KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades: “Remember the
rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting
to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to
manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and
remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech! Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed that a day be set aside to honor the planting of trees. This day was observed as Arbor Day and during the first year over one million trees were planted; today events are held in all 50 states and around the world to
recognize Arbor Day. Join our community for a celebration at the Interpretive Center, 1442 Pavilion Drive in T.O. Fuller's Day Use Area. A tree planting and tree give-a-way will be followed by a guided tree I.D. hike with Ranger Wheatley.
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Get ready for KidsTown Consignment — where families come together to shop, sell, and save BIG! Our twice‑a‑year community sale at the Agricenter is your one‑stop shop for amazing deals on children’s clothing, shoes, toys, books, and gear from newborn to
teen. Find fabulous gently used treasures and discover a limited selection of NEW boutique items at HUGE discounts! Whether you’re clearing closets or hunting bargains, KidsTown makes it fun to make room, make money, and make memories. Don’t miss KidsTown 2026 — March 5 (10–7), March 6 (11–7), and March 7 (9–4, ½‑price sale). See you there!
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Experience the prehistoric age and encounter your favorite dinosaurs up close at Dinosaur Adventure, a family-friendly dinosaur exhibit designed for children and families. Dinosaur Adventure is a one-of-a-kind dinosaur event featuring realistic, life-sized
dinosaurs that come alive with lifelike movement and roars. As part of this interactive dinosaur experience, children can enjoy a variety of hands-on activities including fossil searches, Jurassic scooters, themed obstacle courses, riding their favorite dinosaur, and velociraptor dance and training sessions, and more. Families can also enjoy engaging entertainment such as a baby dinosaur meet and greet, making Dinosaur Adventure a fun and memorable experience for young dinosaur fans and their
families.
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Great Scott! BACK TO THE FUTURE the beloved, cinematic classic is now a Broadway musical with its destination set for Memphis in 2026. When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he
accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself... back to the future. When BACK TO THE FUTURE hits 88mph, it’ll change musical theatre history forever.
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- 5 Fridays of Jazz - (Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library) – 3030 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38111, Friday, March 6, 2026, 6:30pm - 8pm
- Story Time at Morton Museum of
Collierville History – 196 N Main St, Collierville, TN 38017, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30 am
- Super Saturday - Button Bouquet – 1934 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Every Saturday, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is FREE from 10am - 12pm! – 1934 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN
38104, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10am - 12pm
- Mardi Growl at Overton Bark – Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN, Saturday,
March 7, 2026, 11am - 2pm
- Project Pop-up! (all ages) – Park Avenue, Memphis, TN, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 1 PM -
3 PM
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Memphis 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 Memphis 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Memphis 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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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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Memphis 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 Memphis, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Check out our most recent winners list, then check out our calendar and resource lists for lots more to do in Memphis!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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