All Activity

Join us at LaBagh Woods for our Run, Walk, or Ride Event to bring more inclusion and community supports for people with invisible disabilities like Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma. $15 for kids, $30 for Kids / Family. Team discounts are available. No RSVP is required, please go here for more information. Plenty of parking right at our pavilion. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: jen.puccini@twentyonesenses.org.

Raising a child is expensive, especially when your child has special needs. Government benefits are helpful however understanding the process can be overwhelming. Well NPN is here to help! In this session, we will discuss what types of benefit programs exist, which benefits programs are available to you, and what is needed for the application process. You will walk away with clarity about government benefits and how to set your child up with financial support as they become an adult. This session is helpful for parents of special needs children from ages 3 to 22. Our Esteemed Presenter: Sherri Schneider, founder, Family Benefit Solutions, Inc For more than 25 years, Sherri has been tirelessly dedicated to helping individuals with special needs and their families. Her career began as a Case Manager in a Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) where she helped those with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses acquire the government benefits they so desperately needed, including SSI, Medicaid, and food stamps. She was instrumental in creating one of the first Community Living Facility (CLF) facilities funded under a Medicaid waiver. Sherri now meets privately with families to thoroughly assess their individual situations and pursue the appropriate benefit assistance program(s), personally guiding them through the application process. Based on her vast experience, she has skillfully established and maintained open, productive relationships with government agencies involved in the decision-making process. Professionals find her in-service expertise to be invaluable as they navigate the government benefit process.

Unique Sweets and Chicagoland Autism Connection (CAC) present a night of uplifting stories, music, and dancing as we come together to celebrate and honor our journey. This exciting event will feature comedic storytelling from both members of the autism community and comedians followed by music and dancing from DJ EdLo. $35 Donation. RSVP required. Please go here for tickets. Valet parking during operating hours. Street parking is extremely limited near Joe's. Pay lots are in the area and their price ranges from $10 - $20. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: kljohnsonevans@cps.edu.

Join Illinois Action for Children for giveaways, family fun, activities for kids, and early childhood development and resources! Illinois Action for Children (IAFC) in collaboration with early childhood community partners is hosting a resource fair at the Southside YMCA. We invite you and your family to come and learn about important early childhood resources, developmental screenings, health services, and join in some family-friendly activities. There will also be some giveaways! This is a free event. RSVP is required. Please go here to register. Parking is available at the Southside YMCA. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: Rossmayaross@gmail.com.

The Parents as Leaders training is designed for parents who aspire to become powerful leaders in their child's education. This comprehensive course offers valuable leadership skills and tips for building strong partnerships with schools and parent committees. Through this training, parents will hone in on their leadership abilities, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. They will also learn effective decision-making and time management skills, how to handle conflicts and set expectations for their family, and much more. With the knowledge gained in this course, parents can establish a positive family culture and empower their children to become resilient, independent, and confident. Ultimately, this training is the key to unlocking your full potential as a leader in your child's education and life. This is a free, online event. RSVP is necessary. Please go here to register. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: Txjbrand@gmail.com.

Does your child struggle with focus, irritability, or sleeping? Have you noticed that your child has become more clingy, fidgety, or finicky with food? Are you concerned about a change you observe in your child's behavior? Trying to figure out what is the root cause of a change in a child's behavior can be overwhelming. Well, NPN is here to help. In this session, we will discuss anxiety and bring clarity around what anxiety symptoms look like, when a diagnosis is appropriate, and what supportive resources and treatments are available. This webinar is for children ages 2 - 8 years old who are neurodiverse or neurotypical. Our Esteemed Panelist: Dr. Chrisna M. Perry, Ph.D., Founder & Director, Comprehensive Learning Services Dr. Bill Pasola, Psy.D., Psychotherapist, Smart Love Family Services

Biograph is a collaborative storytelling platform that combines photos, voices, and the written word. It’s fun, easy, and private. The app empowers parents to build a collection of searchable stories and print voice-activated artifacts.

We're excited to launch Parent Chats! Your monthly virtual opportunity to join in on a casual conversation centered around topics that matter to you. Unlike our monthly webinars that are more structured and have a presenter and topic - you get to lead the discussion, vent about current happenings, or just observe and chime in as you see fit; think of it as our forum in video format! Sitaara and Amy from the NPN staff team will join you. If you've been craving connection but not eager about getting out in the real world for it to happen - we hope you join us. Here are the topics and dates for each Parent Chat this June through August. Participating parents will be automatically entered to win raffle prizes at each chat! In this August chat, focusing on the tween and teen years, you could win: - A college counseling mini package, "College Readiness 101" from Academic Angle - Two tickets to Rooftop Cinema Club June 9th: Chat about the early years: pregnancy - preschool July 14th: Talk about the elementary school years: Kindergarten - 6th grade August 18th: Celebrate the tween-teen years: 7th grade - 12th grade

We're excited to launch Parent Chats! Your monthly virtual opportunity to join in on a casual conversation centered around topics that matter to you. Unlike our monthly webinars that are more structured and have a presenter and topic - you get to lead the discussion, vent about current happenings, or just observe and chime in as you see fit; think of it as our forum in video format! Sitaara and Amy from the NPN staff team will join you. If you've been craving connection but not eager about getting out in the real world for it to happen - we hope you join us. Here are the topics and dates for each Parent Chat this June through August. Participating parents will be automatically entered to win raffle prizes at each chat! In this July chat, focusing on the elementary school years, you could win: - A kid's birthday party rental at The Joinery - Four sessions of therapeutic tutoring from Smart Love Family Services - Two pairs of Bel Air full custom boxing gloves (one for a child and one for an adult) June 9th: Chat about the early years: pregnancy - preschool July 14th: Talk about the elementary school years: Kindergarten - 6th grade August 18th: Celebrate the tween-teen years: 7th grade - 12th grade

We're excited to launch Parent Chats! Your monthly virtual opportunity to join in on a casual conversation centered around topics that matter to you. Unlike our monthly webinars that are more structured and have a presenter and topic - you get to lead the discussion, vent about current happenings, or just observe and chime in as you see fit; think of it as our forum in video format! Sitaara and Amy from the NPN staff team will join you. If you've been craving connection but not eager about getting out in the real world for it to happen - we hope you join us. Here are the topics and dates for each Parent Chat this June through August. Participating parents will be automatically entered to win raffle prizes at each chat! In this June chat, focusing on pregnancy - preschool, you could win: - A one hour consultation with infant sleep expert, Serene Swaddles - A one hour consultation with childbirth educator, Serene Swaddles - A birth options consultation with Jo Ann Lindberg of Birthlink June 9th: Chat about the early years: pregnancy - preschool July 14th: Talk about the elementary school years: Kindergarten - 6th grade August 18th: Celebrate the tween-teen years: 7th grade - 12th grade

Designed for youth with developmental disabilities 3-7 with a participating grown-up, this highly- interactive drama class will get the whole family moving and imagining! Bond with your little one through creative drama, music, and multisensory activities, while supporting your child’s motor development, communication skills, self-confidence, and blossoming creative spirit. This is a free event, but RSVP is required. Please go here to register. Lot parking is available at Chicago Children's Theater. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: ttjeanbaptiste@cps.edu.

If you’re anything like me, at any given time of the day, your home resembles a pigsty (hopefully sans the odor). I have kid toys, clothing, random bits of food, and some of my husbands random items scattered across the tables, countertops, and floors constantly. It’s become our new decor. While I’ve grown to accept that a tidy home is not included in the toddler parenting pack - I am constantly on the prowl for ways to improve the overall aesthetic of my home (AKA ways to hide all of the clutter). Smart storage has become my new thing. The excitement that comes over me when I walk through the cleaning aisle or the Container Store is enough to make my husband green with envy. But who am I kidding? I don’t actually have the time to stroll through store aisles often. So I am forever thankful to Amazon and their array of useful products that aim to make the cleaning process easier, especially for those of us with busy lives and limited amounts of energy. So without further ado, here are a few of my favorite (Amazon) things! Each of which can hopefully help you take on your cleaning goals and keep your home semi-less cluttered all year long (or until next spring, at least!) The Pink Stuff Cleaning Paste I’ve been hearing about this product line A LOT but it wasn’t until I saw a few reviews on TikTok that I was convinced to try it myself and I have to admit - it works. At only $5 a jar and with over 172k positive reviews, this is a buy that you won’t feel guilty about trying out for yourself. Undersink Organizer With all of the new cleaning products, tossing them under the sink or into a cabinet just won’t cut it. This undersink organizer was easy to put together and saves me a ton of space while keeping everything organized and easy to find. O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop A few years ago, I splurged on a mop system that also claimed to steam your floors so well you could eat off of them. And then the liquid steam solution ran out and it was a pain ordering a new one or a new mop head. This year, I switched over to this O-Cedar mop system and it also removes 99% of bacteria but doesn’t need special steam solution and the mop heads can be picked up at local stores! This bundle in particular even comes with a few extra replacement mop heads! FTW. 22 Piece Drill Brush Attachments Set My hubby bought this years ago when my 5-year old was in her prime “get everything sticky” phase. I thought it was a joke until he tested this bad boy out on her high chair and it came out looking better than new. I really can’t recommend this product enough, it helped reach all of the tiny crevices that food nestles down into and my husband was excited to use it because it requires a power tool. Anything that can get him to contribute to scrubbing is a win in my book. 2-Pack Mop and Broom Holder The people we purchased our home from were so ahead of the game on this one. They already had this installed into our home so I didn’t need to buy one but I had to list it here because it saves so much floor space and keeps everything in an easily accessible spot. Underbed storage We use these to store away just about everything but primarily for hiding out of season clothing and kid toys. We even have our kids help pack their underbed storage bin so they know exactly what’s there and where to find things (and return them later) when they want to play with them. My favorite thing about this pack, is that it comes with 3 bins and they have handles on them! Vacuum Storage Bags Want to stuff even more stuff into your underbed storage container? These vacuum storage bags are addictive and fun. Seriously, we kept looking for items to toss into them and flatten! We even got the kids in the mix and had them help suck all of the air out and talked about the science behind it all, too. I actually just purchased this pack to help with college packing in a few months! Based on some of your advice in the forum, here are a few products I’d recommend to help with some of the main areas you all said to be sure to tackle: Deep clean of baseboards: This cleaner with washable heads can help save your back and knees! Fully clean kitchen and freezer: These storage bins can help re-organize your fridge “Basically everything looks better in storage baskets” - I couldn’t agree more! Here’s a pack of three that are available in a variety of sizes and colors to match your decor! A few of you also mentioned donating things instead of just tossing them and I am a HUGE fan of donating things that we no longer use. Here’s one organization that accepts work attire to help the homeless and other people in need dress their best for job interviews. Keep the spring cleaning ideas coming! Share your favorite products, tips, and strategies in the forum! *It’s important to note that as a 501c3, we are always searching for ways to invest back into NPN and help us continue to grow. For that reason, we may occasionally earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products that we link to at zero cost to you. We vow to only feature items that we genuinely love and want to share and that our opinion on each item is our own and not at all influenced by any earnings.

Does your child have an IEP or 504 plan? Are you having challenges receiving supportive services in school for your child? Are you overwhelmed with understanding what therapies your insurance will cover and will not cover? Did you know your child can receive accommodations even in college? Do you know your child's rights within the state of Illinois? Well NPN is here to help! In this session, you will learn when it is appropriate to seek legal advice, what rights your child has in the state of Illinois, what are your child's health care rights in the state of Illinois and so much more! Our expert will provide valuable information as well as be ready to answer your questions.

This webinar is for parents, caregivers, and families of special needs children. In this session, we will discuss what is special education, who is eligible for special education services, how to initiate services, and what rights children have within the State of Illinois. Parents will also be able to ask questions and hear directly from Kimberly Johnson, Parent Involvement Specialist CPS ODLSS. This is an online and free event. RSVP is necessary. Please go here to register. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: ttjeanbaptiste@cps.edu.

Kids’ Work Chicago Riverview is GROWING! Our team has programming to fit every family's needs! Offering immediate and future enrollment opportunities Full (5 days/week) and part-time (4, 3, or 2 days/week) enrollment for all age groups We grow with your family and have classrooms for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and Jr. Kindergarten/Kindergarteners! For a limited time, save 10% on tuition as an NPN member! Our facility features individual classrooms, indoor multi-purpose play spaces, and stimulating outdoor playgrounds. We offer a wide variety of full and part-time care options with flexible drop-off and pick-up times in addition to unmatched personalized attention.

In-person, virtual classes in CPR, BLS & First Aid Training! Our classes use the World Institute of Safety curriculum, which follows the most up-to-date ECC/ILCOR standards and our curriculum meets or exceeds the American Heart Association (AHA) recommended guidelines. Our training is equivalent to the AHA’s certification courses, whether a healthcare provider, first responder, or those in the general workplace needing advanced or lay-rescuer level CPR and First Aid training.

Sacred Heart is offering a free parent-tot play group this spring on Wednesdays from 9 - 10 a.m. at our preschool location. For ages 1-3 years old. Join us! This is a repeating event with groups meeting at the same time on May 10, 2023, May 17, 2023, and May 24, 2023. RSVP Required. Please go here to register. Please park on the east side of the church, facing the fence. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: marjie.murphy@shschicago.org

Join CPL for a celebration of the power of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math)! Take part in a wide range of activities at the iconic Winter Garden that will help you learn more about STEAM in the world around you. This is a free event for kids 3 to 11 and their families. No RSVP is required, but you can go here for more information about this event. Street parking is available along Lake Street, or you can find a nearby parking facility here. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: onunez@chipublib.org.

Choosing a preschool for your child can be an overwhelming task, especially in Chicago where there are so many options. What does a Reggio-Emilia, Arts-Integrated, or Play-Based curriculum mean? What does a STEM-focused curriculum look like in preschool? With so many different preschool philosophies, how do you know which philosophy works for you and your family? In this discussion, you will learn about various philosophies in early childhood education programs and the benefits of each philosophy regarding character development in early childhood. In addition, our panelists will discuss some things to consider during the preschool search to help you prepare to choose a preschool for your family. There will be time for Q&A at the end! Our esteemed school panel consists of: Kevin O'Brien, Director, Mary Meyers School Laura Maheshwary, Director of Enrollment (PreK-2), Bennet Day School Samantha Maxwell, Preschool Director, Bubbles Academy Arts-Integrated Preschool Dr. Camille Franklin, Ed.D, LSW, Family Engagement Coordinator Network 4, Chicago Public Schools OECE Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors: Mary Meyers School and Bennett Day School. And we appreciate our Supporting Sponsor: Bubbles Academy Arts-Integrated Preschool By registering for this event, you agree that NPN may share your name and email address with our presenting sponsor. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors

The Goddard School of Chicago (West Loop) is more than a warm and nurturing place. It's more than a great education for your child. It's peace of mind. We strive to be the best education based preschool and daycare in West Loop. Book your tour and learn about our play based F.L.EX(Fun, Learning, Experience) program - 312.625.8866 or https://calendly.com/westloop/60min.

Playtime: Family Fun! Come share moments of joy, laughter, and comfort with these vibrant tales about family, friendships, and life—fun for all ages! Presented by Cinema Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival, the 2023 CineYouth Festival runs April 21-23 at FACETS, featuring the work of students and young filmmakers aged 22 years and younger from Chicago, the U.S., and 17 different countries around the world. Over 60 short films will be programmed into themed screening blocks including "Playtime: Family Fun" with films for all ages. CineYouth also offers workshops and filmmaker Q&As and is an excellent opportunity for emerging filmmakers and anyone interested in the arts to learn more about the industry. We encourage local youth and film lovers of all ages to attend! Dates, times, and events vary. Please go here for more information. This is a free event and street parking is available. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: lara@bogenriefPR.com.

If you're like me, saving for my children's future is a top priority. But it's more than just saving for college: I want to help my kids have positive relationships with money. And that means talking to them early and often about money and finances so that they are equipped with the tools to make good financial choices as adults. However, in the last 10 years, the financial landscape and possibilities have changed drastically with the introduction of cryptocurrency and the Metaverse. As a parent, this leads me to ask so many questions: What does this mean for our kids and their future? How can I better educate myself so that I can safely introduce the world of web3 to my kids? And most importantly, is there a way that I can leverage crypto to incorporate it into our larger wealth-building journey to benefit both myself and my family? All of these questions led my husband and I to start a company called The CryptoMom App, the premiere destination for all things crypto for women, by women. I wanted to create an inclusive, secure platform for women to learn about crypto and then invest it in products that are meaningful to our lives, like college funds. And with April being Financial Literacy Month, there's no better time than today to start learning about cryptocurrency. Here are three ways to start conversations about financial literacy and web3 with your children: 1. Model good behavior by researching first The best way to learn about the basics of crypto is to start researching. There are really great social media accounts for women that encourage conversations and provide the basics of cryptocurrency; Some of my favorites are CryptoWitchClub on Instagram and Elana @TradingFemale on Twitter. You don’t have to know all of the jargon and buzzwords; It’s more about increasing your exposure to slowly gain familiarity. Then, talk about what you've learned with your kids in a casual setting, like at the dinner table. Your kids will certainly be impressed and you get to flex your 'cool mom' muscles! 2. Read Books Together Kids of all ages love to cuddle up and read books together. You can find books at your local library or online that teach kids the basics of crypto, even board books for infants and toddlers like Bitcoin for Babies. For your teens, offer to start a book club and read the book together. Not only are you learning together but you're also building authentic connections that are often difficult to maintain in the teen years. 3. Take the plunge by purchasing yourself first There's no better teacher than experience so now that you're prepared with research and knowledge, take your first step by purchasing your first coin. Don’t feel the need to invest large amounts of money; Invest what you feel comfortable with, whether it's $20 or $200. Platforms like The CryptoMom App allow you to buy small fractions of bitcoin in just three easy steps. If you're looking to connect with other women on their crypto wealth-building journey, sign up for the waitlist for The CryptoMom App to get exclusive, first access to our product.