KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter,
safer. That’s why my family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses,
antibiotics, the internet, veterinary science, and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of
you with kids in middle school or older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids.
In this new AI age, the real danger isn’t the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and
imagining what we’ll power with it in the future.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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Join us for a special evening, which is free for families with children on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing challenges. During this event, the Museum will be made more welcoming to our more sensitive guests, along with having some quiet corners and sensory bins set-up throughout the facility. Children will be able to choose what activities they would like to participate in and do them at whatever time they feel most comfortable within the two-hour time frame. Documentation of diagnosis is not required.
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The City of New London is proud to announce the commencement of its holiday season with a calendar of events celebrating the diverse array of faiths and holidays in New London’s culture. Celebrate the spirit of the season with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Parade Plaza in downtown New London on November 28! From 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, enjoy a festive evening filled with Christmas carols from the Eastern CT Symphony Chorus the melodious sounds of the Shoreline Ringers Bell Choir and a special performance by The New London Arts Magnet Pathway Chorus.
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It's the most wonderful time of the year, and the Lyman Homestead is sparking with holiday cheer! Capture the spirit of the holidays and enjoy a festive horse-drawn wagon ride, plenty of photo ops and a stroll through the Lyman Homestead. Enjoy live seasonal performances at the Apple Barrel while sipping on delicious hot cocoa and indulging in our famous bakery treats!
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Enjoy milk, cookies, and story time with Sturbridge resident and author Bill Barnsley, author of If Mice Pulled the Sleigh. Copies of the book can be purchased in advance or at the event, and Bill Barnsley will be signing books after the reading. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. After story time, embark on a journey through Christmas traditions past and present during Christmas by Candlelight (separate ticket required).
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Bring your family for one last memory-making visit to Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce. The event will be retired after 2025, so don’t miss your last chance to mingle among a half million twinkling lights throughout the park. Hop on some of your favorite family rides while you enjoy holiday treats and admire Connecticut’s tallest Christmas tree. Be sure to stop in and say “hello” to Santa himself. Put some sparkle in your season one final time at Holiday Lights ‘25, select nights November 28 thru December 28.
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Celebrate the holiday season under the twinkle of a million lights at Glow Hartford! Glow Hartford returns to the Connecticut Convention Center, November 21st through December 23rd. Enjoy interactive light gardens, illuminated structures, seasonal food and drinks, family-friendly activities, a festive holiday market and daily live entertainment. Don’t miss a FREE photo with Santa and ride on our trackless “Glow-comotive” train.
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Carl Bozenski's Christmas Village has been a holiday tradition since 1947. Located 45 minutes west of Hartford on Church Street in Torrington, this free holiday attraction enchants visitors young and old. From the tinsel-decorated parlor to the bustling toy shop, here is what you can expect at the Village. Visit with Santa in his elaborate throne room, Mrs. Claus, and even see the four reindeer! Every child receives a small gift. Enjoy our hot cocoa booth to warm up while you wait. Watch the magic happen as you view the elves hard at work getting everything ready for the big night!
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Take the whole family to come and see the latest exciting adventures of Santa Claus! This year, Santa is on a wild ride with a super charged, fancy sleigh that takes him on the craziest adventures you can imagine, meeting a cast of the funniest characters ever! But is his sleigh playing tricks on him? Was the villainous Krampus involved in trying to take down Santa and take over the North Pole? Will Rudolph and Dasher find their way in the world, or will they join forces with the elves and save Christmas after all? Whether you saw Santa Story 2 or are joining us for the first time, you’ll love the heartwarming and hilarious story of how Santa and his trusty reindeer and elves teamed up for Christmas. It’s a perfect mix of fun, laughter, and holiday spirit for the whole family. Make TYA part of your holiday traditions!
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- Little Red Barn Live Music - Bishop's Orchards - 1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT, 12/19/2025 - 12/20/2025, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Sensory-Friendly Evening: Winter Wonder at Niantic Children's Museum - 409 Main Street, Niantic, CT, 12/19/2025, 5 pm - 7 pm
- Fire Making Class - Ansonia Nature Center - 10 Deerfield Lane, Ansonia, CT, 12/20/2025, 2 pm
- Access All Community Day Celebrating Holidays - New Britain Museum of American Art - Lexington Street, New Britain, CT, 12/20/2025, 11 am
- Kemet the Time Traveler: Kwanzaa Youth Celebration - 224 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 12/20/2025, 11 am - 1
pm
- Free Mini Photo Session with Shoott! - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, 12/20/2025 - 12/21/2025, See link
for times
- Community Carol Sing - Mystic Seaport Museum - 75
Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT, 12/21/2025, 2 pm
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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The Hartford area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in
festive activities.
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KidsOutAndAbout is Hartford's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Hartford 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 Hartford Kids, as voted by KidsOutAndAbout.com readers! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Favorite Arts Educator, Favorite Sports Educator, and Favorite STEM
Educator!
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Wishing you and your family health and happiness!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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