KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Feb 4: Fiber Arts Meetup | Burien Library
Thu, Feb 5: Open House at SMUS
at St. Michaels University School
Sat, Feb 7: Cascade Symphony Orchestra presents The Story of Babar at Edmonds Center for the Arts
Sat, Feb 7: Free Dental Screenings at Hands On Children's Museum
Sat, Feb 7: Winter Seed Planting Family Workshop at Bellevue Botanical Garden
Sat, Feb 7: Love Bug House Pizza Party at FrogLegs Culinary Academy
Sat, Feb 7: Valentine Dance at Issaquah Community Center
Tue, Feb 10: STG & Broadway at The Paramount present THE WIZ at Seattle Theatre Group
Thu, Feb 12: Mid Winter Break Camp (ages 5-13) at Alpha Gymnastics
Thu, Feb 12: Valentine’s Ballard Sunset Market at Fremont Sunday Market
Sat, Feb 14: Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead: Sailor Valentines - Puget Sound Navy Museum |
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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Summer camps at The Center for Wooden Boats give young people the chance to learn, explore, and build confidence on Seattle’s waterfront. From beginner sailing for first-time sailors to hands-on woodworking and boatbuilding camps, our programs combine skill-building, teamwork, and outdoor adventure. Campers learn to sail small boats, work safely with tools, solve problems, and develop independence in a supportive, welcoming environment. Camps run throughout the summer for ages 5–14, with experienced instructors and a strong focus on safety, curiosity, and fun. Scholarships are available to ensure cost is not a barrier. Explore sessions and enroll now to give your child a summer they will remember.
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Join us for a family Story Time as we celebrate a full century of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh! Bring the whole family for a cozy morning in the Hundred Acre Wood, where we’ll share classic Pooh stories, sing songs, and enjoy crafts inspired by Pooh and friends. After story time, children can create their own Pooh-themed crafts to take home.
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Come take a wheel for a spin and learn the basics of making a small cylinder or bowl on the pottery wheel. This 90 minute class will include a demonstration, then time to make your own pottery pieces with your teacher's supervision.
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The period from the 1870s to the 1900s, known as the Gilded Age, saw the rise of the railroad, textile industry, and production. It also saw a rise in migration to US cities, providing workers to fill low paying jobs producing many of the fashions of the era. This era marked a turning point in fashion as new technologies and changing cultural norms transformed the ways in which people dressed. Explore this history and enjoy the rare chance to see clothing, notions, and artifacts of the period from the Washington State Historical Society collections.
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We can't wait to meet you in-person on Saturday, January 24th. Our doors will be open from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A presentation from our head of school will start at 10:15 a.m. Come meet NSFS families, board members and engage with our teachers and staff. Children are always welcome!
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- Lap Sit Baby Story Time | Redmond Library - Redmond Library, 15990 Northeast 85th Street, Redmond, WA 98052, Friday, 01/22/2026 to Saturday, 01/23/2026, 12 pm - 1 pm
- Kaleidoscope Play and Learn | NewHolly Library - The Seattle Public Library, 7058 32nd Ave S, New Holly, Seattle, WA 98118, Friday, 01/23/2026, 10:30 am - 12 pm
- Family Story Time - Shoreline Library - 345 Northeast 175th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155, Friday, 01/23/2026, 10 am - 10:30
am
- FISW Admissions Coffee - Bilingual PS to 5th Grade - French Immersion School of Washington, 4211 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE, Bellevue, WA 98008, Friday, 01/23/2026, 9 am
- Chess Club for Kids
and Teens - Shoreline Library - 345 Northeast 175th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155, Sunday, 01/25/2026, 1 pm - 3 pm
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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 Seattle area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets,
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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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