Dallas weekly e-newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When my kids were little, one of our favorite nature activities was also one of the simplest: We’d head out onto a trail, stop among the trees, and play the Listening Game. The rules were easy: Close your eyes. The first time you hear a sound, any sound at all, put up one finger. Then add another for each new sound you notice. After a minute or two, someone says, “Open your
eyes,” and everyone compares fingers and talks about what they heard. It’s a small exercise in attention, but it changes how kids experience the world. The invisible becomes visible... not to the eyes, exactly, but to the mind. Things that were just out of range suddenly move onto our radar. Nature is full of motion and music, and this game helps us tune ourselves to it. The free Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology takes that magic one step further: Tap Sound ID, and suddenly the songs around you appear on your screen as a voiceprint and a bird name and an image that shows you what to look for. And what a moment ago was only background atmosphere becomes a Carolina Wren, or an Eastern Whip-poor-will, or the Common Yellowthroat pictured above,
singing his heart out for a girl with a camera. That’s one of the great tasks of childhood, and of the adults who love children: to help hidden things come into view. Before we know something, it is almost as if it isn’t there. But once it is named, we have a new way to see. There are suddenly new dimensions to our universe, helping us transform even more mysteries into things that are ours. And we never really experience the woods—or the field, or the river, or
the ocean, or the city, or our backyard—the same way again.
—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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Get ready to experience unbelievable family fun at the fascinating Ripley’s Believe It or Not! with five awesome indoor attractions under one roof. Discover wonder in our Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium and marvel at hundreds of rare and unusual artifacts and interactive fun. Mingle with your favorite celebrities at Louis Tussaud Palace of Wax. Experience the thrill of riding the movies on our 7d moving theater or find your way through the exciting Ripley’s enchanted mirror maze with countless selfie opportunities. Last, test your skills at the all new Ripleys Power up video game experience. Ripley’s Grand Prairie is your one-stop destination for hours of family fun! $3 off Combo Ticket! https://www.ripleys.com/grandprairie/
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This summer, kids can shine on stage with North Texas Performing Arts’ performing arts camps for grades K–8! Offered in Plano, Fairview, Frisco, Dallas, and Southlake, NTPA camps immerse students in acting, movement, improvisation, theatre games, choreography, and hands-on visual art. Each age-appropriate session builds creativity, confidence, and collaboration while encouraging kids to explore characters and storytelling in a fun, supportive environment. Adaptive camps are available through NTPA Deaf Theatre and NTPA Starcatchers for Deaf students and students with disabilities, ensuring every child has a place to belong. All programs are guided by NTPA’s Ten Characters leadership values. New students receive 40% off their first camp. Link: www.ntpa.org/camps
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Many moms tell themselves they’ll focus on their health “once things slow down.” After the school year. After work settles. After the next busy season passes. But for most families, that slower moment rarely comes—and in the meantime, low energy, brain fog, and weight changes quietly become the new normal. What often goes unnoticed is that the longer these patterns continue, the harder they can be to reverse. That’s why more women in Dallas are beginning to take a closer look sooner—turning to places like Lindora Preston Forest, where metabolic testing and guided support help uncover what’s really happening beneath the surface. Because when it comes to energy and long-term health, waiting often costs more than starting.
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Bring your children of all ages, grandchildren, neighbors and friends to this FREE, fun-filled celebration of LIFE! Council for LIfe is excited to host our annual Family Fun for Life on Sunday, April 19 from 4-6 PM at the SMU Armstrong Fieldhouse. Enjoy bounce houses, games, food, music and more.
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Join us April 18–19 as we honor our planet with a weekend full of sustainability, creativity, and community! We’re inviting vendors who specialize in upcycled goods and vintage treasures—because one person’s old favorite can become someone else’s new find. You’ll also have the chance to connect with local sustainability-focused organizations sharing simple, impactful ways we can all help protect the Earth. Bring the whole family and enjoy hands-on activities, live music, and a market experience that’s as good for the planet as it is for your weekend plans.
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Celebrating 74 Years of Ennis Bluebonnet Trails: Ennis was designated by the 1997 State Legislature as the home of the Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail and was designated the Official Bluebonnet City of Texas. From April 1-30, Ennis showcases over 40 miles of mapped driving Bluebonnet Trails sponsored by the Ennis Garden Club. These trails are the oldest such trails known in the state, and tens of thousands of visitors make the short trek to Ennis to view this wonderful wildflower show.
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Feel the rush of the game as you test your reflexes, measure your kicking power, and explore the brain-body connection that drives top performance. Packed with interactive challenges, real-world science, and behind-the-scenes innovations, this experience shows how curiosity, creativity, and teamwork make the world’s favorite game possible. With FIFA World Cup 2026™ bringing global attention to North Texas, Soccer: More Than a Game celebrates soccer’s power to connect cultures, inspire innovation, and unite communities around the world.
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Bring in the spring with a colorful celebration of joy! Join us for a fun-filled day of bright colors, beautiful flowers and a free vegetarian feast, along with riveting music, dance and interactive holistic living and cultural activities.
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Explore booths to learn about native plants, sustainable gardening, animals, water conservation, recycling, and more along with activities for children from community partners and City of Carrollton staff.
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Bring the whole family to see what makes our Town awesome! Meet all our departments, check out programs and amenities, and don’t miss the touch-a-truck, climb in, honk the horn, and explore big vehicles up close! Parking will be limited in The Rec and Cove concrete lots. Additional parking is available behind the building in the grass lots, as well as throughout The Lakefront District™.
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Reel in the fun at Kids Fishing Derby! We're stocking the Rheudasil Park pond with over 500 pounds of fish for this free kids' fishing event. Prizes and awards will be given out across various categories, so every young angler has a shot at winning! Although you can bring your own gear, you don't need to - rods, reels, and bait are all provided. Don't miss out on this fin-tastic day!
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Crafternoon is our semi-regular craft time. Three Friday afternoons each month, stop in to create a fun and easy age-appropriate craft for pre-school and school-age children. Learn about Earth Day and celebrate by creating a craft out of recycled materials. You can register for an email reminder, but it's not required
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Stretch your mind and your body with a movement-focused story time including yoga-based breathing and stretching techniques.
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Marvel at the artistry and beauty of Japan’s metalworking tradition across five centuries in Samurai to the Imperial Court: Japanese Metalwork.
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Engage with your little one as we explore stories, songs and activities that help enhance muscle development to rock, roll, crawl and walk!
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Dallas - Fort Worth - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 04/17/2026-04/19/2026, See link for times
- Carrollton's Earth Day Celebration - City of Carrollton - Carrollton Public Library at Josey Ranch Lake, Keller Springs Road, Carrollton, TX, USA, 04/18/2026, 11 am- 3 pm
- 37th Annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival - Texas Cotton Gin Museum - Texas Cotton Gin Museum, 307 North Main Street, Burton, TX 77835, United States, 04/18/2026, 10 am - 6pm
- DeSoto Public Library Everything Teen Expo
2026 - DeSoto Public Library - DeSoto Town Center, E Pleasant Run Rd, DeSoto, TX, USA, 04/18/2026, 10 am- 3 pm
- Kids Fishing Derby - Town of Flower Mound - Rheudasil Park, Lake Forest Boulevard, Flower Mound, TX, USA, 04/18/2026, 9 am- 12 pm
- Town Expo and Touch-a-Truck - Town of Little Elm - The Rec at The Lakefront - Little Elm Recreation Center, Main Street, Little Elm, TX, USA, 04/18/2026, 10 am- 1 pm
- Celebrate Earth Day Weekend at the Dallas Farmers Market - Dallas Farmers Market - Dallas Farmers Market, South Harwood Street, Dallas, TX, USA, 04/18/2026-04/19/2026, Saturday 9 am- 5 pm Sunday 10 am- 5 pm
- Earthfest - City of Coppell - Andrew Brown Park East, Parkway
Boulevard, Coppell, TX, USA, 04/18/2026, 9-11 am
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Dallas area 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 Dallas 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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