Family event calendar
Illinois State Fair Aug 8-18, Thu-Sun. An abundance of fried food-on-a-stick, a butter cow, beer tents, exhibits, livestock judging, a carnival and top-notch grandstand acts. Children up to 12 free, ages 13-59 $10 and seniors 60+ $3. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 217-782-6661. Wizard of Oz Aug 8-11, 8:30pm Thu-Sun. L. Frank Baum’s classic…
Back to school anxiety
Starting out in a new school for the first time can feel like a journey into the unknown, whether the student is an awkward tween or a shy preschooler leaving a parent’s side for the first time. Along with excitement over a new school year comes a slew of logistical and social-emotional obstacles for kids…
Fantasy books for kids
Do you have a child who is into the fantasy genre, but maybe isn’t quite ready to sit down with a Harry Potter novel? Maybe a child who is inquisitive about what the future on Earth may look like? Or a child that likes a fast-paced mystery? Then I have a title for you –…
Fun phone apps for kids to stimulate thinking and creativity
With a massive sea of kids’ phone apps on the market, which ones best maximize kids’ media time? The following is a selection of kid-tested and parent-approved apps to help boost kids’ critical thinking skills and creativity. Piano Kids – Music & Songs (Free for Android. Ages 3+). This top-rated app teaches kids and parents…
Could your child be on the autism spectrum?
Sometimes the signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are subtle – developmental delays or not smiling or cooing as much as other babies. Sometimes the red flags are hard to ignore, such as losing speech, a lack of eye contact or lining up toys or pieces of food. According to information provided by Autism Support…
Financial independence for teens and young adults
It’s a fine line between knowing what is enough and what is too much financial help when it comes to teens and adult children. The hope is to raise strong, independent adults and the key may be instilling knowledge about finances, along with financial confidence. The Junior Achievement and Citizens Bank Teens and Personal…
Taking the lead in sportsmanship
We’ve all seen it – the parent who stands on the sidelines criticizing the decisions made by coaches and officials; the one who yells at his own child when she makes a mistake; the fan that hurls rude remarks to the opposing team; and the parent who always places blame. Some of us have even…
The facts about active shooter drills
For decades, students have participated in fire and tornado drills. Many of us remember the sudden wailing of a fire alarm, then lining up and traipsing out of the building, waiting for the all clear from the fire department. Or we remember crouching in a hall, hands over our heads as practice for a tornado.…
