KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're
still packing lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are
moving through it together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator, February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—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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Join ESC at the Family First Community Center in Renton for nature themed toddler story time. Join us for stories, movement, and science activities as we learn all about the science of birds. Great for ages 2-5 with their caregivers. No registration, just
stop by to participate!
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Join us for a family friendly, hands-on activity the second Saturday of the month! Each month we try a new S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activity suitable for learners of all ages. All activities are self-directed with limited
instruction from staff. Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead activities are FREE and open to anybody who wants to participate.
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Enjoy free dental screenings for kids, explore our super-fun dental office exhibit, meet special guests, and jump into smile-worthy activities during Dental Health Month!
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Join us for an unforgettable Lunar New Year celebration featuring a dynamic lineup of cultural performances. Experience lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations by Northwest Kung Fu & Fitness led by David Leong, fan and ribbon dances, and a
stunning Imperial-inspired fashion showcase.
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Do you want to learn what birds are in your backyard? Do you want to help researchers take a snapshot of their populations? You can do both, and more at the annual Bird Fest event.
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- Sonic Runway - City of San Jose, CA - City of San Jose Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department - 200 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA, Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, 5:00 PM to 12 Midnight
- Kelley Park BioBlitz - Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful - 5273 Prospect Rd, San Jose, CA 95129, Saturday, February 14, 9:00AM-11:30AM
- Junior Rangers at the Refuge: Bird Beak Buffet - San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society - PO Box 234, Newark, CA 94560, Sunday, February 15,
10:30am-12:00pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Seattle 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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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 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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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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