KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: Before I had kids, one of my colleagues told me that fundamentally, a parent’s job is to point. At first, you point physically: You point at the waterfall and say “waterfall,” at the moon and say “moon,” at the flower and say “flower.” You’re helping a child connect sounds to objects, words to concepts, language to reality. But later, and really all the way through, the
pointing becomes more metaphorical. Parenting is the ongoing work of connecting your child’s growing capacity to understand with a world that is, to them, forever expanding. As I had Madison and Ella, I came to think of this as being a tour guide to the world. A good tour guide needs to know the landscape, of course. But even more important, a good tour guide needs to know the traveler. What can this particular child see right now? What are they ready for? What do they care
about? What frightens them? What delights them? It's useful to remember that kids haven’t actually been here before: The world is brand-new to them over and over again, so what feels ordinary to us is often astonishing to a child. Tour guides who are doing their job well pay close attention to who their audience is and what they know, and that makes the pointing easier and more fun. Spring is the perfect season to practice pointing. In spring, the world changes fast enough for
kids to notice. Buds swell and burst. Birds return. Tiny green things push up through the dirt as if by magic. Day to day, the world becomes visibly more alive. If we point it out, kids can catch it happening in real time. And spring does not arrive quietly. It comes as an avalanche of the senses: color, smell, birdsong, mud, wind, sunlight, thunder, petals, pollen, rushing water. So maybe that’s part of the job, too: not just to point, but to lean into it. To stand beside our
kids in the rush of it all and say, Look! Here it comes.
—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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Discover a summer full of creativity, movement, and community at Art Motion Pittsburgh’s Summer Arts Camp! Designed for curious kids ages 5–11, our camp blends joyful dance and movement, hands-on art projects, outdoor play, and walking field trips to local artists and makers in Sharpsburg. Each week features a fresh theme, so campers can join for one week or many. Camp runs the weeks of July 13 - August 10 with full-day and half-day options, plus a half-day week August 17. Days begin and end at our studio, with adventures to Kennedy Park and beyond. Sibling discounts and accessible pricing make summer fun possible for every family—we proudly welcome all!
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Join Duo’s Treehouse every Friday at The Kingsley Association Pittsburgh, a bilingual space where learning happens through play! Hosted by Duolingo and La Escuelita Arcoiris, this free program welcomes caregivers and children from birth to 5 years old to explore, play, and connect in both Spanish and English. Duo’s Treehouse is designed to foster healthy development in young children while supporting the adults who care for them, creating a nurturing, engaging environment for the whole family. To learn more and stay updated, visit Duo’s Treehouse on Facebook or check out our website. Come play, learn, and grow with us!
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Discover adventure and joy at Little Farmers Day Camp! Give your child the gift of unforgettable adventure, immersive learning, and boundless joy at Blue Ribbon Farm's Little Farmers Day Camp. Nestled on our breathtaking 124-acre working horse farm near Allegheny and Beaver counties, our camp offers an enchanting blend of fun and education. Campers will feed and groom friendly horses, collect fresh eggs, and enjoy horseback riding with experienced, passionate instructors. They'll also create delectable culinary treats like homemade strawberry jam, pickles, and ice cream, cuddle adorable baby animals, and explore the whimsical Goat Mountain and the serene Raccoon Creek ecosystem. Ready to create cherished lifelong memories? Visit our website or contact us today!
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Experience the Polka Tradition. Immerse yourself in the music, movement, and tradition that define Polka Fest. From high-energy live bands to beloved polka classics, the dance floor stays full all weekend at Oglebay Park Resort in Wheeling, WV. Choose a 1-day ticket, a 3-day pass, or make it a getaway with an overnight experience that includes your weekend pass from Friday through Sunday.
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It's Showtime! The ghost-with-the-most comes to the stage in this frightfully funny musical based on the beloved motion picture turned Broadway phenomenon. Lydia Deetz is a strange and unusual teenager, still grieving the loss of her mother and obsessed with the whole “being dead thing.” Lucky for Lydia, she and her father move to a new house haunted by a recently deceased couple and Beetlejuice, a delightful demon with a real zest for life. Including lively songs like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and “Jump in the Line.
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Join art educators in the museum’s Art Studio every Friday for free art-making and sensory activities inspired by the exhibitions in our galleries. All ages are invited to participate, and activities are free with museum admission.
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Join Curiosity Kids to explore living and non-living things. What is the difference and what do living things need to survive? Test you knowledge with a fun game following the presentation.
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Join us at KIDS OF STEEL FEST! It's a fun Fitness Adventure!
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Hop on over to the National Aviary for a spring celebration! You’ll have an egg-cellent time exploring the Aviary’s immersive habitats on a themed scavenger hunt. Experience a fun and engaging story time, get crafty, and so much more!
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Soak up beautiful blooms and fantastic fragrance! Each room celebrates the iconic essence of Phipps in this year’s Spring Flower Show. Since 1894, Phipps’ Spring Flower Show has provided Pittsburgh with a burst of color and fragrance after a long winter. This year’s Spring Flower Show: True Colors shows off some of our most colorful displays while celebrating the role Phipps has had in the lives of generations of guests.
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Visit The Johnstown Children's Museum for a great scavenger hunt!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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- Sensory Playtime at Pleasant Hills Public Library - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Pleasant Hills, PA, Friday, March 27, 2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Little Bookworms at Baldwin Library - Baldwin Borough Public Library, Pleasant Hills, PA, Friday, March 27, 2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Carnegie
Lab at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, March 27, 2026, 10 am - 1 pm
- Big Kid Play Day - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, March 27, 2026, 2:45 - 3:45 pm
- Story Saturdays at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- 2026 Kids of STEEL Fest -
Robert Morris University Island Sports Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 9-11:00 AM
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Pittsburgh area - Shoott, See link for times
- Celebrate Earth Day-Meridian Waste Children’s Coloring Contest (Contest entry ends April 13) - Submit your artwork online., Any time.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Pittsburgh 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 fingertips!
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Pittsburgh? 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.
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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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