KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades:
“Remember the rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard
things. It’s tempting to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard.
And I handled it. We don’t need to manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something
daunting, I think back to my mentor and remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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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As a parent, nothing matters more than your child’s safety — especially around water. Pool days, beach vacations, and backyard parties should be filled with fun, not fear. That’s why Pittsburgh families vote Goldfish Swim School Best Swim Lessons year
after year. Goldfish offers engaging, effective swim lessons designed specifically for children ages 4 months to 12 years old.
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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 us a for a Storytime reading of Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket by author Sue Fliess. During the program participants will learn about the planets of the solar system and get to create an image of a spaceship rocketing to the planet of their
choice.
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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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Children 0-5 can explore a variety of stations on their own time. Possible stations include sensory baskets, ball pit, water table, light table, Kinetic sand, Playdoh, seasonal sensory bins, and more! No registration necessary, just come to the program room
to join the fun!
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Come and learn about Memory and Logic. Explore how to use and improve your memory and logic skills through a series of self-guided games. How good is your memory? Can you solve the puzzle? Give it a try!
Family programs are included with general admission and designed for all ages.
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Get ready for an unforgettable week of fun, thrills, and nonstop excitement at Mines & Meadows — one of our most loved first events of the year!
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A FREE, fun-filled movement experience for our youngest athletes and their families!
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Story Saturday is a monthly story time that takes place in Extraordinary Ordinary Things, our decorative arts and design collection galleries. Each month, assistant curator Alyssa Velazquez will read a different children’s book. After the story, Jena
Schieb, manager of youth programs, will lead an art-making activity designed for children ages 12 and under.
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Braddock's Battlefield History Center will welcome reenactment groups and sutlers for a recruiting and market weekend on March 7th and 8th!
This is a great opportunity to meet, learn, and buy! Discover more about reenacting and the living history groups in our region. Find out what it is like to be a part of one of these groups and what it takes to join. Visit our sutlers and purchase time period accurate items for your new favorite hobby or over your hearth!
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Fall in love with endless beauty as new displays highlight Phipps' incredible orchid collection and classically trained bonsai. The beautiful gardens of Phipps provide the perfect warm escape from Pittsburgh's winter chill! You’ll be captivated by romantic
displays in this year’s Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: Blooming with Love. Gorgeous displays featuring an array of beautiful orchids and fascinating bonsai fill the glasshouse. Join us to celebrate love while immersing yourself in ephemeral and entrancing nature. You’re sure to leave with your heart feeling warm!
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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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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best
experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech!
Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Sensory Playtime at Pleasant Hills Public Library - Pleasant Hills Public Library - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Kids Winter
Reading 2026 at Andrew Bayne Memorial Library - Andrew Bayne Memorial Library - Andrew Bayne Memorial Library, 34 North Balph Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202, Friday, March 6, 2026 to Sunday, March 8, 2026, Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5
p.m.
- Little Bookworms at Baldwin Library - Baldwin Borough Public Library - Baldwin
Borough Public Library, Wolfe Drive, Pleasant Hills, PA, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Carnegie Lab at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10 am - 1 pm
- Drop-In Beading - Pleasant Hills
Public Library - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, March 6, 2026, 2:30 - 3:30 PM
- Story Saturdays at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- Kids of STEEL Youngest MOVERS Play Day with KidStrong North Hills - KidStrong North Hills - KidStrong North
Hills, 3120 McIntyre Square Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, Sunday, March 8, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
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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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Pittsburgh 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.
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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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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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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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