KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're still packing
lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are moving through it
together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator, February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—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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Bring your favorite stuffed animal friend for a special checkup in Our Big Backyard. Check out real animal x-rays, create a unique ID bracelet for your patient, enjoy hands-on activities and a scavenger hunt. This program is FREE with Zoo admission or
membership. Drop-in anytime between 10:30 am – 1:30 pm.
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This special Friday the 13th edition of the SketchyGOichie Digital Drawing Workshop turns a day known for superstition into a celebration of creativity and good vibes. Young artists will use iPads and professional digital art tools to design their own
characters, creatures or good-luck charms while learning the same digital techniques used in creative careers. The session is taught with the playful, high-energy SketchyGOichie teaching style that keeps kids engaged and excited to create.
SketchyGOichie’s mission is to nurture creativity, promote purposeful screen time and introduce emerging artists to real career pathways in the digital arts. By pairing industry-standard technology with supportive, step-by-step instruction, the program welcomes students of all backgrounds and learning styles. Participants explore character design, storytelling and visual problem solving in an environment designed to build confidence.
DRAW is a digital art and rendering workshop series created to help…
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It's Valentine's Day! Have a hoot of a time learning all about owls. Meet one of our wildlife ambassador owls up close and make an owl-themed valentine to share with someone special.
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Join certified “ChildLight Yoga and Mindfulness for Children” instructor, Miss Sharon, for Valentine stories, yoga poses, activities, crafts, and fun! Geared for ages 3 – 8 but all are welcome.
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Join us for the tastiest event of the year! The 29th Annual Chili Cook-Off is back and better than ever. Get ready to indulge in a mouthwatering array of chili creations from talented local chefs. This in-person event will be held at the Newport Marriott
Hotel. From classic recipes to unique twists, you'll find a chili to satisfy every craving. So mark your calendars and bring your appetite for a day filled with flavor, fun, and friendly competition!
Tickets $12 in advance or with bracelet/ $15 at the door w/o. Kids $4 w/ bracelet, $6 w/o.
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Lunar New Year Celebration
February 15, 2026
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The EcoTarium invites you to our Lunar New Year celebration, featuring a live Lion Dance performance by the SUN Lion Dance Team from the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts (SEACMA)!
Join us to experience special educator-led programs and tabletop activities where we’ll discover cycles in nature and movement in space!
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Enjoy a tropical staycation during February Break at Franklin Park Zoo! Connect with amazing wildlife and spend a memorable day with family and friends exploring all the Zoo has to offer. And don’t miss Orchid Adventure, featuring an exquisite display of
tropical blooms in the balmy Tropical Forest pavilion.
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- Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston - At Boston Public Library - Central Library in Copley Square - Boston, MA, Friday, 02/13/2026 to Sunday, 02/15/2026, Times Vary
- February StoryWalk® at WEAVER - East Providence Public
Library - East Providence, RI, Friday, 02/13/2026 to Sunday, 02/15/2026, 8am
- Valentine Story Yoga - South Kingstown Public Library - Kingston Free Library - Wakefield, RI, Saturday, 02/14/2026, 10:30 am - 11:00 am
- The Winter Farmers Marketplace - At Warwick Mall - With We Be Jammin' Events - We Be Jammin Events - Warwick,
RI, Sunday, 02/15/2026, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
- The Winter Farmers Marketplace - With We Be Jammin' Events - Warwick Mall - Warwick, RI, Sunday, 02/15/2026, 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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