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
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:
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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The Midwest Trust Center brings everyone together with Family Tier Pricing! Each season features performances for the whole family like What if Puppets, ‘Jungle Book,’ ‘Secrets of Space,’ ‘The Ugly Duckling,’ and StoneLion Puppet Theatre. All adult tickets in Family Tier are $20 and eligible for season packages (save 10% on three to five shows or 15% on six or more). Youth tickets are always 50% off for public performances in the Series. With free parking and no ticketing fees, it’s affordable fun for everyone! Learn more and purchase tickets at jccc.edu/MTCArtsEd
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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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Join us every other Friday to paint a special pottery project that goes along with a favorite children's book. A wonderful time for parents (grandparents or nanny) and children to listen to a story and paint together! Every other Friday, 10:30 - 11:30 A.M.
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Sar-Ko Aglow in Lenexa is one of the Kansas City metro’s best holiday light displays. Miles of light strands and thousands of colorful bulbs brighten this favorite park each winter. Take a nighttime stroll around Rose’s Pond Dec. 5, 2025–Jan. 19, 2026, to view the stunning spectacle and its reflections on the water. Whether at dusk or dark, Sar-Ko Aglow makes a picture-perfect scene for family photos.
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Kansas City's original public, outdoor ice skating rink celebrates its 53rd season of great skating fun. Enjoy public ice skating seven days a week (see hours below; closed on Christmas Day) from Nov. 7, 2025, to March 8, 2026. Enjoy public, outdoor ice skating at Kansas City's iconic Crown Center Ice Terrace seven days a week from November to March.
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- Storytime for Babies - Mid-Continent Public Library, Grain Valley, MO, Friday, 01/09/2026, 9:30 AM
- Sar-Ko Aglow 2025 - Lenexa,
KS, Friday, 01/09/2026, 6 pm - 11 pm
- Kids & Crafts Storytime - Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, KS, Friday, 01/09/2026, See website
- Pokémon & Beyblades Club - Olathe Indian Creek Library, Olathe, KS, Friday, 01/09/2026, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
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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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