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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The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect
the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.
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Climb aboard Grapevine Vintage Railroad and experience a family-friendly adventure through the heart of Grapevine, Texas.
As the train chugs along the Historic Cotton Belt Route, you’ll settle into authentic 1920s-era luxury coaches that carry the spirit of a bygone age.
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Whether by yourself, with a family, or a special someone, the Nature Center has plenty of beauty to fall in love with. Come take a hike and see what catches your eye. Pre-registration required. $5 (with paid admission)/MEMBERS $3. *FREE with paid
admission.
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During the 20th Annual Dinosaurs Live! Life-Size Animatronic Dinosaurs exhibition, these animatronic dinosaurs will move and roar, providing an experience sure to captivate visitors.
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The combination of a world-class stadium and a sports park make Toyota Stadium one of the best and most unique soccer facilities in the world. The best way to experience FC Dallas soccer is in person. Come join us for our theme nights. Get your tickets to
the New Era!
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No snow? No problem.
Join our Southern Winter Olympics at the library! Teens can join us in the garden to compete in modified winter games—no ice required.
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Join in the festivities of Pokémon Day at the library with crafts and Pokémon GO. Bring the whole family to battle at our gym, catch Pokémon, and make friends. Dressing up is encouraged!
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Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to explore new career paths, discover volunteer opportunities, or gather valuable information for college planning! Our Career and College Fair offers an opportunity to connect with a wide range of employers, colleges,
and community organizations. Enhance your skills and learn about the Texas Common Application and FAFSA process all in one convenient location.
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Homeschool students ages 6-18 are welcome to our monthly meetings the third Friday of the months of September - May. Bring a sack lunch to our activity room at 11:30 and visit with friends. Or, come after lunch when the activity begins at 12:15. We'll have
bottled water. Wrap up is at 1:00. ALL homeschool students are welcome to join us.
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Stop by for a morning of play-based learning just for our littles! This program will vary week-to-week as we celebrate the world using art, math, science, engineering, and fine motor skills.Join us as we playfully discover the world around us!
Designed for ages 1-4. This program is designed to be flexible on time so that families can participate at any time during the program's duration. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (817) 459-6900 or by email at LIBYouthServices@arlingtontx.gov.
Thank you to the Friends and Foundation of the Arlington Public Library for their generous support of our programming.
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Calling all video game enthusiasts, board game lovers, and Dance Dance Revolution fanatics! Hang out with us at the library for a game night after hours!
Note: Games will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own favorite games to play!
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Come in for open playtime in our Family Place Library area. Bring your young children to play with others while building skills through play. Parents are required to remain with children at all times. No registration is required.
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- Little Explorers: Black History Month - Arlington Public Library, South Center Street, Arlington, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 10-11:30 am
- Passport to Lunar New
Year: Spring Festival in Beijing, China - 6301 Bridge St, Fort Worth, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 3:30-4:30 pm
- Taiko Drum Concert and Workshop featuring Goisagi - Vivian J. Lincoln Library, 8829 McCart Ave, Fort Worth, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 5-6 pm
- Book Babies - Grand Prairie Public Library, 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prairie, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 11-11:45 am
- Gaming Guild - Tony Shotwell Library, Graham Street, Grand Prairie, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 6-7 pm
- Preschool Storytime - Nicholas P Sims Library, West Main Street, Waxahachie, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 10-11 am
- Family Storytime - Arlington Public Library - Southeast Branch, Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington, TX,
Friday, 02/20/2026, 10:30-11:15 am
- Children's Playtime - Bedford Public Library, 2424 Forest
Ridge Dr, Bedford, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 11-11:30 am
- Music & Movement - Fort Worth Public Library - Clifford Crossing, 9336 Clifford Street Suite 120, Fort Worth, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 11:30 am - 12:15 pm
- Bounce Time (Age 0-3)- Colleyville Public Library - Colleyville Public Library, 110 Main St, Colleyville, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 10:15-11:15 am
- Teen Gaming Club- Diamond Hill/Jarvis - Fort Worth Public Library - Diamond Hill/Jarvis, 1300 NE 35th St, Fort Worth, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 4-5 pm
- Toddler Story Time - Fort Worth Public Library - Shamblee, 1062 Evans Ave, Fort Worth, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 11-11:45 am
- Teen School's Out Hang Out - Euless Library, 201 N Ector Dr, Euless, TX, Friday, 02/20/2026, 4-5 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth 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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