KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: February is Children’s Dental Health Month, which means it's the perfect time to talk about LYING. The first lie my daughter Madison ever attempted was when she was about 3. "Did you brush your teeth?” I asked as she was getting ready for bed. She nodded earnestly, but I had my doubts; a check of the toothbrush revealed it was dry as the Sahara. "Looks like
we need a do-over," I said. "Try again." In a 2025 Delta Dental study of 1000 parents of kids age 12 and under, 67% of respondents reported difficulty in getting their kids to brush their teeth. And in a related but thoroughly unscientific survey, 100%
of the friends I asked told me that their own kids have lied about tooth brushing at least once. See, young children don’t experience truth as adults do; their developing minds blur the line between reality and hope, between what happened and what they would prefer had happened. Brushing is tedious, being done is better. Add a desire to please Mom, and those wires can cross. In those early years, our job is to help kids gradually separate fact from wishful thinking. You might
think that prosecuting dishonesty harshly might scare kids into telling the truth, but that often just scares them into hiding more cleverly. Our goal as parents isn't just to have kids who brush their teeth and do their own homework and someday file tax returns without creative interpretations of “business mileage,” although we do want all those things. But overall, we want kids who are brave enough to be, rather than seem to be. If they see early that
mistakes can be brought into the light and fixed with a do-over, they’re far less likely to build a life around pretending they didn't happen. So my best recommendation for Children's Dental Health Month is to model both scrupulous honesty and scrupulous teeth-brushing yourself. In case you need an immediate solution, though, I hunted down a list of kids' best tooth-brushing songs thoughtfully supplied by the American Dental Association. Grit your teeth and hum along.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
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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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Attention party animals: Celebrate your birthday at the Humane Society of Huron Valley for $50 off!
Our party program for ages 6-12 includes a shelter tour, a craft for the animals, and a meet-and-greet with the adoptable animals. Plus, the birthday kid gets to name a shelter animal! Use code WINTER26 to get $50 off of a party booked for January, February or March. (But don’t wait – spots for Saturdays and Sundays fill before you know it!)
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Kroger Delivery helps busy families reclaim time and reduce stress by delivering fresh groceries and household essentials straight to the doorstep, within the one-hour timeframe that fits your busy schedule. Conveniently shop from your phone to add favorite
items, reorder past products, and save with digital coupons. A Boost membership provides fee-free delivery on qualifying orders and extra fuel rewards, to keep costs predictable. Refrigerated trucks preserve freshness for produce, dairy, and frozen items, while professional drivers handle everything right to your doorstep. Visit Kroger.com to enjoy the convenience of delivery without sacrificing quality for fresh, making weeknight dinners, packed lunches and healthy snacks quick and
easy.
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Explore the world of forging through the Forging Foundation’s two-day Forge the Future Summer Camp. Students 11-15 years old will have the opportunity to tour a forging facility, participate in STEAM and
team building activities, and learn how to forge. Plus, campers will get to take home their own forging!
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Did you know that original Native American trails such as along the current Michigan Avenue in southern Michigan were used as routes in the Underground Railroad?
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Did you know that original Native American trails such as along the current Michigan Avenue in southern Michigan were used as routes in the Underground Railroad?
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The Sportsman’s Tradition Continues! Whether it’s hunting, fishing, boating, or being outdoors, this is the show of the year. The Outfitter’s Expo area along with major feature attractions like Big Buck Night and the Trout Pond provide the best place to
book the trip of a lifetime or entertain the family. In addition, with a huge display of boats, docks and lifts, and marine accessories, this show is the best place to shop for new boats and accessories. Outdoorama is a must-see for everyone who loves the outdoors.
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Did you know that original Native American trails such as along the current Michigan Avenue in southern Michigan were used as routes in the Underground Railroad? Or that a section of I-94 is designated the Underground Railroad Memorial Highway? That
Detroit, the last stop before crossing the river to Canada, had a code name of Midnight? Learn about this history from a state-wide and local perspective. Dress for the weather, as there will be a PowerPoint presentation as well as a short night hike to the Rouge River. The fee is $5.00 per person ($6 per person if out of county) and is recommended for ages ten and older.
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Step into a Valentine's dreamland at our 31st annual Daddy Daughter Dance. Bring your favorite guy for a memorable night - whether it's dad, grandpa, uncle or a family friend. Savor the joy of a special evening together and create treasured memories during
a night of laughter and love with dancing, a sweet treats dessert bar, crafts and a balloon drop finish. Keepsake photo packages will be available for purchase from iDEAL Photos.
Registration required, no walk-ins.
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Join us for Blake’s 10th Annual Chili Cook-Off! We’re marking 10 years of a winter tradition celebrating community, craft, and friendly competition as local cooks dish out their best family chili recipes. Expect a high-energy winter day on the farm with
hard cider flowing, music playing, games, and more.
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Celebrate Black History Month at Detroit Book City’s 10th Annual African-American Family Book Expo & Read-In on Sat., Feb. 21, 2026 (12–5 PM) at Developing K.I.D.S. – Village Hall in West Detroit. Meet 40+ Black authors, buy signed books and kid
activities. The first 100 adults receive a Swag bag.
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This 7-practice/6-game season held on Sundays is a 5 vs. 5, non-contact, recreational, co-ed format (Except Clarkston and Romeo Females in Flag Leagues). We try to limit teams to 8-10 players to maximize playing time. This is an exceptional program for
first-time players who want to learn the fundamentals of football. This is also a wonderful opportunity for players who want to continue enhancing their skills before taking the next leap into tackle football. There are no try-outs!
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Open for Ice Skating Season! The Rink at Stine Community Park is an all-season facility! This means ice skating in the winter, and roller skating/blading the rest of the year.
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Don’t miss our Winter Kids Series at select locations! Join us for a different movie each week Jan 9 – Feb 27, 2025. Tickets are $3 for all ages. Magic Packs available for $5. Dates and showtimes are subject to change. Limited availability each week. Not
eligible for group rentals. If tickets are not currently on sale at your preferred Emagine location, please check back later
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Join us at FestiFools Studio for our Saturday Volunteer Days! If you already love FestiFools and FoolMoon, or maybe you just want to learn more about these wacky events AND HOW THEY ARE CREATED, we’d like to invite you to JOIN US in the warm and cozy
FestiFools Studio in Ann Arbor. Get creative with papier-mâché application, making mini gobos, building drums, and other fun stuff! All ages are welcome.
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We invite you to visit Oak Arbor School and experience our Montessori classrooms, Christian values, and welcoming community in person. Set sail on a family-friendly Treasure Hunt Open House at Oak Arbor School. Children and parents will explore our campus
through a guided treasure hunt, enjoy updated crafts, bounce in the bounce house, and share snacks along the way. This hands-on event is a fun and engaging way for families to tour classrooms, meet teachers, and experience Montessori learning in action.
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- Dearborn Wonderlights - Dearborn Peace Park West, West Village Drive, Dearborn, MI, Friday, February 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM and Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 5:30 PM and Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 5:30 PM
- Open Skate at The Rink at Stine Community Park - The Rink at Stine Community Park, Town Center Drive, Troy, MI, Friday, February 20, 2026, 3–9 pm and Saturday, February 21, 2026, 11 am–9 pm and Sunday, February 22, 2026, 11 am–8 pm
- 10th Annual African-American Family Book Expo & Read-In 2026 - Developing KIDS, West McNichols Road, Detroit, MI,
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Novi Co-Op Preschool Open House - Novi Co-Op Nursery School, 41671 West 10 Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
- Oak Arbor School Treasure Hunt Open House - Oak Arbor Christian Montessori School, 495 Oak Arbor Circle West, Rochester, MI 48306, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 1 - 4 PM
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Ann Arbor-Detroit 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.
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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 options - we've got you covered.
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2026 guide to summer camps in the Ann Arbor - Detroit metro. 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!
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Dallas 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 Detroit Metro 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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