Teach your children to be thankful all year long
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Julien Stiehl is only 3, but thanks to his mom, Renata, he is already learning to be thankful for what he has.

Charting growth
Deno Andrews would shock strangers with his vocabulary, drawing comments such as ‘he’s very wise for his age’

Courage to be herself
Mid-way through her pregnancy 11 years ago, Bobbi McGrath knew something was wrong.

A healthy future is all that matters
For Tamera Garrett, living with a child affected by a growth disorder has been a rollercoaster ride of struggle and success.

Not-so-tough love
On first glance, he appears intimidating. But a second look beyond the 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame and bald head

A baby to love
On Aug. 27, at 9:10 a.m., Sarah Stauffenberg delivered a healthy baby boy.

Family meals on a budget
With the economy down and food prices up, you might find yourself counting more than just calories

"Are we there yet?"
Packing up the family for a road trip used to mean long hours of boredom, but today cars with DVD players, MP3 players

No more meltdowns
You’ve likely witnessed a meltdown in a store or park. The child is screaming and his increasingly embarrassed parent

Turkey time savers
Thanksgiving can feel out of control. Here are some time saver (and sanity saver) tips from the Butterball Turkey Talk

A Mom’s Life Top Five
At the start of November we’re reminded with each dropping degree that soon we’ll be forced to entertain our kids indoors.

Can-do kid
Last year sixth-grader Sydney Martin went through six months of chemotherapy and steroid treatments to treat a rare blood

The perfect getaway for toddlers
The sun warmed my skin as I laid back on the brilliant sand, soft and white as baby powder.

What's in your neighborhood
South suburban resource guide

Baby-sitting course helped in fire
It was 11 a.m. on a run-of-the-mill Monday morning or so the Munson family thought.

Conquering Everyday Math woes
Oak Lawn dad Jay Lurquin enjoys the things he does with his son Matthew—scouts, football, cooking

Find joy together
It’s nearly impossible to avoid the headlines about the nation’s economy, the housing crisis,

Letters
Learning with dyslexia
Executive opinion
A gender double standard
The battle over bullies
Bullying the bully

Keeping an open heart
Last week my son spent the day with both his mothers.

Miracles really do happen
It was a typical fall Sunday for our family. It always seems we have too much to do and too little time.

Thanksgiving traditions
Families share some of their Thanksgiving Day family traditions at ChicagoParent.com.

Someone you should know
As a former class clown and tomboy, Wilmette mom and illustrator Jennifer Rapp Peterson has poured her off-beat

It happened to me
Thanksgiving will soon arrive and we’ll concern ourselves with the menu and choice of flatware.

Fab Mama
Laura Alonzo had no idea just how out of date her closet truly was, with too many prints and hangers full of big, boxy pieces.

Disability 101: Let's all understand
My girlfriend’s son, Sam, is a cute, happy, energetic 6-year-old. Sam also has cerebral palsy.

Preventing cancer: The life course approach
Yearly 40 years ago, President Richard M. Nixon declared war on cancer, pledging to discover a cure for this deadly disease.

How to best work with your child’s teacher
Parent-teacher conferences can be daunting, especially for the uninitiated.

A mix of fun favorites
Every year I receive books that catch my interest but don’t fit into any particular month’s category.

Three CDs worth your money
I know I have mentioned this before, but the fact that there is so much music being marketed to families with children

Mysteries and fantasies fill bookshelf
Samuel and Martha find themselves living in Norway with Aunt Eda only days after their parents are killed in a car accident.

A sporting chance
Liberty Mutual will award a total of 20 $2,500 Responsible Sports Community Grants to school athletic programs

Steering kids down the right path
Do kids need a greater purpose in life than getting good grades and winning awards?

Recycling helps children with special needs
Before throwing away that gigantic pile of half-crayons collecting in the bottom of the box, consider another option:

Teen moms find hope for the future
Consider this: You’re 13 and pregnant. Tough, right? Now take it one step further: You’re 13, pregnant and a ward

Nature helps struggling children
A quick walk through the park or a forest preserve might go a long way towards helping improve the concentration

Not all booster seats protect kids well
Think riding in the car is safe with your child as long as he is in a booster seat?

More kids prescribed adult medications
A new study shows more local children are on medications for Type II diabetes, asthma, coronary disease and

Chicago rounds up after-school activities
Bright, colorful and easy to navigate, afterschoolchicago.org is a one-stop resource for parents and students stuck

Get involved in school
As a busy, working mother, I know how hard it can be to find the time to lend a helping hand at my son’s elementary

Prescription drugs pose dangers to children
Teen drug use is on the decline, but prescription medications continue to be a dangerous threat to teenagers

Risky texting on the go
Experts are warning about the dangers of texting at inappropriate times, a trend leading to accidents

Proton Therapy Center planned
A new approach to treating pediatric cancer will be available in several years, with the construction of a proton therapy center

November 6, 2008
Get out there and play. Explore your artistic side this weekend at the Family Days: Find Your Voice event at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The event’s activities focus on art that creates social change, says Erin Baldwin, media relations manager at the museum. Visitors can create peace panels and political posters, while kids can design their own works of art on the education center’s wall.

November 13, 2008
Get out there and play. Although it seems early for holiday lights and festivals, there are only 40 shopping days until Christmas, so it never hurts to get your family into the holiday spirit. Celebrating its 75th year, the Museum of Science and Industry will unveil on Friday this year’s exhibition of Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light with more than 50 bedecked trees featuring cultures from across the globe.

November 20, 2008
Get out there and play. Bring your game face this weekend to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair. Play with the latest, greatest toys and games from designers from around the globe and your own backyard. Meet characters from the 501st Star Wars Legion and the Brookfield Zoo and hang out with the Radio Disney AM 1300 Party Patrol. Learn about the educational benefits and the importance of games at inventor and educator forums.

Nov. 26, 2008
Get out there and play. Thanksgiving isn’t just about the turkey and pumpkin pie, it’s about family and thankfulness, and lest we forget, a Thanksgiving parade. Marking its 75th anniversary, McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade will include performances from Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, the Chicago casts of “Dirty Dancing” and “Jersey Boys,” as well as the flame-twirling Barefoot Hawaiians, to name a few.