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 Sun, Apr 19: Handyman Hall Comes to Town - Touhill Performing Arts Center, April 19 |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When Madison and Ella were young, I made it a point to stretch their comfort zones in small, manageable ways. They’d order their own food at restaurants, they'd arrange their own homeschool work schedules, they'd try activities where they didn’t know anyone. I did my best not to step in unless invited. Over time, they started trusting their own ability to
navigate the world without me. That, of course, was the point. But the better they got at being independent, the more I started to feel a quiet kind of discomfort. They were moving outward—into the world, into themselves—and I could feel the shift. There’s a concept in astrophysics called red shift. When a star or galaxy moves away from us, the light it emits stretches, shifting toward the red end of the spectrum. The farther away it moves, the redder the
light appears. It’s how we know the universe is expanding. The movement doesn’t mean the light is gone—just that it’s arriving to us in a new form, from farther away. I think about that a lot as my kids are no longer orbiting so closely. I still see their light; it just looks different now. I’m learning to recognize their new wavelengths. The trick, I think, is not to see red shift as loss, but as evidence of motion. The fact that I feel the stretch means the universe is doing
what it’s supposed to do: expanding, evolving, moving outward. I remind myself that this kind of shift is a mark of success. Increased wavelength, decreased frequency... it's all part of the natural order of things. Light travels and stretches, and love does, too.
—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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Handyman Hal is rolling into town on his “awesome tool vehicle” for a high-energy, laugh-out-loud live show the whole family will love! In The Handyman Hal Comes to Town Tour, children’s educational YouTube favorite Handyman Hal is joined by friendly helpers and special guests as he builds a secret project using cool tools, music, and lots of kid participation. Sing and dance along to fan-favorite songs like “Tools Are Cool” and “The Awesome Song,” and hold on tight when a wild science experiment unleashes dino-sized chaos! This engaging live performance is a fantastic first theater experience for little ones and a fun-filled adventure for kids of all ages. Tickets available now!
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Step into a magical, snowy world with Elsa! Enjoy themed crafts, open play, magical photos, and a princess sing-along. A day of frosty fun!
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Thank you for your interest in Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic School. We have an outstanding school and would like to share it with you. Working together with Fr. Christopher Rubie, the pastor of Saint Mary Magdalen Parish, our common and shared vision of the school is to provide an excellent formation in Jesus Christ and a comprehensive curriculum in which to educate lifelong learners.
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It’s time to start your engines and gear up for the future at the 2026 St. Louis Auto Show. Whether you consider yourself a car enthusiast or not, this event has something for everyone. As the largest automobile event in the St. Louis area, the Saint Louis Auto Show features new models – cars, pickup trucks and SUVs all under one roof. The 2026 St. Louis Auto Show lets you preview the latest models, learn about new safety technology and preview some of the world's most expensive vehicles, all without the pressure of making a vehicle purchase. Our 2026 show includes a FREE kids zone sponsored by Mid America Chevy Dealers, drifting with the #FUNHAVERS, pet adoptions and so much more. We hope to see you there!
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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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Beloved St. Louis mascot is coming to Brentwood Community Center! Have a dance party and eat some breakfast sponsored by Chick-fil-A Brentwood. Fee is per person, and each registered child must have a registered adult.
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Join us for an Open House on Saturday, January 24, 2026! Drop in anytime between 1 and 4 pm, enjoy an art activity, tour our space, and chat with Saint Louis Sudbury School students, parents, staff, volunteers, and board members at our beautiful space inside Intersect Arts Center. Connect, ask questions, share experiences, and discover what learning can look like!
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Lace up your skates and celebrate National Skating Month with us! Enjoy a fun-filled day on the ice with friends and family! Register for free skating lessons - 1:45-2:45PM (limited space available), games, coloring pages and information tables in the lobby, exhibitions and more!
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Get ready to embrace the winter chill and enjoy the magic of the 19th Annual Loop Ice Carnival! This beloved winter tradition is back, promising a day of frosty fun for the whole family. Join us in the vibrant Delmar Loop, where the streets will come alive with enchanting ice sculptures, dazzling ice carving demonstrations, and an electrifying drone show. Marvel at the incredible craftsmanship from Full Spectrum Ice as they transform blocks of ice into breathtaking works of frozen art.
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Join the Teen Arts Council for a Print Party. This event is planned by teens for teens. Enjoy an evening of printing and partying with the SLAM teen Arts council and their resident printmaker, Brian Lathan.
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Snow tubing is just like sledding, but better! No sleds required- we provide each rider with special tubes that are fast, safe, and comfortable. No skills required and anyone can participate! Simply grab a snow tube and experience a thrilling day of fast-paced runs down our specially designed tubing lanes. Polar Plunge has convenient and easy-to-use conveyors to take you and your tube back to the top so you can get the most out of your day! It is a great way to beat the winter blues and experience the snow in a new way.
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Does your child need somewhere fun and safe to play? Do you need a night out or just some peace and quiet? Look no further than Miss Kelly's Parents Night Out!
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Come join us for our monthly homeschool skate during the 2025-26 ice rink season! It's a great opportunity to have fun on the ice and spend time with other homeschooling families. The cost is $6 per person, which includes skate rentals. We look forward to seeing you there! Any other questions? Call us at 314-615-5572
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- We Can All Serve - MLK Food Drive - St. Louis Public Library - Central Library, 1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, Friday, January 23, 2026 to Sunday, January 25, 2026, all day
- Teen Takeover—Print
Party - Saint Louis Art Museum, Friday, January 23, 2026, 5:30 PM
- Forsyth School Early Childhood Open House -
Forsyth School, 6235 Wydown Boulevard, Saint Louis, Saturday, January 24, 2026, 9:30AM
- Admissions Events at The College School - The College School, 7825 Big Bend Blvd, Webster Groves, Saturday, January 24, 2026, varies
- Teen Card Game Club - Kirkwood Public Library, 140 East Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood, Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2 pm
- Open House at Sudbury - Texas Avenue, St. Louis, Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1 to 4 pm
- Breakfast with Louie from the St. Louis Blues - The Brentwood Community Center, South Brentwood
Boulevard, Brentwood, Saturday, January 24, 2026, 9-10 am
- St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School Open House - Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic School, 8750 Magdalen Ave, Brentwood, Sunday, January 25, 2026, 10 am- 12:30 pm
- Villa Duchesne Open House - Conway Road, St. Louis, Sunday, January 25, 2026, 12- 2 pm
- Sunday S'mores with Nature Valley - Hidden Valley Ski
Resort, 17409 Hidden Valley Drive, Wildwood, Sunday, January 25, 2026, 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the St. Louis area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets,
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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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