KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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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Make a splash this spring at the Long Island Aquarium, one of Long Island’s most exciting family destinations! From dazzling tropical fish and playful penguins to sharks, sea lions, and hands-on touch tanks, there’s nonstop fun around every corner. Kids can explore interactive exhibits, discover amazing underwater creatures, and enjoy unforgettable up-close animal encounters. Perfect for a day trip or weekend adventure, the Aquarium offers thrills, learning, and family memories all in one place. Don’t miss your chance to experience this must-visit attraction. Plan your visit today and dive into an ocean of excitement the whole family will love!
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URBAN AIR LAKE GROVE CELEBRATES MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WITH EXTENDED HOURS AND NEW LASER TAG ATTRACTION Urban Air Adventure Park will celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with extended holiday hours from May 22-27, giving families more time to enjoy Long Island’s tallest indoor adventure park. Guests can experience attractions including the Sky Rider indoor zip line, High Ropes Course, Mini-Go Karts, trampolines, climbing walls, arcade games, and the park’s newest attraction, Laser Tag, which debuted this spring. Jumperoo toddler playtime will not be held on Friday, May 22 due to the holiday schedule. For specific hours, tickets, and attraction details, visit Urban Air Lake Grove.
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This annual Levittown Chamber of Commerce event features exciting midway rides and games for all ages and delicious fair food for every appetite. Admission and parking are free. Visit the website for pre-sale deals on rides and coupon savings on rides and food.
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Enjoy exciting rides and games and classic carnival cuisine at this family-friendly event over the extended holiday weekend. Admission and parking are free. Visit the website for pre-sale ride specials and coupon savings on rides and food.
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This Memorial Day weekend event features thrilling midway rides and games and tasty fair food for the whole family. Free admission and parking. Be sure to check out the website for advance savings on rides and discount coupons for rides and food.
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Experience the premier Korean culture event on Long Island: K-Food | K-Pop Dance | Merch | Performances | Crafts | Games | Family Fun Korea Festa is returning to Huntington, NY, over Memorial Day weekend, May 23, 24, and 25, 2026; 12:30 pm to 7 pm, daily.
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Don McLean is a Grammy Award honoree, a Songwriter Hall of Fame member, and a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. His smash hit “American Pie” resides in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and was named a Top 5 Song of the 20th Century by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA). A New York native, Don McLean is one of American history’s most revered and respected songwriters. After paying his dues in the New York club scene in the late 1960s, he went on to score mega-hits like “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air” and many more.
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Join us at Smithtown Historical Society Grounds on May 23 & 24 for the Smithtown Craft Fair! 100 Vendors, Food Trucks Live Music, Farm Animals. Free Admission.
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Please join us for the Village of Island Park Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 23rd. Parade to proceed primarily on Long Beach, Radcliffe, and Ostend Roads. Ceremony immediately following the parade at the Memorial Monument. Decorate your bicycle and join the parade! Prizes for the best decorated bicycles!
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Sunday Science is the perfect drop-off program for children to learn hands-on science: During this month’s Sunday Science, we create art from the things we find in nature. Discover the science of color to attract butterflies and bees to your garden and take home your very own wildflower!
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Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion, again will host the Merrick’s Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday, May 25, 2026. Post Members and Veterans are asked to form at Merrick Avenue and Veterans (Broadcast) Plaza at 8:45 a.m. We shall start the parade at 9:30 a.m. and plan to start the ceremony at the Merrick’s Veteran Memorial Park at about 10:45 a.m. We will have cars for those who cannot march. Invites to parade participants have been sent out to Merricks Churches, Synagogues, Schools, Clubs, Organizations, Fire Departments and Politicians.
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Sgt. Peter F. Colleran Post #7763 Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Post #1066, in cooperation with the Village, will conduct the Annual Memorial Day Parade in the Massapequas. The parade will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. at the corner of Pittsburgh Ave and Parkside Blvd in Massapequa, traveling south on Parkside Blvd, heading east on Clark Boulevard to Park Boulevard to Front Street and travel west to Brady Park. Come join us in paying tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our nation. Anyone interested in marching in the parade can contact Village Hall at 798-0244 ext. 111.
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Join us this Memorial Day as communities across the Town of Smithtown come together to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Please see the flyer below for all four Memorial Day parade locations and times throughout Smithtown.
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Celebrate Memorial Day with a family-friendly dining deal at Applebee’s, where kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée. Available for dine-in only on May 25. This offer allows up to two children ages 12 and under per adult to enjoy a complimentary meal from the Kids Menu. Cannot be combined with other discounts and excludes tax and gratuity. Valid at Doherty Enterprises–owned Applebee’s locations across Long Island!
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Celebrate the unofficial start of summer with extended holiday weekend hours May 22–27 at Urban Air Lake Grove! From high-flying adventures to nonstop family fun, we’re open early and late so you can make the most of Memorial Day Weekend. Take on Long Island’s tallest indoor adventure park, featuring the Sky Rider indoor zip line, climbing walls, ropes course, trampolines, mini go-karts, Spin Zone bumper cars, arcade games, and the all-new Laser Tag attraction. Bring your friends, challenge each other on the attractions, and refuel at the Urban Café with food, snacks, and drinks between adventures. Visit our website for complete holiday weekend hours and attraction information.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Long Island - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, See link for times
- Camp Kenan Open House Paint-a-Palooza - YMCA Camp Kenan - 8571 Lower Lake Road, Barker, NY 14012, 10:00am to 2:00pm
- Smithtown Craft Fair - Smithtown Historical Society - East Main Street, Smithtown, NY, USA, 10AM - 5PM
- Korea Festa 2026 - 300 Nassau Road - Huntington, NY 11743, 12:30 PM - 7:00 PM
- Village of Island Park Memorial Day Parade - Village of Island Park - 127 Long Beach Road, Island Park, NY 11558, United States, 10:00AM
- The National Memorial Day Concert - LIVE STREAM - ONLINE ONLY, 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Long Island 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 Long Island 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure on Long Island? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping a
spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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