KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Dec 19: Duwamish December Art Market Day at Duwamish Longhouse
and Cultural Center
Tue, Dec 30: Winter Break: Legos at The Seattle Public Library - Broadview Branch
Wed, Dec 31: New Year's Celebration (ages 6 mos-10 yrs 8 mos) - My Gym Kent
Wed, Dec 31: New Year's Eve Countdown -
KidsQuest Children's Museum Sun, Jan 4: Family Magic Show at the Seattle Center
Mon, Jan 5: First Day of Creative Art Classes for Kids on Mondays (Jan) at Picket Fence Art Studio
Tue, Jan 6: West Seattle Preschool Fair at Hope Lutheran School
Sat, Jan 10: Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead: Robotics - Puget Sound Navy Museum
Thu, Jan 15: January Art Walk Edmonds
Mon, Jan 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Camp | Alpha Gymnastics
Fri, Jan 23: Family Movie Night at SHCH! at Sunset Hill Community Hall |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter,
safer. That’s why my family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses,
antibiotics, the internet, veterinary science, and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of
you with kids in middle school or older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids.
In this new AI age, the real danger isn’t the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and
imagining what we’ll power with it in the future.
—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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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Seattle, get ready! Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO is bringing an explosion of color, energy, and creativity to Marymoor Park. This thrilling new show combines jaw-dropping acrobatics, gravity-defying stunts, and heart-pounding music with a powerful message about how we shape the world around us. Perfect for families, friends, school groups, and organizations, ECHO offers unforgettable entertainment that will spark conversation long after the final bow. From its vibrant storytelling to its spectacular artistry, every moment under the Big Top is designed to amaze. Secure your seats now and experience Cirque du Soleil’s newest sensation while it dazzles audiences in Seattle. PROMO CODE: SG20KOA
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The final shopping day at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. Join us for native made gifts, treats for yourself, and a Duwamish made traditional lunch menu.
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Last-minute holiday shopping? We’ve got you covered! UCU is thrilled to partner with Pacific Place to present the Eleventh Hour Makers Market – your holiday shopping salvation! This three-day indoor craft show takes over the former Barnes & Noble space on the concourse level in downtown Seattle, the weekend right before Christmas.
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Langston Hughes’ gospel song-play returns! Featuring 30 performers, a live band, powerful vocals, a citywide gospel choir—and a chance to sing along. A joyful holiday celebration for all ages and beliefs that will have you leaping to your feet. Presented with The Hansberry Project.
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Celebrate the Festival of Lights and Shabbat with traditional treats, candle making, dreidels and an indoor “little jumper” bouncy house!
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions in and around the Seattle Area. Here are local organizations that
offer memberships.
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- Snowfall Nights - Westfield Southcenter, Southcenter Mall, Seattle, WA, Fri Dec 19 - Sun Dec 21, 6:00pm - 6:15pm
- Holiday Candlelight Concerts at Pacific Place - 1809 7th Ave, Seattle, WA, Fri Dec 19, 6pm-7pm
- Santa Claus is Coming To Town - Downtown Issaquah Association, 232 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA, Fri Dec 19 - Sun Dec 21, All different times - refer to webiste for specific details
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! Seattle-Tacoma area - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, Fri Dec 19 - Sun Dec 21, See link for times
- Family Story Time at Boulevard Park Library - Boulevard Park Library, Roseberg Avenue South, Burien, WA, Sat Dec 20, 11 am - 11:45
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- Weekend Story Time | Issaquah Library - Issaquah Library, West Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA, Sat Dec
20, 11:30 am - 12 pm
- Jingle Mingle Arts N Crafts Bazaar at Magnuson Park Hanger 30 - Northeast 74th Street, Seattle, WA, Sat Dec 20 - Sun Dec 21, Dec 20 10 am - 5 pm | Dec 21 10 am - 4 pm
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Seattle 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! In addition to Seattle there are
locations in Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Newcastle, Shoreline, Renton, Lake Forest Park, Redmond, Kingsgate, Kenmore, and SeaTac.
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2025's best places to take kids in the Seattle area. 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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