Save the Date
Fri, Jul 12: 2019 SoJo Glow 5k/10k - The City of South Jordan - Utah at Mulligans Golf & Games
Fri, Jul 19: Bountiful Handcart Days 2019 at City of Bountiful, UT
Sat, Jul 20: 2019 Pioneer Festival at American West Heritage Center
Sat, Jul 20: Jigglefest at Electric Park at Thanksgiving Point
Wed, Jul 24: DAYS OF '47 PARADE
Wed, Jul 24: 25th ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN CELEBRATION IN PARK POWWOW & FESTIVAL at Liberty Park - Salt Lake City, Utah
Fri, Jul 26: 2019 MEGA PERUVIAN FESTIVAL at The Main Library, Salt Lake City Public Library
Sat, Jul 27: The African Festival at Liberty Park - Salt Lake City, Utah
Fri, Aug 2: 2019 Park City Kimball Art Center Festival
Sat, Aug 3: Antelope Island Spider Fest 2019
Sat, Aug 3: 3rd Annual SLC Tacofest 2019
Thu, Aug 8: 2019 Salt Lake County Fair Family FarmFest
Sat, Aug 10: Indian Food Fair 2019 at Liberty Park - Salt Lake City, Utah
Fri, Aug 23: Utah Renaissance Faire 2019 at Utah Renaissance Faire
Fri, Aug 23: Drive a Supercar at Utah Motorsports Campus
Sat, Aug 24: International Folk Festival - FREE - City of Sandy, Utah at Sandy Amphitheater
Fri, Aug 30: KIDZ BOP Live 2019 - Sandy, UT at Sandy Amphitheater
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
There's no sense in trying to reason with a dog. Take my dog Penny, for instance: Penny loves chasing a Frisbee; she flings herself after it with determination and triumphantly brings it back. But as desperately as she wants me to throw it again, she also sees it as her mission never to lose a game of tug-of-war.
"Now, Penny," I say patiently. "You have to let go of the Frisbee. I can't throw it unless you give it to me first." But it's fruitless. She continually tries to shove the Frisbee into my hand so I can throw it, and then clamps her jaws around it and holds on for dear life. Your dog may be smarter than mine about such matters, but regardless, there's no such thing as explaining cause and effect to a dog, at least not in words.
It's the same with babies: You can try to explain to an 8-month-old that he's unhappy because he's tired, and that if he'd just relax and let himself fall asleep he'd feel so much better, but it won't work. Even preschoolers who technically understand your words often find themselves wanting two impossible things at the same time: They want safety, but they want independence. They want to be cuddled, and also to run around. They're cold, but they refuse to wear the coat. When I was a young mom, it took me a while to understand that as old as kids seem is not necessarily as old as they are. No matter how sophisticated their words may be, their actions reflect the tug-of-war taking place in their minds.
When our kids grow into adults, we want them to act for the right reasons rather than from unthinking obedience, but that can't happen if all we tell them when they're growing up is "because I said so." Your kids may be young enough still that you just have to trust me on this, but unlike the fruitlessness of trying to reason with a dog, with young humans, eventually the reasoning works. I promise. It takes years (and years) of patience, of showing and clarifying, of letting them experience the natural consequence of poor decisions, and of endlessly explaining how the world works. I told my kids "why" throughout their childhoods, even when they were very young and I knew they didn't really understand my reasoning, and it seems to have worked: My fledgling adults are in the process of launching themselves into the world, and they seem to know what they're doing and why they're doing it.
With Penny, though, I wouldn't mind if she responded to a little "because I said so." But I guess that's just not how I roll, even with dogs. So I show her a treat, she lets go of the Frisbee, and I throw it again. It's the strategy that works for both of us.
—Debra Ross, publisher
The Riverton Town Days Rodeo has a reputation for being one of best local rodeos around! Drawing thousands of spectators, the flag skydivers and the “cash cow” events for the kids are local hits. Festivities kick-off with a 3-man arena sorting competition followed by two evenings of traditional rodeo. Full details available at: http://bit.ly/2Gy2sJw.
Click here for more information.
Sunday School Musical - The Greatest Roadshow
The show follows the story of an eclectic group of Sunday School Students as they attempt to put on a traditional "roadshow" traveling musical. When Penny doesn't land the role of her dreams can the rest of the cast overcome the odds to put together the greatest show Utah county has ever seen?
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Feed the Fish - City Creek Center
Join us to help feed hundreds of Bonneville Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout gliding among the rocks. We provide the food, you feed the fish! First come first serve. All ages welcome!
Click here for more information.
Singing with the Birds Summer Concert Series
The Singing with the Birds concert series is back again for another summer here at Tracy Aviary. Bring blankets, chairs, and snacks and enjoy live music from 11am-1pm near the Expedition Kea exhibit. The laughing kookaburra might even sing along!
Click here for more information.
Happy Independence Day!
There are so many opportunities to celebrate the 4th of July in our area. If you're looking for fireworks and other community celebrations, check out our list.
Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens. We've got a list of local pick-your-own farms to help you find something sweet to pick.
Will this be your first time picking your own fruit with kids? Prepare yourself so that harvesting delicious fruit bounty is fun instead of stressful. Our strategic content editor Katie Beltramo has tips to keep in mind.
Long, hot days. Time outside. Exploring and playing. No school. You and your kids will love all that summer has to offer. And to make sure that you don't miss out on any fun, be sure to check out our Master Guide to Local Summer Fun.
Worried the kids will spend the day watching Netflix and playing video games? We have plenty of ideas for good, old-fashioned summer fun in our article 50 Ways to Love Your Summer.
If you're interested in your kids having a summer camp experience without sending them to day or overnight camp, check out our timeless article It's Their Vacation and You're the Tour Guide: How to Organize Camp Mom. That piece provides almost endless ideas for things to do and how to structure your day. But remember: a little boredom is good for kids, too!
Looking for a new place to explore that's still close to home? Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun! Find free activities and splurges that are worth it. We've collected the coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from here.
Click here for more information.
A Week-by-Week Guide to Summer Camps Near You
Looking for a summer camp for your child? Look no further! Dozens of summer camps post: day camps, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, preschool, & more!
Summer 2019 camps are organized by week, by age, or by topic so you can find the perfect camps for your family!
Click here for more information.
