Capital City Parent

Coming out to a parent can be a challenge at any age, but with increasing social freedom, more parents are trusted with their children’s view of their true selves. Alice, a Springfield-area mom, was one of these parents. She asked to be identified by a pseudonym to protect her child’s privacy. “I don’t feel like […]

Three Springfield-area schools will be the launch sites for a new fitness and running program designed for third, fourth and fifth grade boys. Springfield YMCA STRIDE (which stands for Success + Teamwork + Respect + Inspiration + Determination = Excellence in Character) will launch in Feitshans Elementary School, Blessed Sacrament School and Farmingdale Elementary School […]

For foodie kids and their families, the holiday season can be a non-stop source of culinary fun. And thanks to the wild popularity of cooking competition shows and endless inspiration on social media, kids are getting into the kitchen at increasingly early ages. Many kids love to make homemade gifts, especially the yummy kind, and […]

Having spent most of her childhood growing up in an abusive household, Elizabeth Bailey knows a thing or two about self-doubt. “When someone spends all of their time telling you that you don’t matter, or that you’re not good enough, you start to believe them,” says Bailey.  Little did she know that a gift from […]

As the holidays come closer, you usually cannot go wrong with gifting a child a book, as long as you pick the right one, which just might involve the bodily functions of animals. What Do They Do With All That Poo?, written by Jane Kurtz and illustrated by Allison Black, is an informational picture book […]

One of the challenges of being autistic is making and keeping friends. How can you as a parent help nurture these friendships? The neurodiversity movement recognizes and celebrates the diversity of how our brains are wired, instead of pathologizing some as normal and some as abnormal. The brains of autistic kids are wired differently. They […]

Honestly, as an adult, one of the reasons I enjoy reading nonfiction children’s books is not only because I can usually read them pretty quickly, but also because I learn something new almost every time, especially when I read books around historical events. When I read these types of books with or recommend them to […]

Kidzeum reopened July 3 after a 16-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and things have been buzzing. Children rushed to climb Active Alex, splashed in the water table and searched for queen cells in the observation beehive. “Real bees? That’s so cool!” one girl squealed in delight upon seeing the buzzing beehive. Children’s museums […]

Delicious, savory, hand-held pies are found in cuisines all around the globe. Whether they’re Cornish pasties or empanadas or just old-fashioned, Midwestern turnovers, these portable pies are a tasty way to transform whatever ingredients are on hand into portable, make-ahead meals that are fun to prepare with kids. Littles will enjoy mixing filling ingredients, helping […]

Bingo! night Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30pm. Ages 8 and older. Hosted by the Springfield Park District. Call for more information. Free. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St., 217-585-2941. Illinois State Fair Aug. 12-22. It’s back. Entertainment, grandstand shows, midway, exhibits, agricultural shows and more. Admission. Visit the Facebook page for event updates. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon […]

Not long ago, I was moaning to a friend about not being able to keep up with the messy chaos of my household. Stacks of dishes teetered in the sink, never-ending piles of unfolded laundry towered behind the couch and I constantly felt stressed, cranky and joyless. In response, my brilliant friend pointed out that […]