KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Next week, my husband and I are heading to a Valentine's Evening behind-the-scenes tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, New York. It’s the same Frank Lloyd Wright museum we’ve visited
several times, but this version is fancily dressed for the holiday: candlelight, champagne, treats, and a fresh perspective on something familiar. That’s the real magic of Valentine’s Day: It’s one of those perfectly made-up holidays, constructed out of paper hearts, glitter, and good intentions... and it manages magically to transform our spaces, our schedules, and our spirits. As publisher, I've had a 25-year front row seat to communities
around the country who turn nothing into something every February. This year, visitors can say "I Love Thee" in a Victorian mansion in Riverside, CA while a re-enactor in a top hat explains the romantic origin of the Hershey’s Kiss. Frying Pan Farm Park in Virginia will
help kids say "I Love MOO!" with farm animal puns. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center invites everyone on a Valentine's
Express Steam Train ride that is more light-hearted than steamy. And next Saturday, biologists at the California Academy of Sciences will hand out heart-shaped valentines to their African penguins—who will then present them to their mates to help line their nests. Not
all Valentine’s Day celebrations require you to get out and about, though; just muster some creativity and apply it to stuff you already have lying around the house. Cut hearts from red paper and tape them to the door. Dress in scarlet or rose or salmon pink. Light a candle at dinner while you're eating heart-shaped cheese, toast, bacon, or lasagna (here are 25 fun recipes from Food Network). When you and your kids dress up your world together, you’re not just celebrating love, you’re celebrating creativity. And they're learning the life skill of transforming ordinary stuff around them into something special. It only takes one step beyond the good intention to make it so. Love can be grand, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be grand to be great.
—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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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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Creator Camp is bringing its Shark Tank-featured magic back to Orange County for Summer 2026! We specialize in transforming passive screen time into active, creative learning. Our OC camps offer intensive, fun-filled weeks of filmmaking, game design,
YouTube production, and coding. Using industry-standard tools, our campers learn to produce high-quality content in a supportive, team-based environment. It’s the perfect summer opportunity for kids to develop technical skills and unleash their inner artists. Join the Creator Camp family in Orange County this year and let’s start creating something amazing together!
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Embark on an immersive journey through our cosmic neighborhood as the Solar System Encounter returns to Discovery Cube Orange County! Featuring stunning, ultra-high-definition imagery from the James Webb Telescope. This stellar exhibit surrounds guests with
colossal 360° models of the sun, planets, Earth’s moon, and even the dwarf planet Pluto. Vivid lights, breathtaking visuals, larger-than-life displays bring each world to life, inspiring visitors of all ages to explore, discover, and be amazed by the wonders of our Solar System.
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Join us for a dazzling 31-day celebration as we welcome the Year of the Horse with vibrant festivities and joyous tributes to Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures!
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The people and places of the City of Angels come to puppet life in Hooray LA! A plethora of handcrafted marionettes invite you to celebrate the city, from a fish swimming through the LA River to the traffic jams on LA freeways to the mountains of Griffith
Park, where one lone mountain lion looks for love… And so much more!
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Big Fish Little Fish classes invite adults and children 3-6 years old to learn together through play, movement, and exploration. Children will use their observation skills to explore shapes, colors, and textures while touching animals in a private
classroom, touring Aquarium exhibits, and participating in hands on activities related to the theme. After your class, revisit your favorite exhibits. Aquarium admission is included!
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The 46th Annual OC Black History Parade & Unity Festival is happening Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 9 AM to 4 PM in Downtown Anaheim.
Join us for a day filled with culture, community, and celebration — you won’t want to miss it!
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Celebrate Valentine’s season with a cozy, creative experience designed for pet lovers of all skill levels.
Join us at Local Gem Collective for our Paint Your Pet: Valentine’s Day Edition, where you’ll paint your furry best friend in our signature cartoon style.
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PAFF hosts some of the most vibrant red carpets filled with Hollywood A-listers and the who’s who in the art world. It presents inspiring and informative panels and workshops –– featuring top industry professionals — and showcases rare cinematic gems
followed by filmmaker Q & As. PAFF is more than entertainment, it is an Oscar-qualifying festival for animation and live-action films.
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Introduction to the Pre School Experience including circle time, finger plays, interactive flannel board storytime, music & movement for age appropriate motor development. This is the perfect first experience and little ones with siblings are
welcome.
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Songs, Instruments, Parachutes, Sensory Play, Bubbles and Fun! Experienced Educator & Performer Lisa K Cohen, Director of Creative Parties for Kids and Play & Parties teacher. Music Education has been proven powerful to early childhood development,
plant the seeds of music early, come join us for Tiny Tunes Music Class at Play & Parties in Orange, CA
Grown Up Participation Encouraged.
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Join us for an in-person tour of Guidepost Montessori at Foothill Ranch!
Our school is located at 26462 Towne Centre Dr and we are now enrolling for all programs. Tour our campus, meet our team and learn more about our authentic, accredited Montessori school.
Whether your family is new to Montessori or transitioning from a traditional or private school, we are eager to meet your family and get to know your needs.
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the OC 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Orange County? 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 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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