When her daughter was born six years ago, Caitlin traded her days as a lawyer in Cook County courtrooms for play dates on the Chicago park scene. Now a full-time mother of three, she writes a monthly kid's crafts and activities column and contributes regular features to Chicago Parent. She also explores the family-friendly side of the Chicago on her blog Wee Windy City. From time to time, you can even catch her chatting about raising kids in the city on local Chicago radio and television stations. Learn more about her writing at her website, caitlingiles.com.

Past articles

Showing 21 - 30 of 67

 

Combat the epidemic of summer learning loss
June 27, 2012
Nearly all elementary students lose some of the information and skills they learning during the school years over the summer break. What role you play in preventing it. 

Celebrate July 4 with patriotic paper lanterns
June 26, 2012
This month's craft will really get you and the kids in the mood for a great Independence Day. 

Peronalized mugs and cups for Mother's Day
April 25, 2012
Our craft writer, Caitlin Murray Giles, has tips on easy personalized gifts kids can make for mom (for Mother's Day and beyond). 

New mom groups in Chicago
April 23, 2012
New moms can easily get isolated with their babies. Here are some groups to help you connect with other women going through those first stages of motherhood. 

Resources to help parents of newborns
April 19, 2012
After birth, there are the changes no one ever seems to talk about—like how becoming parents can drastically impact your relationship with your partner, or breastfeeding struggles and the lingering physical discomfort long after you've delivered. 

Vegan Families
March 22, 2012
Chicago is a great - and easy - city to be vegan. Even with your kids. 

Fun way to play with marbles
March 22, 2012
Let your kids get creative with marbles by making their own marble run 

Recycled robots
February 28, 2012
Clean out your junk drawers. Make some robots. 

Take a culinary world tour without leaving Chicago
February 23, 2012
Introduce your kids to the flavors of the world without leaving Chicago. 

Unconventional Valentine's Day Treats
January 24, 2012
We all usually think of Valentine's Day as a time to shower our loved ones with sweet or chocolate treats. But there are plenty of ways to make Valentine's Day special for your kids that don't involve a sugar rush (and of course the subsequent crash from that short-but-sweet high). If you invest in a heart-shaped cookie cutter, you can create a variety of healthy treats for your kids that show the love. Following are some age-appropriate ideas for unconventional (but still tasty) Valentine's Day treats for your kids. Just click the arrows and get cooking.