KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades:
“Remember the rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard
things. It’s tempting to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard.
And I handled it. We don’t need to manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something
daunting, I think back to my mentor and remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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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Omnium Circus reimagines world-class family entertainment delivering a unique blend of thrills, chills, fun and laughter! Join us where everyone is in on the action in a spirited limit-defying & life-affirming spectacle with award winning
artistry, memorable music, and a heartwarming story. OMNIUM CIRCUS features America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer- Mandy Harvey, Malik Paris, a Deaf dancer and ASL performance artist, and top talent from across the nation. You’ll enjoy 2 Guinness record holders, the world's fastest female juggler, a record-holding hair hang artist with a PhD, and the comedy antics of Monday and Riley. Experience jaw-dropping performances of skill, dexterity and comedy, while creating memories your family
will treasure forever.
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Make a splash at Goldfish Swim School! With six convenient locations across PA and NJ, we’re bringing the Science of SwimPlay to your neighborhood. Our shiver-free, 90-degree pools and small class sizes ensure your child gains confidence and essential water
safety skills in a fun, tropical environment all while providing a flexible schedule and makeup lessons! Whether your kiddo is a beginner or advanced swimmer, Goldfish has a level for them! Join the fun at our Pennsylvania locations in Fort Washington, Oaks, Doylestown, and Langhorne, or catch a wave in New Jersey at Mount Laurel or Princeton. Dive into a golden experience today!
https://goldfishswimschool.com/greater-philadelphia
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Camp Kesem is a free, overnight summer camp for children ages 6-18 who are coping with a parent’s cancer. This unique camp experience provides fun-filled activities and a supportive community, helping kids navigate anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty —
reminding them they are never alone.
Join Kesem at University of Pennsylvania this summer from August 9th to August 14th, and experience the love and support that Kesem offers.
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Come out for the unveiling of the Science History Institute's new exhibit. Philadelphia was once known as the “workshop of the world” due to the abundance of factories, products, and infrastructure located within the city. From the 1800s through the 1920s,
ships, yarn, paints, and more were manufactured on the banks of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers.
This display features works originally published by some of the pioneering companies that made Philadelphia an industrial powerhouse. Guests can enjoy handling collection activities in our museum and a talk by curator Caroline Meehan, followed by a light reception.
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Experience the Festival of Colors with artmaking, storytelling, and music that highlight the traditions of this vibrant holiday.
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Join fellow members and staff for the opening of The Sacred Art of Ethiopia. Enjoy refreshments, an intro to the exhibition, guided self-exploration in the galleries, and time to reflect and share insights. We hope to see you there!
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Join us as we make fun and challenging science projects with candy and food items.
These projects are not only a great way to learn about the world around us, but they can also be a lot of fun to make. And what’s more, they can be made with everyday food items.
Each Chemistry session is 1 ½ hours in length — from 4-5:30pm –and offers projects for age 6+ and costs $35 per child (plus $2.10 sales tax).
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Join us on the first Friday of each month for exhibition openings, artist studio tours, markets, and stunning views of the Delaware River. Support local artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs at the Artist and Artisans Market. Pick up one-of-a-kind finds at
this one-stop shopping experience.
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The Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo is designed to educate and entertain the public about the wonderful world of pets. Featuring many pet vendors, educational and entertaining performances, special attractions, hands-on-petting opportunities, pet adoptions,
and outstanding shopping for pet lovers and their pets. Well behaved leashed pets are welcome! A fun day for the whole family!
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The Kennett Square Farmers Market has been serving our community since 2000. It is a program of Kennett Collaborative, the non-profit organization that works to promote, encourage and enhance the economic, community and social vitality of our town. As a
gathering point for the community, local farmers and food artisans bring their very own locally-grown and freshly-made goodness to market each week. Consumers have the opportunity to connect directly with small growers and producers, building relationships, trust, and a stronger local food economy.
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The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event and fundraiser featuring stunning displays by the world’s premier floral, garden, and landscape designers.
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Enjoy locally sourced spirits and wines, a late stroll in our galleries, and music. We keep our galleries open late and reduce our prices every Friday night. Join us for half-off admission, music, locally sourced drinks and snacks, and tours to start your
weekend. Every Friday at the Art Museum from 5–8:45 p.m.!
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Dogs, cats, birds…and more! A complement to Small Living Things: The Magical Art of Eric Carle, this exhibition features a selection of works from the Michener’s permanent collection, putting your furry, feline, and flying friends on center stage. From
sculpture to painting, artists like Henry B. Snell, Daniel Garber, Lizbeth Stewart, Charles Ward, Robert Winokur, Judith Heep, Katharine Steele Renninger, and Edith Emerson depicted animals in a variety of media, emphasizing the significant artistic inspiration they found in these creatures. Whether portraits of beloved companions or unique portrayals of everyday animals, these artworks invite viewers to experience the whimsy and wonder of the creatures in our collection.
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Museum members only: Explore the Museum from 9‑11 AM before we open our doors to the general public!
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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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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech! Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Philadelphia 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…
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia? 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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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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Philadelphia 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 and around Philadelphia, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. But there is LOTS more to do in Philly! Get great ideas here at KidsOutAndAbout.com! What is listed below are just the starting point: Browse
through our site and calendar to find lots more!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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