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Chicago Parents
10 Strategies to Navigate Feeling Overwhelmed
As parents, most of us can relate to feeling overwhelmed. When we let these feelings fester, they can cause a lot of consequences internally, or lead to an external rupture. Let’s be honest, what parent hasn’t blown up before?. Laura van Dernoot Lipsky is a trauma exposure pioneer...
Your 4-Step Plan for High School Admission Success
In Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, middle school students and their parents have choices about which high school to attend. Whether your child will attend a school in your suburb’s public school district, a private or independent school, or a neighborhood or selective enrollment school in Chicago, early planning is the best — and least stressful — path to high school admission success.
Athletic Programs Spark Student Enthusiasm
Parents know that physical education is important for children’s physical and mental health. The problem is: How do you get kids up, moving and engaged?. The British International School of Chicago-Lincoln Park tackles this issue head-on by taking a proactive approach to athletic programs from day one. “Our key principle is helping children get comfortable being physically active,” says Adam Webb, the school’s Director of Athletics. “We want them to associate movement with fun, so we make sure that their class time with us is a positive experience.”
New Sculptures to Be Unveiled at Morton Arboretum This Month
Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset daily. Cost: $17/adults 18-64, $15/seniors 65+, $12/children 2-17, free/children 2 and under. Admission is discounted on Wednesdays. If you’ve been to The Morton Arboretum in the past few years, you’ve probably come across at least one mythical, larger-than-life sculpture — they’re hard to miss! From lovable trolls made from natural materials to sculptures that blended humans and nature together, the arboretum has made it a tradition to host art exhibits that fit seamlessly into the gorgeous natural scenery.
Success at Your Own Pace
Setting your child up for success is a key concern when choosing a school. Every child has different learning needs and parents soon discover that one size doesn’t necessarily fit all. Since its founding in 1981, Chicago City Day School has embraced this fact with a non-competitive approach that...
STEM Innovation from Roots to Robots at St. Monica Academy
High on the wishlist for parents who want to prepare their children for a successful future: a rigorous curriculum and plenty of focus on the whole child. At St. Monica Academy, students from age 3 through grade eight engage in a faith-based education that offers a strong foundation, especially in highly sought-after STEM subjects.
How to Talk to Your Child About School Shootings
As the number of school shootings continues to rise in the U.S., students, teachers and parents are becoming increasingly concerned about safety at school. Between active shooter drills now being commonplace and constant media coverage of tragic mass shootings in the news and on social media, it’s no wonder that U.S. children are becoming more anxious and panicked about school shootings.
Itsy Bitsy Play and Cafe Indoor Play Space Opens in North Center
When Sara Witt’s son, Seamus, was a baby, she struggled to achieve the coveted work-life balance we all dream of. The Lincoln Square mom was distracted, juggling the responsibilities of working from home while, at the same time, tending to Seamus. Witt faced a tough situation that many moms encounter — she didn’t want to commit to costly daycares, inconsistent babysitters or be too far away from him.
Free Reading Websites for Kids
If you have a hard time getting your kids to enjoy reading, try a different approach. Show your kids that reading can actually be fun with these games, activities, audio books, worksheets and read along websites. Some websites offer free trials and others have more premium packages with more learning...
The Power of Music at Merit
When Analia Arias was given a cello two years ago as part of her elementary school’s music program, the Arias family had no idea they were about to embark on a musical journey that would include the whole family. The now seventh grader was so excited about her new...
Outdoor Classrooms and Nature Play
For families living in the city without access to a personal backyard, finding a wide, outdoor space for young children to safely play, explore and learn can be difficult. This is exactly the niche that Bubbles Academy was looking to fill when it created its large Nature Playground. “With our city families in mind, one of our goals when we began the school was to offer our students a big, open ‘green’ space filled with nature and all the wonderful things that entails, while also being safe and clean for little ones,” says Natalie Monterastelli, Co-Owner and Executive Director of Bubbles Academy, which serves preschool children ages 0-5.
An Immersive PAW Patrol Gaming Experience is Coming to Oak Brook
A new immersive PAW Patrol gaming experience based on the beloved kids’ TV show will be added to the Immersive Gamebox catalog on June 14. At Chicagoland’s Immersive Gamebox location in Oak Brook, players will interact with high-tech motion tracking and surround sound (no bulky headsets required!) as they become fully immersed in Adventure Bay. Play as Ryder or a favorite pup — including Chase, Rubble, Skye and more — as you work as a team to navigate training modules from The Lookout in Adventure Bay.
How to Boost Your Kid’s Confidence
We all want to raise emotionally resilient, confident and compassionate children. Still, it’s difficult to watch when they struggle, when they say “I’m just not good at….” or “I’ll never be as good as …..”. We shower them with “that’s not...
Try These Alternatives to Book Club This Summer
If the idea of a book club evokes anxiety about actually finding time to read the book, much less force your brain to analyze subplots and themes, you might want to try another way to connect with friends this summer. Here are alternative “clubs” that are anything but anxiety-inducing!...
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Ideas to Celebrate You
There are two days each year where we get to honor moms, dads and those who have played these important roles in our lives. Even so, we’d argue every day should be about recognizing and celebrating these special people. Most parents say it’s not the gifts they want, but quality time with their family or time off from the regular chores. Try these ideas this year.
My Mantra: Love Has the Power to Change the World
Leslie Randolph is a suburban mom and self-confidence coach for teenage girls (and the teenage girl that still exists in all of us). She helps teens learn to love and believe in themselves so they can go after goals with confidence. Find her on Instagram. Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.
Supporting Student Success
If you’re a parent of a student on the autism spectrum, with a mood disorder, or a mental health challenge like depression, you know all too well that some educational settings are not a good fit for your child. Or maybe you’re just beginning the school journey and don’t know where to turn.
5 No-Cook Meals Perfect for Hot Summer Days
When the temps are high, the last thing anyone feels like doing is turning on the stove. And while I’m pretty sure I could make a meal out of chips and salsa, my husband and daughter require a little more substance to their dinners. So what is a (literal) hot mom to do? Try one of these no-cook dinners that are easy to throw together but still manages to pack plenty of flavor.
Creating Young Leaders
You know that you’d prefer a more structured education for your child, but you’re not sure if a military academy is the best thing for them or your family. What are your options?. Luckily, St. John’s Northwestern Academies offers families a Prefect Academy that serves as a side-by-side...
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