KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Thu, Jan 29: Noli Timere at Emerson Cutler Majestic
Theatre Sun, Feb 15: Lunar New Year Celebration at EcoTarium
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 8: International Women's Day Hike at Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, Mar 8: Discover the Beauty of Classical Chinese Dance at Ming Hui Academy Boston
Sun, Mar 9: Little Leprechauns’ Bash at Time Out Market
Tue, Mar 11: Coyote's Trip from the Earth to the Moon and the Sun at Blake Planetarium
Thu, Mar 13: Under the Crimson Moon - Total Lunar Eclipse at The Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center
Fri, Mar 14: 2025 Annual Jewish Cambridge Purim Carnival at Warehouse XI
Sat, Mar 15: Saturday St. Patrick's Family Breakfast at Irish Cultural Centre
Sun, Mar 16: The 122nd South Boston Evacuation Day/St. Patrick’s Day Parade |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
If it weren’t for a Polish pastry, I might not exist. When my great-grandmother Karolina Stelmach was a teenager in a small village in Poland, she was told she’d be entering an arranged marriage. But her heart belonged to Sylvester Nowakowski. So she left... on her own, by boat... and made her way to America. She found work in a restaurant, where she made her
family’s signature dessert: chrusciki. One day, a “distinguished gentleman” insisted on meeting the pastry chef, and he offered her a better-paying job in his own kitchen. She took it, saved enough to bring Sylvester over, and they married. Which means if chrusciki didn’t exist, neither would I. Stories like this do more than entertain. According to psychologist Robyn Fivush, interviewed on a recent episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, they help kids develop identity,
resilience, and self-worth. The more children know about their family’s past—not just the “big” stories like crossing oceans, but even the day-to-day moments and struggles—the more connected and grounded they become. Fivush and her colleagues at Emory University found that kids who know more family stories have higher self-esteem, greater emotional understanding, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. But it’s not just the information that matters...it’s the telling. When we sit down and
share what came before, we help kids feel like they’re part of something bigger, and that they belong. No AI can replicate that. A chatbot can write a story, sure. But it can’t tell your kids how Grandma’s meatloaf could’ve doubled as a construction material, or how two little girls in the 1950s turned a couple of ice cream cones into a front-porch endurance contest. So this year, make a point of telling your kids about your family's shared history: about
mistakes, about perseverance, about love, about dessert. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated: Just pull up a chair, pass the cookies, and pass down the stories.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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. |
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Do you have what it takes to beat your friends or family at board games? Whether you’re looking for competition or just wanting to have fun, you’ll have plenty of games to choose from at our weekly gaming time. Drop by any time between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. every Friday and start your weekend with some fun! This event is open to all ages. Children under the age of 12 must have an adult present at the library.
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Join us for our first Homeschool Days of 2026 on January 16 or 30! During these Homeschool Days, participants will learn about what life was like for New Englanders during the cold, long days of winter. What food and drink warmed their souls, and what clothing kept them safe from the chill? How did they stay entertained, and what work was necessary during this time of year? Homeschool Days offer you and your family the opportunity to explore the Village and participate in hands-on activities. Sign up for a workshop or explore the Village on your own using one of our many self-guides and scavenger hunts, available at both Museum Education and the Visitor Center.
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Fly into The Good Witch and stay for a spell! Unleash your creativity at The Good Witch of Salem’s Broom Decorating Station, where young witches and wizards can transform a simple broom into a magical masterpiece! Use enchanting tape, colorful ribbons, sparkling stickers, and shimmering gems to design a broom that’s uniquely yours. A delightful hands-on experience for all ages—perfect for little spellcasters ready to sweep into their imagination!
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From majestic mountains to the deepest canyons, the Earth’s stories are locked within its rocks. Learn how to uncover these stories in stone with family fun activities, planetarium shows and more at the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Roger Williams Park.
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Admission is Free to Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and on Wednesdays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Proof of residency required. This offer is not available to commercial groups.
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What's it like living and learning in a community committed to the success of girls? Attend an in-person or virtual Open House at Stoneleigh-Burnham School and discover a school where girls lead every classroom discussion, athletic team, and club. Come visit us and see for yourself the power of a Stoneleigh-Burnham education. Join Stoneleigh-Burnham School for our Open House and experience how we empower students to follow their passions and engage with the world around them.
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MLK Celebration with BYSO's Intensive Community Program in collaboration with the Museum of African American History and the City of Boston Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' Intensive Community Program, The Museum of African American History, and The City of Boston's Office of Arts and Culture Invite you to the annual CELEBRATION IN HONOR OFREV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Celebrate MLK Day with us as we amplify the bold voices of youth who challenge, inspire, and lead the way toward a more just future. Join us for a moving program featuring classical works, spirituals, and freedom songs performed by young musicians from the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras’ Intensive Community Program, alongside remarks, readings, and spoken-word tributes to Dr. King’s enduring legacy.
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Teens, join us in the afternoons all year at the Hyde Park Branch to watch and talk about anime! Make new friends, build community, and even get help with your homework!
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- Drop-In Gaming Time (All Ages) - At Boston Public Library - Chinatown Branch - Boston Public Library, 2 Boylston Street, Boston, Friday, January 16, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Game Time! (All Ages) - At
Boston Public Library - Lower Mills - Boston Public Library, 27 Richmond Street, Boston, Friday, January 16, 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
- Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston - At Boston Public Library - Central Library in Copley Square - Boston Public Library, Boylston Street, Boston, Times Vary
- Junk Journaling - At Boston Public Library - Egleston Square
Branch - Boston Public Library, 2044 Columbus Ave, Roxbury, Saturday, January 17, 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
- Geology Rocks Weekend at the Museum of Natural History in Roger Williams Park, Elmwood Avenue,
Providence, Saturday, January 17 to Monday, January 19, 10:00AM-4:00PM
- Special Free Admission at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Sunday, January 18, 9 am to 12 pm
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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school…
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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.
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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!
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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 !
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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