KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: A tumble is not a verdict; it's information. And kids are natural data analysts. That's what a mom half a generation older than me told me when I was getting ready to have kids, and I took it to heart. So I was secretly a little thrilled the summer my daughter Madison was almost 4, when she took her first big splash off a slippery log into a
creek. Here's why: To succeed in life, everyone needs to learn to stretch to the edge of their abilities... to gather courage from their toes, to calculate, to balance, to wobble, to slide... and eventually to succeed. Kids can learn this early if the grownups in their orbit help them see the mud and bruises that come from a tumble as badges to be worn proudly: a fail-until-we-succeed philosophy in action. That's how personal fulfillment happens, and it's how human progress happens,
too. Summer is childhood's best laboratory, where sensory experiences stick as lifelong learning. School has grades and rubrics and consequences; summer has grass stains and do-overs. An amusement park ride can teach the difference between fear and danger. A hands-on museum can teach that when your tower collapses, you simply vow to rebuild it taller. A farm can teach that maybe you don’t like strawberries from the grocery store, but
you do like the ones you picked yourself, still warm from the sun. A climbing gym can teach your muscles that “I can’t” really means “I can’t yet.” And summer camps are entire worlds built around trying something new with no transcript following you home. Last week, the KidsOutAndAbout.com team launched our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey. It's a way to thank the people who make your community a great place to raise kids. Equally important, it’s a giant menu of local opportunities for your kids to stretch their legs, their minds, and their bravery this summer. Use it to create your summer bucket list! Then step back and set your family’s summer dial to “safe to fail.” Watch your kids climb, build, stumble, and try again.
Let them splash.
—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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Give your kids something to get excited about and start them on Music Lessons (In-Person or Online) with the International School of Music! Voted best for Music Lessons, International School of Music has a team of nurturing and patient instructors who will customize lessons to students’ goals so each child can progress at their own pace and learn the music they love! From the Early Childhood Music Program to private Music Lesson Program, the International School of Music offers an award-winning instruction in all instruments and voice whether they play classical, rock, pop, jazz, or folk! ISM’s fun, engaging and personalized lessons help students bring structure into their lives, confidence, concentration, and self-expression that last beyond the music lessons! Call/Text: 301-396-7497 or contact them here to schedule YOUR music lessons today and save 50% off registration by 6/15! LEARN MORE: https://ismw.org/
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Join us for a vibrant celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with exciting performances showcasing the rich cultural diversity of the Asian community! Get ready for a day filled with music, dance, food, and more.
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Enjoy our friendly farm animals, homegrown plants and produce, savory barbecue, live music and more at the Corner Market! Our spring season has been evolving for almost a decade, and we have gradually streamlined our greenhouse operation. Spring & Summer at the Corner Market combines the best of our greenhouse operations with seasonal produce crops and so much more!
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Join us at Audi field to cheer on the Black and Red! D.C. United fans provide an unrivaled stadium experience at Audi Field on matchday. With leading chants from the Chico Stand filling the stadium as the team plays on, everyone in attendance is part of a unique D.C. experience.
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Join us for the annual strawberry festival at Great Country Farms in Loudoun County Virginia. To celebrate the royal strawberry, our Jubilee is packed with live music, farm contests, wagon rides, great food and fun games for the whole family! Great Food abounds at our Roosteraunt Concession Stand, Knead It Bakery and Henway Hard Cider by the pond. Savor Cider Donuts, Strawberry Lemonade, hand-dipped ice cream and baked goods including strawberry rhubarb pies.
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The City of Bowie Memorial Day Parade will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026. The parade is a way to recognize members of the Armed Services, past and present, and to honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. This popular patriotic event features a variety of marching bands, performing groups, floats, and local clubs and organizations.
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A summer of splashes kicks off on May 23, when Kings Dominion's waterpark opens for the 2026 season! You're sure to have a splash-tastic time in the only destination in Virginia with two parks included for the price of one. Join us on Soak City's Opening Day to take on the thrills and soak up the sun at our 20-acre waterpark, featuring dozens of water slides, splash pads, a wave pool, a lazy river, cabanas, and more. If that wasn’t enough, it’s only a short walk from Soak City to the award-winning Rapterra — the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster!
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Welcome to the Annual ViVa! Vienna! Charity Event Saturday, May 23rd, Sunday, May 24th and Monday May 25th. The Rotary Club of Vienna has been running ViVa! Vienna! for over 41 years in concert with the Town of Vienna. Each year the proceeds from ViVa! Vienna! support over 70 local organizations. We are excited to add a new pipeline of fun, but more importantly, enhanced giving to these organizations through the 3rd annual Brewfest Beer Garden on Mill Street. More details are to follow, but we promise a fun, safe community event.
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- Intersections - The Mansion at Strathmore - Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, USA, Tuesday–Friday: 12–4pm / Saturday: 10am–3pm
- Observe the Sun with Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Jefferson Drive Southwest, Washington, DC, USA, 12 pm - 3 pm
- Farmers Market SW at District Wharf - 735 Water Street Southwest, Washington, DC 20024, United States, 9 am - 1 pm
- Rockville Hometown Holidays: A Community Gathering - Rockville Town Center, Rockville, MD, USA, 12 pm - 6
pm
- City of Bowie 2026 Memorial Day Parade - City of Bowie - Fred Robinson Way, Bowie, MD, USA, The parade steps off from the Belair Annex on Belair Drive at 11 am
- National Memorial Day Concert Live Stream - ONLINE ONLY, 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the DMV 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!
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the DMV 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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