KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jan 30: The Wizard of Oz in Concert at St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Sat, Jan
31: Preschool Fair at Jefferson County Library Arnold Branch
Sat, Feb 7: Open House at The Soulard School
Sun, Feb 8: Safe Sitter at Ballwin Golf Course
Sun, Feb 8: Purina Pet Parade at Mardi Gras, Inc.
Sat, Feb 14: Talon-tine's Day at the Edwardsville Children's Museum
Sat, Feb 14: Bud Light Grand Parade of Mardi Gras at Mardi Gras, Inc.
Fri, Feb 20: Stories in the 100 Aker Wood at DaySpring Arts and Education
Sat, Feb 21: Royal Winter Ball at Maryland Heights Centre
Sat, Feb 28: Snow Sisters Winter Festival
Sat, Mar 7: A Visit with Daniel and Rebecca Boone at The Historic Daniel Boone Home & Heritage Center
Sat, Mar 7: Maple Sugar Festival at The Historic Daniel Boone Home & Heritage Center
Sat, Mar 21: Skate with the Bunny at Brentwood Ice Arena
Fri, Mar 27: The Art Fair at Queeny Park at Greensfelder Recreation Complex |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
If it weren’t for a Polish pastry, I might not exist. When my great-grandmother Karolina Stelmach was a teenager in a small village in Poland, she was told she’d be entering an arranged marriage. But her heart belonged to Sylvester Nowakowski. So she left... on her own, by boat... and made her way to America. She found work in a restaurant, where she made her
family’s signature dessert: chrusciki. One day, a “distinguished gentleman” insisted on meeting the pastry chef, and he offered her a better-paying job in his own kitchen. She took it, saved enough to bring Sylvester over, and they married. Which means if chrusciki didn’t exist, neither would I. Stories like this do more than entertain. According to psychologist Robyn Fivush, interviewed on a recent episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, they help kids develop identity,
resilience, and self-worth. The more children know about their family’s past—not just the “big” stories like crossing oceans, but even the day-to-day moments and struggles—the more connected and grounded they become. Fivush and her colleagues at Emory University found that kids who know more family stories have higher self-esteem, greater emotional understanding, and a stronger sense of meaning and purpose. But it’s not just the information that matters...it’s the telling. When we sit down and
share what came before, we help kids feel like they’re part of something bigger, and that they belong. No AI can replicate that. A chatbot can write a story, sure. But it can’t tell your kids how Grandma’s meatloaf could’ve doubled as a construction material, or how two little girls in the 1950s turned a couple of ice cream cones into a front-porch endurance contest. So this year, make a point of telling your kids about your family's shared history: about
mistakes, about perseverance, about love, about dessert. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated: Just pull up a chair, pass the cookies, and pass down the stories.
—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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Forsyth School fosters a spirit of curiosity and joy, empowering children age 2 through Grade 6 to pursue challenges with confidence. Located in the Wydown-Forsyth Historic District, Forsyth's one-of-a-kind campus consists of six historic homes; the challenging and engaging curriculum promotes age-appropriate independence and prepares students to thrive in secondary school and beyond. Find yourself at Forsyth on Saturday, January 24, 9:30–11:30am for our Early Childhood Open House—perfect for families with candidates for Eyas, Pre-K, Jr-K, and Sr-K! Visit our early childhood classrooms in the Falcon's Nest, Fillmore House, and New House to talk with our teachers, administrators, and current parents. Advance registration is required; children are welcome to attend!
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Dive right in to learn all about these furry, marine mammals. We will explore where polar bears live and how they are specially adapted to their icy, cold homes. Then, we will walk over to Polar Bear Point to see the bears.
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Enjoy our twist on the traditional S'more brought to you by Nature Valley! Free every Sunday in January & February. Starts at 3pm, available while supplies last.
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Grab your capes, masks, and skates—it's time for an exciting night of superhero fun on January 18th from 6:15 to 7:45 PM! Whether you're a Marvel fan, a DC enthusiast, or love creating your own hero, come dressed in your best costume and skate like the legend you are. Just a quick tip—please avoid wearing long capes or anything that might drag on the ice and cause you to trip. Normal admission fees apply. Feel free to give us a call at 314-615-5572 if you have any questions.
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Come out to Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center where you can meet our nation’s majestic symbol up close! This crowd favorite festival will have numerous unique vendors, restaurant favorites, drink specials, free face painting, live bird shows, and more family fun everyone can enjoy! The main event, our Master’s of the Sky Bird Show, presented by The World Bird Sanctuary, will introduce and educate guests about magnificent, winged creatures such as owls, falcons, eagles, and more! Show times will be at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.
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Join us for Lego Club! Use your imagination to build without limits. We meet once a month, and anything you build will be on display for in the library for one week. All lego supplies will be provided. Ages 6 to 12. NO sign up required.
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Shake off the winter chill with an afternoon that’s bright, bouncy, colorful, and delightfully loud. This family-friendly celebration packs a whole carnival’s worth of fun into one gym. Enjoy crafts, games, snacks, balloon artists, and a shoebox float gallery that might steal the show. Top it off with the Children’s Parade that’s guaranteed to melt even the frostiest moods.
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As part of our MLK Community Celebration, explore the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how civil rights movements in St. Louis and across the nation worked to ensure all people realize the promise of American ideals.
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Caregivers and children come together in a nurturing, joyful environment inspired by the rhythms and atmosphere of Waldorf Early Childhood. These classes offer a gentle introduction to a group setting, providing a bridge between home and the wider world of preschool.
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Join us for stories, sensory bins, and open play designed to spark imagination and support early learning! Tara, from Words of Hope Speech Therapy will be leading the storytime!
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Thank you for your interest in Central Christian School. We'd love to host you at one of our Admissions Coffees to share about our Gospel-driven academics, school culture, and vibrant community. Your morning will begin in chapel at 8:30 a.m. followed by a time to hear from our Head of School, Director of Admissions, and Academic Directors. To end our morning, you'll have an opportunity to tour our campus and peek into our learning environments.
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Kids ages 6 and up can enjoy a fun night out swimming with friends, including dinner and time away from parents. Participants should bring a towel and dry clothes to change into before eating.
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- Admissions Coffees at Central Christian School - Central Christian School - Clayton, St. Louis, MO 63105, Friday, January 16, 8:30-10:30 am
- Playdoh Friday - Kirkwood Public Library - Kirkwood, MO 63122, Friday, January 16, 10-11 am
- We Can All Serve - MLK Food Drive -
St. Louis, MO 63103, Friday, January 16 to Sunday, January 18, all day
- BOS Family Winter Carnival and Shoebox Float Gallery - BOS - St. Louis, MO, Saturday, January 17, 12-3 pm
- Kids Time: Coin Science - Jefferson County Library - Arnold Branch - Arnold, MO 63010, Saturday, January 17, 3:00 pm
- Lego Club - Kirkwood Public Library - Kirkwood, MO 63122, Saturday, January 17, 2-3 pm
- 2026 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration—The Dream Reimagined: Youth Voices Uplifted - St. Louis, MO,
Sunday, January 18, 2-3:30 pm
- Sunday S'mores with Nature Valley - Nature Valley - Wildwood, MO 63025, Sunday, January 18, 3 pm while supplies last
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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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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. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the St. Louis 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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Best places to take kids in St Louis in 2024! Once again, our readers have spoken! Thousands of parents voted in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in
special categories like favorite spot for indoor play, favorite nature center, favorite museum, and much more!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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