KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The February my daughter Ella was 1, she caught a cold that lingered for months. There were short stretches of relief, but mostly there was congestion, disrupted sleep, and a level of crankiness that turned my sunny baby into someone I barely recognized. The clouds around her felt constant, and one day, I caught myself labeling her in my head as “the crabby one.” But of course,
if I had a perpetually runny nose and no way to manage it, I’d be irritable, too! I needed to remember this wasn’t her personality, it was a season. What we needed to get through it was distraction: something fun to do "right now" and also fun things to anticipate. Aside from those who live in paradise pockets like San Diego, most of our readers are in the thick of a particularly dreary winter. The world feels heavy and gray, energy runs low, and
it’s easy to fixate on how dispirited we feel. But we need to remember that this isn't our personality, it's a season. What we need to get through it is distraction in the moment and also something positive we can place on our horizon. My family is counting down to the March 20 release of Project Hail
Mary, which stars Ryan Gosling. The movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. You don't have to be a science nerd to love Weir's books (although science nerds DO love Weir's
books), because in all of them, the real hero is human ingenuity—curiosity, flexible thinking, doing what needs to be done even in extreme circumstances. When things are going awry, the answer isn’t despair, it’s problem-solving, and I always emerge from a Weir book feeling spiritually lighter. While I immerse myself in Weir and Gosling, you, of course, should do YOU! Let the art or sport that grabs you and your kids be your launch ticket to optimism now, and lift you to fun
in the future. We're glad to provide the fuel!
—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 all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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Enter our CAN THE TRASH! Clean Beach Poster Contest for a chance to share your message with millions of beach visitors across Los Angeles County!
If you win, your artwork will be displayed on trash barrels at the beach—helping remind everyone to keep our beaches clean. Students can submit posters online, in person, or by mail. The contest is open to students in grades 3–5 who live in Los Angeles County. Please note that online entries must be submitted by an adult.
To enter, draw a picture with a message showing how we can keep our oceans and beaches clean, healthy, and free of pollution. Use your creativity, bold colors, and big ideas—we can’t wait to see what you create!
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Come cheer on the Angels!
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The Fred Harvey Experience will be held on February 28th, 2026. Ticket price is $75, members receive a 10% discount. Guests will arrive at 11am at the Fred Harvey Exhibit where they will be served tea and water and learn about the amazing story of Fred
Harvey and the Harvey Girls. After the presentation there will be time to browse the exhibit. At noon guests will board a private trolley to take them on a ride around the Museum. They will be dropped off in front of Town Hall at 12:30pm where they will enter into a historic 1800’s re-creation of a Fred Harvey eatery. Lunch service will begin at 1pm and guests will be served a 4 course meal from original Fred Harvey recipes. The courses include: appetizer, salad, main entrée, and dessert. The
Fred Harvey cup code will also be used! Each personal will get a take home keepsake. At 3pm the Fred Harvey experience will conclude. Guests are welcome to check out the rest of the Museum, visit the Gift Shop, or take another ride on any operating…
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KIDDIE RUN HIGHLIGHTS
• Lunar New Year Celebration in the heart of historic Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA
• Opening ceremony with lion dancers and traditional lighting of 100,000 firecrackers
• Access to Kiddie Fun Zone (Carnival Games / Face Painting / Petting Zoo / Arts & Crafts activities / Puppet Show)
• Firecracker Festival, featuring merchandise, arts/crafts, and attractions
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Matches against top-tier MLS clubs offer spectacular skills and fierce competition, making it an unmissable experience for soccer fans.
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Visit fields with 500,000 bulbs imported from Holland One & Pick-Your- Own Tulips
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Come and find us at the Atwater Village Farmer’s Market every Sunday from 9am-2pm (you can come as early as 8:30am). The market is located in the public parking lot, behind the shops on the south side of Glendale Blvd., between Larga and Garden Avenues. The
address is 3528 Larga Ave., Los Angeles, 90039.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Los Angeles 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 LA 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Los Angeles area? 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the LA 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 best places to take kids in the Los Angeles area! In early summer each year, thousands of parents vote in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Who won first place? An indoor play center, museum, farm, nature center, sports
team? Click through to find out!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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