KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
If it weren’t for a Polish pastry, I might not exist. When my great-grandmother Karolina Stelmach was a teenager in a small village in Poland, she was told she’d be entering an arranged marriage. But her heart belonged to Sylvester Nowakowski. So she left... on her own, by boat... and made her way to America. She found work in a restaurant, where she made her
family’s signature dessert: chrusciki. One day, a “distinguished gentleman” insisted on meeting the pastry chef, and he offered her a better-paying job in his own kitchen. She took it, saved enough to bring Sylvester over, and they married. Which means if chrusciki didn’t exist, neither would I. Stories like this do more than entertain. According to psychologist Robyn Fivush, interviewed on a recent episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, they help kids develop identity,
resilience, and self-worth. The more children know about their family’s past—not just the “big” stories like crossing oceans, but even the day-to-day moments and struggles—the more connected and grounded they become. Fivush and her colleagues at Emory University found that kids who know more family stories have higher self-esteem, greater emotional understanding, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. But it’s not just the information that matters...it’s the telling. When we sit down and
share what came before, we help kids feel like they’re part of something bigger, and that they belong. No AI can replicate that. A chatbot can write a story, sure. But it can’t tell your kids how Grandma’s meatloaf could’ve doubled as a construction material, or how two little girls in the 1950s turned a couple of ice cream cones into a front-porch endurance contest. So this year, make a point of telling your kids about your family's shared history: about
mistakes, about perseverance, about love, about dessert. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated: Just pull up a chair, pass the cookies, and pass down the stories.
—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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Charlotte’s largest and most organized children’s consignment sale has been outfitting families across the Southeast for 15 years, drawing shoppers from as far as Maryland and Tennessee for a can’t‑miss shopping frenzy. Filling 80,000 square feet at Independence Hall in the Park Expo & Conference Center, the sale features more than 100,000 items—clothing, toys, baby gear, books, furniture, and more—enough clothing to stretch over half a mile on a single rack. Consignors earn 60–78% of sales, far more than typical shops. With free parking, free admission, VIP presale options, and payment flexibility, TTB KidZ is the ultimate one‑stop seasonal shop.
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Stowe has never been cooler! Step into a magical, frozen world as Daniel Stowe Conservancy transforms into a wondrous winter wonderland! We’ve teamed up with Ice Trade Sculptures to display 20 breathtaking, nature-themed ice sculptures across The Gardens at Stowe. Don’t let the winter blues get you down – secure tickets for you and your family before they sell out!
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Join us in our mission to combat hunger in our local community! This annual tradition is our opportunity to come together to give back. From Thursday, January 15 through Saturday, January 17, bring cans and other non-perishable items to the museum to make your donation. Kids 14 and under get FREE ADMISSION to the museum by donating three or more items! All the food items collected during this event will be donated to Rowan Helping Ministries at the end of the weekend. Your support can make a significant difference – thank you!
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Hey gamers—this one’s for you! If you’re 9–12 years old, grab your friends and head to the library for an hour packed with epic gaming fun. We'll have board games for old=school strategy, life-sized games you can actually step into, and Nintendo Switch games from our brand-new library collection! Whether you’re here to beat your high score, crush your friends in a giant-sized match, or just hang out and try something new, this is your time to play. For ages 9-12. No experience required! No registration needed—just show up and join the fun!
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- SCNP: Friday Fire and S'mores (drop-in) - 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Friday, January 16, 2026, 10:30am to 12:00pm
- Unplugged at the Loft - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center - East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC, Friday, January 16, 2026, See website for details
- SCNP: MLK Trash Clean Up @ Cordelia
Park - 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:00am to Noon
- SCNP: Super Mario Geocaching - 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
- Game On! Preteen Gaming Saturday - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center - East 7th Street,
Charlotte, NC, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1 pm - 2 pm
- Topsy-Turvy Cinderella - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center - East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC, Saturday, January 17, 2026 and Sunday, January 18, 2026, See website for details
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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. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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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