KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Jan 13: Down on the Farm at Olathe Library Indian Creek
Sat, Jan 17: 'Jungle Book' at Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College
Sat, Jan 17: i9 Sports Winter Indoor Season Opening Weekend
Thu, Jan 22: Kansas City Symphony presents Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost
Ark™ in Concert at Kansas City Symphony
Fri, Jan 23: Nerf Night (ages 12+) at Harris Park Community Center
Sat, Jan 24: MTC Kids Jam – Mr. Stinky Feet and the Hi-Tops at Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College
Sat, Jan 24: Skate with Sam the Sasquatch at Summit Ice- MO
Sat, Jan 24: Scout Day 2026 at National WWI Museum and Memorial
Sat, Jan 24: 100 Years of Winnie: Winnie-the-Pooh Day 2026 at National WWI Museum and Memorial
Sun, Jan 25: 2026 Lunar New Year Festival at the Nelson-Atkins
Fri, Feb 6: Community Volunteer Fair at Indian Creek Library |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When I was a teenager, a math teacher I respected told me that there are two kinds of people: Those who make pizza, and those who grab as many slices as they can. "At the end of the day," he said, "you want to be someone who has made more pizza than she eats." He said this to me at the perfect time, when I was just forming my ideas about who I was and was going
to become. I decided I wanted always to be on the positive side of the pizza-making equation, so I started thinking about how to use the time I have here on Earth to make as much pizza as I possibly could. Over the years, I found that the key to success in this long-term goal is to tune my mental radar to the very near future, to stay in control of my time rather than giving it away to an algorithm that serves endless empty calories: How best do I use the next five
minutes, the next half hour, the next day? It all adds up. Even young kids can add value to the world, especially if they watch their parents doing it. New Year's resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, especially when they're overly specific. But resolving to be on the positive side of the pizza-making equation is straightforward. For some easy recipes for quick wins, check out my quick-read article 12 Starter Ideas for Pizza on Earth. Then look up from your phone, scan your world, and you'll find all the ingredients you need. Here's to a delicious 2026!
—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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101 Classes - These 10-week Beginner’s courses are the perfect Intro to music. Our small group classes offer a fun, easy way to build core skills! These lessons are a perfect entry point to music at Bach to Rock®. After learning core skills, students can take their skills to the next level with one-on-one instruction! Fun with Music can prepare students for beginner classes — like Piano 101, Guitar 101, Ukulele 101, Drums 101, and Voice 101 — or private music lessons. Kids under the age of 7 can also continue their music education in our Kids n Keys piano and keyboard class.
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Water is the lifeblood of human civilization, shaping our history, economy, and environment. “Ripples” explores how water has connected us all—past, present, and future. From ancient inland seas to today’s interconnected watersheds, humans have always relied on water for survival, trade, agriculture, recreation, and more. But as we face increasing challenges like historic droughts, floods, and pollution, our relationship with water has never been more complex. Visitors to “Ripples” will dive into Johnson County’s award-winning modern water management, the ways humans have both controlled and been shaped by water, and the evolving mindset that views water and humans as interdependent. The exhibit showcases the region’s history through interactive displays, artifacts, and stories that illustrate the ripples left by past decisions and the ones we continue to create today.
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Follow the lives of Parisians as World War I transforms their city. Experience the city’s dramatic shift from the flourishing days of the French empire to the uncertainty and hardship brought on by hunger, air raids and the constant threat of German artillery. Discover how ordinary people navigated moments of fear and loss, while workers and newcomers from across the globe blazed new paths on the streets of Paris.
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Watch as the penguins take a walk outside of Helzberg Penguin Plaza. Don't miss the Penguin March outside of Helzberg Penguin Plaza every Saturday and Sunday at 11 am, December through February.
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- Free Arts & Crafts Day on the Farm | Hometown Olathe Family Farm - Olathe, Friday, January 2, 2026, 2 pm - 4:30 pm
- Crafternoon Olathe Library Indian Creek - Olathe Indian Creek
Library, Olathe, Friday, January 2, 2026, 4:30pm
- Teen Zone Indian Creek - Olathe Indian Creek
Library, Olathe, Friday, January 2, 2026, 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- Sar-Ko Aglow 2025 - Lenexa, Sunday, January 4, 2026, 6 pm - 11 pm
- Teen Gaming Tournament | Lawrence Public Library - Lawrence
Public Library, Lawrence, Sunday, January 4, 2026, 4 pm - 6 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 in and around Kansas City. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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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