KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: For much of the country this year, March simultaneously is bringing hope that spring may in fact return to North America AND the awareness that every car is at risk for the foreseeable future. All winter long, water seeps into asphalt cracks, freezes, expands, melts, and freezes again, and bit by bit the driving experience becomes a game called Avoid the
Crater. But lately I’ve started seeing the repair trucks out there again, their bright-vested workers moving methodically from hole to hole with their shovels. Every time I pass them, it gives me a lift, not just because it means someday soon I'll start seeing flowers out in the real world, but also because potholes are one of those perfect reminders of what humans do. Playrooms, projects, and paperwork start out neat, but over time, weather, wear, gravity, and
procrastination take their toll. No matter how strict the system, order gradually slides toward chaos. And then humans step in and make it right again. I saw the cycle in action at the KidsOutAndAbout office last week: Our storage room had slowly become a museum of random supplies, half-filled bins, and Christmas decorations that had been tossed in with a hopeful Future Us will deal with this someday. Fortunately, my colleague Michelle, who works in our data department,
is also a genius organizer. A few hours after Future Michelle stepped in and applied logic and elbow grease, the little room had transformed from a cluttered cave into a serene space. The quickening of the seasons seems to bring that same energy into our homes: Closets get sorted, garages get swept, junk drawers finally meet their match. It feels good, not just because the space looks better, but because fixing things reminds us of something important: Disorder is normal, but
it’s not permanent. Humans can step in and bring brightness back. So here’s to spring cleaning, organized shelves, and freshly patched roads. Our tires, and our spirits, roll much more smoothly because humans fill potholes.
—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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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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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! This Spring Break, it’s your time to RIDE for the chance to WIN BIG!
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You are invited to join us for the very first Sensory Friendly Hours event at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum!
Explore the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in a sensory modified setting with quieter streetcars, lowered exhibit sounds, and soft lighting. Advanced registration is not required for this event. Tickets will be available at our regular admission prices.
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Lace up your sneakers, put on your green, and get ready to MOVE! The Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade is excited to announce we are partnering with P3R for the inaugural Pittsburgh Parade Day Dash Presented by GNC, a vibrant and family-friendly
celebration happening on March 14, 2026, just before the 10 a.m. start of Pittsburgh’s iconic America’s Grand St. Patrick’s Day Event.
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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Oglebay Park Resort with Celtic flavors, live music, fun contests, and the spirited tradition of Irish road bowling in a lively weekend setting in Wheeling, WV.
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Lace up your sneakers, put on your green, and get ready to MOVE! P3R invites you to join us for the second annual Pittsburgh Parade Day Dash Presented by GNC, a vibrant and family-friendly celebration happening on March 14, just before the start of
Pittsburgh’s iconic America’s Grand St. Patrick’s Day Event!
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How can we help improve the health of Pittsburgh’s beloved rivers and their ecosystems? Join us on Saturday, March 14, to celebrate the International Day of Action for Rivers with ideas and activities!
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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a high-energy experience that blends adventure, teamwork, and festive fun. Participants will take on themed ropes course challenges, complete lucky checkpoints, and hunt for hidden treasure throughout Dragon’s Den.
Perfect for families, friends, scout groups, and anyone looking for an active, memorable way to celebrate the holiday beyond the usual festivities.
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Learn the history of maple syrup making in Pennsylvania before heading outside to discover how to identify and tap maple trees then collect and boil down the sap to make table-ready syrup using homestyle methods.
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Welcome to a world of fun and imagination!
Our Open Play sessions at Live, Laugh, Play, & Learn offer children the perfect environment to explore, create, and socialize. With a variety of engaginf activites and interactive play areas, kids can let their creativity run wild while developing essential social and motor skills.
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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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Fresh from Broadway (though detoured from DC – Google it ), this all too timely, bitingly funny comedy takes place during several board meetings at an ultra-progressive California school proud of its inclusivity and commitment to consensus – at least until
a mumps outbreak reveals varying views (like, everyone’s) on vaccination. In “one of the funniest plays to open [all] year” (The New York Times) parents dance the line of advocating for their children while trying not to offend...anyone.
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- Sensory Playtime at Pleasant Hills Public Library - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, March 13, 2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Carnegie Lab at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie
Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Friday, March 13, 2026, 10 am - 1 pm
- Drop-In Watercolor Painting - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, Friday, March 13, 2026, 2:45-3:45pm
- Story Saturdays at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Saturday,
March 14, 2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- Teen Club - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601, Saturday, March 14, 2026, 10 am- 12 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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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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