KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The February my daughter Ella was 1, she caught a cold that lingered for months. There were short stretches of relief, but mostly there was congestion, disrupted sleep, and a level of crankiness that turned my sunny baby into someone I barely recognized. The clouds around her felt constant, and one day, I caught myself labeling her in my head as “the crabby one.” But of course,
if I had a perpetually runny nose and no way to manage it, I’d be irritable, too! I needed to remember this wasn’t her personality, it was a season. What we needed to get through it was distraction: something fun to do "right now" and also fun things to anticipate. Aside from those who live in paradise pockets like San Diego, most of our readers are in the thick of a particularly dreary winter. The world feels heavy and gray, energy runs low, and
it’s easy to fixate on how dispirited we feel. But we need to remember that this isn't our personality, it's a season. What we need to get through it is distraction in the moment and also something positive we can place on our horizon. My family is counting down to the March 20 release of Project Hail
Mary, which stars Ryan Gosling. The movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. You don't have to be a science nerd to love Weir's books (although science nerds DO love Weir's
books), because in all of them, the real hero is human ingenuity—curiosity, flexible thinking, doing what needs to be done even in extreme circumstances. When things are going awry, the answer isn’t despair, it’s problem-solving, and I always emerge from a Weir book feeling spiritually lighter. While I immerse myself in Weir and Gosling, you, of course, should do YOU! Let the art or sport that grabs you and your kids be your launch ticket to optimism now, and lift you to fun
in the future. We're glad to provide the fuel!
—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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An Interactive Experience at Children's Theatre Company, February 13-April 5!
Pull back the curtains and step into a fort-building wonderland—where theatrical elements, evolving light and soundscapes, old sofas, crazy lampshades, and towering towers of cardboard boxes set the scene for creative play. Build the tallest fort, the longest fort, or tons of cozy little forts. Design a castle, a neighborhood, or maybe even a whole city.
Your imagination leads the way as you play freely, connect deeply, and create shared stories—together, in real life.
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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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Hit the road to adventure when Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures skates into your hometown! Exciting twists and turns await as Mickey Mouse and his Disney friends embark on a wild ride to your favorite Disney destinations. Travel with Moana to the
sun soaked Motunui, set off on a safari to the Pride Lands with Simba. Discover a whole new world as you are swept up in Aladdin's princely parade. Play at a larger-than-life carnival with Woody and Forky. Join us for a fun-filled getaway, jam-packed with unexpected hijinks and magic at every turn at Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures.
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Get ready for a paws-itively adorable sensory adventure! In this puppy-themed class, kids will explore hands-on activities like building dog houses, puppy bath time, fingerprint painting, and more. It’s a tail-wagging good time filled with creativity, fun,
and puppy love!
Children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
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Show & Tell is an exuberant, hands-on exhibition designed just for kids!
Built around five exploratory zones—Play, Make, Find, Read, and Watch—Show & Tell encourages young people to approach contemporary art with creativity and imagination. Where Cas Holman’s Critter Party (2024) offers a sculpture to touch, climb on, and modify, Caroline Kent’s colorful abstractions inspire kids to create their own collages to project in the gallery. A porthole wall reveals a trove of hidden surprises, from a miniature Spoonbridge and
Cherry to a family of funky creatures. And in the comfy “Watch” zone, a varied selection of short films prompts curiosity and conversation.
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Join award-winning author Nikki Shannon Smith and celebrated illustrator Don Tate for a Black History Month event celebrating their brand-new book, Prince: A Little Golden Book Biography! Step into the rhythm, color, and creativity of one of music’s most
legendary icons — Prince! Kids and families will love hearing how this dazzling Little Golden Book came to life, from Nikki’s inspiring words to Don’s vibrant artwork. There will be a lively reading and behind-the-scenes stories; perfect for kids, families, and anyone who believes in dreaming big and shining bright.
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This Lunar New Year, the Zodiac celebrates the Year of the Horse. In Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Horse symbolizes energy, independence, and forward momentum. The Horse is associated with passion and perseverance, encouraging bold action, personal
growth, and progress—making it a year that favors initiative, travel, and pursuing ambitious goals.
Stop by the Atrium to see the beautiful Lunar New Year lantern display and celebrate the Year of the Horse!
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Warm up a winter morning with PJs and pancakes at the Minnesota Zoo. At your Breakfast at the Zoo from, 8:30 – 10 a.m., enjoy a build-your-own pancake bar. You can top your stack of flapjacks with butter, maple syrup, fresh berries, fruit preserves, candied
pecans – and whipped cream, of course. Plus: turkey sausage links, scrambled eggs, crispy breakfast potatoes, orange juice, and steaming hot coffee. *Dairy free, Gluten-Free, Vegan pancakes are available. Eat up, then enjoy family-friendly activity stations, story time, and games.
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Start your weekend with Morning Yoga—open to all levels, with the first Saturday of each month tailored specifically for beginners. This grounding and energizing practice helps set the tone for the day ahead.
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Fulton's Lunar New Year Celebration is open to all ages, and it promotes cultural awareness and diversity through community building and educational activities. We will be offering how to play Mahjong, arts and crafts, inclusive children's story time in
English / Chinese / Vietnamese / ASL, photo booth station, and a scavenger hunt for all ages. Pre-registration is suggested to help understand attendance numbers but not required.
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Landmark Center’s beloved Urban Expedition program invites families to explore global cultures right in the heart of Saint Paul. Celebrating its 22nd season in 2026, Urban Expedition features five unique programs that showcase the rich music, dance, crafts,
and traditions of various countries and cultures.
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An interactive experience! Pull back the curtains and there you are—surrounded by old sofas, crazy lampshades, piles of blankets, and towering towers of cardboard boxes! It’s like the coolest attic you’ve ever seen, where everything’s up for grabs. Use
whatever you want to build…whatever you want—the tallest fort, the longest fort, tons of cozy little forts… Quick, someone hands you a flashlight—what will you do? In Forts! you make it all happen.
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Let us entertain your children with a fun afternoon at the JCC while you enjoy some “me” time! Take a walk, see a movie, hang out with friends or family – the possibilities are endless! For kids ages 1-11.
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Experience Handwoven: Between Chaos and Order with your little one! At each stop, enjoy fun, age-appropriate activities that help caregivers and babies connect with the art, and with each other. ASI educators will guide you through experiences carefully
selected to support each baby’s developmental stages. Leave strollers behind and carry your little ones so they can interact with the art at eye level. They will immerse themselves in this unique tour designed specifically for babies up to 18 months and their caregivers.
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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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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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- Student Matinee: WITNESS: Eyes Still on the Prize II - Northrop, 84 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, 10:15am & 12:45pm
- Celebrate Lunar New Year with Mall of America® - Mall of America, 2131 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, MN 55425, Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- Fri-Yay! Celebrates Prince! - Ramsey County
Library-MAPLEWOOD - Ramsey County Library, 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109, Friday, February 27, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- FunLab at George Latimer Central Library - Saint Paul Public Library, 90 West 4th Street, Saint
Paul, MN 55102, Friday, February 27, 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Saturday Vibe: Family Storytime - Saint Paul Public Library, 90 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102, Saturday, February 28, 11:00am-12:00pm
- Middle
School Movie Club: Howl's Moving Castle - Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403, Saturday, February 28, 12pm - 4pm
- Fulton Lunar New Year Celebration - 3523 West 48th Street, Minneapolis, MN, Saturday, February 28, 9 am - 2 pm
- Urban Expedition: Dakota Homeland (Rescheduled) - Landmark Center, West 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN, Sunday, March 1, 1:00 PM - 3:00
PM
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Families purchase shares (or half-shares, or bimonthly shares) of produce that is either picked up or delivered to them, fresh from the farm, each week during the growing season. Some farms encourage pick-your-own, in some you get to help out on the farm.
What a great field-to-table lesson for the whole family!
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Minneapolis - St. Paul 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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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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The Minneapolis / St. Paul area has tons of indoor playgrounds, recreation centers, bounce houses, escape rooms, rock climbing, ropes courses, swimming, roller skating, gyms, and other ways to be active...regardless of the weather! Need some ideas?
KidsOutAndabout has dozens of ideas. Send us an email if you don't see your favorite.
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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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