brings peace to our kids may look nothing like what brings it to us. Maybe your son needs to be out with friends while you crave stillness. Maybe your daughter is hoping to hide in a corner with a book while you're in full-on glitter-and-cookie mode with all the cousins. Parenting is the art of balance, of helping everyone in the family thrive by seeing who they really are and doing our best to honor it. It's not easy, and it's never perfect,
but we try. When kids feel known—when they hear “I see that you love this, that you need this, and I’ll help you find your way to it”—they flourish. That sense of being understood can be its own kind of peace. So as the season winds to a close, I wish you whatever kind of holiday rhythm helps you feel most like you. And I hope you’ll find moments to offer that same gift to those around you. When we make space for each other’s version of peace, it’s more
likely to find its way into the room.
—Debra Ross, publisher
|
|
|
KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes
from Deb" section of our site. |
|
|
|
Celebrate the Holidays at The EcoTarium December 24, 2025 10:00 am – 3:00 pm December brings an abundance of colorful lights, chilly weather, and over 21 globally recognized holidays. But what makes this part of the year so special? We’ll dive deep into the science of winter together on December 24, when the EcoTarium is open for FREE between 10:00 and 3:00.
|
|
|
|
Our fun-for-all-ages seasonal exhibit returns—filled with classic charm, hands-on activities, and a captivating wintry environment brimming with nostalgia! Explore intricate miniature train displays featuring snow-covered peaks, colorful landscapes, and detailed scenes complete with décor, buildings, and tiny townsfolk. Watch model trains of various scales power along their tracks through delightful, meticulously crafted settings. Guests of all ages can enjoy a range of interactive experiences: “drive” a train through a snowy mountain scene, discover trains from around the world, and compose your own symphony using train sounds and musical elements. Little engineers will love exploring wooden train tables, brio layouts, and a design-a-train activity in the expanded play area. Celebrate the wonder of the season with friends and family at this beloved Museum of Science tradition.
|
|
|
|
Gardens Aglow is a celebration of lights that has become a treasured holiday tradition. This event features beautiful light displays throughout the gardens, festive seasonal décor, and fun activities for all. At the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery, visit with Santa in the 1913 Ford Model T and view Heritage’s antique car collection. At the American Art & Carousel Gallery, take photos on the 1908 Looff carousel and view winter scenes from our Currier & Ives collection. Outdoors, stroll the lighted gardens with family and friends, roast marshmallows, go on a reindeer scavenger hunt, enjoy seasonal treats from Lilly’s Café and the Cape Cod Donuts truck, play with giant building blocks, warm up at a fire table, enjoy lighted tunnels, firefly lights, a model train display, and more. We look forward to welcoming you to Gardens Aglow where you can enjoy Heritage in a whole new light!
|
|
|
|
November 14 - January 4, 4:00 - 9:30 p.m. (Closed Nov. 27 and Dec. 25)Step into a sparkling winter wonderland and stroll along tree-lined paths aglow with thousands of twinkling lights. Discover festive displays throughout the Zoo and look for animal residents, including flamingos, black bears and reindeer, adding to the holiday magic.
|
|
|
|
Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum for families that blends science, nature, and play. The fully accessible campus provides indoor STEM-based exhibits and a nature playscape and giant treehouse for open-ended learning explorations.
|
|
|
|
Wild About Winter Vacation Week December 26 – December 30, 2025 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Do your snowflakes have six points or eight? And where did they come from in the first place? This winter vacation, celebrate the wonders of winter with us at the EcoTarium! Dive into the science of snow, curl up like a hibernating animal, or conduct a frigid experiment of your own. Don’t forget your mittens!
|
|
|
|
Perfect for school vacation days! Sing along to all the songs in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen.” The Sing-Along version of the film features on-screen lyrics as you watch your favorite musical numbers, including “Love Is an Open Door,” “Let it Go,” “In Summer,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and more!
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions in and around the Boston area. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
|
|
|
- Drop-In Gaming Time (All Ages) - At Boston Public Library - Chinatown Branch - Boston Public Library, 2 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, 12/26/2025, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Special Free Admission at the
Harvard Museum of Natural History - Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, 12/24/2025, 12/28/2025, Sunday morning from 9 am to 12 pm and on Wednesdays from 3 to 5 pm
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Boston - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 12/27/2025 - 12/28/2025, See link for times
|
|
|
|
Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
|
|
|
|
|
|
KidsOutAndAbout.com's 2025 holiday events list for Boston: Santa sightings, Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Boston area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams. KidsOutAndAbout has dozens (and dozens) of ideas!
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025's best places to take kids in Boston as voted by Massachusetts parents! Parents vote, we do the math, and the result is the Top 20 Places to Take Kids! But there is LOTS more to do in Boston than even just this wonderful list: visit KidsOutAndAbout.com
to see our events calendar, find seasonal activities, get ideas for the perfect day trip and MORE !
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
