All Activity

Join Sitaara as she talks with Natasha Croff and Julie Molina, Parent Support Specialists for Chicago Public Schools, about the CPS application and admissions process for students with disabilities. Natasha and Julie provide expert insights on navigating the system, things to consider when applying to selective enrollment elementary and high schools, available resources and what resources to look for when considering which school may be the best fit. Tune in for practical advice, key steps families should take to ensure their children receive the support they need, and the essential information to help make the admissions journey smoother. This recording is the twelfth episode of NPN's podcast, Chicago Style Parenting. The podcast was published on 3/25/25. For more information and resources about this topic, visit the podcast episode's show notes.

Join us for the Bubble Egg Hunt and celebrate all things spring! We will have open play in our Meadow & Mountain Rooms, art, snacks and live music inside and be running multiple egg hunts outside on our nature playground and a mini-egg hunt for babies and crawlers in our Garden Room so bunnies of all ages to join in the fun.

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At Fit Body Boot Camp, we offer specialized 45-minute boot camp classes that challenge your body and deliver transformative results in a positive, supportive atmosphere. Our fitness classes in Chicago combine the power of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with active rest, ensuring maximum fat burn and muscle toning in every session.

Recipient of multiple parent's choice awards, Purple Monkey runs year-round birthday celebrations for children celebrating their 1st - 6th birthdays and offers weekday classes and playtime seasonally. Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and WiFi as your children explore our 1,500 sq. foot space!

RAS Camps: Full-day and half-day Summer Camp with complimentary before and after care — the affordability and flexibility your family needs! Specialty Camps in Art, Soccer, and Engineering are offered, too! Learn more and enroll today.

NPN's annual Online Auction offers great items that Chicago parents want and love, including kids' classes, activities, restaurant gift certificates, massages and access to cool experiences you can't find anywhere else! Start bidding here: https://npnparents.betterworld.org/auctions/2025 🌟 There will NOT be a second-chance auction this year so bid while you can to avoid missing out on a great deal! With the proceeds from our auction, NPN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be able to continue to provide support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. Bidding closes at 10pm on Sunday, March 16th. Questions? Email amyj@npnparents.org Want to donate an item, gift certificate, or experience? Donate here.

During your preschool and elementary school search, you may be looking for a school where your child will feel a sense of belonging. In this session we cover what it means for a school and classroom to be inclusive of all students, why it is important, and how to identify an inclusive school during your school search. We discuss how schools create a welcome environment for families from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, identities, developmental and physical differences and intellectual disabilities. This session was recorded live on March 6, 2025.

The Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel invites guests to relax in its stylishly renovated accommodations in Northbrook. The hotel offers easy access to dining, shopping, Ravinia Park, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and several Fortune 500 companies. A perfect choice for both leisure and business travelers, visitors can enjoy modern amenities, including a fitness center and exceptional dining options at Pancetta Regional Kitchen + Bar or =Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Join The Museum of Contemporary Art for Family Day! This month see if you can hear echoes of the future or the past in Wafaa Bilal: Indulge Me. ASL interpretation is provided at this event. This is a free event, but RSVP is required. Please go here to register. Lot parking available. The parking garage is located on Chicago Avenue just west of Fairbanks Court and adjacent to the museum. The garage does not provide direct access to the museum. When you exit the garage, simply turn right and walk west up Chicago Avenue. Our entrances face Mies Van Der Rohe Way. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: sypervaiz@mcachicago.org.

Join St. James School for their March Mavericks Open House on March 15th for a day of fun, basketball, and family-friendly activities! Whether you're exploring enrollment or just looking for a good time, you won't want to miss this event. What to Expect: March Mavericks: Meet their vibrant community and learn about their dynamic academic programs and extracurricular offerings. For the little ones, they’ll have arts & crafts, library activities, and story time throughout the morning. Snacks will be available to keep everyone energized, and children ages 0-7 must be accompanied by an adult. Basketball Camp: Enjoy basketball-themed activities like shooting contests and mini-games. Kids can develop their skills in a fun, supportive environment: 9-10 AM: Open Gym for Kindergarten and younger 10-11 AM: K-2 Instruction with Mr. Gast and team Why Attend? Explore their academic programs and after-school activities Tour the campus and meet current students and faculty Enjoy basketball activities for all ages and creative activities for younger children This is a free event, but RSVP is required. Please email jcampbell@stjames-lutheran.org to register. Street parking available. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: jcampbell@stjames-lutheran.org.

With children and adults confronted with AI search results and information coming from an unending supply of sources in an ever-more complicated world, critical thinking skills are considered more important every day. How can parents help their children develop critical thinking skills? Can schools play a role in this? Join us for this discussion to find out. In this session we cover what critical thinking is, why it is important, and where it fits in the timeline of child development. You will learn how schools view their role in helping students develop critical thinking skills, and what that looks like in the classroom and all aspects of school life. We also discuss ways that parents can support their child's critical thinking skills at home and how to evaluate school's educational approach to critical thinking during your school search. Enjoy the questions from parents at the end. This session was recorded live on February 25, 2025.

Join Bell Elementary for a Virtual Lunch & Learn Nutrition Workshop, designed for parents with children ages 3 to 9! This engaging session will help you navigate picky eating habits and provide practical strategies to encourage a more varied and nutritious diet for your child. Additionally, we’ll discuss the healthy school lunch initiatives implemented by CPS, giving you insight into what’s offered and how to complement meals at home. Led by two registered dietitians, this interactive workshop is the perfect opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and gain expert advice. Bring your lunch, your curiosity, and let’s talk about fostering healthy eating habits together! This is a free event. Please go here to RSVP. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: Livia.ly@nutri.ly.

Join the Discussion in the NPN Forum on April 24th (Member's Only Event): Ask Emily Winsor, Managing Director of Tuesday's Child, specifics about the IEP process, how to manage your child's challenging behavior or social-emotional challenges, and how to support your child's development. Ask your question here. The thread will open for one day only, April 24th, starting at 5:00 AM. Emily Winsor is a board certified behavior analyst and the managing director of Tuesday's Child. Before joining Tuesday's Child, she served as the Clinical Director at ABA Midwest and the Director of Clinical Services at Reach ABA. She holds a Master of Education (MEd) in special education and teaching from Endicott College. Tuesday’s Child supports Chicago families facing behavioral and social-emotional challenges that hinder their child's ability to thrive at home, in school, and in social settings. Tuesday's Child's evidence-based child behavior and development programs emphasize early intervention, offering essential tools and resources to parents without requiring a formal diagnosis for their children. NPN's Discussion Forum is available to members only. Not a member? Join NPN today!

This is an opportunity to get together and network with other kind humans (many who are business owners) who want to make a difference in a laid-back and positive space (bring plenty of business cards!). You'll also get a visibility refresh, with an updated headshot/portrait (not the boring, corporate type of headshot either!). And (as if it couldn’t get any better) your registration directly contributes to the greater good of humanity. The registration fee is a suggested donation of $50 and 100% goes to a cause contributing to the greater good. Registration is required - there is a maximum number so that it remains a positive, easy-going experience for all. Here is the link to learn more and to register: https://maijamartinphotography.com/headshots-and-humanity/. The exact location of this event will be sent to you upon registration. Street parking is available. Or only a five-minute walk from the Blue Line. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: maija@maijamartinphotography.com.

Come dance with us! Ballet Chicago's Junior Intensive gives students the foundation necessary to excel and build self-confidence. Placement is based on age, amount of prior training, and level of advancement. The program culminates with an in-studio viewing.