KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter,
safer. That’s why my family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses,
antibiotics, the internet, veterinary science, and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of
you with kids in middle school or older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids.
In this new AI age, the real danger isn’t the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and
imagining what we’ll power with it in the future.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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Deck the halls with tons of COLOR! From Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, come enjoy holiday fun the Crayola way! Complete a seasonal scavenger hunt, pose in holiday photo-ops, and make handmade gifts from the heart as you create a Pop-Up Greeting Card for someone special, paint one-of-a-kind Holiday Ornaments to add some festive flair to your home, mold a Penguin Friend with Model Magic to bring holiday cheer, and write a Letter to Santa with all the nice things you’ve done this year. All included with general admission.
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Get ready for hands-on engineering fun over winter break at The Works Museum! Winter break camps for kids ages 5–12 run from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and include museum exploration and a pizza lunch. Each day features a unique theme—from building a light-up cardboard village and engineering in a LEGO toy factory to designing marble roller coasters, creating glowing LED art, and inventing LEGO rescue tools. Camps are $120 per day ($108 for members), and space is limited—register now before spots fill up!
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Animal lovers, get ready for your best birthday yet. Now you can host your birthday party at Animal Humane Society! Birthday parties at AHS last 90 minutes. The first 45 minutes are led by an AHS staff and include an adoption floor tour, games, and a meet and greet with an adoptable animal. The last 45 minutes are yours to celebrate, open gifts, and eat cupcakes (if you choose to bring them) in our education room. We’ll also provide simple animal-themed decorations, and each guest receives a good bag to take home! Start planning today!
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A Sparking Holiday Production. Warm up from the inside out with Ballet Co.Laboratory's dazzling holiday production, The Snow Queen. Journey with young Gerda as she ventures through magical realms to rescue her brother from the Snow Queen's enchantment. Brimming with wonder and heart, The Snow Queen is a holiday tradition in the making.
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FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! A whimsical reinvention of Dickens' most beloved Christmas story in wacky rhymed couplets. With zoot fruited juices and binka bird geese, from Bed-Headed Fred to Timmy Loo Hoo, this tale of glorious holiday cheer is similar to something Dr. Seuss might have come up with -- if he ever had his way with the story..
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Shop Hennepin History Museum merchandise at the Dayton’s Holiday Market… downtown Minneapolis or Southdale! The historic Dayton’s department store in downtown Minneapolis once again comes alive with the “Dayton’s Holiday Market” – a wonder-filled market of over 100 vendors offering unique, one-of-a-kind items. 2025 marks the fifth year of the Dayton’s Holiday Market and the 40th anniversary of the Dayton’s Santa Bear. This year, the market has expanded to a second location, Southdale – home of the nation’s first fully enclosed, climate-controlled shopping mall.
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Immerse yourself in the holiday magic as we bring the charm of a traditional European Christmas Market to St. Paul!
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cranberry and popcorn garland Celebrate the season with Miles Jewell as he explains the origins of Victorian Christmas and its journey to becoming uniquely American. Try some traditional treats and make a garland of popcorn and cranberries to string on your Christmas tree and/or to feed the hungry birds in your neighborhood! All materials provided.
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An upbeat, whimsical tale about a troupe of elves who help restore a poor cobbler to prosperity by making a pair of the most fantastic and magical shoes ever seen. This heart-warming adaptation tells of midnight enchantment and of virtue and generosity rewarded. It’s the perfect holiday story and great fun for all ages.
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Step into a winter wonderland on a horse drawn sleigh ride at the Forest History Center.
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Night Trains® season is a special Holidays tradition at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. Night Trains runs from October 2025 through February 2026 with additional bonus nights noted below. What is Night Trains? The museum’s collection of model trains of all scales and toy trains of yesteryear come alive throughout the Museum (Sorry, no real trains to board and ride on!). Night Trains Season magic begins as the lights are turned down and the buildings and street lights glow warmly, setting the scene for specially lighted models of operating vintage passenger trains. The make believe towns are buried in snow and holiday decorations are set up all over the towns. Uniquely decorated trains will run on the layouts and special holiday-only layouts will also be on display.
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Bring the family to our warm greenhouse and capture a moment with Santa in his beautiful sleigh. Santa will be present Saturdays and Sundays starting Thanksgiving weekend. November 29th & 30th, December 6th & 7th, December 13th & 14th, December 20th & 21st. $5 per family, using your own camera.
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- Family Playtime at The Grove - The Grove United Methodist Church - Cottage
Grove, 12/19/2025, 10-11 am
- European Christmas Market at Union Depot - Saint Paul, 12/19/2025
to 12/21/2025, 12:00pm to 6:00pm
- Saturday Vibe: Family Storytime - Saint Paul, 12/20/2025, 11:00am-12:00pm
- Paw Pals: Read with Maple the Dog - Saint Paul, 12/20/2025, 11:00am-12:00pm
- Free Holiday Family Movies at 50th & France - Minneapolis, 12/20/2025, 10 am - 2 pm
- Holiday Photo Ops at 50th & France: Llamas, Santa, and Unicorns! - Minneapolis, 12/20/2025, 12-2 pm
- Mill City Farmers Market - Mill City Farmers Market - Minneapolis, 12/20/2025, 10am-1pm
- Native Market and Cultural Celebration - Featuring special guest Sean Sherman at Midtown Global
Market - Minneapolis, 12/20/2025, 1-4 pm
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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The Minneapolis-St. Paul area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and
engaging in festive activities.
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KidsOutAndAbout big list of 2025 holiday events list for the Minneapolis - St. Paul area. Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul 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 winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. 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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