Latest Blog Posts
- Honey Cashew Chicken recipe for a healthy family dinner | Kids in the Kitchen
- The best creative sidewalk chalk ideas for kids on Pinterest | Pin It!
- Taking a break from a full family calendar to enjoy the small moments | Peanut Butter in my Hair
- 50s-style dresses popular this summer for every body type | Trending
- See all recent blog posts
Featured Blog
Failing With Gusto
One Chicago mom's attempt to keep an accurate log so her kids will have something helpful to show the therapists.
Parenting News & Advice
Reader Community
About Chicago Parent
Chicago Parent is distributed free every month in the six-county area. Enter your ZIP code to find the nearest pick-up spot.
Win with CP!
We're giving away nine copies of Rachel Baton Pine's latest CD, "Violin Lullabies". We loved sharing her story and are excited our readers will get to hear her beautiful music. We'll announce our winners on Wednesday, May 22. Good luck!
Featured Video
A talk with the stars of Let It Shine
Tyler James Williams, Coco Jones and Trevor Jackson stopped by Chicago for the local premier of the new Disney Movie, "Let It Shine." ChicagoParent.com's intrepid reporters, Dixon and Delaney, took the opportunity to ask them a few questions that were on their minds... like, Is Coco now a cast member of "So Random"?
Watch the video! | See more videos
Be the first to know!
Freebies, events and updates by e-mail
101 summer ideas in Chicago for your family
Print
Now that the initial excitement of summer is waning, the "I'm bored" is kicking in. If you've run out of ideas to keep the whining at bay, we've come up with 101 things to do to fill your lazy summer days.
Explore Chicago's great outdoors
- Set up a tent in the backyard and have a close-to-home camping trip.
- Catch fireflies, watch them glow and set them free.
- Dig for worms.
- Grab a blanket and chairs and enjoy an evening movie at the park. ChicagoParkDistrict.com.
- Take a walk on Wooded Island (Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary) in Jackson Park. The Osaka Garden is a Zen-inspired picnic destination. The island is just a short walk from the Museum of Science and Industry.
- Attend a week-long summer camp at Cantigny Park. Each day is filled with new adventures and discoveries. Camp runs from June 24-28. 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton.
- Walk barefoot through the grass.
- Play a few rounds of frisbee golf.
- Plant a flower bed or vegetable garden.
- Take a family board game outside to the deck.
- Watch a sunset.
- Take a drive with all the windows down and take in the summer brezze.
- Get a telescope and look for stars and planets.
- Go to a local pond or riverwalk and feed the ducks.
- Take an afternoon nap in the backyard and instead of counting sheep, watch the clouds.
