KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sorry for the second send this morning! The first edition of this newsletter had a glitch that erased much of the content. —Deb |
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Wed, Apr 15: Family Field Days at Old Sturbridge Village
Sat, Apr 18: Boston Red Sox: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Day at Fenway Park - Home Game VS Tigers
Sun, Apr 19: Wild Kratts Live 2.0 -
Activate Creature Power! - At Boch Center Tue, Apr 21: Alfie’s Supercar Scavenger Hunt - Audrain Auto Museum
Wed, Apr 22: Project Chick at WEAVER
Thu, Apr 23: The Princess Concert - Veterans Memorial Auditorium
Fri, Apr 24: Family Field Days at Old Sturbridge Village
Sat, Apr 25: Sheep Shearing Day - At Watson Farm Sat, Apr 25: Southwick’s Spring Fest
Sat, Apr 25: Arbor Day Festival Sun, May 3: School Break at LEGO Discovery Center Boston
Sun, May 10: Hatsune Miku Expo 2026 North America at Boch Center - Wang Theatre
Tue, May 12: Police, Fire & EMT Week at Southwick's Zoo |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with our
quest to explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test, I’d
stay home “sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an option"
with "nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste weird,
projects that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—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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SHEN YUN: The Beauty and Wonder of China Before Communism Shen Yun’s grand production immerses you in stories and legends that shaped Chinese culture for millennia. It’s a world where maidens danced with ethereal grace and generals fought with explosive athleticism, where timeless tales of valor and virtue were born, and where heaven and earth intersected, making even magic possible. Based in New York, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive the best of 5,000 years of civilization. Combining the expressivity and athleticism of classical Chinese dance with an East-West live orchestra and innovative backdrops, Shen Yun is being hailed as a breakthrough in performing arts. Shen Yun is now the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Some people fly from other countries or drive hundreds of miles to see it. Others see the same performance five or six times. Why? Many say there are no words to describe it—you have to see it with your own eyes to find out. Join us and celebrate the…
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A live, solo performance by Laurie Berkner. Laurie will perform many fan favorites that encourage kids and grownups alike to get up, sing along and move, including “Victor Vito,” “We Are The Dinosaurs,” “Pig On Her Head,” “Waiting For The Elevator,” and “Chipmunk At The Gas Pump.” Bring a stuffed animal (for your head) and your dancing shoes! Two shows – 11am and 3pm! $1 from each single and VIP ticket will go to support the RI-based charity Rhode Island Kids Count, whose mission is to improve the health, safety, education, economic well-being, and development of Rhode Island’s children with a commitment to equity and the elimination of unacceptable disparities by race, ethnicity, disability, zip code, immigration status, neighborhood, and income. Thank you for helping us support this local charity through our friends at Twinkle Arts for Good
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Get ready for big adventure as a tiny explorer in A Bug’s World, a new exhibit open April 11 – August 9, 2026. Experience the outdoors from an insect's perspective. Wander among supersized caterpillars and beetles, crawl through massive honeycombs, and dodge the dreaded Venus flytrap. Discover the crawling, climbing, flying critters in your own backyard while learning why they matter and how to protect them.
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Join us this year for Fairy Garden Days 2026 Celestial Spring! April 11-26* Explore our four greenhouses transformed for a celestial magic land. Get lost in the details of hundreds of fairy houses hidden in our gardens. Marvel at what local community members and artists have created for our exhibit this year. And enjoy fun activities for kids every day.
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Join us April 11 for Opening Day at Southwick’s Zoo as we kick off another wild season of adventure! We’re excited to welcome guests back to New England’s largest zoo for a day full of wildlife, exploration, and outdoor fun. From the big cats and curious primates to peaceful walking paths and immersive exhibits, there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Whether you're a returning guest or visiting for the first time, we can’t wait to open the gates and start another amazing season with you. Grab your friends and family and come celebrate Opening Day at the zoo
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Join us for a fabulous afternoon full of farm fresh flavors, live music, hayrides, kids activities, face painting, live animals, a jam bar, makers market, & so much more. Come on down to the farm & get a taste of what we have to offer! Fun for the whole family! This event is free to attend. If you like what you sample, you are able to purchase those items & 20% of all sales benefits the Judy Lynch Memorial Scholarship Fund & goes to 2 high school seniors from Glastonbury. If they work hard, do a
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Join Coggeshall Farm for a Homeschool Day! Homeschool day has a rotating series of programs and workshops geared for ages 4+ that bring the historic world to life. This program is for advance sign-up only and includes the cost of admission. It also features a variety of self-guided activities for all ages.
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- April StoryWalk® at WEAVER - Weaver Library - East Providence Public Library, Grove Avenue, East Providence, RI, 04/10/2026 - 04/12/2026, 8am
- In the Gallery: Bristol Art Museum Presents- Still Growing: Art Inspired by Trees - Bristol Art Museum - Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum, Ferry Road, Bristol, RI, 04/10/2026 - 04/12/2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Family Bilingual Story Class / Cuentos Bilingües en Familia - Pawtucket Public Library - Pawtucket Public Library, Summer Street, Pawtucket, RI, Friday, April 10, 2026, 11 am - 12:00 pm
- Homeschool Hangout (Ages 6-11) - At Seekonk Public Library - Seekonk Public Library, 410 Newman Ave, Seekonk, MA 02771, Friday, April 10, 2026, 2:00 pm -4:00 pm
- Free Open Houses at the Betsey Williams Cottage - Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, Friday, April 10, 2026, 10:00 am - 3:00pm
- Fairy Garden Days 2026 - At the Museum of
Natural History in Roger Williams Park - Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, Saturday, April 11, 2026 to Sunday, April 12, 2026, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
- The Winter Farmers Marketplace - At Warwick Mall - With We Be Jammin' Events
- We Be Jammin Events, 1923 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886, Sunday, April 12, 2026, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
- The Winter Farmers Marketplace - With We Be Jammin' Events - Warwick Mall - Warwick Mall, 400 Bald Hill Rd, Warwick, RI 02886, Sunday, April 12, 2026,
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
- The Farmers Marketplace - At Warwick Mall - With We Be Jammin' Events - We Be Jammin Events, 1923 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886, Sunday, April 12, 2026, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Providence 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 Providence 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 Providence area? 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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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