KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Dec 30: A Magical Cirque Christmas | ASU Gammage
Fri, Jan 2: Ice
Skating-Tots at City of Peoria Recreation Programs
Fri, Jan 2: Family Storytime at Pecos Park
Wed, Jan 7: First Day of Pre-K: Ready, Set, Learn! | Rio Vista Recreation Center
Sat, Jan 10: Newsies Jr. Auditions at MTA!
Sun, Jan 11: Safari Family FunFest - Attain ABA Peoria
Thu, Jan 15: Young Rembrandts - Winter Drawing Class
Thu, Jan 15: Disney On Ice presents Let's Dance! at Desert Diamond Arena
Fri, Jan 16: Heardlings Storytime at Heard Museum
Sat, Jan 17: FREE Conservation Expo at the Arizona Boardwalk
Tue, Jan 20: Block Party with Bricks & Minifigs Avondale at Sam Garcia Library
Fri, Jan 23: Kay WalkingStick / Hudson River School at Heard Museum |
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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November 28 – December 30, 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM: Experience the magic as the park transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland filled with dazzling lights, festive displays, and holiday cheer. Step aboard the Paradise & Pacific Railroad and take a breathtaking ride through this seasonal spectacle. This year’s event will look a little different — and even more fun — with new features and timed entry to make your visit smooth and memorable!
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Fountain Hills Theater is proud to present "A Christmas Carol: The Musical", an original adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. A miserly and miserable man, Ebenezer Scrooge greets each Christmas with a “bah humbug,” until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Through a restless night, the spirits show him happy memories from his past, cruel realities from the present and the grim future should he continue his cantankerous ways.
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Enjoy the dazzling lights this holiday season! The light display will be up throughout the season, with a show playing every 30 minutes on our City Christmas Tree. Bring a blanket or chair, your own treats, and your family and friends to enjoy this nightly show in front of City Hall.
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Nov 26 - Jan 16: Embrace the holiday spirit as more than four million twinkling lights transform the Phoenix Zoo into a winter wonderland with over two miles of glimmering tree-lined trails, dozens of life-like animal lanterns and the tallest floating tree in North America, featuring an all-new light show.
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Annually, on December 21st, we experience the darkest day of the year. It's also the perfect day to appreciate and celebrate human reason and ingenuity. Why celebrate reason or ingenuity? Without them there would be no lightbulbs, indoor toilets,
antibiotics, baby monitors, or eye glasses. Grim!
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- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Phoenix Area - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, See link for times
- Sparkling Surprise - City of Surprise, AZ - City of Surprise - Surprise Community Park, North Bullard Avenue, Surprise, AZ, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Santa
Experience at Christown Spectrum - Christown Spectrum, West Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, AZ, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, 11:00AM–7:00PM
- Storytime Saturdays @ Sunrise Mountain Library - 8463 West Monroe Street, Peoria, AZ, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 11:15 am - 11:45 am
- Wrap & Yap at Sam Garcia Library (All Ages) - Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, East
Western Avenue, Avondale, AZ, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 1 pm - 4 pm
- Santa Craft | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 2 pm - 4 pm
- Sit and Stitch | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ, Saturday, December 20, 2025, See website
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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. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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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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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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Phoenix 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. From charming local farms to larger operations, each location provides a unique experience, complete with hayrides, hot cocoa, and seasonal treats.
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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the Phoenix area! If there is an attraction that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it promptly. Thank you! And you can
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2025's winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Phoenix area. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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