KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sun, Dec 21: Community Carol Sing at Mystic Seaport Museum
Mon, Dec 22: Monday Matinee: Muppets Treasure Island - All Ages at Framingham Public Library - Main Branch
Mon, Dec 22: The Great Gingerbread House Build-Off! at Knight Memorial Library
Sat, Dec 27: Wild About Winter Vacation Week at EcoTarium
Tue, Dec 30: Frozen Sing-along at WEAVER
Wed, Dec 31: Providence New Year’s Eve Celebration and Illuminate PVD Fireworks Display
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Years Eve Celebration: Sensory Friendly! at Framingham Public Library - McAuliffe Branch
Sat, Feb 21: Lunar New Year Concert with the Boston Pops
Sun, Feb 22: The Winter Farmers Marketplace at Warwick Mall
Fri, Feb 27: Overnight Snore & Roar at Roger Williams Park Zoo |
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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Perfect for all ages…a cherished holiday tradition returns with sparkle, magic, and Rhode Island flair. Join Clara on her enchanting journey from a festive Christmas Eve party to the dazzling Land of Sweets, where toy soldiers battle, snowflakes swirl, and dreams dance to life. With stunning choreography by Yury Yanowsky, beloved Tchaikovsky music, and a cast of Ballet RI company dancers and local youth, The Nutcracker is a timeless celebration of wonder, imagination, and the joy of the season.
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Do you have what it takes to beat your friends or family at board games? Whether you’re looking for competition or just wanting to have fun, you’ll have plenty of games to choose from at our weekly gaming time. Drop by any time between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. every Friday and start your weekend with some fun! This event is open to all ages. Children under the age of 12 must have an adult present at the library.
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Join us for a showing of The Polar Express! No sign up necessary. Be sure to bring a cozy blanket. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be provided!
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Enjoy milk, cookies, and story time with Sturbridge resident and author Bill Barnsley, author of If Mice Pulled the Sleigh. Copies of the book can be purchased in advance or at the event, and Bill Barnsley will be signing books after the reading. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. After story time, embark on a journey through Christmas traditions past and present during Christmas by Candlelight (separate ticket required).
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The Kings of Brass are ready to make the holiday season merry and bright with Making Spirits Bright. This quintet never fails to delight with their winning combination of fabulous sound, engaging wit, popular programming, and top-notch showmanship. Making Spirits Bright includes original arrangements and signature takes on beloved holiday classics such as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas," "Charlie Brown Christmas," "Silver Bells, "Songs of Hanukkah," and “Jingle Bell Rock.” The spirit and sparkle of Canadian Brass has earned them a loyal legion of fans worldwide. “Nothing proclaims celebration and festivity like the sound of brass instruments. And if those instruments are played by Canadian Brass, there is even greater cause for celebration” (Toronto Star).
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Now in its sixth season, Sparkling Lights at The Breakers brings the magic of the holidays inside and outside this landmark Gilded Age mansion! You’ll stroll along a half-mile-long path glittering with hundreds of thousands of holiday lights while music fills the winter air. See illuminated displays and sparkling surprises along the way. Tour the opulent interior of The Breakers decorated in holiday splendor. Enjoy holiday treats and adult beverages for purchase at the back terrace and The Breakers Welcome Center.
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Come and enjoy the Annual Christmas Specialty Market at Tiverton Farmers Market. As we step into the holiday season, it’s time to explore and appreciate our local talent once again. The Tiverton Farmers Market invites you to our Annual Christmas Specialty Market, where we are delighted to host over 50 local vendors. The event will be held on December 21st, 2025, from 10am - 2pm. From food aficionados to art enthusiasts, we've got something for everyone! Our offerings range from mouth-watering baked goods, fresh fruits & vegetables, mushrooms, a wide range of meats, Japanese foods, empanadas, honey, chocolates, hummus, vegan donuts, to winter warmers like hot chocolate, coffee and soothing herbal teas. Meanwhile, art and home decor lovers will not be left out. Amazing pottery, candles, alpacas clothing & socks, woodworking, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, fine linens, charming yard art and toys and treats for your furry friends await at our market. Celebrate your local food…
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The Cultural Survival Bazaars are a series of cultural festivals, organized by Indigenous Peoples’ rights organization Cultural Survival, that provide Indigenous artists and artisans, cooperatives, and their representatives from around the world the chance to sell their work directly to the public. Each event features traditional and contemporary crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry, home goods, and accessories from dozens of countries. In addition, the Bazaars offer cultural performances and presentations, including live music, storytelling, craft-making demonstrations, and the unique chance to talk directly with makers and community advocates.
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- A Brush with Trees at Blithewold Paintings by Paul Olson - Bristol, 12/19/2025 to 12/21/2025, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- December StoryWalk® at WEAVER - East Providence Public Library - East Providence, 12/19/2025 to 12/21/2025, 8:00am
- Letters to Santa - At Garden City Center -
Cranston, 12/19/2025 to 12/21/2025, Mall Hours
- Cultural
Survival Bazaar – A Festival of Indigenous Arts and Culture - WaterFire Arts Center - Providence, 12/20/2025 to 12/21/2025, 10 am - 6 pm
- Holiday Markets - The Providence Flea - The Providence Flea - Providence, 12/21/2025, Fridays 5-9 pm, Sundays 11- 3 pm
- Annual Christmas Specialty Market - With Tiverton Farmers Market - Tiverton Farmers Market - Tiverton, 12/21/2025, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
- Community Carol Sing at Mystic Seaport Museum - Mystic, 12/21/2025, 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 Providence. 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 Providence 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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Providence's big list of holiday events for 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 Providence 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 Providence, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. This list provides some great ideas, but there is LOTS more to do in Providence, all year round: Our Top 20 results page only scratches the
surface!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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