KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: The first time I can remember having to take a public stand on anything was in eighth grade English. We were assigned an essay on a controversial topic and told we’d present our arguments to the class. When he handed back our papers, Mr. Schmidt added a twist: no reading. We’d speak from notes. I was horrified. After school, I tried to negotiate my way out
of it. “This makes me really uncomfortable,” I told him, hoping for mercy. He looked at me over his glasses. “That’s the whole point,” he said. “To get stuff done, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t worry, you’ll live.” Mr. Schmidt was right. I didn’t die. And more important, I learned something that stuck: Discomfort isn’t a stop sign, it’s just part of the road, and all roads are bumpy. That lesson shaped how I've raised my kids, too.
Karate helped Madison and Ella distinguish between effort and injury. Long car rides taught them to rely on their own imaginations. Theater nudged them to stand however close to the spotlight they could manage, even when they’d rather disappear. And summer camps—those muddy, unpredictable, gloriously imperfect experiences—gave them countless chances to try something new and realize I can do this without the stigma that can accompany failing in other contexts. Growth
rarely happens inside the comfort zone, which is why I’m such a believer in giving kids opportunities to stretch beyond what feels easy. Summer programs are perfect for this, so that's why during "summer camp search season" we focus on showcasing the wide variety of camps and programs available in each area we serve. Here's
the link to the portal page. These days, as we approach the 25th anniversary of KidsOutAndAbout.com in June, I see that same principle playing out: The technology has changed, the business climate has changed, but the equation hasn’t. Discomfort still shows up right before something meaningful. And I still hear Mr. Schmidt’s voice in my head: Don’t worry, you’ll live.
—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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Unleash your imagination this March Break at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto! Build, create, and play in ten themed play zones packed with millions of LEGO bricks, then save the day on two bricktastic rides, and meet your favorite LEGO characters! Take
part in a creative workshop class and meet a Master Model Builder, then prepare to be blown away by an amazing 4D theater experience. Explore MINILAND, created from over half a million LEGO bricks featuring iconic Toronto landmarks.
Conveniently located inside Vaughan Mills Mall. The Ultimate Indoor LEGO® Playground Awaits! Book your tickets now!
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Fri, March 27, Dinosaurs! The Making of Life on Our Planet features a panel of behind-the-scenes stories from the explorers, filmmakers, scientists, and adventurers that created some of the most eye-catching footage of the Netflix docu-serie. "The Nature of
Things" host Anthony Morgan speaks to the events that reshaped our ecosystems to the creatures that survived (or did not) along the way, plus live music by artists from The Royal Conservatory. Make sure to come early to explore artifacts from the ROM!
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Come out and experience a spring tradition in our sugar bush at Purple Woods Conservation Area in Oshawa! Sap collected from hundreds of sugar maple trees is boiled on site into delicious maple syrup. On your self-guided tour, you can visit our modern
evaporator, enjoy games, activities, horse-drawn wagon rides, maple taffy on ice, and, of course, pancakes with real maple syrup.
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Score big all week with daily giveaways compliments of HARIBO and Upper Deck, high five HHOF mascot Slapshot and friends (March 16), dive into wetlands + pond hockey with Ducks Unlimited Canada (March 17 & 18) and snap a photo with Toronto Sceptres
stars (March 20). Catch our newest feature‑film, the action‑packed comedy Little Big Shot and best of all, get hands-on access to the coveted Stanley Cup.
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Unleash Your Inner Sneaker Artist! Don’t miss your last chance to experience Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists before it closes on March 23rd. Join us for a fun-filled week and become an artist and creator by immersing yourself in self-guided activities perfect
for all ages. Make a custom shoe pin, perfect your style with lace beading, and collect special shoe charms to upgrade your favourite footwear. Beyond the crafting fun, take a guided exhibition tour to learn about the fascinating history of sneaker collaborations, and then enjoy a shoe design presentation with one of our expert education guides. Finally, enter the Be a Shoe Designer contest by drawing your own sneaker design and posting it on the community design board for a chance to win a
prize!
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Chickadeedee Puppet Theatre School in Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood invites children to discover the playful world of puppetry through creative, hands-on workshops led by professional puppeteers. This March, families can join a series of free sessions
where kids design puppets, invent characters, and explore storytelling in a lively theatre studio. Advance registration is required and spaces are limited.
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Spring Has Sprung in Brampton!
Brampton Recreation invites you to Buzz into Spring at our exciting FREE community events! Join us on March 21 at Save Max Sports Centre and March 29 at Cassie Campbell Community Centre for a fun-filled celebration welcoming the spring season.
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Making Home in Scarborough is a vibrant pop-up installation celebrating memory, identity, and belonging through cultural traditions and objects we hold dear to our hearts in generations past, present and future. Co-created through conversation and care,
community members were invited to share a meaningful object, rooted in a heartfelt story. All speak to how home is made not only in buildings or borders, but in the places, people, and practices that give life meaning.
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The Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival is a sure sign of spring. Come out and tap into nature! At Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park and Kortright Centre for Conservation.
Enjoy demonstrations, activities … and, of course, real maple syrup! Special family-fun activities on weekends, March break and Easter weekend.
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Toronto will experience space like never before, as the world’s most acclaimed immersive space experience orbits into Ontario for the first-time ever.
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Looking Glass Adventures is open all week with extended hours for the holiday. Dive into our exciting, family-friendly escape rooms — perfect for kids, teens, and adults. All games are private — just your group, and you can save $15 off your booking with
code MARCHBREAK2026. Spots fill fast, so book your adventure now!
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After touring over 100 cities in 24 countries and entering CNN's list of “Must-See” exhibitions, Art of the Brick is coming to Toronto. The exhibit immerses the visitor in a cheerful and colorful world. The artist used more than a million bricks, creating
over 130+ works of art that can make adults and children smile and reflect.
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Visit our tropical oasis during March Break and be dazzled by 1000’s of blue morpho butterflies!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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- PA Days & Breaks at Miles Nadal JCC - Miles Nadal JCC, Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Friday, March 20, 2026, 9 am - 4 pm
- A Puppet Show From Egypt | Om Kolthoum (Roaming) - Crane Creations Theatre Company, 3650 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, 10:00am (Full day roaming)
- 2026 Lunar Lanterns - Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Main Street Unionville, Unionville, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026,
12am
- Gather for March Break at Spadina Museum: The Great Tea Cup Transfer - Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Road, Toronto, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, 11 - 4 pm
- March Break Family Adventures at Fort York - Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Boulevard, Toronto, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, 11 am - 4 pm
- March Break at the Aga Khan
Museum - Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Dr, North York, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, 12 - 4 pm
- March Break Events! - Yorkgate Mall, York Gate Boulevard, North York, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, 1pm - 4pm
- MARCH BREAK 5 FREE DAYS OF FUN! - Bridlewood Mall, Warden Avenue, Scarborough, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, Various Showtimes Daily
- March Break Book Drive! - Yorkgate Mall, York Gate Boulevard, North York, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, 10am - 6pm
- March Break Family Programming at Ontario's Legislative Building - Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Wellesley Street West, Toronto, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, 10:00AM, 2:00PM
- Free Puppet Theatre Workshops for Kids This March Break - Toronto Puppet Theatre School Chickadeedee, Dundas Street East, Toronto, Saturday, March 21, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, March 21, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 01:00 PM; March 22, 2026 | 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM; March 28, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
- Free Sunday at Bata Shoe Museum - Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Sunday, March 22, 2026, 12 - 5 pm
- Storytime, Meet & Greet with Harpreet Bahia - Coles, Queen Street East, Old Toronto, Sunday, March
22, 2026, 11:30AM-3:00PM
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Toronto 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Toronto 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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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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