KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're
still packing lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are
moving through it together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator,* February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build
Strong Communities
*Rochester ☺️ |
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
This Tuesday, FEBRUARY 17 - School is out, so bring the family to the Palace Theatre for a FREE movie and fun activities! Doors open at NOON: Get your photo taken with Anna and Elsa + crafts and activities. Then stick around for FROZEN on the big screen at
1PM.
Reserve Your Free Tickets at https://bit.ly/PalFrozenffd26
|
|
|
|
Join Blippi and Meekah live on stage at the Palace Theatre on Sunday, MARCH 8 at 3pm, in a high-energy live show packed with music, laughter, and surprises. This brand-new interactive adventure invites families to put on your orange glasses and unlock the
spark of curiosity inside us all—showing that everyone can Be Like Blippi!
|
|
|
|
Feb is Almost Gone & Summer is Selling Out!
The 2026 STEAM season is moving faster than predicted! Our February Break camps are down to the wire with just 4 Beginner spots remaining (Intermediate is fully sold out).
Please do not wait on your Summer plans. Our most popular Summer 2026 weeks are already on waitlist status, and remaining sessions are filling daily. (We also still have open spots for April Break if you need coverage sooner!). Secure your child's summer schedule now to avoid going on the waitlist and missing out on their preferred weeks. steamwhiz.com/summer2026
|
|
|
|
Join us for a family-friendly Lunar New Year celebration! Explore the historic Tuck High Co., learn about its rich history, and discover how three generations of the Lee family served their community. Plus, get creative with festive crafts as we welcome the
Year of the Horse! Bring the whole family for a fun, hands-on experience of culture, history, and celebration.
|
|
|
|
Crafty Kids returns for 2026 with a bang! Join us on Valentines Day for fun and easy crafts to celebrate those who we love. Make a card inspired by Clermont’s collection--- tea cup valentine for those who “sweeten your cup” as Margaret Beekman Livingston
did for Robert the Judge, a bright and frilly 19th century inspired valentine for the gilded age enthusiast in your life, or a light-hearted 20th century post card inspired by the Ollie Christensen Meyer collection. Light instruction is offered, creativity is encouraged. Please note: This is a Family Program; all children must be accompanied by an adult and all adults must be accompanied by a child.
|
|
|
|
The Flurry Festival is one of the largest traditional dance and music festivals in North America. It takes place over President’s Weekend in February in Saratoga Springs, NY, and typically draws roughly 4,500 attendees and 400 performers. The 2026 Flurry
will take place February 13-15, 2026, and will feature dance and music such as swing, blues, contra, square dancing, Cajun, Zydeco, English country, Balkan, Scandinavian, Latin, waltz, tango, Scottish, fusion, international, Irish, balfolk, African, Appalachian, Asian, hip hop, techno contra, instrument workshops, family programming, jams, storytelling, group singing, concerts, crafts, yoga and more! In 2026 we will have four Pre-Festival Intensives on Friday afternoon, in Swing, Latin, Waltz,
and Vocal Harmony.
|
|
|
|
Gather your besties for a Galentine’s Celebration on February 13th—an unforgettable after-hours evening filled with friendship, creativity, and self-expression. This interactive experience is designed for you to create, customize, and take home a collection
of handmade treats and keepsakes while enjoying a fun night out at the New York State Museum. Sip on festive mocktails as you craft, mingle, and celebrate with friends in a relaxed, joyful atmosphere. Throughout the evening, guests are free to explore a variety of creative stations where you can decorate your own cupcakes, blend custom bath bombs and bath salts, paint a votive candle holder, design friendship bracelets to wear or share, and more! You’ll also enjoy exclusive access to our
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon Exhibition.
|
|
|
- Free Ice Skating at the Rink at Empire State Plaza - New York State Office of General Services, Albany, NY, Fri 2/13 - Sun 2/15, Tuesday - Friday: 10 am - 1:30 pm & 2:30 pm - 6 pm Saturday & Sunday: 10 am - 12 pm, 1 pm - 3 pm, & 4 pm - 6 pm
- Barbie™: A Cultural Icon Exhibition at the New York State Museum - New York State Museum, Albany, NY, Fri 2/13 - Sun 2/15, 10 am - 2 pm
- Albany Center Gallery's 21st Annual Members' Show - Albany Center Gallery, Albany, NY, Fri 2/13 - Sun 2/15, 12 pm - 5 pm
- Preschool Nature Time - Gansevoort, NY, Fri 2/13, 10:00AM
- Reading with Greta at Troy Public Library - Troy Public Library, Troy, NY, Sat 2/14, 11 am to 12 pm
- Flurry Festival at the Saratoga Springs Public Library - Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saratoga Springs, NY,
Sat 2/14, 9:15am-3:15pm
- Valentine’s Day Hearts & Crafts - New York State Museum - New York State Museum, Albany, NY, Sat 2/14, 10 am - 11 am
- Crafty Kids: Valentine’s Party at Clermont - Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown, NY, Sat 2/14, 11 am - 1 pm
- Sunday School - Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Delmar, NY, Delmar, NY, Sun 2/15, 9:45 am
- Lunar New Year Celebration: Storytime, Tour, and Craft at the Museum - New York State
Museum, Albany, NY, Sun 2/15, 10 am - 12 pm
|
|
|
|
Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Charlotte 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 Capital Region? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets, 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 Albany 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 best places to take kids in the Capital District as voted by New York 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 Albany 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 wonderful weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
