KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The summer I was 5, my parents took our family to Cape Cod for a week. In Provincetown, we bought a kite, then headed to the dunes in North Truro, where my sister and I spent hours running full-tilt up and down the bare white hills. We’d scramble to the top, turn, and launch ourselves downward, legs windmilling, hair flying, lungs full of salt air and triumph. Invariably, we’d
fall, slap into the soft, sun-warmed sand, pop back up, and do it again. Tumbling down the dunes was gravity. Sand was friction. The kite tugging on our arms was air on the move. We didn't have words to describe these phenomena—we were little kids, not tiny physicists with notebooks. A decade later, my calculus teacher would give me the words and symbols to process motion conceptually, but experiences like this had already taught my body that I was an actor in the physics of
the world. My body understood. Summer is the perfect time for kids to learn motion from the inside out. Motion is in amusement park rides, in waves bobbing ducks and inner tubes up and down at the lake, in trains pulling you forward in one dimension and airplanes moving you through three. It’s in bikes and swings and Frisbees and trampolines and slip-and-slides, in tumbling through the days without realizing that learning is happening. As tour guides to our
kids’ universe, we can point gently: Feel how the swing slows at the top? Notice how the wave lifts you before it lets you down? See how leaning changes the bike’s path? But the point is not to turn summer into physics class. The point is to help kids notice how the world feels as they move through it. The equations can come later; now is the time for motion, and for the emotion that accompanies it. Summer’s gift is the body’s memory: wind, water, speed, balance, falling, landing, and getting up
to run again.
—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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Smith, in partnership with Wawa Welcome America, is thrilled to announce Kidchella Music Festival 2026! Kids of all ages can enjoy this FREE music festival featuring dynamic performances, art stations, mouthwatering treats, exciting giveaways, including a book giveaway courtesy of Sesame Place, and more! This vibrant celebration will take place on Smith's spacious front lawn, promising a comfortable and scenic experience. It’s not just a concert; it’s a community celebration.
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A new, free immersive experience at the Universal Sphere for 2026, inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s beloved How to Train Your Dragon franchise and brought to life by Comcast, Universal Destinations & Experiences, and DreamWorks Animation. Blending cinematic storytelling with interactive elements, this 15-minute experience transports guests from Philadelphia to the Isle of Berk, where they will have the opportunity to train as Dragon Riders alongside characters from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, including Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid, and Stormfly.
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Doylestown welcomes the return of our Pride Festival in June 2026. With the goal of celebrating diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in the Doylestown community, a collection of local organizations and businesses came together to create this local tradition. The multi-day event will feature a series of Film Screenings, Drag events, Pride Block Party, Loud & Proud Music Day, and various pop-up events and celebrations throughout the community.
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Say hello to the Philly Pride Arts Festival—a month‑long celebration of LGBTQIA+ artists, stories, and community happening across Philadelphia this June. Four Weeks. Five Arts Organizations. Nine Events. One Festival. Our upcoming events are all about connection, creativity, and collaboration. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the experience.
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Since 1990, the show has built itself into being the tri-state area’s largest outdoor, juried art festival featuring approximately 300 different local and nationally known artists and crafters. Collectors, buyers, and designers will visit Main Street during the two-day, closed street event. The festival is free to the public and features artists from eight different disciplines: fiber, glass, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, painting & drawing, photography, and wood & sculpture.
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Please Touch Museum’s school readiness campaign offers families the chance to learn about healthy habits and practices through play-based experiences, while enjoying free admission on three designated Sundays during Summer 2026. Sponsored by Independence Blue Cross, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, and Keystone First.
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Meet the Women of the 18th Century, like Susanna Cooke, Peggy Chew, Hannah Till, and Sarah Coltman, representing the diverse population of Colonial Philadelphia at the Betsy Ross House. Learn about their lives and the era they lived in by hearing their true, interactive stories!
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Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center proudly declares that Fantasy Faire returns on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day! In partnership with Mystic Realms, Ltd®, this annual event features talented performers as they bring to life the "Kingdom of Wheaton" by enacting a series of interconnected shows.
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Pig Iron Theatre Company presents Franklin’s Key, the award-winning sci-fi adventure back by popular demand in time for the nation's Semiquincentennial! During the War of Independence, the British feared that Ben Franklin could control the weather. Franklin’s Key asks: what if that were true? In an alternate universe where Franklin’s most powerful inventions have been hidden for centuries, two high school prodigies must race against time to protect the undiscovered technology from shadowy forces.
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Celebrate the start of summer with Rebbie Rye, a vibrant children’s performer who blends music, movement, and art into joyful, hands‑on experiences. Her high‑energy dance parties invite kids to sing, move, and imagine as they explore themes of nature and creativity. Enjoy music and games for all ages.
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Big Bounce America brings an action-packed bouncy-house wonderland to Long Island. Hop inside the self-described "world's largest bounce house" or one of its other inflatable fun zones.
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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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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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The Philadelphia Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near Philadelphia that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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