Happy kids begin with happy parents
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Children don’t come with an owner’s manual, instruction book or extended warranty,

The wonder of newborns
Some parents see their newborn as a crying, sleeping, eating and pooping machine.

All parents are superstars
My son used to call me a superstar. He was 5. I’d reached the ‘superstar’ level of the online version of Wheel of Fortune

Help has arrived for coping with finicky eaters
Jack will only eat chicken nuggets and Isabella turns her nose up at vegetables

FAB mama
Your purse obsession may be pushing the limits of your closet, but that’s no reason not to take good care of your

It’s hip to be frugal
Oprah is cutting back. "Frugalista" tops the Oxford American Dictionary's most popular words of the year. Vacation companies are offering vacations without really going anywhere. Everywhere you look, the message is clear: It’s hip to save.

When unemployment hits home
Perhaps you were expecting your company’s layoffs. You knew business has been very slow for quite some time.

What about health care?
A medical emergency without medical insurance could be devastating financially.

YMCA can offer help
Ashley Rowden knows what it is like to live on a tight budget.

Real meal deals
Regardless of what we like to eat, one thing we all have in common is watching the cost of our grocery bill.

Go green for St. Paddy's Day
Pack up your little leprechauns, pin on your shamrocks and get ready for the fun that comes with celebrating all things Irish

Cuddly pal brings comfort
Menstrual cramps are the pits. When pain hits, nothing beats cuddling up with something warm.

Spend a splendid spring break at home
If you’re introducing your family to the term "staycation" this spring break, you may need a few spoonfuls of sugar

Color your world
We may "feel blue" on a dreary Sunday afternoon. We "see red" when an obnoxious driver cuts us off in traffic.

Why am I so tired?
Feeling tired lately? You’re not alone. Fatigue isn’t just a constant among parents of new babies where sleepless nights

Fatigue-fighting foods
One of the easiest ways to combat fatigue is by eating throughout the day to give you a constant source of energy.

Medical causes of fatigue
Your physician can rule out treatable medical conditions as the cause of your fatigue.

Fairy godmother won't help
Planning to take your brood to the Magic Kingdom for spring break?

Fun close to home
Wouldn’t it be great if they’d wait until spring to have spring break?

Farewell, Fido
When a pet dies, everyone in the family is affected. But for many children, this may be their first close encounter

Can-do kid
On June 12, 1999, Harrison Fandl’s life changed—he got a little sister he wanted to name Treasure

Where to go and what to do in the South Suburbs
South suburban resource guide

You matter to your kids
I am so ready for spring. I wasted those fleeting warm days last month thinking I was too busy to get up from my desk

If I lived in that house ...
I am driving to work, aggravated, cursing out my husband after what seems to be our 10th argument this week.

From tragedy to healing
This past year I embarked on an unexpected spiritual journey that began with a devastating family tragedy.

Hip-hop mama
From morning to night, Emerson Carter literally screamed nonstop, unable to tell his mom and dad what he needed.

What's your child's favorite?
At ChicagoParent.com, parents are sharing their kids’ favorite zoo animals. Here’s a sample:

No boring biographies in this bunch
Follow the journey of a young Barack Obama that began with a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya,

Five books you can't miss
Greg is always going to be a wimp. He knows it. His friends know it. His brother certainly knows it. But his dad

History's heroes set to music
Teachers and parents often ask children to name someone they would consider a hero.

Celebrating sock monkeys
Sock monkeys may have been from our grandparents’ generation, but you can still introduce these endearing

Host a Russian orphan this summer
The Bridge of Hope for Russian Children program is looking for families to host a child, age 7-12,

Let's all scream for ice cream
Ready to host 100 of your neighbors for an ice cream-filled block party?

Dance dance revolution
Maan Nabong readies the CD player. "OK, ready?" the dance instructor asks her class. "Five, six, seven, eight ..."

An hour for the Earth
We’re all familiar with the annual Earth Day, but what about Earth Hour?

Give new doctors a checkup before you go
What do you know about your family doctor? What do you wish you knew?

The red-headed (little) league
Does your child draw a crowd with his or her flame-colored locks?

Using T-shirts to teach kids virtues
Donika Hall remembers looking around at a children’s concert and seeing hundreds of toddlers

New law tackles mental health coverage
Parents of children with mental disabilities will soon feel some relief from a newly passed law that requires businesses

More playtime equals better grades for kids
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I hink finding a school boasting high test scores or low teacher-child ratios ensures your child will succeed in school?

Researchers seek DNA of families affected by autism
llinois families with one child with autism can now help uncover causes and treatments for autism by donating their DNA.

Side effects linked to ADHD medications
Recently, parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may have been unnerved to hear media reports

Parents are educators
You don’t have to be a teacher to take advantage of the amazing array of educator resources available online

Feb. 26, 2009
Get out there and play. Learn the lore of the Great Lakes at the Chicago History Museum’s Chicago Maritime Festival Saturday. History and music go hand in hand as a day of exhibits, seminars and workshops are followed by a three-hour, nautical-themed concert in the evening with singers from both sides of the Atlantic.

March 5, 2009
Get out there and play. Calling all sock monkey fans: the Midway Museum’s Sock Monkey Madness Festival is coming to Rockford—the official “Home of the Sock Monkey”—this weekend. Grab your favorite sock monkeys to join in the monkey business, which includes a sock monkey film festival, sock monkey-making, crafts and the Ms./Mr. Sockford 2009 Sock Monkey Pageant. Have a sick sock monkey? The Sockford General Hospital is open to mend your little friend. This year’s festival also includes a giant 7-foot sock monkey.

March 5, 2009
Get out there and play. Calling all sock monkey fans: the Midway Museum’s Sock Monkey Madness Festival

March 12, 2009
Get out there and play. Chicago loves St. Patrick’s Day and that means lots of fun for your family this weekend in the city and South Side. Dress your little leprechauns in green and celebrate all things Irish—there will be plenty of food, toe-tapping music, bagpipes and Irish dancing.

March 19, 2009
Get out there and play. Although St. Patrick’s Day has come to an end, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep celebrating the Irish. Head across the border to Towle Theater in Hammond, Ind., for String Fever with the Mayer School of Irish Dance this Sunday.

March 26, 2009
Get out there and play. Now that Spring is here and the days are slowly finding warmer temperatures, it’s time to celebrate. The weekend, The Notebaert Nature Museum is hosting Spring Into Action Day to help kick off the season with special programs. Activities include bin composting, a green market, nature watching and adopting a butterfly.