KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Mon, Feb 23: Words Matter! at KindCraft
Thu, Feb 26: Board Games in the Boardroom at City of Parkville
Sat, Feb 28: The Coterie Theatre presents 'My Stuffie and Me' at Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College
Sat, Feb 28: International Polar Bear Day at Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Sun, Mar 1: Philharmonia
Fantastique at Kansas City Symphony
Thu, Mar 5: The Pout-Pout Fish at The Folly Theater
Fri, Mar 6: 'Secrets of Space' at Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community
College
Sat, Mar 7: Hike With a Naturalist at Lakeside Nature Center
Sat, Mar 7: Wagging All Over the World at The Independence Square
Sat, Mar 7: St. Patrick's Day Parade - Downtown Overland Park |
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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Taking shelter in a London tube station during World War II, Alice Spencer retells the story of Alice in Wonderland to cope with her world falling apart. Go "Down the Hole" with Alice and friends in this retelling of a classic story.
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Join us for an all-ages celebration of everything you love—stories, characters, games, and creativity. PopCon brings the fun with a fan art and cosplay competition, board game swap, fandom-themed crafts, face painting, and chances to meet beloved
characters. Compete with friends while playing video and board games, show off your creativity, and connect with fellow fans of every age.
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The KC Love Event brings everything that we LOVE about Kansas City together in the most beautiful and iconic indoor event space at the Gorgeous Union Station.
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Ready for a prehistoric adventure? Bring your little paleontologists to experience this FREE, hands-on-exhibit designed to spark curiosity and scientific thinking.
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- Kids & Crafts Storytime | Lawrence Public Library - Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS 66044, Friday, February 13, 2026, See website
- Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice - 2450 Grand Blvd, Crown Center, Kansas City, MO 64108, Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, 2026, 10:00am - 6:00pm Mon-Sat | 12:00-5:00pm Sun
- Valentine Factory | Olathe Library Downtown - Olathe Downtown Library, 260 E Santa Fe St, Olathe, KS 66061, Friday, February 13, 2026, 10 am - 11:30 am
- Pokémon & Beyblades Club at Olathe Library Indian Creek - Olathe Indian Creek Library, 16100 W 135th St,
Olathe, KS 66062, Friday, February 13, 2026, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
- Kids Create Art: Lunar New Year - Platte City Library - Mid-Continent Public Library - Platte City Branch, 2702 NW Prairie View Rd, Platte City, MO 64079, Friday, February 13, 2026, 11 am - 12 pm
- PopCon 2026 - Kansas City
Public Library: Plaza Branch, Main Street, Kansas City, MO, Saturday, February 14, 2026, 1 pm - 5 pm
- Tail Wagging Readers | Lawrence Public Library - Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS 66044, Saturday, February 14, 2026, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
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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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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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