KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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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Our Memorial Park Church kids are ready to share the Nativity story — and it’s guaranteed to warm your heart! This is the story of God’s greatest gift, told with joy, honesty, and childlike wonder. It’s a brief but beautiful moment of stillness in a busy December. Bring your family and celebrate the true meaning of the season at this free Christmas pageant!
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This holiday season shines brighter at Kennywood! You could even say it glows with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Come to Holiday Lights and meet Rudolph and his friends Clarice, Bumble and Sam the Snowman. Make family memories you’ll treasure forever with more than 3 million lights, rides, seasonal food, and more!
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Pittsburgh’s Favorite Holiday Tradition! Set in turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh, Terrence S. Orr’s dazzling version of The Nutcracker highlights the city’s beloved landmarks, sports teams and history. Join Marie and the Nutcracker Prince on an unforgettable adventure through sparkling snow into the dreamy Land of Enchantment. Experience favorite dances, memorable scenes, magical costumes, shimmering snowflakes and the iconic Tchaikovsky score as you are swept into the most festive time of the year. Don’t miss your chance to experience it with your loved ones!
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The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium makes spirits bright again this winter holiday season with Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience, presented by UPMC Health Plan, select nights November 22 through January 11, 2026. All new silk-and-steel lanterns will spark your imagination, including amazing animals, beloved holiday characters, traditional Asian icons, and ever so many enchantments. The lanterns will be paired with more than a million twinkling lights for an unforgettably shiny holiday experience.
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What is Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All? Fun Fore All's Holiday Lights Mini Golf has been named one of Kidsburgh’s and KDKA’s BEST holiday light displays in since 2017! Turning our two award-winning miniature golf courses into fully playable walk-through holiday light extravaganzas. Families can experience a beautiful, interactive, holiday experience unlike any other in the area.
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Visit The Factory, our all-ages hands-on art studio. Experiment with a changing array of activities inspired by our collection and special exhibitions, from painting to collage to sculpture. Visitors can work with experienced artist educators to create handmade silkscreen printed artworks and souvenirs. Printing on paper is free, and other materials like tote bags, t-shirts, bandanas and notebooks are available for purchase with cash or credit card. The Factory is located on the underground level of the museum and included with museum admission.
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Rushed during the holiday season but still want to enjoy homemade cookies and share them with family and friends? Look no further, the New Brighton Band Boosters are hosting their annual Cookie Walk where you can choose from many different varieties of delicious cookies. You will walk through rows of tables filled with yummy home baked holiday cookies. Pay for the treats by the dozen. The dozen(s) you choose can be different kinds of cookies or whatever combinations you like. All cookies have been donated by our New Brighton Band Booster parents. See you Saturday, December 20th at the Church of the Nazarene in New Brighton for this spectacular event!
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This winter, TSO is hitting the road with the fan-favorite show The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More!
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Get into the holiday spirit with our Gingerbread Bash! Listen to “A World of Cookies for Santa,” make and decorate your own house with graham crackers, sample gingerbread, make gingerbread crafts, and play games! Reservations aren’t required, but space is limited; online sales end at 9 am on the day of the class. Space permitting, admission is also available at the door.
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This immersive installation brings works from The Westmoreland’s collection to life through multi-projection, surround sound, and animated effects, creating a rich sensory journey through the season of snow. Created by award-winning OLO Creative Farm, Winter Tales draws visitors into winter scenes from Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and beyond.
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We invite you to our annual open house for the holiday season. We offer 5 different displays in 5 different scales. New for this year are 6 interactive animation scenes on our HO layout.
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Celebrate the season at Oglebay’s Festival of Lights—one of the best seasonal shows in West Virginia. Experience the wonder across millions of lights, festive displays, and unforgettable holiday magic for guests of all ages to enjoy. Festival of Lights is presented by WesBanco.
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Enjoy an evening in Downtown Pittsburgh, learning about the history of the city, discovering beautiful squares and pieces of architecture, while getting to see all the festive holiday lights and decorations. Experience the world's largest pickle ornament, a unique gingerbread house display, a replica of the crèche from Vatican City, and much more! The grand finale of the tour will be a big Christmas tree surrounded by an ice rink, and last but not least: The central holiday market in town!
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Sensory Sensitive Science Hours are held on select Sunday mornings, and sensory sensitive events are held on select days throughout the year. Exhibit lights and sound effects are adjusted and special hands-on activities are added to foster a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors.
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JOIN US FOR OUTDOOR ICE SKATING AT PPG PLACE IN PITTSBURGH! We are an outdoor ice skating rink in the center of the crown jewel of the Pittsburgh skyline, PPG Place.
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- Memorial Park Church's Kids Christmas Pageant: "The Greatest Gift" - Memorial Park Church, Allison Park, Friday, December 19, 7:00 p.m.
- Holiday Laser Show - Gibsonia, Friday-Sunday, December 19-21, 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:30 pm
- Winter Tales: An Immersive Experience - The
Westmoreland Museum of American Art - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, Friday, December 19, 10 am- 3 pm
- Winter Nights - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, Friday, December 19, 5 - 8 pm
- Free Herr's Christmas Lights Display - Allentown,
Friday-Sunday, December 19-21, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Gingerbread House Contest at Baden Memorial Library - Baden Memorial Library, Baden, Friday, December 19, 10 am - 8 pm
- Victorian Christmas Tour of Maxwell Mansion - Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, Philadelphia, Friday-Sunday, December 19-21, 12pm, 1pm & 2 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 in and around Pittsburgh. 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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The Pittsburgh area 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.
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Pittsburgh's big list of holiday events in 2025 : Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The activities we've listed
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Plus there is LOTS more to do in and around Pittsburgh beyond the Top 20: Get great ideas here at KidsOutAndAbout.com!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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