KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: Before I had kids, one of my colleagues told me that fundamentally, a parent’s job is to point. At first, you point physically: You point at the waterfall and say “waterfall,” at the moon and say “moon,” at the flower and say “flower.” You’re helping a child connect sounds to objects, words to concepts, language to reality. But later, and really all the way
through, the pointing becomes more metaphorical. Parenting is the ongoing work of connecting your child’s growing capacity to understand with a world that is, to them, forever expanding. As I had Madison and Ella, I came to think of this as being a tour guide to the world. A good tour guide needs to know the landscape, of course. But even more important, a good tour guide needs to know the traveler. What can this particular child see right now? What are they ready for? What do
they care about? What frightens them? What delights them? It's useful to remember that kids haven’t actually been here before: The world is brand-new to them over and over again, so what feels ordinary to us is often astonishing to a child. Tour guides who are doing their job well pay close attention to who their audience is and what they know, and that makes the pointing easier and more fun. Spring is the perfect season to practice pointing. In spring, the world changes fast
enough for kids to notice. Buds swell and burst. Birds return. Tiny green things push up through the dirt as if by magic. Day to day, the world becomes visibly more alive. If we point it out, kids can catch it happening in real time. And spring does not arrive quietly. It comes as an avalanche of the senses: color, smell, birdsong, mud, wind, sunlight, thunder, petals, pollen, rushing water. So maybe that’s part of the job, too: not just to point, but to lean into it. To stand
beside our kids in the rush of it all and say, Look! Here it comes.
—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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Come celebrate with us at our Springtime Easter Festival! With acres to visit and numerous activities, there is plenty of space to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine with family and friends.
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Thinking about planting tomatoes? Join us for Tomat-O-Rama this March at The Store! Our gift shop’s plant patio will be buzzing with a variety of hybrid and heirloom tomato seedlings, as well as a huge selection of seeds, soil and other supplies to get your garden prepped for the spring.
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Celebrate California’s incredible bounty with exciting cuisine, entertainment and more—February 28 through April 21, 2025! Explore an array of delicious food and beverages, exciting festival add-ons, captivating attractions and entertainment, and special merchandise!
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Hop on over with family and friends to enjoy this fun and exciting Spring-time event. Children can meet and have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny as well as participate in several activities that are located throughout the area.
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Held every last Saturday of the month, Storytime in the Galleries includes free copies of each author’s featured book while supplies last and free General Admission to the galleries. Reading in the galleries will be followed by a simple, fun art project that kids will love.
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“Convergence: Contemporary Artists of Armenian Descent” will premiere at the Forest Lawn Museum on March 21, 2026. From bold experiments in abstraction to thought-provoking conceptual installations, “Convergence” features the work of more than twenty artists who push the boundaries of traditional mediums and challenge conventions with their daring visions. The exhibition does not attempt to cover the entire spectrum of Armenian narratives. Rather, its cohesive element is the heritage of the featured artists. With diverse backgrounds—ranging from those born in the United States to immigrants from various regions—these artists contribute individual perspectives to their work. Defining Armenian identity is inherently complex. It encompasses a sense of belonging that surpasses simplistic definitions, rooted in historical connections that often evoke profound and abstract emotions.
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Mark your calendars! Spring Spectacular 2026 hits the zoo March 21–22 & 28–29! Enjoy two all‑new student shows, awesome animal presentations, and special Creature Features with guest animal pros. It’s wildlife fun for the whole family!
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Explore, learn, and connect at the Native Plant Festival at California Botanic Garden! CalBG and Sustainable Claremont invite you to come to the largest native plant garden in California to learn about the beauty, variety, and resiliency of our state’s native ecosystems. Join dozens of regional nonprofits, landscapers, and agencies for info on native plant landscaping and wildlands conservation and restoration, plus crafts, music, storytime, food, an artisan market, tours, and more.
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Marine muralist Wyland continues the landmark Whale and Dolphin Adventure: Art Lessons in the Wild, facilitating the most creative virtual and up-close experience on the water. Create your own work-of-art aboard one of Dana Wharf’s vessels prior to a signature 2-hour whale watching excursion. At the end of each lesson, children will submit their drawings for the chance to win a prize. The grand prize winner selected by Wyland receives a special Wyland work of art, framed and signed, up to a $3,000 value. This activity is available every Saturday morning starting at 9 a.m. for children 3-12 years old. The lesson takes place before the 10 a.m. Whale Watching Trip. Max 15 students per lesson. Additional whale watching tickets are available for purchase for friends and family of each student. The mission of The Wyland Foundation is to give both children and adults alike the tools they need to become more creative through art. A portion of each ticket will be donated back to the…
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Earth Day 2026 is April 22, and this year marks the 56th anniversary of this celebration. This year's theme is Our Power, Our Planet. This Earth Day 2026, let us commit to harnessing renewable energy to build a healthy, sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for us all, let us commit to Renewable Energy Now. The City of Irvine is hosting a variety of community events all month long in honor of Earth Day.
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- Free Spring Mini Photo Session with Shoott! - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, March 27, 2026 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, See link for times
- Celebrate Earth Day - Meridian Waste Children’s Coloring Contest (Contest entry ends April 13) - Meridian Waste - Submit your artwork online., Friday, March 27, 2026 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, Any time.
- Free Spring Mini Photo Session with Shoott - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Sunday, March 29, 2026, See link for times
- Storytime in the Nature Garden - Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County - Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, USA, Saturday, March 28, 2026 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, 10:30 am
- Native Plant Festival
- California Botanic Garden (Free Admission Day) - California Botanic Garden - 1500 N College Ave, Claremont, CA 91711, United States, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Calm Morning: My Neighbor Totoro - Academy Museum of Motion Pictures - LACMA West, 6067 Wilshire
Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, United States, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 9AM-1PM
- Children's Opera Festival - Casa Italiana - North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, USA, Sunday, March 29, 2026, 1 - 4pm PDT
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the San Fernando area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, &
more. Our guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the San Fernando? 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Dallas 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! Find venues in Burbank, Calabasas,
Glendale, Hidden Hills, and San Fernando.
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2025's best places to take kids in the San Fernando Valley. Each May-June, 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 category winners: Who won for Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM Educator?
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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