Meet the moms that bring you Kidlist, the online resource for families in the west and northwest suburbs! Our team consists of local parents that have a passion for finding great resources for our families and yours. Learn about what we get excited about and feel free to connect with us about ideas, events, classes and other family fun. We always love to hear from you!

A huge thank you to Lauren Enright Photography for our bio photos. It was a pleasure working with her.

Annie Tandy, Owner and Creator

Annie loves making great memories with her two kids and started Kidlist so she can help others do the same! Besides finding fun and exciting things to do with her kids, Annie and her kids enjoy caring for their chickens and hanging out with them in the backyard. Click here to read about Annie’s chickens and see pictures! She also finds joy in gardening, home improvement projects, knitting, soap making, and painting along with being active in her community, church, and on the Board of Directors of the Western Springs Business Association.

Annie was honored to be in the Regional Top 30 under 40 from the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce in 2018, named a top community influencer from Hillgrove Avenue Magazine four consecutive years, featured on NBC’s Chicago Today, Fox 32, WGN Radio, Good Day Chicago, and has enjoyed seeing Kidlist grow since 2011. You can email her at annie@mykidlist.com.

Rachel Matuch, Managing Editor

Rachel is a writer, editor, and mom to two young kiddos. She’s lived all over the Western suburbs, including Naperville, Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Wheaton. Her kids love exploring new places together, especially parks, trails, libraries, and (of course) donut shops. She started writing for Kidlist in 2016 and has loved being part of the team ever since!

Katie Mayle, Calendar Manager and Content Contributor

Katie is a mother of three children, ages 8, 6 and 3. A Joliet native, she and her husband moved back to his hometown of Naperville after the birth of their second daughter. The kids keep her family very active, whether spending a hot summer day at Centennial Beach, or a visit to the reptile house at Phillips Park Zoo. While she looks forward to being outside in the summer, their winter months are filled with local storytimes, visits to museums, and bouncing off energy at the nearest trampoline park. They are grateful for the endless opportunities available to families in the western suburbs, and she looks forward to sharing family-friendly places and events with the parents of young children.

Kaitlyn Agnew, Social Media Manager

As a mom of two energetic, spirited young boys, ages 3 and 6, Kaitlyn is always looking for fun, new ways to keep them busy while making lasting memories together. As a Downers Grove native, she is proud to be raising her own family here, in her hometown that is so special to her. She lives 9 months for 3, always counting down until Summertime and the days of spending family weekends at the lake house near Lake Geneva, dining al fresco, pool days with the boys in the backyard and spending as much time outdoors as possible. After Summer, Christmas is her favorite time of year – as long as the snow ends January 1st! In her rare free time, she is happiest when doing yoga, visiting her favorite coffee shop or finding a new hiking destination. 

Nicole Majewski, Content Contributor

Nicole is former teacher excited to contribute her local familiarity to readers, like her. She is a Bloomingdale native and resides there with her husband and their three children. Her daughter, age 9, loves dance and gardening. Her son, 7 years old, enjoys soccer, legos, and cooking. Nicole’s youngest daughter, 5 years old, loves library story times and local parks. In the summer months you can find her outside enjoying local parks, splash pads, and farmer’s markets. On a bleak day she breaks the monotony by visiting libraries, museums, and play places. Nicole is excited to share her knowledge with other families looking for engaging activities.

Elyse Polickey, Content Contributor

Elyse is a mom of three awesome, rambunctious little ones. Her kids (6, 4, and 1.5 years) keep her days busy and fun. Having taught for 12 years, Elyse is always on the lookout for activities that are both exciting and educational. A La Grange native, she is proud to be raising her family there, as well. Some of her favorite local activities include going to farmers’ markets, the library, checking out new parks and restaurants, and having fun at local music events in the summer. With any free time, she loves reading, getting together with other mom friends, and (trying to!) catch up on sleep. She’s very excited to be a part of the Kidlist team and share ideas with other families!

Jondra Davis, Content Contributor

Jondra is a Tennessee native who resides in her husband’s hometown of Wheaton with their two young children. An event planner by trade, Jondra has a passion for purposeful events that create memories through connection, community, and establishing opportunities for learning and enrichment. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys traveling and new experiences. As a family, they have probably done any excursion you can think of – with strollers and diaper bags in tow! During the summer months, she’ll be waiting for her turn to swing with her kids on The Gravity Rail at The Sensory Garden Playground, relaxing at Herrick Lake for a sunset picnic, or with friends at one of their favorite local outdoor patios for a bite to eat after a full day of fun! She is thrilled to highlight opportunities in our area that encourage diverse and engaging experiences for you and your family to participate.

Taylor Brush, Content Contributor

Taylor is a mom to her busy little toddler and a dog mom to her two German Shepherds. She currently lives in Elmhurst, where both her and her husband grew up! As an Early Childhood Educator, Taylor loves to watch her daughter engage and explore new things. You may see her and her daughter bundled up at Brookfield Zoo or neighborhood parks this winter because nothing will stop them from enjoying their days together. Taylor has a passion for cooking, but loves a good date night and a good Old Fashioned with her husband.

Bridget Hultgren, Content Contributor

A Chicago native, Bridget grew up in Portage Park before settling down in the quaint town of Riverside. She loves finding fun, kid-friendly hidden gems to explore on the weekends with her husband and two kids, ages 9 and 3. With a background in communications and fundraising, she is currently involved in several local civic organizations, along with coaching competitive cheer and leading her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. When she’s not overcommitting to activities, she can be found overcommitting to various knitting and crafting projects. 

Megan Roake, Content Contributor

Megan is a mom to 2 energetic boys (8 & 6 1/2) and the sweetest (almost) 4 year old girl.  Megan is also lucky enough to have 2 older stepchildren that she got to explore the western suburbs with when THEY grew up in this same area!  Megan is a Wheaton native, and now lives in Lisle with her husband and littles.  

In the summer, you can find Megan and her crew at Sea Lion Aquatic Park soaking in the sun and sand, checking out new parks with friends (especially those with splash pads!) or exploring the Midwest in their camper. Although she is not a fan of the cold, Megan finds that outdoor activities help her kids (and her) keep a positive attitude in the winter, and burn off all that energy! In the rare chance that Megan has free time, she enjoys trying new gluten free recipes, planning vacations, reading and working out. 

Megan was so grateful to have kidlist as a resource while she was navigating young motherhood (with 3 kids under 4), and she is now thrilled to be able to give back, and pass on her knowledge and experiences to other moms. 

Get the inside scoop by connecting with us!

Like Kidlist on Facebook

Stay connected with other parents and join the conversation on Facebook. We post links to updated information from the site, events, giveaways and other relevant fun. Leave comments, ask questions, post what is on your mind and upload photos of you and your kids having fun!

Follow us on Instagram

Get inspired by our pics of local adventures and don’t forget to tag us for a chance to be featured and use the hashtag #mykidlist when you post about places you found on Kidlist or things we should check out! And by the way, we like to see your adorable kid pics, so don’t be shy about tagging us with those too!

Tweet with us

We always tweet each topic covered on Kidlist with a link to the post so you can stay up to date even when you’re on the go.

Follow the Kidlist boards

Check out the Kidlist pinboard for kid-tested mom-approved at-home crafts. Rest assured that anything you try from the Kidlist pinboard is possible and full of possibilities for fun!

Subscribe to the email list

Let the posts come to you! Subscribers receive each post we write via email. Read Kidlist updates from your phone, computer or tablet, and plan fun things to do while your kids are taking a nap or at school.

Get local, kid-friendly content delivered straight to your inbox!
Join the kidlist email list or update your selections by filling out the form below.

Visit the site, check out the calendar, browse the menu up top for ideas, even use the search box. You can do all of these things from your desktop computer or on the mobile site if you are using your phone or tablet.

Behind the Scenes: The Making of Kidlist

We did a series on Instagram about the early years of Kidlist. How the name came about, who those little kids are in the logo, and Annie’s family members who help and support her effort to create a family-friendly resource for Chicago’s west and southwest suburbs!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kidlist • Activities for Kids (@kidlist)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kidlist • Activities for Kids (@kidlist)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kidlist • Activities for Kids (@kidlist)