KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're still packing
lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are moving through it
together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator,* February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build
Strong Communities
*Rochester, NY ☺️ |
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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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Join us for themed nights at Community First Igloo. February 13th is Jungle Safari Skate from 10AM to 12PM! Admission and skate rental is $15.
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WRTS Jax is celebrating the day of LOVE bugs together with our We Rockers! Be a part of our Valentine's Day with us to celebrate with open play, a Valentine's Day story, special decorated brunch with donuts & juice, art project, and a TY Love Bug to
take home to love!
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February's Ninja Night theme is Night of the Neon Ninja. Expect high‑energy ninja activities, themed challenges, movement games, and tons of fun! Zone and Non‑Zone members welcome. Pizza is provided, please bring a water bottle.
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Come in to Main Event for food & fun with your loved one! No matter who you are celebrating with: Mother/Son, Daddy/Daughter, Girls Night Out, Date Night - Main Event is your one-stop-shop. Pick from 1 of 3 ticket options that all geared to give you
and your sweetheart some amazingly fun memories this Valentines' Day. Pricing is for 2 people.
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Join Jax Parks for a special, Valentines Day edition of Movie Night in the Park! On Friday, February 13th, join us at Riverfront Plaza in Downtown Jax for a special showing of The Princess Bride! We will have Food Trucks, Popcorn, and the Riverwalk Bar
onsite serving up drinks!
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Join us every Saturday starting October 4th for fresh produce, local art, handmade goods, wellness, baked treats, and more! A perfect weekend spot for family, friends & community vibes!
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Enjoy a night out while your kids have a night out! Valentines Party with games, food and music!
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A new musical comedy about the things we do to stay together. Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to Jacksonville in this internationally acclaimed hit musical critics call “wonderful, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny” (Manchester Evening
News) and “a feel-good, family-friendly comedy that delivers” (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the beloved film, MRS. DOUBTFIRE tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. It’s “the lovable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now,” raves the Chicago Tribune – one that proves we’re better together.
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Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply).
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Children in grades 3-8 are invited to celebrate “Pawlentine’s Day” with the animals at JHS on Monday, February 16, 2026! Campers will learn all about pets while enriching the lives of the homeless dogs and cats at JHS. We’ll craft HEARTfelt treats and toys
for the animals and ensure the residents of JHS feel loved.
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Shen Yun Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization based in New York. Its mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. Traditional Chinese culture—with its deep spiritual roots and profoundly optimistic worldview—was displaced by
communism in China. While Shen Yun cannot perform in China today, it is sharing this precious heritage with the world. The world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, Shen Yun is bringing to life a lost culture through beautiful art.
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Homeschool Helpers is a drop-off program designed for students ages 7-14 and includes 10 monthly sessions exploring various pet-related topics and themes. Each session includes a lesson, hands-on activities and service projects benefiting JHS, and the
opportunity to meet a JHS pet (depending on the availability of a suitable animal). Due to JHS Summer Camp, Homeschool Helpers does not take place in June or July.
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville 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.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Jacksonville 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 Kids in the Jacksonville Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including 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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