Jana Richards is a Black mother who is deeply concerned about the health and well-being of her peers here in Chicago. She’s acutely aware of the statistics because she’s also an obstetrician and gynecologist with the University of Chicago Medicine. “This country’s maternal death rate continues to increase and is three to four times higher than other developed nations,” says Dr. Richards. The U.S. is the only developed country that has a rising maternal mortality rate, according to the Black Maternal Health Caucus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that more than 60% of pregna ..read more

Tulip lovers, your time has come! If you can’t make it to Holland, we’ve got the next best thing right here in Illinois: The Tulip Festival at the Richardson Adventure Farm. Located in Spring Grove, this celebration of spring runs from mid-April through mid-May, prime tulip season in Illinois. “The Tulip Festival is a chance to spend a day in nature surrounded by a sea of beautiful colors,” says George Richardson, one of the farm’s owners. “It’s a great place to take pictures and make family memories. Kids get so excited about seeing all the different colors and varieties of tulips. It’s a fea ..read more

The French have their bistros. The English have their pubs. And the Americans have their steakhouses.Going out for a steak has been a pivotal part of American culture for more than a century, but it wasn’t always considered a high-class, expensive meal. In New York City in the 1800s, working-class folks would down pints of ale and feast on slices of beefsteak (usually without utensils and atop white or French bread) for celebratory meals. Soon, fine-dining establishments opened up to take those steak dinners up a notch, like Delmonico’s in 1837, Old Homestead Steakhouse in 1868, and Carl Luger ..read more

Choosing a middle school is an important early step in a child’s education.  Some schools in Lake County have better scores than others. Niche, a data-analyzing website focused on schools, has graded some of the best public middle schools in Lake County.  The results stem from multiple ranking factors including teacher quality, state test scores, student-teacher ratio, student diversity and more. Read more on how this ranking was calculated. Top 50 public middle schools in Lake County Bannockburn School, Bannockburn (A+) Rondout Elementary School, Lake Forest (A+) Oak Grove Elementa ..read more

More families are using their vacation time to make memories with extended family. Now more than ever, multigenerational travel— trips with three or more generations of a family— are increasing in popularity.Grandparents are often the ones initiating these trips. According to the Family Travel Association’s 2023 study, bonding with family and spending time with grandchildren are the biggest motivators for more than 3 in 5 grandparents to take a multigenerational trip. Planning a family vacation for three or more generations often requires extra logistical consideration. Families with young chi ..read more

Get ready for Story Pirates: The Amazing Adventure Tour at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. This family-friendly performance will feature fan-favorite songs from the multi-award winning The Story Pirates Podcast and improvised sketch comedy based on ideas from kids in the audience. Fill out the form by Friday, May 3 for your chance to win four tickets to Story Pirates: The Amazing Adventure Tour on Thursday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. No purchase necessary to win. Read our contest terms and conditions to learn more. Follow Chicago ..read more

When your child reaches middle school, their academic focus shifts toward getting into their Chicago high school of choice. It may seem far too early to think about high school — especially from a fifth- or sixth-grade perspective — but you can’t be too prepared for what’s ahead, says Andrew Ferguson, Director of Client Services with Academic Approach, a Chicago tutoring and test prep company. Because getting into their Chicago high school of choice depends on admission test scores and grades, late elementary to early middle school is exactly the time to pay attention to your child’s academic ..read more

See Chicago like you never have before! Flyover, the immersive attraction that transports guests to the planet’s most epic places through exhilarating flying journeys. This multi-sensory experience, which incorporates leading drone technologies along with impressive aerial shots and first person-narratives, will showcase the city from unique perspectives.  We’re giving away a family four pack of tickets to see Flyover at Navy Pier. Fill out the form by Monday, April 29, 2024. No purchase necessary to win. Read our contest terms and conditions to learn more. Follow Chicago Parent on Insta ..read more

Public speaking: these two little words can drive fear into the hearts of so many of us. Whether talking in front of a live audience for an event or communicating effectively on a Zoom call at work, public speaking is part of our lives. So why isn’t this important skill a requirement at every elementary school? At Chicago City Day School, public speaking in elementary school is a cornerstone of the educational experience, says head of school Chris Dow.  “Our founder was a strong advocate for teaching public speaking in school. We believe that public speaking is a key life skill as well as ..read more

June is approaching and you know what that means – schools will be out and then it will be time to start having some fun here in Chicagoland. With the summertime comes lots of fun outdoor activities to do with your kids, including summer festivals, movies in the park events (including tons at the Chicago Park Districts) and music in the park events. Also, be sure to check out the Pride Month events, Juneteenth events and Father’s Day events happening this month. I always try to bring my son, Jordan, to check out the holiday events and summer festivals. Most of them offer a ..read more