KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Thu, Jan 29: Homeschool Explorations: Exploring Frank Lloyd Wright in Asia (for students age 6-11) at The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation - Taliesin West
Fri, Jan 30: Jurassic Quest x Brick Fest Live @ Pima County Fairgrounds
Fri, Jan 30: Pony Express at City of Scottsdale Tourism and Events
Sat, Jan 31: Asian Festival 2026
Sun, Feb 1: El Puente Fest at Cultural Coalition
Sat, Feb 7: Free Movies at the Boardwalk: Coco
Wed, Feb 11: Dungeons & Dragons
for Teens at Ironwood Library
Sat, Feb 14: Girls in STEM: Stellar Science at Arizona Science Center
Mon, Feb 16: Lunar New Year Celebration at Sam Garcia Library (All Ages) ed, Feb 18: First Day of Robotics Academy for Future Innovators
Thu, Feb 19: Movie Night: Cactus Hotel at Desert Foothills Land Trust
Fri, Feb 20: The Six Triple Eight - Movie Showing at Ironwood Library
Sat, Feb 21: Kids Market- Casa Grande Farmers Market
Sat, Feb 21: Arizona Matsuri 2026 at Steele Indian School Park
Sat, Feb 28: 2026 Melrose on 7th Avenue Street Fair |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
If it weren’t for a Polish pastry, I might not exist. When my great-grandmother Karolina Stelmach was a teenager in a small village in Poland, she was told she’d be entering an arranged marriage. But her heart belonged to Sylvester Nowakowski. So she left... on her own, by boat... and made her way to America. She found work in a restaurant, where
she made her family’s signature dessert: chrusciki. One day, a “distinguished gentleman” insisted on meeting the pastry chef, and he offered her a better-paying job in his own kitchen. She took it, saved enough to bring Sylvester over, and they married. Which means if chrusciki didn’t exist, neither would I. Stories like this do more than entertain. According to psychologist Robyn Fivush, interviewed on a recent episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, they help kids develop
identity, resilience, and self-worth. The more children know about their family’s past—not just the “big” stories like crossing oceans, but even the day-to-day moments and struggles—the more connected and grounded they become. Fivush and her colleagues at Emory University found that kids who know more family stories have higher self-esteem, greater emotional understanding, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. But it’s not just the information that matters...it’s the telling. When we sit
down and share what came before, we help kids feel like they’re part of something bigger, and that they belong. No AI can replicate that. A chatbot can write a story, sure. But it can’t tell your kids how Grandma’s meatloaf could’ve doubled as a construction material, or how two little girls in the 1950s turned a couple of ice cream cones into a front-porch endurance contest. So this year, make a point of telling your kids about your family's shared history:
about mistakes, about perseverance, about love, about dessert. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated: Just pull up a chair, pass the cookies, and pass down the stories.
—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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A beautiful day to roll in unity & joy! Bring your family & friends for a peaceful, loving celebration of Dr. King’s legacy! Carnival lights, games & prizes all afternoon. Fun family music mix + feel-good classics. Cotton candy, cupcakes & snow-cone specials at the café. Photo ops & good vibes only – let’s honor the dream together!
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Join the Mesa-East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee in partnership with the City of Mesa for our MLK Celebration, an annual event that brings together diverse community members, leaders, and organizations to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. On January 19, 2026—Dr. King's Day of Observance—we aim to serve as a platform to continue creating bridges of understanding among individuals and communities.
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Celebrate resilience, heritage, and hope through music in Rooted & Rising: Songs of Strength & Spirit. This moving program honors the contributions of Black composers and librettists whose works inspire unity, empowerment, and joy. Featuring powerful solo and ensemble performances, this concert is a tribute to the enduring strength of the human spirit.
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Mickey and pals are rocking the DJ table at Disney On Ice and you are on the guest list! Feel the electric atmosphere as they remix favorite Disney tunes into colorful worlds. Wish upon a star with Asha as she and Valentino save the Kingdom of Rosas from King Magnifico. Roar with delight as Simba, Timon and Pumbaa step into the spotlight. Groove to ocean beats with Ariel and friends, harmonize with Elsa, Anna, and Olaf, and sway to the rhythm of the waves with Moana and Maui. And the party really goes off the charts when guest DJ Stitch takes control. Get ready to turn up the fun at Disney On Ice presents Lets Dance! Note: Costumes not permitted for guests 14 years & older. Visit DisneyOnIce.com for more information.
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- Family Storytime at Pecos Park - Pecos Park,
South 48th Street, Phoenix, AZ, Friday, January 16, 2026, 9:30 am - 10 am
- Music & Movement | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85048, Friday, January 17, 2026, 9:30 am
- Sit and Stitch | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85048, Saturday, January 17, 2026, See website
- MakersBase | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85048, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 3 pm - 4 pm
- FREE N Phoenix Movie in the Park, Food Trucks & MORE! Sat Jan 17th - AZ Times Two Entertainment | Movies & Events - 20165 N. 67th Ave. #122A, Glendale, AZ 85308, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 4pm
- Open House Sunday Series - At The Outlet, Inc., 3004 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, Sunday, January 18, 2026, 3 - 5 pm
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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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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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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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