KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades: “Remember the
rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting
to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to
manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and
remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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. |
Discover the Best of Texas & Beyond Want to stay in the know on the best places to go, things to do, and experiences worth exploring? The Lone Star Low Down from Texas Lifestyle Magazine highlights top travel destinations,
family-friendly outings, local events, dining, and exclusive giveaways. Whether you’re planning weekend adventures, road trips, or looking for inspiration close to home, this is your go-to source for discovering the best of Texas and beyond. Sign up here to receive the Lone Star Low
Down. |
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Train-A-Palooza #12 model train show will be held at the Grapevine Convention Center located at 1209 S. Main St., Grapevine, Texas March 14 & 15, 2026. Model train layouts will display various gauges of trains.
Choo Choo Express trackless train will be providing train rides in the parking lot.
Admission is for both days and the Lone Star Hi-Railers huge three rail O guage model railroad layout inside an actual 70-foot-long baggage car, located in the historic Grapevine Railyard area. Show hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Grapevine Shuttle for attendees is free.
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Welcome to OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, where 404 suites, 14 food and beverage outlets, arcade, spa, and more await you. Located in Downtown OKC, OKANA curates experiences just for you, we’re far enough away from home to feel like a real escape but
close enough to home to be accessible, affordable, and almost certainly your new favorite weekend getaway ;-). Switch it Up and spend Spring Break at OKANA: Use promo code SPRING when you book and save an extra 20% on your stay. And since we recently eliminated resort fees from our bookings, too, there’s never been a more affordable time to visit. Make your Spring Break iconic - make it OKANA.
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Put on your thinking caps as the imaginative world of the Questioneers comes alive in this hands-on exhibit!
In The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY! questions are posed, challenges are identified, and problem-solving begins. Fly with Rosie in her cheese-copter, question how the world works while sitting in Ada’s thinking chair, build a bridge to save the class with Iggy, lead a movement with Sofia while playing a game in Sofia’s Citizen Park, and tell a story through drawings like Aaron!
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Don’t miss the opportunity to see the largest exhibit of live, exotic butterflies in North Central Texas. Exhibit visitors will have the chance to see a diverse collection of butterflies from various parts of the world, including Central, North and South
America, Africa, and Asia. The Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides), known for its striking beauty, is one of the most popular butterflies on display. Additionally, local favorites will also be showcased.
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Tulipalooza is back for its eighth year blooming! Join us at Getzendaner Memorial Park for this magnificent springtime celebration filled with flowers, friends and fun. All to benefit our favorite local charities.
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Come view the exhibition “Soldaderas to Amazonas, Escaramuza Charras” and enjoy a day at The Cowgirl filled with vibrant energy, community, and tradition! There will be crafts and activities for kids, escaramuza-themed lotería with prizes, a 360°
photobooth, delicious eats from the Salmark BBQ food truck, and more!
Special thanks to our community partners: Visita Fort Worth and Artes de la Rosa.
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March 7, 2026: Yeehaw! Bring your boots and buckles for a Texas-style celebration in Carrollton, y'all! This exciting event features a beer garden with local craft brews, live Texas music to get everyone’s toes tapping, a mouthwatering food village to
satisfy every Texas craving, and photo ops with an iconic live longhorn. It’s a Lone Star experience not to be missed.
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How about a fun, creative start to your weekend? Bring your family to the Coppell Arts Center on the first Saturday of every month for a free make-and-take craft! Stop by anytime between 9 AM to 12 PM to create your craft.
Kids will receive a do-it-yourself craft kit that they can assemble and customize at art stations inside the Coppell Arts Center. A parent must accompany all children at all times. For children ages 3 - 12.
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Experience two amazing attractions for one incredible price! We’re thrilled to introduce an all-new Circus experience coming to the Epic Central lawn—and the best part? Your Epic Waters admission includes FREE access to all the big top excitement!
The Epic Circus Spectacular is Included in Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark Admission! One ticket. Two unforgettable attractions!
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A fun-filled opportunity for your infant/toddler to explore their world through instructor-guided experiences. Each month, your baby will have a chance to crawl, climb, jump and learn while building vocabulary, motor skills and social and emotional
awareness. “Diapers and Donuts” is a great way to play with your baby while supporting their developmental needs.
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Strike a pose, the Easter Bunny is here for photos! Reserve your visit now and make it an Easter Family Tradition! Bunny arrives on Friday, February 27 and will be here through April 4th. Book early to ensure your spot to see the Bunny.
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Bring your 3 - 5 year old children for a lesson about our natural world through a story, lesson, hike, and craft.
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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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This year Grow Wild at Clark Gardens as you explore larger than life pollinator buddy sculptures, participate in classes, create your own bouquet in the cutting garden, or simply take in the warmth of spring.
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best
experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech!
Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Book Babies - Grand Prairie Public Library, 901 Conover Drive, Grand
Prairie, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 11-11:45 am
- Preschool Storytime - Nicholas P Sims Library, West Main
Street, Waxahachie, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10-11 am
- Little Explorers - Arlington Public Library, South Center Street, Arlington, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10-11:30 am
- Family Storytime - Arlington Public Library, Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30-11:15 am
- Children's Playtime - Bedford
Public Library, 2424 Forest Ridge Dr, Bedford, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 11-11:30 am
- Bounce Time (Age 0-3) - Colleyville Public Library, 110 Main St, Colleyville, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:15-11:15 am
- Teen School's Out Hang Out - Euless Library, 201 N Ector Dr, Euless, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 4-5 pm
- Bouncing Baby Booktime - Haltom City Public Library, 4809 Haltom Rd, Haltom City, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30-11:30
am
- Lego Club - Kennedale Public Library, West 3rd Street, Kennedale, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 3:30-5
pm
- Texas America250 Reading Challenge - Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 1201 Brazos St, Austin, TX, Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8, 2026, all day
- TEXFest 2026 - Historic Downtown Carrollton, Elm Street, Carrollton, TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 3 - 9 pm
- Saturday Make & Take Crafts - Coppell Arts Center, 505 Travis St, Coppell, TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9 am
- 1st Saturday Bird Walks at Acton Nature
Center - Acton Nature Center, 6900 Smoky Hill Court, Granbury, TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 7 am
- 2nd Annual Día de la Charra - National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, 1720 Gendy St, Fort Worth, TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 12-4 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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