KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Jan 13: My Community & Me Preschool at Niantic Children's Museum
Thu, Jan 15: Zoo Tots: Animal Tracks and Tails! at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Mon, Jan 19: Access for All Community Day |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day at The New Britain Museum of American Art
Wed, Jan 28: Hartford Wolf Pack v Charlotte Checkers
Sat, Jan 31: David Foster & Katharine McPhee at Palace Theater
Wed, Feb 11: Homeschool Art Exploration at The New Britain Museum of American Art
Sat, Feb 14: Love Our Animals Weekend at Roaring Brook Nature Center
Tue, Feb 17: Fun in February: School Vacation Week at Historic Deerfield
Fri, Feb
20: Let’s Sing Taylor – A Live Band Celebrating Music of Taylor Swift at Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Tue, Mar 3: World Wildlife Day at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Thu, Mar 19: Pinkalicious: The Musical at The Bushnell |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
I'm in Phoenix this week for a meeting of the American Astronomical Society, where I'm giving a talk about my new book, The Eclipse Effect. One of the best parts of being here is getting to attend the other presentations, too, which is how I found myself Monday night inside under the Dorrance Planetarium Dome at the Arizona Science Center, gazing up at a sky unlike any I’ve ever seen. Thanks to cutting-edge LED projection technology and the first imagery from the nearly-complete Rubin Observatory in Chile, the dome became a portal into the depths of our galaxy and beyond,
rendered in light so vivid and detailed it felt like we could fall in. The room was full of astronomers, researchers, educators—professionals who have dedicated their careers to explaining the universe. These were the very people who helped build the tools, who'd worked the math, who’d waited decades to see the science take shape... and even they were astonished: Their faces were lit up with the kind of awe you usually only see in children. It was a reminder that at its
heart, science is about connection. Connecting those points of light above my head, yes; connecting the dots, sure... but also connecting people—to each other, to wonder, and to what’s possible. If you want your kids to connect deeply with science—or history, or nature, or culture, or space—you don’t need a telescope on a mountain, you just need a person. So go to the museum, walk the trail, step into the planetarium. But don’t stop at the
exhibit signs: Find the people! Ask them questions. They want to talk to you! These docents, tour guides, librarians, explainers, and educators are the ones who turn information into illumination. They are the lens your kids can look through to see what their future might be. So seek the sky painters. Then stand next to your kids, look up, and be amazed together.
—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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Weather Alert: heavy snowfall has arrived at Stepping Stones! During this “Season of Fun”, experience enchanting indoor blizzards* plus shovel-ready “snow,” “ice forts” for playful snowball fights, sled-pulling adventures and more snowy surprises all winter long. Grab your coat and mittens – the frosty fun is about to begin (minus the chill)!
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Stop by the Mystic Seaport Ship Modelers Model Train Show, on display January 10–11 in the Pilalas Lobby of the Museum's North Entrance. See the Narragansett Bay Railway & Navigation Co., a 1:48-scale model railroad winding through marshes, dunes, and coastal ports inspired by Southern New England’s maritime landscape.
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The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Springfield Science Museum will open early, with some exhibits will be modified to provide an opportunity for people with a range of differing abilities to experience what these Museums have to offer. Our trained staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions you have and, if necessary, direct you to a quiet space that provides a chance to cool down and take a break. Sensory-friendly crafts for all ages will be available in the Cat’s Corner. Parents and caregivers must stay with their children at all times.
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A tradition like no other returns to Hartford this night – the Teddy Bear Toss! We can’t wait to set another record of bears collected and be able to donate them to some beary special children at Connecticut Children’s Hospital. If you’re new to the tradition of the Teddy Bear Toss, or just need a quick refresher, bring a new or gently used teddy bear to the game, and as soon as the Wolf Pack score their first goal, toss your bear onto the ice! We’ll collect and donate them from there.
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Hobbies help us express ourselves, explore our interests, and see the world in new ways. Paint, build, design, and discover your next favorite pastime right here in the inspiring surroundings of the museum. Join our friends from ConnLUG and use LEGO® bricks to recreate a work of art. Grab a complimentary bag of popcorn and stay for a free screening of Hugo at 2pm.
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Night in the Museum is an overnight experience designed for scouts, schools and other youth groups of up to 80 participants. With only a map and a tattered journal at their side, young historians will travel back in time and take part in a mysterious, candlelit adventure through the 1830s. The quest will exercise their detective skills as they hunt for clues, conduct experiments, and investigate the past. Back at our hands-on learning laboratory, we will experiment with historic crafts to learn more about 19th-century life.
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- Family Programs at Yale Peabody Museum - Yale Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT, Friday, January 9 to Sunday, January 11 - See website for specific program times
- Little Red
Bar[n] Live Music at Bishop's Orchards - Bishop's Orchards, 1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT, Friday, January 9 to Saturday, January 10 - 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Coats & Cocoa 2026 at Hartford Public Library, Albany Branch - Hartford Public Library, Albany Library, 1250 Albany Avenue, Hartford, CT, Saturday, January 10 - 10 am - 4 pm
- Second Saturdays for Families: Hands-on Hobbies at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art - Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, Saturday, January 10 - 11 am–2 pm
- FILM: Hugo at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of
Art - Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, Saturday, January 10 - 2 pm
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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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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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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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