Articles
402 articles
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Parenting IRL: Venmo and Grad Invites? If you have graduates in your family or social circle, you might have a stack of paper grad party invites on your fridge, in your inbox, or all over your social feeds. But do any of these invites/announcements include a Venmo QR code, like one NPN member recently shared? The original poster is more than happy to give a graduation gift but finds the QR code a bit much. Are paper checks too much of a bother? Do kids not know how to deposit physical checks?!
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Your preschooler can count to 50, maybe even 100. But does your child know what five means? It turns out that understanding the “fiveness” of five is far more important for a solid foundation in math than the ability to recite a string of numbers in the right order. And you can keep building this foundation all summer long. Since 2007, the Erikson Institute’s Early Math Collaborative has been helping teachers discover ways to improve math instruction for young children. Substitute “parents” for
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With school out for the summer, many families will struggle to manage the summer chaos, especially with kids at home all day. Some opt for summer camps, but for many parents hiring a nanny seems like the best approach. Because it can be time consuming to find the right person, use my 10 tips to make your search for a summer nanny a bit easier. 1. Plan ahead – Try not to wait until the last minute as many summer nannies are looking for jobs that start as soon as possible. 2. Create a job descrip
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It’s the email every Chicago parent dreads. You’re navigating the morning rush, trying to get the kids out the door to school, when the notification pops up: “A case of head lice has been reported in your child’s classroom.” Immediately, your head starts itching and panic sets it. If you just got "the email,” or you’re dreading receiving it, take a few deep breaths and take comfort in knowing that for many families this is a rite of passage, and not a reflection of your parenting or cleanlin
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Parenting IRL “Does your school do personal gifts for teachers at the end of the school year, or do you collect money and buy a gift from the class/grade? What kind of gifts are appropriate/appreciated? I’m doing this for the first time, and I need ideas please!” Both approaches are fairly common, and both can land well depending on your school’s culture and how organized the parent community is. Class/grade collections tend to work better for bigger gifts (a
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Parenting IRL “My daughter is in 7th grade. She had what seem like normal periods, but she thinks they are so heavy and wants to go on birth control. I have no idea who put this idea in her head, but she is obsessed with the concept and wants to do this before camp as she is concerned about a heavy period there. Is this a thing? (And for those of you who question if she is thinking about having sex, it’s a no. She isn’t interested in boys yet — or girls I suppose.) Thoughts?”
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Parenting IRL “Does anyone know of an elementary school where parents have successfully reduced students’ exposure to screens and ed tech? I’ve been surprised by how much time my kids and my friends’ kids are on Chromebooks at school. For the most part, it doesn’t seem like the hardware and software they’re using adds any value or efficiency. Would love to hear stories where ed tech has been proven — in an unbiased way — to improve student and teacher outcomes, or the converse.”
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Compiled while… Wondering if the neighbor’s dog will ever stop barking at… clouds? Blades of grass? We can’t tell. Should you look at your kid’s cellphone? “I recently checked my 14-year-old son’s iPad for school-related things, and I saw some texts about skipping class to meet his girlfriend — along with some pretty explicit messaging and mentions of inappropriate pictures on Snapchat between the two of them. What should I do?” We’ve all said, “a
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Compiled while…Wondering if it’s finally safe to put the winter coat away. (It’s not, but we’re choosing optimism.) “I need to host an end-of-year party for a group of 15-year-olds… What do kids this age like to do?” Given that some of us (ahem) are a couple decades older than our kids, it can be tough to know how to host a party for today’s teens. They’re too old for a juggling clown or petting zoo, but too young to be part of the grown-up world.
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Compiled while marveling at how everything seemed to bloom overnight! Welcome to Chicago, spring!! Does this mean I need to get out and start doing some gardening…? — Joel from NPN Parenting IRL “Our son has been eating out at lunch way too often, and it’s just not financially sustainable or healthy. We’re totally fine with him grabbing food off-campus sometimes, but we really need him to eat school lunch at least 2–3 days
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This book is about how being on your device is not good and there are many ways to fix that. It is written for any young person with a device that they use every day, especially teens and tweens. · Did you know that if you turn your screen to black and white you are less likely to want to use your device? · Did you know that you need two screen-free hours before bed so your body can recharge, and you feel less tired in the morning? · Did you know t
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If summer camp is part of your family’s plan, January and February are key months. Many camps start filling up by March, and waiting too long can mean fewer options or settling for something that’s not quite the right fit for your child. If you’re thinking ahead (or trying to catch up), here’s a realistic summer camp planning timeline, along with tips that have helped Chicago parents navigate the process with less stress. A Realistic Summer Camp Planning Timeline for Pare
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Sleep is a tender subject for me. I’m neither a morning person nor a night owl. I hated sleepovers as a kid because contrary to the name, not much sleep happened. And then I became a mother. Obviously, sleep was elusive those first few years, but it really took a toll on me. My diagnosis of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety had a lot to do with the difficulty I had parenting through the night and desperately trying to get my new baby to sleep. Nowadays, and two more kids l
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It’s every parent’s daily puzzle: you ask, “How was school today?” and your child answers with the dreaded one word response, “good.” While short responses are totally normal, they don’t always give you the full picture of how your child is really doing - socially, emotionally, or academically. The truth is, kids often need a little help opening up. By asking thoughtful, specific questions, you can create space for them to share their experiences and feelings in a safe way. Here are
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When we think about back-to-school season, most of the focus lands on the morning hustle of packing lunches, racing the clock, and getting everyone out the door on time. But here’s the secret many parents overlook (myself included...until now!): what happens after school may actually matter more than what happens before it. The after-school hours set the tone for the entire evening, influencing everything from your child’s mood to their ability to learn and your family’s overall stre
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What does resistance look like? A member posted this question to the NPN discussion forum in January and it sparked something in me. That night, while I sat in the car during my son’s soccer practice, I banged out this essay, below. Although we’re publishing it several months later, I think it’s still relevant. ------------------------ As a person, neighbor, friend, mother, and the director of an inclusive organization that works to make parenting in Chicago e
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Pride Month in Chicago is a vibrant celebration of love, acceptance, and community - and families across the city have more ways than ever to join in the fun. Whether you’re crafting rainbow art with your toddler, attending a family parade, or dancing at Navy Pier, there’s something for every age and stage. Here are a few family-friendly Pride events happening around Chicago this June: Rainbow Family Story Times Pride is the perfect time to read books that celebrate
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Mother’s Day in Chicago often brings to mind flowers, brunch reservations, and maybe a last-minute card scribbled with love (and crumbs) from the kids. And while mimosas and pancakes are always welcome, the truth is — many moms are craving something deeper this Mother’s Day. I asked moms across Chicago, from Rogers Park to Beverly, what they really want. The answers? They're refreshingly real. “I want a break. Just a real break.” "I'm with my kids all the time
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Witnessing a child being emotionally abused by a caregiver is not only hard to watch, but very hard to not step in to protect the child. Let’s be honest here: children are often the casualty of an adult's displaced anger or a need to be validated. Children having a voice (and being heard) is still relatively new for a lot of cultures. This article is dedicated to all the little humans that cannot find the words to express the depth of their emotions about a complex world that is shaping them. Th
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Keisha is a mom of two, therapist, coach, activist, parent, and the founder of radicallyBLended Services, PLLC. A few months ago, Keisha spoke with us on about raising a queer child in Chicago. We’re sharing some of our conversation here. This conversation has been edited for clarity and length. Listen to the full conversation on NPN’s podcast, Chicago Style Parenting. How can parents create a safe environment for our children to talk to us about anything? First, I'll say that
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I blame 90’s sitcoms. You know the scene. Everyone walks into the kitchen fully dressed. The whole family is eating breakfast together. Kids grab their backpacks and coats and willingly head out the door. Mornings at my house don’t look like that. And chances are yours don’t either. Even though mornings with my three young kids don’t resemble the Tanner’s, I found a way to consistently start each day without yelling, threats, bribes, or punishments. Because the thing is, crappy
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Noreen Walton-Valle is a mom of four and the Director of Marketing and Admissions at Saint Clement School, which is located in Lincoln Park. It is a Catholic school, educating students from PreK 3 through 8th grade, with two classes per grade level, and roughly 480 students total. In an NPN discussion panel, Noreen spoke with us about the private school application process. We’re sharing some of her valuable insight here. When should parents start researching schools and how should t
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Here's a look at NPN’s year-in-review as well as our plans for 2025! Childcare Support: Members posted nearly 300 childcare listings in our Childcare Classifieds. Our Summer Camp Directory grew to 28 camps for parents to consider, many offering discounts to NPN members. We partnered on The Ultimate Baby Shower, offering new and expecting parents resources and education on childcare and more. School Research: Local educational experts partne
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This is a commentary article from Crain's Chicago Business written by NPN's Executive Director, Amy Johnson. --------------- The recent resignation of every member of Chicago’s Board of Education, three weeks after CPS unveiled its new five-year strategic plan, underscores the challenges that many Chicago parents face when navigating their child’s public school education. A strategic plan should provide an agreed-upon path to reach goals that the majority of stakeholders believe in. S
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