KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
|
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
February is Children’s Dental Health Month, which means it's the perfect time to talk about LYING. The first lie my daughter Madison ever attempted was when she was about 3. "Did you brush your teeth?” I asked as she was getting ready for bed. She nodded earnestly, but I had my doubts; a check of the toothbrush revealed it was dry as the Sahara. "Looks
like we need a do-over," I said. "Try again." In a 2025 Delta Dental study of 1000 parents of kids age 12 and under, 67% of respondents reported difficulty in getting their kids to brush their teeth. And in a related but thoroughly unscientific survey,
100% of the friends I asked told me that their own kids have lied about tooth brushing at least once. See, young children don’t experience truth as adults do; their developing minds blur the line between reality and hope, between what happened and what they would prefer had happened. Brushing is tedious, being done is better. Add a desire to please Mom, and those wires can cross. In those early years, our job is to help kids gradually separate fact from wishful thinking. You
might think that prosecuting dishonesty harshly might scare kids into telling the truth, but that often just scares them into hiding more cleverly. Our goal as parents isn't just to have kids who brush their teeth and do their own homework and someday file tax returns without creative interpretations of “business mileage,” although we do want all those things. But overall, we want kids who are brave enough to be, rather than seem to be. If they see early
that mistakes can be brought into the light and fixed with a do-over, they’re far less likely to build a life around pretending they didn't happen. So my best recommendation for Children's Dental Health Month is to model both scrupulous honesty and scrupulous teeth-brushing yourself. In case you need an immediate solution, though, I hunted down a list of kids' best tooth-brushing songs thoughtfully supplied by the American Dental Association. Grit your teeth and hum along.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Little Women is a musical with a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and music by Jason Howland. Based on Louisa May Alcott's 1868–69 semi-autobiographical two-volume novel, it focuses on the four March sisters— traditional Meg, wild, aspiring
writer Jo, timid Beth and romantic Amy,— and their beloved Marmee, at home in Concord, Massachusetts, while their father is away serving as a Union Army chaplain during the Civil War. Intercut with the vignettes in which their lives unfold are several recreations of the melodramatic short stories Jo writes in her attic studio.
|
|
|
|
Presented by Bright Star Touring Theatre. From the soulful work songs sung in the fields during slavery, through the rhythms of Ragtime and Jazz, to the powerful voices of R&B and the spirituals that fueled the Civil Rights movement- this play traces
the vital role of music in the journey of Black Americans. It's a moving story of resilience, resistance, and hope, told through the soundscape of history. No cost to attend. First-come, first-seated. This event is supported by a grant from the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.
|
|
|
|
Join the Historic Raleigh Trolley for this special edition of our popular Black history tour highlighting Oberlin Village. Tours will begin at Mordecai Historic Park and travel to Oberlin, where passengers will disembark for a tour of the Historic Turner
House and Oberlin Cemetery and learn about the neighborhood’s history of community and freedom.
|
|
|
- Local History Walk-through: A Black History Month Exhibit at Glenwood Library - Glenwood Library, West Florida Street, Greensboro, NC, Friday, February 20, 2026 to Sunday, February 22, 2026, 9 am - 6 pm
- Black History
Month Walking Tours - Town of Wake Forest, NC - Town of Wake Forest, NC - 301 Brooks Street, Wake Forest, NC, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 1 pm
- Garden Discovery Hours: Perfect Pairs - JC Raulston Arboretum, Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 11:00AM - 1:00PM
- The Future of Black History at Downtown Cary Park - Downtown Cary Park, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 1 pm - 3 pm
- Parent Information Session - Gift of Knowledge Academy, 2722 East Main Street, Durham, NC, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10:00am
- Freedom Songs at Wake Forest Renaissance Centre - Alston-Massenburg Center, North Taylor Street,
Wake Forest, NC, Saturday, February 21, 2026, See website for details
- Pop-Up Art: Mudcloth “Mosaics” - North Carolina Museum of Art - North Carolina Museum of Art - North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC, Sunday, February 22, 2026, 12 pm & 3 pm
|
|
|
|
Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Triangle 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Triangle? 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
