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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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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Camp Brandeis delivers an engaging, activity-packed experience with in-depth STEM, arts, and sports blocks every day, plus 1 field trip per week to exciting Bay Area destinations via private bus. Campers rotate through visual and performing arts, hands-on STEM, and sports/movement, guided by unique two-week themes that shape learning and exploration. Each week features special events like foam parties, bouncy houses, magic shows, visiting performances, sweet treats, and joyful Friday celebrations. Led by warm, experienced counselors and teachers, our program fosters togetherness, friendship, and growth, grounded in our core values of Kindness, Integrity, and Service.
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See replicas of the batsuit worn by Michael Keaton in 1989’s Batman; the Val Kilmer Panther Batman and Sonar Batman suits; the George Clooney Batman; Christian Bale's Batman from The Dark Knight; and the Ben Affleck Bat Armor from Batman vs. Superman. Numerous replica hand props and weapons from all the films and some from the 1960s TV show starring Adam West will also be on hand.
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This fast paced lap-sit program for little ones and their caregivers includes songs, nursery rhymes, knee-bounces, and movement to help develop important pre-literacy skills. This class is appropriate for infants through 2 years old.
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Join us for this limited-time tinkering experience for all ages! Experiment together as a family, and prepare to be surprised by your own ingenuity. Leave your mark with highlighters and UV light. Turn familiar shadows into strange creatures and landscapes, and create colorful portraits with long exposure photography. Plus, immerse yourself in surprising artworks that play with color and perception, and explore 700+ hands-on exhibits that will delight the whole family.
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Come to Garden Party and join Farmer Emily to help us maintain a thriving edible garden. Through hands-on science and art activities, you will learn more about sustainable gardening practices you can use beyond our walls in your own home garden. There might even be something to harvest for your next meal!
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Toddler Plus Storytime is a 20-30 minute program using stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement to help young children ages 2-3 years old develop word and sound recognition, gain background knowledge of how the world works, and encourage families to build social connections with other parents and children. Toddler Plus Storytime is a bit longer and more complex than what is typically presented during Toddler Storytime and is perfect for children about to enter preschool.
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The farm will be open for the Easter Season! We will host numerous large family Easter Egg Hunts at the farm from March 21st though Easter Sunday. All Eggs hunts will be included in the price of admission. Tickets also include unlimited access to Pony Rides, Train and Hay Rides, Petting Zoo, Farm Slide and bounce houses, Tractor Town, Haunted House, and the Car Barn. We will gather in front of the main entrance prior to each hunt. Please remember to bring your own basket.
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Get enthralled by simple science topics presented through project-based activities. Most classes produce a fun project to take home and continue the discoveries.
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These outdoor performances are perfect for families. Upcoming showings include Free to Be… You and Me. Food and drink are sold onsite by the Friends of the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre. All Summer Hot Dog Productions take place in the “Secret Garden” at the Children’s Theatre.
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In Magic Tree House: Space Mission, a mysterious "M" sends the intrepid Jack and Annie on a fun-filled journey to discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space travel and more. Aligned with early elementary information skills learning objectives, this beautifully produced show is a winner with Magic Tree House fans of all ages.
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Big Art Weekend is a member favorite that lets the artist in everyone shine! Bring the family for to get artsy with activities where they can splatter paint, mix mud, design (washable) tattoos, and more. We provide the supplies, handle the mess, and you bring the fun! Included with membership and general admission, it’s a creative adventure for all.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Bay Area - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, March 27, 2026 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, See link for times
- Toddler Plus Storytime - Main Library - Children's Department, Friday, March 27, 2026, 10:30am
- Family Storytime - Alameda Free Library - West End Library,
Alameda Free Library, 788 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, United States, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10:30am
- Family Storytime - Main Library - Children's Department, Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10:30am
- Family Storytime - Main Library, Sunday, March 29, 2026, 12:30pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the San Francisco 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the San Francisco 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 Francisco? 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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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the San Francisco area! Start thinking outside the box! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens (and dozens) of ideas! In addition to venues in San Francisco, there are places in Oakland, Alameda, Pacifica, San
Leandro, Walnut Creek, Hayward, Dublin, and San…
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2025's best places to take kids in the San Francisco Bay 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 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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