As the end of the year approaches, so do the winter holidays. As magical and wonderful as this time of year is, it can also feel chaotic and hectic. Families are dealing with a unique mixture of too much sugar and too little routine. For kids, the holidays can seem like they are filled with […]
Capital City Parent
Posted inSpecial Issues
Kidzeum and the STEAM experience
Kidzeum occupies a unique niche in Springfield. As a science museum, children of all ages enjoy the exhibits centered around learning about a healthy body, healthy earth and healthy community. Kidzeum also offers many STEAM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). Its flagship program, STEAM Residency, began as “we were looking for a way […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Illinois to be the first state to protect child influencers
Illinois is soon to be the first state in the nation to provide legal protection for children whose parents make money posting videos of them on social media channels, thanks to the work of a high school student from Normal. According to the new legislation, parents will be legally required to set aside a portion […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Not all screen time is created equally
Recent headlines have suggested that excessive screen time can be detrimental to the brains of developing children. While there is no parental handbook on how to address screen time issues with your child, an overwhelming body of research can provide guidance. Screens aren’t all bad Recent research acknowledges that electronics use can play a positive, […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Books to prepare for back-to-school feelings
Summer is ending, and the new school year is upon us. This change can bring lots of emotions in children, both positive and negative. Students all over are feeling excitement about a new grade, new school or just the new year in general. Or, children may be feeling apprehension about those same things. I have […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Start your kids off on the right foot this school year
The mark of a new school is often anticipated with a mix of emotions for kids and parents alike, ranging from exhilaration to anxiety. Kids are excited to wear their new clothes, see their classmates and participate in extracurricular activities. Parents are proud to see their kids reach another milestone and look forward to exciting […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Combat summer learning loss
Every parent of a school-aged kid is probably familiar with summer learning loss, or the regression in learning that occurs between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next. It is well-documented that many students experience a regression in their academic skills over the summer months. Not only do some students […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Savor those long summer nights
On June 21 at 5:07 a.m., the sun will reach its furthest point north of the equator, and we will enjoy our longest day of the year: the summer solstice (south of the equator it will be the winter solstice). Here in Springfield, the sun will rise at 5:30 a.m., and it won’t set until […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Sun safety
Two years ago, at the age of 42, I had my first appointment with a dermatologist. Standing in her exam room, naked and vulnerable, I cracked jokes about having more moles on my body than there are stars in the sky. Instead of laughing, my dermatologist continued studying my skin with her dermatoscope until eventually […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Museums for all: Dismantling barriers for accessibility
My child is lying on the floor, screaming. Everyone is looking at us. He’s causing a ruckus, but at 70 pounds he’s too big for me to carry out of the museum. My only hope is to calm him down so that we can leave for a safer, less-stimulating environment. Enter the security guard, who […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Books about kindness
As parents, our vision for our kids’ future usually includes raising children who are compassionate adults who care for the world around them and the people in it. We want them to be able to do their part to make the world a better place. Personally, there are times when I find that authors of […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Teaching kids about money
Can you remember how you first learned about money? For many of us, thinking about our earliest money memories may bring to mind lemonade stands, car washes or door-to-door fundraisers. Even more so, we probably have some sense of how our parents felt about money, and we may recall how they spoke about it in […]
