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Trending: Parenting Changes Dads’ Brains TooAnyone who’s experienced “baby brain” knows that it can be disorienting to forget basic information or not quite feel like yourself. Those sensations are all valid and come with a huge explanation: Pregnancy literally reshapes a mother’s brain. Brain rewiring: Pregnant moms’ brains shed gray matter—about 5% overall. Smarter for motherhood: Expectant mothers’ brains change in the areas that impact empathy and bonding, in anticipation of the work of motherhood. In second pregnancies, those changes become even more fine-tuned. Long-lasting effects: The effects of this brain rewiring can last up to six yearsafter having a baby. Gray matter rebuilds: Mother’s brains rebuild gray matter in the first weeks, months, or potentially years after birth. Pretty incredible! Moms aren’t the only ones who experience a brain reconfiguration in preparation for a baby. New research shows dads’ brains also conduct a bit of “pruning” and gradually reduce gray matter in the first few months postpartum. The loss of gray matter isn’t as substantial as what moms experience, but the changes indicate that fathers' brains change to become primed for caregiving. There are so many questions about the effects of brain changes for postpartum moms. More research could help us learn more about the long-term impacts and the link with postpartum depression, which impacts one in eight women in the U.S. TL;DR: Parents' brains change (maybe even forever) after welcoming children, and that’s astounding. 👋 Are you an expectant or new mom (or do you know one) looking for community? NPN will be (re)launching a New Moms Group this fall. Stay tuned! In Chicago Parenting News: This Chicago-area college exists virtually even after it closed its physical campus in May. Chalkbeat reports that most schools decided to keep their assistant principals even after CPS cut funding. CPS’ budget is in the works for next year, but the Chicago Sun-Times reports that these important school resources will remain untouched. The Illinois Department of Early Childhood will now perform the work done by three former early childhood state agencies. Parenting IRL: Tips to Simplify ParentingThe pressure to do “all the things” as a parent can feel insurmountable at times. This is a topic we’ve been chatting about in this newsletter in recent weeks, and it’s the subject of a forum post that’s resonating with many NPN community members. One parent asks for advice on how to simplify parenting and family life beyond trimming down activity lists. How can you do less while still providing for your children without feeling guilt or FOMO? What do you do about the pressure you feel from your children, friends, or yourself to do it all? Let us know how you maintain balance. Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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Join us at Horner Park playground for a casual Sunday morning gathering. We'll set up 🫧 bubbles, 🎨 crafts, and 🧃juice boxes for the kids. Not an NPN member? No problem! Check in with us and earn one free month of membership, extendable for up to six months! Bring a neighbor, friend from school, relative, or anyone you know who might be interested in connecting with other parents of young children. Directions and Parking The playground is on the northeast corner of the park by the field house, along California Ave, between Cullom and Montrose. Free parking is generally available in the attached parking lot and on California Ave. Look for a picnic table covered in an NPN tablecloth or other NPN signage, Yoona in an NPN t-shirt, or just a blanket on the ground with craft projects on top! NPN Summer Playdates at Horner Park 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Sunday, June 14 Sunday, July 12 Sunday, August 9 RSVPs not required, but encouraged for planning purposes. Tell us you're coming by clicking the green button on the right. (Mobile users scroll down.) Have questions? Email yoona@npnparents.org Cover image credit: Ivan Mudruk -
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Though the school year is coming to an end, NPN playdates will continue through the summer! Join us at Horner Park playground for a casual Sunday morning gathering. We'll set up 🫧 bubbles, 🎨 crafts, and 🧃juice boxes for the kids. Not an NPN member? No problem! Bring a neighbor, friend from school, relative, or anyone you know who might be interested in connecting with other parents of young children. Directions and Parking The playground is on the northeast corner of the park by the field house, along California Ave, between Cullom and Montrose. Free parking is generally available in the attached parking lot and on California Ave. Look for a picnic table covered in an NPN tablecloth or other NPN signage, Yoona in an NPN t-shirt, or just a blanket on the ground with craft projects on top! NPN Summer Playdates at Horner Park 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Sunday, July 12 & Sunday, August 9 RSVPs not required, but encouraged for planning purposes. Tell us you're coming by clicking the green button on the right. (Mobile users scroll down.) Have questions? Email yoona@npnparents.org Cover image credit: Ivan Mudruk -
Trending: The Rise of Home BirthsEarlier this spring I listened to The Birth Keepers, a heavy but captivating podcast series by the Guardian about the free birth trend, which involves giving birth at home without any medical involvement. Emily Oster covered this topic at the beginning of June and was adamant that no one pursue free births. Medically attended home births, however, are a different story. Oster and others point to data that shows more people are turning away from the hospital for births—though with the help of a medical professional at home. In 2019, 1% of births happened at home. In 2023, that number jumped to 3.5%. Home births spiked to a 30-year high during the pandemic. The shift could be a combination of factors, including: The rise of c-sections (again) to approximately 1 in 3 U.S. births. A black maternal mortality rate that’s about 3.5 times higher than among non-Hispanic white women. An increase in the number of certified midwives, with licensing or some sort of regulation in 38 states. While Oster flatly discourages free birthing, she points to the potential benefits of medically attended home births, including fewer interventions. But if transferring to a hospital is necessary, the complications and risk factors increase. Even Oster admits that there’s no right or wrong answer about home births. It’s a highly personal decision, where and how to give birth, and facts and figures only ever tell a fraction of the story. 👋 Are you an expectant or new mom looking for community? NPN will be (re)launching a New Moms Group this fall. Stay tuned! In Chicago Parenting News: This after-school program aims to teach AI literacy to kids with good old-fashioned pen and paper. Thanks to a network of 277 air quality monitors, Chicago can keep an eye on air pollution year-round. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a quarter-million student loan borrowers in Illinois need new repayment plans. Parenting IRL: Gratitude From Our ChildrenParenting comes with numerous challenges, but this recent post on our forum is a helpful reminder to zoom out and acknowledge the loving, thoughtful things children do to show appreciation. Teaching gratitude is a parenting pillar for many of us, which makes moments like a thank you for preparing a meal or an offer to pick something up at the store all the more meaningful. What do you your kids do to show that they’re thinking of or appreciate you? We’d love to hear from you! Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
Parenting IRL: Parenting Coaches, Anyone? Have you ever worked with a parenting coach? Are you interested in working with one? The profession has been on the rise in recent years as demand for parenting education has increased. One member’s asking for recommendations for parenting coaches who could improve a sibling rivalry dynamic in the family and ideally provide an in-home assessment. If you have personal experience or tips you’d like to share, please join the conversation. Trending: Parenting With AIWe’ve established that parents feel a lot of pressure to spend enough time—and especially enough quality time—with their kids and parent the “right” way 24/7. This stress is even leading to a phenomenon called “quiet cracking,” which is a chronic feeling of burnout at home and as a parent. While community building is the most effective antidote, some parents are turning to AI for daily, time-saving parenting assistance. On a practical level, one mom says that using AI has saved her a minimum of 10 hours each week. And that time saved means she can spend more time with her daughter. How does she use it? Planning the weekly schedule (think organizing calendars for everything from childcare to activities and individual work schedules) Creating a grocery list and submitting a grocery order Charting her child’s developmental milestones Others who fall in the “momfluencers” sphere report saving loads of time with the help of AI agents. One Swedish momfluencer says that offloading to ChatGPT lifted 97% of the burden off her shoulders. While AI can be problematic and cumbersome too, it turns out moms are using it to solve a big problem: the unequal distribution of work at home. Maybe there’s a case for AI as one fix for lightening the mental load that many moms continue to carry. In Chicago Parenting News: According to Chalkbeat, kindergarten teachers now have an official definition of play-based learning to put into practice in their classrooms. Every Chicago Public Library card holder can access The New York Times for free. The playground and outdoor spaces at the Obama Presidential Center open to the public on Friday, June 19, at 6 a.m. WBEZ reports that shootings have increased around closed city schools that were left vacant and not repurposed. New state program with EBSCO Information Services brings more than 50 research databases to local libraries. Before You Go ...Did you know we have a standing Tuesday morning walk at Horner Park and new summer coffee breaks on the books? We’d love to see you! And if you have an event you’d like to share with the NPN community, you can submit your event here. Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
Parenting IRL: Teaching Teens to Save Money Is teaching financial literacy on your parenting to-do list? It might be top of mind or maybnot, considering that financial literacy among U.S. adults is at a 10-year low. That figure includes Gen Z-ers. One NPN member wonders if other parents of teens also require their kids to save. Do you press your kids to save a certain percentage of what they earn? Did you start earlier than high school? Weigh in! Trending: Modern Parenting Is Tough Modern parenting is tough with a capital T, and probably getting even harder. Why? We’re inundated with messaging that tells us how to parent but rarely get the kind of validating in-person feedback we need when struggling with guilt over missing sporting events, feeling exhausted, or struggling against systems—like the modern work day—that aren’t friendly to parents, especially those with young children. The way parents responded in surveys by Nanit, New America, and Teleflora says it all: Over 70% of parents say they wish they had more time with their kids. More than half of parents think they’re not spending enough quality time with their kids during the work week. Nearly 40% of moms feel guilty about being overwhelmed or distracted. More than 60% of parents say they want more personal time. But almost 70% say they feel guilty about wanting/needing that time to themselves. If those stats speak to you, you’re not alone. And the good news is that experts agree that talking to other parents and trusting your own instincts are powerful tools to block out the noise and focus on what actually works for you as a parent. 👋 Are you an expectant or new mom looking for community? NPN will be launching a New Moms Group this fall. Stay tuned! 🗓️ In Chicago Parenting News:The Chicago Sun Times reports that e-scooters are popular among city teens, but they’re proving dangerous and even deadly. Your rising eighth grader will take a new high school admissions test in October. Chalkbeat has more. Good news for pool-goers: Block Club reports that the city’s outdoor pools will open a week early this summer. Parents in Chicago and throughout the state now have NICU leave. Have you heard Illinois passed a landmark AI law mandating third-party audits and oversight? Before You Go ...We’ll be at Horner Park Playground (near the picnic table area) Sunday, June 28, for a casual playground hang. Stop by for a snack, crafts, and the chance to earn one month—or up to six months—of free membership. Register now or just check in with me on Sunday. Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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Though the school year has come to an end, NPN playdates will continue through the summer! Join us at Horner Park playground for a casual Sunday morning gathering. We'll set up 🫧 bubbles, 🎨 crafts, and 🧃juice boxes for the kids. Not an NPN member? No problem! Bring a neighbor, friend from school, relative, or anyone you know who might be interested in connecting with other parents of young children. ⭐ Stop by and check in with Yoona and earn up to six months of free membership! ⭐ Directions and Parking The playground is on the northeast corner of the park by the field house, along California Ave, between Cullom and Montrose. Free parking is generally available in the attached parking lot and on California Ave. Look for a picnic table covered in an NPN tablecloth or other NPN signage, Yoona in an NPN t-shirt, or just a blanket on the ground with craft projects on top! NPN Summer Playdates at Horner Park 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Sunday, June 14 - rescheduled due to rain Sunday, June 28 - new date! Sunday, July 12 Sunday, August 9 RSVPs not required, but encouraged for planning purposes. Tell us you're coming by clicking the green button on the right. (Mobile users scroll down.) Have questions? Email yoona@npnparents.org Cover image credit: Ivan Mudruk -
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Rain Check! This morning's playdate has been rescheduled for Sunday, June 28th. See you then! Though the school year has come to an end, NPN playdates will continue through the summer! Join us at Horner Park playground for a casual Sunday morning gathering. We'll set up 🫧 bubbles, 🎨 crafts, and 🧃juice boxes for the kids. Not an NPN member? No problem! Bring a neighbor, friend from school, relative, or anyone you know who might be interested in connecting with other parents of young children. ⭐ Stop by and check in with Yoona and earn up to six months of free membership! ⭐ Directions and Parking The playground is on the northeast corner of the park by the field house, along California Ave, between Cullom and Montrose. Free parking is generally available in the attached parking lot and on California Ave. Look for a picnic table covered in an NPN tablecloth or other NPN signage, Yoona in an NPN t-shirt, or just a blanket on the ground with craft projects on top! NPN Summer Playdates at Horner Park 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Sunday, June 14 Sunday, July 12 Sunday, August 9 RSVPs not required, but encouraged for planning purposes. Tell us you're coming by clicking the green button on the right. (Mobile users scroll down.) Have questions? Email yoona@npnparents.org Cover image credit: Ivan Mudruk -
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?! QR codes are everywhere, and I guess they’ve made their way to graduation announcements too. What do you think of this move? Is it something your family has done or would consider? Trending: Mommymaxxing or Team Beta MomIf you’re at all active on social media, you don’t have to look far to find examples of Mommymaxxing. It’s the mom version of the Looksmaxxing trend that has young men focused with perfecting the way they look. Mommymaxxing is all about maximizing motherhood. That means "bouncing back" after birth with ease, seamlessly choreographed sleep and after-school routines, and choosing the ideal extracurricular activities for the college prep pipeline. It’s aspirational and appealing content but unrealistic for many. If Mommymaxxing is all about perfectionism, Beta Mom-ing is the exact opposite. It’s laundry and mess everywhere and feeling OK with that and not planning every detail of the day. And you know what else is a hallmark of a Beta Mom? Asking for help from a trusted support network because you know you can’t do it all alone. Parenting labels are meh for many of us. Chances are you don’t fall neatly in either camp. I know I don’t. But one thing I think we can all agree on is that parenting is plain tough, and we could all use a break from expectations and judgment. In Chicago Parenting News:The Chicago Tribune reports that a cellphone ban was approved by Illinois lawmakers and is anticipated for the 2027-2028 school year. School Board campaigning season begins; Axios has your guide. Teens can join the Y for free this summer. WBEZ spoke with three recent Chicago college grads navigating the tough job market. Before You Go ...Join me at Horner Park Sunday, June 14, for a casual playground hang. We’ll have crafts and snacks. Plus, you can earn one month—or up to six months—of free membership. RSVP to let us know you’ll be there! Subscribe to NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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?” Managing periods is a real and legitimate concern for kids — and it turns out hormonal birth control to manage heavy or irregular periods (not contraception) is more common than many parents realize. In this situation, lighter, more predictable periods can make a big difference for a kid navigating shared bathrooms, swim schedules, and not having easy access to a trusted adult. Whether it’s the best option depends on her specific situation, and that’s a conversation worth having with her pediatrician. If your daughter is asking about this, it’s worth taking seriously — many kids hear about period management from friends, social media, or school, and heavy periods are a real concern. We’d love to hear from parents who’ve navigated this situation. What worked for your family? Do you have any advice? Let us know here! But seriously ... Your Kid Isn’t Getting Enough Sleep. Therefore, Neither Are You. Here’s a number that should keep you up at night (which is ironic, because it’s about sleep): nearly half of all U.S. children (44%) don’t consistently get the recommended amount of sleep for their age, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) 2026 Sleep in America Poll. Turns out most are underestimating how much sleep their kids need — often by more than an hour per day, compared to NSF recommendations. And it’s not just the kids who suffer — when one family member sleeps poorly, the effects can ripple through the entire household. (We’re guessing you already know this.) The fix isn’t complicated, even if it’s easier said than done: consistent bedtimes, screens off well before bed, and — yes — modeling it yourself. Catch those zzz’s! As a reminder, here are the recommended hours of sleep per the NSF: TIP: Subscribe to NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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.” Screen time at school is one of those issues that sounds like it should have a clear answer by now — and yet here we are, still debating it. One NPN parent is noticing a lot of Chromebook time for her kids and not seeing much to show for it. So here’s the question: has anyone actually pushed back successfully? And is there solid evidence either way on whether this stuff works? It’s a question worth taking seriously — ed tech has been adopted fast and evaluated slowly, and parents are often the last to get a straight answer. We’d love to hear from anyone who’s navigated this issue. Let us know your thoughts on the Forum! But seriously... Why Your Teen Is Like This (Hint: It’s Their Brain) Teenagers are, by definition, chaotic. But here’s some science that might make you a little more patient with yours. It turns out the teen brain is in the middle of a massive, active construction project — not just trimming away old connections, but building dense new clusters of synapses in specific areas, according to one study. These clusters emerge only during adolescence and appear to be the foundation for higher-level thinking, including planning, reasoning, and decision-making. In other words, the chaos isn’t a bug — it’s a feature. Your teen’s brain is being rewired for complexity in real time, and that process is messy, nonlinear… and absolutely essential. The takeaway: the teenage years are a critical window. Give them real decisions to make. Let them problem-solve. Let them fail a little. The circuits being built right now are the ones they’ll use for the rest of their lives. TIP: Subscribe to NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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, “ahhh, they grow up so fast” — but that’s usually in reference to something like losing a tooth, not sexting as an early teen. So what should you do if your child is acting a little more adult than you’d like on their cellphone? Some say it’s ok to check their electronic devices, while some think that’s crossing the line. Got some thoughts? Let’s hear them! We’ve all worried about what social media is doing to our kids. But the data might actually put your mind at ease, according to an article on TechDirt. For starters, most kids say social media doesn’t affect how they view themselves — or if it does, it makes them feel better, according to a recent Pew study the article cites. For instance, a full 62% of kids say Instagram makes no difference to their self-esteem. That number stays the same for SnapChat, and drops just a bit to 57% for TikTok. The article calls the social media concerns a “moral panic” and defines it as “worried adults constructing a portrait of a crisis that the people supposedly living it mostly don’t appear to recognize.” Indeed, the writer goes on to note that social media concerns often break down along economic lines, and “wealthier, more educated parents are significantly more convinced that social media is harming their kids than less affluent parents are.” So the conversation continues, but hey, let us just weigh in with this: Spring is here, and it’s finally nice outside. Take your kid out there to touch grass. [Photo credit: Richard Stachmann] National Fentanyl Awareness Day was on April 29, but it’s important to know about this dangerous drug every day. How should you talk with your kid about this potentially fatal narcotic? In this episode of the acclaimed “Ask Lisa” podcast, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan are joined by Ed Ternan and Marcia Lee Taylor of Song for Charlie, a national non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. Ternan, who tragically lost his 22-year-old son to a counterfeit prescription pill, and Lee Taylor, the former President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, cover the basics about fentanyl and offer concrete guidance on how to have effective conversations with teens about its dangers. Find the Spotify link here Find the Apple Podcasts link here [Photo credit: Tim Mossholder] It’s always important for fathers to be involved with their children’s early lives. Now, the data shows that connection may still be showing up in the child’s body years later, according to recent research. Fathers who were warm, responsive, and supportive with their babies around 10 months old helped create smoother co-parenting relationships by the time the child turns two, a study at Penn State University found. Even more notable, those same children showed healthier blood markers at age seven. “The takeaway here is that in families with a father in the household, dads affect the environment in ways that can support — or undermine — the health of the child for years to come,” said Alp Aytuglu, one of the study’s lead researchers. That's how many birds — from 250 different species — pass through Chicago during spring migration each year, according to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Spring migration peaks in May, so now’s the perfect time to teach the kids about our fine feathered friends. [Photo credit: minh đô] Good news for parents who've been battling their teenager out of bed on Saturday mornings: science says maybe don’t. Teens who use the weekend to catch up on sleep lost during the week have a 41% lower risk of depression than those who don't sleep in, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, which analyzed sleep and health data from more than 1,000 young people ages 16 to 24. For night-owl teenagers who simply can't get enough rest during the school week, weekend catch-up sleep appears to offer real protection for their mental health. [Photo credit: Brian J. Tromp] Kids Restaurant Week What to expect: Here’s your chance to expand your kid’s palate beyond chicken fingers and buttered noodles. Renowned restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You is holding its first Kids Restaurant Week, which invites kids ages 4 – 12 to explore global cuisines through thoughtfully curated, chef-led dinners designed just for them. Each night, kids will enjoy a multi-course menu, meet the chefs behind the dishes, and more. When: May 3 – May 7 Where: Lettuce Entertain You restaurants across Chicago Colors in Bloom What to expect: Color Factory Chicago’s acclaimed, spring-like Colors in Bloom exhibit won’t be here forever, so get your tickets soon! Your kid can explore larger-than-life blossoms in the confetti rooms, or go on a scavenger hunt and take home great stuff. When: May 1–11 Where: Color Factory, 233 S. Wacker Dr., Lower Level 2 Bye! Did you say confetti rooms? Excuse me, we have tickets to buy… Enjoying this newsletter? Forward it to a friend — the more the merrier. -
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. So what to do? Suggestions in the discussion range from mini-golf to laser tag to a Japanese steakhouse. Got some ideas? Let’s hear them! Summer camp applications: If at first you don’t succeed… Trying to get into the Chicago Park District summer camps can be like trying to get tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert — blink and they’re gone. Online registration already opened Monday for parks west of California Avenue, and Tuesday for parks east of the street. But don’t be discouraged if you weren’t able to snag a spot — in-person registration is starting Saturday, April 25, at select parks. But there’s a catch: spots are only available if they weren’t already claimed, so find the park near you and see if a few precious openings remain. Also, just so you know: the Park District is working to revamp its registration process going forward, thank goodness. Best of luck! If you want a healthier, more active child later in life, get them moving when they’re young. “Early family participation in active leisure with toddlers, as well as limitations on screen use, forecasted more active lifestyle habits by early adolescence,” according to a thorough study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. The study was a follow-up to a World Health Organization report, which strongly recommended physical movement for children under one through the age of four. Using this as a starting-off point, researchers at the University of Montreal set out to determine the long-term impact of following — or not — these recommendations. “Active parent-child time — playing, moving, being physically engaged together — appears to be the single most powerful lever for establishing healthy long-term habits,” said Kianoush Harandian, doctoral researcher at the University of Montreal. If we want the best education and childhood services for our young kids, we need to make our case to the government. Join us and several early-education groups — including Child Care for All, Community Organizing and Family Issues/POWER-PAC IL, Illinois Action For Children, Latino Policy Forum, Raising Illinois, and more — as we head to Springfield on Wednesday, May 13, to advocate for our state’s youngest learners. Sign up here to reserve a spot on a shuttle and make your voice heard to Illinois legislators. And even if you can’t make it, you can submit your story and help make a difference for our kids. That’s the average daily cost of a Chicago Park District summer camp — six weeks, lunch and a snack included, for kids ages 6–12. Pretty good deal, we’d say. What does this world need? Well, a lot of things, we suppose, but certainly more beauty is a good place to start. An artist in Portland, Oregon, is trying to do just that, and her Worldwide Sidewalk Joy effort is a big step in that direction. These spots are curated public installations — think galleries, exchanges, and displays tucked into curb gardens, front yards, and building façades — designed to bring a little whimsy and inspiration to the neighborhood, according to creator Rachael Harms Mahlandt’s website. Get in on the ground floor of this growing trend by setting up your own area — suggestions include Free Little Art Galleries, Puzzle Exchanges, Toy Swaps, yard displays, Wishing Trees, and more. Find ideas here, and get out there and beautify the world! Bye! Now if you'll excuse us, we have some small figurines to sculpt. See you next week! Enjoying this newsletter? Forward it to a friend — the more the merrier. -
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 a week. For those with high-schoolers, what are your kids packing for lunch?” We feel you on this. The days of the carefully packed bag lunch with the apple and the “I love you! ” note are long gone. Now you're negotiating with a teen who has… opinions. And if that 15-year-old is also an athlete who needs roughly the caloric intake of a small bear, the challenge doubles. So — what are your kids really eating for lunch? What walks the line between healthy and something they'll actually eat and not just toss in the trash on the way to McDonald’s? Drop your best ideas in the discussion board! But seriously... Photo credit: Rachel Coyne Teen hangouts — do you know where your kid is? If you have a teenager in Chicago, you probably saw Mayor Brandon Johnson’s recent warning about “teen takeovers” — large, unsanctioned gatherings organized through social media that have been popping up across the city. These gatherings can turn dangerous, the mayor said, and he’s asked parents to check in with their children and find safe alternatives. This raises a real question that has nothing to do with curfews or politics: how do you stay connected with what your teen is doing when social media can organize a massive group faster than you can say “what’s up for tonight?” Experts say the answer is calm-and-cool engagement, not finger-wagging judgement. Yes, that’s easier said than done, but listening without reacting can be key to creating a healthy give-and-take relationship. “We want our children to know they can count on us to look out for them,” says the Center for Parent & Teen Communication. “The way we listen tells teens they are free to talk. Controlling our reactions tells them they can talk without fear of being judged.” When this comes up for you, remember one surprisingly simple rule: if you are giving advice to your teenager, do it quickly and succinctly. “Say it in three to five sentences — no more,” says the Brown University Health newsletter. “If you go beyond that five-sentence mark, now you’re nagging and you sound like that teacher from the Peanuts comics. The fact is, our teenagers are no longer listening to us once we go beyond that much information.” The goal, in other words, is to be the parent they actually want to talk to. How do you keep that connection alive with your teenager? Share your thoughts here. Don’t turn the page on libraries Photo credit: Dokyung Kim Last week, we mentioned that the city turned every CPS student ID into an instant library card, giving more than 315,000 kids immediate access to libraries across the city. Just like that. The program has earned national attention, with Vice magazine calling it “unusually creative for modern government.” So the next step is to help kids learn about all the cool things you can get at your local Chicago Public Library, including: ● Free museum passes — CPL’s Culture Pass program lets cardholders borrow free passes to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute, Chicago History Museum, and more. ● Free digital resources — Hoopla and Libby/OverDrive give instant access to thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and streaming movies. ● Free online learning — Kids older than 2 can learn with interactive books, games, and puzzles, while older kids can get help with homework and even assistance putting together a resume. (Did we mention it’s free?) Prom ’fits (without breaking the bank) Photo credit: Todd Cravens Prom season is here, and if you have a junior or senior kid who wants to go in a dress, you already know sticker shock is a thing. So before you spend a fortune on a dress or suit they’ll wear once (probably), know that there are ways to find cool clothes for less. For instance, register here for Prom Girls Rock, which offers free (!!!) dresses donated by local bridal shops and retailers to high school juniors and seniors — their next event is noon to 3 p.m., April 18, at McKinley Leadership Academy, 2920 S. Wabash Ave. Trending: Think before you post! Photo credit: Helena Lopes For many parents, it’s only natural: you’re celebrating your kid’s fourth birthday, and she gives you the cutest smile you’ve ever seen. Click! You capture it, add a cute caption, and post it online. But here’s something that might make you pause mid-scroll: parents share an average of about 300 photos and sensitive data about their children online every year, according to The Journal of Pediatrics. That act, now called “sharenting” (a combination of “sharing” and “parenting”) brings some potentially negative consequences, including identity theft, emotional harm, and more. Now, the first generation of children raised on social media is reaching adulthood, and many of them aren’t thrilled about having their childhoods archived online without their consent. The good news is parents seem to be getting the message. More families are pausing before they post, keeping kids’ names off public profiles, and asking their children before sharing. Privacy, it turns out, is becoming the new luxury. Worth asking yourself: what’s your family's policy on this? Happening in a ’hood near you… Photo credit: Natasha Moustache, MCA Chicago Chinatown Early Childhood Playdate What to expect: A fun get-together in Chinatown that features creative play, developmental screenings in English and Chinese, as well as free resources, self-care tips, and snacks. When: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, April 25 Where: Pui Tak Center, 2216 S. Wentworth Ave. Register in advance here Bye! Now if you'll excuse us, we have some gardening to do. See you next week! Enjoying this newsletter? Forward it to a friend — the more the merrier. -
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Members, enjoy this NPN treat! NPN's Executive Director, Amy Johnson and Dr. Melissa Feiger, Founder and Lead Educator at Wander Through Wonder Academy, will be handing out free coffee and pastries to NPN members who stop by Wander Through Wonder Academy at 916 W Diversey Parkway. Take it to go or stay and chat. Children are welcome. We'd love to see you! Your RSVP is kindly requested for planning purposes. (Mobile users scroll down to RSVP). Walk-ins welcome. NPN Member Perk: Free Coffee & Pastries Wander Through Wonder Academy 916 W Diversey Parkway 8:00-9:00 AM RSVPs kindly requested to help us plan. Walk-ins welcome. Thank you to our partner: Wander Through Wonder Academy -
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January 30th is National Croissant Day, and that's as good an excuse as any for an NPN member perk! NPN's Executive Director, Amy Johnson, and NPN's Board of Directors Chair and IFC founder Julianne Neely, will be handing out free croissants & cups of coffee to NPN members who stop by Individual and Family Connection therapy office at 1806 N Damen Avenue in Bucktown. Take it to go or stay and chat. Children are welcome. There is street parking right out front, making this a quick and easy stop. We'd love to see you! Your RSVP is kindly requested for planning purposes. (Mobile users scroll down to RSVP). Walk-ins welcome. NPN Member Perk: Free Coffee & Croissant! Individual and Family Connection 1806 N Damen Ave Easy street parking out front for a quick grab-n-go! 8:00-9:00 AM RSVPs kindly requested to help us plan. Walk-ins welcome. Thank you to our partner: -
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November 7th - 9th, 2025 10% of your sales at Vin Chicago can be donated back to NPN Load up for the holiday season, and to give back to NPN! Make sure your purchases support NPN Online: Enter "Neighborhood Parents Network" in the order comments at check-out. In-store: Tell the Vin Chicago team member at check-out that you'd like to support Neighborhood Parents Network. All purchases are eligible: Wine, beer, spirits, event tickets, and gift cards! Vin Chicago 1826 N Elston Ave., Chicago. Online orders can be placed on their website: https://vinchicago.com/ Thank you for supporting Neighborhood Parents Network! -
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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 partnered with us to bring seven education sessions to families We updated our School & Daycare Directory, connecting families with current information on more than 1,100 schools With the help of our sponsors, the Preschool & Elementary School Fair was held in September at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum with 47 exhibiting schools, two sessions on Chicago Public Schools, and more Building our relationships with south side families, we participated in the South Side Early Childhood and Grade School Fair in October Developmental Differences: We worked with local experts on two parent education sessions on executive functioning in middle school and clinical assessments Our Developmental Differences Parent Support Group, met twelve times, thanks to our volunteers Kandalyn, Beth, and Sarah Providers updated their information in our Developmental Differences Resource Directory (includes 150 providers) With the help of our advisory committee, we hosted the Developmental Differences Resource Fair in September, featuring over 30 exhibitors and a panel discussion with individuals thriving with developmental differences NPN staff contributed to the planning and success of the Every Child Ready Chicago Strengthening Inclusion Symposium in December at Malcolm X College Parent-to-Parent Support: Partnering with local schools, we organized 9 preschool playdates and launched Screenless Saturdays for older children and families Members created 1,650 threads in our discussion forum and contributed to our newsletter, Parent to Parent which was mailed to members in March With the goal of supporting more families in a bigger way, we launched the Chicago Style Parenting podcast, offering expert insights on parenting topics To benefit our members, we continue to build the Member Discount Directory. Forty-six discounts are currently available with more to come We shared our resources with families at Bubblespalooza in September Looking forward to 2025 Next year, we’ll expand our partnerships and programming to bring families more playdates, educational sessions, and podcast episodes while building our online resources and directories. We're excited to introduce a new kids' classes directory and continue our partnerships with community organizations. We will bring in new donations to our online auction coming up in March, and we are excited to be working with a grant writer with the hope of opening up new funding streams to support our work. How you can help. NPN is a nonprofit, and we need your support. Our goal is to raise $32,000 this year to continue offering these vital resources. Meeting this financial goal is critical. Should we miss this goal, NPN will not survive. Please consider donating $50 today. You can donate by clicking here. Click here for NPN’s IRS Exemption Letter. Thank you for being a part of NPN! Your membership keeps NPN vibrant and your donation will keep NPN going strong in 2025. -
NPN is known for helping families find childcare, research schools, navigate developmental differences, and get parent-to-parent advice. Helping families navigate developmental differences is one part of our mission that is especially meaningful to me and the rest of the staff team. NPN’s Developmental Differences Resource Fair (DDRF) began about thirteen years ago. After listening to parents discuss the need for easy access to resources and information, NPN felt compelled to help. With guidance, direction and support from Lorell Marin from LEEP Forward/ Quantum Leep Academy, and leaders from respected providers such as Tuesday’s Child and others, DDRF was born. The goal of the first DDRF was to help parents of children with a range of developmental differences including developmental delays, sensory processing disorder, Autism, ADHD, PDD-NOS, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities, and more. That mission remains the same today. Traditionally, DDRF is an event with an exhibit hall of vendors ranging from therapy providers, therapeutic schools, enrichment activities, medical professionals, and more - and that benefit remains this year. Before, after, and between education sessions, families will be able to talk with expert professionals at the exhibitor tables. (See our growing list of exhibitors here.) This year - we are proud to partner with experts to support parents in being prepared for proposed changes and advocating for their children. Featured sessions include: 9:00–10:00 AM: “Understanding the Proposed Special Education Law and How to Support Your Child” – Presented by Matt Cohen, founder of Matt Cohen & Associates 11:00AM - 12:00PM: “Is My Child's IEP or 504 Good Enough?” – Presented by Emily Winsor, Managing Director of Tuesday’s Child Parents of children with a range of developmental differences—including developmental delays, sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, down syndrome, and physical disabilities are welcome to attend this free event. Children do not need to have a diagnosis in order for parents to attend or benefit from the resources offered at this fair; parents with concerns about their child’s development are sure to find support at the fair. I hope you will join us at DDRF this year. It is happening on Sunday, April 27th from 9:00am - Noon at Wolcott College Prep Arts & Athletic Center, 1950 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60622. There is a free attached parking lot and plenty of free street parking. Registration is FREE and required. You can learn more and register here. Because NPN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, DDRF is only possible through the support of our parent, business, and non-profit community. We are grateful for the support of our parent members and our sponsors. DDRF’s growing list of sponsors includes CST Academy, Tuesday’s Child, and Wolcott College Prep. We are also grateful for the support of the professionals and parents who make up our Developmental Differences Advisory Committee: Evelyn Perez-Horita, Family Child Advocate at North Shore Pediatric Therapy; Kimberly Johnson, Board President The Arc of Illinois; Laura Baginski, former chair of NPN’s Developmental Differences Parent Support Group; Lorell Marin, founder of LEEP Forward and Quantum Leep Academy; Michelle Paris, Founder and Clinical Director at Patterns and Threads: Psychotherapy & Consultation; and Tareema Jean-Baptist, Early Childhood Special Education Family PD Specialist Starnet Region V. -
🚨 BIDDING CLOSES TONIGHT AT 10PM! 🚨 NPN's annual Online Auction offers great items that Chicago parents want and love, including kids' classes, activities, restaurant gift certificates, massages and access to cool experiences you can't find anywhere else! Peep some of the items at biddingforgood.com/npnparents. 🌟 NEW THIS YEAR! There will NOT be a second-chance auction this year so bid while you can to avoid missing out on a great deal! NEW auction items released DAILY so check back each day! Check back often to see if an item you're eyeing has a slashed price! With the proceeds from our auction, NPN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be able to continue to provide support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. Questions? Email Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org. Want to donate an item, gift certificate, or experience? Donate here. Thank you to our Online Auction Sponsors
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NPN's annual Online Auction offers great items that Chicago parents want and love, including kids' classes, activities, restaurant gift certificates, massages and access to cool experiences you can't find anywhere else! Peep some of the items at biddingforgood.com/npnparents. 🌟 NEW THIS YEAR! There will NOT be a second-chance auction this year so bid while you can to avoid missing out on a great deal! NEW auction items released DAILY so check back each day! Check back often to see if an item you're eyeing has a slashed price! With the proceeds from our auction, NPN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be able to continue to provide support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. Bidding opens March 13th at 5am and closes at 10pm on March 17th. Questions? Email Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org. Want to donate an item, gift certificate, or experience? Donate here. Thank you to our Online Auction Sponsors
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NPN's annual Online Auction offers great items that Chicago parents want and love, including kids' classes, activities, restaurant gift certificates, massages and access to cool experiences you can't find anywhere else! Peep some of the items at biddingforgood.com/npnparents. 🌟 NEW THIS YEAR! There will NOT be a second-chance auction this year so bid while you can to avoid missing out on a great deal! NEW auction items released DAILY so check back each day! Check back often to see if an item you're eyeing has a slashed price! With the proceeds from our auction, NPN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be able to continue to provide support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. Bidding opens March 13th at 5am and closes at 10pm on March 17th. Questions? Email Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org. Want to donate an item, gift certificate, or experience? Donate here. Thank you to our Online Auction Sponsors
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NPN's annual Online Auction offers great items that Chicago parents want and love, including kids' classes, activities, restaurant gift certificates, massages and access to cool experiences you can't find anywhere else! Peep some of the items at biddingforgood.com/npnparents. 🌟 NEW THIS YEAR! There will NOT be a second-chance auction this year so bid while you can to avoid missing out on a great deal! NEW auction items released DAILY so check back each day! Check back often to see if an item you're eyeing has a slashed price! With the proceeds from our auction, NPN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be able to continue to provide support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. Bidding opens March 13th at 5am and closes at 10pm on March 17th. Questions? Email Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org. Want to donate an item, gift certificate, or experience? Donate here. Thank you to our Online Auction Sponsors
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NPN's annual Online Auction offers great items that Chicago parents want and love, including kids' classes, activities, restaurant gift certificates, massages and access to cool experiences you can't find anywhere else! Peep some of the items at biddingforgood.com/npnparents. 🌟 NEW THIS YEAR! There will NOT be a second-chance auction this year so bid while you can to avoid missing out on a great deal! NEW auction items released DAILY so check back each day! Check back often to see if an item you're eyeing has a slashed price! With the proceeds from our auction, NPN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be able to continue to provide support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. Bidding opens March 13th at 5am and closes at 10pm on March 17th. Questions? Email Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org. Want to donate an item, gift certificate, or experience? Donate here. Thank you to our Online Auction Sponsors
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Here's a look at NPN’s year-in-review as well as our plans for 2024! Successes in 2023 We stayed true to our mission to connect a diverse community of families by providing support and resources to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. As you know, NPN helps Chicago families research schools and navigate developmental differences through parent education sessions, our annual Preschool & Elementary School Fair, and the Developmental Differences Resource Fair. In October 2023, we held our first Education & Community Fair at Kennicott Park in Hyde Park, complete with performances by the Kenwood School of Ballet. We created and relaunched even more opportunities to foster connection within our community. NPN members find social support and parent-to-parent advice at our monthly playdates, in our Developmental Differences Parent Support Group, on virtual Parent Chats, at in-person Member Networking Coffees, and New Parent Group meetings, not to mention the discussion forum and our Parent to Parent newsletter. (Stay tuned for the next issue of Parent-to-Parent which will hit your mailbox in March!) Looking forward to 2024 Goal: Grow our membership while providing more support to new and expecting parents and parents of older children. Our challenge this year is to increase membership, especially among new and expecting parents. To that end, we are planning a special new and expectant parent event this spring with some of our favorite partners. Stay tuned for more information! We are also developing a new format for our parent education sessions (a podcast!), and creating new programming for parents and their older elementary school children to enjoy together. We look forward to planning more support for post-high-school planning as well. There are so many new things in store for NPN and I’m excited to share them with you throughout the coming year. How you can help. Invite a friend to join NPN? Our strength is in our membership, and every member counts. NPN welcomes families of all cultures and backgrounds, gender, gender identity, race, ethnic origin, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, and ability. Your friend is welcome here, so please invite them! Share promo code Member30 with them so that they can save $30 on their first year of membership. Here is a blurb you can use for inviting friends to join: Thank you for your support of NPN. Your membership keeps the organization going and provides resources to families across the city. We are so grateful for you and hope to connect with you online or in-person in 2024.
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