Laura Amann is a freelance writer living in Elmhurst. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs but moved away and worked for ten years in the publishing industry. She returned here after the birth of her first child and considers the Chicagoland area the best place to raise a family. She and her husband have four children, two dogs, one hamster, one gecko, two fish and a wacky water frog named Skipper.

Past articles

Showing 11 - 14 of 14

 

Raspberries and spit bubbles aren't just drooly fun - they're good for developing babies
October 6, 2010
Your baby looks at you, sticks out her tongue and makes a gentle razzing sound. It’s almost impossible not to smile and make a raspberry back at her. Just try. This universal parenting moment is packed with developmental possibilities.  

Avoid paper overload: 8 ways to organize the stuff that comes home in your kid’s backpack
August 24, 2010
Within a week of school starting, it begins. You can almost hear the groaning noises from tables and counter tops as paper after paper gets piled up. The computer in-box swells as e-mails fly in daily. Homework, class reminders, past due assignments, team schedules. Face it: Kids generate a lot of paperwork. 

One mom eyes first day of kindergarten with uncertainty
May 24, 2010
Come September, for the first time in 14 years, I’ll be on my own during the day. And I’m suddenly forced to confront the stunning truth of that tired cliché: Time goes so fast.  

Rock your Chicago block party this summer
May 24, 2010
An old-fashioned block party can be one of the true delights of summer. Liven up your party and think outside the traditional hot dogs and water balloons.