Chicago

Kids can control the light show at Kohlights. Photo courtesy of Kohl's Children's Museum

Best Things To Do in Chicago in January with Kids: New Year's Eve, MLK , Jr. Weekend

Fairy tale balls, gnome hunts, and nerf nights all help beat the winter blues.

Sunburst has 45 tubing chutes open this winter, so there's room for everyone.

Best Snow Tubing Destinations for Families Near Chicago

Hit these slopes near Chicago for family-friendly snow tubing.

30 Days of Indoor Activities for Kids

Games, baking projects, and crafts galore will entertain all ages.

At-Home Guide for Families: 100s of Activities for Kids

Indoor activities, games, and online fun to keep kids busy during the pandemic.

GUIDE

The Chicago Wolves Ice Skating Rink at the Brookfield Zoo is made of a synthetic material called Glice that requires no water and does not need to be kept below 32 degrees. Photo Courtesy of the Chicago Zoological Society

Chicago Winter Fun Guide

Here's our ultimate guide to the best things to do with kids in Chicago this winter, from ice...

GUIDE

Best Sledding Hills in and around Chicago

When the snow falls, it's time to hit the hills.

Chicago Schools Reopen! Chicago Public School Calendar for 2020-21

As Chicago schools reopen, you'll want to bookmark this 2020-21 school calendar.

Learn to ski at Chestnut Mountain. Photo by Joey Wallis

The Best Ski and Snowboard Destinations for Families Near Chicago

Discover the best spots where Chicago families can ski and shred.

Party hats and pretty punch make virtual birthday celebrations special.

Virtual and Social Distancing Birthday Party Ideas for Kids

Birthday? How about a drive-by parade, a Zoom party, or a Broadway show from home?

In the heart of downtown Chicago a ribbon of ice at Maggie Daley Park winds through a rolling landscape providing an ice skating experience unlike any other.Photo courtesy of the park

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks for Chicago Kids and Families

One perk of a long, cold Chicago winter is the chance to glide across the ice all over the city.

Snow day activities keep kids' hands busy all day!

45 Snow Day Boredom Busters for Kids

Keep them happily entertained on a snow day before sledding begins.

Presidential Inauguration, photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Fayloga/DVIDSHUB.net/CC-BY-2.0

Free Virtual Events in January: Presidential Inauguration, Martin Luther King Celebrations, and Online Festivals

A new year, and we're such pros at virtual that we can Zoom celebrate a new president, MLK, and...

Easy Recipes for Kids

Simple but delicious recipes for families.

GUIDE

Fight the restlessness of quarantine, join in for LIVE ONLINE YogiKids classes held every day, twice a day!!! Photo courtesy of Yogi Nation

Find Free and Affordable Online Classes, Parties, and Camps on Poppins@Home

Explore tons of virtual free and low-cost fun with our new platform.

Coding Programs for Kids: Free and Cheap Websites That Teach Kids Programming

These programs teach kids how to code, build websites, apps, and more.

The Colors of Us can help kids talk about race and see differences as strengths.

21 Kids' Books About Racism, By Age

Books can help parents and kids wade through a difficult time and complex issue.

Virtual and Online Guide for Family Fun

Find fun online classes, entertainment, and more virtual things to do.

GUIDE

There are both woodland and paved trails at the Morton Arboretum. Photo by Maureen Wilkey

Best Places to Hike Near Chicago with Kids

Soak up nature in these forest preserves and parks near the Windy City.

Make the day special by letting your kid call the shots!

30+ Free Ways to Celebrate Your Kid's Birthday at Home

Make your kid's birthday special with these creative, no-cost ideas.

Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander

64 Easy Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home

Execute mind-blowing science experiments with stuff you have around the house.

50 Best Kids' Movies for Family Movie Night

These classic family movies include wild adventures, sci-fi, and coming-of-age tales.

65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age

It's not a bad time to go back to basics, especially when we have the kids' full attention.

Best Playgrounds in Chicago: Destination Play Zones Worth the Trip

In a city of great playgrounds, these are the swings, climbers, and slides worth the trip.

Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting.

Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects for Creative At-Home Fun

Bookmark this blockbuster list of arts and crafts and never run out of ideas for creative play.

Boredom Busters for Kids

Crafts, recipes, games, projects, and experiments to spark kids' imaginations!

GUIDE

Watch as the egg slides into the bottle!

How to Get an Egg into a Bottle: A Science Experiment with a Bit of Magic

Kids play both scientist and magician in this experiment.

Homeschool & Online Learning Resources for Families

We'll help you navigate a complex school year with these tools and resources.

GUIDE

Get ready to enjoy some mini golf near Chicago this summer! Photo courtesy of Maggie Daley Park/Facebook

15 Mini Golf Courses Near Chicago for Kid-Friendly Putt-Putt

There's no shortage of mini golf near Chicago—and it might just be one of the better summer...

Enjoy the sights of Chicago on a Shoreline Sightseeing Cruise.

Best Boat Rides for Chicago Area Families

Choose a speedy ride, sailboat, or relaxing river cruise with these Chicago boat tours.

10 Activities To Do with Grandparents on Zoom

Games and activities make virtual hangouts more fun and meaningful for all.

Walk the bridges at Go Ape USA. Photo courtesy the park

10 Zip Lines and Aerial Adventure Parks Near Chicago

Fly through the air or walk across a suspension bridge at these parks.

25 STEM Activities Easy Enough for Preschoolers

DIY projects for your smallest tinkerers, explorers, and scientists.

Create a colorful, texturized world with a DIY sensory bin. Photo by Emma Graig

10 Sensory Bin Ideas for Busy Toddlers

Turn a cheap container bin into a magical indoor play item.

22 Online Tutoring Services for Homework Help and Remote Learning

Find an online tutor in any subject with these services–some are available 24/7!

Kids as young as age 10 can help load and unload the dishwasher.

Chore Charts for Kids: Age-by-Age Lists and Free Printables

There's no better time to enlist your kids help with housework. Here are age-appropriate tasks.

Making time for reading each day is a low-key goal that works for all ages. Photo by Josh Applegate/Unsplash

The Realistic Guide to Homeschooling for Busy Parents

No one expects you to run a full school. Here are some realistic tips instead.

Online Birthing, Lamaze, and Parenting Classes for Parents-To-Be

Can't make it to an in-person childbirth class? There are online options!

Watch your sketch appear in this invisible ink science experiment!

Science Experiments for Kids: How to Make Invisible Ink

Write secret messages with this simple invisible ink recipe.

VIDEO

These free online classes and educational resources are perfect for homeschooling and remote learning..

30+ (Mostly FREE) Online Learning Resources, Apps, and Games for Kids

Supplement distance learning with these online lessons, apps, and more.

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country. Photo courtesy of NPS

Rocky Mountain National Park: Guide for Visiting with Kids

Expect plenty of wildlife sightings and family hikes on this trip!

Even if it's cloudy and raining outside, you can create sunshine and rainbows inside.

50 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day

Try one of these boredom-busting activities to turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.

Hand them a pail and a spoon, er, shovel, and let kids dig in the dirt.

Outdoor Fun with Kids: 30 Ways to Get Messy in the Backyard

Build a ladybug house, splatter paint, or just dig in the dirt!

13 Simple Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers to Do at Home

Create popsicle stick monsters, tinfoil Easter eggs, and more easy crafts with tots.

10 Outdoor Games from the '70s that It’s Time To Teach Your Kids

When folks say, “We just went outside and played,” can anyone remember what we played?

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Latest Articles

30+ Things To Do in Chicago This Winter with Kids

Meghan Rose , Jan 24 - Don't let the cold stop you: We've got indoor and outdoor picks for winter fun.READ MORE

10 Easy Instant Pot Weeknight Dinners for Busy Families

Ally Noel , Jan 24 - Easy recipes that get dinner on the table in an instant.READ MORE

Totally Relatable Moments from 'Little House on the Prairie's' Quarantine Episode

Anna Fader, Jan 23 - This quarantine episode may look very familiar to today's parents.READ MORE

Kids' Craft: How to Make a Snow Globe

Ally Noel, Jan 23 - Make your own personal blizzard in just three steps.READ MORE

Igloos, Carhops, and Greenhouses: Fun Chicago Outdoor Restaurants for Winter Family Dining

Maureen Wilkey, Jan 22 - Eating in one of these cool (but warm!) spaces is a special treat.READ MORE

15 Brainy Puzzle Games and Jigsaw Puzzles for Kids

Lisa Mancuso, Jan 21 - These brainy games keep kids thinking while they play.READ MORE

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks for Chicago Kids and Families

One perk of a long, cold Chicago winter is the chance to glide across the ice all over the city.

45 Snow Day Boredom Busters for Kids

Keep them happily entertained on a snow day before sledding begins.

Easy Recipes for Kids

Simple but delicious recipes for families.

GUIDE

Skiing, Snowboarding, & Snow Sports Guide

Find great family slopes, tubing, and boarding spots all around the country with our kid-friendly...

GUIDE

25 Exercise Games and Indoor Activities to Get Kids Moving

Try our list of 25 easy indoor exercise ideas to get everyone moving, laughing, and tired out.

Best Places to Hike Near Chicago with Kids

Soak up nature in these forest preserves and parks near the Windy City.

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