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Dress rehearsals for 9-year-old Sarah Parton begin next week, but this isn't some tiny tot's school play. The Irving School fourth-grader will join three other youth from Oak Park and surrounding western suburbs performing in Joffrey Ballet's "The Nutcracker" this month in Chicago.  Read more...

This holiday season, an online service originally launched to help fill kids' holiday wish lists is helping Chicago charities fill their coffers.  Read more...

With the witches of Oz finally back in Chicago, albeit for just a short visit, there's no better time to introduce your kids to the magic at play between the good and the supposedly evil in "Wicked."  Read more...

Next time the clock says bedtime, but your little one is wide awake, faking a yawn won’t do the trick: Babies and young children are immune to contagious yawning, new research shows.  Read more...

Prepaid gift cards are flexible, secure and easy to reload, though there's no doubt they're a little lacking in the Christmas morning sentimentality department.  Read more...

Santa-plz bring me an xbox 4 xmas, thx! These could be the new "Dear Santa" letters, thanks to some online and wireless services springing up to deliver a high-tech holiday this year.  Read more...

The 11th Annual Toy of the Year Awards are underway, and for the first time in the awards' history, voting is open to the public.  Read more...

Looking for a quick-get-out-of-town weekend trip before the holidays really leave you frazzled or breaking the budget? Indianapolis' best attractions, including The Children’s Museum, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and NCAA Hall of Champions, have teamed up to offer 12 free days of Christmas beginning this week.  Read more...

Shedd Aquarium's beluga, Nunavik, celebrated his first birthday Tuesday, ringing in his second year with cake and a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" from guests.  Read more...

Niles' affordable housing, outstanding parks and library programs and free public transit make it a great place to raise kids - in fact, the best in Illinois, according to Businessweek.com's recent list of top family living spots.  Read more...

A new rink in Rockford includes a skating trail through lighted evergreen trees and along the banks of the Rock River.  Read more...

This year overcame a global recession, a polarizing election and another dose of double trouble in Chicago baseball with a series of awesome arrivals, from world-class theater to up-close animal encounters. Here are our five favorite.  Read more...

We grabbed a few minutes with Chicago's favorite funnyman, who is in town for the premiere of his film "Yogi Bear."  Read more...

New research suggests that babies, especially boys, who are breastfed for at least six months may have higher academic test scores down the road.  Read more...

From the rare baby chick hatched at Kohl Children's Museum to the one-of-a-kind Muppet world on display at MSI, it was a year to remember at Chicago's top family destinations. We asked staff at a handful of museums and cultural attractions to tell us their favorite moments of 2010 -- and what to watch for in 2011.  Read more...

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What's black and white and red all over? The Shedd Aquarium's penguin artists, whose webbed-feet paintings are on sale this holiday season.  Read more...

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Hey, midnight is late. So we've rounded up the best non-New Year's New Year's events, helping you and your sleepy celebrators ring in 2011 in style.  Read more...

As 2010 winds to an end, we look back at the Chicagoans who brightened up our covers this year. Two Chicago athletes, one TV cast, and dozens of adorable kids.  Read more...

If your stockings included a gift card or two, it could pay off big-time at two Chicago-area shopping centers.  Read more...

The cover of Chicago Parent appears in a scene in "Little Fockers," the weekend's hottest new release.  Read more...