KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: February is Children’s Dental Health Month, which means it's the perfect time to talk about LYING. The first lie my daughter Madison ever attempted was when she was about 3. "Did you brush your teeth?” I asked as she was getting ready for bed. She nodded earnestly, but I had my doubts; a check of the toothbrush revealed it was dry as the Sahara. "Looks like
we need a do-over," I said. "Try again." In a 2025 Delta Dental study of 1000 parents of kids age 12 and under, 67% of respondents reported difficulty in getting their kids to brush their teeth. And in a related but thoroughly unscientific survey, 100%
of the friends I asked told me that their own kids have lied about tooth brushing at least once. See, young children don’t experience truth as adults do; their developing minds blur the line between reality and hope, between what happened and what they would prefer had happened. Brushing is tedious, being done is better. Add a desire to please Mom, and those wires can cross. In those early years, our job is to help kids gradually separate fact from wishful thinking. You might
think that prosecuting dishonesty harshly might scare kids into telling the truth, but that often just scares them into hiding more cleverly. Our goal as parents isn't just to have kids who brush their teeth and do their own homework and someday file tax returns without creative interpretations of “business mileage,” although we do want all those things. But overall, we want kids who are brave enough to be, rather than seem to be. If they see early that
mistakes can be brought into the light and fixed with a do-over, they’re far less likely to build a life around pretending they didn't happen. So my best recommendation for Children's Dental Health Month is to model both scrupulous honesty and scrupulous teeth-brushing yourself. In case you need an immediate solution, though, I hunted down a list of kids' best tooth-brushing songs thoughtfully supplied by the American Dental Association. Grit your teeth and hum along.
—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. |
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During winter break, students and their families are invited to enjoy all the HRM has to offer. Visit the exhibitions on view, engage in interactive art and science workshops, watch planetarium shows under the dome, and enjoy a tour of our historic Gilded
Age home, Glenview.
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As winter winds down, it’s maple sugaring time! Learn how to identify and tap sugar maple trees, discover sugaring techniques used by Native Americans, pioneers, & modern-day farmers, and see an evaporator in action! PLus, Delicious local maple syrup
from Tree Juice is available for sale to tour attendees (see below for details). Join us for a sweet time!
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Over the course of three centuries, hundreds of people worked at Clermont to keep the Livingston family comfortable. For nearly 100 years, the mansion was run by a mostly enslaved staff. By the 1830s, this staff was completely replaced by paid labor. Though
many of their stories were lost, recent research has revealed new details about those who worked for the Livingston family. Join us as we uncover some of the stories of those who served.
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Birds use a lot of energy to keep themselves warm in the cold winter months. Join us to make a snack that will help energize the birds in your backyard during this challenging season. We’ll use pinecones, peanut butter, and bird seed to make a delicious
treat for the birds that you can hang in trees near your house. While observing the bird feeder outside, we’ll record the birds that we see and use field guides to identify the birds we don’t know. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Meet at the Sam’s Point Visitor Center. Pre-registration is NOT required.
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Join us for the Newburgh Farmers Market. The Winter Market is every Saturday through April 25, from 10 am – 2 pm in the Safe Harbors Ritz Theater Stagehouse (100 Ann St, Newburgh).
Support local farmers and get some local goodies!
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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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Join us for an unforgettable journey celebrating the incredible life of Sojourner Truth! Along the way, we’ll stop at iconic locations, each offering a unique piece of her story. From the historic Jug Tavern to the powerful Port Ewen Statue and the
beautifully relocated Mural, every stop will bring her legacy to life with inspiring spoken word performances. Warm up with a delightful cup of hot chocolate as we continue this enriching experience.
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- 7th Annual Sojourner Truth Life Walk - Dietz Stadium, North Front Street, Kingston, NY, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 11:00 AM
- Safe Harbors of the Hudson Newburgh Winter Farmers Market - Safe Harbors of the Hudson, 111 Broadway, Newburgh, NY, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10 am - 2 pm
- The Storm King School Open
House Events - The Storm King School, Mountain Road, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, Saturday, February 21, 2026, See website
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Hudson Valley 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 Hudson Valley? 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 Hudson Valley 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 annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Hudson Valley. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Favorite Art Educator, Favorite Sport Educator,
and Favorite STEM Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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