KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Fri, Mar 13: Prospective Parent Open House at Chicago Montessori
Fri, Mar 13: March Dozin' with the Dinos at the Field Museum
Sat, Mar 14: Origami Open House at the Garfield Conservatory
Sun, Mar 15: Family Storybook Yoga at the Nature Museum
Tue, Mar 17: Curiosity Day Camp at Museum of Science Industry: Art Techo
Tue, Mar 17: Spring into Science with Big Marsh
Thu, Mar 19: Discover Daystar Academy Open House
Fri, Mar 20: Frog Watch USA Training at Cosley Zoo (ages 8+)
Fri, Mar 20: Glow Wild at the Brookfield Zoo
Sat, Mar 21: Classical Elements With the CSO
Sat, Mar 21: Illinois Boating Safety Certification Class at St. James Farm
Sun, Mar 22: Public Skate at Fifth Third Arena - Blackhawks Community Ice Rink
Mon, Mar 23: Spring Break Camp at Movement Climbing - Lincoln Park
Sat,
Mar 28: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark – Live In Concert with the Chicago Philharmonic
Sat, Mar 28: Bunny Trolley Hop at the Illinois Railway Museum
Wed, Apr 1: Favorite Animal Day at the Chicago Children's Museum
Wed, Apr 1: Spring Break at Chasers Laser Tag
Fri, Apr 3: Pajama Day at the Chicago Children's Museum
Sat, Apr 4: 2026 Spring Egg-Stravaganza at Lincoln Park Zoo
Sun, Apr 5: Brunch with the Bunny at the Brookfield Zoo!
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades: “Remember the
rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting
to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to
manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and
remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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. |
|
|
|
Join us for Kids Night Out! While you enjoy a night out on the town, your children will have a blast painting a ceramic piece of their choosing, enjoying delicious pizza, and having fun with other kids. Cost of the event is $35 per child - includes their
choice of pottery ($30 and under), studio fee, 2 slices of pizza and water bottle.
Kids ages 7 and over may be dropped off.
Younger kids are welcome to attend with a parent.
|
|
|
|
Most moths live their lives after dark — and most of their stories go untold. Join Field Museum Scientific Affiliate Alissa Doucet to explore the secret lives of moths, from their stunning diversity and surprising behaviors to their roles as pollinators and
indicators of environmental change. See real specimens, ask questions, and discover why these nighttime insects matter.
|
|
|
|
When four farm animals are no longer needed, they set off for the town of Bremen, dreaming of becoming musicians. On the way, they discover a house full of robbers! The friends quickly join forces to scare away the thieves, uncovering hidden courage they
never knew they had.
Once Upon a Symphony is designed to introduce children ages 3 to 5 to the world of classical music and the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ignite your child’s imagination with vivid storytelling and small ensemble performances, as well as sets, costumes and images created by Chicago Children’s Theatre.
Produced and presented in partnership with Chicago Children’s Theatre.
|
|
|
|
Join us for a walk through the beautiful winter landscape of a Southeast Side Natural Area, looking for signs of winter birds and other wildlife. The walk will end with an outdoor fire. Expect to walk 2-3 miles on mostly paved paths but we may adapt the
route and pace based on weather conditions and group needs. Come dressed in layers, ready to be outside for 2 hours. Appropriate for families.
|
|
|
|
Have you ever wanted to help take care of animals on a farm? Well, now is your chance to get a first-hand experience. Join the staff as you help clean and bed stalls, feed some farm animals, and try your hand at grooming.
|
|
|
|
Join Movement Lincoln Park for a morning of climbing and family fun! We're showcasing all we have to offer for youth including summer camps, our Youth Climbing Team, After School programs, Kids Climb Time, Birthday Parties, and more!
|
|
|
|
Theatre For Young Audiences: Discover Roald Dahl’s World of Pure Imagination! Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, enjoy this delightfully scrumptious musical adaptation that brings to life all of your favourite characters, songs, and confections. A
gobstoppingly good time for the whole family! Grab your golden ticket and join Charlie Bucket on this delectable adventure into Willy Wonka’s world famous chocolate factory!
|
|
|
|
Exercise and school your horse at your own pace through a series of obstacles, which may include cake box, vines, carrying items, chutes, teeter-totter, or trot pole variations. Share the arena with up to three other riders, or register and pay for all four
slots and have the arena all to yourself for one hour. Ages 12 and up; under 18 with an adult. $10 per horse-rider combo. Register online or at 630-580-7027. Sessions begin at 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:45 p.m.
|
|
|
|
Our Illinois Resident Free Hours include access to all exhibits and seasonal Stingray Touch. Take a deeper look at our current available exhibits here. We offer several reservation options for Free Hours. For those who prefer to plan ahead, online ticket
reservations are available with a $5 convenience fee per order. Alternatively, you can reserve tickets by phone with no convenience fee by calling 312-939-2438 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Central Time (CT). We also provide free walk-up reservations; however, these are subject to availability and typically sell out quickly. Advance reservations are highly recommended due to the high demand for tickets.
|
|
|
|
|
The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
|
|
|
|
iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best
experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech!
Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
|
|
|
- Jewels of Spring Spring Flower Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory – North Stockton Drive, Chicago, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
- WPB First Friday in March – North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, Friday, March 6, 2026, 6 pm – 8 pm
- Winter Walk and Bonfire at Byrnes – East 103rd Street, Chicago, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9 am – 11 am
|
|
|
|
The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Chicago area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more. Our
guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
|
|
|
|
|
Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Chicago 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 Chicago 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, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 options - we've got you covered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
