KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: February is Children’s Dental Health Month, which means it's the perfect time to talk about LYING. The first lie my daughter Madison ever attempted was when she was about 3. "Did you brush your teeth?” I asked as she was getting ready for bed. She nodded earnestly, but I had my doubts; a check of the toothbrush revealed it was dry as
the Sahara. "Looks like we need a do-over," I said. "Try again." In a 2025 Delta Dental study of 1000 parents of kids age 12 and under, 67% of respondents reported difficulty in getting their kids to brush their teeth. And in a related but thoroughly
unscientific survey, 100% of the friends I asked told me that their own kids have lied about tooth brushing at least once. See, young children don’t experience truth as adults do; their developing minds blur the line between reality and hope, between what happened and what they would prefer had happened. Brushing is tedious, being done is better. Add a desire to please Mom, and those wires can cross. In those early years, our job is to help kids gradually separate fact from
wishful thinking. You might think that prosecuting dishonesty harshly might scare kids into telling the truth, but that often just scares them into hiding more cleverly. Our goal as parents isn't just to have kids who brush their teeth and do their own homework and someday file tax returns without creative interpretations of “business mileage,” although we do want all those things. But overall, we want kids who are brave enough to be, rather than seem to
be. If they see early that mistakes can be brought into the light and fixed with a do-over, they’re far less likely to build a life around pretending they didn't happen. So my best recommendation for Children's Dental Health Month is to model both scrupulous honesty and scrupulous teeth-brushing yourself. In case you need an immediate solution, though, I hunted down a list of kids' best tooth-brushing songs thoughtfully supplied by the American Dental Association. Grit your teeth and hum along.
—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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The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival presented by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will return in 2026 February 12 - March 1, Thursday - Sunday and President's Day. Stay tuned for more information!
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Join us in imaginative cooking with REAL tasty food.
Cooking Activities: 11 am & 2:30 pm
*This is not a cooking class, we will engage in imaginative play and have an opportunity to enjoy pre-made cooked food.
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Sprout and Bloom Playschool (formerly known as Wee People Playschool) provides a safe, nurturing environment for children ages 2½ to 5 years who are fully potty-trained and current on immunizations.
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Alta Loma Christian School is excited to host its annual Open House event that brings together both current and prospective families, to see examples of student learning and accomplishments, talk with the school’s teachers and support staff, and hear about
our direction for the future.
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Come out to enjoy some wonderful home made chili and 100 craft brews from around the Inland Empire. Children 12 and under are FREE !!!
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The City of Pasadena and Pasadena’s Black History Committee invite the community to save the date for the 2026 Black History Festival, taking place Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Robinson Park, 1081 North Fair Oaks Ave. This year’s event reflects a
powerful moment of renewal as the community continues to move forward one year after the Eaton Fire.
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Celebrate the Year of the Horse at Eastvale’s Lantern Festival! Food, lights, culture & family fun all weekend long!
Category: Community, City & Town
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Celebrate Black History Month with the 10th annual Cultural Festival, featuring live music, performing artists, food, vendors & health fair
Mark your calendar for February 21, 2026, for a vibrant, all-day celebration held at the scenic La Brea Tar Pits, right next to the LACMA Museum. From 11 am to 6 pm, the outdoor festival will be buzzing with energy, offering something for everyone: enjoy captivating live music and performing artists, explore the Book Author Showcase, discover unique finds from small business pop-ups, and treat yourself to diverse food vendors. Families will love the
dedicated Children's Zone, and the excitement builds for the highly anticipated surprise headliner! Don't miss this landmark event honoring Black History Month in the heart of Los Angeles.
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- After School Snacks at the Woodcrest Library - Riverside County Library System - Woodcrest Branch - Riverside, CA 92504, Fri, Feb 17 to Sun, Feb 22, 2:30 pm - 4 pm
- Family Game Night @ Eastvale Library - Eastvale Library - Eastvale, CA 92880, Fri, Feb 20, 4:00 - 7:00pm PST
- Story Time at Louis Robidoux Library - Louis Robidoux Library - Jurupa Valley, CA 92509, Fri, Feb 20, 11:00am - 12:30pm
- Family Storytime @ Eastvale Library - Eastvale Library - Eastvale, CA 92880, Sat, Feb 21, 11:00am - 12:00pm
- 5th Annual Eastvale Lantern Festival - Eastvale, CA 92880, Sat, Feb 21 to Sun, Feb 22, 11 am - 8 pm
- Ready, Set, Grow! - Riverside County Library System - Woodcrest Branch - Riverside, CA 92504, Sat, Feb 21, 1:30PM-3:30PM
- Brick by Brick: Black Innovators Who Built the I.E. - Riverside, California, Sat, Feb 21, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Books & Belonging: A Reading Circle for Black Children's Book Week - Riverside, California, Sun, Feb 22, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Inland Empire! 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 Inland Empire? 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 Inland Empire 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 the Inland Empire? Each May-June, thousands of parents vote in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Was the winner an indoor play center, museum, farm, nature center, sports team? Click through to
find out!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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