Capital City Parent

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. […]

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it may be more accurate to say that it takes a village to support a mother. It’s easy to get swept up in the rhythm of family life, no matter what stage of parenting one is in, and forget to look after one’s own […]

National Missing Children’s Awareness DayMay 11, 9am-2pm Sat. Color 2K run/walk. All ages. Individuals and teams. Bring your family for child ID kits administered by the Illinois State Police and receive literature. Participants $20, age 18 and under $15. Visitors $5. missinginillinois.org. Washington Park Pavilion, 1400 Williams Blvd., 217-544-1751. 312-620-0788. Native American Skills – From […]

When Molly Lamb returned to her job as deputy director of the Office of Health Protection at the Illinois Department of Health after maternity leave last May, her five-month-old son Jhett was with her. Molly and Jhett were the first participants in IDPH’s pilot “Infant at Work” program, which allows eligible mothers, fathers and legal […]

Gliding along the monorail line during a recent trip to Disney World, I struck up a conversation with the dad sitting next to me. He had a worn-out little boy asleep against his shoulder, as I watched my own overstimulated daughter struggle to sit still in her seat. “We come here every year,” the dad […]

There’s no question, playing in the dirt tops the list of fun for young children, despite the protests of many well-intended parents. If you’re one of those parents, you can put your fears aside. It turns out dirt is actually beneficial to the long-term health of kids, according to a Northwestern University article, “Germs at […]

To get your family gardening project off on the right foot, consider an age-appropriate book on gardening. This will also help build your child’s enthusiasm. Included below are a couple of books for parents too, to help make your family garden a success. The Little Gardener by Jan Gerardi (ages 3-4) The Little Gardener by […]

The Springfield Youth Performance Group (SYPG) is enriching the lives of children through the performing arts.  The nonprofit is dedicated to nurturing the artistic spirit within each child.  SYPG works toward this purpose by targeting excellence in stage performances, arts education and youth-centered programming facilitated by professional artists.     “If all the world’s a stage, […]

Graphic novels, stories presented in comic strip format, are a relatively new style of book that has taken children’s literature by storm. This style of book, while making some adults crazy (myself included, at one point), has made reading entertaining for a lot of kids who may not find their way into a book otherwise. […]

 It’s never too late to adopt better eating habits and experiment with natural, fresh and whole foods.  Avoiding processed foods and added sugar are keys to eating a more nutritious diet. People of all ages can benefit by eating more vegetables and unprocessed foods.  Many who change their diet, instead of “going on a diet,” […]

Athletic activity in youth offers many benefits, including the development of fitness, motor skills and social skills, as well as learning structure and teamwork, and fostering a lifelong appreciation for physical activity. With all sports, there is some inherent risk involved, but by understanding factors which are known to increase injury and by following certain […]