As a new school year begins yet again, parents have a lot on their minds. Typical concerns about how a child might adjust to a new teacher or classroom have been overshadowed by more pressing worries, namely, the staggering number of mass shootings that have occurred in the United States this year, over 300 at […]
Pamela Savage
Posted inSpecial Issues
Set a family goal this summer
As we approach the halfway mark for the calendar year, some of us may be thinking back to the resolutions that we committed to in January and feeling, well… disappointed. If this sounds like you, you aren’t alone. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Scranton revealed that 23% of New Year’s resolution-makers […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer boredom busters
I cannot believe I am saying this, but the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are almost upon us. And for those of us home with children of all ages, “hazy” seems an apt descriptor for these long, strange, busy-but-not-always-productive summer days. Despite our best attempts at keeping our families busy with camps, vacations, sports […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The origins of Juneteenth
Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, is the nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger announced the freedom of more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. This was one of the last groups of people to be freed from institutional slavery […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Keep pets safe this summer
Sun’s out, pup’s out, Illinois Times’ readers! Buddy the Cavachon here to discuss some important health and wellness tips to help you make your pet’s summers safe and comfortable. Pet owners know that high temperatures and sweltering sunlight can be uncomfortable, but let’s take a moment to stop and think about how the dog days […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer reading and much more
According to a study by Scholastic, summer reading is critical for helping kids maintain learning while school is out, foster social-emotional development, discover the joys of stories and elevate the importance of lifelong learning. Reading helps open doors to new experiences and perspectives, improves overall literacy, lowers stress and is a free or low-cost form […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Family road trip fun
Summer is here, and with it comes family vacations. While modern airline travel accommodates all sorts of destinations and timelines, how about considering the more retro family road trip? Over the last two years, lots of families have opted for car travel over airline travel due to germs and pandemic uncertainty, but there are plenty […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Decluttering when you live with children
I don’t know if it is the byproduct of spring cleaning, knowing that summer break is around the corner or that I have been binging “The Home Edit” on Netflix, but I am ready to declutter my house – particularly my kids’ items. As all families with young children know, kids often go through toys […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Planting a pollinator garden
One out of every three bites of our food, including fruits, vegetables, chocolate, coffee, nuts and spices, is created with the help of pollinators, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pollinators include not just bees, but birds, beetles, butterflies, moths, bats and more, and are an important piece of food creation around the world. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Getting away from it all
The 164-acre eco-center Jubilee Farm in New Berlin sits just a handful of miles away from Springfield and has been a peaceful destination for many since its original opening in 2000. Jubilee Farm is run by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield and features outdoor walking trails, an outdoor labyrinth, indoor meeting spaces for retreats or […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Starting kids in sports
For many of us, the start of warm weather means the return of beloved outdoor activities like walking, running, biking or hiking. For families with young children, finally getting outside to play can feel like a breath of (literal) fresh air after a winter spent cooped up indoors. Many families choose to enroll their little […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Planning amid uncertainty
Over the last two years, many couples planned weddings amid uncertainty and held celebrations with caveats. The wedding industry found itself recalibrating its offerings to provide safe and meaningful experiences for engaged couples and their families. All of this change, while hard, has also provided an exciting opportunity for weddings to look a little different […]
