KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with our quest to
explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test, I’d stay home
“sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an option" with
"nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste weird, projects
that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—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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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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Your Best Summer Starts Here! Saint Paul Urban Tennis is registering now for spring, summer, and fall programs for youth ages 5–18! From beginner camps to competitive team tennis, SPUT offers affordable, inclusive programming at accessible Saint Paul locations — welcoming all skill levels and backgrounds. We offer summer camps, seasonal clinics, and junior team tennis for every age and ability. Don't miss your spot — spaces fill fast! Register today and make this summer one to remember.
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The Right Thing To Do is a lively and inspiring world-premiere musical that explores the power of small acts of kindness, the impact of friendship, and the importance of doing what’s right. With vibrant music, unforgettable characters, and a message that resonates beyond the baseball field, The Right Thing To Do reminds us that every act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to create a ripple effect that transforms our communities in ways we might never expect.
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The International Festival of Minnesota (IFest-MN) gathers over 70 nations and ethnic communities to share food, music, art, dance, traditions, and cultural demonstrations. With an expected 25,000 attendees, including 7,000 youth, IFest offers a hands-on, heart-opening experience that fosters understanding across generations and provides a deeper understanding of each other’s heritage.
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Join us for a magical, under-the-sea musical adventure the whole family will love! Disney's The Little Mermaid is filled with colorful characters, dazzling music, and magical moments — all brought to life by the talented students of The International School of Minnesota.
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Build It Expo is a hands-on family event at The Works Museum that introduces kids ages 5–12 to careers in engineering, construction, and the skilled trades. Through interactive activities, live demos, and conversations with real professionals, families explore how buildings and structures come to be — and meet some of the many people who help create them. Who: Kids ages 5-12 and their families Where: The Works Museum When: Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Presale tickets $15
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Bring Your Kids! A comedy show for kids and their grown ups. Music! Comedy! Ridiculousness! Perfect for ages 5 and up, but toddlers and babies always welcome! Featuring generalized silliness and absolutely NO chickens. Shows in Minneapolis & ACROSS THE RIVER in beautiful St Paul!
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The 2026 Urban Expedition series continues with a celebration of Ukrainian 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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Coolest Projects USA Minnesota is a free in-person event for young tech creators based in the United States of America only. It will be held on April 11, 2026 at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Participants can share their projects with family, friends, and their coding community, get fun swag and certificates to celebrate their achievements, and try hands-on coding activities at the event. Partial scholarships are available to support the costs of attending.
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Visit this interesting multi-cultural art exhibit and spend the day at the Arboretum! Where The Seed Remembers is an immersive multicultural community art exhibit that celebrates earth, creation, lineage and memory. It is co-curated by artist, storyteller, and cultural architect Joshua "Brotha Asé" Gillespie. This exhibition and accompanying celebration and community gatherings honors the connection between Mother Earth and the human experience. It explores birth, nurturing, protection, identity, grief, joy and the giving and receiving cycles. The experience blends visual art, sacred storytelling, spoken word, and communal reflection to reawaken connection in a time of disconnection. These stories, artworks and reflections are presented by 10 Minnesota artists representing the Black, Indigenous, Latiné, East African and Afro-Caribbean communities.
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Mom & Dad, do you have plans that don't include your young artists? Bring their energy and creativity to Kid's Extreme Night Out! So you can have a night to yourself! This fun-filled evening includes making jumbo spin art in a giant 48" machine, playing exciting games, and getting messy with slime time. It’s a night of laughter, creativity, and unforgettable fun! Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with protective gear, but wear clothes that can handle some colorful chaos.
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Join us for our free monthly event for families, kids, and the young at heart. On the second Sunday of every month, the museum is filled with hands-on art activities, storytelling, artist demonstrations, gallery hunts, self-guided tours, and more—all inspired by Mia’s incredible collection.
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Come to Choo Choo Bob's Train Store for a Train-Tastic story time! It’s educational & interactive! Come hear stories, songs and jokes about…TRAINS! Chugga, chugga! Choo Choo! See you there, Engineers!
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- Kindergarten Discovery Day - Hope Academy, Hope Academy, Friday, April 10, 2026, Morning: 9:00am - 11:30am (with classroom time!) Afternoon Session: 1:00pm-3:00pm
- Scrambled Egg Mix Up! at Mall of America - Mall of America - 2131 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, MN 55425, Friday, April 10, 2026 to Sunday, April 12, 2026, See website.
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Minneapolis-St. Paul - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Saturday, April 11, 2026 to Sunday, April 12, 2026, See link for times
- Sundays at Landmark: Urban Expedition - Ukraine - Landmark Center - Landmark
Center, West 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN, USA, Sunday, April 12, 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Family Day at Minneapolis Institute of Art - Minneapolis Institute of Art - Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404, United States, Sunday, April 12, 2026, 10 am - 5
pm
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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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