If your children are anything like mine, some of their first words were “moo” and “neigh.” One of our favorite summertime activities is to visit local farms, and we’re hoping the circumstances of this summer won’t stop us! There are a lot of great options in the Chicagoland area for barnyard animal lovers. Along with animal visits, many of these…
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 . . . Happy New Year! Ringing in the new year doesn’t have to be at midnight. We love to include our children in reminiscing about the past year’s blessings and ringing in the new year, without staying up past their bedtime! You can celebrate with a “noon year’s eve”, have an early countdown at…
Rock climbing walls are popping up all over the suburbs! They’re a great activity for kids and their families alike. That’s why we rounded up all the indoor rock climbing destinations in Chicagoland, from the city proper to the suburbs. It’s never too early to start rock climbing: many locations accept children as young as five years old and Ackerman…
With this list of places to go with a baby or toddler, the hardest part of your day will be getting out the door! Once you arrive at the destination of your choice, you and your baby will be seeing animals, climbing play structures, listening to story time or dancing to music. There are countless ways listed below to enjoy…
Kindergarten is the age when parents can breathe a collective sigh of relief. You’re no longer carrying a diaper bag around or worried that your toddler is going to run from you at the park. Celebrate this new independence by trying out places that may have felt intimidating before. These top activities are perfect for elementary-aged children as they transition…
Kids eventually hit a stage where they are “too old” for many of the places that you have frequented regularly to keep them entertained. Luckily, we have a whole bunch of fabulously fun ideas all geared specifically for the tween years! Check out our list for every type of tween out there, from the adventurous to the artsy. There are…
Does your child love to tinker, get lost in a pile of LEGOs, or take apart their toys? These interests are all related to STEAM: science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. At these STEAM classes, kids learn critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. They’ll have fun with friends while coding their own video game, designing their own invention, and so much…
Nature Cat, the award-winning PBS series, has a new exhibit at the Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview. This immersive exhibit, Nature Cat: Backyard & Beyond, encourages children to have an adventure and learn about nature, starting in their own backyard. Each area of the exhibit teaches children to explore nature using all five of their senses. Head to the Kohl…
It’s springtime in Chicagoland, and there’s beauty all around us! It’s the perfect time to take a stroll through an outdoor art festival to find that special piece of art to decorate your home, or maybe just to spark your own creativity . . . especially if you’ve got a budding artist in the family. Whatever your fancy, we’ve got…
It’s easy to run out of things to do with kids on a rainy day. That’s especially true in spring, when it’s a drag to be cooped up again after a long winter mostly indoors! This list of rainy-day fun around town (and at home) will help transform long, gloomy days into opportunities for cozy time together. 25 Things to Do with…
The total solar eclipse will be occurring on Monday, August 21, 2017. This will be the first total solar eclipse visible to the continental United States in 38 years. For more information about the Eclipse, including safety precautions, times to view the eclipse, and resources, please visit NASA’s page here. In Illinois, the path of totality will be crossing in…
The winter months are a perfect time for discovery and learning indoors at one of the many Chicago area children’s museums. We’ve put together a list of the offerings in the city and suburbs including best features, unique exhibit information, and our age recommendations. Some are ideal to spend a day, while others are suited to a shorter afternoon visit. Either…