KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: For much of the country this year, March simultaneously is bringing hope that spring may in fact return to North America AND the awareness that every car is at risk for the foreseeable future. All winter long, water seeps into asphalt cracks, freezes, expands, melts, and freezes again, and bit by bit the driving experience becomes a game called Avoid the
Crater. But lately I’ve started seeing the repair trucks out there again, their bright-vested workers moving methodically from hole to hole with their shovels. Every time I pass them, it gives me a lift, not just because it means someday soon I'll start seeing flowers out in the real world, but also because potholes are one of those perfect reminders of what humans do. Playrooms, projects, and paperwork start out neat, but over time, weather, wear, gravity, and
procrastination take their toll. No matter how strict the system, order gradually slides toward chaos. And then humans step in and make it right again. I saw the cycle in action at the KidsOutAndAbout office last week: Our storage room had slowly become a museum of random supplies, half-filled bins, and Christmas decorations that had been tossed in with a hopeful Future Us will deal with this someday. Fortunately, my colleague Michelle, who works in our data department,
is also a genius organizer. A few hours after Future Michelle stepped in and applied logic and elbow grease, the little room had transformed from a cluttered cave into a serene space. The quickening of the seasons seems to bring that same energy into our homes: Closets get sorted, garages get swept, junk drawers finally meet their match. It feels good, not just because the space looks better, but because fixing things reminds us of something important: Disorder is normal, but
it’s not permanent. Humans can step in and bring brightness back. So here’s to spring cleaning, organized shelves, and freshly patched roads. Our tires, and our spirits, roll much more smoothly because humans fill potholes.
—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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Calling all local families! Join us on March 14 for our St. Patrick’s Day Family Party where you’ll get the chance to make a shamrock suncatcher, a pipecleaner shamrock ring, a salt shamrock painting, and play with shamrock fluffy slime. Plus we’ll have
other fun games and activities, a photo booth, and St. Patrick’s Day themed snacks and a beverage station. At the end of the session we’ll have live celtic music being played for families to dance and listen to. The St. Patrick’s Day Family Party is a come-and-go experience that will take place from 10:00AM-2:00PM in our Historic Carriage House. Pre-registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome the day of to join us for this festive event!
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Celebrate Pi Day at Cheekwood as we explore mathematics through three significant concepts—Pi, Infinity, and Fibonacci—during a festive daytime event supporting the nationwide initiative, Math in Bloom. Blending art, nature, and mathematics, Math in Bloom
offers engaging experiences all meant to celebrate the inherent connections between math and the natural world. The Math in Bloom celebration invites everyone to Cheekwood to experience nature and art through a new lens.
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Welcome to Color Craze, one of the most vibrant experiences in the ColorVerse! This isn’t just a run, it’s a full-blown festival where color, music, and celebration collide. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be part of a living, breathing rainbow,
surrounded by energy, laughter, and epic moments you’ll never forget. Whether you run, walk, or dance your way through, Color Craze is all about celebrating life in full color. It’s your chance to immerse yourself in the ColorVerse, make new memories that will last forever.
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Join us on Saturday, March 14th from 12-2pm for our first Story Stroll. This interactive, family-friendly event invites children to enjoy a story — read in both English and Spanish — while engaging in hands-on activity stations along the way. Activities
include planting seeds, chalk art, a scavenger hunt, and cupcake decorating. Participating families will receive a free copy in English or Spanish (while supplies last) of Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn and illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw. We will conclude the event with a community cookout, including FREE hot dogs (beef & vegetarian), snacks, and refreshments!
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- Kidsville Storybook Walk - 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, March 13-15, Park hours, 6 AM - 8 PM
- Storytime in the Children’s Gallery - Tennessee State Museum - Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, March 14, 10:30 a.m.
- Vanderbilt University Preschool Language and Brain Study - Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, March 13-15, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We can schedule visits any time during the week, including evenings and weekends.
- Tween Board Game Club - Linebaugh Public Library, Murfreesboro, March 13, 3:30-4:30 pm
- Story Stroll - Friends of Mill Ridge Park - Friends of Mill Ridge Park, Antioch, March 14, 12-2pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Nashville 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Nashville 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Nashville area? 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.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Nashville 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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The best things to do with kids in the Nashville area for 2025 as voted by KidsOutAndAbout.com's local readers. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of our readers' annual 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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