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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The holiday spirit shines bright at Knott’s Merry Farm, now through January 4! Experience a festive Christmas celebration as the entire park transforms into a winter wonderland filled with thousands of twinkling lights, themed décor, jumbo snowflakes, and picturesque seasonal scenes. Families can enjoy beloved holiday shows like Home for the Holidays, featuring classic Christmas music, magical dancing toys, and falling snow, plus the return of the Peanuts ice show starring Snoopy and the gang. Indulge in limited-time holiday treats, explore Calico’s Christmas Crafts Village, meet Santa, decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus, and enjoy nightly park-wide lighting moments. Visit Knott’s Merry Farm online to learn more—and check out 2026 Season Passes, a perfect holiday gift!
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Celebrate the holiday season with some of your favorite animals at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Aquarium Holidays runs until December 23 with some special activities on the weekends.
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Ho, Ho, Ho – Who’s ready to meet Santa? Santa is on the Go! He is on his way to local parks in Westminster! Bring your friends and family out to meet the Jolly ol’ Man and enjoy some holiday crafts, games, and activities!
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Scrooge! The Musical is a heartwarming and festive adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novella A Christmas Carol, featuring music, lyrics, and book by Leslie Bricusse. Set in Victorian London, the story follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold-hearted moneylender who despises Christmas and lives a life devoid of compassion and joy. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him to change his ways or suffer a grim fate in the future.
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Let’s do some cleaning so it doesn’t wash out to sea! Thank you for bringing along either work or gardening gloves, a refill water dispenser, and dress for weather. We will provide reuse trash bags, drinking water, and light snacks. Complimentary parking passes are given at check-in and are valid until 12:30 pm upon completion of cleanup.
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Mellano Farm Stand is open Thursday through Sunday, from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, unless otherwise noted for special closures.
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Join us for a delightful Teddy Bear Tea where children and their adult companions can enjoy tea-time treats, Christmas sing-along, and storytime with Mrs. Claus.
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Circus Bella returns to the Big Top Circus Tent for a third year with STARLIGHT – An All-New Winter Circus Spectacular. With brand-new acts, sumptuous costumes, and artists from across the US, Circus Bell brings all the nostalgia and beauty of an old-timey circus combined with the eyebrow-raising savvy & modern look of 2025. A diverse cast of 13 perform thrilling feats of balance and strength, demonstrations of grace & poise, outrageous humor, and authentic moments that bring us all together.
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Meet & greet with Santa along with photo opportunities, activities, gifts for purchase and smoothies for sale to sip with Santa!
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The GetOutPass Holiday Sale is here with huge savings on a full year of family fun. Enjoy access to top local attractions, activities, and entertainment for an unbeatable price. Use code LETSGETOUT at checkout and be sure to replace the default promo code to receive the greatest discount.
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Join us in person on the second and fourth Sunday of each month for a live program focused on a variety of marine science topics. Visit our hospital and visitor center in Sausalito, California, to learn more about what The Marine Mammal Center is doing to help save marine mammals found along the California coast and beyond, and learn more about how you can help. These interactive presentations hosted by our award-winning educators feature multimedia, pictures, video and more to share the stories of amazing marine mammals and the Center’s efforts to ensure the health of these animals and our ocean.
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Join the Rose Center Theater on December 30 for the Rose Tribute Concert, a one night celebration featuring returning performers and special guests. This uplifting event honors twenty years of creativity and community on the Rose stage.
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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 in and around Orange County. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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The Orange County 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Orange County 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 best places to take kids in the Orange County, CA area. Each May-June, thousands of parents vote in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Who won the top spot? An indoor play center, museum, farm, nature center, sports team?
Click through to find out!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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