KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Feb 7: Take Your Child to the Library Day - Seekonk Public Library
Sun, Feb 8: Gwendolyn Goes Hollywood: A children's ballet Feb 8-22 at Ballet RI (formerly Festival Ballet Providence)
Thu, Feb 12: Young Explorers Stuffed Critter Clinic at Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel
Village
Thu, Feb 12: One Hit Wonder- Valentine's Workshop in Plymouth 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
Fri, Feb 27: Overnight Snore & Roar - at Roger Williams Park Zoo |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Next week, my husband and I are heading to a Valentine's Evening behind-the-scenes tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, New York. It’s the same Frank Lloyd Wright museum we’ve visited
several times, but this version is fancily dressed for the holiday: candlelight, champagne, treats, and a fresh perspective on something familiar. That’s the real magic of Valentine’s Day: It’s one of those perfectly made-up holidays, constructed out of paper hearts, glitter, and good intentions... and it manages magically to transform our spaces, our schedules, and our spirits. As publisher, I've had a 25-year front row seat to communities
around the country who turn nothing into something every February. This year, visitors can say "I Love Thee" in a Victorian mansion in Riverside, CA while a re-enactor in a top hat explains the romantic origin of the Hershey’s Kiss. Frying Pan Farm Park in Virginia will
help kids say "I Love MOO!" with farm animal puns. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center invites everyone on a Valentine's
Express Steam Train ride that is more light-hearted than steamy. And next Saturday, biologists at the California Academy of Sciences will hand out heart-shaped valentines to their African penguins—who will then present them to their mates to help line their nests. Not
all Valentine’s Day celebrations require you to get out and about, though; just muster some creativity and apply it to stuff you already have lying around the house. Cut hearts from red paper and tape them to the door. Dress in scarlet or rose or salmon pink. Light a candle at dinner while you're eating heart-shaped cheese, toast, bacon, or lasagna (here are 25 fun recipes from Food Network). When you and your kids dress up your world together, you’re not just celebrating love, you’re celebrating creativity. And they're learning the life skill of transforming ordinary stuff around them into something special. It only takes one step beyond the good intention to make it so. Love can be grand, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be grand to be great.
—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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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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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.
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Children, ages 2-4 with parent or caregiver, will investigate the world around them as they sing, dance and discover in this monthly series at the Museum of Natural History in Roger Williams Park! Each session will contain age-appropriate stories, songs,
poems and a craft related to the topic. Expose your preschool child to science in a unique and stimulating museum setting!
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Enjoy the outdoors while reading a fun picture book! For families of all ages.
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Looking for an engaging and entertaining night out that the whole family can enjoy? Join Bring Your Own Improv’s interactive comedy show every Friday at 8 PM. Perfect for all ages, this unique event invites audience participation for an evening of laughter
and creativity.
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Cozy up with the sheep on the farmyard and feed them their hay as we get them ready for their day or settled in for the evening. Learn about the many ways wool is used as we card our sheep's wool and make a woolly craft to take home.
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FUN-damentals of Art is a creative space for your child’s imagination and artistic energy to go crazy! This class aims to enhance the young artist’s foundational drawing skills while fostering an intrigue for various materials and creative explorations.
Students will have the opportunity to experiment with a diverse variety of mediums and subjects, each class resulting in an original take home piece. Each weekly 90 minute class will offer different activities including time for free draw and experiment with their own ideas in a free-form instructional environment. Our goal is for students to explore their creativity, providing inspiration and materials, and pursuing their interests under artistic guidance.
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There's a mystery in the library this Take Your Child to the Library Day! We'll have interactive puzzles, games, a craft, and clues to solve a mystery and win a prize. Drop in anytime to investigate!
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Say it with style this Valentine’s Day. Design and hand-print your own heartfelt cards on our 19th-century press using traditional type and imagery. Learn the basics of letterpress printing and take home your own custom creations. No experience
required—feel free to bring your favorite quote! (ages 16+, capacity: 4)
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Join Gwendolyn and Omar, two dancing pigs with big dreams, as they leap from their small town to the bright lights of Hollywood! Based on David Ira Rottenberg’s charming book, this delightful children’s ballet is full of humor, heart, and toe-tapping fun
for the whole family.
Ballet RI Black Box Theatre
825 Hope Street
Providence, RI
Performances:
February 8 – 12:00 pm
February 15 – 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm
February 21 – 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm
February 22 – 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm
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- Friendship Bracelet Fridays! (Ages 8 +)- At Knight Memorial Library - Community Libraries of Providence: Knight Memorial Library, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, Friday, 02/06/2026, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Discovery Tykes at the Museum of
Natural History - Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, Friday, 02/06/2026, 10:00AM-10:30AM
- Music at the Museum: The Punk Cellist - New Bedford Art Museum - New Bedford Art Museum, 608 Pleasant Street, New
Bedford, MA, Friday, 02/06/2026, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- 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, Friday, 02/06/2026 to Sunday, 02/08/2026, Times Vary
- February StoryWalk® at
WEAVER - Weaver Library - East Providence Public Library, Grove Avenue, East Providence, RI, Friday, 02/06/2026 to Sunday, 02/08/2026, 8am
- Take Your Child to the Library Day - Seekonk Public Library - Seekonk Public Library, 410 Newman Ave, Seekonk, MA,
Saturday, 02/07/2026, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
- The Winter Farmers Marketplace - At Warwick Mall - With We Be Jammin' Events - We Be Jammin Events, 1923 Post Rd, Warwick, RI, Sunday, 02/08/2026, 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, Sunday, 02/08/2026, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
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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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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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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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