KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with our quest to
explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test, I’d stay home
“sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an option" with
"nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste weird, projects
that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—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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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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Union Station Kansas City is dedicated to science education, a celebration of community and preservation of history. We are proud to host the 75th Greater KC Science & Engineering Fair and want to thank all the students, teachers, parents, mentors and volunteers who help make it a success!
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Announcing "Native Arts in Miniature," The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures’ upcoming exhibition in the East Gallery! This exhibition explores diverse tribal traditions, family heritage, and creative innovations expressed by Native American artists working in miniature. Video interviews and written interpretation will highlight artists’ voices discussing their artworks, techniques, and inspirations.
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Please join us at South Platte Station #3 as we gather to celebrate the mile stone of 50 years of service! This will be a fun filled day with food, speakers and a display of past fire trucks that have served the community. We would love the opportunity to show our thanks to the community that has supported us through the years as well as the men and women who have served and gotten us to this moment.
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Great American Kites will once again take over the lawn of the picturesque MCC-Longview campus in the heart of kite month, with awe-inspiring mega kites, power kites, stunt kites, and more. You'll even see the world's largest windsock, which is three stories high and 200 feet long! Bring the whole family, along with lawn chairs or blankets and a kite if you have one. Numerous food trucks will be on hand to satisfy your food and beverage cravings -- something for everyone!
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Get ready for a summer full of color, creativity and fun. We’ve got so many exciting themes that your budding artist will be sure to find inspiration and express their unique style. Each camp session is packed with hands-on projects like canvas painting, wood door hangers, watercolor painting, drawing, Sculpey clay, ceramic pottery, and other arts and crafts. Our camps are perfect for kids who love to make, paint, and create. Whether they're beginners or seasoned young artists, every child will leave with artwork they're proud of and memories they'll treasure. Camps are for ages 5+. Themes include Paws & Paint and Sculpt and Spin for kids in k-5th grade. Check out Spin That Wheel for tweens and teens who want to learn how to throw pottery on a wheel.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - KC - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 04/10/2026 - 04/12/2026, See link for times
- Storytime for Babies - Mid-Continent Public Library - Grain Valley Branch, South Buckner Tarsney Road, Grain Valley, MO, USA, 04/10/2026, 9:30 AM
- Free Arts &
Crafts Day on the Farm | Hometown Olathe Family Farm - Hometown Olathe Family Farm, 11000 S Woodland St, Olathe, KS 66061, United States, 04/10/2026, 2 pm - 4:30 pm
- Kids & Crafts Storytime | Lawrence Public Library - Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS
66044, United States, 04/10/2026, See website
- Pokémon & Beyblades Club at Olathe Library Indian Creek - Olathe Indian Creek Library, 16100 W 135th St, Olathe, KS 66062, United States, 04/10/2026, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
- Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice - 2450 Grand Blvd, Crown Center, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States, 04/10/2026 - 04/12/2026, 10:00am - 6:00pm Mon-Sat | 12:00-5:00pm Sun
- 2nd Annual Spring Craft & Vendor Fair Benefitting FOMPAC - Smithville American Legion Auxiliary Unit #58 - 2607 NE 92 Hwy, Smithville, MO 64089, 04/11/2026, 11 am - 4 pm
- MCC-Longview Presents Flights of Fancy 2026 Mega Kite Festival -
MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy - 500 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64081, 04/12/2026, 12pm - 5pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Kansas City area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more.
Our guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the KC 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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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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