KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When Madison and Ella were young, I made it a point to stretch their comfort zones in small, manageable ways. They’d order their own food at restaurants, they'd arrange their own homeschool work schedules, they'd try activities where they didn’t know anyone. I did my best not to step in unless invited. Over time, they started trusting their
own ability to navigate the world without me. That, of course, was the point. But the better they got at being independent, the more I started to feel a quiet kind of discomfort. They were moving outward—into the world, into themselves—and I could feel the shift. There’s a concept in astrophysics called red shift. When a star or galaxy moves away from us, the light it emits stretches, shifting toward the red end of the spectrum. The farther away it moves, the
redder the light appears. It’s how we know the universe is expanding. The movement doesn’t mean the light is gone—just that it’s arriving to us in a new form, from farther away. I think about that a lot as my kids are no longer orbiting so closely. I still see their light; it just looks different now. I’m learning to recognize their new wavelengths. The trick, I think, is not to see red shift as loss, but as evidence of motion. The fact that I feel the stretch means the
universe is doing what it’s supposed to do: expanding, evolving, moving outward. I remind myself that this kind of shift is a mark of success. Increased wavelength, decreased frequency... it's all part of the natural order of things. Light travels and stretches, and love does, too.
—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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It's Time to Get Tiny! Step through the Magic Door and explore Gabby's dollhouse. Gabby and the kitty crew are throwing a special Friendship Party—but it’s not ready yet! They need everyone’s help to make, bake, and decorate the party together. Play your way through the dollhouse: Get tiny in Gabby's bedroom, "bake" in Cakey's Kitchen, explore the Magic Fairy Garden, try your hand at Spa Science, culminating in an epic dance party in the party room where you meet Gabby herself for a sweet photo moment.
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Embark on an immersive journey through our cosmic neighborhood as the Solar System Encounter returns to Discovery Cube Orange County! Featuring stunning, ultra-high-definition imagery from the James Webb Telescope. This stellar exhibit surrounds guests with colossal 360° models of the sun, planets, Earth’s moon, and even the dwarf planet Pluto. Vivid lights, breathtaking visuals, larger-than-life displays bring each world to life, inspiring visitors of all ages to explore, discover, and be amazed by the wonders of our Solar System.
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“In Bloom: Flowers in Contemporary Art” premieres at Forest Lawn Museum on September 20, 2025. While artists have been depicting flowers for thousands of years, this exhibition explores a range of contemporary artistic approaches to the subject. Featuring paintings, sculptures, installations, and video, the artworks vary dramatically, from naturalistic to abstract, and from playful to contemplative.
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Put on your fancies and join Actors’ Repertory Theatre for an evening of songs and scenes from 66 years of Playhouse history – sing-a-longs, comedy, patter, ballads, the works! A sumptuous champagne, wine, sweets & savories buffet with the cast follows this intimate Gala Musical Revue of Epic Proportions, AND you help save the iconic Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage. It’s a win-win-win!
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Dessert Social – Tickets Now Available! You’re invited to our Dessert Social, a sweet community gathering filled with delicious treats and good company! Join us for an afternoon of desserts while supporting a great cause. Tickets are now available for purchase! Your ticket helps support our ongoing efforts to serve and uplift our community. Enjoy a variety of desserts Connect with friends, family, and neighbors Support meaningful community programs
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Pasadena Comic Con is a pop culture event for all ages. There will be panels, toys, celebrity guests and featured artists.
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Come and find us at the Atwater Village Farmer’s Market every Sunday from 9am-2pm (you can come as early as 8:30am). The market is located in the public parking lot, behind the shops on the south side of Glendale Blvd., between Larga and Garden Avenues. The address is 3528 Larga Ave., Los Angeles, 90039.
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Join us and make a camera-less movie at the Academy Museum.
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We’re opening the city just for toddlers! Climb, dance, problem-solve, and pretend your way through our miniature world, designed to support movement, connection, and big developmental leaps. Designed for children 19 months to 3 years. This program is exclusively for toddlers and their caregivers. No older siblings, please.
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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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in and around the Valley? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock
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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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