Taking the stress out of school
Spending the day away from home, meeting new people and the prospect of learning are the hallmarks of beginning

Off to a healthy school year
After a summer spent dealing with sunburns and bug bites, thoughts of avoidable school sports injuries

Aboard the school bus: 3 things to watch for
Everyone knows to tell their kids to stay on the sidewalk until the bus doors open.

Be the coolest mom in the carpool lane
Start your engines! Soon you’ll join the other moms in the single-file, school-front showdown known as the carpool lane.

Be an advocate
As a parent of a special needs child, you want your actions to be supportive as well as effective.

Dress for recess

Back to school fashion

Excuse busters
Summer always provides fun and easy ways for kids to be active.

Cramming for kindergarten
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On a recent afternoon in Niles, a 4-year-old girl sits down at a desk, pencil in hand and waits quietly

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
The spirit of St. Nick is alive and well in a corner of southern Indiana, where you’ll experience a bit of Honest Abe

Exploring the Tribune tower
Many downtown Chicago attractions lend themselves to fun and unforgettable experiences with children.

Best hotels for kids
Whether you live in the suburbs or the city itself, a night or two with room service and a pool can be a refreshing mini-vacation

A different kind of normal
When Amy Fritsch talks about her 5-year-old son, Ben, she tends to gush.

With all her heart
Randy Martin cried and begged as his grandfather told him to pack a suitcase.

Life goes on
For Aurora nurse Kim Hammelman, getting pregnant and suffering a miscarriage caused her to have a change of heart.

Starring...the new baby
A new baby is exciting, but the youngest members of the family might not fully share your joy.

When dreams sour
After a long day, parents want to settle into bed for a restful sleep—a whole night of uninterrupted bliss.

The secret many moms keep
Pelvic health is not a topic most moms typically discuss. But there can be plenty of problems

The secret many moms keep
Pelvic health is not a topic most moms typically discuss. But there can be plenty of problems

Can-do kid
We’re all familiar with the titles of president, vice president, CEO and CFO in the workplace, but what about CBO and CNO?

Dreams come true
Like many boys, Lawson Sizemore wanted to play baseball more than anything else in the world.

Donna Searcy of Romeoville
If you want your kids to be ready to start the new school year, you have to first close out the summer,

Girl Scouts change with the times
More than 97,000 Girl Scouts, in 245 communities, came together when the seven councils servicing six Illinois counties

What’s in your neighborhood
South suburban resource guide

It can’t be that time already
The big yellow cardboard school bus filled with school supplies stopped me in my tracks as I headed down the aisle

Letters
Feedback

The plight of preschool
Don’t blink, they grow up way too fast." I would hear that from countless people:

Dad trip
At the end of every summer I am lucky enough to be in charge of my two kids for a week

What to do about bullies
Readers shared their tips at ChicagoParent.com about how they help their children deal with bullies.

Leaping—and creeping—lizards!
The exhibit "Lizards and the Komodo King" at the Shedd Aquarium continues to wow visitors and Faust,

Got a pigeon-toed child?
Pigeon toes, bowed legs, knock knees. These common foot and leg deformities of childhood

Moving with kids
We were surrounded by boxes. Some had already seen active duty in more than their fair share of moves

FAB mama
If your closet is still in transition from your maternity days and your little one is far beyond crawling,

Snacking to satisfy hunger and health
Growing children need snacks. Their nutrient needs are often not met by meals alone.

Snacking to satisfy hunger and health
Growing children need snacks. Their nutrient needs are often not met by meals alone.

Walking with dinosaurs
Take a journey back more than 200 million years when dinosaurs ruled the Earth.

Living LEGOs in Schaumburg
Kids provide the imagination, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre provides the raw materials.

Airport offers alternatives
While politicians battle over a third airport in Peotone, northern Illinois residents already have a great alternative

A new take on the old ballgame
Michael Goodman isn’t interested in being taken out to the ball game.

Opening the gates to equal parenting
It’s natural for mothers to feel a sense of ownership over the baby they carried for nine months.

Chicago’s national treasure
Ella Jenkins, the woman considered "The First Lady of Children’s Music,"

Reward your school
Drink a Coke, reward your school. That’s the idea behind the new Coca-Cola Company program,

Cribs can pose danger to infants
Jardine has recalled 320,000 Berkley, Hilton, Positano, Spindle and Windsor (certain model numbers only)

Aging out of the system
For 17 years, Shantaye Wonzer has been a foster kid. She’s moved more than 15 times,

Weighing in on childhood obesity
One out of every six children in the United States is obese—and adults are taking notice

Leaders get low grades by youth
Chicago teens have joined other youths nationwide to turn the tables on adults—

Leaders get low grades by youth
Chicago teens have joined other youths nationwide to turn the tables on adults—

A link between juice and obesity?
Childhood obesity and the consumption of fruit juice are not necessarily related,

Missed childhood vaccines
While there’s certainly controversy for some parents regarding vaccinations, childhood vaccines play a significant role

Before the bell rings
We all know that crazy mornings make for crazy days. Being on time is a key habit to nurture in your children.

Sleep matters for school performance
If your child is having trouble focusing in school, one of the first questions you should ask yourself as a parent is:

Back-to-school stories
I know, you can’t wait for the end of August and the beginning of another school year.

Eco-entertainment for all ages
I admit it. I am biased. I prefer to write about CDs and children’s music artists who bring some sort of educational

Fantasy and danger await readers
Tamisin always felt a little out of place. The Halloween she was 11,

August 7, 2008
Get out there and play. Celebrate our city’s history in a way Chicagoans are proud of—with a parade. In honor of the summer’s impending end, as well as black history, enjoy floats, marching bands and the inspirational message of the Bud Billiken Day Parade and Picnic Saturday.

August 14, 2008
Get out there and play. Look, up in the sky (and across the lake), it’s a boat, it’s a plane, it’s the Chicago Air and Water Show. Pack a picnic and bring a blanket to sit along the lakefront between Fullerton Avenue and Oak Street. The show begins on Friday from 3-9 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the water show begins at 9 a.m., while the air show runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

August 21, 2008
Get out there and play. Put on your dancing shoes for a weekend of music and dancing at ¡Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival. In its 20th year, the free festival will bring a wide range of Latin music—from salsa to reggaeton and mariachi to norteña—to Grant Park, 331 E. Randolph St., Chicago.

August 28, 2008
Get out there and play. The idea of taking the family to listen to jazz may sound a little intimidating, but it shouldn’t be. Show your kids how cool jazz can be this weekend at the Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park, 55 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, and Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago, through Sunday. In its 30th year, the Chicago Jazz Fest is Chicago’s longest running music festival.