KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jun 5: Vintage Revival at Bella Patina
Sat, Jun 6: Art on the Side 2026
Sat, Jun 6: Food. Art. Drink. Festival - Linden Square
Sun, Jun 7: Outdoor Concert Series: Kansas City Jazz
Orchestra Ensemble at Sar Ko Par Trails Park
Fri, Jun 12: Arts in the Park
Fri, Jun 12: Downtown Overland Park Art Fair
Fri, Jun 12: Mission Parks and Rec Movie in the Park: Princess Diaries (PG)
Thu, Jun 18: Azura Credit Union Free Family
Fun Nights at Kansas Children's Discovery Center - June
Sat, Jun 20: Cars, Coffee, and Pancakes at the Museum
Sun, Jun 21: Make Music Kansas City
2026 |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: A tumble is not a verdict; it's information. And kids are natural data analysts. That's what a mom half a generation older than me told me when I was getting ready to have kids, and I took it to heart. So I was secretly a little thrilled the summer my daughter Madison was almost 4, when she took her first big splash off a slippery log into a
creek. Here's why: To succeed in life, everyone needs to learn to stretch to the edge of their abilities... to gather courage from their toes, to calculate, to balance, to wobble, to slide... and eventually to succeed. Kids can learn this early if the grownups in their orbit help them see the mud and bruises that come from a tumble as badges to be worn proudly: a fail-until-we-succeed philosophy in action. That's how personal fulfillment happens, and it's how human progress happens,
too. Summer is childhood's best laboratory, where sensory experiences stick as lifelong learning. School has grades and rubrics and consequences; summer has grass stains and do-overs. An amusement park ride can teach the difference between fear and danger. A hands-on museum can teach that when your tower collapses, you simply vow to rebuild it taller. A farm can teach that maybe you don’t like strawberries from the grocery store, but
you do like the ones you picked yourself, still warm from the sun. A climbing gym can teach your muscles that “I can’t” really means “I can’t yet.” And summer camps are entire worlds built around trying something new with no transcript following you home. Last week, the KidsOutAndAbout.com team launched our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey. It's a way to thank the people who make your community a great place to raise kids. Equally important, it’s a giant menu of local opportunities for your kids to stretch their legs, their minds, and their bravery this summer. Use it to create your summer bucket list! Then step back and set your family’s summer dial to “safe to fail.” Watch your kids climb, build, stumble, and try again.
Let them splash.
—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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This interactive experience brings to life the children’s books of author and animator Mo Willems with his signature imagination, whimsy and humor.
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On the Memorial Day of our centennial year, join us as we give special honor and recognition to the individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving their country.
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Fuel your child’s imagination at the Kansas City Automotive Museum with a morning made for curious young minds! From engaging story time to hands-on activities, little explorers will get up close with incredible cars in a fun and welcoming space. It’s the perfect mix of learning, laughter, and quality time together!
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Fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, baked goods, flowers, body care products and more! The Lenexa Farmers Market sells only products that are locally grown, raised or made within 250 miles or throughout Kansas. Each Saturday and Tuesday during the Market season, you can expect a great selection of products from vendors who care about providing you the very best.
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- Lenexa Farmers Market 2026 - Lenexa Farmers Market - West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS, May 23, 2026, 8 am - 12 pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - KC - Shoott - Kansas City area, May 22, 2026 to May 24, 2026, See link for times
- Storytime for
Babies - Mid-Continent Public Library - Grain Valley Branch - South Buckner Tarsney Road, Grain Valley, MO, USA, May 22, 2026 and May 29, 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, May 22, 2026 and May 29, 2026, 2 pm - 4:30 pm
- Storytime for Families - Mid-Continent Public Library - North Oak Branch - North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO, USA, May 22, 2026 and May 29, 2026, 9:30am 10:30am
- Hats Off to U.S. at the National WWI Museum and Memorial - National WWI Museum and Memorial - 2 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States, May 22, 2026 to May 24, 2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- The Center of Summer Soccer at Crown Center - 2450 Grand Blvd, Crown Center, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States, May 23, 2026 to May 25, 2026, 10AM - 8PM
- The Pigeon Comes to Kansas City! A Mo Willems Exhibit - 2450 Grand Blvd, Crown Center, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States, May 23, 2026 to May 25, 2026, 10AM - 6PM
- Kansas City Symphony Celebration at the
Station - Union Station Kansas City - West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO, USA, May 24, 2026, 5 pm - 10 pm
- Outdoor Concert Series: Green Shoebox Band at Sar Ko Par Trails Park - Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park - Lackman Road, Lenexa, KS,
USA, May 24, 2026, 5 pm
- National Memorial Day Concert - LIVE STREAM - ONLINE ONLY, May 24, 2026, 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT
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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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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