Pool play
Most kids love water. Babies splash in it, toddlers pour it from cup to cup, older children dive through it

Making the most of summer
The endless summer of childhood games and favorite novels can sometimes promise more than it delivers.

Eat your veggies
If your kids are anything like mine, they aren’t gobbling down plates of sun chokes, beet

Warm days, cool food
Children and picnics could very well be the perfect summertime combination.

Fit summer, fun summer
According to the American Medical Journal, the physical fitness and health-related benefits

Two under 2
If Charlie, Andrew and Logan could talk, they would have a lot to discuss.

Heading down to bear bonnais
During Bears Camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, starting July 23, families may wonder

You are what you wear
Like many moms, Elena Lashmet of Lombard had a lovely stroller when her eldest daughter, Fiona,

Chicago by foot
If you suffered through this past year’s wet and soggy weather,

Six Flags on a budget
A day spent at an amusement park can make your wallet feel like it’s taken one spin too many

There’s nothing to do!
The summer camps are paid for, the sprinkler is busy and the fridge is fully stocked with rocket pops

Can-do kid
Especially during the month of July when we’re celebrating our country’s history,

What’s in your neighborhood
South suburban resource guide

Macaroni and tears
Ever try talking a 12-year-old boy through cooking a box of macaroni and cheese?

Letters
Dads vs. moms
Kids need dads
Gender doesn’t equal threat
Don’t self-diagnose a child
Mutual respect, mutual safety

Go-go boots travesty
My middle daughter is in middle school and stuck in the middle of the need to fit in.

The paci party
When my daughter was born she took to the pacifier immediately.

Out and About
Bees don’t like being bothered. Readers share a few encounters with the buzzers at ChicagoParent.com.

Fab mama
Life as a mom can, at times, seem like the craziest voyage.

Avoid food poisoning this summer
The mother of one of my patients called me because all three of her little ones were having diarrhea

Thank you and so long for now
When I started writing this column in December 2004, I was 46 years old and my girls were just 13 and 10.

Summer camp: a rite of passage
I told Noah about the Vaseline on the toilet seat. And about putting conditioner in the shampoo

Little kitchen helpers
Looking for opportunities to spend quality time with your child?

Picture-perfect petals
Summer is in full bloom. From fragrant rose bushes to colorful petunias and graceful ferns,

Urban adventures
If you're looking for some family entertainment on a budget, check out the city of Chicago’s new

The happiness factor
Childhood is all about being happy, right? Not really,

A view from above
Families who like visiting faraway galaxies should check out Adler Planetarium’s new show

Beyond the burger
Eating out with kids can sometimes leave a bad aftertaste.

Playing it safe with fireworks
Nine-year-old Sabrina Hersh of Chicago has never enjoyed one of those American rites of passage:

Getting to art and soul of therapy
Getting children to talk about what’s troubling them can be challenging, but oftentimes art can open up

Warming up to a tough topic
Global warming can be a tough topic to discuss with kids, but the Kidsworks Touring Theatre Co.

The most important question to ask
Almost 20 percent of homes in Illinois have guns, but for many parents, asking other parents

Hidden dangers?
Chemicals tied to cancer, birth defects, neurological and other health problems were found in common

EPA changes rules on smog
The National Research Council’s recently released report on smog-related deaths

Groundbreaking fertility test launched in Illinois
PlanAhead, a blood test for fertility that measures a woman’s "biological clock,"

How to raise a bookworm
Teachers know that the most successful students enjoy reading for pleasure.

Celebration of America
Grab a pencil and paper, number your pages and take the family on an adventure with Tommy

‘Snacktime’ is so satisfying
As a music teacher working in an elementary school I always wondered what it would be like—and how

Books not to be missed
Piper can fly. The problem is small towns don’t like strange things like a girl who can fly.

July 3, 2008
Get out there and play. Under the yellow and blue of the Big Top, “Kooza,” from Cirque du Soleil, will transport you to a world filled with all of the makings of a circus without the animals. “Kooza” is a show filled with highwire acts, a wheel of death, dual unicycle riders and a juggler, just to name a few. But what makes this show magical are the characters who are more than willing to delight the crowd with their nearly silent comedy.

July 10, 2008
Get out there and play. You won’t have to kiss the Blarney stone to celebrate the luck of the Irish this weekend at the Irish American Heritage Festival in Chicago. The festival will host plenty of Irish music, dancing, activities and food that will keep your Erin Go Bragh-loving family dancing their own jig.

July 17, 2008
Get out there and play. Celebrate the great state of Illinois through performances and activities this weekend at the Great Performers of Illinois Festival in Millennium Park. The festival hosts famous Illinoisans who range from Abe Lincoln to Buddy Guy. There is also a corn maze to celebrate one of our state’s most productive crops.

Mayor's Office of Special Events
Celebrate with the whole city!  There are many events during the month of October.  Join Chicago Parent

July 24, 2008
Get out there and play. Take your kids’ love of boats and let it grow this Saturday at the 51st Annual Venetian Night. Pack a picnic and curl up next to the beach as your family watches a boat parade and fireworks.

July 31, 2008
Get out there and play. Clowns have one goal: to bring joy into the lives of others through their performances. To celebrate the art of clowning, International Clown Week, Aug. 1-7, was created. In honor of clown week, head over to Woodlawn Cemetery, 7600 W. Cermak Road, Forest Park, on Sunday from 1-3 p.m. to celebrate and remember those performers who dedicated their lives to love, laughter and having an all-around good time.