KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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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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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Come on down for an awesome in-person Friday Night Family Session! It's the perfect chance to hang out, have fun, and make some great memories with the whole crew. Bring your energy, your smiles, and get ready for a night packed with laughs and good vibes.
Don't miss out – let’s make your Friday night something special!
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Based on the New York Times Best Seller series, this groovy puppet show features Pete the Cat’s most awesome adventures, inspired by some of the coolest books around. Come see everyone’s favorite skateboarding, surfing, rocking blue cat and his fine friends
come alive on stage!
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DinoVerse is a family exhibition where kids and adults can explore giant skeletons, interactive dino zones, and creative activities. Step through a time portal with a thrilling Virtual Reality experience and snap epic dino photos!
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Children will love listening to stories and making crafts in celebration of African-American History Month. Reservations for groups only.
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Children’s book author and artist Mo Willems (Knuffle Bunny, Elephant and Piggie’s We Are In a Play) brings another loveable character to life in this exciting family musical. Watch as Wilbur, a clothes-loving mole rat with exceptional style, navigates the
pressure to be just like everyone else. With tail-shaking tunes, empowering messages of individuality, and classic Mo Willems humor, this musical is sure to rock audiences of all ages.
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Pop Culture Collectibles and Toy Sale at Aurora Cineplex--Select Saturdays( 10am-7pm). Buy-Sell-Trade with local vendors for unique gifts, toys, and all things Pop Culture. Free to Attend. Located in front of the Aurora Cineplex in Roswell! Sponsored by Pop
Culture Collectibles of the North Forsyth Flea Market. www.a51fun.com
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Ring in the Year of the Horse at Atlantic Station! Join us as we honor the Lunar New Year with a festival full of traditional rituals and fun for the whole family! Enjoy a captivating Kung Fu/Tai Chi performance, witness a spellbinding Lion Dance sure to
bring you prosperity, indulge in boba & dumplings, create symbolic crafts, and sit down with a reader that will tell you all about your year using your Chinese Zodiac sign!
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Spend an afternoon with Spruill and work on your craft! All mediums are welcome to partake in this FREE open studio environment. Whether you enjoy painting, drawing, sculpting, knitting, or… Continue reading
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This 75-minute tour challenges the myth of Southern womanhood by uncovering the true social and personal histories of Atlanta’s women. Early Atlanta might have been a man’s world, but this city was built with the labor of women. From writers and domestic
servants to reformers and mothers, Oakland Cemetery is home to thousands of women. Some defied social expectations or worked against racial discrimination to become trailblazers. Others created support systems that made change possible. All dealt with the issues, challenges, and social standards of being a woman in their day. Hear their stories of pioneering, producing, and patriarchy-smashing during this guided walking tour of Oakland Cemetery!
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License to Chill Snow Island brings all the winter excitement and joy to paradise! Glide down snowy hills, ice skate, and immerse yourself in holiday-themed activities that make Margaritaville at Lanier Islands the ultimate winter escape.
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For Beatrice and Benedick, wit is a full-contact sport, and each is happy to throw some elbows, believing themselves to above something as trivial as “love.” But would they really be pushing back if they weren’t…fighting against something? Their friends
sure see right through all their bickering and sparring into what is hiding in their hearts. Sometimes a stubborn soul just needs that proverbial kick in the pantaloons to get out of their own way.
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For the whole month of February, we’re celebrating Black History Month! The Museum is highlighting Black leaders from the past and present that are making a difference in our world today. It’s important to learn about our history, and we also want to
celebrate trailblazers in our community and all over the world who are working hard to stand out and lift people up!
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- Black History Month Raffle - Metropolitan Branch - Metropolitan Branch - 1332 Metropolitan Parkway Southwest, Atlanta, GA 30310, Saturday, February 21, 10 am - 6 pm
- Morningside
Farmers Market - Morningside Farmers Market - 1393 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306, Saturday, February 21, 8:00 am to 11:30 am
- Babies: Off Book at Brave + Kind at Alliance Theatre - Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30309, Saturday, February 21, 12 pm
- Pop Culture Collectibles and Toy-Vendor Sale at Aurora Cineplex - 5100
Commerce Parkway, Roswell, GA 30076, Saturday, February 21, 10am-7pm
- The Women of Oakland - 248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA
30312, Sunday, February 22, Times vary
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Atlanta 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Atlanta 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.
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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the Atlanta area! If there is an attraction that we have missed for our birthday party page, please email us to let us know, and we contact them
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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