Few images evoke the whimsical magic of the holidays as much as a brightly decorated gingerbread house, trimmed with snowy white icing and sparkling gumdrops, perhaps nestled in a frosty forest scene with a snowman. Lovely as it sounds, the thought of constructing such an edible display can be as intimidating as it is appealing, […]
Capital City Parent
Posted inCapital City Parent
Holiday movie and book pairings
Kids of all ages love to be read to, and reading together as a family can boost connection in so many ways. Books allow you to talk about all sorts of different topics and themes with your kids and teach empathy and compassion for different kinds of characters and circumstances. This is such a wonderful […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Dealing with daytime darkness
Here we go again – daylight savings time. The changing of clocks. The unsettling reality of darkness at 4 p.m. While initially cozy, the drastic reduction in sunlight that our bodies experience during the winter can unfortunately cause mood changes, fatigue and a weakened immune system – not to mention, it’s just sort of a […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Organized parents, organized children
Corners and countertops are cluttered, you’ve stepped barefoot on a Lego again and you just found your crumpled fun fair assignment in the bottom of a backpack, due tomorrow. Happens all the time. Take a breath and listen to Joe Scruggs’ delightful song “By the Way” from Deep in the Jungle. He gets it. But […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Family event calendar
NOVEMBER 2025 Arts and Crafts Fair Fri., Nov. 14, 5-8pm and Sat., Nov. 15, 9am-3pm. Find unique gifts, beautiful art and amazing crafts – all handcrafted by local artisans. Free admission. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, Springfield, IL 62711, 217-585-9550. Funshop Kids Club Fri., Nov. 14, 5:30-8:30pm and Fri., Dec. 12, 5:30-8:30pm. […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Start a new school year with more independence
As parents, one of our most important goals is to teach our children to be independent, but teaching those skills can sometimes be difficult and fraught. It’s not always easy for kids to walk into their new roles and responsibilities with good cheer, and it’s definitely not easy for parents to let go. Our well-meaning […]
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Springfield teen publishes first book
“My consciousness blended into my unconsciousness” begins the new young adult fiction page-turner, Amoeba, by Rayna Vincent, published on Amazon in May. It’s the first novel for the Springfield 14-year-old, but it probably won’t be her last. “A lot of people have asked me if there is going to be a sequel,” Vincent says of […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
STEAM learning opportunities for kids
Scouting America and Illinois State Museum team up for STEAM workshops The Abraham Lincoln Council of Scouting America is partnering with the Illinois State Museum to present a monthly series of STEM workshops with engaging hands-on experiences for boys and girls ages 5–11. Programs will be offered one Saturday each month in September, October and […]
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‘Born leader’ will represent students on the D186 School Board
Are leaders born or made? For 17-year-old Jordan Robinson, the new student representative on the Springfield District 186 school board, leadership appears to be a combination of innate qualities and acquired skills. “Is Jordan a born leader? Yes,” said her mom, Jessica Pope-Robinson, with a smile. “We say she was like this from the get-go. […]
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Family event calendar
AUGUST Illinois State Fair Aug. 7-17. Massive annual fair features every kind of food imaginable, the sounds of music and concertgoers’ cheers at the Grandstand shows, a midway, harness-racing events and tons of agricultural shows and more. The fun begins Aug. 7 with the Twilight Parade. See the fair’s website for complete schedule. Illinois State […]
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Summer theater for kids
Central Illinois offers a variety of summer theater programs for kids and teens, providing opportunities to explore the performing arts in fun and supportive environments. Here’s a summary of theater arts opportunities for young people this summer. Youth shows 101 Dalmatians KIDS May 23-25 Hoogland Center for the Arts Based on the classic animated Disney […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Running fun for the whole family
Running is a great sport for kids that can benefit both their physical and mental development. And luckily, there are ample regional opportunities this spring and summer for kids to participate in running. Lace up your sneakers and check out these family-friendly runs and races. Healthy Kids Running Series Multiple locations Ongoing The Healthy Kids […]
