KidsOutAndAbout's weekly e-newsletter |
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Save the Date Fri, Jan 16: BLOCK-Buster: Watch & Build Movie Night at Bricks ROC! San, Jan 17: Are You My Mother? at TYKEs Theatre at the JCC Sat, Jan
17: Starting date of Soccer Stars Winter Soccer Season - 8-week program at Super Soccer Stars-
Rochester Sat, Jan 17: Grossology Exhibit Opening Weekend at The Strong Sun, Jan 18: OrKIDStra: I Have a Dream at Hochstein Performance Hall Sun, Jan 18: Sensory Friendly Sunday at The Strong Museum Wed, Jan 21: Alice in Wonderland Jr at OFC Creations Theatre Center / Old Farm Cafe
Wed, Jan 21: Allendale
Columbia School Winter Open House
Fri, Jan 23: Kid's Night Out January! New Years Party! at Art Center of Rochester LLC Sun, Jan
25: Skate with the Amerks at DICK'S House of Sport at Eastview Mall
Fri, Jan 30: FREE Build Night at Bricks ROC!
Fri, Jan 30: The Sound of Music at Greece Athena Performing Arts
Sat, Jan 31: Mercy Idol! at Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women |
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. Connect more. Do 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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More than ten years in the making, the world-premiere musical adaptation of the beloved and heartwarming P.D. Eastman book ARE YOU MY MOTHER? takes flight — two weeks only, January 17 to 25! Written and composed by TYKEs’ own artistic team, the classic story of a newly hatched baby bird in search of its mother bursts on stage with a parade of colorful and endearing characters, an outstanding score and plenty of hilarious antics. Based on one of the top 100 books of all time, this heartwarming, high-energy production celebrates curiosity, courage and the unbreakable bond between caregiver and child. Perfect for ages 3 and up. Click here for tickets: https://jccrochester.org/arts-culture/tykes
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Join Herb Smith and your RPO at Hochstein Performance Hall Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 2pm for this special concert that explores Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through powerful music, narration, and inspiring stories. Celebrate hope, courage, and unity with an unforgettable experience that brings history to life through the magic of music with special performances featuring Strings for Success and a choir from School of the Arts. Come early (1pm) for special free pre-concert activities! Series sponsored In Loving Memory of Lenore P. Lesser
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January 17-18: It's opening weekend of the Strong's new exibit! Explore all things stinky, crusty, and slimy at Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body, which opens on the museum’s first floor on January 17. Based on the best-selling book Grossology, the exhibit uses sophisticated animatronics and imaginative interactives to tell you the good, the bad, and the downright ugly about runny noses, body odor and much more.
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Joyful Learning. Boundless Potential. The Harley School is a highly personalized, college preparatory program for approximately 470 students in Nursery-Grade 12. Attend the Kindergarten-Grade 4 Open House, Saturday, January 24 at 2 pm and discover The Harley School in person. Learn about our philosophy, meet our faculty and Lower School division head, tour campus, and find out more about admissions and financial aid. Click here for info and to register: https://www.harleyschool.org/janoh
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With the 2026 Winter Olympics just weeks away, the world’s best are heading to Italy—and your child can start their own journey right here in Rochester! At Tim Hortons Iceplex, we’re turning that Olympic inspiration into action with our signature "101" initiatives. Whether they’re stepping onto the ice for the first time in Skating 101, chasing pucks in Hockey 101, or mastering graceful glides in Figure Skating 101, we provide the perfect foundation and instruction. There’s no better time to lace up and build confidence. Make Tim Hortons Iceplex your starting point today and let the games begin!
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ROC Kid City is an exciting indoor play space located at 3300 Monroe Ave in Pittsford, perfect for kids 10 and under. The facility features a wide variety of activities, including a soft play zone for babies and toddlers, a multi-level play structure, slides, a ball pit, a sand table, interactive wall games, imaginative play areas, and more. Open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, ROC Kid City offers a fun, safe environment where children can explore, imagine and play. Families can pay for hourly play sessions or purchase a monthly membership for more frequent visits to this exciting and dynamic destination.
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ROC Kid City is an exciting indoor play space located at 3300 Monroe Ave in Pittsford, perfect for kids 10 and under. The facility features a wide variety of activities, including a soft play zone for babies and toddlers, a multi-level play structure, slides, a ball pit, a sand table, interactive wall games, imaginative play areas, and more. Open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, ROC Kid City offers a fun, safe environment where children can explore, imagine and play. Families can pay for hourly play sessions or purchase a monthly membership for more frequent visits to this exciting and dynamic destination.
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Give your Christmas tree a second life by donating it to Trees for Trails at the Helmer Nature Center in Irondequoit! Through January 17, you can drop off your whole (undecorated) tree to help support local trail maintenance. Be sure to remove all bags, ornaments, and wire before dropping off. Please note: no clippings, wreaths, yard waste, or debris are accepted, and the final drop-off…
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Evenings Jan 16, 17, 23, and 24: Experience a winter evening adventure at Owl Moon at Genesee Country Village & Museum. Families can join guided nighttime hikes with naturalists, learn about local owls, and meet live owls up close with Wild Wings Inc. Warm up by the fire, enjoy food and beverages indoors, and take part in seasonal activities throughout the evening.
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Friday, January 16th @ 7:00pm: Watch & Build Together Movie Night: Wall-E (G) $30 admission includes popcorn and the CUSTOM KIT! This event does require registration. Please sign up by 11:59pm Wednesday, January 14th. IMPORTANT: Children under the age of 13 must have an adult stay with them throughout the duration of the event. This is not a drop off event for those 12 and under.…
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Fridays this winter at Lemon Squeezy Art Studio: Led by the dynamic duo of bloom&breathe and Lemon Squeezy, this two-hour class is designed to nurture your little one’s mind, body, and imagination. Each session begins with yoga, after which we dive into hands-on art projects, using a variety of materials and techniques to spark creativity and self-expression. Perfect for preschoolers!…
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12pm-2pm Saturday, January 17: Meet some amazing animal ambassadors at the Wildlife Rockstars Animal Meet & Greet, a FREE family event hosted by CountryMax and Bridges for Brain Injury! Kids will love getting up close with unique creatures while enjoying animal-themed crafts, games, and a fun trivia trail. It’s a wild way to spend the afternoon and learn about wildlife and conservation in…
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Every Saturday from January 17th through February 21st at 10 AM and 1 PM. Bundle up and join us for a family-friendly 1-mile snowshoe trek through marshes, grasslands, and forested trails. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just curious about winter wildlife, this inclusive outing is perfect for all ages (5+). If there is no snow, we'll still hit the trails for a wintery walk!
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Saturday,, Jan 17 at 10am at Mendon Library: Kids and caregivers can join Sandra and her sweet chicken Chooks. We'll learn about chickens, enjoy some stories and songs, and go home with a better understanding of these fowl friends.
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Saturday, Jan 17, two sessions available (10:30 & 2:30) Help us help animals! In this program, animal lovers ages 8-12 will work alongside peers and a humane educator on various shelter projects. Activities include creating enrichment toys and adoption materials, helping with shelter upkeep, and socializing with animals. This particular event will incorporate special MLK Day of service activities.
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Ready to introduce your kids to the exciting world of climbing? Our guided climbing service is perfect for first-timers or those who just want a quick, staff-guided adventure. In this one-hour session, we'll make sure the focus is on getting the kids climbing and, most importantly, having a blast! Let's make their first climbing experience a memorable one!
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The RMSC’s newest exciting temporary exhibit explores the tasks and challenges required of a space explorer, requires teamwork to solve problems, and illuminates the science + tools needed to monitor damage to a spacecraft. Experience a rocket launch, explore how a lack of gravity can affect the body & mind, and discover how scientific observations and measurements can both differ in…
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Ready to introduce your kids to the exciting world of climbing? Our guided climbing service is perfect for first-timers or those who just want a quick, staff-guided adventure. In this one-hour session, we'll make sure the focus is on getting the kids climbing and, most importantly, having a blast! Let's make their first climbing experience a memorable one!
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Explore all things stinky, crusty, and slimy at Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body, which opens on the museum’s first floor on January 17. Based on the best-selling book Grossology, the exhibit uses sophisticated animatronics and imaginative interactives to tell you the good, the bad, and the downright ugly about runny noses, body odor and much more.
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AND AGAIN... GO BILLS!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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