KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Wed, Apr 15: Happy Birthday Leonardo da Vinci! at Discovery Museum
Sat, Apr 18: Cherry Blossom Celebration - At the Arboretum
Sun, Apr 19: Wild Kratts Live 2.0 - Activate Creature Power!
at Boch Center - Wang Theatre
Mon, Apr 20: April Vacation Week: Community Science at EcoTarium Sat, Apr 25: Party for the planet at Buttonwood Park Zoo
Sat, Apr 25: Southwick’s Spring Fest at Southwick's Zoo
Sat, May 2: Crabapples in Bloom: Music Inspired by Nature - At the Arboretum
Sun, May 3: Boston Red Sox: Star Wars Day at Fenway Park
Sun, May 3: Teacher Appreciation Weekend at Southwick's Zoo
Sun, May 3: Ever After Princess Ball
Tue, May 5: Preschool Story Hour-Pollinators (Ages 3-5) at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
Sun, May 10: Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
Sun, May 10: Muffins for Mom: Mother's Day 5K & Children’s Entrepreneur Market at Good Pickin' Farm |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with our quest to
explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test, I’d stay home
“sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an option" with
"nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste weird, projects
that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Discover the wonders of the natural world through storytelling and seasonal exploration! Dive into captivating books about different seasonal themes. Each session bursts with interactive fun as you craft nature-inspired projects and play games that connect you to wildlife and the changing seasons. Come ready to laugh, learn, and create lasting memories while discovering fascinating facts about the natural world!
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
SHEN YUN: The Beauty and Wonder of China Before Communism Shen Yun’s grand production immerses you in stories and legends that shaped Chinese culture for millennia. It’s a world where maidens danced with ethereal grace and generals fought with explosive athleticism, where timeless tales of valor and virtue were born, and where heaven and earth intersected, making even magic possible. Based in New York, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive the best of 5,000 years of civilization. Combining the expressivity and athleticism of classical Chinese dance with an East-West live orchestra and innovative backdrops, Shen Yun is being hailed as a breakthrough in performing arts. Shen Yun is now the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Some people fly from other countries or drive hundreds of miles to see it. Others see the same performance five or six times. Why? Many say there are no words to describe it—you have to see it with your own eyes to find out. Join us and celebrate the…
|
|
|
|
Gather at the magnolias for a one-of-a-kind concert celebrating this beautiful collection in peak bloom. Chloe DeSteno and Ariana Mascari, graduate students at the New England Conservatory, have assembled a collection of musical pieces about the magnolias, their cultural and historical impact, as well as plants and the Arboretum more broadly–including one original piece composed for the Arboretum’s magnolia collection itself. The concert will feature a chamber ensemble playing genres from Renaissance to jazz, all rooted in classical music. Seating will be on the grass. We recommend bringing a blanket or lawn chair to sit on if desired, as chairs will not be provided.
|
|
|
|
Join us this year for Fairy Garden Days 2026 Celestial Spring! April 11-26* Explore our four greenhouses transformed for a celestial magic land. Get lost in the details of hundreds of fairy houses hidden in our gardens. Marvel at what local community members and artists have created for our exhibit this year. And enjoy fun activities for kids every day.
|
|
|
|
Join us April 11 for Opening Day at Southwick’s Zoo as we kick off another wild season of adventure! We’re excited to welcome guests back to New England’s largest zoo for a day full of wildlife, exploration, and outdoor fun. From the big cats and curious primates to peaceful walking paths and immersive exhibits, there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Whether you're a returning guest or visiting for the first time, we can’t wait to open the gates and start another amazing season with you. Grab your friends and family and come celebrate Opening Day at the zoo
|
|
|
|
Each spring, on the first warm, rainy night, frogs and salamanders emerge and begin an extraordinary journey to the vernal pools where they breed. Go on a one-hour guided walk where you'll meet larger-than-life characters who bring the story of vernal pools to life—sharing fascinating facts, personal tales, and insights into this remarkable seasonal migration. Continue the celebration in our festively decorated barn. Enjoy crafts and educational activities for kids, and up-close encounters with live amphibians and reptiles found right here on the sanctuary. The Vernal Pool Association staff and volunteers will be joining in on the fun in the Nature Center with vernal pool displays, critters from the vernal pool and educational craft activities. Don't miss this unforgettable experience of discovery, learning, and family-friendly fun as we celebrate the arrival of spring! This program is appropriate for families with children under 12 years of age.
|
|
|
|
Two shows! Recognized as “the queen of kids’ music” by People magazine, Laurie Berkner is a singer, songwriter, performer, author, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records, LLC. With more than 1.7 billion streams, an average of more than 22 million monthly streams, more than 535 million YouTube channel views, and millions of CDs and DVDs sold, Laurie’s songs have become beloved classics for children worldwide. As a leader and innovator in children’s music and entertainment for more than 25 years, Laurie has released 17 bestselling, award-winning albums, was the first recording artist ever to perform in music videos on Noggin, appeared regularly on the network’s Jack’s Big Music Show, and helped develop the short form animated musical preschool series Sing It, Laurie! on Universal Kids (formerly Sprout TV). Laurie also created two Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen series with Audible Studios, who released them as 10-chapter audio books through the Audible Originals brand.
|
|
|
- Drop-In Gaming Time (All Ages) - At Boston Public Library - Chinatown Branch - Boston Public Library, 2 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, Friday, April 10, 2026, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Free Open Houses at the Betsey Williams Cottage - Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, Friday, April 10, 2026, 10:00 am - 3:00pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Boston - Shoott, See link for times, Friday, April 11, 2026 - Saturday, April 12, 2026
- Magnolias in Bloom: Music Inspired by Nature - At the Arboretum - Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, Friday, April 11, 2026, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Fairy Garden Days 2026 - At the Museum of Natural
History in Roger Williams Park - Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, Friday, April 11, 2026 - Sunday, April 12, 2026, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Girls in STEM: Brilliant Minds, Bold Designs - Acera School, Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10:00am -
12:00pm
- Mayor Michelle Wu's Boston Family Days- At Old State House (Boston) - 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA, Saturday, April 12, 2026, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
|
|
|
|
View our local Boston area 2026 summer camp guide for kids! Pick the dates you want to explore on our calendar and see what summer camps are available. Hundreds of local summer camps: day camps, overnight camps, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts &
crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Boston area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Boston area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping a
spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist,…
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
