KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was homeschooling Madison and Ella, one of my favorite sanity-saving tools was the Theme of the Week. If the theme was "Birds," then yes, we'd go on a bird walk. But we'd also read my favorite-ever children's book, talk about the physics of flying and of colors, and probably also do some math and logic involving eggs and
baskets. The theme made ordinary learning feel like an adventure, but more important, it gave us a focusing tool: It helped the girls connect with what they were seeing and doing, and it helped me feel that we weren’t wandering randomly through our days. Summer planning can benefit from that same kind of gentle structure. Last week, I wrote about how summer is not supposed to be a guilt-inducing race to cram in every concert, splash pad, festival, hike,
camp, road trip, library program, ice cream stand, and sunset before the school buses roll again. Trying to grab everything is a good way to miss the point; instead, to plan the summer without overstuffing it, we need to consider the kinds of experiences that make our family feel more awake, connected, and alive. The five summer lenses I keep coming back to are: music, motion, making,
nature, and food. Music helps kids hear the world differently and live what they love. Motion lets bodies teach what words cannot. Making reminds us that we can bring something new into the universe. Nature offers perspective and wonder. And food connects us to place, culture, and each other. Over the next
few weeks, I’ll address these one at a time—not as assignments, but as invitations. Even as the days fly by, a summer seen through some useful lenses can still be lazy, loose, spontaneous, and wonderfully imperfect.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong
Communities
|
|
|
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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around the OC. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people
who create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! You have my personal and fervent thanks for your participation! —Deb |
|
|
|
Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues and rehabilitates sick, injured, or malnourished marine mammals along Orange County’s coastline. As an educational hub for marine science, part of our mission is sharing what our scientists are discovering about ocean health through the patients we treat. Our hands-on, STEAM focused education programs engage all ages and audiences, including schools, groups, scouts, children, teens, and college students. Programs include time observing rehabilitating patients and hearing their stories, which exemplify real-world conservation issues our scientists are investigating. Our visitor yard is open daily, free of charge. You can view our patients and talk with knowledgeable docents.
|
|
|
|
Melon Tasting Tours involve a guided tractor tour around the farm where you get to pick one seasonal vegetable to take home (subject to crop availability). The next stop on the tour will be the melon tent where our staff will serve up different summer veggies and a wide variety of melons grown by Tanaka Farms for you to sample. Afterwards you will receive a melon to take home. To end this summer outing you can check out all of our barnyard animals
|
|
|
|
“Splendid entertainment – you realize what masters Rodgers & Hammerstein were!” –The Wall Street Journal “An irresistible score that’s always in tune!” –Entertainment Weekly
|
|
|
|
Director Isao Takahata’s first film for Studio Ghibli is a harrowing depiction of the last days of World War II as seen through the eyes of teenager Seita and his little sister Setsuko.
|
|
|
|
Across Los Angeles, people and wildlife travel through shared landscapes, following paths that intersect and overlap. Metro is committed to creating environments where all species can flourish by reducing car dependence through public transit, planting native and drought-resilient vegetation, protecting nesting areas, and keeping paths open for animal movement.
|
|
|
|
Public Skate is for families or individuals who are looking to work on skating skills and exercise the body in a safe and fun environment. All sales are final!
|
|
|
|
Ease into the weekend with live jazz under the summer sky at RUNWAY. Join us every Friday night in June and July from 6–8 PM on The Turf for Sizzling Summer Jazz Nights featuring rotating live jazz bands, warm evenings, outdoor lounging, and the perfect soundtrack to your Friday night in Playa Vista. Grab dinner or drinks from your favorite RUNWAY spots, bring a blanket or gather with friends on the lawn, and enjoy a laid-back summer evening filled with live music and community vibes. Whether you stay for a song or settle in for the full set, it’s the kind of summer night you’ll want to make part of your weekly routine.
|
|
|
|
Park on the Upper Level parking ramp, then enter through the NW main mall doors. Walking is available on the Upper Level starting at 10A; access is not available prior to 10A. Come stay healthy with new friends! Free to all ages, and well behaved furry friends are welcomed too (owners are required to clean up any messes)!
|
|
|
|
Free developmental screenings
|
|
|
|
All aboard Choo Choo Revue! In the first new show from BBMT in 40 years, your theater seat becomes a train bound for fantasy! A monumental milestone for BBMT and celebration of community and joy, Choo Choo Revue inspires IMAGINATION for all. Through the train window of BBMT’s stage, travel across rolling hills, mountainous peaks, and dazzling deserts. Meet dancing luggage, singing mushrooms, and a cicada jugband. This hour-long show, packed with over 100 handcrafted, BRAND NEW puppets, is presented with theatric grandeur and spectacular artistic skill. Bob Baker Marionette Theater is thrilled to present this milestone achievement in puppetry and theater, showcasing innovative art and performance for new generations to enjoy. This is your ticket to the future of puppetry!
|
|
|
|
Spanning nearly three acres, the indoor-outdoor storybook world is filled with illuminated pathways, larger-than-life art installations and over five million lights designed to ignite the senses.
|
|
|
|
June 13 at 2pm from Abandon Ship Theater Troupe: An annoying grandma, a monster who can't finish a poem, and a wolf with the world's worst case of the munchies! A fractured fairy tale that uses audience participation to turn the story of Little Red Riding Hood into a fun learning experience. (Recommended for ages 7 & Up.) Free tickets at https://www.ntactickets.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in The OC 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange County, CA Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near San Diego that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
