KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jan 2: Flick & Float: Finding Nemo at Community Recreation Center-
Schaumburg, IL
Wed, Jan 7: Family Fun Day at Slick City - North Aurora at Slick City Action Park - North Aurora, IL
Fri,
Jan 9: Stargazing and S'mores at Rosewood Beach at Park District of Highland Park
Sat, Jan 10: A Live Presentation of 2001: A Space Odyssey with the CSO at Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Sun, Jan 11: Heller Hygge Winter PlayDate at Heller Nature Center Wed, Jan 14: Family Fun Day at Slick City - North Aurora
Sat, Jan 17: Hibernation Huddle with Stuffed Friends at Heller Nature Center Mon, Jan 19: Curiosity Day Camp at Museum of Science Industry: STE(A)M Solvers
Mon, Jan 19: School Day Off Camps at the Chicago
Botanic Garden
Wed, Jan 21: Open Play at Ultimate Ninjas
Sat, Jan 24: Eagle Watch Winter Trip with Heller Nature
Center
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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
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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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Stay overnight at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry! Enjoy a rare chance to explore the Museum after everyone else has gone home. Join us overnight for our Snoozeum experience! Spend the evening exploring the Museum, take part in a scavenger hunt, explore the Coal Mine or U-505 on a tour, catch a big-screen adventure in the Giant Dome Theater, then curl up next to an iconic exhibit. The Museum is yours for the night! Snoozeums are for children ages 6-12 and their adult (18+) chaperones (one required for every five children). Snoozeums begin at 6 p.m. and end at 9 a.m. the following morning. You can experience the Museum at your own pace with Build-n-Play activities and a scavenger hunt exploring our world famous exhibits. Snoozeums include next-day General Admission, so you can follow up your overnight with a day of exploration.
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FREE Studio Fees if you wear your Pajamas! Do you love wearing your pajamas? Did you get some extra festive PJs this winter? This event is for you! Come paint in them with us! $0 cost to sign-up! Join us and enjoy FREE Studio Fees if you are in your P.J.s! Come in and paint with your kids or drop them off for 2 hours of fun! And enjoy a couple hours of kid free time! This event is recommended for kids 7 and up. Adults are also welcomed!
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Christmas at Cantigny returns for its third season, bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever. From Friday, November 21, through Tuesday, December 23, Cantigny transforms into a holiday wonderland filled with lights, music, food, and festive cheer for our Christmas at Cantigny celebration. NEW Magical Twist for 2025: A Wickedly Popular Christmas, Christmas at Cantigny’s Sunday evening light shows ‘flip the switch’ to feature the hues and music of Wicked (available 11/23, 11/30, 12/7 and 12/14). Guests at Christmas at Cantigny will stroll a half mile, fully accessible path through brilliantly illuminated gardens and landscapes—no dark gaps, just a seamless journey of light, color, and creativity. After Christmas, the magic continues through Saturday, January 4, with 'Lights, Camera, Action,' a show set to iconic movie soundtracks.
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Are your spider-senses tingling yet? Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is swinging into Griffin MSI! Step into the exciting world of one of the most beloved superheroes of all time in Marvel's Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing – The Exhibition. In this immersive exhibit, you'll see rare comic books, view props and costumes from your favorite Spider-Man movies, explore cutting-edge interactive installations and take photos with life-size statues of your favorite characters, like Miles Morales, Ghost-Spider and, of course, Spider-Man! Superfans can dive deep into the evolution of Spider-Man from his first comic book appearance to the latest TV, movie and video games, while kids of all ages can get hands-on with drawing activities and more. Don't miss Marvel’s Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing – The Exhibition, open now through February 8, 2026.
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Good grief! Join Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang at Chicago Children’s Museum! Step into Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit and be transported into the world of Charles M. Schulz’s iconic comic strip. See beloved characters spring to life with interactive displays and activities focused on self-care, empathy, and environmental stewardship. Explore character-themed sections, comic-inspired designs, and sustainable features that inspire learning, creativity, and kindness for visitors of all ages.
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Travel with us to Starved Rock State Park for the Illinois Audubon Society’s annual Eagle Watch Weekend. See live bird shows, view wild eagles fishing along the river, make crafts and participate in hands-on activities. The colder it is, the better the bird viewing! Pre-registration required. All participants, children and adults, must register for the program. Children must be accompanied by a paid registered adult. Dress warmly and for walking; some of the best viewing areas involve climbing stairs. Meals not included. Transportation is provided using our Park District Mini-Bus.
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WhOOO WhOOO! Let's go on an owl prowl at Rosewood. Listen for our resident owl and some owl visitors in the ravines, all under the glow of an owl moon. Learn all about these silent fliers and master hunters. Pre-registration required. All participants, including adults and children ages 2+, must register for the program. Children must be accompanied by a paid registered adult. Bring warm clothes and be prepared to be outside.
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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 Chicago area. Here are local organizations that
offer memberships.
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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.
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KidsOutAndAbout's 2025 holiday events list for Chicago is loaded with our traditional 101 ideas for local holiday fun. Santa sightings, Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's
Eve.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Chicago 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 of ideas!
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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Chicago Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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