The Green Metropolis Fair this Saturday, April 14,  is for individuals and families to come out and learn about Chicago’s green and sustainability community. Being Green is no longer just about recycling. It also includes:

What you eat

Where your food comes from

What you grow in your garden

What type of transportation you use

What you buy for your house, and

What you wear

As one of Chicago’s largest local green fairs, there is so...

Urba Baby is proud to announce our partnership with Neighborhood Parents Network! Now you can purchase an NPN Gift Membership and save a little cash on goods here in our store! At Urba Baby we specialize in bringing not only unique essential items to city moms, but also classes, workshops and events geared toward community growth in Chicago. Here are our highly recommended and parent-tested  problem solvers categorized by age group for your little one or little ones on the way, all at...

A SquareCard Means Savings on Parent-Approved Brands.

To celebrate the launch of its new Chicago SquareCard Program, SquareSpot is offering YOU an exclusive opportunity to sign up for a FREE SquareCard membership (normally $50)!

SquareSpot is an online marketplace dedicated to meeting the needs of discerning moms and families. Launching soon in Chicago with weekly Offers on family-friendly products, classes and services in your neighborhood, we’re different from a deal site. ...

Like all parents I know, I am constantly on the hunt for fresh ideas for FREE fun for the kiddos.  Here are seven great ideas for filling your week with free fun!

SUNDAY – Explore nature and check out the glass-enclosed beehive at the North Park Village Nature Center.

MONDAY - Be transported into a fabulous fantasyland with a great story read by The Storybook Mom at Little Threads every Monday at 11am.

TUESDAY –Jam with the under 10 crowd Toys et Cetera...

All parents want what’s best for their child.  If your child is having difficulty learning in school, getting help can be complicated, confusing, and frustrating.  The legal standards for special education and the process for meeting those standards is complex.  Trying to decipher the acronyms in the special education world is overwhelming.  IEP?  504?  IDEA?  RTI?  Tackling this task while caring for your child with special needs and managing ...

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...

Sleep for children is one of the most important requirements in childhood development, and children with sleep issues cannot be taken lightly.  Getting enough sleep is essential to good health and many body functions, such as growth, proper brain development, alertness and memory, healing and healthy immune system functioning.  Through sleep, our bodies recharge and renew for the next day's challenges. Emerging research suggests that too little sleep contributes to atten...

Welcome to your first step into the Chicago School search process.  I was talking to two moms of 2 year olds (thanks Kelly and Liz!) and they reminded me how overwhelming this process can be.  The NPN online School Directory and downloadable eDirectory are amazing resources to help you find a list of 2-year old preschool options!  NOTE: these are only available to NPN members.  Join today to get started! Here is my advice and please let me know if it helps!!!

#1. De...

Plan your best summer ever with onthegoChicago.com!

NPN members can start finding where the FREE fun is hiding this summer for less.  Get $15 off a yearly membership to onthegoChicago.com, Chicago’s most comprehensive and searchable website for families.  That’s an entire year’s worth of kid-sized fun for only $34.90 (less than $3 a month).

With the dog days of summer on the horizon, it’s time to start filling up your summer dance card with kid-siz...

Most people have had the experience of coming across an item, a song, a food, or something else that, in a split-second, whisks them back to another day (Who said that time travel is impossible? I beg to differ!).  These flashbacks are the idea behind the upcoming May 6th Listen To Your Mother show.  Don't miss the video clips from prior performances below - you will be grateful for the laughs, tears, and smiles.

As a parent, the occasional memory jog is a speci...