If you've got a child in public school, you live by the school calendar, and after a year of fits and starts, delays, and COVID-induced quarantines and closures, parents are wondering what this school year will bring. As back-to-school looms, it's looking like students will return to school in semi-normal fashion (on August 30), with in-person learning taking place on campuses across the city five days a week. The Chicago Public School Calendar for the 2021-2022 school year is below, and you'll want to bookmark it now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

Read on for all the dates and details of the current 2020-21 school year plan.

We don't want to condone lying, but sometimes a parent has to rely on a little white lie to get through the day...or to just emerge unscathed from Target's toy aisle. A little white lie might also be put to use to coax a kid into a much-needed nap or away from the ice cream truck that always shows up 10 minutes before dinnertime.

We recently asked our readers about the funniest lies they had told their kids, and wow, some of these are next-level genius parenting hacks!

One of the oldest hamlets on Long Island, Bay Shore's historic roots date back to the 1600s. The British armed forces used it as a headquarters during the American Revolution, and George Washington even spent some time at Sagtikos Manor. As the centuries went on, Bay Shore developed into a vacation destination for city-dwellers, and eventually housing developments took over. Still, modern Bay Shore has no shortage of family-friendly destinations worth a visit.

From Main Street to the marina, here are the top spots to explore in Bay Shore with kids. Find more family-friendly towns in our Moving Guide to Long Island.

While it’s not exactly a secret, Ferndell has remained—almost exclusively—a locals-only walking trail in the middle of Griffith Park where you can always find a swath of green space where your crew can run free, along with lots and lots of cool shade from the forest trees above. (Yes, even on the hottest days of summer.) Hunt crawdads and tadpoles, wonder at the hanging ferns, and play on the bridges. As if this weren’t enough, at the end of the Ferndell Trail and in the shadow of Griffith Observatory, you’ll find one of LA’s greatest secret treasures: The Trails Cafe, where a cool drink and a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie await. Read on for the scoop on spending a day at this lovely little nook in the heart of the city.

Is your child interested in exploring the "hows," "whys," and "what-ifs" of the world around them? STEM classes can be a wonderful children's activity to foster curiosity and help kids think critically and creatively. We've rounded up 14 STEM classes for kids in New Jersey, which offer instruction in coding, robotics, architecture, engineering, chess, and more.

For more kids' activities, be sure to check out our guide to the Best Kids Classes and Activities in New Jersey.

One pandemic silver lining: At-home birthday party services have expanded their offerings and notched up the engagement factor for optimal birthday party fun. So, consider hosting your next soiree at home with the help of these birthday party pros.

Don't let the at-home birthday party setting fool you—you and your little one have plenty of options from which to choose. From drive-in style movie nights and mobile spas to pop-up glamping tents and backyard laser tag competitions, these at-home birthday party services give kids fabulous entertainment options in a comfortable setting.

All of the options below service all of Long Island. For more party planning help, check out our Long Island Party Guide.

When it's time to get your little ones toes wet, you want a trusted place to take swimming lessons. You may have a little fish or maybe a child who is scared around water. Either way, swimming lessons are important for teaching kids to be comfortable and safe at Connecticut's many pools, lakes, and beaches. There are many pools that offer Mommy and Me swim classes and ongoing skill-building lessons in the water. 

Still looking for splishy-splashy fun? We also have a list of Best Splash Pads, Splash Parks and Water Playgrounds in Connecticut.

Not sure what to do with your baby or toddler in Chicago after maternity leave is over or in the middle of a long cold winter? Looking for a class or lesson to take with your preschooler so you don't have to think of activities to entertain them constantly? Chicago parents can choose from dozens of Parent & Me classes and all of these Mommy & Me classes (and Daddy & Me classes, too!) focus on activities that babies and parents can do together to bond and spend some quality one-on-one time. With swim classes, yoga classes, dance classes, and outdoor activities, there are classes for every kind of family, baby, toddler, and parent to enjoy in the Chicago area.

Check our guide to the Best Kids Classes and Activities in Chicago for more kids' activities and programs.