KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
If it weren’t for a Polish pastry, I might not exist. When my great-grandmother Karolina Stelmach was a teenager in a small village in Poland, she was told she’d be entering an arranged marriage. But her heart belonged to Sylvester Nowakowski. So she left... on her own, by boat... and made her way to America. She found work in a restaurant, where she made
her family’s signature dessert: chrusciki. One day, a “distinguished gentleman” insisted on meeting the pastry chef, and he offered her a better-paying job in his own kitchen. She took it, saved enough to bring Sylvester over, and they married. Which means if chrusciki didn’t exist, neither would I. Stories like this do more than entertain. According to psychologist Robyn Fivush, interviewed on a recent episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, they help kids develop identity,
resilience, and self-worth. The more children know about their family’s past—not just the “big” stories like crossing oceans, but even the day-to-day moments and struggles—the more connected and grounded they become. Fivush and her colleagues at Emory University found that kids who know more family stories have higher self-esteem, greater emotional understanding, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. But it’s not just the information that matters...it’s the telling. When we sit down and
share what came before, we help kids feel like they’re part of something bigger, and that they belong. No AI can replicate that. A chatbot can write a story, sure. But it can’t tell your kids how Grandma’s meatloaf could’ve doubled as a construction material, or how two little girls in the 1950s turned a couple of ice cream cones into a front-porch endurance contest. So this year, make a point of telling your kids about your family's shared history: about
mistakes, about perseverance, about love, about dessert. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated: Just pull up a chair, pass the cookies, and pass down the stories.
—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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Come ride on more than 10 miles of wooded trails at Dead Broke Farm – a 110-acre farm conveniently located in Raleigh, NC. Our bridle trails have rolling hills, creek crossings, lots of beautiful hardwood trees, and wildlife. Our trails are suitable for beginners but challenging enough to be interesting for more experienced riders. We offer 1-hour and 2-hour rides 7 days a week, year-round. Children ages 6 and up can ride on their own. Younger children may ride double with an experienced guide. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 919-596-8975.
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Elevate Your Next Birthday Bash at Urban Air Raleigh! Looking for a stress-free, action-packed birthday party? Urban Air Raleigh is the ultimate indoor adventure park for kids and teens! With trampolines, climbing walls, slam dunk zones, obstacle courses and more, there’s something for every guest to enjoy. Our party pros handle all the details—from setup to cleanup—so you can focus on making memories. Whether they’re bouncing, climbing, or racing through the park, your birthday star will have a blast. Easy. Epic. Unforgettable. Book your Urban Air Raleigh party today and let the fun take flight!
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Enjoy a morning of stories and crafts, as the youngest among us celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Participants will make their own handheld sign to share their positive message with the world. This event is great for children in K – 5th grade. Be sure to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the First United Methodist Church Food Drive. This event is free and open to the public! Registration is not required.
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Terrapin Station Entertainment and TEG Life Like Touring, in association with Universal Destinations and Experiences, present Gabby's Dollhouse Live! Presented by Walmart, a brand-new stage show inspired by the magical world of the global preschool sensation from DreamWorks Animation. In this a-MEOW-zing musical show, Gabby unboxes a special acorn that needs the magical touch of a rainbow to grow. But when CatRat causes a color cat-astrophe and breaks the rainbow, Gabby and the Gabby Cats must find the colors again to set things right.
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School’s Out (K-5th grade) and Preschool’s Out Camp (ages 4-5) offers the fun of Camp Shelanu year-round for children age 4 through 5th grade. Activities may include sports, games, crafts, cooking, playground time, aerial silks, nature, and more. Preschoolers will also have a rest/nap time after lunch. Please note that Preschool’s Out Camp is only available on selected dates and participants must be potty trained.
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- 2026 Annual MLK Dreamfest Cultural Celebration - Town of Cary NC - Cary Arts Center, Dry Avenue, Cary, NC, USA, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6 pm - 8:30 pm
- Dreamfest Children's Program - Town of Cary NC - Page-Walker Arts & History Center, Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC, USA, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10 am - 12 pm
- Get Wild: Birding
Bonanza! - Bailey and Sarah Williamson Nature Preserve, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1:30 pm
- Sensory Playdate - North
Regional Library - North Regional Library, Harps Mill Road, Raleigh, NC, USA, Saturday, January 17, 2026, 3 pm - 4 pm
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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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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 the Triangle. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Researvh Triangle 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 the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Of course, there is LOTS more to do around the Triangle...Get great ideas here at KidsOutAndAbout.com! What is listed below are just the
starting point: Browse through our site and calendar to find lots more, and be sure to click on Everything That's Free.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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