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
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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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The Pigeon and his friends have landed at the National Children’s Museum in The Pigeon Comes to Washington, DC! A Mo Willems Exhibit. Children and their families can explore their own creativity, exercise their imagination, and bask in the belly laughs sure
to arise with every surprise and discovery. Join a colorful cast of characters in this whimsical world of author Mo Willems, on display in our Visiting Exhibit Hall through May 10, 2026.
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Camp Twin Creeks is where friendships flourish, childhood thrives, and independence grows. During two weeks of traditional overnight camp, children become part of a lifelong community. By unplugging from technology and everyday distractions, campers connect
with new friends and mentors, try new things, and develop confidence and independence.
Camp Twin Creeks has a stunning location in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. Our carefully selected staff provides endless opportunities for fun experiences. Activities span four program areas: Land Sports, Water Sports, Arts, and Adventure.
For over 25 summers, our camp has been led by husband-and-wife directors. Programming, staff training, and all endeavors are guided by the four pillars of our Youth Development Philosophy.
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February is Dino Hatching season and we are expecting some of the tiniest, cutest dinos you’ve ever seen! Come inside Great Country Farms and get up close with our baby dinos during special indoor meet and greet experiences.
But that’s not all — while you’re here, let the little ones burn off even more energy in our winter indoor play area. Open Fridays through Mondays (plus select school holidays). This cozy, weatherproof playground is the perfect escape from the chill. And parents? You’re in for a treat, too. While the kids play, you can relax with a freshly made apple cider donut and a hot coffee from our Knead It Farm Market Bakery.
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Enjoy a late afternoon walk to learn why winter is the best time to go owl-ing. During a story reading, learn to identify local owl calls, discover why owls are nicknamed flying tigers of the night and enjoy a woodland stroll. Children must be accompanied
by an adult who is also registered in the class. (4-Adult)
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The Pyramids of Giza have arrived in DC! This revolutionary virtual reality immersive experience takes you back to the golden age of ancient Egypt, allowing you to explore the depths of the iconic pyramids, decipher hieroglyphs, relive the reign of King
Khufu, and more! Embark on a journey to the past that has already been enjoyed by more than +1-million others with Horizon of Khufu! Located at 926 F St NW, Washington DC.
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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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Based upon the Walter de La Mare short story "Lord Fish" written in 1927. This show features elegantly crafted Bunraku-style puppets with elaborately built miniature castle and interior sets. Framed in a beautiful, large black theatre stage, this show was
originally built for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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Celebrate Rockville’s Asian cultures with performances, interactive displays, kids’ crafts and to-go snack boxes at the city’s Lunar New Year celebration. In its 18th year, the Lunar New Year celebration is a source of pride for the city’s Asian community
and an educational opportunity for neighbors to learn about Asian culture. The city is organizing the celebration in partnership with Rockville’s Asian Pacific American Task Force. The celebration will mark the Year of the Horse on the Chinese Zodiac calendar.
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Families of kids with disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and developmental disabilities, are invited to play, read, and create art together at the library! We will have a variety of toys and art supplies so kids can play and create while
families socialize and learn about local resources. This event is designed for families who have children ages 0-12. Siblings are welcome!
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In honor of Black History Month, the Frying Pan Baptist Meetinghouse will be open from noon-2 p.m. Interpretive signage will be posted throughout the site for guests to read about the Black history of the Meeting House and stories of the people from the
community. Stay for just a few minutes or a couple hours.
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Discover the thrill of vertical flight and how it started right here at College Park Airport! Explore the new exhibition, The Berliner Helicopter: America’s Forgotten Helicopter, get hands-on with interactives, and explore the wonders of vertical flight
technology.
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- The Compass Atelier Thesis Exhibition - Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852, Sat–Sun, Feb 21-22: Sat: 10am–3pm
- Berliner Helicopter Weekend - College Park Aviation Museum, Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD, Sat–Sun, Feb 21-22: 10:00am- 2:00pm
- Black History Month at the
Meeting House - Frying Pan Farm Park - Frying Pan Farm Park, West Ox Road, Herndon, VA, Sat, Feb 21: 12 pm - 2 pm
- Family Day: Year of the Horse - The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum, 701 21st Street Northwest, Washington D.C., D.C. 20052, Sat, Feb 21: 11am-3pm
- Lunar New Year Celebration - City of Rockville, MD - City of Rockville, 250
Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville, MD, Sat, Feb 21: 1 pm - 3:30 pm
- Families Together: Main Building Open House - Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC, Sun, Feb 22: 10:00am to 12:00pm
- Families Together: American
History Open House - Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC, Sun, Feb 22: 10:00am to 12:00pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the DMV 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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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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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 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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