KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: February is Children’s Dental Health Month, which means it's the perfect time to talk about LYING. The first lie my daughter Madison ever attempted was when she was about 3. "Did you brush your teeth?” I asked as she was getting ready for bed. She nodded earnestly, but I had my doubts; a check of the toothbrush revealed it was dry as the Sahara. "Looks like
we need a do-over," I said. "Try again." In a 2025 Delta Dental study of 1000 parents of kids age 12 and under, 67% of respondents reported difficulty in getting their kids to brush their teeth. And in a related but thoroughly unscientific survey, 100%
of the friends I asked told me that their own kids have lied about tooth brushing at least once. See, young children don’t experience truth as adults do; their developing minds blur the line between reality and hope, between what happened and what they would prefer had happened. Brushing is tedious, being done is better. Add a desire to please Mom, and those wires can cross. In those early years, our job is to help kids gradually separate fact from wishful thinking. You might
think that prosecuting dishonesty harshly might scare kids into telling the truth, but that often just scares them into hiding more cleverly. Our goal as parents isn't just to have kids who brush their teeth and do their own homework and someday file tax returns without creative interpretations of “business mileage,” although we do want all those things. But overall, we want kids who are brave enough to be, rather than seem to be. If they see early that
mistakes can be brought into the light and fixed with a do-over, they’re far less likely to build a life around pretending they didn't happen. So my best recommendation for Children's Dental Health Month is to model both scrupulous honesty and scrupulous teeth-brushing yourself. In case you need an immediate solution, though, I hunted down a list of kids' best tooth-brushing songs thoughtfully supplied by the American Dental Association. Grit your teeth and hum along.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong
Communities
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Join NASA Ambassador and local North Texan Les Murray, to learn about the Artemis II mission! Hear about the mission objectives, flight plan, and the astronauts joining this exciting mission.
For all ages
|
|
|
|
Dallas Blooms brings spring to life as the Southwest’s largest annual floral festival, featuring stunning floral displays, immersive garden experiences, and moments designed to be enjoyed by all ages. As the season unfolds and new blooms emerge, each visit
becomes a unique celebration of spring.
|
|
|
|
Step into the wild and explore the amazing world of Cedar Ridge Preserve! Learn how the local plants, animals, and habitats all work together to create a thriving ecosystem. Use all five of your senses to observe, listen, and connect with nature like a true
naturalist. Along the way, you’ll uncover fun facts about native wildlife, discover the importance of conservation, and complete exciting hands-on activities. Finish your adventure by earning your official Junior Ranger Badge and becoming a protector of the preserve!
This event is FREE.
|
|
|
|
Climb aboard Grapevine Vintage Railroad and experience a family-friendly adventure through the heart of Grapevine, Texas.
As the train chugs along the Historic Cotton Belt Route, you’ll settle into authentic 1920s-era luxury coaches that carry the spirit of a bygone age.
|
|
|
|
Join us for a Monthly Community Beautification Event with the City of Lewisville! On Saturday, Febrauary 21, 2026, we’ll be picking up litter at the Hebron Parkway Kayak Launch to help preserve this community space for future generations. This is a great
way to spend your morning outdoors while doing something good for the environment. All cleanup tools and supplies will be provided. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help keep our kayak launch clean and green!
|
|
|
|
No snow? No problem.
Join our Southern Winter Olympics at the library! Teens can join us in the garden to compete in modified winter games—no ice required.
|
|
|
|
Celebrate Lunar New Year with stories, crafts and traditions from Vietnam and China. Families can enjoy activities, a special storytime and light refreshments. Free and open to all.
|
|
|
|
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to explore new career paths, discover volunteer opportunities, or gather valuable information for college planning! Our Career and College Fair offers an opportunity to connect with a wide range of employers, colleges,
and community organizations. Enhance your skills and learn about the Texas Common Application and FAFSA process all in one convenient location.
|
|
|
|
Welcome back Allen Americans Professional Hockey Club fans! The Allen AMERICANS Professional Hockey Club will have an action-packed schedule for fans at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.
|
|
|
|
Come in for open playtime in our Family Place Library area. Bring your young children to play with others while building skills through play. Parents are required to remain with children at all times. No registration is required.
|
|
|
|
Calling all video game enthusiasts, board game lovers, and Dance Dance Revolution fanatics! Hang out with us at the library for a game night after hours!
Note: Games will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own favorite games to play!
|
|
|
|
Stop by for a morning of play-based learning just for our littles! This program will vary week-to-week as we celebrate the world using art, math, science, engineering, and fine motor skills.Join us as we playfully discover the world around us!
Designed for ages 1-4. This program is designed to be flexible on time so that families can participate at any time during the program's duration. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (817) 459-6900 or by email at LIBYouthServices@arlingtontx.gov.
Thank you to the Friends and Foundation of the Arlington Public Library for their generous support of our programming.
|
|
|
- Black History Month Scavenger Hunt - South Irving Library, Schulze Drive, Irving, TX, Fri 2/20 - Sun 2/22, during normal library hours
- Texas America250 Reading Challenge - Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 1201 Brazos St, Austin, Texas, Fri 2/20 - Sun 2/22, all day
- Book Babies - Grand Prairie Library, 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prairie, TX, Fri 2/20, 11-11:45 am
- Gaming Guild - Tony Shotwell Library, Graham Street, Grand Prairie, TX, Fri 2/20, 6-7 pm
- Preschool Storytime - Nicholas P Sims Library, West Main Street, Waxahachie, TX, Fri 2/20, 10-11 am
- Family Storytime - Arlington Public Library - Southeast Branch, Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington, TX, Fri 2/20, 10:30-11:15 am
- Children's Playtime - Bedford
Public Library, 2424 Forest Ridge Dr, Bedford, TX, Fri 2/20, 11-11:30 am
- Bounce Time (Age 0-3)- Colleyville Public Library - Colleyville Public Library, 110 Main St, Colleyville, TX, Fri 2/20, 10:15-11:15 am
- Lego Club - Kennedale Public Library, West 3rd Street, Kennedale, TX, Fri 2/20, 3:30-5 pm
- Family Place Playtime -Mansfield Public Library - Mansfield Public Library, South Wisteria Street, Mansfield, TX, Fri 2/20,
11 am- 12 pm
- Little Explorers: Black History Month - Arlington Public Library - George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, South Center Street, Arlington, TX, Fri 2/20, 10-11:30 am
- College & Career Fair - 1300 Wilson St, Denton, TX, Sat 2/21, 10 am- 1 pm
- 19th Annual Lunar New Year 2026 - Asia Times Square, West Pioneer Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX, Sat 2/21 - Sun 2/22, see website
- Cuentos & Stories - DeSoto Public Library, 211 E Pleasant Run Rd, DeSoto, TX, Sat 2/21, 10:30-11 am
- Play & Learn (Ages 0-5) at the Central
Library - 713 Austin Street, Garland, TX, Sat 2/21, 10 am- 12 pm
- Canvas and Cookies: Paint and Celebrate Black History Month (Ages 6-12) at the South Garland Library - South Garland Branch Library, 4845 Broadway Blvd, Garland, TX, Sat 2/21, 2:30-4:30 pm
- Lunar New Year Family Event at the West Garland Library - West Garland Library, West Walnut Street, Garland, TX, Sat 2/21, 10:30 am-
12:30 pm
- Family Storytime at Lewisville Public Library - Lewisville Public Library, 1197 West Main Street, Lewisville, TX, Sat 2/21, 11- 11:30 am
- Southern Winter Olympics - Burleson Public Library, 248 Southwest Johnson Avenue, Burleson, TX, Sat 2/21, 2-3 pm
- Evan Seven, a Canine Companion - Southlake Public
Library, Main Street, Southlake, TX, Sat 2/21, 10 am- 12 pm
- Service Saturday - Litter Cleanup - 2205 W Hebron Pkwy, Lewisville, TX, Sat 2/21, 8-10 am
- Creatures and Captives: Painted Textiles of the Ancient
Andes - Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N Harwood St, Dallas, TX, Sun 2/22, 11:00 AM
- Junior Ranger Program at Cedar Ridge Preserve - Parking lot, Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX, Sun 2/22, 10 am- 12 pm
- Artemis II | NASA Ambassador - Carrollton Public Library at Josey Ranch Lake, 1700 Keller Springs Rd, Carrollton, TX, Sun 2/22, 2-3 pm
- Brazos Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert - Pathway Church, Northwest Renfro Street, Burleson, TX, Sun 2/22, 7:30 PM
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
