Maureen Wilkey

Latest posts by Maureen

Best Indoor Swimming Pools Near Chicago for Families

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Fri, 03/10/2023 - 9:30am

One, two, three, jump into one of these indoor swimming pools in Chicago! The Peninsula—Gold Coast, Chicago

Swimming can be fun year round at one of these indoor swimming pools in Chicago.

Chicago is called the Third Coast for a reason, and all summer long kids here enjoy our plethora of beaches; but come winter, those swimming options dry up (sorry, bad pun). Sledding, skating, and winter sports are great, but sometimes kids want to go for a swim, and in Chicago, that means an indoor swimming pool. That's why we found a whole bunch of places kids can go swimming right now, safely.

Whether you're just looking for a place to dip your toe in or dive into a full weekend away, the Chicago area has many choices for indoor swimming pools for the whole family. Discover hotels with private indoor pool times or day passes, theme park-like adventures, and awesome indoor pools with water parks for a mini-staycation—here's how to get kids in the pool in Chicago anytime.

25 Creative Ways To Celebrate Pi Day With Kids

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Mon, 03/06/2023 - 11:00am

There's nothing like pie on Pi Day! Photo by Mommy Poppins

Of course, you celebrate Pi Day with pie! But we've got loads of other activities and treats for celebrating this infinitely fun mathematical holiday. Why is Pi Day celebrated on March 14? The circumference of a circle divided by its diameter is always the same number: Pi, aka 3.14159265...

On Pi Day, many restaurants across the US offer deals on all kinds of pie—pizza pie, cherry pie, pot pie, you name it. There are even events that celebrate Pi, pie, or other punny Pi-related things. We've gathered up some fun deals and activities to help you and your kids celebrate this unique math-centered holiday. And if your child happens to be celebrating a birthday on or near Pi Day, check out these 60 birthday freebies for kids, including a free slice of pizza pie from Sbarro's!

Old Town with Kids: What to Do Just North of Downtown Chicago with Kids

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 11:54am

Chicago History Museum located in Old Town. Photo by Maureen Wilkey

Every generation seems to pick a new neighborhood that will be trendy in Chicago, but for many decades, Old Town has been an interesting mix of old school Chicago and fun, new places. Bordered by Division Street on the south, Armitage on the north, Lake Michigan to the East, and Clybourn Avenue and Halsted to the West, Old Town was originally know as The Cabbage Patch during its early development by German settlers in the 1800s. Today, its proximity to both downtown and interesting north side neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Wicker Park make it a favorite for city dwellers and tourists alike. And, there's plenty of things to do with kids within this single square mile of the city.

Old Town has a history of great art and architecture, which is being built on today with the growing popularity of Lighthouse Art Space. It's also home to classic Chicago locales like the Chicago History Museum and The Second City, the birthplace of sketch comedy. To find out more about what's going on in Old Town, check out our handy Chicago family calendar.

If you're visiting Chicago and feel like exploring other great neighborhoods, check out our 3 Days in Chicago itinerary.

Best Chicago Museums For Kids and Families

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Sun, 02/12/2023 - 8:03am

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Center

There are so many museums in Chicago! Here are our favorite museums for kids in Chicago.

Chicago has a lot to offer for kids: great food, the tallest building in the U.S., trains, and the lakefront. But one of its biggest draws is its wealth of amazing museums. Sure, the half dozen children's museums in the city and suburbs are a huge draw, but there are at least as many museums that appeal to the whole family. Learn about anything from science to history to art to writers in museums in downtown Chicago, in the neighborhoods, or in the suburbs. For the record, we had a tough time narrowing this article down to our favorite dozen, so click through the links to see some additional favorites at the end of the article, or check out our Chicago Museum Guide.

Of course many of these museums have their own free days, and many of them have fun events geared toward families and listed on our calendar. But whether you're going for a specific event or just to have fun, you should have a great time at any of these fantastic (and educational) museums for kids and families.

Pssst...you can save on some of these museums and other top attractions in Chicago with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass.

Chicago's Best Indoor Places for Tweens and Teens To Hang Out

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Fri, 02/03/2023 - 8:48am

An offbeat Chicago museum makes a fun outing for teenagers. Photo courtesy of the WNDR Museum

Looking for indoor things to do for teens in Chicago? Here are out favorite safe, indoor tween and teen hangouts in the Chicago area.

How is it that teens and tweens seem to get bored so quickly? And is it worse when the weather gets dicey? No worries—we've got plenty of solutions for parents of tweens and teens who NEED to get out of the house, even if it's freezing and wintry mix-ing all over the place.

We also have some great lists for teen and tween birthday party ideas that will include some fun venues for non-birthday events too, and a list of 100 things for kids to do when they're bored. So get them out there and enjoy a few hours without the eye-rolling.

10 Best Winter Hikes In Chicago To Do With Kids

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Fri, 01/20/2023 - 1:16pm

Northerly Island Snow Trek hike near Chicago. Photo courtesy of Chicago Parks and Recreation

Looking for kid-friendly hikes in Chicago? Here are our favorite winter hikes near Chicago to do with kids.

Chicago's 2023 winter season has been mild enough to get kids outside to burn off energy. Our favorite winter hikes in Chicago are fun even in freezing temperatures, plus they're free entertainment. And the great thing about living in the City in a Garden is that you don't have to drive several hours to get to a natural area.

We've rounded up 10 great places to take your kids for a winter hike near Chicago, no matter what the weather. With easy hikes of a mile or less, your kids can find animals (or their tracks), view amazing natural landscapes, see works of art, or learn more about the natural environment in the Midwest. We recommend wearing boots with good traction (or renting snowshoes if your kids are big enough and the snow is over three inches) and overestimating the time it will take to walk each path. Hiking with kids is more fun if you take it slow and easy. Bring your camera so you can remember your amazing journey.

Check out our Winter Fun Guide for more seasonal fun for Chicago kids. And if you lost a mitten and need to head indoors instead, check out our 21 Free Things To Do in Chicago On Cold and Rainy Days.

How To Get Free Stuff, Save Money, and Reduce Waste

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Thu, 01/19/2023 - 12:00pm

There are so many fun ways to reuse your Imperfect Foods boxes. Photo courtesy of Imperfect Foods

January is free month here at Mommy Poppins, which means we are all thinking about how to get free stuff and save money. But a new year also means new resolutions, and one of them is to be good to the planet. Luckily, saving money and being Earth-friendly go hand-in-hand. Sure, we may have to spend some extra cash upfront on stuff like compost bins, reusable water bottles, and new light bulbs. But over the long term, these things will help you save money and be less wasteful. And that's a win for both you and the planet! And some of this stuff is free right away...

Here are 12 ideas on how to get free stuff, save money, and cut down on waste. For more ways to have fun with your family without dipping into your wallet, check out your city's Guide to Free Things To Do with Kids. And visit our Earth Kids Guide—and sign up for our Earth Kids newsletter—for more ideas on living more sustainably every day.

Bluey's Big Play: A Preschooler's Rock Concert

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Tue, 01/10/2023 - 3:23pm

If you have preschoolers and you don't live under a rock, you might have heard of Bluey. The Australian cartoon about a family of heelers (a breed of dog) has swept the nation with its seven-minute episodes full of catchy music and jokes that are as much for grown-ups as they are for kids. Our kids are around the same age as the title character and her little sister, Bingo, and like the family in the show, our older child looks like Dad and our younger child looks like Mom, so we were early adopters of the Bluey craze. When we found out that Bluey's Big Play: The Stage Show would be coming to the Chicago Theatre for real life, we jumped in our car with the "Nice Parking Spot, Rita" bumper sticker and drove as fast as we could to get tickets.