KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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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Sights of plants and wildlife, smells of fresh air and trees, the sounds of birds and the blowing breeze. This is what you can experience on our monthly nature walk at Thrive Nature Park! Join us every 3rd Sunday for a guided walk to connect with nature and
the outdoors. This family-friendly hike will last 90 minutes.
All ages welcome!
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This is a once-in-a-century celebration of 100 Years of Jaw-Dropping "No Way!" moves, 100 Years of "Wow!" and 100 Years of Heart-Pounding Thrills! The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to your city with their most LEGENDARY TOUR EVER. From gravity-defying
dunks to game-changing tricks, experience the team that redefined basketball! This is history you can feel and a celebration of 100 years of over-the-top FUN with all-new surprises like the Golden Basketball by Spalding®. This is fan celebration from the moment you arrive with epic new pre-game magic, unforgettable post-game interactions, and the most fan-fueled experience in sports. This is your only chance to be part of The Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour. Don't miss your chance to be a
part of the LEGACY.
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The City of Richardson, the CORE District and the Dallas Chinese Community Center invite you to join us for the 2026 Lunar New Year festival, celebrating the Year of the Horse.
Fun for all ages, this free event will feature stunning dragon and lion dances, musical and martial arts demos, art making, calligraphy, specialty booths and cultural performances.
The event will be held at DFW Chinatown - the epicenter of Asian culture in the Dallas metro area featuring a fantastic mix of restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and cultural centers.
Immerse yourself in a traditional Asian experience from the moment you step foot into the neighborhood.
The event will be held at DFW Chinatown, located in the Richardson CORE District at 400 North Greenville Avenue.
Free parking will be available at the DART - ARAPAHO CENTER STATION (200 Woodall Dr, Richardson TX 75081) with free shuttle continuous shuttle service to transport you to and from the event.
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The queendom is back! SIX returns to Bass Hall February 10-15 in all its girl-power glory, just in time for Galentine’s Day. Don’t lose your head!
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You’re invited to a sweet and silly Valentine’s tea party at the library! Our special guests are encouraged to dress their fanciest as they enjoy tea-inspired activities, a light snack, and plenty of Valentine-themed fun. A delightful way to celebrate
friendship, whimsy, and creativity. Our littlest guests will require registration for entry. Grown-ups will be asked to stay for observation, though adult registration is not required.
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Dive into the fascinating world of birds with River Legacy at the Great Backyard Bird Count! This exciting event invites bird enthusiasts of all ages to come together and contribute to a global citizen science project hosted by the National Audubon Society
and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
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Don’t miss your opportunity to compete for the gold…. err… chocolate in this first annual Chocolate Olympics. Show off your muscles and athletic skills as you squeeze the sauce, sort the M&Ms and taste different chocolate candy with skill and precision.
Make sure you stick around for the parent chocolate pudding eating contest!
Note: All children must be with an adult.
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Every 2nd Saturday from 2:00-3:00 pm in the Children’s Area, there will be 15 minute sessions where kids can read aloud to trained therapy dogs. Reading to a dog is a encouraging, non-judgmental way for children to practice reading aloud.
The library will also provide animatronic dogs for kids with dog fears or allergy restrictions.
For more information, call the Library at 972-230-9666.
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You’re invited to our BIGGEST event of the year! We welcome you to the 2026 Lunar New Year: Year of the Fire Horse. Asia Times Square (ATS) is proud to present one of the largest annual Lunar New Year Festival in the North Texas area attracting over tens of
thousands of guests in our three weekends of events!
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Join us for a STEAM-tastic Bilingual Story Time with Smart Quest Academy of Southlake—enjoy a fun, hands-on STEAM activity and a delightful story read in both English and Spanish! Perfect for children ages 3 and up. No registration required—just drop in and
explore!
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All aboard this STEAM-based storytime! Explore with your child as they tap into their innate curiosity to discover the world around them.
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Children have a blast at My Gym (3 action-packed hours My Gym fun) while parents enjoy an evening out! Perfect for children ages 2.5 - 10 years old.
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- Love & Library: The Sweetheart Clue Hunt - Prosper Community Library, 200 South Main Street, Prosper, TX 75078, Friday, February 13 to Saturday, February 14, during regular library hours
- Black
History Month Scavenger Hunt - South Irving Library, Schulze Drive, Irving, TX, Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, during normal library hours
- Texas America250 Reading Challenge - Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 1201 Brazos St, Austin, Texas 78701, Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, all day
- Book Babies - 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prairie, TX, Friday, February 13, 11-11:45 am
- Little STEAMers - Betty Warmack Library, Bardin Road, Grand Prairie, TX, Friday, February 13, 11-11:45 am
- Little Explorers - Arlington Public Library - George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, South Center Street, Arlington, TX,
Friday, February 13, 10-11:30 am
- Family Storytime - Arlington Public Library - Southeast Branch, Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington, TX, Friday, February 13, 10:30-11:15 am
- Children's Playtime - Bedford Public Library, 2424 Forest Ridge Dr, Bedford, TX 76021, Friday, February 13, 11-11:30 am
- Bounce Time (Age 0-3)- Colleyville Public
Library - Colleyville Public Library, 110 Main St, Colleyville, TX 76034, Friday, February 13, 10:15-11:15 am
- Poké Club - Hurst Public Library, 901 Precinct Line Road, Hurst, TX 76053, Friday, February 13, 4:30-5:45 pm
- Family Place Playtime -Mansfield Public Library - Mansfield Public Library, South Wisteria Street, Mansfield, TX, Friday,
February 13, 11 am- 12 pm
- STEAM-tastic Bilingual Story Time with Smart Quest Academy of Southlake - Southlake Public Library, Main Street, Southlake, TX, Friday, February 13, 10-11 am
- 19th Annual Lunar New Year 2026 - Asia Times Square, West Pioneer Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX, Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, see website
- Great Backyard Bird Count
Festival - River Legacy Nature Center, 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006, Saturday, February 14, 10 am- 12 pm
- Animal Encounter - Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Farm to Market Road 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104, Saturday, February 14, 11-11:30 am
- Sensory Friendly Morning- Explorium - Denton Children's Museum - Explorium Denton Children's Museum a Program of Denton County Friends of The Family., North Interstate 35, Denton, TX, Saturday, February 14, 9-10 am
- Chocolate
Olympics - 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prairie, TX, Saturday, February 14, 1-2:30 pm
- Valentine's Party! - West Irving
Library, West Rochelle Road, Irving, TX, Saturday, February 14, 2:30 pm
- Volunteer
Valentine's Day Cards for Prosper's First Responders - Prosper Community Library, 200 South Main Street, Prosper, TX 75078, Saturday, February 14, 1 pm
- Cuentos & Stories - DeSoto Public Library, 211 E Pleasant Run Rd, DeSoto, TX 75115, Saturday, February 14, 10:30-11 am
- Reading Tails: Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs - Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs, 211 E
Pleasant Run Rd, DeSoto, TX 75115, Saturday, February 14, 2-3 pm
- Clifford the Big Red Dog's Birthday Storytime - Nicholas P Sims Library, West Main Street, Waxahachie, TX, Saturday, February 14, 10:15-11:15 am
- Family Storytime at Lewisville Public Library -
Lewisville Public Library, 1197 West Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75067, Saturday, February 14, 11- 11:30 am
- Valentine's Day Saturday Storytime - Burleson Public Library, 248 Southwest Johnson Avenue, Burleson, TX 76028, Saturday, February 14, 10-11 am
- Valentine's Day Tea Party - Mansfield Public Library, South Wisteria Street, Mansfield, TX, Saturday, February 14, 10:30-11:30 am
- City of Richardson Annual Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 - City of
Richardson Core District, 400 N. Greenville Avenue, Richardson, TX 75081, Sunday, February 15, 11 am-3 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Midcities 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 theMid-Cities? 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 Mid-Cities 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 Mid-Cities 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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