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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This Valentine’s Day, the entire family is invited to Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts for a not-to-miss musical event! Peppa Pig, along with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, George and new baby sister Evie join professional musicians on stage for PEPPA PIG: MY FIRST CONCERT, a fun, interactive introduction to a live orchestra for ages 18 months and older. Join Peppa and George to learn all about the different sounds that instruments make together! Enjoy some of your favorite music from the show played by a live orchestra and discover some other exciting orchestral pieces perfect for children. Plus, some little piggies can join Peppa and her family to make music of their own!
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Every Thursday, storytime for kids will be held outside (weather permitting) at the big log in front of Copperfield’s Books.
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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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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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Drop by the Randall Museum’s Art Room and get creative with your kids. Art instructors guide a different hands-on art activity each week. All ages are welcome to participate. Afternoon Art is a great way to get a taste of the Randall Museum’s arts and crafts programs. All children under 8 must be with a paying participating adult.
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This is an exciting opportunity to witness our animals engaging in all kinds of activities! Join us to catch our animal keepers doing animal enrichment activities, taking animals for walks, or even doing training sessions!
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Meet us in the S.T.E.A.M. Room, adjacent to Ella's Art Studio, every weekend from 1:00pm – 3:00pm to enjoy and explore an experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math! Toys and materials will be available in this space for your child to engage with at their own pace. A CMOSC staff member will be there to provide expertise and an enhanced experience with the materials.
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A 20-30 minute storytime for children in Kindergarten through third grade featuring picture books new to our collection.
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The Zoo has enabled a plan-ahead pricing ticketing system. Plan-ahead pricing allows you to book your zoo visit in advance while keeping your budget and schedule in mind. Please note that ticket prices may vary nightly. The closer you book to the date of your visit, the higher the ticket price may be. To ensure that you get the best ticket price for your visit, we recommend that you book your tickets as far in advance as possible. There are no group discounts on tickets for this event. Parking is complimentary with the purchase of Glowfari tickets.
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The Napa Lighted Art Festival is a celebration of creative arts, technology, lights, and supports innovative techniques using light and light technologies as a growing art medium. This walkable outdoor experience is FREE in Downtown Napa. Additional community add on events include the Lantern Parade and Artist Meet & Greets.
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This 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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- Toddler Plus Storytime - Main Library - Children's Department, Main
Library - Children's Department, Saturday, January 24, 10:30am
- Family Storytime - Alameda Free Library - West End Library, 788 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, Saturday, January 24, 10:30am
- Family Storytime - Main Library - Children's Department, Main Library - Children's Department, Saturday, January 24, 10:30am
- Junior Galaxy Explorers - Children's Creativity
Museum - Children's Creativity Museum - 221 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, Saturday, January 24, 10am– 1pm
- Family Storytime - Main Library, Main Library, Sunday, January 25, 12:30pm
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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 the Bay Area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets, and
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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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