According to the American Pregnancy Association, “Nesting during pregnancy is the overwhelming desire to get your home ready for your new baby,” and it’s a common instinct that occurs during the third trimester. Whether you experience the nesting urge or not, you’ll want to get as organized as possible while you anticipate the arrival of […]
Pack your wagons! And don’t be afraid of those little goblins that boo (hoo). From a mom who’s been around the block a few times, here are some must-haves for your Halloween bag of tricks—everything you need for a night without any bumps in the dark! Wagon: With little ones, having a great wagon is […]
The voters have spoken! Thousands of readers took the time to tell us what they find best about the North Shore and Chicago. This year, over 90,000 verified votes were cast in over 11 categories in our annual Best of 2014 awards, and we couldn’t be prouder you responded in such numbers. Here are our […]
Opera is a terrific entertainment for all ages. Brilliant vocalism is the centerpiece, of course—opera is famous for its solo and ensemble singing—but it also incorporates thrilling choral and orchestral music, plus the visual stimulation of fabulous scenery and costumes, and the theatrical excitement of great acting, dancing, even sword-fighting. It’s all performed live, almost […]
Your purse is a one-stop shop—bank, first-aid kit, fashion-emergency-solver, beauty bar and boredom buster—all in one. Keep these items in your bag at all times, and you’ll be ready to conquer anything. For fashion emergencies Velcro adhesive dots allow you to turn up a sleeve that is too long, secure a fallen hem, and hold […]
Are you your kid’s biggest superfan? Each year, about 35 million children play organized sports. If you ask kids why they play, most just want to have fun. In fact, according to a study by Michigan State University’s Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, 65 percent of kids say they want to be with […]
Turn your little ones into nature lovers with these fun activities—no batteries required. Become an Animal Detective It sounds simple, but one of the best ways to help kids appreciate a love of nature is to take them on a walk,” says Rafael Rosa, Vice President of Education at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. “You […]
Letting go of long-forgotten belongings can be tough for kids. Like adults, children form emotional attachments to things, because they connect their stuff with the people and experiences that brought them together. The late Fred Rogers, host of the PBS series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” once said, “The best thing about things is they remind […]
If you give your kids a personality test, are you acquiring an invaluable tool that will help you parent better, or encouraging stereotypes and labeling? I asked myself that question recently when one of my favorite bloggers, career expert Penelope Trunk, wrote a post about knowing your child’s Myers-Briggs type. Trunk is a fan of […]
As parents, we all want to prepare our children to enter the world. The question is how to best do this. Is it by filling their days with structure, sports and lessons? Or is there another way? I believe there is: open-ended play. While structure, sports and lessons do have value, without open-ended play, […]
