KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Mon, Jan 26: 2026 Homeschool: Our Nation's 250th Celebration at Mystic Seaport Museum
Sat, Jan 31: SeaClass: Letterpress Valentine’s Day Card Workshop at Mystic Seaport Museum
Tue, Feb 3: Movie Night: Magnetosphere -
Seekonk Public Library Fri, Feb 13: Young Explorers Stuffed Critter Clinic at Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village
Sat, Feb 14: Will Ewe Be Mine? - At Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, Feb 14: Valentine Story Yoga at South Kingstown Public Library - Kingston Free Library
Mon, Feb 16: Winter Adventures: Island Trekking - Zoo Camp (Ages 6-10) - Roger Williams Park Zoo
Sat, Jan 17: Geology Rocks Weekend at the Museum of Natural History in Roger Williams Park
Sat, Jan 24: Farmer's Helpers - At Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Wed, Feb 4: Chatty Cats at Wanskuck Library
Sun, Feb 8: Moonrose Farm Kids Baking Workshop
Tue, Feb 10: Teen Job Search Help - Wanskuck Library
Fri, Feb 27: Overnight Snore & Roar - at Roger Williams Park Zoo |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When Madison and Ella were young, I made it a point to stretch their comfort zones in small, manageable ways. They’d order their own food at restaurants, they'd arrange their own homeschool work schedules, they'd try activities where they didn’t know anyone. I did my best not to step in unless invited. Over time, they started trusting their own
ability to navigate the world without me. That, of course, was the point. But the better they got at being independent, the more I started to feel a quiet kind of discomfort. They were moving outward—into the world, into themselves—and I could feel the shift. There’s a concept in astrophysics called red shift. When a star or galaxy moves away from us, the light it emits stretches, shifting toward the red end of the spectrum. The farther away it moves, the
redder the light appears. It’s how we know the universe is expanding. The movement doesn’t mean the light is gone—just that it’s arriving to us in a new form, from farther away. I think about that a lot as my kids are no longer orbiting so closely. I still see their light; it just looks different now. I’m learning to recognize their new wavelengths. The trick, I think, is not to see red shift as loss, but as evidence of motion. The fact that I feel the stretch means the
universe is doing what it’s supposed to do: expanding, evolving, moving outward. I remind myself that this kind of shift is a mark of success. Increased wavelength, decreased frequency... it's all part of the natural order of things. Light travels and stretches, and love does, too.
—Debra Ross, publisher |
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Animal Experiences continues to be the best, most hands on Animal program for children of pre-k age and up. Whether for birthday parties, schools, libraries or camps, Animal Experiences provides an educational, fun filled hour meeting, touching and holding reptiles as well as a few warm blooded animals. No other program allows children as much opportunity to hold and interact with animals as Animal Experiences. With over 30 years experience Dave has an ability to help even the most shy children feel comfortable with his animal friends.
|
|
|
|
We invite you to participate in this program, using your knowledge of science, mathematics, and engineering. You can participate individually or in a group. Don’t miss out!
|
|
|
|
The last surviving child of the Russian Royal Family joins two con men to reunite with her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, while the undead Rasputin seeks her death.” – IMDb. Bring a covered drink and cozy blanket to watch this wintery Don Bluth classic.
|
|
|
|
Dive into Enchantment with live Mermaids at Mystic Aquarium! When: January 23–25, January 30–February 1, February 6–February 8 Prepare to be spellbound as mesmerizing mermaids return to Mystic Aquarium! On select weekends this January and February, embark on an enchanting adventure as these aquatic wonders gracefully glide through our Caribbean Reef habitat, captivating hearts and sparking imaginations with their magical underwater performances.
|
|
|
|
Come on down to the Community Room and for some wintery snowflake fun with teacher t.! We’ll have a multitude of ways to make snowflakes — crochet, watercolour, salt-design, and classic white paper to cut your very own snowflake design. See how no two snowflakes are the same as you listen to some wintertime tunes, and make some snowy creations. All ages welcome!
|
|
|
|
Become a farmer for the evening and help take care of the sheep, goats and cows! Roll up your sleeves, meet and feed the animals their meals, help keep the barns clean, and make sure everyone is warm and cozy and tucked in for the night. Activities will vary each session based on the schedule of our livestock team and seasonal changes.
|
|
|
- Friendship Bracelet Fridays! (Ages 8 +)- At Knight Memorial Library - Community Libraries of Providence: Knight Memorial Library, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, Friday, 01/23/2026, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Snowflake Makers - At Rochambeau Library - Providence, RI - Rochambeau Library: a
Community Library of Providence, Hope Street, Providence, RI, Friday, 01/23/2026, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Family Movie Night:
Anastasia - At Clark Memorial Library - Clark Memorial Library, Pinehurst Drive, Richmond, RI, Friday, 01/23/2026, 6:00 pm
- January StoryWalk® at WEAVER - Weaver Library - East Providence Public Library, 41 Grove Avenue, East Providence, RI, Fri 01/23/2026 - Sun 01/25/2026, 8:00am
- Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston - At Boston Public Library - Central Library in Copley Square - Boston Public Library - Central Library, Boylston Street, Boston, MA, Fri 01/23/2026 - Sun 01/25/2026, Times Vary
- Norton|Saint-Gobain: FREE ADMISSION DAY featuring USA Luge for the Norton Challenge - 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA, Saturday, 01/24/2026, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Meet Elsa & Anna from Frozen! - South Kingstown Public
Library - Kingston Free Library - South Kingstown Public Library - Kingston Free Library, 180 High Street, Wakefield, RI, Saturday, 01/24/2026, 10:30 am - 11:30 am
- Winter Craft Swap - At Rochambeau Library - Providence, RI - Rochambeau Library: a Community Library of Providence, Hope Street, Providence, RI, Saturday,
01/24/2026, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
|
|
|
|
Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Providence area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets,
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
