School is out! While your kids may be focused on hitting the pool, these lazy, hazy months can also be a good time to hit the books and do some pleasure reading as a family. “It is critical for young people to stay engaged in learning over the summer, which many parents already know and is […]
My son is about to leave for his fourth summer at overnight camp. His first year, I was obsessed with making sure he was okay. My phone displayed his local weather and I ran to the mailbox daily, then eagerly scoured the camp photos posted each night. I was Sherlock Holmes, determined to find clues […]
Our list of kids doing extraordinary things could be confused for a morning talk show lineup: two entrepreneurs, a reality-TV star, a documentary filmmaker and an aspiring Olympic swimmer. Keep reading to learn more about these local kids and the uncommon paths that their young lives have taken. Know a kid who’s accomplishing some incredible […]
When Jack Yonover, 13, of Wilmette was in fifth grade, he was diagnosed with a tree nut allergy. The unexpected news not only meant a scary medical condition to navigate, but also transformed his relationship with food. Suddenly birthday parties, dinners out and visits to friends’ homes brought new hurdles. He and his family were […]
Ben Lehwald of Evanston is the 17-year-old star of ABC Family’s “Becoming Us.” The unscripted docu-series chronicles Lehwald’s life as his parents not only divorce, but his father, Charlie, transitions to a woman, Carly. Lehwald and his mother, Suzy Crawford, came up with the idea for the show to open eyes and some doors for […]
Subscription kits are all the rage. But, until now, there hasn’t been one targeted at children who love to build with LEGOs. That all changed when Parker Krex decided to create a subscription “brick” toy kit called Brick Loot that supplies kids with new building block toys like Legos on a regular basis. The catch? Krex […]
For as long as she can remember, Lily Born, 12, of Skokie has been designing and making things. She started out “making the most ridiculous inventions in the world,” she recalls—like the “nose pillow,” a tiny pillow for resting one’s nose. Then, when Lily was about 8, she noticed that her paternal grandfather’s Parkinson’s disease […]
Dads can be hard to shop for, but they deserve the best on their special day. Here are 14 exceptional Father’s Day gifts for the man who seems to have everything. 1. Harry Winston Project Z8 Limited Edition Automatic Timepiece If you really want to spoil dad, what better way than with a Harry Winston watch? […]
When you travel with your family by plane, you imply that the destination is the goal. When you take a road trip, you make a different declaration: There’s value in the journey. You have set your sights on discovering hidden gems and embracing the Zen-like qualities of the open road. A road trip offers a chance […]
Summer has finally arrived, which means it’s time for Make It Better’s annual “Best Of” survey! From restaurants to theaters, salons to boutiques, wedding vendors to landscapers, each year we poll you—our fabulous audience—to determine which businesses and resources are leading the pack in Chicago and on the North Shore. Voting is now closed. The winners […]
