KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: Before I had kids, one of my colleagues told me that fundamentally, a parent’s job is to point. At first, you point physically: You point at the waterfall and say “waterfall,” at the moon and say “moon,” at the flower and say “flower.” You’re helping a child connect sounds to objects, words to concepts, language to reality. But later, and really all the way through, the
pointing becomes more metaphorical. Parenting is the ongoing work of connecting your child’s growing capacity to understand with a world that is, to them, forever expanding. As I had Madison and Ella, I came to think of this as being a tour guide to the world. A good tour guide needs to know the landscape, of course. But even more important, a good tour guide needs to know the traveler. What can this particular child see right now? What are they ready for? What do they care
about? What frightens them? What delights them? It's useful to remember that kids haven’t actually been here before: The world is brand-new to them over and over again, so what feels ordinary to us is often astonishing to a child. Tour guides who are doing their job well pay close attention to who their audience is and what they know, and that makes the pointing easier and more fun. Spring is the perfect season to practice pointing. In spring, the world changes fast enough for
kids to notice. Buds swell and burst. Birds return. Tiny green things push up through the dirt as if by magic. Day to day, the world becomes visibly more alive. If we point it out, kids can catch it happening in real time. And spring does not arrive quietly. It comes as an avalanche of the senses: color, smell, birdsong, mud, wind, sunlight, thunder, petals, pollen, rushing water. So maybe that’s part of the job, too: not just to point, but to lean into it. To stand beside our
kids in the rush of it all and say, Look! Here it comes.
—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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Celebrate your child’s big day with hands-on engineering fun at The Works Museum! Families love the easy-to-supervise open floor plan, where guests can build with LEGO-style bricks, design K’NEX racers, look through a giant kaleidoscope, launch paper creations into the air, and more. Each party can also include a staff-led, guided engineering project that doubles as a one-of-a-kind party favor for every guest.
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Step up to the plate for a heartwarming hometown story! Based on the true life of Twin Cities baseball hero Joe Mauer, The Right Thing To Do is a lively, world-premiere musical onstage April 10–May 10. When young Joe makes one simple, kind choice, it sparks friendships, builds confidence, and helps a group of kids discover where they belong. Set in a familiar Minnesota world, this upbeat show celebrates teamwork, understanding different abilities, and the power of looking out for one another. With catchy songs, big heart, and plenty of fun, it’s a feel-good story the whole family will cheer for.
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Do they love making up their own songs? Looking to sharpen their instrument-playing skills? Eager to build their confidence and feed their curiosity? With music camps themed on instrument discovery, storytelling, theater and performance, skill building, contemporary music, and more, there’s a world of musical possibilities for every kid and teen this summer at MacPhail. Our expert educators are ready to welcome your student into a supportive, encouraging, and inspiring environment - no matter their age or musical stage. Give them a meaningful summer, filled with the joy, community, and confidence that music can bring. Financial assistance is available. Learn more at macphail.org/camp.
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- Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child’s lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll. See you at the show! The Rock and Roll Playhouse presents The Music of Taylor Swift & More for KidsFirst AvenueSunday, April 26, 2026All Ages showNOTE: Free admission for kids under 1.11:00 AM Doors11:30 AM ShowtimeMore info: Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and…
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n a land where fear and misunderstanding have divided the people for generations, a young girl named Luna holds the key to breaking the cycle of darkness and separation. The Girl Who Drank the Moon celebrates the transformative power of unity — reminding us all that when we come together, we can heal wounds, face our fears, and create a better world for everyone.
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Spring into fun with this vibrant sensory class! Kids will explore the magic of the season through hands-on activities involving adorable ducklings, wiggly worms, and create a squish-painted rainboot craft. It’s a colorful, creative adventure celebrating all things springtime! Children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
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Visit this interesting multi-cultural art exhibit and spend the day at the Arboretum!
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There are six decorated eggs hidden around Nickelodeon Universe. Can you identify which show is featured on each of them? Add a Scrambled Egg Mix Up Scavenger Hunt onto any ticket purchase now through April 12 to unscramble the eggs and get a prize.
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It’s time to celebrate spring! Learn about the tradition of gathering maple sap and cooking it down to make maple syrup and sugar. We’ll go through the syrup process, make maple crafts, participate in a spring scavenger hunt, and best of all, taste award-winning maple syrup. Fun for the whole family!
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Come to the Forest History Center and celebrate the late winter ritual of making maple syrup. There will be demonstrations of the maple syruping process, phenology information, some music around the bonfire, and more!
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Enjoy roasting a peep over a bonfire, craft time, egg hunt and pictures with the bunny. Don't miss this memorable event! Fee includes 2 crafts, a peep smore,5 egg from egg hunt and time with the bunny.
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The 2026 Urban Expedition series continues with a celebration of Uruguayan culture! Enjoy authentic music, dance, crafts, and cuisine during this immersive program favorite. Don’t forget to bring your passport and collect the final stamp of the season!
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Celebrate the arrival of spring at the 6th Annual Spring Boutique at Big Rock Creek! This exciting event is packed with fun activities, unique experiences, and opportunities for the whole family to create lasting memories.
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Enjoy the colors in this exhibit and join us to meet the artist on March 21st from 11:30 to 3 pm. In a world defined by constant motion, "Stillpoint, Changing Line" explores the tension between what we hold onto and what we let go. This exhibition serves to illustrate that nothing remains static. Rather, the "line" is both a boundary and a path, marking the edge of what is known while leading us toward what is becoming. The exhibition brings together four distinct voices to explore as they move from the rigid and structural to the fluid and ephemeral. Viewers are invited to travel a complete spectrum of artistic interpretation as they enjoy “still world” of flower cloches to the kinetic power of untamed motion found in paintings. Visit the website for admission tickets.
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Spots fill quickly — reserve your Bunny Photo Experience now and capture the sweetest spring memories. Every hour on the hour, kids and families can join Bunny for a high-energy KIDZ BOP dance-along! Get ready to hop, dance, and have fun with the KIDZ BOP Bunny Dance Parties! As part of your Bunny Photo Experience, kids and families can join Bunny every hour on the hour for a high-energy KIDZ BOP dance-along.
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Weekly Online class with experienced FILM/TV actor and award-winning director, Amelia Rico. Amelia has appeared on Doctor Odyssey, Plur1bus, Grey's Anatomy, Dark Winds, 1923 and more. She has directed award winning films and has helped many actors get representation and film work with her expertise and actor services.
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Join us for Phipps Community Day, a FREE open house with tours, activities, performances, and demonstrations! Come to the Phipps and experience mini theater and dance performances, spin the prize wheel for a chance to win season tickets, take guided behind-the-scenes tours, do a drop-in dance class and join us for a hands-on art activity. See what makes the Phipps such a special place!
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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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- FunLab at George Latimer Central Library - Saint Paul Public Library, 90 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102, Saturday, March 27, 2026, 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Slime Break Showdown at Mall of America - Mall of America, 2131 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, MN 55425, Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, See website.
- Scrambled
Egg Mix Up! at Mall of America - Mall of America, 2131 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, MN 55425, Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, See website.
- Celebrate Earth Day-Meridian Waste Children’s Coloring Contest (Contest entry ends
April 13) - Submit your artwork online., Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, Any time.
- Maple Syrup Festival at Wargo Nature Center - Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St, Lino Lakes, MN 55038, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 12 - 2 pm
- Tapping Time - Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Dale Street North, Roseville, MN, Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, March 28th, 10AM-2PM March 29th, 12PM-4PM
- Jam Lab at
Cadenza Music Shop - Cadenza Music, 149 Snelling Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 2:00PM
- Easter Egg-stravaganza at Glendale United Methodist Church - Glendale United Methodist Church, Glendale Road, Savage, MN, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 11
am - 12 pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Minneapolis-St. Paul - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, See link for times
- Sundays at Landmark: Urban Expedition - Uruguay - Landmark Center, West 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN, Sunday, March 29, 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Phipps
Community Day at Phipps Center for the Arts - Phipps Center For the Arts, Locust Street, Hudson, WI, Sunday, March 29, 2026, 12:00PM-3:00PM
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the MSP 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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