Daily Picks of Kids’ Activities for Chicago Families: Aug. 31-Sept. 4

For the past few months, we’ve provided families a weekly list of “daily picks” filled with virtual events, indoor activities and other fun things to do with your kids while staying safe. Now that most kids are heading back to school (whether in person or remotely), we’re going to hit pause on our Daily Picks.

Don’t worry — we’ll be sharing more ideas on fun things to do with kids on ChicagoParent.com such as:

• Fun Things to Do With Kids This Weekend in Chicagoland
• Best Things to Do With Kids This Month in Chicagoland
• Fantastic Fall Activities to Try with Your Family

Monday, Aug. 31

Virtual Events

• • 9:30 a.m.: Morton Arboretum Yoga Virtual Class (Tweens-Teens)

• • 4 p.m.: Mystery Adventure (Ages 2-5)

• • 7 p.m.: Movies N Milk Today’s movie: The Wiz (Parents + Babies)

• • 8 p.m.: Movies in the Parks: Aladdin (All Ages)

Find more virtual events happening on Monday here.

Activities

• • Go apple picking. Apple orchards are beginning to open and you can pick your own apples at these local farms.

• • Find shapes. It’s the last week for our Summer Scavenger Hunt on our Instagram! Families are looking for shapes.

• • Make smoothie letters. Local mom Becka (@mymom_wife_life on Instagram) shows us this learning activity that doubles as a snack.

Small Business Love

• • Shedd Aquarium has announced a new, limited time Virtual Sea Lion Encounter to come face-to-face with one of its four rescued California sea lions. The experience is $59.95 for non-member and $54.95 for members.

For Parents To Read

• • How to Get Organized Before the Back-to-School Hustle Begins

Tuesday, Sept. 1

Virtual Events

• • 9 a.m.: Family Music & Movement Virtual Class (Age 0-5)

• • 1 p.m.: Virtual Sea Lion Encounter (All Ages)

• • 5:45 p.m.: Rush Hour Concerts (All Ages)

• • 8 p.m.: Movies in the Parks: Just Mercy (Teens)

Find more virtual events happening on Tuesday here.

Activties

• • Listen to music. Looking to diversify your child’s media intake? Add these Black children’s artists to your daily jam sessions.

• • Make apple spice dough. With fall around the corner, get excited for the season with this simple play dough activity.

• • Grab some ice cream. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer with these old-fashioned ice cream spots.

Small Business Love

• • Local musician Nanny Nikki is offering a variety of playdate and party packages to entertain your kiddos at home. Virtual options are available, too.

For Parents To Read

• • Favorite Bike Shops in Chicago for Cyclists

Wednesday, Sept. 2

Virtual Events

• • 10:15 a.m.: Mr. Dave’s Music Virtual Class (Toddlers-Preschoolers)

• • 7 p.m.: Chi-Together: Drive-in Movies & Music, Today’s movie: Batman Returns (Late Elementary-Teens)

• • 7 p.m.: CAC Live: Chicago Women Activists (Tweens-Teens)

• • 7 p.m.: Popcorn Popup Drive-In Movies, Today’s Movie: Lady & The Tramp (All Ages)

Find more virtual events happening on Wednesday here.

Activities

• • Watch Back to the Future. The trilogy is currently streaming on Netflix. After you’re done watching the first movie, try these screen-free activities.

• • Explore a new neighborhood. From Hyde Park to Schaumburg, we have plenty of family neighborhood guides to explore a new place in Chicago. Note: Some places mentioned in these guides may be closed or include safety restrictions due to COVID-19. 

• • Try something new with your tweens and teens. Do they need a break from e-learning? Consider these at-home activities that they’ll love.

Small Business Love

• • Luft Balloons’ new “Back to… School?” indoor balloon installation, perfect for a back-to-school gift or decoration to feature during upcoming virtual Zoom lessons, includes a variety of colorful, exciting balloons in a variety of styles. Available for $89.

For Parents To Read

• • Coronavirus in Chicago: What Parents Need to Know

Thursday, Sept. 3

Virtual Events

• • All Day: Troll Hunt (All Ages)

• • 7 p.m.: Popcorn Popup Drive-In Movies, Today’s movie: The Fox & The Hound (Preschool-Late Elementary)

• • 3 p.m.: Dinosaur Adventure Drive-Thru (Preschool-Late Elementary)

• • 8 p.m.: Movies in the Parks: Avengers: Endgame (Tweens-Teens)

Find more virtual events happening on Thursday here.

Activities

• • Explore a cave. Some of these Midwest caves are open, or you can save them for a future family trip.

• • Play a classic game. Introduce your kids to one of your favorite childhood games like Operation or Jenga.

• • Pair a craft with a book. Local mom Lanée (@mama.and.og on Instagram) shares this fun craft to recreate Michelle Obama’s gown featured in the children’s book, Parker Looks Up.

Small Business Love

• • Need a date night idea? Head to these local restaurants and bars that offer cocktails to go.

For Parents To Read

• • A Parent’s Guide to School Online

Friday, Sept. 4

Virtual Events

• • All Day: Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase (Early Elementary-Teens)

• • All Day: Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Tweens-Teens)

• • 11 a.m.: Storytime with The Book Cellar (Preschool-Late Elementary)

• • 8 p.m.: Movies in the Parks: Penguins (All Ages)

Find more virtual events happening on Friday here.

Activities

• • Make some snacks. Skip the trip to the grocery store and make these healthy snack recipes instead.

• • Go on a bike ride. There are great biking trails in and around Chicago to take in the beauty of nature.

• • Take back-to-school photos. Whether your kids are going back to school or staying home, add their first day of school photos to our gallery.

Small Business Love

• • While DuSable Museum of African American History is temporarily closed, there are still plenty of ways to support the museum online.

For Parents To Read

• • Best Things to Do With Kids This Month in Chicagoland

Weekend Picks: Sept. 5-7

Looking for more fun things to do at home with your kids this weekend? Updated on Mondays, we have plenty of ideas over on our Weekend Picks!

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