KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Fri, Mar 20: World Frog Day at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Sat, Mar 21: Animals for All: Caring for Exotic Critters at Stamford Museum & Nature Center
Sun, Mar 22: 21st Annual
Mystic Irish Parade
Thu, Mar 26: SHEN YUN 2026 in New York City
Thu, Mar 26: Kick Start Your Spring
Vegetable Garden at Lachat Town Farm
Fri, Mar 27: EverWonder's Annual Egg ScrambleSat, Mar 28: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows™ Part 2 in Concert at The Bushnell
Sat, Mar 28: Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO® Bricks (Opening Day) at Mystic Seaport Museum
Sun, Mar 29: Roald Dahl's Matilda Jr. the Musical at The Bushnell
Fri, Apr 3: 2026 EGG HUNT at Castle Hill Farm
Thu, Apr 16: After-School STEAM Classes! at MakeInspires Darien
Wed, Apr 22: Community Service Day: Earth Day 2026 at Flanders
Sat, Apr 25: Earth Day Celebration at Grace Farms
Sat, May 2: Woodbury Parks & Recreation Mother~Son Spring Dance
|
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
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Give your child an unforgettable summer at the Temple Sholom Selma Maisel Nursery School! Rising 2’s, 3’s, 4’s and Kindergarteners will enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as water play, nature scavenger hunts, bubble shows, Olympic games and
imaginative play on the multi-level playground. Indoor summer favorites include STEAM, music, art, gymnastics, interactive learning in the Animal Discovery Room, and Shabbat with Temple Sholom’s clergy. Led by experienced and professional teachers and staff, summer sessions are offered as five, two-week sessions from June 9 through August 14 at Temple Sholom (300 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT). To learn more, contact 203-622-8121 or david.cohen@templesholom.com.
|
|
|
|
Give your child a true Waldorf Experience this summer -- Immersive time in nature, imaginative play, and a gentle, summer rhythm that nourishes children's head, heart and hands. This summer we will move, explore, be creative and have fun both in nature as
well as indoors! Each day will include ample time in nature, movement opportunities both indoors and out, a nutritious and organic snack and time for creativity and play. Each week will have a different craft project that the children will be working on.Weekly Activities include building, gardening, cooking, puppetry, watercolor painting, crafts, circle games, drumming and plenty of free play. A flowing gentle rhythm will guide the children through the day. The day will end with story time and
lunch (brought from home). A homemade, organic snack is included daily. Our extended-care program includes an afternoon nap, snack and free play.
|
|
|
|
Step into history at the Submarine Force Museum, home of the legendary USS NAUTILUS. Discover the world’s first nuclear powered submarine and tour its authentic control rooms, crew quarters, and torpedo room. Engage the whole family with immersive virtual
reality scavenger hunts that bring undersea missions to life. Explore fascinating indoor and outdoor exhibits showcasing submarines, undersea warfare weapons, and naval technology. Learn, explore, and be inspired by innovation and courage beneath the waves. Admission is always FREE, with convenient FREE parking, making this unforgettable maritime adventure an easy, exciting stop on your journey. Perfect for families, history lovers, and explorers.
|
|
|
|
Reserve your time to visit the Sugar House as staff and volunteers demonstrate turning sap into syrup with an entertaining mix of science, stories and humor. The entire family will be fascinated by the maple sugar-making process. There is a $5 per person
donation suggested, which supports Flanders future maple sugar programming.
|
|
|
|
Learn how maple trees are tapped and watch as the sap runs from our majestic sugar maple tree. We'll take a short walk to the fire pit to observe the evaporating process. All participants will get to taste a sample of real maple syrup.
|
|
|
|
Join us for a pancake breakfast featuring pancakes (plain, apple, and chocolate chip) served with ELCCT’s own pure maple syrup, bacon/ sausage, and choice of coffee, milk, or orange juice. When you come for breakfast be sure to visit our animals indoors and
our outdoor maple sugaring demonstrations. Learn how to identify a Sugar Maple and try your hand at tapping a tree. See the different methods that Native Americans and colonists used to collect and boil sap to make maple syrup and sugar. Learn how you can make maple syrup in your own backyard on a small scale and visit our mobile sugarhouse to learn how we make our maple syrup.
|
|
|
|
This program helps caregivers and young children discover art together in the Museum. Each week, a story in the galleries is paired with a thematic art project in the studios. Ages 3-5.
|
|
|
|
Get outside for a morning of treasure hunting! In this drop off program we will track down a treasure hidden among our trails. While doing so we will solve tricky riddles and learn about the tracks that different animals leave behind as they walk through
Connecticut forests.
|
|
|
|
Tying knots is essential for daily activities for everyone. This workshop will cover basic rope terminology, parts of the rope, and components of knot and lashings. You will learn how to tie about 10 different knots and lashings through demonstrations from
a first person’s point of view. After learning the basic knots and lashings, with practice and some creativity, students will be able to combine different knots and lashings to suit their needs for any adventure. Ages 12 + (all children must be accompanied by a paying adult)
|
|
|
|
Experience the beauty and solitude of the lower Connecticut River during this wonderful time of year! It is so different than it is any other time of the year. There are no other vessels on the water, and with no leaves on the trees, our wildlife viewing is
easy and fun. RiverQuest has a heated cabin, but we suggest that you dress in warm layers since the best views will be from the open decks. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars! …No binoculars? No worries, we have plenty on board for you to borrow! We will also provide complimentary coffee and tea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
- First AMI Montessori Infant Program - Willow Tree Montessori, Willow Tree Montessori, Friday, March 6, 2026 to Sunday, March 8, 2026, 8:30 - 3:30pm
- Family Programs at Yale Peabody Museum - Yale Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT, Friday, March 6, 2026 to Sunday, March 8, 2026, See website for specific program times
- Take or Make Craft at Southbury Public Library - Southbury Public Library, Poverty Road, Southbury, CT, Saturday, March 7, 2026, All day
- Gallery Show - Village Center for the Arts, Village Center for the Arts, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 6:30-8:00 PM
|
|
|
|
The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Fairfield County 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!
|
|
|
|
|
Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Fairfield County 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Fairfield COunty 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Fairfield County 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025's Top 20 Places to Take Fairfield County Kids: Once again, our readers have spoken! Thousands of parents voted in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners
in special categories like favorite spot for indoor play, favorite nature center, favorite museum, and much more!
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
