KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sun, Jul 12: Sea Stroll: Historic Shoreline Tours | July
Mon, Jul 13: Dig Into Dinos - Family Fun Extravaganza
Tue, Jul 14: Issaquah Concerts on the Green: Red Karma
Thu, Jul 16: Raptor
Ambassadors with The Falconer
Fri, Jul 17: KIDSTAGE Hadestown: Teen Edition
Fri, Jul 17: Alki Art Fair 2026 at Alki Beach
Park
Fri, Jul 17: Fridays in July: Open Late at Pacific Bonsai Museum
Sat, Jul 18: Brigade
Encampment | Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
Sat, Jul 18: Sandblast Festival of the Arts 2026
Sun, Jul 19: Christmas in July 5K | Run 2 Be
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When I was a kid, a giant azalea bush stretched across our backyard, exploding into glorious pink blossoms in early May. In summer, it became something even better: a secret hideout that my sister and I named the Humble Abode. We hollowed out the dead branches behind the bush and dragged in little chairs and treasures and our dollhouse family. The Humble Abode barely qualified as
a fort, and it wasn't even secret; I'm sure my parents knew when we were back there. But it was a great kids-only space. A few weeks ago, I wrote about five summer lenses through which to plan summer: music, motion, making, nature, and food. Making—the lens for this week—reminds kids that they are not merely consumers of the world, but contributors to it. They can push value into existence. They can turn sticks, cardboard, fabric, tape, mud, blocks, gears,
sand, and flour into something that wasn’t there before. Especially for younger kids, making with the hands gives the brain evidence. I did that. I made that. I can make things happen. Summer is perfect for this because summer has time and room for mess. Pull out the science kits, the rocket kits, the LEGO bins, the soap-making sets that arrived at Christmas and then sat politely in the closet. "Upcycle" old boxes, fabric, toys, crayons, paint, buttons.
Let your kids build backyard forts, fairy houses, marble runs, cardboard cities, obstacle courses, blanket tents, museum towers, and whatever else the day and their imagination suggest. Of course, glue will drip. Sand will migrate. The kitchen table may briefly disappear under invention. (If the clutter gets overwhelming, consider a trip or two to your local science museum or maker space to save your sanity.) After all, you can’t make omelets without breaking eggs. And
you can’t make a maker without giving a child some space, some tools, some trust, and permission to begin.
—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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Soccer is played in nearly every corner of the world. The Beautiful Game: How Soccer Connects Us All is an exhibition timed to welcome both local and international visitors during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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See Point Defiance from a kids’ point of view. Early walkers and confident toddlers are invited to join Park Guide Jenn on a child-led hike through Point Defiance Park. Connect with nature and enjoy a quick lesson on plant safety and taking care of the environment. Free! No pre-registration required.
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Kick off your Independence Day with some miles and some red, white, and blue spirit! Join us for a fun, festive 5K made up of 3 loops along the parade route—flat, fast, and full of energy. Run, jog, or walk while soaking in the sights, sounds, and community vibes of the 4th of July celebration. Dress up in your best stars and stripes, bring your friends, and start your holiday with a bang. See you at the start line!
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The parade starts promptly at 11:00AM and runs for approximately two hours. This is Burien’s largest parade, and thousands of people attend this great community event!
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Tacoma’s 4th of July celebration is back! Head to the Ruston Way Waterfront where you’ll enjoy a full day of live music, food, entertainment, and craft vendors. The fun begins at noon and ends with spectacular fireworks over Puget Sound.
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The City of Kenmore invites you to an unforgettable night of family fun, food trucks, live music, games, and fireworks at Log Boom Park! Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m., with the fireworks show lighting up the sky at 10 p.m.
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The City of Issaquah puts on an annual, vibrant Down Home 4th of July celebration. Each year this holiday celebration bursts with fun and excitement featuring a beloved Kids & Pets Parade and other activities. The annual Down Home 4th of July parade starts at 10 a.m. and will once again be on Front Street!
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The American flag is a dynamic and evolving symbol inviting belonging, inspiring sacrifice, and projecting power. Across generations, people used it to celebrate the nation’s founding ideals, while others used it to challenge the country to live up to those same promises. For Which It Stands invites visitors to explore the many meanings and contradictions embodied in the flag. Through historical flags and imagery from MOHAI Collections, alongside contributions from community partners, this exhibit traces how the flag appears in moments of unity, protest, conflict, and change.
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Seattle 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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The Seattle Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near Seattle that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check out our
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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