KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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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This intimate and interactive high-flying circus show features breathtaking displays of aerial silks, acrobatics, strength, artistry, and humour. This feel-good show can be enjoyed solo or with family and friends looking for a holiday outing. It is suitable for all ages.
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‘TIS THE SEASON WITH THE ELMER ISELER SINGERS - CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT - CHRISTMAS CHORAL TREASURES Ontario Philharmonic is thrilled to welcome to our stage the celebrated Elmer Iseler Singers with conductor, Lydia Adams • This treasured holiday season program filled with spirited choral works and Christmas carols will remain ringing in your ears for days on end. Fill your heart, your soul, your spirit with Christmas choral majesty and the brilliance of Ontario Philharmonic’s Brass Quintet and sing along! Their international presence and truly unique sound has led them to sell over a million albums worldwide. The skill, range and ability of these world class tenors, combined with the personality and fun of genuine performers will have any audience smiling. Expect three unique solo voices, but one tenor sound!.
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As winter crests and the mercury falls, everyone from your taxi driver to the music supervisor at the mall starts running timeless hits like “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night.” But for their Christmas Caravan show and album (which hit Billboard’s World Music Charts and The New York Times Hits List), Canada’s global groove wizards Sultans of String celebrate the holiday spirit with an adventurous musical trip around the world, featuring exuberant originals, world-music inspired classics, and seasonal favourites to warm your heart on a cold winter’s night.
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Escape into the Magical Christmas Forest at the Kortright Centre and experience a winter wonderland filled with lights, crafts, activities, horse drawn wagon rides and treats for the whole family - and enjoy a visit with Santa in his cabin! Please note this is event has outdoor components, come dressed for the weather. Advance tickets required.
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Enjoy cozy crafts and stories that will transport you to imaginative worlds, a cheerful way to spend a snowy day! PAMA’s Art Educators look forward to sharing their favourite childhood tales. Gather in the cozy story corner for a reading and then get creative with a craft inspired by each day’s fairy tale fun. Drop-in Program Included with General Admission.
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This holiday season, BenTastic and Magic Mel take the stage together for a Christmas celebration full of festive cheer, wonder, and magical surprises! Packed with laughter, wonder, and plenty of audience participation, this high-energy show blends dazzling illusions, hilarious comedy, and heartwarming holiday spirit. Kids and parents alike will be part of the magic as BenTastic and Magic Mel inspire families to discover their own inner sparkle while celebrating the joy of Christmas.
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The most enchanting of Niagara Falls attractions, the annual Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival. Experience the spectacular displays with millions of lights and larger than life displays across the tourism districts.
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This December, join us to celebrate and take part in the holiday magic at Casa Loma during Christmas at the Castle. Casa Loma will host a wide range of activities and thrilling performances that are sure to be fun for the whole family. Guests will be surrounded by holiday magic throughout the castle which will be resplendent with holiday décor, including a feature 20-foot-tall tree in the Great Hall designed by Living Luxe: luxury lifestyle, design, and decor magazine, and Amber Walker, premier event planner. The halls of Casa Loma will be decked with eight signature trees by talented Canadian designers including Amanda Aerin, Christine Spencer, and Flora Peng.
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Holiday lights, festive flavours, live performances, artisanal shopping, and Canada’s most iconic Christmas tree. The Distillery Winter Village is Toronto’s original and world-famous Christmas market, where historic cobblestone streets transform into a holiday wonderland with Santa and his elves, carollers, endless festive photo ops, seasonal food and drinks, and one-of-a-kind shopping from local artisans.
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Join Shrek and Friends for a holiday you’ll never forget! This holiday season, enjoy the humour, heart, and hijinks of this ogre-sized production — one of YPT’s largest ever!
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Celebrate the holiday season at WinterFest, an immersive holiday experience for the whole family! With festive light displays complete with millions of shimmering lights, family activities, new live entertainment, holiday-inspired comfort food and beverages, and select attractions, cozy moments are sure to be had with friends and family all winter long!
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This season, enjoy a mini outdoor pop-up edition of Holiday Nights of Lights at Vaughan Mills—a bite-sized taste of the magic you love with a 5,000 sq feet maze, hot cocoa stand, and a glow toy shop! Open Thurs–Sun, Nov 20–Dec 24, 2025 (including Dec 22–24), 4–10pm. Find us outdoors beside the LEGO® Entrance.
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The JunXion's single-day camps are jam packed with lots of stuff your kids will love. Your kids will not want to leave after a day of VR experiences, arcade time, great arts & crafts projects, engaging activities, lots of games and tons of fun. These single-day camps are as much for parents as they are for kids, as parents can leave their kids at a safe place, and go to work stress-free. Age ranges include: 5-7, 8-10, 11-13.
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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…
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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 GTA. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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- Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights - City Hall of Niagara Falls, Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY, Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 21, 6 - 8 pm
- 2025 Winter Glow - Sankofa Square, Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 21, 12PM to 10PM on weekends
- Saturday Family Fun at Bradley Museum - Bradley Museum, 1620 Orr Rd, Mississauga, ON, Saturday, December 20, 12 - 4 pm
- LaSalle Holiday Lights Heritage Nights - Town of LaSalle Civic Centre, Malden Road, LaSalle, ON, Saturday, December 20 to Sunday, December 21, See website
- Sensory Saturday: Let it Snow -
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener, ON, Saturday, December 20, 11AM - 5PM
- Smile
for Santa! - Yorkgate Mall, 1 York Gate Boulevard, North York, Toronto, ON, Saturday, December 20 to Sunday, December 21, 1 - 4pm
- Family Time at Toronto Public Library - Albert Campbell - Toronto Public Library - Albert Campbell Branch, 496 Birchmount Road, Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Saturday, December 20, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Festive Lights at Ontario's Legislative Building, Queen's Park - Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Wellesley Street West, Toronto, ON, Sunday, December 21, 10:00AM, 16:00PM
- Free Family Sundays at the McMichael -
McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, ON, Sunday, December 21, 10am
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Toronto 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!
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2025's best places to take kids in Toronto, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Our Top 20 results page is an annotated list of the winners, both of the top 20 slots and of the category winners. But there is LOTS more to do in and around
Toronto!
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Wishing you and your family health and happiness,
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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