January 2022

Preparing for kindergarten can feel like a daunting task, and myths about the Illinois age cut-off abound. If you are wondering if your four year old or six year old can attend kindergarten, or if you want to know how to help your child prepare for kindergarten, this is the session for you.
 
Our esteemed panelists will explain what teachers really want parents to know about kindergarten. We will also discuss the Illinois law around age cut off, answering all of your questions about this confusing piece of the puzzle. There will be time for Q & A at the end.
 
You will walk away from this discussion understanding:
 
1. What it means to be kindergarten-ready
2. How to help your child prepare for kindergarten
3. The kindergarten age cut off law in Illinois and if there are any exceptions
 
Our esteemed school panel consists of:
 
Tiffany Wells, Director Enrollment Management, Catherine Cook School
Meg Fitzgerald, Director of Early Childhood Education, Bennett Day School
Georgia Burke, Admissions Director, St. Josaphat School
Bonnie Ho, Principal, Pui Tak Christian School
 
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor: Catherine Cook School
 
By registering for this event, you agree that NPN may share your name and email address with our presenting sponsor.
 
 
 
 

Attention moms over 40 with children between newborn and 4 years old (or about that age) - this is the group for you!
 
Please join NPN volunteer, Cathy, who leads a Zoom chat for moms 40+ to connect and talk about the unique challenges and joys you face as moms.
 
Please sign up for this group to attend one or all of these meetups and drop in for as long as you can! This group will meet at 8:00 to 9:30 PM. You will receive a Zoom upon RSVPing and the link again before the meeting.
 
NPN members only. Please register once for you and your child(ren). You will receive an email confirmation after you register. Questions? Contact Cathy at giantjumperee@gmail.com.
 
Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Erikson Institute. NPN is proud to share information about Erikson Institute's Fussy Baby Network:
 
The Fussy Baby Network offers a range of parent support services around crying, sleeping, and feeding issues for babies and toddlers up to age 3. We provide free phone support through our warmline, staff by our warm and caring family/infant specialists. We also offer free virtual home visits to families no matter where they live. Finally, we provide support groups for parents to talk together about the challenges they face and how they cope. All of our services are available in English and Spanish.

When a child announces to their family that they are transgender or non-binary – it can be a big, nerve-wracking step. Children are often filled with worry on how their family and particularly their parents will respond to the news; and they are seeking to learn if they are still loved and accepted.
 
Parents only want the very best for their child, but may be conflicted with their own reactions to the news. It’s normal for parents to dream about what their child’s future may be like and when the reality doesn’t match up with those dreams, parents can experience losses themselves. While these feelings are okay, parents can also feel conflicted with those feelings but yet also wanting to do what is best.
 
In this webinar, Smart Love therapists will help parents understand these conflicting emotions, how to separate them from what you know is best for your child and how to move forward.
 
RSVP required. Please go here to register. 
 
This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: amber.guenther@smartlovefamily.org

Are you a new mom with a baby 0-12 months old (or about that age)? If so, this is the group for you!  Join our current NPN new moms, for these monthly video chats. Here you can connect and talk about sleep, feeding, all of the unique challenges and joys you face as new moms. 
 
NPN New Moms Group meets the second Thursday of each month from 7:15 PM - 8:00 PM via Zoom.  We encourage you to attend every month!
 
These chats are for NPN members only. Please login to RSVP for free.  You will receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link immediately after registering. Not a member of NPN? Join now and enjoy everything NPN has to offer!

Join NPN program manager, Tareema, and other NPN members at the Cradle to Crayons Giving Factory.  We will help sort and organize donations in the Cradles to Crayons warehouse.
 
Each adult may bring one child.  If you are bringing a child, register for 1 adult and 1 child.  Children must be at least 5 years old.
 
Registration is a 2-step process. You must complete both steps to secure your spot.
1. RSVP with NPN. You will immediately receive an event confirmation email from NPN.
2. Complete the Cradles to Crayons registration link included in your NPN event confirmation email.
 
Cradles to Crayons is located at 4141 W. George St., Chicago, IL 60641.  There are 33 parking spaces in front of the building that are first come first serve.  There is also street parking.  Please do not drive past the concrete barriers that separate the shipping and receiving area of the building. 
 
All adults and children must wear a mask over their nose and mouth. (Volunteers must wear the mask provided by Cradle to Crayons for the duration of their shift)
 
Spaces are limited. Please honor your RSVP.  RVSP no later than January 1st, 2022!
 
Postpone your RSVP only if the following apply:
- Diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not yet been cleared as non-contagious by state or local public health authorities.               
- Exposed to a person with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
- Experiencing symptoms of illness such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
 
Questions? Contact Tareema at tareema@npnparents.org
 
 

Join Miss Erin online from the comfort of your home for a LIVE, interactive music class, lead by one of our super talented and energetic teachers! This class features non-stop singing and dancing activities designed for children ages 0-6 to enjoy with their parents or caregivers. Gather up your instruments and get ready to move and groove!
 
RSVP required. Pease go here to register. 
 
This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: erin@themusicplayhouseofchicago.com

Join the Partum Health team to learn best practices and pro tips on how to navigate your pregnancy and postpartum care journey. Bring your questions!
 
RSVP Required. Go here for more information and to register. 
 
This is a repeating event, every other Friday 1/21, 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, 3/18.
 
This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: mdoyle@partumhealth.com

Attention moms over 40 with children between newborn and 4 years old (or about that age) - this is the group for you!
 
Please join NPN volunteer, Cathy, who leads a Zoom chat for moms 40+ to connect and talk about the unique challenges and joys you face as moms.
 
Please sign up for this group to attend one or all of these meetups and drop in for as long as you can! This group will meet at 12:15 - 1:45 PM. You will receive a Zoom upon RSVPing and the link again before the meeting.
 
NPN members only. Please register once for you and your child(ren). You will receive an email confirmation after you register. Questions? Contact Cathy at giantjumperee@gmail.com.
 
Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Erikson Institute. NPN is proud to share information about Erikson Institute's Fussy Baby Network:
 
The Fussy Baby Network offers a range of parent support services around crying, sleeping, and feeding issues for babies and toddlers up to age 3. We provide free phone support through our warmline, staff by our warm and caring family/infant specialists. We also offer free virtual home visits to families no matter where they live. Finally, we provide support groups for parents to talk together about the challenges they face and how they cope. All of our services are available in English and Spanish.

Join us online for a free coding class where students will be working on MIT - Scratch Block Based coding. This is a free class and repeats January 22nd and January 29th.
 
RSVP required. Please go here to register.  
 
This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: info@younggates.com

It’s a night to be supported, to ask questions and share resources, and to be with other parents who get what it’s like to deal with special challenges for their kids. Parents of kids with all types of developmental differences welcome (sensory processing disorder, autism, ADD/ADHD, PDD-NOS, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, Down syndrome, physical disabilities, medical issues, etc.). Parents/family only, please (no therapists, students or business owners).
 
The Zoom link will be sent out about 2 hours before the meeting.

Attention moms over 40 with children between newborn and 4 years old (or about that age) - this is the group for you!
 
Please join NPN volunteer, Cathy, who leads a Zoom chat for moms 40+ to connect and talk about the unique challenges and joys you face as moms.
 
Please sign up for this group to attend one or all of these meetups and drop in for as long as you can! This group will meet at 8:00 to 9:30 PM. You will receive a Zoom upon RSVPing and the link again before the meeting.
 
NPN members only. Please register once for you and your child(ren). You will receive an email confirmation after you register. Questions? Contact Cathy at giantjumperee@gmail.com.
 
Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Erikson Institute. NPN is proud to share information about Erikson Institute's Fussy Baby Network:
 
The Fussy Baby Network offers a range of parent support services around crying, sleeping, and feeding issues for babies and toddlers up to age 3. We provide free phone support through our warmline, staff by our warm and caring family/infant specialists. We also offer free virtual home visits to families no matter where they live. Finally, we provide support groups for parents to talk together about the challenges they face and how they cope. All of our services are available in English and Spanish.

Join NPN program manager, Tareema, and other NPN members at the Cradle to Crayons Giving Factory.  We will help sort and organize donations in the Cradles to Crayons warehouse.
 
Each adult may bring one child.  If you are bringing a child, register for 1 adult and 1 child.  Children must be at least 5 years old.
 
Registration is a 2-step process. You must complete both steps to secure your spot.
1. RSVP with NPN. You will immediately receive an event confirmation email from NPN.
2. Complete the Cradles to Crayons registration link included in your NPN event confirmation email.
 
Cradles to Crayons is located at 4141 W. George St., Chicago, IL 60641.  There are 33 parking spaces in front of the building that are first come first serve.  There is also street parking.  Please do not drive past the concrete barriers that separate the shipping and receiving area of the building. 
 
All adults and children must wear a mask over their nose and mouth. (Volunteers must wear the mask provided by Cradle to Crayons for the duration of their shift)
 
Spaces are limited. Please honor your RSVP.  RSVP no later than January 12th, 2022!
 
Postpone your RSVP only if the following apply:
- Diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not yet been cleared as non-contagious by state or local public health authorities.               
- Exposed to a person with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
- Experiencing symptoms of illness such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
 
Questions? Contact Tareema at tareema@npnparents.org