Only 2 more days until the BEST KIDS FEST of the summer- Chicago KIDS Day!  The forecast is calling for sunny skies and warm weather so make plans to join us this Saturday, May 19th at Chicago KIDS Day from 10am-2pm.  All the fun takes place under a huge white tent at Ashland/Barry, keeping you comfortable as you visit sponsor tables with activities, arts & crafts, snacks and more. Focusing on children's health & wellness, this family-friendly festival will have your ...

Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:41 AM by Jay Annadurai

Baby on the way or a new family?  Turn to NPN for the resources you need to get a handle on some serious changes heading your way. RSVP today for events just for new and growing NPN families. Remember to log in first before RSVPing to members only events. You will receive an e-confirmation upon successfully registering.

Expectant/New Parents: Convert Me, Baby! (4/24) - Calling all skeptics! Hear from real moms who got “converted” to less conventional choices like c...

Posted on April 06, 2012 at 5:30 AM by Jay Annadurai

Dancing bunny? Singing mouse? Cow jumping over the moon? Hilarious, laugh-out loud fun (for both parents AND kids)? Yep, the Chicago Children’s Theatre production of Good Night Moon the Musical had it all! My daughter and I loved the show- seeing it in our PJ’s made it even more fun.  But, what made the afternoon truly perfect was the special post-show Pajama Party presented by NPN and ChicagoKids.com! With face painting by K Grace Childcare, cookies and milk from COUNTRY ...

Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:06 PM by Jay Annadurai

I’m not going to sugar-coat things – bedtime with my older daughter wasn’t easy!  No matter how tired she appeared, I just couldn’t convince her that sleep was a necessary part of life. We finally figured out that spending a few minutes reading with the lights turned low could do wonders. One of our favorite pre-bedtime reads was the classic Good Night Moon. Now, I’m so excited to revisit our old bedtime tradition in a whole new way by taking her to see G...

Posted on September 09, 2011 at 6:00 AM by Jay Annadurai

With a typical wake-up time of 6:30am, my kids are used to being up and out of the house by 9:30am to start the day. But, with preschool starting in the late afternoon, what's there to do BEFORE school?

After weeks of uncertainty, we were thrilled when my 4 year old was accepted into our neighborhood school’s Preschool for All Program. We were much less thrilled with her assigned time slot- 3:00-5:30pm! With the graveyard shift looming, I’m scrambling to find activities...

Posted on August 08, 2011 at 8:30 AM by Jay Annadurai

Parenting challenges don't end at potty training and sleep schedules! Parents of elementary school kids can turn to NPN for advice & info on "big-kid" issues too. Check out our Elementary School Parents Group- join them at their next event on Establishing Homework Habits.

“Oh, wow! How did you survive that?” That is a pretty typical response when I share that “pre-Mom”, I was a middle school teacher.  Apparently a lot of people think that ...

Posted on August 04, 2011 at 9:00 AM by Jay Annadurai

NPN connects families in neighborhoods across Chicago.  Get inspired to check out a new part of the city or discover something fabulous just around the corner.  This stop:  North Center with Jay - All aboard!  And then explore our other NPN Neighborhoods

With baby #1 on the way, my husband and I knew we had outgrown our Lincoln Park condo. When friends suggested we head a bit north, I was torn. Did life really exist north of Addison? Well, I’m happy to report-...

Posted on August 02, 2011 at 8:15 AM by Jay Annadurai

Looking for a good night’s sleep? We know how tired you are - so here are some quick and effective tips.

The experts at Smart Love Family Services shared great tips on infant sleep at our July Expectant & New Parents event.  Over 30 new and expecting parents (with some adorable babies!) learned about the norms of infant sleep, tips on helping baby fall asleep, and strategies for coping with sleepless nights.

Didn’t make it to the event? Here are some top s...

Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:55 AM by Jay Annadurai

Baby on the way or brand new mom? Turn to NPN for the resources you need to get a handle on some serious changes heading your way. Happy 4th of July from all of us!

Sassy Moms Get Fit - use code NPNPerk for $10 off VIP tickets to these Sassy Moms in the City events with fitness guru & new mom Sara Haley (ltd. tickets available):

Fit & Healthy Moms-to-Be (7/12) - Pregnant and ready to take fitness to the next level

Sassy Moms Get Fit (7/14) - Tackle those...

Posted on June 30, 2011 at 10:39 PM by Jay Annadurai

There are no shortage of festivals for Chicago families to enjoy during the summer. But, did you know there is only ONE fest totally dedicated to kids and their health and wellness? NPN was proud to partner with Total Balance Chiropractic and the Lake View YMCA to present this year’s Chicago KIDS Day on Sat. May 21st.  Chicago KIDS Day brought together over 700 people and raised more than $7,000 to support NPN and the Lake View YMCA!

Check out amazing pictures from the event...

Posted on June 15, 2011 at 1:16 PM by Jay Annadurai