KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're
still packing lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are
moving through it together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator, February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build
Strong Communities
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Lean Teen is a virtual nutrition, fitness and weight loss program for teens age 13-17 yrs. Lean Teen is designed to address unique teen challenges with the goal of changing daily eating habits by nutrition education and interactive challenges. This 90 day
program is paid for by most health insurance companies. You and your teen will meet with us virtually at a time that is convenient for you.
Our website contains all the information you need and once you contact us any questions can be answered. I have been using this system in a face to face office setting with excellent results. I am a pediatric nurse practitioner with over 20 years of experience in the Phoenix area.
Pauline GossPediatric Nurse Practitioner
|
|
|
|
A volcano awakens. A city disappears. Step into history with nearly 150 artifacts from Pompeii, frozen in time by Mount Vesuvius. POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION finishes its North American tour at the Arizona Science Center, located in Phoenix, AZ. The exhibition
examines the lives of residents of Pompeii before and after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24th, 79 A.D.
|
|
|
|
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a sensory play experience full of love and creativity! Dive into heart-themed activities featuring colorful pom-poms, soft yarn, and more. Perfect for little hands to explore, create, and enjoy the magic of the holiday!
|
|
|
|
Join us for a 2-day market filled with handmade treasures, sweet treats, and heartfelt gifts for your Valentine (or yourself!). Come shop from almost 200 vendors, sip refreshing drinks, eat yummy food, listen to live music and experience what makes our
market so special! Stop by to join our interactive experiences like permanent jewelry, hat bars, piercings, tattoos, charm bars, boutique personalization and more! We will also have a kids play area with FREE kids crafts, glitter tattoos, and say hello to some favorite characters!
|
|
|
|
Join the African American Advisory Committee of Tempe History Museum for a fun, interactive kids' day to celebrate Black History Month! There will be hands-on activities, games, a book vendor, story time and more. This fun, free event is for the whole
family.
|
|
|
- Music & Movement | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85048, Friday, 02/12/2026 and Saturday, 02/14/2026 at 9:30 am
- Community Crafting | Sunshine Craft Co - Sunshine Craft Co, 700 W Campbell Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013, Friday, 02/12/2026 and Sunday, 02/15/2026, See website
- Ernie Barnes-Inspired Painting
- Black History Month - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85048, Friday, 02/13/2026 at 3 pm
- Yoga Storytime | Century Library - Century Library, 1750 E Highland Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016, Friday, 02/13/2026 at 10:15 am
- Free Art Friday: Friendship Party - Tempe City Arts - Edna Vihel Arts Center, South Rural Road, Tempe, AZ, Friday, 02/13/2026, 9 am - 12
pm
- MakersBase | Ironwood Library - Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ
85048, Saturday, 02/14/2026, 3 pm - 4 pm
- Let's Build | Century Library - Century Library, 1750 E Highland Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016, Saturday, 02/14/2026 at 2 pm
- Pokémon Trainer Academy | Cholla Library - Cholla Library, 10050 North Metro Parkway East, Phoenix, AZ 85051, Saturday, 02/14/2026, 1 pm - 2 pm
- Dungeons and Dragons for Teens - Desert
Broom Library, 29710 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85331, Saturday, 02/14/2026 at 1 pm
- Black History Month Kids Activity Day | Tempe History Museum - Tempe Municipal Building, East 5th Street, Tempe, AZ, Saturday, 02/14/2026, 1 pm - 3:30 pm
- Love Blooms Merchantile Market - 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, Saturday, 02/14/2026 - Sunday, 02/15/2026, Sat 10 am - 5 pm | Sun 10 am - 4
pm
- 36TH ANNUAL PHOENIX CHINESE WEEK LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL - Heritage & Science Park, 113 North 6th Street, Phoenix, AZ, Saturday, 02/14/2026 - Sunday, 02/15/2026, See website
- Open House Sunday Series - At The Outlet, Inc., 3004 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, Sunday, 02/15/2026, 3 - 5 pm
- AZ Rattlers Halftime Show Performance Opportunity - At
The Outlet, Inc., 3004 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016, Sunday, 02/15/2026, 3 - 5 pm
|
|
|
|
Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Phoenix 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Phoenix area? 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
