KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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
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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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Celebrate the Year of the Horse at the San Antonio Asian New Year Festival, a vibrant, family-friendly two-day cultural celebration featuring performances, interactive activities, food, and shopping.
This FREE event highlights the rich traditions and artistry of Asian cultures through music, movement, and community connection.
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Bexar County residents can get outside and enjoy nature at the zoo on select days for just $8 per person during Locals Day at San Antonio Zoo!
Locals Days allow even more people to learn how the zoo combines conservation, animal care, and education in securing a future for wildlife. The Locals Day $8 admission is valid on select dates and can be purchased online with proof of Bexar County residency.
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A magical night at the ball becomes a journey of love, transformation, and destiny in Cinderella, set to Prokofiev’s enchanting score. Choreographed by Conny Mathôt and originally commissioned by Ballet San Antonio in the 2022–23 Season, this sparkling
production brings new life to the classic fairytale. Audiences will delight in Cinderella’s kindness and courage as she faces her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, is guided by her Fairy Godmother, and meets the Prince with help from the mystical Spirits of the Four Seasons. Full of humor, and heart, Cinderella is a storybook dream that will charm audiences of all ages.
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On this guided bird tour around the various habitats of Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, guests will see at least 30-50 different bird species with our expert guide. Travelling by both car and by foot to access as many areas as possible, this tour is best
suited for the birder age 15+ as it can last up to four hours, though you may leave at any time. Tours are limited. Bring your binoculars, bottle for water, closed-toe shoes, long pants, and bug spray.
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Re-Grand Opening at iCode Cibolo! Enjoy food, a FREE class demo, and raffles. Bring the kids and join the fun!
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Join us for an especially fun storytime as we have author Kris Tarantino read their latest book Bedslime Blues.
Bedtime routines get a jolt of silliness and some sweetness as four monster friends try to resist bedtime in this wonderful bedtime tale.
It's time for bed... except monsters DON'T DO bedtime!
Iggy doesn’t want to take a bath. Zee-Zee’s jammies are icky. Fleck whines and stomps when it’s story time. The bedslime blues are impossible to escape—even for the usually cheerful and enthusiastic Snoodle!
With all their stomping and clomping, how on earth will these gruffy, grumpy monsters lie down for a peaceful night of ZZZ’s?
Author Kris Tarantino and New York Times bestselling illustrator Cori Doerrfeld partner once again with this fun and funny bedtime read-aloud for any "little monster" that won't go to sleep!
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Universal City's biggest festival of the year presented by the City of Universal City and Walmart.
Snowfest features carnival rides, inflatable games and activities, a laser tag course, snow slides, snow play area, petting zoo, entertainment, and food and vendor booths!
Snowfest Admission includes Unlimited rides and entertainment.
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More Than An 8 Second Ride!
Since 1949, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo has grown to become one of the largest, most prestigious single events in the city of San Antonio, with approximately 1.5 million visitors entering the grounds each year. Over 6,000 volunteers give countless hours to our organization each year.
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Bug Squad, a hands-on exhibit exploring the unique abilities of bugs, is coming to The DoSeum. The touring exhibit features talking animatronic members of the Bug Squad, bugs with their own superhero storylines that describe their super abilities and unique
traits. The exhibit is a full sensory experience while providing plenty of active spaces to play. Highlights include the Spider Web Escape area with a slide, the Ant Colony Climber, and an opportunity to experience (virtually) what it’s like to fly like a dragonfly.
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Little Land’s Music Exploration program is designed to provide children with an experience that introduces them to various types of music, encourages exploration of musical instruments, and develops a personal sense of musicality. Our curriculum has been
developed by therapists and musicians to increase awareness of basic musical concepts, as well as improve attention, auditory comprehension, coordination and confidence!
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Thinking about school options for your child?
See what makes San Antonio Christian School stand out!
Choosing the right school is a big decision. There’s no better way to know if it’s the right fit than to experience it firsthand. During your visit to SACS, you will witness the energy of our classrooms, the warmth of our community, and the impact of a Christ-centered education.
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Enjoy the Premier Combo Package for $21.50 every Friday from 10 AM to 12 PM. Climb, zip, and explore Sky Trail®, Sky Rail®, and Clip ‘n Climb® at the Shops at Rivercenter.
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- Preview Days at San Antonio Christian Academy - San Antonio Christian School - San Antonio Christian School, 19202 Redland Rd, San Antonio, TX 78259, Fri 02/20 to Sun 02/22, see website
- Texas America250
Reading Challenge - Texas State Library and Archives Commission - Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 1201 Brazos St, Austin, Texas 78701, Fri 02/20 to Sun 02/22, all day
- Owl Prowl- Medina River Natural Area - Medina River Natural Area, Texas 16, San Antonio, TX, Sun 02/20, 6 - 8 pm
- San Antonio Asian New Year Festival - Rolling Oaks Mall, North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX, Sat 02/21 to Sun
02/22, 12-5 pm
- San Antonio Asian New Year Festival - Rolling Oaks
Mall, 6909 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78247, Sat 02/21 to Sun 02/22, 12-5 pm
- Family Storytime - Mammen Family Public Library - Mammen Family Public Library, 131 Bulverde Crossing, Bulverde, TX 78163, Sat 02/21, 10:30 - 11 am
- Black History Jazz
Concert - Collins Garden Branch Library - Collins Garden Branch Library, North Park Boulevard, San Antonio, TX, Sat 02/21, 2-3 pm
- SAAACAM Art Market - La Villita Historic Arts Village, 418 Villita St, San Antonio, TX 78205, Sat 02/21, 11 am- 3 pm
- iCode Cibolo Re-Grand Opening - iCode - 18384 I-35 N Ste. 121, Schertz, TX 78154, Sat 02/21, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Bedslime Blues Storytime and author signing! - The Shops at La Cantera, La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, TX, Sat 02/21, 11
am
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the San Antonio 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 San Antonio? 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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Planning a kids birthday party in the San Antonio area? Here are lots of ideas for where to have it! If there is a resource that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it
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2025's best places to take kids in San Antonio and the surrounding area: Early each summer, thousands of parents vote in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page is an annotated list of the winners, both of the
top 20 slots and of the three catgory winners.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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