Save the Date
Tue, Feb 18: Matilda at Hale Center Theater Orem - Utah
Tue, Feb 25: Shen Yun at The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
Thu, Mar 5: Disney On Ice presents Mickey's Search Party at Vivint Smart Home Arena
Fri, Mar 27: Nickelodeon's JoJo Siwa DREAM The Tour at Vivint Smart Home Arena
Sat, Mar 28: Festival of Colors at Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple - Spanish Fork, UT
Wed, Apr 15: How to Train Your Dragon in Concert at Abravanel Hall
Sat, May 2: Supercross at Rice-Eccles Stadium
Fri, May 15: 2020 Living Traditions Festival at Liberty Square
Sat, May 30: PAW Patrol Live!: Race to the Rescue at Vivint Smart Home Arena
*Some events may have additional dates. Click through to see more information.
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
No one is born knowing how to read.
No one is born knowing how and when to say please and thank you.
No one is born knowing how to have a conversation, tie a shoe, ride a bike, clean a room, or respect someone's personal space.
Once we learn those skills, though, they become part of the fabric of who we are rather than something we need to think about. And those almost-instincts become almost impossible to articulate: Just try telling someone how to tie a shoe or drive a car or stand just the right distance away from the person you're talking to.
This point was driven home to me recently because my brain forgot how to read. Whenever I try to read without my new glasses, it's as though my brain loses 40 years of development and is back to seeing words as a puzzle, just like when I was 5. I have to go on which letters I recognize and let logic fill in the rest. This whole experience has given me a lot of new insight into what it's like to have a brain that is first learning to do stuff. It's hard!
It's easy for adults to forget that it takes time, and lots and lots of effort, to learn to be polite, to clean your room or do your homework or organize your priorities. Even just learning how to put effort into something is tough. I've had to remind myself a thousand times over the years that kids are KIDS: They can't simply know how to do something; even after being shown once, they need to be reminded, sometimes for years, before a skill becomes a habit. Recalling this when I feel impatient helps me be compassionate and understanding instead of snapping "How many times have I told you...?"
Yes, it absolutely IS frustrating when you're running out the door and your preschooler is standing there with only one shoe on. How hard can it be to put your shoes down TOGETHER, you wonder, and yet obviously, somehow, it is. Someday, I promise, she'll get it. On the other hand right now I am typing in front of a blurry screen: Clearly, the very same monster that ate your preschooler's left sneaker is off somewhere munching happily on my funky pink glasses, magnification +2. If you see him, please let me know.
—Debra Ross, publisher
Red Butte Summer Camp Registration Now Open!!
Hey Kids! Discover science, nature, art, cooking, and more – all while making new friends and exploring the great outdoors.
Red Butte Garden’s week-long summer camps provide fun and enriching outdoor learning experiences for children from kindergarten through 6th grade.
Morning, afternoon, and full-day camps provide a summer of fun. Join us this summer in the Garden!
Nature is thriving right under our noses in Utah’s cities and towns. Come meet the wild plants and animals that share our communities in Nature All Around Us, a special exhibition celebrating the Natural History Museum of Utah’s 50th anniversary.
Click here for more information.
The Welcome Baby Play Group provides opportunities for parents to share experiences, and find social support, February 7 - March 27, 2020. Playgroups also provide children with a place to learn, play, and develop social skills. Every Play Group includes free Play, story time, songs, a craft, and a snack. No registration required.
Click here for more information.
Puppet Show | The Princess and the Frog
In this charming Brother's Grimm tale, an ugly ogre turns the prince into a frog! When a princess drops her golden ball into the pond, the frog offers to get it, but only if she makes him certain promises. Will she really have to kiss the frog?
Click here for more information.
Mandala Rock Painting (All Ages) at The Paint Mixer
Mandalas & summer are the perfect pair! Join us for a day of inspired relaxation as we paint mandalas on beach stones, February 16 and March 15, 2020! This class will feature a presentation on Mandalas, their meaning and history, as well as many different styles of Mandalas that you can consider painting on your rocks.
Click here for more information.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Lookin' for Something Fun to Do?
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! If you are currently contending with a classroom list of valentines to distribute, our thoughts are with you.
Here's a list of local Valentine's Day activities.
Hopefully you'll get a chance to squeeze in some romance, but meanwhile, our Phoenix editor Meg Brunson has some ideas on how to set aside special time with your child.
How to Keep Young Athletes Excited About Playing
Children who play youth sports have higher grades and greater involvement in volunteer work than those who don't. They have greater confidence, self-esteem, and build stronger relationships with their peers. Young athletes also have greater family attachment, more frequent interactions with parents, and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. So how do we encourage kids to love sports? Veteran soccer coach Chris McConnell offers parents some ideas.
McConnell learned that the key to great coach is great listening. He explains in his article "In Youth Sports, Let Kids Do the Talking."
Did you know that over 70% of youth athletes drop out of sports before they enter high school? McConnell offer tips on how to keep kids in the game in "How to Cure the Drop Out Rate in Youth Sports."
Choose Great Taste and Good Health and Join a CSA This Year
It's CSA sign-up season! If you haven't ever participated in a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture), you're missing out on a terrific opportunity to support your local community, connect with your neighbors, get great deals on fresh produce, and expand your culinary horizons.
Families purchase shares of produce that they receive each week during the growing season. Depending on the CSA, fruits, dairy, meat, or other natural products may be available. Some farms encourage pick-your-own activities or offer events when everyone can help out on the farm. What a great field-to-table lesson for the whole family!
Here's our local list of CSAs - Locally Community-Supported Agriculture.
