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Kidlist
15 Best Games for a Family Game Night
My extended family is growing and we are always looking for fun things to do together. Especially with the holidays coming up it’s nice to have a few ideas up your sleeve that appeal to multiple age groups! The Kidlist team did some brainstorming and came up with a list of great games to play with big families, family reunions, and family parties. Do you have more ideas? We would love to hear them!
The Chicago Toy and Game Fair is Back!
We always loved going to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (ChiTAG)! It’s the biggest toy and game fair in North America that’s open to the public and it’s so fun to check out the newest toys and games. The fair went virtual for the last couple years, so there’s a lot of excitement this year as it goes back to an in-person event and moves to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Mark your calendar for December 10, 2022 from 10am-6pm and December 11 from 10am-5pm. And we are giving away a family pack, which includes five tickets to each day of the fair and parking!
I Took My Space-Obsessed Kids to Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, and If They Had Their Way, They’d Still Be There
Before I tell you all about the Adler Planetarium, you need to understand that my kids are… shall we say… big into space. Our fridge is covered in drawings of the solar system, every trip to the library yields a new stack of space books, and they love those YouTube videos comparing the sizes of mind-bogglingly ginormous objects in space. In my house, it’s all space, all the time. So we figured the planetarium was probably a good bet for a family trip.
How to Make a Cardboard Robot
If you have kids that are into robots, this project is for you! You can make the robot any size you would like using these instructions- it just depends on what size boxes you have! It’s a great way to repurpose Amazon boxes or anything you have lying around. This cardboard robot is easy to make and your kids can get involved too.
Sloomoo Institute Chicago: A Multi-Sensory Slime Experience
Calling all slime fans: you do not want to miss Sloomoo Institute Chicago. As we walked out of the doors from this experience, my kids told me it was the best day of their lives! This multi-sensory slime experience had something in store in every corner we turned: a section with Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) sounds, a waterfall slime area where you get to drenched in slime, a slime lake, a DIY slime area with various textured and scented slimes all over the exhibition, photo opportunities, and more.
Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum in Lisle
We recently went to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University in Lisle and were amazed at all there was to see! There are over 3,500 mammals, birds, sea creatures, reptiles, amphibians, insects, skeletons, and more to examine and learn about throughout the museum. When we arrived, the museum worker...
Get Immersed in Harry Potter: Magic at Play Chicago
All Wizards, Witches and Muggles are transported to a day at Hogwarts while exploring Harry Potter: Magic at Play. Located in Water Tower Place in the heart of Chicago, visitors will practice their Defense Against the Dark Arts, get lost in the Forbidden Forest, and even sample a round of Butterbeer. Harry Potter: Magic at Play is filled with interactive exhibits and plenty of photo opportunities for all of the biggest Harry Potter fans. Details below will help guide your visit through the Great Hall, the Quidditch Field, and much more.
Family-Friendly Breweries in the Western Suburbs
For beer and cider fans, enjoying the local brewery is one of the easiest ways to shop local. After all, most of our local breweries are owned and run by folks who live in the nearby communities! Our western suburbs are home to a variety of relaxed, family-friendly breweries where kids can be kids and parents can enjoy a cold beer or cider (and in some locations, a full kitchen and food menu). Nearly all of the businesses on our list have outdoor dining space, offer non-alcoholic beers, and rent out space for private events. Let’s brew up some fun together!
Giveaway! Galaxi Fun Zone
Galaxi Fun Zone, a glow-in-the-dark, one-of-a-kind indoor family fun center in Aurora, is offering one lucky Kidlist reader 4 all attractions passes valued at $149! Keep reading to find out all the fun you can have there, party options, and how you can enter the giveaway. They opened in 2020 and are excited to share all they have to offer.
Nothing Scary about ‘Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster’ at the Chicago Children’s Theatre
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster uses hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs to bring Mo Willems’s books to life. Manual Cinema wanted to re-create the experience of holding one of Willems’s book pages, which are big, bold, colorful, and full of visual rhythm, with a playful use of scale. Like all Manual Cinema productions, you can watch the big screen like a traditional movie, or watch the artists below as they create the story in real time… There is no wrong way to watch the show!
Kids Art Classes and Studios: Drawing, Painting, and More
Art classes are popping up everywhere around the suburbs! Art, drawing and painting classes are wonderful ways for your little Picassos to express themselves while developing motor skills, confidence, social development and more. Creative kiddos of all ages can draw or paint during open studio time, classes, workshops, and summer camps. This is the one list you’re going to want handy if you’re looking for the perfect art class for your kid.
Chicagoland Children’s Choirs and Youth Choirs
Children’s choirs are help kids hone their skills, build confidence, and partake in a group that fosters creativity and respect. Plus, singing together is an excellent way to make new friends! Children’s choirs across Chicagoland welcome kids of many ages to come and join their voices together. We’ve got you covered with our list to help you find the right choir for your kids.
Dance Classes for Kids in the Western Suburbs
Dance is great for fitness, coordination, and fun! Whether your family has an aspiring breakdancer or a ballerina (or both), the western suburbs are full of awesome options. Many of the studios listed below offer the typical ballet and tap, but also hip hop, instruction for boys, and classic cultural dance styles. Check them out and bust a move to a studio near you!
Chicago’s Museum of Ice Cream is a Picture-Perfect Sugar Rush
Museum of Ice Cream transports visitors to a candy-colored world of sprinkles and scoops that’s tucked away inside the Tribune Tower off of Michigan Avenue. Unlimited ice cream treats, a giant ball pit “pool” filled with plastic sprinkles, and beautiful exhibits galore are designed to delight visitors of all ages. We headed downtown to see how the experience held up as a destination for families with young kids.
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Your resource for kid-friendly activities, events and classes in the west and southwest suburbs of Chicago.
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