KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Jan 31: The Million Card Show at POST Houston
Sat, Feb 7: Library Carnival at Brazoria County Library System - Clute
Sat, Feb 14: Bubbles and More Play Day at Nature Discovery Center
Sat, Feb 14: Lunar New Year Festival 2026: Year of the Fire Horse at Parker Williams Branch Library
Sun, Feb 15: Lunar New Year- Discovery Green
Sat, Feb 21: Annual Go Texan Parade at Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce
Sat, Feb 21: Mardi Gras! Galveston
Fri, Mar 20: National Youth Theater presents Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical
Sat, Mar 21: Heights Kids' Day of Music
Sat, Mar 28: Bayou City Art Festival at Memorial Park Thu, Apr 9: Handyman Hall Comes to Town - Cullen Performance Hall, April 9 |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When Madison and Ella were young, I made it a point to stretch their comfort zones in small, manageable ways. They’d order their own food at restaurants, they'd arrange their own homeschool work schedules, they'd try activities where they didn’t know anyone. I did my best not to step in unless invited. Over time, they started trusting their
own ability to navigate the world without me. That, of course, was the point. But the better they got at being independent, the more I started to feel a quiet kind of discomfort. They were moving outward—into the world, into themselves—and I could feel the shift. There’s a concept in astrophysics called red shift. When a star or galaxy moves away from us, the light it emits stretches, shifting toward the red end of the spectrum. The farther away it moves, the
redder the light appears. It’s how we know the universe is expanding. The movement doesn’t mean the light is gone—just that it’s arriving to us in a new form, from farther away. I think about that a lot as my kids are no longer orbiting so closely. I still see their light; it just looks different now. I’m learning to recognize their new wavelengths. The trick, I think, is not to see red shift as loss, but as evidence of motion. The fact that I feel the stretch means the
universe is doing what it’s supposed to do: expanding, evolving, moving outward. I remind myself that this kind of shift is a mark of success. Increased wavelength, decreased frequency... it's all part of the natural order of things. Light travels and stretches, and love does, too.
—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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Get ready for a roaring good time at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum on Dino Day Fun Day! On January 25th, 2026, families are invited to explore where dinosaurs and trains collide through hands-on experiences, exciting displays, and kid-approved fun. Dinosaurs take over our detailed model train layouts, bringing prehistoric adventure to life in a unique way. Young explorers can enjoy dino-themed activities while learning cool facts about science and railroad history. Take a tour, walk through train cars, imagine dinos along the tracks, and spark curiosity through play. Museum grounds admission is required. Learn more and plan your visit at https://rosenbergrrmuseum.org/funday. A perfect trip for curious kids and their grownups!
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Once Upon A Cowboy offers a fun and unique experience that will be unforgettable. At Once Upon A Cowboy, we handle every detail, ensuring a stress free and enjoyable celebration. Create lasting memories with your loved ones where fun, laughter and good times await! Pricing starts as low as $329. Email: events@onceuponacowboy.com to reserve your party today or give us a call at 346-587-5653.
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Peppa Pig, along with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, George and new baby sister Evie, are coming to Galveston for PEPPA PIG: MY FIRST CONCERT – a fun, interactive introduction to a live orchestra for ages 18 months and older. Join Peppa and George to learn all about the different sounds that instruments make together! Enjoy some of your favorite music from the show played by a live orchestra and discover some other exciting orchestral pieces perfect for children. Plus, some little piggies can join Peppa and her family to make music of their own! Join the Grand 1894 Opera House March 6th 12:00 PM for a fun Classical Musical Journey.
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Handyman Hal is rolling into town on his “awesome tool vehicle” for a high-energy, laugh-out-loud live show the whole family will love! In The Handyman Hal Comes to Town Tour, children’s educational YouTube favorite Handyman Hal is joined by friendly helpers and special guests as he builds a secret project using cool tools, music, and lots of kid participation. Sing and dance along to fan-favorite songs like “Tools Are Cool” and “The Awesome Song,” and hold on tight when a wild science experiment unleashes dino-sized chaos! This engaging live performance is a fantastic first theater experience for little ones and a fun-filled adventure for kids of all ages. Tickets available now!
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Ride on a caboose! The 20 minute train ride departs every 30 minutes from the Galveston Railroad Museum, weather permitting. Fun for all ages, children must be accompanied by adult and all must be ticketed. Reservations may be made online or at the ticket counter. Museum admission ticket required. $8 each.
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Messy, sensory play is an important part of child development. Together with NDC staff and volunteers, you will explore and create with messy materials, making works of ephemeral and take-home art as well as just making good old messy fun. After we make messes together, you’ll go home *relatively* clean! We’ll meet at the Pavilions behind the Center and plan to hold class outdoors.
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We're all about families on Sunday Family* Fun Day!! We wave the individual studio fees ALL DAY ON SUNDAYS so your family can paint for just a $10 family studio fee that covers all the paint plus the kiln firing (pottery pieces priced separately*). Don't miss this weekly event!
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ARTECHOUSE's Fractal Worlds is designed for explorers of every age. Kids are drawn to the color, movement, and sense of play, while adults find moments of calm, inspiration, and awe. Whether you’re visiting with friends, family, or on your own, ARTECHOUSE offers space to wander freely, take photos, relax, and experience art in a completely new way.
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Visit The George Ranch this January and explore a WWII soldier encampment in the 1930s George Ranch House Yard. Discover how men and women survived on the front lines, learn about the German POWs who worked on the Ranch during the war and speak with talented re-enactors from both sides. Join the search for enemy planes at our observation post and learn how parachutes work!
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Movers & Shakers is a high-energy storytime designed especially for active toddlers and their caregivers. Join us each week for lively read-alouds, upbeat music, props, and plenty of movement to support early literacy and motor skill development! Geared to ages 18 months to 3 years.
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Join us on Saturday, January 24th from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM for the iCode Cypress New Year’s Open House. Discover the programs we’re offering this year and see how we make learning fun through coding and creativity.
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Join us as we spread kindness around the Museum with a day full of fun, engaging, and hands-on activities for the entire family to enjoy! Together, we’ll celebrate the power of compassion, friendship, and community through creative crafts, games, and thoughtful challenges that will inspire you to make a difference—one kind act at a time.
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Sandbox VR is an immersive, full-body VR experience that is redefining entertainment. Utilizing the latest cutting-edge technology, groups of up to 6 friends put on VR headsets and wear motion sensors that capture their movements, letting them see and physically interact with each other as they battle in a shared virtual world.
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Join us at Adventure Kids Playcare for an exhilarating Kids Night Out! Designed for ages 3-12, it's a playground paradise from 6pm to midnight. Each week brings a fresh theme, promising endless excitement and imagination for your little adventurers. Drop them off for a night of supervised fun while you enjoy some well-deserved downtime. It's the perfect blend of play, creativity, and socialization in a safe environment.
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Slip, slide, spin and crash with Bumper Cars on Green Mountain Energy presents Ice at Discovery Green. This timeless amusement ride gets an updated twist at Houston’s premiere outdoor ice-skating rink. No license or experience needed to drive! Tickets are $20 plus tax for a seven-minute ride. Children must be taller than 42 inches to ride.
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Lights, laughter, and classic cartoons! Calling all teens—come hang out at the library for a special cartoon Bring your own favorite snacks to enjoy while you watch and get ready for a fun-filled break with nonstop cartoon comedy. If you love animation and humor, this is the perfect event for you!
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- Movers & Shakers Storytime - 215 North Shanks Street,
Clute, TX, Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11 am
- Texas America250 - 7405
Stella Link Road, Houston, TX 77025, Friday, January 23, 2026 during regular library hours
- Toon Café - 4500 Aldine Mail Route Road, Houston, TX 77039, Friday, January 23, 2026 at 3-5 pm
- MyCHN at Westwood Open House - 9700 Bissonnet Street, Suite 1000W, Houston, TX 77036, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- New Year Open House - iCode Cypress, Northwest Freeway, Cypress, TX, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- The Fun Bus - 1200 Lake Plaza Drive, Spring, TX 77389, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 12-2 pm
- Wagging Tales - Katherine Tyra Branch Library, Clay Road, Houston, TX, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 10:30-11 am
- Arbor Day- Houston
Arboretum & Nature Center - 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77024, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 10 am – 2 pm
- Spark 5 Story Time w/ The Michelle Project - 11331 Airline Drive, Houston, TX 77037, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 11 am- 2 pm
- I Am Texas: The Largest Published Book in the World - 500 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77002, Saturday,
January 24, 2026 all day
- Playtime on the Plaza! - 500 McKinney Street, Houston,
TX 77002, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 11:30 am- 12:30 pm
- Agritourism Days at Blackwood Farm 2026 - 27144 Rock Island Road, Hempstead, TX 77445, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 12-4 pm
- Saturdays @ HPL - 110 North Milby Street, Houston, TX 77003, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 2-4 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in and around Houston? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets,
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Houston 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 winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Houston area: Houston, The Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sugar Land, and beyond. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, plus 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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