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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Keep your kids active, engaged, and excited with rock climbing camp! Your child will learn about climbing, equipment, skills and techniques, and will also experience team-building activities, fun games, and open climbing in our huge climbing facility.
Designed for children ages 7-15, our clinics build confidence in a fun and controlled environment. Whether your child is a complete beginner or an avid climber who scurries up everything they can, our clinics are sure to be a hit! With half-day and full-day options available, and three locations in the St. Louis area, we’ve got options for everyone!
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Are you Ready For It? Last year's Taylor Swift skate night was so much fun, and we're excited to do it again! Skate It Off with us on Sunday, February 22nd, from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. during our fun Taylor Swift-themed skate night!
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Celebrate Black History Month at the Missouri Botanical Garden as we honor the rich cultural heritage and scientific contributions of Black botanists, entomologists, scientists, and farmers.
Throughout February, grass specimens collected by George Washington Carver will be on display for visitors in the Brookings Exploration Center. Also, legacy spotlight slides will be featured in the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center, highlighting notable Black contributors to plant science and related fields.
The month concludes with a performance on Saturday, February 28 by the Blck Bird String Ensemble. Established in 2023, the ensemble is highly sought after for its commitment to inclusion and its focus on underrepresented works from the African diaspora, engaging communities and inspiring the next generation through music and education.
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For the centennial year of Black History celebrations, SLPL invites you to join us in imagining what our Black community might look like in another hundred years. Inspired by the award-winning short story collection by N. K. Jemisin, contribute a short
note, poem, or drawing to our community constellation in the Adult Fiction room.
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Plan your child's best summer yet at the Mid-County Summer Camp & Resource Fair! Stop by anytime between 10:00am and 1:00pm on Saturday, Feburary 21st, at The Heights Community Center to learn about summer camps & programs, job opportunities for
teens, and resources for youth. All families are welcome, and the event is free to attend.
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In collaboration with the Hispanic Festival Inc., The Sheldon presents the music, dance, food, and art of carnival in a free, family-friendly event. Enjoy dance performances, create a colorful mask and maracas, and parade down Washington with music and
costumes representing many Hispanic cultures. Learn about carnival with display costumes and music for the whole family!
This event is free and open to the public. No registration required.
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Learn about tree identification and tapping, the history of maple sugaring, and how to turn sap into syrup. The entire program is outdoors, so please dress for the weather.
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Come explore St. Louis Black History with St. Louis County Parks and Recreation. This February, we are hosting the Missouri History Museum's “1st in Civil Rights” traveling exhibit at the Jefferson Barracks Visitors Center. The exhibit highlights the
history of Black lives in St. Louis with their resistance and triumph.
On Saturday February 21st, join us in learning about topics related to Civil Rights in the St. Louis area. The exhibit will be open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm on February 21st.
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For many cultures across Asia, Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals of the year and is associated with an animal from the zodiac. This year, the weeklong holiday starts on Tuesday, February 17, and marks the Year of the Horse.
SLAM’s event will feature music, performances, art-making activities in partnership with local organizations, and a cash bar.
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Step into the whimsical world of the Hundred Acre Wood with this heartwarming dance show inspired by the timeless tales of Winnie the Pooh. Through movement, this enchanting performance A.A. Milne’s beloved stories come to life in a way you've never seen
before.
This original ballet will echo the innocence and charm of the forest, capture the spirit of the characters and their gentle adventures, and invite audiences of all ages into the Wood to rediscover the magic of kindness, curiosity, and connection—without needing to say a single word.
"Sometimes," said Pooh, "the smallest dance can take up the most room in your heart."
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Open Gym is an opportunity for any child to have supervised free play in the gym. Kids can work on existing skills, try something new, or simply play around. It is completely up to them!
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Meet our naturalist at the Lime Kiln Trailhead for a social winter hike! Let’s look for signs of spring together.
Hikes are steep but at a slow pace. Animals are waking up this time of year, so who knows what we might see! Hikes will take place in the cold or snow but will be canceled if temperatures are dangerously low. Dress and prepare for the weather. The trail is 3.2 miles long, but we will make a judgement call based on weather about how long to be outside. All ages welcome!
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- How Long Til Black Future Month? St Louis' Black Community 100 years from now - St. Louis Public Library - Central Library, 1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103, Friday, February 20 to Sunday, February 22, all day
- Songs and Stories -
Babies & Toddlers - Maplewood Public Library, 7550 Lohmeyer Ave, Maplewood, MO 63143, Friday, February 20, 10-10:30 am
- Herstory - Black History Month Presentation - Webster Groves Public Library, 301 E Lockwood Ave, Webster
Groves, MO 63119, Friday, February 20, 7-8 pm
- SCC Summer Camp Celebration - 4601
Mid Rivers Mall Drive McGuire Hall 103, Cottleville, MO 63376, Saturday, February 21, 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Teen Card Game Club - Kirkwood Public Library, 140 East Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood, MO 63122, Saturday, February 21, 2 pm
- Lunar New Year Festival at Buder - St.
Louis Public Library - Buder Library, 4401 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, Saturday, February 21, 10:30-11:30 am
- Kids Time: Gravity Science - Jefferson County Library - Arnold Branch, 1701 Missouri State Rd, Arnold, MO 63010, Saturday, February 21, 3 pm
- Lego Club - Ferguson Municipal Public Library, North Florissant Road, Ferguson, MO, Saturday, February 21, 3-4 pm
- Free Reading Tutoring - St. Louis Public Library - Carpenter Library, 3309 South Grand
Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63118, Saturday, February 21, 12-1 pm
- Mid-County Summer Camp & Resource Fair - THE HEIGHTS: The Richmond Heights Community Center, Dale Avenue, Richmond Heights, MO, Saturday, February 21, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Hispanic Carnival Family Day -
The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries, 3648 Washington Ave. St. Louis, MO, Saturday, February 21, 10:00am
- Lunar New Year Celebration - 10267 Saint Charles Rock Road, Saint Ann, MO, Saturday, February 21, 2 pm
- Daddy & Me - Stomp the World, Stomp the World, Saturday, February 21, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
- Sunday S'mores with Nature
Valley - Hidden Valley Ski Resort, 17409 Hidden Valley Drive, Wildwood, MO 63025, Sunday, February 22, 3 pm while supplies last
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the St. Louis 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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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 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 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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