Chicago Parent March 2016

MARCH 2016

| FREE

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

Kids & sports: The right call?

Leap spring INTO

KILLING INNOCENCE Chicago’s gun problem

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contents IN THIS ISSUE 15

GOOD TO GO

27

HEY BABY

29

CRAFT

31

WELL PLAYED

35

FAILING WITH GUSTO

From the Chicago Flower and Garden Show to the Polar Plunge to the terracotta warriors at Field Museum to the Triton Troupers Circus, March is the bomb Best for breastfeeding Make your own bouncy balls Banish the roar

The big save

17 59

CALENDAR

We have the scoop oop ghton the bunny sightings

MARCH 2016 | VOLUME 32 | NO. 3

FEATURES

ON THE COVER OVER

INNOCENTS 40 THE Why Chicago’s gun violence

MARCH 2016

hurts us all

| FREE

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

EMPOWERED 45 MOMS, As Women’s History

Kids & sports: The right call?

Leap spring INTO

Month kicks off, five moms share their stories

KILLING INNOCENCE Chicago’s gun problem

48 SPRING BREAK

We have a fun week all planned out for you

Cover kid: Isabella Ciesla, 8, of Huntley

Photography: Thomas Kubik of TK Photography

50 Optio Options ons abo abound for kids to reap GOOD GO OOD S SPORTS rewards rewa rds of aathletics

Design: Claire Innes

Coming this month

GOING PLACES Available beginning March 14

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 7

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EDITOR’S NOTE

The dance life I never intended to raise a trio of Irish dancers. If my son hadn’t been watching PBS the night Chicago-born superstar Michael Flatley and his famous feet flew across the stage in Riverdance, we would have likely focused on the more traditional sports of soccer, baseball and tennis.

Those sports were the ones my TAMARA L. O’SHAUGHNESSY husband and I knew. Irish dance brought with it whole new language, but we were willing to learn as, one by one, the kids started learning the first step of the jig.

Most of the time these past 14 years, I am glad the kids are Irish dancers. It has made them healthy and strong, focused and resilient in ways I never imagined.

They’ve learned to manage their time to keep their school grades high. They’ve learned to fall and pick themselves back up to keep on dancing, literally and figuratively. I appreciate the hard work it takes to be a champion, something I hope will remain with them the rest of their lives.

It’s also taught them life is not always fair.

Irish dance has taught me a lot about myself, too, and that’s not always a good thing. I learned that a little “Dance Mom” lurks below my usual laid-back personality and I don’t like it one bit. When it happens, I know it’s time for me to take a little break.

These are lessons not reserved for Irish dance, of course.

Even the most athletically challenged child can find a sport that builds these skills. So this month, I hope our story on youth sports inspires you to keep trying to find one that fuels your child’s passions and doesn’t make you lose your mind. You could even give Irish dance a try; just think, you’ll have built-in entertainment every March 17.

Happy March.

8 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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CONTRIBUTORS

Why we love March EDITOR

Tamara L. O’Shaughnessy SENIOR EDITOR

Elizabeth Diffin DIGITAL EDITOR

Jackie McGoey ASSISTANT EDITOR

Emily Adams ART DIRECTOR

Claire Innes EDITORIAL DESIGNERS

March is the month where I celebrate having successfully vacuumed up the last of the Christmas tree pine needles. (For reals.)

Marianne Walsh

My favorite thing about March is knowing that spring and summer are JUST around the corner!

Lindsay Pinchuk

My Irish really comes out in March!

I cook a mean corned beef, toast loved ones with whiskey and listen to Celtic folk songs until my household intervenes.

Keely Flynn

Green beer, the whole turning lions into lambs thing and SPRING BREAK! Meredith Sinclair

Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea IT AND DIGITAL DEVELOPER

Mike Risher CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Megan Murray Elsener, Sara Fisher, Keely Flynn, Cortney Fries, Caitlin Murray Giles, Linda Marsicano, Meredith Sinclair, Marianne Walsh DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES

Annette Coffee, Dawn Engelhardt, Erika Goodman, Lourdes Nicholls, Alicia Plomin, Karen Skinner SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

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ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER

Philip Soell

ADVERTISING DESIGN MANAGER

Andrew Mead

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney CIRCULATION MANAGER

Jill Wagner DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR

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Carolyn Jacobs

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chiparent@chicagoparent.com TO FIND A COPY

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Chicago Parent is published monthly by Wednesday Journal, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chicago Parent, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL, 60302. © 2016 Wednesday Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.

10 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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ON THE WEB

Welcome spring

at ChicagoParent.com

JACKIE MCGOEY

We always feel a sense of rejuvenation when March rolls around. Maybe it’s the beginning of spring that gives us a little more bounce in our step. Whatever the reason, the extra energy will come in handy as March is jam-packed with ways to have fun as a family, including Pi Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter celebrations.

Head to ChicagoParent.com for all the deets.

By the slice Pi Day (March 14) just isn’t Pi Day without … pie! Visit bit.ly/ cppiday for our favorite places to grab a slice of deep dish (sausage and green peppers, please) or a wedge of lemon meringue pie. No judgment from us if you go for broke and have both.

Feeling lucky We’ve rounded up yummy St. Paddy’s Day recipes, from traditional corned beef and cabbage to lucky leprechaun cookies that are perfect for your post-parade parties. Check them all out, plus a few crafts to keep the littles entertained, at bit.ly/cpstpatricksday.

Hop to it Chicago kids take their egg hunts pretty seriously, so we’ve

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rounded up the best ones in the city and suburbs. And if you plan on visiting with the Easter Bunny, do us a favor and tell him we’d like extra jelly beans in our baskets this year. For all the pastel-colored egg-citement, head to bit.ly/cpeasterfun.

>>

Be sure to share all your March adventures with us on Instagram @ChicagoParent.

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 13

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14 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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to be this month

Good G d to

The place for kids

Family friendly Chicago Flower and Garden Show better than ever f Tony Abruscato had his way, every family would visit this month’s Chicago Flower and Garden Show and be inspired to grow their own gardens, no matter how big or small.

Picture this: Spring in March, with tens of thousands of blooming flowers and plants, koi ponds, sculptures, waterfalls, gazebos, cooking classes and more than a dozen workshops offered each day.

Still, Abruscato keeps adding activities that will get families like yours to Navy Pier on March 12-20.

Abruscato, show owner and director, has collaborated with British International School of Chicago to help kids design, build and plant their own biodegradable flower pot while learning about math found in the plants.

Also among the nine-plus free kids’ activities each day in the kids’ garden will be Mariano’s teaching kids to create their own

floral bouquets. Brookfield Zoo will bring some animal pals, while the University of Illinois Master Gardeners offer a zoo of the creepy crawly kind.

A giant playset lets kids burn off energy.

“Kids are going to love it.

Families are going to love it,” Abruscato says.

This year’s gardens are themed around what makes Chicago great.

“It’s very experiential. It’s all based on inspiring people visually,

Chicago Flower and Garden Show March 12-20

Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Festival Hall A & B, Chicago

For tickets, chicagoflower.com Chicago Parent readers’ bonus! Use discount code ChicagoParent16 to save an additional $2 off adult weekday or weekend online tickets. May not be combined with other offers.

educating them on how they can do things in their own green space and motivating them to actually do it,” he says.

And you don’t even have to have a green thumb, he says.

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 15

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GOOD TO GO

Terracotta warriors storm Chicago China’s famous warriors return after 30 years

Y

ou can cross seeing the famous Chinese terracotta warriors off your bucket list this spring.

Ten of the warriors that China’s first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, created to protect him in the afterlife will be on display at the Field Museum in the China’s First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors exhibit.

After incredible success as China’s leader, Shihuangdi made enough enemies to request a burial complex that included an estimated 8,000 figures to protect

and entertain him. You’ll learn much more about Shihuangdi’s reign and the ongoing scientific investigations about the mysteries of his tomb at the exhibit.

This is the warriors’ first visit to the museum in 30 years.

Although the vivid purple, teal and red of the terracotta army has worn off after more than 2,000 years, modern replicas modeled after how the original statues would have looked will also be at the exhibit.

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GOOD TO GO

Get your chill on The 16th annual Polar Plunge benefits Special Olympics

W

ant your kids to really see you as a superhero?

Take one big (icy) step toward that goal by joining the 16th annual Chicago Polar Plunge at North Avenue beach March 6.

Past celeb participants have included Lady Gaga, Jimmy Fallon, Vince Vaughn and the casts of Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire. (Sure, you’ll freeze, but you’ll be in rather amazing company! Besides, going waist-high isn’t all that impossible, is it?)

Last year’s event saw a crowd of 4,500 participants

and raised more than $1.2 million to support the events and activities of Chicago’s 5,000 Special Olympians.

Special Olympics Chicago, the biggest one in the state of Illinois, includes programming in more than 100 Chicago public schools and 23 parks in the Chicago Park District.

Ice-immune folks are able to register to join the plunge individually or as a team. Fundraising pages are provided.

Every Polar Plunger will receive free parking at the Lincoln Park Zoo, bus transportation for your group of 20 or above (bring your fellow

superheroes with you!), a souvenir T-shirt, free photo downloads and free food and admission to the “Melt Down Party.”

It’s an incredibly easy way to be the “cool” parent in front of your kiddos; we’ll just keep it between us that your version of a superhero’s cape

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Bubbles Academy Eggstravaganza Bubbles Academy is every tiny Chicagoan’s favorite (and gigantic) play space. The magically appointed 14,000-squarefoot Bubbles is back with its charming Eggstravaganza, offering events including a gentle (read: non-trampling) egg hunt, live music to get your cottontail shaking, snacks and springtime art projects. This fresh event is where your peeps will definitely want to be. 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. March 26, $30 per child; bubblesacademy.com

2

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Few things are more “spring” than inhaling nature’s beauty (and plenty of oxygen) at Morton Arboretum’s 1,700 gorgeous acres. Turns out, the

Easter Bunny digs brunch as much as you do. Join him this year for the return of the arboretum’s popular bunny breakfast.

Not only will families be able to partake of the springtime buffet, but they’ll get to visit with the long-eared one himself. (Word on the bunny trail is that he’ll be doling out bunny cookies and jelly beans, too.) 9-11 a.m.

March 25 and 26, check website for ticket prices; mortonarb.org

3

Lovely: A Bake Shop Your kids’ chocolate bunnies and Easter candy are safe (for now). After all, Lovely: A Bake Shop’s decadent goodies are way more suited for the grown-up palate. (All right, maybe the peanut butter fluff pie isn’t strictly an adult endeavor, but isn’t one of the perks of parenthood hiding treats until after bedtime?) This Wicker Park mainstay—whose owners are also behind Lakeview’s Bakin’ & Eggs and Edgewater’s Lovely, Too—is a great spot for your favorite espresso, tea and coffee, as well as a seasonal lineup of sweet treats that give a muchwelcomed nod to springtime.

(You might even be inspired to share them with your baby chicks.) lovelybakeshop.com Keely Flynn

18 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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GOOD TO GO

Big Top promises big fun Annual event is a can’t miss for Chicago families

L

BY KATHY WOODS

ike you, we’re always on the hunt for new things to do with the kids. We think we’ve got something your tribe is going to love, and you don’t even need deep pockets: the best little circus in town, the Triton Troupers.

Now in its 45th year, this is one show you do not want to miss.

The first time we packed up the kids and headed to Triton College in River Grove, our expectations weren’t high. How much circus can a person expect at a local college gym without a single lion tamer in sight?

But the moment we stepped through the doors, we knew this was no cheesy secondrate show.

The gym had disappeared and the flying trapeze, colored lights and center ring, not to mention the heady fragrance of popcorn, all but shouted Big Top. We were enthralled from the second the clowns juggled into the spotlight until the end.

It used to be a circus wasn’t a circus without striped felines and bejeweled pachyderms. These days an increasing number

of circuses are animal free, including the Troupers. After two hours of breathtaking acts by performers, you won’t feel you’ve missed a thing (think Cirque du Soleil at a fraction of the cost).

Expect to be wowed—by stunts on the flying trapeze, tight wire and stacked chairs; by performances featuring unicycles, gym wheels and teeterboard; and by skilled acrobatics of all kinds. Plus, plenty of laughs are in store from the goofy clown sketches.

Terry White, a civil engineer by day, directs the Troupers. He’s participated in the show nearly every year since its beginning. He’s known for a willingness to let his performers innovate and experiment. The result is magic.

The all-volunteer Troupers include high school and college students as well as alumni from other circus schools and professional circuses.

Harry McCullagh, 83, a clown for 48 years, is in his 14th year with the Troupers.

Look for the tall guy. Spoiler alert: Harry made the clown car, a replica of a Norman Rockwell picture, for this year’s show.

Carmichael Washington, a veteran Trouper of 15 years, performs on the teeterboard and double trapeze. A high school gymnast, Carmichael fell in love with the swinging trapeze. The secret, he confides, is “don’t look down, don’t think about it and hold

Triton Troupers

u Triton College, Robert M. Collins Center Gymnasium, River Grove u 7 p.m. March 17-19 with a 1 p.m. matinee March 19 (interpreted for the hearing impaired) u Tickets $6 at the door, cash only

on tight. Just enjoy the rush of the air.”

Ever wondered what it would be like to brush on grease paint, slip into a pair of floppy red shoes and clown your way through a circus act? Or learn to juggle? Or walk a tight wire?

Of course you have—and if you’re serious, even you can join the Troupers.

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 19

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GOOD TO GO

Resources for all

Annual Developmental Differences Resource Fair March 13

N

eighborhood Parents Network is hosting its fifth annual Developmental Differences Resource Fair this month.

The fair is geared to families of children who have developmental delays, autism, physical disabilities, sensory processing disorders and ADD/ADHD. “Having a child that has been diagnosed with any developmental difference can be overwhelming, and many parents don’t know where to start,” says Christa Reed, NPN’s associate executive director.

“NPN brings the right resources together under one roof,” she says.

NPN Developmental Differences Fair

u 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 13 u DePaul College Prep, 3633 N. California Ave., Chicago u Free

Photo by Alexis Staryk Photography

Workshops include Beyond Traditional Therapies; You’ve Got a Diagnosis: Now What?; and Helping your Child Succeed in the Classroom.

“I plan to present a stepby-step process that guides parents though understanding their child’s learning strengths and challenges, so they can support, teach and advocate

for their child effectively,” says Heather Bragg, founder of Learning Decoded, and a presenting sponsor at the event.

NPN suggests making the resource fair an adult-only event, but families with children won’t be turned away.

“The Developmental Differences Resource Fair not only gives parents information,

u For information, visit npnparents.org/events/2372 but also the sense of community that can empower and support them,” Bragg says.

Chicago Special Parent, Chicago Parent’s twice annual magazine for families with children with special needs, will have a table at the fair to meet families.

Megan Murray Elsener

The Magical Journey begins here...

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& Academy ChicagoParent.com March 2016 21

CHIPAR0316_021.indd 1

2/12/16 10:22 AM

Easter Egg-Stravaganza!

At Lincoln Park Zoo

WE’RE OFF

ToThe

Races!

KID’S DERBY DAY AT LINCOLNWOOD TOWN CENTER

Saturday, March 12, 2016 12:30-3pm in Center Court

Saturday, March 26 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

Celebrate Easter weekend at Lincoln Park Zoo with a basketful of fun family activities!

• A pancake brunch buffet • Photos with the Easter bunny • Multiple egg hunts for different age groups • Free rides on the AT&T Endangered Species Carousel and Lionel Train Adventure • Plus music, crafts, educational activities and all the fun of a zoo visit!

Optional VIP upgrade: enter early, meet the Easter bunny first, enjoy two complimentary adult beverages and make enrichment piñatas for the animals!

Purchase tickets by March 25 at lpzoo.org/events!

INTERACTIVE FUN FOR LITTLE ONES!

For details and to register, go to Facebook.com/LincolnwoodTownCenter

presented by

22 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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2/11/16 10:53 AM

A taste of Ireland Every Friday is Fresh Bread Friday at The Irish Shop, 100 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. It’s worth the trip to bite into Executive Chef Jim August’s scones; the best we’ve ever ttasted. $5.50. He also up soda bread, so we’ll bakes u stopping in to buy it be sto before we hit all of the St. bef Patrick’s Day parades and Pa festivities. fe

Is Isabella’s St. P Paddy’s pick Our O cover girl, Isabella, and the Mayer School of Dance will be in the Thom Irish Danc McNamee Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dundee (renamed DUbliNDEE for the day), 11 a.m. on March 12. “It’s such an awesome community parade and it has just exploded from a small parade to 15,000 people last year,” says Parade Coordinator Eileen McNamee. The parade, renamed in McNamee’s brother’s memory, benefits two charities he loved, FISH Food Pantry and Friends of the Fox River. The night before, check out the fireworks over the Fox River.

For more Chicago area parades, check out our calendar beginning on page 60.

Wearing o’ the green The Irish Shop is a perfect place to get your kids (and yourself, of course) decked out in green. Our favorite T-shirt is the one that proclaims, “The leprechauns made me do it!,” $12. Of course, you can never go wrong with an Ireland tee on St. Paddy’s Day—and all the other days of the year, too. o $12. theirish $ sshopoakpark. ccom

Need to know

A wee bit of Irish love

Isabella Ciesla has her sights set on competing at the World Irish Dance Championships one day.

She dances with the Mayer School of Irish Dance in Gilberts. Her mom, Julie, is her dance teacher.

Photo by Thomas Kubik / TK Photography

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 23

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2/11/16 10:53 AM

Camp

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2/11/16 12:55 PM

MOM OF THE MONTH

Mom mogul talks motherhood

D

{M.O.M}

ylan Lauren is a real life Willy Wonka. She’s the proprietor of Dylan’s Candy Bar, a chain of candy boutiques with locations from New York to LA, including a particularly delightful installation on Chicago’s Mag Mile. The daughter of fashion legend Ralph Lauren, Dylan is an entrepreneur, a style icon, a former reality show star ... and a mom to twin 11-month-olds.

CHIPAR0316_025.indd 1

The interior of her eyepopping store at 445 N. Michigan Ave. spirals upwards like a Technicolor Guggenheim Museum.

Candy-themed music plays, video monitors show vintage candy commercials, and shelves and displays are chockablock with a treasure trove of sweets, candy-themed fashion, and even a Dylan’s branded stroller.

Motherhood, the charming candy empresaria says, has inspired her to expand the parts of the store appealing to kids— more baby and kids clothes, toys (think irresistible cupcake pillows), as well as a party room featuring candy games and crafts. Fixtures outside the door and everywhere in the two-story space look like enormous lollipops. Children entering the store are immediately agog.

Balancing motherhood and mogulship has, of course, been a challenge for Dylan, who now gets a bit heartbroken when she has to travel. “You lose a lot of personal time when babies come along; you can’t be as selfish. But you more than make up for it with the gains of love and happiness,” she says.

She admits it takes practice for her to fairly share love and time with the twins (Cooper and Kingsley), their dog who is jealous of the new arrivals and her husband. The couple’s favorite moments come when they take the family on walks in the park. “I’ve learned a lot about unconditional love and patience.”

Dylan’s Candy Bar store is whimsical must for Chicago families for ice cream,

fudge or savory foods from the cafe. And who could resist the charm of a romantic date to Dylan’s for a cocktails like a Pop Rocks and gin or a vodka Creamsicle float?

The new mom doesn’t balk at the intersection of parenting and her sugary business pursuits: “Everything in moderation,” she says assuredly.”

Matt Boresi

Keep your sanity flying with kids for spring break I have 10 years’ experience taking our family on countless trips. Here are my tips for making it a painless experience! 1) Arrive at the airport early. 2) Remind the kids of the schedule so they feel in control and understand where they will be and when.

3) Kids carry their own bags. 4) After security, buy water and make sure you have lots of snacks and real food to keep tummies full. 5) Make it clear to your children they must stay seatbelted on the airplane. 6) Bring lots of lots of different activities to keep your gang entertained so you don’t have to. Bon voyage!

>>

Eirene Heidelberger, 30 Second Mom contributor

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 25

2/11/16 1:55 PM

AT CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY

®

New discoveries, great friends & fun times for campers ages 3 to 12.

Middle school camp for ages 12-14 is also available at our Naperville elementary school!

chesterbrookacademy.com/camp

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1/27/2016 1:33:22 PM

2/11/16 10:57 AM

HEY BABY

Best

for breastfeeding

W

BY LINDSAY PINCHUK hether you plan to breastfeed your baby or not is solely up to you and what is best for your family and baby. Breastfeeding is a constant hot topic among expectant and new moms, and often comes with many questions.

at Ashland Health come The No. 1 resource every new mom should have on hand for breastfeeding is the in; they will take care of the entire process number of an amazing lacation consultant for you. For free.

(You want one certified with International They are ACHC acBoard of Lactation Consultation Examiners) credited and will who can come and help you in a moment’s work with your innotice when you get home from surance company the hospital, or when you hit on your behalf to a bump in the road. (Bump provide you with a Club and Beyond loves breast pump from a Lactation Partners!) top manufacturer.

Aside from a great lactation consultant, some of Lansinoh Lanolin: our favorite products that Nipple soreness is can help make breastinevitable, but this product feeding easier and more provides relief that won’t break the comfortable include: bank and can be found at your local Target. A single-ingredient, 100 percent Ashland Health: Most Molly Ades natural product, HPA Lanolin is safe for insurance companies Nursing mom and baby. $7 will cover your breast Poncho pump, but you have Evenflo Advanced Nursing Pads: to navigate the Without fail, you will have a leaky process of having it boob at some point, and having a great sent to you. That’s nursing pad on hand can help you stay where our friends dry. We love these because they stay secure

and come individually ividually wrapped for on-the-go n-the-go ease. $12 Simple Wishes hes Signature Hands nds Free Pumping Bra: If you’re going back ck to work (or even if you’re ’ not, but plan on pumping) this is one of the best investments you will make. You can answer emails, watch TV or do whatever you need to do to pass the time while pumping. $39 Ergobaby Nursing Pillow: Every nursing mom should have a nursing pillow.

Erobaby’s provides the support to do so comfortably. $70 Medela Quick Clean Breastpump and Accessory Wipes: These wipes are a safe way to clean your pump and parts in between uses. $19.99 Molly Ades Nursing Poncho: One of the best nursing tops you will find. It also folds into its own pouch and can be taken anywhere. $80 Lindsay Pinchuk is the mom of two behind the nationwide phenomenon Bump Club and Beyond and Gearapalooza. She also is co-founder of Hey Baby Chicago.

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 27

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2/11/16 10:54 AM

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER

Join us for the Deer Park St. Paddy's 5K/10K & Kids Dash on Saturday, March 12. For details and to register, visit: AllCommunityEvents.com

REGISTER EARLY FOR LOWEST RATES!

CAMP-VISIT FAMILY FUN DAYS MARCH 20 APRIL 17 MAY 15

2-4 1-4 Noon-2 KID’S ROAR

SATURDAYS, MARCH 12-26 FROM 1PM-4PM Hop on over to Brilliant Sky Toys & Books for visits with the bunny.

Personal cameras are welcome.

20530 N. Rand Road, Deer Park, IL ShopDeerParkTownCenter.com 847.726.7755

28 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

CHIPAR0316_028.indd 1

2/11/16 10:55 AM

CRAFT

Bounce to it

Make your own homemade bouncy balls

P

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MEGAN EGAN MURRAY MURRA AY ELSENER ut some spring into your spring break with these simple homemade bouncyy balls. They require just a few materials from around nd the house, only take five minutes to make and provide vide hours off bouncy fun for the kiddos.

The materials will makee one bouncyy ball, and it’s best to make just one at a time.

Directions

1

Add 1 Tbsp. Borax to ½ cup warm water and stir well.

2

In a separate container, mix 1 Tbsp. cornstarch with 2 Tbsp. glue and add food coloring.

You can use white school glue or clear school glue. We also tried glitter glue, which worked but made a more textured ball.

3

Scoop the colored glue mix into the Borax mix and stir well for about a minute for the glue mix to absorb some of the water. There will still be water remaining.

4

Using a spoon, scoop the glue mix Using outt and start to form it into a ball with your hands. It will feel messy and start to come sticky at first, but slowly s up as you keep rolling together and firm u it.

Supplies

5

The more yo you roll the ball, the becomes. It should have a firmer it bec consistency of th thick silly putty. Bounce away!

6

To keep, store in a Ziploc bag so they don’t dry out.

The balls can lose their shape, but can th easily be reformed.

1 Tbsp. Borax detergent booster ½ cup warm water 2 Tbsp. white school glue or clear school glue 1 Tbsp. cornstarch Food coloring

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 29

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2/11/16 10:55 AM

100 HEARTBEATS Jeff Corwin

ost, THE ROLAND QUEST LECTURE THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016, 7:00 P.M., HAMMERSCHMIDT MEMORIAL CHAPEL 190 PROSPECT AVENUE, ELMHURST, ILLINOIS

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ASTRO-OVERNIGHTS

2/10/16 2:35 PM

AT THE ADLER!

SPEND THE NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM! Each evening includes hands-on activities and programs led by Adler educators, special sky shows and award-winning exhibitions designed for children ages 6-12.

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Check out our new VIP option and sleep under the stars in our Grainger Sky Theater! For more information, please visit adlerplanetarium.org/astro-overnights

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30 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

CHIPAR0316_030.indd 1

2/11/16 10:57 AM

WELL PLAYED

Banish the roar

MEREDITH SINCLAIR

This month may indeed come in like a big grumpy lion, but with these four pops of playfulness sprinkled over the next 31 days, we might be able to turn that lion into a happy little lamb, regardless of our city’s unpredictable weather.

Play with your words While scrolling Instagram recently, I discovered the playfully gorgeous design shop Ashley Brooke Designs and its chic and cheeky coffee mugs. Every busy mom I know needs a little hot caffeine in the a.m., and what better vessel to drink it from than a mug that’s got something fun to say?

My favorites are the “Good Morning Dollface” and “Every day I’m Hustlin.” $23, ashleybrookedesigns.com

Play footsies I have two boys and a husband who are kind of obsessed with personalizing and customizing their Nike sneakers. I must confess, I rolled my eyes at this slightly pricey, timeconsuming endeavor—until I tried it for myself.

“Nike ID” allows you to create the most playful, super-fun sneakers, in all sorts of styles, with a few swift clicks. I recently made some old-school ‘80s kicks in crazy cool colors and the name of my upcoming book, Well Played, across the back. nike.com

Play with your friends We are quickly approaching all those summer celebrations (really, they’re just around the bend!). Whether you’re looking for a gift for a graduation, a wedding or a special anniversary, the perfect way to LOVE-bomb someone special in your life is with a little something awesome called Boom Box. Boom Box digitally gathers loving sentiments from your group of selected “contributors,” edits, designs and prints them on lovely cardstock and then places all of your good wishes into a beautiful box. The receiver will never forget your crowd-sourced sentiments. Big love in a box. Brilliant! boomboxgifts.com

Play with your scent I’m not typically a fragrance-wearing gal, but when a colleague recommended I try Play perfume

by Givenchy, mainly because of the name and the cute bottle, I couldn’t resist. And what do ya know?!

I adore it. It’s light and sweet with a slight touch of sass. Plus the bottle acts as a daily reminder to take a little time to add more pops of play to the same-old routine. It also comes in a men’s version.

Couples who “play” together, stay together—or at least smell really good. $47.50, 2-ounce spray ChicagoParent.com March 2016 31

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2/11/16 10:58 AM

32 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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2/12/16 10:28 AM

GOOD SENSE EATING

Preservation in the kitchen

CHRISTINE PALUMBO

You do your best to select nutrientrich foods for your family. But what happens to those nutrients once you arrive home and prepare that food?

The method used to store, prepare and cook can all affect a food’s nutrient profile. Since you can waste those nutrients, here are some ways to maximize the nutritional quality of the foods you and your family are eating.

Use as little water as possible when cooking vegetables.

“Water-soluble vitamins are easily dissolved when they hit water,” says Alissa Rumsey, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“The less you use, the more you preserve the nutrients.

Instead of boiling in an uncovered pot of water, try microwaving or steaming them instead.”

Refrigerate e leftover food in airtight, moisture-proof sturre-proof containers. Whe When en cooked food d is exposed to air, more nutrients aree lost.

Buy frozen n fruits or vegetables. bl “The “ h fruit f i or vegetable is picked at the height of ripeness, then quickly frozen, which preserves the vitamins and minerals,” says Rumsey. “Often frozen vegetables and fruits can have higher nutrient content than their fresh counterparts, especially if that fresh produce was picked a few weeks ago.”

Use it all. When preparing beets, carrots, broccoli or other whole vegetables, use the entire plant from root to stem. This reduces food waste, as well.

Keep them cool. Store veggies and fruit in airtight containers in the fridge. In addition to the cold temperature, high humidity and less air contact lessens nutrient loss.

What not to do Don’t cut vegetables into tiny pieces. This exposes more of the surface to air, light, heat and water, bringing with it a higher chance of losing interesting nutrients. An interes exception to this rule o thi garlic and of thumb: garl members of the other m memb allium all lium family (onions, leeks ((onio aand sshallots). chopping By ch B foods into these fo the tiny and them i pieces i d allowing ll to sit for 10 minutes before cooking, you actually increase their active components.

Don’t cook veggies for a long time. To cut down on cooking times, cover the pot, place veggies in already boiling water and learn to enjoy them with a bit of a crunchy texture.

Christine Palumbo, RDN, FAND, a Naperville nutritionist, has long made saving nutrients her mission. Find her at Christine Palumbo Nutrition on

Mediterranean Potato Soup Serves 4 Prep Time: 10 minutes Ready Time: 35 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Ingredients 1 ½ tsp. olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced ½ cup chopped onion 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth) 3 medium red potatoes, unpeeled, cubed 3 carrots, sliced ¼ tsp. ground pepper 2 tsp. Italian seasoning 1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup (2 oz.) whole wheat noodles, uncooked 2 cups fresh spinach or 1 cup frozen spinach ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, shredded

Preparation Heat oil in a 2-quart pot, sauté garlic and

1

onions about 3-4 minutes.

Add chicken broth, water, potatoes, carrots and seasonings; cover and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.

Add kidney beans and noodles. Bring to a boil again, cook until noodles are soft. Remove from heat.

Just before serving, add spinach to pot and stir gently. Ladle into bowls and serve with Parmesan cheese.

Nutrients per serving: 350 calories, 62 g carbohydrates, 19 g protein, 5 g fat, 62 mg cholesterol, 1510 mg potassium, 420 mg sodium, 38% DV vitamin C, 14 g fiber Recipe used with permission by Colorado Potato Administrative

2 3 4

Facebook, @PalumboRD on Twitter or ChristinePalumbo.com.

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 33

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2/11/16 10:59 AM

Keshet Annual Rainbow Banquet

Ron and Lisa Lavin William and Debra Lewin Mitch and Karyn Lis Paul and Jodi Loeb

“

Jim and Gloria Mack Dr. Michael and Gina Maling Dr. Scott and Gail Metrick Marshall and Gila Mauer

A Celeb Celebration ation of

�Esteem

Bill and Sheila Moss Josh and Devorah Ray Ben Nortman and Amy Stoken Brent and Andrea Novoselsky Alan and Marla Patzik Simon Lesser and Manny and Marcy Brown Danny and Debbie Plotnick Gary and Lori Plotnick Chris and Jan Rabin Elliot and Ronni Robinson Gary and Ellen Rosenbaum Marc and Lisa Roth Scott and Heidi Ruby Scott and Debbie Rudin Jim and Laura Schallman Rabbi Michael and Marc & Kym Schwartz David and Julie Shorr Steve and Gail Taggart

Sunday, March 13, 2016 Hilton Chicago 5:30 p.m. Reception 6:00 p.m. Dinner

Guests of Honor

Carey and Cheryl Cooper Ira and Rebecca Fishman Keshet Guardian of Hope Awardee

Lisa Glenner

Special Guest Performer Five for Fighting For more information, call Keshet at 847.205.1234 or visit Keshet.org

Opportunities.

KESHET ASpecial RainbowNeeds. of Hope Extraordinary for Individuals with Special Needs or visit KESHET.org

Bringing the joy of movement and art to ages 3 through teen.

Silks Aerial Dance Acrobatics Classical Ballet and more!

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Traditional Summer Camps and Special Needs Camps!

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Come to our bright and sunny loft at 4028 W. Irving Park Rd, at Irving & Pulaski with immediate access to 90/94, blue line, and UP-NW metra stop.

www.aerialdancechicago.org 34 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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2/11/16 11:39 AM

FAILING WITH GUSTO

The Big Save

Frustrated and angry, I took my grievances to the coach. His response?

“Well, has Danny even PLAYED basketball before?”

The message was undeniable. Danny had no business playing this sport.

The window of opportunity had closed. If he wasn’t good by now, GO AWAY. Danny was 9.

In an era saddled with ridiculous pressure to master a single sport by second grade, I often have stood in open revolt.

I have been mocked for suggesting that winning is meaningless if only two kids can handle the ball by season’s end.

Yet when my middle son expressed a desire to play ice hockey, I succumbed to peer pressure. I signed up for extra camps and coaches. I upgraded the $19 stick. I downloaded YouTube videos on wrist shots.

I became part of the problem. And when a newbie goalie named Jake was assigned to the team, I was irked. Barely out of learn-to-skate, Jake had

never before played travel hockey. He was tentative on the ice. I scrutinized his cherubic face and detected not a hint of killer instinct.

I wrote him off.

I became the very type of sports parent I hate. I forgot how quickly kids progress when they are allowed to play. I was only thinking of wins and not of the life lessons youth sports are meant to impart.

Game after game, Jake got better. He began stepping out of the net. He made remarkable saves.

His skating improved tenfold.

Then came the allimportant tournament weekend. The team fought its way to a championship game only to tie in regulation. There was an overtime. Nobody scored.

SHOOTOUT. Poor Jake felt the weight of the team’s expectations and was terrified to disappoint. For a moment, I thought he was going to bolt for the nearest exit. Then I saw a coach whispering

in his ear.

He told him he could do this.

Chin up, Jake skated to his spot in front of a net that must have felt enormous.

The kid delivered, blocking shots and winning not only the game but also MVP for the entire weekend.

I cried.

I realized it would not have mattered if Jake had given up every goal, I would have been just as happy. By going out there, he already had won. I felt privileged to have witnessed it.

In the end, Jake made the big save not just for his team. He saved me from thinking there is a window or

specific criteria for being extraordinary. He saved his mother from having a heart attack right there in the stands. And he saved us all from forgetting that these sports are about believing in the infinite potential of a child.

It is why I think every kid should play sports.

As an aside, my Danny continues to dabble in basketball and always cheers loudest for the newbie.

He understands that someone should.

Talk back

When I registered my oldest son for “instructional basketball,” I had no idea it would be a watershed moment. I envisioned youngsters learning the game from devoted volunteers sworn to uphold the tenets of equal playing time and encouragement for all.

Poor, naïve mom.

MARIANNE Up until that year, athletics weren’t WALSH even on Danny’s radar. Despite a newfound eagerness to play, Danny spent more time on the bench than the water boy. It was a sad reiteration of his initial fear that he just wasn’t any good at sports.

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 35

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2/11/16 10:59 AM

VOICE: CATE WHITE

Life one step at a time What adding ADHD to the mix does to a family

I

have three children, two boys and a little girl. Though raised in the same home, by the same parents, with the same values, guidelines and general upbringing, they couldn’t be more different from one another.

The youngest, being a girl, is different by default and the fact that she’s my third, nearly seven years after having my first. I am not nearly as anxious or nervous as I was the first time around.

My middle child is smart and athletic, but wouldn’t look you in the eye if you paid him because he’s also very shy.

My oldest, my dear sweet oldest child; to say he has been active since birth is an understatement. The boy is just 8 and has already run a 5K, he barely sleeps, has more ideas than a dictionary has words and often tries to do them all at once. He is kind and hilarious and smart and outgoing. But he is also easily distracted, extremely sensitive, and often cannot focus. He has ADHD, and although he is the one with the diagnosis, it impacts our entire family.

When he was younger, I could rarely do playdates at museums or festivals. He was signed up for gymnastics, swimming, preschool and camp all by the time he was 3, just so that I could keep him busy. I was that parent who couldn’t relax at the park. I couldn’t have a conversation with you, not because I was an overbearing helicopter parent but because my oldest would see something shiny outside the park and run for it without thinking. Dropping my guard for even one instant was not an option.

After the official diagnosis when he was around 5, we worked with a family therapist to establish routines, to set up charts so that he could manage his own tasks. These all helped a little bit, but it still wasn’t easy. When he turned 6½, we decided to try what I was told was the milder medicine to treat ADHD. It’s not a stimulant, but an off-label drug

that would help “take the edge off.”

Great, I thought, can I have some?

It wasn’t life-altering, but it worked.

He got ready for school in the mornings without collapsing on the floor in tears.

He could do his homework after school by himself. He could get in the shower, most nights, without argument. More importantly, he felt good about himself.

It’s hard, but when you’re young and you have ADHD, you hear “no” a lot.

Don’t do that, don’t touch that, don’t run, etc. I try really hard to keep things positive, but let’s face it, if he’s about to burn himself or get hit by something, you’re going to yell, “NO!” Also our family was able to take a break. We could go out with all five of us. We could enjoy a museum or a park and not worry that our oldest was going to have a meltdown or run away or just plain lose it.

So when we learned that his body couldn’t process the medication safely, we were back to Square One. He was back to having a ton of problems with self-regulation; I was back to having to be hyper-vigilant and hyper-aware of his surroundings, routine and diet.

There is an old saying, “you’re only as happy as your unhappiest child.” I couldn’t find this phrase to be more accurate. Our oldest’s ADHD sets the mood, for better or worse, in our home.

I worry about him constantly. I will admit, I worry about him more than I worry about the other two.

I worry that he won’t do well in school, that he’ll make a horrible

We keep trying to hug more and yell less. We try to be understanding and calm and to love each and every child for their uniqueness. decision when he’s a teenager that affects the entire rest of his life. I worry that he won’t find friends, and I worry that he isn’t happy and that he doesn’t feel good about himself.

My worry for my oldest then turns into worry for the other two. Am I paying them enough attention, am I too strict with them, do they think I care more about their brother?

“Mom guilt” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

So what do we do about all this?

Honestly, nothing. We just keep trying.

We keep trying organization charts, chore charts and sticker charts. We keep trying to hug more and yell less. We try to be understanding and calm and to love each and every child for their uniqueness.

Just as my oldest tries his hardest to remember to put his shoes on in the morning, I try my hardest not to get frustrated when he hasn’t for the 18th day in row.

One foot in front of the other.

Cate White is a Chicago mom of three, ages 8, 7 and nearly 2.

36 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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2/11/16 10:59 AM

VOICE: MAGGIE STEWART

Prepared to launch?

The college push is on and time is slipping away

T

his morning, when the shadows of bare tree branches show long across the snow—as if they, too, are stretching and waking up—it hits me.

My oldest is going to college this year and I have not prepared him. At all.

If only I could gather the 999 friends and strangers who gave me advice when he was young, those whom I glared at and killed with my eyes, those who had the audacity and guts to tell me, “Enjoy every minute. It goes by so fast.”

I bow to you all. You were right.

He fills out college applications and I worry that I didn’t tell my son everything. I start following him around and lecturing. I become a walking Wikipedia.

His eyes glaze over. I try to catch him here and there and make it look coincidental, like when he walks by the laundry room: “Honey come here. See this towel? Red stripes on white. But I still put it in with the whites.”

I’ve gone insane, I think.

She’s nuts, I’m sure he thinks. “OK, mom,” he says.

He teases his little brother, grabs him and picks him up, turning him upside down in the air. The laughing brother, who will miss him so much, slugs

relentlessly at his big brother’s legs.

“Don’t drop him!” I scream.

“Mom, he’s laughing!” he replies.

His little brother gets in a great slug during the distraction.

“There’s a point,” I say, “where it goes too far. I want you to be aware of that.”

I want him to be aware of everything. I want him to know the subtleties of what to do when. I should have taught him more.

“Forget it now,” one of my ‘it goes by so fast’ friends tells me. “It doesn’t matter what you say, you’ve already taught him everything by your actions over all these years. He knows what to do.”

Holy moly, I think, I was a mess, wasn’t I? I was dirty, unshowered, sometimes whining, well, maybe often whining, freaking, tired, forgetful.

I dream my three boys are lined up on a Dr. Phil show: “What Your Mother Never Told You, But Sure Should Have.” In the dream, I have brown paper lunch bags

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I want him to be aware of everything. I want him to know the subtleties of what to do when. I should have taught him more. lined up, Shane, Dillon and Rory written in orange Sharpie. PB&J, roast beef and provolone, ham and American cheese.

I bolt awake and lie perfectly still: He has no idea when to throw away the deli meat that has expired!

What is it I need to tell my son? My friend is right, I have taught him as much as possible in the last 17 years.

It is me that is not prepared to let him go. At all.

Maggie Stewart is a long-time Chicago Parent contributor and suburban mom of boys.

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VIVA DADDY

Marching toward the sun

MATT ROCCO

Emerson said March weather is “savage and serene in one hour.”

Dickens said March is “Summer in the light and winter in the shade.”

And that sage Homer Simpson said, shivering, “Stupid Smarch weather.”

March tells a lie of spring, but in Chicago it is typically the last month of winter, made all the more cruel by lingering on so long.

For parents, it is truly trying.

By March, the cold has driven our children mad with boredom and sickness. The coloring books are wrung out.

The coughs are persistent. The family’s coats are filthy and exhausted; our ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHEN SCHUDLICH vehicles pitted and gray. Flash Tell the hosts your place flood alarms on your phone is being fumigated, or that repeatedly wake the baby. you just discovered that your You may be shoveling snow, paint is made of lead or your you may be turning on air floors are made of peanut conditioning, you WILL be butter. Then let the kids color picking up errant puzzle on someone else’s walls. pieces and smashed centerOr, perhaps, just pretend it pieces and scrubbing crayon really is good weather. Wear from the walls.

T-shirts and imagine you It is Chicago’s Chicagoiest aren’t cold—the way you do month. in October. Take the kids to How to survive? Pack up the park and let them Pete your children, sedate them Rose into the mud and slush. with touchscreens and get Mind over matter, provided on a plane to fairer weather, you don’t catch pneumonia. which is to say, nearly The other option is to anywhere that is neither move, but I’m sure there’s a Chicago nor near the geoMarch everywhere else, too. graphic poles or an erupting At least the days are getting volcano. longer. More time to bring If travel is not in the your coats to the cleaners. cards right now, then try for Viva longer days. Viva playdates—at other people’s Viva. Viva Daddy. homes.

38 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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PART ONE OF A THREE-PART SERIES ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND CHICAGO GUN VIOLENCE

THE INNOCENTS Why Chicago’s gun violence

hurts all of us

Y

BY EMILY ADAMS

ou cooking ou’re dinner and din the headline scrolls across scr your TV. you “12 “ Killed in Weekend Shootings.”

Sh pause, your sspoon hoverYou pause ing inches above a simmering pan. How terrible, those poor families, you think. You shake your head.

And then you eat your dinner, talk to your kids about their day and life goes on.

Meanwhile, a vicious war zone thrives, ripping away the childhoods of scores of Chicago’s kids.

It doesn’t matter what political party you cling to. It doesn’t matter how affluent your family is. It doesn’t matter if you live on the South Side or in the suburbs.

The gun violence is not a fleeting headline across a TV screen; it’s a deepening wound with 2,986 shootings in Chicagoland in 2015 that’s not only killing children, it’s killing all children’s innocence.

And as January ended with the dubious distinction of the deadliest month in Chicago since 2000, it’s clear that Chicago’s biggest problem isn’t going away.

Anna Isabel Moreno, 11th grade, Farragut High School, 2008

40 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Daisy Evarez, 7th grade, Daley Academy

The frontlines When Catherine Humikowski took the job as medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Comer Children’s Hospital on the South Side, she felt up to the challenge.

That is, she says, until her first week on the job. In her first week in Chicago, she treated as many children with gunshot wounds as she had in two years at her former job at Boston Children’s Hospital.

“I left Boston thinking I had seen it all,” she says. “But by the end of the first week, I realized I was completely unprepared for this level of physical and social trauma associated with poverty and violence. It was a stark difference, a total reality check.”

That shock wore off quickly, and Humikowski says her horror gradually turned into numbness.

“It becomes part of your routine, and to think that a child

“This is everybody’s problem, and everybody has to collectively demand a solution.”

Catherine Humikowski Medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Comer Children’s Hospital who’s been shot would be a part of anyone’s routine had me sit up and realize this story needs to be told.”

Humikowski says from where she sits in the ICU, the volume and significance of gun violence is still beyond imagination. She says it seems like the kids only get younger and the weapons only get more powerful.

“It’s reached a level of insanity. These kids would have grown up to be productive members of society. This is everybody’s problem, and everybody has to collectively demand a solution so that kids everywhere are safe

daily.”

But after so many news stories with the same devastating lede, after being cited in countless studies as one of the country’s most brutal cities in regards to gun violence despite holding some of the strictest gun laws in the U.S., it’s challenging to remain optimistic in Chicago.

“A child who survives a gunshot wound doesn’t feel the same way for doctors,” she says. “We might be able to heal that kid’s injuries, and they might recover. But that sense we normally have of achieving something for a child is not

there because where do we return them? If they do get better and can go back home, they’re going back into the communities where they got shot and where violence is normative. They’re just going back into a cycle of violence that puts them at risk.”

It is especially difficult to remain positive when the root causes of Chicago’s issues are so complex.

There’s no reasonable explanation, for instance, why Joy McCormack’s son, a stellar student from Lincoln Park, was shot by gang members on Halloween night. No simple reason why Pam Bosley’s son with a passion for gospel music was killed outside their church on the South Side.

These two moms aren’t surrendering to the violence; they want to be part of a solution.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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THE INNOCENTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

Crystal Hermenegildo McCormack discovered her way to help by starting Chicago Survivors, a nonprofit that provides services to assist families affected by gun violence. Bosley began working at the safe haven youth program at The ARK of Saint Sabina to be a resource for children in the “urban storm.”

THE AWARD-WINNING

Winter Brown “There’s a real consequence to not caring about this,” McCormack says. “I would just really like for people to be willing to care before they have to.”

And despite the heartbreak associated with her job, Humikowski has never lost faith in the idea that

Chicagoans can fix this problem and heal these children.

“Within a child is infinite capacity for growth and good,” Humikowski says. “I think that’s what keeps me—perhaps naively—committed to believing we can make this problem better. And that’s what keeps me, and all of us, going.”

Everyone’s problem

“We should care, we all should care, because it’s robbing our community of an entire future generation,” says Bradley Stolbach, who treats about 150 to 200 children a year who have been affected by gun violence in Chicago.

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Aaliya Taylor

Xavier Nares, 11th grade, Steinmetz

trauma counsel leader and director of Healing Hurt People Chicago with the University of Chicago, his job is to provide ongoing intensive case management, hospital-based support and trauma psycho-education to every patient under age 19 who has been injured by gun violence.

“For people who live in communities where the violence is happening—even if it’s not happening all the time—it’s a constant stress because they always have it either in the back of the mind or the front of their mind that something life-threatening could happen,” he says.

“Their sense of safety is

compromised all the time. It limits their mobility and activity.

It limits their quality of life.”

According to Stolbach, gun violence in Chicago isn’t even at its highest point in history, but the average age for the perpetrators and victims anecdotally does seem to get younger and younger every year.

“I think that the story that’s generally told is that there’s a small percentage of people who are bad people who are criminals, and they are responsible for all the bad stuff that’s happening. And that’s just absolutely untrue,” he says.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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THE INNOCENTS

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David Luna In contrast, one of the main issues, according to Stolbach, is an exploitation of children from a young age because of economic and social status. He says many recent studies have shown that children who grow up in gang-infested environments exhibit many similar psychological issues as that of child soldiers.

“We need to change how we think about our children,” he says. “If many of these children were in Colombia—where they’re in very similar situations—they would be viewed as child soldiers, but that’s not how we view them here.”

There are a few basic responses Stolbach notes individuals have when immersed in this type of traumatic environment, regardless of age: fear, sadness and anger over a sense of injustice.

“One of the things that happens with trauma in general is that we don’t want to talk about it or think about it,” he says. “So

Ramiro Guzman a lot of bad things that happen end up being avoided or they go unacknowledged.”

But he says the number one thing he focuses on while treating children is giving their feelings a voice.

“A lot of the time, people carry these feelings around with them and don’t have opportunities to talk about them with others, and then the feelings may influence their behavior

44 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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CHICAGO PARENT’S PARENT PANEL

How do you talk to your kids about the violence in Chicago and the world?

I live in Uptown, so my son has seen it firsthand.

He was born in it.

The greater task is keeping him from being desensitized by it.

Ryan Salzwedel, Chicago

I have no explanation. I tell the kids that I don’t understand it either. All I can tell them is that we will always keep them safe.

Kerry Quirin, Downers Grove

It’s been difficult. I have bright girls; a teenager who keeps up with current events and a smart second-grader who catches headlines in passing and is curious about the details. We talk about it; I figure if I frame it for them, they can ask their questions of me rather than rattling around possibilities in their heads. We talk about evil, about poor choices, and that there are things that happen that we just can’t understand. I support them in not being scared, but rather in being aware and educated. I allow them the space to process and question, and most importantly, I pray that their experience with this violence locally and internationally is limited to talking to Mommy rather than ever having a personal experience.

Rani Morrison, Oak Park As we talk, I quote Mr. Rogers’ mom, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

This encourages him to focus on the positive side of life events.

Kate Atkins-Trimnell, Homewood

My kids are older, so I keep them aware of the violence going on. I try to keep an open dialogue about it. I try to show them that everything is a choice and how bad choices affect themselves and others.

Tracie Guzolek, Chicago

@

u Want more? Visit ChicagoParent.com/parentpanel

in ways they might not even be aware of.”

Stolbach says this is particularly the case with kids, so the next step he always takes is to identify adults who can provide support and help them feel safe. He says one of the biggest mistakes society makes when it comes to children and trauma is thinking that the trauma won’t affect them as deeply as it does adults.

That’s one reason Chicagoland schools bring in experts like Dion McGill with the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence to spark conversation and provide alternatives to

violence.

“They know the violence is happening,” McGill says. “They need to know why and what they can do about it.”

And McGill says that he can tell when he visits schools that kids are looking for a platform on which to talk about their fears.

Because, as Stolbach says, the really difficult thing in his experience is that, most of the time, when a child is shot in Chicago, it is not the first or the last time they’ll be around gun violence.

That trauma just continues.

Even if they never directly

We discuss the unpredictability of individuals with their choice of actions, what could be done and how we could help people who suffered. We also discuss the importance of not generalizing a race or a religion.

Rebecca Moulfarha, La Grange Park

experience a gunshot wound again, he says their bodies persistently take them back to the injury. Randomly, their hearts will race, their minds will panic, their nightmares will manifest.

For children in Chicago, the war never ends.

“The world is unpredictable, and things that are horrible can happen, and they can happen to any of us,” Stolbach says. “I think that is true for children and adults.”

Emily Adams is assistant editor at Chicago

When we discuss violence in Chicago and the world, we start discussions based on their questions. From there, I’m as truthful and “real” as I can be without scaring them. I also have the twins come up with solutions on how they can make a difference with decreasing violence in Chicago and the world, so as they grow up, they can make different decisions, take different actions that will hopefully one day decrease the acts of violence taking place in our city and our world today.

Diane Oliver, Chicago

Chicago’s gun problem

u Part two, meet families on the frontlines of Chicago’s violence

u Part three, find out what parents everywhere can do to make a difference for Chicago’s violent streets.

The featured artwork in this series is courtesy of the Student Voices Contest by the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.

ICHV has collected Chicago area students’ artwork throughout years of programs aimed at engaging kids in the discussion about gun violence.

Parent.

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 45

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Moms, empowered PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAFIA QURESHI OF RQ PHOTOGRAPHY, CHICAGO ■ Amanda Taylor-Hart, married mom of one daughter, owner of Fox and The Hound, a dog walking business “Becoming a mother is the single most empowering experience I have ever had. All of my perceived faults (and some real ones) disappeared. I had strength that I have never known; confidence that I never felt; beauty that I always denied.

Chiara has brought out the best me. ...My little girl gives me strength and beauty that keeps me going with my busy life.”

■ Athena Michelle Flores, single mom of one daughter, bartender and pub manager “I’ve been on my own off and on since I was 17; I have been through sexual abuse (from a family member for six years starting at age 5). ... I grew up angry inside as well as very depressed and full of anxiety. I had my daughter when I was 22 (and am in a custody dispute with her father).

I have to say, no matter how hard life knocks you down, there’s always a way to get back up!”

46 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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■ Sakshi Jain, married mother of two, freelance financial and accounting expert “I feel strong and beautiful when I find my family healthy, house hygienic and presentable, and deliver quality work in stipulated time at work. My culture and family give me inner beauty and confidence in who I am.”

■ Velina Darakchieva, married mom of twins, medical information services analyst “My twins make me feel beautiful and strong every day. I want to be a good example for them; by doing that, I feel like I am making my mother proud. Motherhood gives me the strength to love who I am and I wish my girls would grow up to be like this, too.

Waking up to these two beautiful girls makes me feel like I have to show them a great example of a strong and confident woman.

■ Shannon Wingstrom Elizabeth, married mom of one daughter, hairstylist “What makes me feel strong and beautiful is what I accomplish on a daily basis: first and foremost, being a good mom and a good wife. Plus, being a creative, hardworking hairstylist who contributes to providing for my family, keeping a clean house, making meals for them and making time for my extended family.”

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 47

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S-p-r-i-n-g break!

We have a fun week all planned out for you in Chicago

Root for a hero one day Get thee to Schaumburg for a medieval feast fit for heroes big and small. Knock back a four-course meal with your fingers at Medieval Times while cheering your knight to victory in a jousting tournament you won’t soon forget.

The kids will get swept up in the pageantry of horses, falcons and the king’s court, all at the edge of your ringside seat. Just be warned, the kids will be begging for swords. And they might even give up silverware for good. medievaltimes.com

N

BY CORTNEY FRIES o tropical spring break plans this year? No sweat! Savor your time together in our wonderful Windy City.

We’ve broken spring break down into exciting activities that will maximize family bonding and beat the boredom.

Get ready for one super staycation!

Spend one day playing tourist

Unleash the giggles one day You and the kids will giggle incessantly at Blue Man Group, that long-running, wacky, wild extravaganza of lights, music dancing and silliness.

With dance parties, bouncing balls, splashing paint and marshmallow tossing, kids will not want the show to end. Get seats in the front for an extra (well, messy) blast. Booster seats and noise-cancelling headphones are available for little ones. blueman.com/chicago

Treat the kids to an adventure by exploring our city a different way (while saving yourself the headache of navigating city streets and parking).

Take a trolley!

Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co.’s Hop-on Hop-off Downtown Tours include stops at Skydeck Park, Water Chicago, Museum Campus, Millennium P Neighborhood Tower Place, Navy Pier and more. Neighb Tours share the sights, sounds and history of places like the Lincoln Park Zoo, Wrigley Field aand the former form mer site of the O’Leary barn.

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48 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Nosh and roll one day

‘Fly’ away one day

NewCity, a shopping, dining and entertainment destination in Lincoln Park, opened in Who said you had to keep k November. Kings Bowl is probably the coolest two feet on the ground nd all bowling alley you’ll ever visit. Not only can you spring break? Experience encce throw strikes on the high-end, retro-inspired the thrill of soaring high h at lanes, but you can also enjoy low-tech games, iFLY in Rosemont. Kids ds as young like shuffleboard, foosball and crazy-fun as 3 can feel the exhilaration larration of four-person air hockey. Kings serves skydiving. Then dancee the afternoon delicious Max & Leo’s crispy, away at Hofbrauhaus, which offers Vampire Taco coal-fired pizza. live music in a festive, German Catch a movie at ArcLight atmosphere (and up to two Cinemas after filling up kids under 10 per family eat at Yard House or Nando’s free on Tuesdays!).

Peri-Peri. Everyone will Walk off the meal at find something they’re nearby Fashion Outlets of excited to eat on Yard Chicago (and score a great House’s menu. The [Mac + deal on a springy outfit) and Cheese]2 is sinfully good, and treat the kids’ sweet tooth at you won’t regret sinking your one of the many candy stores. Lolli teeth into a Vampire Taco, a cheeseand Pops is my kids’ favorite, with its crusted tortilla packed with carnitas, bacon collections of truffles, gummies, treats chorizo, cumin crema and guacamole. Nando’s from across the globe and everything Peri-Peri is new to Chicago. You’ll soon fall in love in between. with their flame-grilled Portuguese chicken and iflyworld.com/chicago-rosemont flavorful sides. hofbrauhauschicago.com experiencenewcity.com fashionoutletsofchicago.com

Pretend you u reallyy a are ree ‘away’ one dayy Surprise the kids with a spring b break reak trip aft after ter all, but without the hassle and expense of heading somewhere tropical. Book a one-night stay at Key Lime Cove in Gurnee and you still get to glory in 84 degree temps (it might even be better here than your kids’ friends’ Florida getaways with this year’s crazy weather) while splish-splashing in the water. keylimecove.com Key Lime Cove

Cortney Fries is a frequent Chicago Parent contributor and the mom of two.

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Good sports Options abound for kids to reap rewards of athletics

BY LINDA MARSICANO

K

ids involved in sports do better in school, feel better about themselves, cause fewer problems and handle social situations better, according to TrueSport, a nonprofit that champions positive values gained through sports.

But when it comes to youth sports, that’s not the story that makes the news. Instead, your Facebook feed is full of outrageous sideline shananigans, parents unglued, referees assaulted and coaches focused only ly on a win, not love of the game.

Parents gone wild You’ve probably seen videos on YouTube of grownups throwing embarrassing tantrums or getting into physical altercations during their kids’ games. But the occasional parent or coach going bonkers rs at youth sporting events nts is nothing new.

Even the August 1957 57 issue of Sports Illustrated noted ed one argument against Little League baseball is that it “brings out the monster in too many parents and adult leaders.”

If my daughters’ experiences with competitive soccer and other sports programs in Chicago are any indication, the negativity surrounding youth sports is highly exaggerated. In fact, parents and coaches I spoke

to mainly discussed d the t overwhelmingw ly positive aaspects of participating tic in sports in sp the C Chicago region. has “There h parents always been p who don’t get it,” ssays Lakeview resident Jeffrey Greenbaum, who played baseball growing up, refereed college soccer more than 20 years ago and today serves as a coach for his daughter’s soccer team. “It’s just that now, everyone has a camera phone at every game, so if a parent goes ballistic it’s recorded.”

While he’s certainly witnessed

unacceptable conduct, he says the vast majority of parents are supportive and positive.

And if a bad apple is ruining it for everyone? Do something.

The Positive Coaching Alliance offers online tools and advice for dealing with shameful sideline situations and ensuring parents understand proper etiquette. A Parent’s Pledge that coach can use includes items such as “If I disagree with an official’s call, I will honor the game and be silent,” and “I will engage in no-directions cheering, limiting my comments during the game to encouraging my child and other players (from both teams).”

Opportunities for all Critics also argue that youth sports programs are so costly that only the affluent can take part. While there certainly are leagues that are prohibitively expensive,

50 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Chicago offers a range of programs and services to help ensure all children have access to sports.

The Chicago Park District, for instance, has a robust selection of inexpensive sports programs, from recreational to competitive, with free sports training.

This past winter’s Learn to Play ice hockey clinics at Chicago Park District ice rinks, for example, included free instruction and free use of skates and equipment.

Another organization making sports more accessible is the nonprofit World Sport Chicago, which partners with Chicago Public Schools, professional sports teams and communityfocused groups to bring sports to at-risk neighborhoods and underserved kids.

Its P.L.A.Y.S. program (Participate, Learn, Achieve Youth Soccer), an after-school soccer program for elementary

school students, teaches both on- and off-field developmental skills. It also facilitates an athlete ambassador program where Olympians, Paralympians, elite and college athletes serve as role models for more than 1,200 students at about 30 Chicago public schools.

The Avery Coonley School

An exciting and educational summer program for children ages 4–14. Three sessions available: June 20–July 1, July 5–July 15, July 18–July 29 View the 2016 Summer Program Guide online at www.averycoonley.org/summerprogram

And many leagues offer scholarship programs to help defray the costs for players who can’t afford the fees. Last year, American Youth Soccer Organization donors, for example, gave more than $100,000 to help nearly 3,500 children play AYSO soccer.

To travel or not to travel Travel teams seem to get the most ire when people discuss the cons of youth sports, arguing that competition ruins CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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GOOD SPORTS

Maple Sugaring

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

sports and d the dedicat dedication ion that is required burns out. rns kids ou ut.

But for kidss with a natural talent for a particular sport, these more competipetitive teams may be the right fit.

Graham Mitchell, who has coached both h recreational and travell league youth soccer, says travel teams can offer a more chalallenging experience—something hi his daughters both want.

“I worry about burning them out because it is a lot of dedicated time,” he says. “But they enjoy it, and so we’ll roll with it until they say they’ve had enough, which might be tomorrow or might be 10 years from now. In the end, it’s all about having fun.”

In addition to having a great time, my own daughters’ involvement in competitive soccer has boosted their self-confidence, introduced them to new friends with similar interests, and shown them the importance of teamwork.

Competitive travel leagues, however, are not for everyone.

With increased training times, additional games and tournaments in other communities or states, travel teams don’t

alwayss me mesh with family’s a family amily’s lifestyle or a chilld’s best interest. child’s Greenbaum also says that Gre committing to a travel team should not be parent-driven; it’s about what the child wants, not what the parents want. “Only do it if the kid really wants to because if they don’t truly love the sport, they could grow to hate it.”

The bottom line: Partaking in youth sports and at what level is like every other parenting decision—doing what’s best for your kids as well as the whole family.

But if you have a child interested in athletics, don’t let the bad press convince you that youth sports are chock full of poor sportsmanship and lacking in opportunities. We found that in the Chicago area at least, there’s a sport and a program that suits almost every potential athlete.

Linda Marsicano is a Chicago mom of twins and a freelance writer.

630.420.6010 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL napersettlement.org

Celebrations

CHICAGO PARENT’S PARTY PLANNING GUIDE Coming in April For more information, call (708) 386-5555 or visit ChicagoParent.com

52 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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special advertising section // DAY CAMP AMA Academy of Performing Arts Experience the arts, academics & outdoor fun in 1 camp!!

216 N. Graceland Avenue, Des Plaines (847) 299-2233 AmaClasses.com

Association of Illinois Montessori Schools (AIMS) Visit our site for individual school information. membership@ illinoismontessorischools.com www.illinoismontessorischools.com

Athletico Center Fun Soccer camp for all to learn from outstanding coaches.

1900 Old Willow Rd., Northbrook (224) 326-2061 Athleticocenter.com

Avery Coonley School, The Diverse offering of summer enrichment courses.

1400 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove (630) 969-0800 averycoonley.org

Baker Summer Discovery Camp

Little Green Tree House Preschool and Childcare

Summer Programs at Francis W. Parker School

Located on 180 wooded acres on Wooster Lake.

Ingleside (847) 740-5010 glittle@jcys.org / jcys.org

Eco-friendly camp for development of the whole child.

West Loop118 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago Lakeview 3111 N Ashland Avenue Lincoln Park 1929 N Halsted Street Evanston - 2814 Central Street (312) 492-9876 littlegreentreehouse.com

Educational and recreational activities for JK-12th grade.

330 West Webster Ave. (773) 797-5104 fwparker.org/summers

JCYS Counselor-In-Training Camp 26710 W. Nippersink Road, Ingleside (847) 740-5010 957 W. Grace Street, Chicago (773) 281-2533 800 Clavey Road, Highland Park (847) 433-6001 jcys.org

JCYS Horner Grove Day Camp Traditional day camp with nature exploration, tumbling, and more.

Buffalo Grove (847) 279-0900 nsamuels@jcys.org /jcys.org

JCYS Jon Vegosen Champ Camp Tennis and swim lessons are paired with traditional camp experiences Highland Park (847) 433-6001 micky.baer@jcys.org / jcys.org

JCYS North Shore Day Camp

Summer fun, hands-on learning, creative play for PreK-8.

201 Sheridan Road, Wilmette (847) 425-5814 bakerdemschool.org/summer

Daily swim lessons, sports, music and drama, arts and crafts Highland Park (847) 433-6001 jsievers@jcys.org

Chicago Grammar School

JCYS NSDC Sports

Multi-media art, design, and sports camp for grades JK-8 900 N. Franklin, Chicago (312) 944-5600 chicagogrammar.org

Campers learn a variety of sports through skill drills, games Highland Park (847) 433-6001 jsievers@jcys.org /jcys.org

CircEsteem

JCYS Sunflower Camp

4730 N. Sheridan, Chicago (773) 732-4564 circesteem.org

Code Play Learn Code Play Learn introduces K-8th graders to STEM. 30 Chicago Ave, Oak Park 1148 W. Diversey, Chicago (708) 374-8286 codeplaylearn.com

JCYS Big City Day Camp Urban day camp offering unique daily experiences including yoga Chicago (773) 281-2533 jlosek@jcys.org/jcys.org

camp 2016

JCYS Camp Henry Horner Camp

Creative, enthusiastic and nurturing camp with sports and active play.

Highland Park (847) 433-6001 ivoigt@jcys.org/ jcys.org

JCYS Sunflower Day Camp Creative, enthusiastic and nurturing camp with sports and active play.

Lakeview (773) 281-2533 jlosek@jcys.org /jcys.org

John Trask Total Soccer Chicago boys and girls youth soccer camp.

Chicago and Wisconsin (314) 809-0807 wisconsinsoccercamp.com

Little Hands Learning Center, Inc. Now enrolling for summer and fall.

10126 S. Western Ave, Chicago (773) 445-1900 Ma-Mere Institute 2324 West 111th Street, Chicago (773) 445-9000 LittleHandsPreschool.com

Lookingglass Theatre Summer Camps

Summer Voyagers Enrichment Camp Full day camp for ages 6-12 years.

Little Hands Learning Center 10126 South Western Avenue, Chicago (773) 445-1900 LHLCSummerCamp.com

Walcamp Outdoor Ministries Traditional camps, Specialized camps and Special Needs camps!

Kingston, IL (815) 784-5141 Walcamp.org

FIELD TRIP Apple Holler

Ages 5-18 create original performances for the Main Stage.

821 N Michigan Ave., Chicago (773) 477-9257 x193 lookingglasstheatre.org/education

Naper Settlement

Perfect for Field Trips, just 20 minutes north of Gurnee.

5006 S. Sylvania Ave, Sturtevant, WI 53177 (262) 884-7100 appleholler.com

12 acres of epic experiences for children in grades 1-8.

523 S. Webster St., Naperville (630) 420-6010 napersettlement.org/camp

Enchanted Castle

Sports Broadcasting Camp

Fleetwood Roller Skating Rink

(800) 319-0884 playbyplaycamps.com facebook.com/sportsbroadcastingcamps

Summer LabAdventure Kids Day Camp Camp runs from 6/20 - 7/29 for children ages 3-17.

University of Chicago Laboratory School 1362 E. 59th Street, Chicago (773) 834-7766 summerlab.org

Summer at LatinLatin School of Chicago Camp summer enrichment programs for children ages 3–18 59 W. North Blvd., Chicago (312) 582-6080 latinschool.org/summer

Summer Explorers Camp June 27-Aug. 5, full day, ages infant-5 years.

Little Hands Learning Center 10126 South Western Avenue, Chicago (773) 445-1900 LHLCSummerCamp.com

New cyberblast laser tag arena!

1103 South Main Street, Lombard (630) 953-7860 www.enchanted.com

7231 W. Archer Ave., Summit (708) 458-0300 fleetwoodrollerrink.com

Kohl Children’s Museum Interactive art programming daily.

Themes change each month!

2100 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview (847) 832-6600 kcmgc.org

Pump it Up Chicago (312) 664-7867 Orland Park (708) 479-2220 pumpitupparty.com

Reptile Fest Educational Reptile and Amphibian show!

April 9, 10am-5pm April 10, 10am-4pm Northeastern Illinois University Physical Education Complex 3600 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago www.ReptileFest.com

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camp 2016 // special advertising section Safari Land

Sherman Lake YMCA Camp

Keshet

The Little Gym of Chicago

Options and pricing for all ages.

Great for field trips.

701 W. North Ave., Villa Park (630) 530-4649 safarilandfun.com

PICTURE YOURSELF HERE at Sherman Lake YMCA Camp.

6225 N. 39th Street, Augusta, MI 49012 (269) 731-3000 shermanlakeymca.org

Keshet offers various eight-week integrated camp options.

600 Academy Drive, Suite 130, Northbrook (847) 205-1234 keshet.org

Age-appropriate programs for children 4months to 12years.

3216 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago (773) 525-5750 thelittlegym.com/ChicagoIL

OVERNIGHT CAMP Animal Camp Jamaica Business office: 16795 State Route E, Rolla, MO 65401 (573) 458-2125 AnimalCampJamaica.com

Camp Anokijig New friends, positive values and growth, and outrageous fun!

W5639 Anokijig Lane, Plymouth, WI 53073 (920) 893-0782 anokijig.com

Cub Creek Science Camp 16795 State Route E, Rolla, MO 65401 (573) 458-2125 MOScienceCamp.com

JCYS Camp Henry Horner Overnight Camp Located on 180 wooded acres on Wooster Lake.

Ingleside, Illinois (847) 740-5010 glittle@jcys.org / jcys.org

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMP Brehm Preparatory School Brehm’s Summer Program is an immersive learning adventure.

950 S. Brehm Lane, Carbondale brehm.org

JCYS Camp Red Leaf An American Camp Association accredited camp serving individuals with disabilities.

26710 W. Nippersink Road, Ingleside (847) 740-5010 enewport@jcys.org

JCYS Camp STAR Summer treatment program for children with ADHD. Highland Park (847) 433-6001 ext 106 CampSTAR@jcys.org

Open Books Publishing Academy Teen Camp Aspiring teen writers write and publishing their own novel.

651 W. Lake St, (West Loop) Chicago (312) 475-1355 x155 www.open-books.org/progs/ instructional/publishing-academy/ publishing-academy-informationfor-parents/

SPECIALTY CAMP ArtReach Educational Theatre Affordable summer camps, musical theatre workshops.

3839 W. Frontage Road, Palatine artreachspotlite.com

GreenApple Campus NFP

Mullane Healy Godley Irish Dance Academy Camp teaches the basic foundation of techniques.

212 East Chicago Avenue, Westmont (630) 908-0792 mhgdance.com

Sports Broadcasting Camp Make sports anchor, reporting, and play by play tapes.

(800) 319-0884 playbyplaycamps.com

Windy City Fieldhouse/ Windy City Sports Academy Summer Sports Camp plus yearround options for ages 2-13.

2367 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago (773) 486-7300 WindyCityFieldhouse.com/youth

GreenApple = STEM + Innovation + Entrepreneurship to inspire future innovators!

Naperville, Elmhurst & Chicago (872) 240-4230 greenapplecampus.org

SUMMER Programs at Parker 2016 Educational and Recreational Activities for Junior Kindergarten through 12th grades

Register online at fwparker.org/summers

54 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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special advertising section // Advanced Family Dental Carlinville, Chicago ,Crest Hill, Crest Hill – Orthodontics, Frankfort, Joliet, Lockport, Lombard, Mt. Olive, Naperville, Plainfield, Romeoville, Shorewood, Westmont, Woodridge (815) 768-2188 AdvancedFamilyDental.com

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago The best in child health care.

225 E Chicago Ave, Chicago (312) 227-4000 luriechildrens.org/en-us/Pages/ index.aspx

Family Health Directory

Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic

Park Ridge (847) 698-2088 care4kidsteeth.com

DuPage Medical Group We Care For You (888) MY.DMG.DR (888) 693 6437 DuPageMedicalGroup.com

Every Tooth Counts Pediatric Dental Center Specialist in dentistry for infants, children and adolescents.

2711 Flossmoor Road, Flossmoor (708) 799-9755 EveryToothCounts.com

Dental, Family Medicine, Speech, Physical Therapy & Eye 3450 Lacey Road, Downers Grove (630) 743-4500 mwuclinics.com

Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists of Illinois Does your child snore; have multiple ear / sinus infections? locations in the city & suburbs (312) 266-6200 (847) 266-6200 PediatricENTIllinois.com

Fredrick S. Tatel, DDS We take the fear out of dentistry for your child.

16345 South Harlem, Tinley Park, IL (708) 633-8700 KidsDDS.net Specializing in Dentistry for Children & Adolescents.

10313 West Lincoln Highway, Brookside Commons Frankfort, IL (815) 806-2600 TreasuredSmilesDentistry.com

little teeth, big smiles Jerry Udelson, DDS 1125 S. Harlem, Forest Park (708) 386-5437 kidsdentistforestpark.com

University of Minnesota Exercise & Wellness Pregnancy Study See if you qualify (612) 625-9753 mompro@umn.edu

Children’s Dentistry in Park Ridge Infants, Children, Teens & Special Needs Children John P. Kenney, DDS, MS 101 S. Washington St. Suite 114,

Outrageous Fun at

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Summer STEM Camps Summer Registration Is Now Open Computer Game Creation

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New Friends s Positive Value th w ro G Personal res!

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is part of your favorite social networks Find us on Facebook Join the Twitter party!

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56 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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SUMMER THEATRE CAMPS FOR KIDS 5–14 BEGIN DOWNTOWN ON JUNE 20

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summergglass summer Camp • GRADES 4 – 8 •

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• GRADES 4 – 8 •

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—Arts Quest 2015 Parent

“Every single day [my daughter] came home beaming and bursting with energy. ‘My day was magnificent!’”

—2015 Summergglass Parent

lookingglasstheatre.org/education • 773.477.9257 x193

58 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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calendar MARCH

1

She can lift a horse over herr head and wears her hair in gravity-defying braids, but Pippi Longstocking just might be the breakfast companion you never knew w you needed. Chow down with the redheaded Swede at Pancakes with Pippi, the Swedish American Museum’s popular annual event.

Kids enjoy crafts, singing and dancing with the storybook heroine,, then learn how to make Swedish pancakes es (and eat them, of course). As they’d d say in Sweden, utsökt! $17, $12 members; rs; $5 kids 1-2. 9 a.m.-noon. March 12.. 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 728-8111, 11, swedishamericanmuseum.org.

3

2

They might have the traditional red noses, but these circus pros are anything but clowns. The Circa Carnival brings its whimsical style to Harris Theater, where acrobats tumble, leap and spin—and pretty much blow your mind. And for classical music enthusiasts out there, the whole thing is scored to “Carnival of the Animals,” so it’s guaranteed to catch the interest of your mini animal lovers without ever dragging them to a concert. $12.

2 p.m. March 26. 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. o.

(312) 334-7777, harristheaterchicago.org.

Egg hunts are all the rage this month, but we’ve got another type of searching on our minds. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the Schaumburg Park District is hosting the Shamrock Scramble, where kids 1-6 enjoy a snack and craft straight from the Emerald Isle before going outside to hunt down those elusive magical clovers. And yes, the wearing of the green is encouraged … but leave your bagpipes at a home. $7, $5 residents. 1-2 p.m.

March 13.

Ma 3.. Bock Bo Neighborhood Center, 1223 W. Sh Sharon Lane, Schaumburg.

1 985-2141, parkfun.com. ((847) 985-2 85-

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CALENDAR 2 | WEDNESDAY ECO-EXPLORERS: KNEEHIGH NATURALISTS–MAPLE SUGARING TIME. Kids 4-5 find

out where maple syrup comes from, how it’s made and how good it tastes. $20, $13 resident. 1-2:15 p.m. Knoch Knolls Nature Center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville. (630) 8485000, napervilleparks.org.

4 | FRIDAY DISCOVERIES IN PALEONTOLOGY. Kids 5-12 join T

Rexplorers for a paleo adventure that includes real dinosaur fossils. Bring a snack and dress to go outside. $84, $56 resident. 9 a.m.-noon (kids 5-7); 1-4 p.m. (kids 7-12). 95th Street Center, 2244 W. 95th St., Naperville.

(630) 848-5000, napervilleparks.org.

ASTRO-OVERNIGHT. Kids 6-12 can

land on the Moon, explore the surface of Mars and shoot past asteroids—all in their pajamas. Features educatorled, hands-on science activities, shows in the Grainger Sky Theater and award-winning exhibitions. Light snacks, continental breakfast, two sky shows and telescope observing (weather permitting) are included. $60, $30 evening only. 5 p.m.-8 a.m.; 6-10 p.m. evening only. Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 922-7827, adlerplanetarium.org.

5 | SATURDAY SUBURBS

Fore estt Par ark St St. Patr Pa P attrric ck’ ks Day Pa Day Da Para rade de de Seee Ma Se Marcch 5 Marc

Johnson presents an introduction to rocks and minerals for kids 8 and up to learn how to make a basic mineral test kit. Hands-on identification procedures include observation skills and hardness tests. All materials are provided. Reservations required. $5, $3 members. 10:30 a.m. Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, 220 Cottage Hill Ave. (in Wilder Park), Elmhurst.

(630) 833-1616, lizzadromuseum.org.

AG ALL AROUND US. Celebrate

National Agriculture Week by meeting local farmers, creating cute crafts, snuggling up with a baby barnyard animal, and exploring plants and soil.

Jump aboard real farm equipment and get hands-on with where food comes from. Overalls and straw hats are optional. Free with museum admission. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. (815) 963-6769, discovery centermuseum.org.

ROCK & MINERAL IDENTIFICATION. Geologist Sara

SAP’S RISING. Walk in the sugar maple forest as winter comes to an end to learn about the sweet history of maple syrup making. 1:302:30 p.m. River Trail Nature Center, 3120 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook.

(847) 824-8360, fpdcc.com.

FAMILY FAIRE. Includes

hands-on activities, games and entertainment for kids 10 and under, plus a pancake breakfast. Kids are asked to bring a new small toy donation.

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mokena Community Park District, 10925 LaPorte Road,

Mokena. (708) 390-2401, mokena park.com.

DOG ADMISSION DAY. Enjoy a day out with your pup on 16 miles of hiking trails. $5 per dog, plus admission. 7 a.m.-sunset. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

ELMHURST ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE. Includes

floats, marching units and Irish dancers and local team mascots.

Noon. Spring Road and Wilson Road, Elmhurst. elmhurststpatsparade.com.

ESCONI GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOW. Features exhibits

from Chicago’s Field Museum and the Lizzadro museum, member exhibits, craft demonstrations, book sales, gem, jewelry, fossil & mineral dealers as well as live and silent auctions. Plus, a kids’ corner and geode cracking for kids under 16. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. DuPage County

Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-6636, dupagecountyfair.org.

FOREST PARK ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE. The

Forest Park Chamber of Commerce’s parade features bagpipers, local business entries, police and fire, antique cars, Proviso Marching Band, Medinah Mini Choppers, World Famous Lawn Rangers and more. 1 p.m. Madison Street, Forest Park. (708) 366-2543, exploreforestpark.com.

MEET THE RAPTORS. A presentation by Willowbrook Wildlife Center staff and their live raptors. Families with kids 8 and up get a chance to observe the birds up close, ask questions and discover the difference between diurnal (daytime) and nocturnal (nighttime) birds of prey. $12, $8 resident. 1-2 p.m. Naperville Park District, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naperville parks.org.

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CALENDAR TO TRAP A LEPRECHAUN. Kids 3-10 team up with an adult to create a Leprechaun Trap, using fun materials like clocks, pipe cleaners, Popsicle sticks, stickers and colored paper. A rainbow treat will be served. Bring a shoebox, or a tissue box will be provided. $25, $15 resident. 9-10 or 10:3011:30 a.m. Naperville Park District, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, napervilleparks.org.

6 | SUNDAY CHICAGO READ AND BUILD. After a storytelling session of a design-focused children’s book, members of the education department lead kids and their caregivers in creating a project based on the story. Guests explore architecture, design and the city of Chicago, and work with others to build something to take home. Today’s book is “Home” by Carson Ellis. 9 a.m.-noon.

Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 922-3432, architecture.org.

is part of your favorite social networks

SUBURBS REPTILE RAMPAGE. Get up close and personal with some amazing and fascinating reptiles from all over the world. Visitors can meet more than 150 animals including “Bubba” the famous American Alligator, the Wildlife Discovery Center’s celebrated rattlesnake collection, lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodilians, tortoises, frogs and much more. $10, $5 kids. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Lake Forest Recreation Center, 400 Hastings Road, Lake Forest. (847) 810-3663, wildlife discoverycenter.org.

kids 18 months or under. Tour ends with playtime for babies in LaSalle Banks Room. Today’s theme is Stars Over Mesopotamia. $15, $10 members. 2-3:30 p.m. Oriental Institute Museum, 1155 E. 58th St., Chicago.

(773) 702-9514, oi.uchicago.edu.

9 | WEDNESDAY SMALL SERENDIPITY. Kids 3-6, with adult, enjoy nature stories, crafts and activities. 10-11 a.m.

River Trail Nature Center, 3120 N.

Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook. (847) 824-8360, fpdcc.com.

11 | FRIDAY LEGO KIDZ NITE OUT: BRICKS 4 GIRLZ. Girls 7-10 experience an

evening of creating motorized models using LEGO bricks, gears and motors.

Kidz Nite out incorporates building and exploring STEM concepts through motorized creations, model builds, themed games and challenges. $65, $43 resident. 6-9 p.m. Naperville

About the calendar

SAP’S RISING. Northbrook.

See March 5.

ESCONI GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOW. Wheaton. See March 5.

Today’s times are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The deadline for submitting listings for the April issue is Feb. 29. All events are subject to change. Please call the event sponsor at the number listed to confirm before you go. Events taking place on four or more dates during the month are listed in Ongoing Events, beginning on page 78.

8 | TUESDAY

Searchable listings updated daily ChicagoParent.com/calendar

STROLLING THROUGH HISTORY.

This tour and discussion in the galleries is for parents and caregivers and

! y d a e Get R er for Summ

re

Adventu

12 acres of epic experiences!

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Exploration & Discovery Camps STEM & Innovation Camps NEW! Art & Music Camps Civil War & Pioneer Life Qualified ad Registration starts March 1 cam u p counselolt rs One-day to w ee long camps! k-

523 S. Webster St., Naperville, IL 630.420.6010 • napersettlement.org

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 61

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CALENDAR Park District, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naper villeparks.org.

ASTRO-OVERNIGHT. Chicago. See

March 4.

12 | SATURDAY CHICAGO ANCIENT GAMES DAY & NOWRUZ CELEBRATION. Kids 5

and up play the favorite games of ancient Egypt, Nubia, Mesopotamia and Persia in the museum galleries.

Be the first to play on the OI’s exclusive replicas of the game Hounds and Jackals. Learn the principles of making board games and create one, plus enjoy the stories and games associated with the Persian New Year festival Nowruz. 1-4 p.m. Oriental Institute Museum, 1155 E. 58th St. (773) 702-9514, oi.uchicago.edu.

Go G ood Foo od F esttiv ival va all S e March 266 Se

CHICAGO ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE. Features more than

200 floats andDiplomates marching bands.

The of the

dyeing is best viewed from the east side of the Michigan Avenue bridge, the west side of the Columbus Drive bridge or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. The parade proceeds north on Columbus Drive. The viewing stand is in front of Buckingham Fountain. 9 a.m. dyeing; noon parade. Columbus Drive between Balbo Drive and Monroe Street. (312) 942-9188, chicagostpatsparade.com.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL.

Includes traditional and contemporary Irish music, dance, food and children’s activities. $15, $12 advance, free kids 12 and under. 1 p.m.-midnight. The Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave. (773) 282-7035, irish-american.org.

WILD CREATURE DOUBLE FEATURE. Features two one-act

story ballets, “Carnival of the Animals,” accompanied by Camille Saint-Saëns’ work of the same name, and “Wild Things,” with music by Bartok and Smetana. $20, $10 kids

American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

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62 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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CALENDAR 5-18, free kids under 5. 1 and 6 p.m.

Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. (773) 493-8498, hydeparkschoolofballet.org.

SLEEPOVER WITH THE ANIMALS.

The evening begins with dinner and exploration of a few animal buildings after hours. Travel around with zoo experts and take home fun facts to share. Wind down at the end of the night with snacks, games and stories before settling in to sleep next to some cool creatures. $70, $60 members; $42 evening only, $35 members evening only. 6 p.m.-8:30 a.m.; 6-10 p.m. evening only. Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive. (312) 7422000, lpzoo.org.

SUBURBS

awarded. 1 p.m. Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., Des Plaines. (847) 391-5399, desplaines history.org.

SAP’S RISING. Northbrook.

See March 5.

SOUNDS OF BRAZIL. Explore many aspects of Brazilian history, geography, custom and music. A wide variety of Brazilian percussion instruments will be demonstrated, played, discussed and their origins explained.

The entire family can participate in hands-on percussion re-creating “The Brazilian Carnaval” atmosphere using Sounds of Brazil. 2-3 p.m. Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove. (847) 929-5102, webrary.org.

SUGAR BUSH FAIR. Features

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SEUSS! Drop in to make a Seuss-

inspired craft and enjoy a celebration with the AMA Academy of Performing Art. Plus, face painting, music, dance and more. Dress as a favorite Dr. Seuss character; prizes will be

a pancake breakfast, authentic demonstrations of maple syrup production, a pioneer sugar camp, children’s puppet show and a wagon shuttle to event area. Syrup and other goodies available for purchase. Breakfast is

Onc Up Once po p on a Symp Sy m hony-G Golld diilo lock cks a d the Th an hrre ee B Be ear ars See Ma March rrcch 19 19

Readings By Local Writers on the Beauty, the Beast, and the Barely-rested of Motherhood d ybir Earl ing pric gh u thro 31! ch r a M

Chicago’s 5th Annual

Listen To Your Mother Show Sunday May 1 at 2:00pm

Athenaeum Theatre

2936 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago

Tickets available online at athenaeumtheatre.org, by phone at (773) 935-6875, or in person at the box office.

More information: listentoyourmothershow.com/chicago

Chicago 2016 Sponsored locally by…

10% of ticket proceeds to benefit Mujeres Latinas en Acción, a nonprofit organization that empowers Latinas by providing services which reflect their values and culture, and being an advocate on the issues that make a difference in their lives.

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CALENDAR

Ma M Mapl apl ple e Su Sugaring Suga riing g Spri Sp rriing g F ev verr See Maarc See rchh 12 1

$5 for full stack and $4 for half stack.

9 a.m.-noon. Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg.

(847) 985-2100, parkfun.com.

MAPLE SUGARING SPRING FEVER.

Learn the time-honored method of collecting sap the old-fashioned way and try a maple treat. $12, $10 seniors, $8 kids 4-12, free residents.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. (630) 4206010, napersettlement.com.

NAPERVILLE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE. Celebrate Irish

heritage by joining West Suburban Irish for the annual parade. 10 a.m.

Naperville High School, 899 N. Mill St., Naperville. (630) 375-7725, naperville.il.us/stpatricks.aspx.

13 | SUNDAY CHICAGO NORTHWEST SIDE IRISH PARADE. The parade and party are

ORY

all about kids, with activities ranging from face painting and balloon art.

Also features dance demonstrations.

Noon parade, 1:30 p.m. after party.

Free parade; $10, $5 kids under 12 party. 6633 W. Raven St. northwest sideirish.org.

WILD CREATURE DOUBLE FEATURE. See March 12. Today’s

time is 2 p.m.

SOUTH SIDE IRISH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE. Alcohol-

free parade on Chicago’s South Side (Beverly/Morgan Park). Western Avenue, 103rd to 115th Street. (773) 916-SSIP, southsideirishparade.org.

SECOND SUNDAY. Workshops offer drop-in, hands-on art-making workshops for kids and families, providing an interactive experience that engages visitors of all ages in contemporary art, while also offering participants personal insight into the Art Center’s exhibits. 1-4 p.m. Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. (773) 324-5520, hydeparkart.org.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY pediatric dentistry

Pediatric dentistry

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Outstanding Pediatric Dental Care – It’s at the heart of what we do.

Nominated as one of

As an award-winning practice, we pride ourselves on providing the finest comprehensive dental care for the children in our practice so they leave with a healthy smile and positive attitude toward dental care as they approach adulthood.

CHICAGO’S FAVORITE

Kids

Doc

John P. Kenney, DDS, MS

Diplomate American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Children's Dentistry in Park Ridge

Christopher J. Morin, DDS 811 W. Wellington, Chicago, IL 60657

(773) 871-4964 1125 S. Harlem Ave., Forest Park (708) 386-5437 • (708) FUN-KIDS www.kidsdentistforestpark.com

BigSmilesChicago.com chrismorin5@yahoo.com

Evenings and Saturdays available.

Practice limited to infants, children and adolescents.

101 S. Washington St., Suite 114 Park Ridge, IL 60068

847-698-2088

24-Hour Answering Service We are an Authorized Under Armour Performance Mouthwear Provider - with Armourbite® Technology

Infants, Children, Teens & Special Needs Children

www.care4kidsteeth.com

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CALENDAR SUBURBS SAP’S RISING. Northbrook.

The Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago. (773) 282-7035, irish-american.org.

See March 4.

SUGAR BUSH FAIR.

Schaumburg. See March 12.

MAPLE SUGARING SPRING FEVER. Naperville. See March 12.

Today’s times are 1-4 p.m.

14 | MONDAY STROLLER TOUR. This 30-minute

tour is designed for parents and caretakers of children 18 months and younger. The tour begins in the Modern Wing. $25, $10 member.

11:30 a.m.-noon. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan, Chicago.

(312) 443-3600, artic.edu.

17 | THURSDAY ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION. Features music,

dance and face painting. $10, free kids 12 and under. Noon-midnight.

THIRD THURSDAY. A time designated for families of children with special needs to enjoy the museum.

Accommodations are made so that all children can participate in general programs, and resources are available to help visitors structure their visit. Free with museum admission. 5-7 p.m. DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. (630) 637-8000, dupage childrensmuseum.org.

St.. Patr St tric ick’ k’s s D y Da Ce brat Celebr atio ion n Seee Ma Marc rchh 17

18 | FRIDAY TODDLER EXPLORATION TIME. Kids learn about plants

and nature by listening to a story, engaging in a hands-on learning experience, and enjoying a short walk in the conservatory. 10:30-11:15 a.m. (kids 18-30 months); 12:15-1 p.m. (kids 3-5). Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St., Oak Park. (708) 725-2400, oakparkconservatory.org.

19 | SATURDAY CHICAGO MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL.

See the entire maple syrup-making process from tapping the tree and collecting the sap to boiling it down into

syrup. Take a walk through the sugar bush, enjoy storytelling, make a maple craft, warm up by the fire, and taste real maple syrup fresh off the fire. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Road. (312) 744-5472, chicagoparkdistrict.com.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

ORTHODONTICS

Pediatric dentistry

Childen’s Oral Care Only P.C. Caroline Scholtz, D.D.S., M.S. Gail Czarnecki, D.D.S. Pediatric & Laser Dentistry Dentistry for Special Needs

PEDIATRIC DENTAL ASSOCIATES, P.C. We offer braces for children & adults

Bonciel Griffin-Burress DDS

773-239-7696

185 N. Milwaukee Ave. Ste 140 Lincolnshire, IL 60069 847/478.8100 5530 W. Montrose Ave. Chicago, IL 60641 773/282.8800

cocodds@comcast.net www.carolinescholtzdds.com

10019 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60643

www.bgriffinorthodontics.com NEW OFFICE!

773-358-4350

1040 E. 47th St., Chicago, IL 60653

www.ivorydentalspecialists.com Complimentary Orthodontic Evaluations Most Insurances Accepted • Flexible Payment Plans

George Lin, D.D.S. Anjali Talati, D.M.D. Kyung-Hong “Cal” Kim, D.D.S. Buffalo Grove Business Park 195 Arlington Hts Rd., Suite 150 Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

847-537-7695

College Hill Professional Building 690 N. Route 31 Crystal Lake, Il 60012

815-459-2727

Ask us about our NO SHOT & NO DRILL Laser fillings!

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CALENDAR ONCE UPON A SYMPHONYGOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS. Once Upon a Symphony

is designed to introduce kids 3-5 to the world of classical music and the musicians of the CSO. Preconcert activities begin 45 minutes before each concert. $17. 10 and 11:45 a.m.

Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 294-3000, cso.org.

ANIMAL ENRICHMENT WORKSHOP. Make edible piñatas

and other creative enrichment items for the zoo’s animals. Join the zoo in creating willow balls, wreaths, piñatas and other enticing items for the cats, gorillas or the rhinoceros.

Then head out to the zoo to see the animals play with their new items. $5, $4 members; $18 family pack.

1-3:30 p.m. Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive. (312) 742-2000, lpzoo.org.

SUBURBS SAP’S RISING. Northbrook.

See March 4.

ORY

Anim An mal al En nrric ich hm men men ent Worrk Wo ksh shop shop op See Ma See Se Marc Marc rch 199

PIONEER FEST AND PANCAKE BREAKFAST. Enjoy pancakes,

sausage and pure maple syrup, see maple syrup-making demonstrations and try your hand at pioneer chores

while stepping back into time with pioneer re-enactors. $9, $7 kids under 12. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Pilcher Park Nature Center, 2501 Highland Park Drive, Joliet. (815) 741-7277,

jolietpark.org.

SYRUP TREE AND SILVER DOLLAR BRUNCH. Families with

kids 2 and up take a guided hike to

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY pediatric dentistry

Pediatric dentistry

pediatric dentistry

Fred S. Margolis, D.D.S., P.C. Gail Czarnecki, D.D.S. Pediatric & Laser Dentistry Dentistry for Special Needs

Every Tooth Counts Pediatric Dental Center Carmella Barrett Perry, DDS Specialist in Dentistry for Infants, Children & Adolescents

• Flexible Hours • Insurance Accepted

Located 2 blocks from downtown Flossmoor 2711 Flossmoor Rd, Flossmoor, IL 60422

(708) 799-9755

1770 First Street, Suite 360 Highland Park, IL 60035 224/927.9321 Saturday Appointments Available!

24 Hour Answering Service

www.fredmargolisdds.com

4801 W. Peterson Ave • Chicago, IL 60646

773-790-4282

www.everytoothcounts.com

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CALENDAR learn the history of maple tapping and see how it’s done. Complete your experience with maple syrup sampling and family-style brunch. A portion of the program will be outdoors; dress for the weather. Brunch includes pancakes, sausage, fruit, maple treat and beverages. $25, $18 member.

10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

20 | SUNDAY CHICAGO LEGO BUILD WORKSHOP: CHICAGO BUNGALOWS. Find out

what makes bungalows so unique and build some using Lego and studio materials. $20. Noon-3 p.m.

Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 922-3432, architecture.org.

MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL.

See March 19.

SUBURBS

St., Des Plaines. (847) 391-5399, desplaineshistory.org.

MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL.

Northbrook. See March 4.

26 | SATURDAY CHICAGO

SYRUP TREE AND SILVER DOLLAR BRUNCH. Lisle. See March 19.

THE BOOGERS IN CONCERT. The

Boogers perform original and classic children’s music in their rock ‘n’ roll style. $11, $8 members. 4-5:30 p.m.

Wonder Works, 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park. (708) 383-4815, wonderworks.org.

23 | WEDNESDAY

FAMILY WORKSHOP: SKETCHES TO SCULPTURES. What does it

mean to plan for a work of art? Kids 6-12 explore the exhibition Martin Puryear: Multiple Dimensions and consider the ways that sketches transform into sculptures, then make two- and three-dimensional artworks. $8, $5 member. 2-3:30 p.m. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan.

(312) 443-3600, artic.edu.

GOOD FOOD FESTIVAL. A

SMALL SERENDIPITY.

Northbrook. See March 9.

24 | THURSDAY AFTERNOON ADVENTURES: DR. SEUSS. Kids 5-12 explore the won-

derful world of Dr. Seuss and create a project. $3, $2 members. 3-5 p.m. Des Plaines History Center, 781 Pearson

family-friendly day of speakers, DIY workshops, chef demos, the interactive Purple Asparagus Kids’ Corner and more, all designed to grow the Good Food movement. The Organic Valley Good Food Commons offers microworkshops on everything from backyard chickens to composting tips. The Urban Farm Bus Tour visits three local

urban agriculture sites. Sample and shop from local farms and food producers at the Good Food Marketplace. $15, $10 online, free kids 12 and under.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road. goodfoodfestivals.com.

27 | SUNDAY SUBURBS BUCKET BUG HUNT. Hike through the sugar bush to find out who has fallen into the sap buckets. 1:302:30 p.m. River Trail Nature Center, 3120 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook.

(847) 824-8360, fpdcc.com.

31 | THURSDAY FAMILY BINGO & PIZZA. Event for families with kids 6 and up includes 12 games of Bingo, a snack, pizza and a drink, and prizes for everyone. $15, $10 resident in advance. 6-7 p.m.

Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naper villeparks.org.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY Pediatric dentistry

TUTORING

Pediatric Ophthalmologists

We take the fear out of dentistry for your child.

• Shots and drilling are no longer necessary • Computer x-rays reduce your child’s exposure to radiation • We use smaller chairs and instruments • We welcome patients with special needs • Pleasant, comfortable surroundings

Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

16345 S. Harlem • Tinley Park

708-633-8700 • www.kidsdds.net

Pediatric eye care Medical and Surgical Eye Care for Infants, Children and Teens

Tutor Services Individualized sessions to your child’s needs by a certified tutor.

Nanny Services We specialize in active role models who support your family’s lifestyle.

Sitters Available Days, Nights, Weekends

www.collegenannies.com Lincoln Park • 773-697-9326 Glenview • 847-998-5657

Deena F. Leonard, M.D. Dana L. Kolton, M.D. Kathy Anderson, M.D.

Muscle Imbalance (Lazy Eye) • Blocked Tear Ducts • Premature Infants • Routine Eye Exams

Buffalo Grove 847-459-6060 • Barrington 847-382-4116

www.eyesbypremier.com

Childproofing

Got Tots...

Get Peace of Mind Custom Hardwood Gates Made in the USA

1•800•531•9527

www.ChildproofingChicago.com ChicagoParent.com March 2016 67

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Building on knowledge

EXHIBIT

F

or parents, Legos are usually seen as a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because they can keep our kids k occupied for hours; a curse because they hurt so @#%?! t when you step on much wh them.

Those ffamiliar buildblocks are now at the ing block center of Brick by Brick, Museum of Science & the Muse Industry’s newest temporary Industry’ exhibit.

“It’s all about the power of play and creativity,” says Jeff Buonomo, manager of speBuonomo exhibitions. “Legos are cial exhib something that everyone is someth familiar with; everyone fam has put together at least two Lego bricks.” br

The exhibit involves 13 structures built by Lego Certified Professional Adam Reed Tucker. Visitors will be wowed by his renditions of Great America’s American Eagle roller coaster and the International Space Station. But the pièce de résistance is a 60-foot-long Golden Gate Bridge, the longest Lego structure to date.

“Adam’s work alone is ... so sophisticated, it’s almost an exhibit in itself,” Buonomo says.

Tucker’s constructions also open the door to what MSI does best: bringing scientific concepts to kids’ levels. So Brick by Brick is also marked by engaging interactive opportunities that introduce principles of architecture and engineering.

In the wind tunnel, kids can test their creations against high winds, while the seismic shaker

determines if foam bricks hold their own against earthquake forces. (Spoiler alert: they don’t.)

There’s also a large open build section, a test race course, and areas that explore pulleys and beams.

It will help take the edge off the next time you step on one of those bleeping things on your way to the bathroom.

Elizabeth Diffin

Brick by Brick u March 10-Feb. 20, 2017 u Exhibit requires an additional ticket with timed entry u Museum of Science & Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago u msichicago.org

CircEsteem

1 week sessions June 20th - Aug 19th ages 7 and up

Early Bird Discount ends March 15th

www.CircEsteem.org for more details!

Going Places FREE | FALL 2015

‘Hoods, trails

&

shows

Pumpkin

SPICE bonanza

The Ultimate Guide to Family Fun! GPfall2015_CV1.indd 1

Spring edition coming soon!

8/24/15 11:11 AM

For more information, call (708) 386 5555 or visit ChicagoParent.com

68 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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The Chicago Herpetological Society Presents

tion’s Large st Ed The Na uca tiona l

Mullane Healy Godley Irish Dance Academy 7233 West Touhy Avenue (at Harlem), Chicago 212 East Chicago Avenue, Westmont 630.908.0792 | www.mhgdance.com

Reptile and Amphibian Show!

The 22nd Annual World Champions Empowering Dancers to be Their Best

ReptileFest Saturday

Sunday

April 9th • April 10th 10am - 5pm

10am - 4pm

ReptileFest is proudly sponsored by:

Now celebrating our 31st year, the Mullane Healy Godley Irish Dance Academy is one of the most decorated programs in the world.

In addition to our recreational program for young or noncompetitive dancers, MHG also offers competitive solo and team dance programs. With 3 World Champion teachers on staff, MHG provides the best instruction in a family environment that emphasizes the fun and enjoyment of Irish Dance.

No Animals for Sale facebook.com/CHSReptilefest

Northeastern Illinois University Physical Education Complex 3600 W. Foster Ave., Chicago

www.ReptileFest.com for discount coupons

ChicagoParent.com March 2016 69

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BUNNY EVENTS BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY.

SWIM WITH THE BUNNY. NNY. Collect

Enjoy a special morning with a very honored guest and a full hot breakfast buffet. Our furry friend will meet and greet his guests with a special surprise. $16, $12 resident; $9.50 kids, $7.50 resident kids; free kids under 3. 9:15-11 a.m. March 19. Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Ave West, Highland Park. (847) 579-3136, pdhp.org.

eggs, swim in the pool and meet the Bunny. $10, $5 adults. 1-3 p.m.

March 19. Pavilion Aquatic atic Center, 1000 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village. (847) 593-6248, 8, elkgroveparks.org.

PARK DISTRICT OF HIGHLAND PARK EGG HUNT.

Gather colorful eggs filled with toys and fun surprises. One special egg will hold a family pass to Hidden Creek AquaPark for this summer. Be sure to keep an eye out for a special guest.

Children will be divided by age. 11 a.m. March 19. West Ridge Park, 636 Ridge Road, Highland Park. (847) 579-3120, pdhp.org.

BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY. Y. Enjoy a hearty breakfast

EASTER EGG HUNT. EAST

BREAKFAST WITH THE oy a EASTER BUNNY. Enjoy

family friendly breakfast, Easter egg roll and a visit with the Easter Bunny. Call for ticket information.

Advance registration required. $12, free kids 2 and under. 8-9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.-noon. March 19. Bird Haven Greenhouse, 225 N. Gougar Road, Joliet. (815) 741-7278, ext. 5, jolietpark.org.

BRUNCH WITH THE BUNNY.

Includes music, an inflatable moon jump and a chance to get a picture with the Bunny. $8, $6 kids 12 and under. 12:30-2 p.m. March 19.

and entertainment, ertainment, plus have your picture cture taken with the Easter Bunny. All All children chi hild ldren receive a goody bag. ag. $14 kids, kid ds, s $12 $12 resident kids; $100 adult, $8 resident. resiide dent nt. 9 a.m. March arch 19. Al Hattendorf Hattendoorf Center, 225 Blvd., 225 E. Elk Grove Blvd. d , El Elkk Grove Village. elk elkgroveparks.org. lkgr groveparks.org.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA. RAV AVAG A ANZA. Ki Kids d of

all ages ccan an pparticipate articipate in an oldfashioned eggg hu hunt. ed d eg h n . Before the nt he hunt,, have breakfast with eak akfa fastt w ith it h th the Easter Bunny in the Lakeview Room.

Cereal, akeview Ro Room om. m. Ce C real, fruits, bagels, pastries and oother ther ttreats th reat re a s are on the menu.

Registration nu.. Re nu Regi g st gi stra r tion n for orr bbreakfast r akfast is re required. breakfast, d. 8: 8:30 30 aa.m. .m m. breakf kffasst, t 10 a.m.

Eggstravaganza.

March Park vaggan nzaa. M arch h 19. P ark Center, 24 Chestnut Ave., 2400 00 Chestnu nutt Av nu Ave e., Glenview.

(847) 486-5385, w. (8 (847 4 ) 48 4866-5 65385, 538 85 glenviewparks.org. wparks..org. org..

Charles M. Christensen Terrace Centre, 11500 S. Beloit Ave, Worth. (708) 448-7080, worthparkdistrict.org.

BUNNY BRUNCH. Join the Bunny

for a buffet lunch of pizza, mostaccioli, salad, garlic bread and soda.

Also includes lunch, entertainment, face painting and a special gift.

Pre-registration required. $16, $13 residents. 10:30 a.m.-noon. March 19.

Aurelio’s Restaurant, 310 W. Lincoln Highway, Frankfort. (708) 390-2401, mokenapark.com.

EASTER EGG HUNT. Kids 10 and under hunt for Easter eggs. 11 a.m. March 19. Firemen’s Park, 673 Penfield St., Beecher. (708) 946-2261, beecherchamber.com.

Thousands T Th ousands oof eggs will be hidden throughout tth hroughout the playground for for kids 12 and under to find. music and a chance to IIncludes ncludes m photo taken with Bunny. get a pho Remember to bring a basket Remembe camera. 11:05 a.m. March and came 19. Charle Charles M. Christensen Centre, 111500 S. Beloit Ave., Terrace Centre Worth. (708) 448-7080, worthpark district.org.

EASTER EGG HUNT. Kids are divided into age groups and at separate hunt areas. Bring a basket. Plus, an appearance by the Easter Bunny.

Bring a non-perishable food item. 9:45 a.m. March 19. West Main Community Park, 40W101 W. Main St., Batavia.

(630) 879-5235, bataviaparks.org.

EASTER EGG HUNT. Bring a basket for collecting the Easter eggs.

After the hunt, there will bbe games, crafts and doughnuts. The Easter Bunny will be available for picturetaking. 10 a.m. March 19. St. S Matthew United Church of Christ, 14 1420 S. Gables Blvd., Wheaton. (630) (63 6651236, stmatthewucc.org.

SPRING EGG HUNT. Kids have the

Easter baskets opportunity to fill their Eas candy and with eggs stuffed with can 10:30-11:30 a.m., prizes. From 10:30-11:3 enjoy a Bunny Meet & Greet at Gymnasium. the Fitness Center G $6, $5 resident egg hunt; $1 Meet-and-Greet. 110 a.m.

March 19 19.

Heritage Park, 9. Herita Ardmore 1S325 Ar Ardm dmor o e Ave., Oakbrook Terrace. (630) Oakb Oa k roook Terra obtpd.org.

6627-6100, 62 7-6100, obtpd BREAKFAST WITH THE TH HE BUNNY. BUNNY Families

can enjoy bre breakfast and meet tthe he Mr. and Mrs. Mrs Bunny Bun unny ny costumed co characters. char ch arac a ters. The Th h band Banjo Buddies Banj Ba njo Bu Budd ddie iess will provide prov pr o id de musical musi mu s ca entertainment. me Call Call for rreservations. e $29.95 $21.95 $29 $2 9.95 95 aadults; dult du lts; $ 21 children (3-11); fr free e kkids ids 2 aand under. 9 id or 11 a. a.m. a.m m. March ch 119, 9 20 and 26.

Brookfield Zoo, B roo ookf kfie ield dZ Zo o 8400 Brookfield.

331st 31 stt SSt., t., B r ok (708) 688-8000, (7 70 08) 08 8 688 88 0 88 00 0, brookfieldzoo.org. brookf ookf kfiie ield org

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games, stories, crafts, with ga snacks and an egg hunt. $22, resident. 9-10 or 10:30$15 re 11:30 aa.m. March 26. Seager Interpretive Center, 1163 Park Int Plank Road, Naperville. (630) 848-5000, napervilleparks.

848 org. org

BUNNY BONANZA. Kids 6 and under can enjoy an egg hunt, inflatable, craft project, face painting, entertainment and a photo opportunity. $6. 10-11 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon. March 23. Welles Park, 2333 33 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago. (312) 74227511, chicagoparkdistrict.com.

BRUNCH WITH THE BUNNY.

Includes refreshments, face painting,, entertainment, photo opportunity and nd more for kids 6 and under. Parent must accompany child. $10. Advanced tickets only. 10 a.m.-noon. March 24. Merrimac Park, 6343 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. (773) 685-3382, chicagoparkdistrict.com.

FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNT. Kids 9-13, with adult, grab a flashlight and hunt for prize-filled lled eggs under the stars. Refreshments nts will be served. Bring ring a flashlight and a bag or basket to put eggs and prizes in. This event is held outside; tside; dress for the weather. $14, $10 resident. 7:15-8 p.m. March 24. Riverwalk Rotary otary Hill, off Aurora Avenue, Naperville.

(630) 848-5000,, naperville parks.org.

BUNNY BRUNCH CH AT LAMBS FARM. Enjoy a

buffet and then take a walk over to the Bunny Patch, where kids can do crafts, activities and take kee a photo with the Bunny. Call for reservaeservations. $16.95, $7.95 7..95 kkids ids 23 months and under d ffor activities. i ii 9 and 10:30 a.m. and noon. March 25-26. Lambs Farm, I-94 and Route 176, Libertyville. (847) 362-4636, lambsfarm.org.

F FAMILY FUN: EASTER SWEETS. A fun-filled

March 25-26. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA.

Easter weekend celebration includes pancake breakfast, an egg hunt, photos with the Easter Bunny, animal viewing, complimen complimentary rides on the AT&T Endangered Species Carousel Sp aand Lionel Train Adventure and more. Check website for cost.

8:30-10 a.m.

March 26. Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. (312) 742-2000, lpzoo. org.

EGG HUNT.

Kids 9 and under can look for eggs at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The rest of the children of th he time, t ages can create super alll ag age springtime art and sp priin jump ju mp into egg-cellent fun. fu n. $$12 kids, $10 adults; adu ad ultss; $3 member kids, member ffree ree e m ee eem mbe ber adults. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. M March 26.

Discovery Center h 26 6 D i Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

(815) 963-6769, discoverycenter museum.org.

BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY.

BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY. Includes breakfast buffet, a

A tasty springtime buffet featuring a visit from the Easter Bunny. Each child will get a decorated bunny cookie and a jelly bean go goody bag. $44, $35 members; $33 kids, kid , $27 $ member kids; free kkids 3 and u under. nd 9-11 a.m.

photo with the Easter Bunny, a balloon entertainer and a face painter. $25, $17 kids 4-10, free kids 3 and under; free parking. 9-10:30 a.m. March 26.

Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.

EASTER EGG TRADITIONS. Learn about the Easter traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church and create an egg craft to take home. $3, $2 members. 1-4 p.m. March 26. Des Plaines History Center, 781 Pearson St., Des Plaines. (847) 391-5399, desplaineshistory.org.

family afternoon of baking, laughter and tasty treats. Kids, with adult, make and decorate yummy Easter egg and bunny cookies. Plus, the instructor will walk through the steps for creating adorable Easter basket cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting. $49. 2-4 p.m. March 26. Sur la Table, 900 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (800) 243-0852, surlatable.com.

EASTER EGG ROUNDUP. Collect

and decorate an egg, ride a horse, visit the newborn animals and visit the Easter Bunny. Advance tickets are required. $22. 10 a.m. March 26. The Children’s Farm at the Center, 12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park. (708) 361-3650, thecenterpalos.org/farm.

EASTER EGG HUNT. The Egg Hunt will run continuously and eggs will be hidden throughout the park.

All guests will be given a map when they enter to help them locate the eggs. For photos, “Mr. Bunny” will be at the McCormick Museum and “Mrs. Bunny” will be at the First Division Museum. Kids can paint an egg-shaped ornament at the Education Center ($2). Parking fee applies. 9 a.m.-noon.

March 26. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 6685161, cantigny.org.

EGG HUNT. Kids 1-8 can enjoy an egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny; only those 2 or younger may have help from a parent. The Naperville Jaycees will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items. 9 a.m. March 26. FFrontier h 26 Sports Complex, 3380 380 80 Cedar Ced e ar Glade Gla lade de Drive, Naperville. ((630) 848-5000, 630) 63 0) 8 48-5 48 -5 500 000 0, napervilleparks.org. org..

EASTER EGG HUNT & BRUNCH.

Enjoy brunch in Nichols Hall. Bring a basket and hop to the Rose Garden after brunch and join in the Easter egg hunt before taking a stroll to explore the vibrant colors and spring blooms. $40, $35 member; $30 kids 3-12, $25 member kids; free kids 2 and under.

9, 10 and 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.

March 27. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440, chicagobotanic.org.

EASTER BRUNCH. Easter brunch

buffet features an appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Bunny costumed characters, who will be available for photos.

Reservations are required. $39.95, $29.95 kids 3-11, free kids 2 and under. 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. March 27. Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. (708) 688-8355, brook fieldzoo.org.

EASTER BRUNCH. Brunch featuring

chef-carved prime rib, made-to-order omelet and pasta station and more, plus a visit with the Bunny. $59, $52 members; $39 kids, $32 member kids; free kids under 3. 9 a.m., noon and 3 pp.m. March 27. Morton Arboretum, 4100 41 0 IIllinois 00 llllin inoi oiss Rou Route Rout u 53, Lisle. (630) 9680074, mortonarb.org.

0074 00 7 , mo 74 74, mor mort m ort rton rt onar arb. ar b or b. orgg. g.

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PERFORMANCES MARY POPPINS. When a mysterious young woman named Mary Poppins appears at the Banks family’s doorstep, they find that she’s the answer to their prayers. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures. $25-$37.50. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m.

Saturdays; 1 p.m. Sundays. March 3-27. Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252, stage773.com.

PINOCCHIO: A FOLK MUSICAL.

Through March 6. Experience Pinocchio as he’s never been seen before in a freewheeling folk musical adventure of the puppet who becomes real. The show features six actor/musicians who move from character to character while playing instruments including guitar, upright bass, accordion, piano, saxophone, clarinet and violin. $5-$20. 3 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; noon and 3 p.m.

Sundays. Filament Ensemble Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

(773) 270-1660, filamenttheatre.org.

THE COMPASS. Through March

12. A world premiere about a young person who uses a new iPhone app to make a life-altering decision, raising important questions about responsibly in our technology-driven world.

Recommended for families with kids 11 and up. $20. Check website for schedule. Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 3351650, steppenwolf.org.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Lewis Carroll’s classic tale of Alice’s trip down the rabbit hole is retold through innovative dance created by some of the top choreographers in the Chicago dance community. $24, $16 kids. 7 p.m. March 10-11; 1 and 4 p.m. March 12-13. Evanston Dance Ensemble, Josephine Louis Theatre, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. (847) 328-6683, evanstondanceensemble. org.

THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: WINTER WONDERLAND MATINEES. Through March 13.

Escape the winter doldrums at this entertaining revue of stories written

by Chicago Public School students, adapted for the stage and performed

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by Barrel of Monkeys company members. $12, $6 kids under 12. 2 p.m. Barrel of Monkeys, The NeoFuturarium Theater (2nd Floor), 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (312) 409-1954, barrelofmonkeys.org.

MAGIC TREE HOUSE: A NIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS. Opens March 19.

Beloved Magic Tree House characters Jack and Annie venture through the tuneful streets of 1915 New Orleans, where they discover 14-year-old Louis Armstrong and must set him on the trumpeting path to become the “King of Jazz.” Recommended for families with kids 5-13. $28. Check website for schedule. Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000, broad wayinchicago.com.

LESTER’S DREADFUL SWEATERS. Opens March 19. One

morning, Cousin Clara presents Lester with the gift of a hand-knit sweater … and it is dreadful. When he ruins

the sweater “by accident,” Clara makes others, each more ghastly than the last. Lester must find a way to stop the endless parade of sweaters once and for all. The March 26 performance will feature a pre-show touch tour of the set at 10 a.m. and live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision.

Recommended for families with kids 5 and up. $15. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays. Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. (773) 761-4477, lifeline theatre.com.

THE LONG-AWAITED DEBUT OF MARNIE & PHIL. Through March

20. Marnie and Phil met when they were just young circus students and promised to write to each other no matter where they are. As the somersaults of life take each of them on adventures of fame and heartache, they seek each other out to perform one last show—their long-awaited debut. $2; $15 kids; $20 door. 7:30

p.m. Fridays; 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. The Actors Gymnasium, Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston.

(847) 328-2795, actorsgymnasium. org.

THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: THE MUSICAL. Opens March 20. An all-

musical revue featuring stories conceived and written by Chicago Public School students, adapted into songs and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members. Recommended for families with kids 5 and up. $12, $6 kids. 2 p.m. Sundays; 8 p.m.

Mondays. Barrel of Monkeys, The Neo-Futurarium Theater (2nd Floor), 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (312) 409-1954, barrelofmonkeys.org.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL. Opens March 22. The story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Based on

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PERFORMANCES

Lester Le stte err’s s Dread re ead dfu ful Sw S wea eate ers rs See Se ee pa page 73

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the novel by Roald Dahl. $32 and up. Check website for schedule.

Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000, broad wayinchicago.com.

$50, $35 previews. Check website for schedule. Apollo Theater Chicago, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100, apollochicago.com.

THE JUNGLE BOOK. The timeless

SIGHT UNSEEN. Opens March 26.

The world premiere of Chapter Two of the Prometheus Project. In the Wilderness surrounding a troubled city, a family fights to stay together as they search for a place to call home. They navigate a new set of ever-changing rules, determine who is friend or foe, and hope that their epic journey will lead them to Sanctuary. $17, $12 youth. Check website for schedule. Adventure Stage Chicago, Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. (773) 342-4141, adventure stage.org.

MARC SALEM’S MIND OVER CHICAGO. Through March 27. Both

magical and psychological, Marc’s performances have been enjoyed by millions around the world. Marc’s mystifying techniques and quick wit “break the lock” on the minds of randomly selected audience members.

tale of the young Mowgli as he learns the importance of friendship and survival with the help of his new friends. Performances are at Lewis University, Prairie Center for the Arts, Tivoli Theatre, Moraine Valley College and more. $7 weekday; $10 weekend.

10:30 a.m. Check website for schedule. AlphaBet Soup Productions, P.O. Box 85, Lombard. (630) 932-1555, absproductions.com.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. The Queen has banished

Snow White to the woods out of jealousy. Once there, Snow White discovers kind friends, including seven silly dwarfs and a handsome prince.

Recommended for families with kids 2-8. $12. Check website for schedule.

Chicago Kids Company, Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago.

(773) 205-9600, chicagokids company.com.

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PERFORMANCES SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!

Through unforgettable songs such as “Just a Bill” and “Conjunction Junction,” a nervous schoolteacher must discover how to charm his students through imagination and music on the first day of class. $15 and up. Check website for schedule.

Emerald City Theatre Company, Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100, emeraldcitytheatre.com.

SKIPPYJON JONES IN THE CIRQUE DE OLE. Skippyjon Jones

canon-blasts into his imagination and discovers an extraordinary circus world. Upon reuniting with his Chihuahua chums, the gang takes turns performing circus stunts, with Skippyjon to perform the daring final act. Recommended for families with kids 3-8. $10 and up. Check website for schedule. Emerald City Theatre Company, Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100, emeraldcitytheatre.com.

THREE LITTLE KITTENS. Three

little kittens are on the hunt for their missing mittens, and they need help finding them. Gather the clues and make new discoveries before Mother Cat comes home. This interactive spy story is the perfect way to introduce little ones 0-5 to the mystery and excitement of live theater. $15, $8 kids under 1. Little Theatre in Lakeview, 2933 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.

(773) 935-6100, emeraldcitytheatre. com.

SISTER ACT. The hilarious story

of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and is taken to a convent for protective custody. Disguised as a nun, Deloris finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and a high-strung Mother Superior. $50-$55. 1 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. ThursdaysFridays; 4:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays. Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. (847) 634-0200, marriotttheatre.com.

THE EXPLORERS CLUB. Actor, circus performer, gymnast and stilt-walker Wesley Daniel shakes

things up as Luigi, a blue, Spoonworshipping NaKong tribesman, who’s been brought to London by anthropologist Phyllida. Chaos ensues in The Explorers Club after Luigi inadvertently insults the Queen, possibly setting the British Empire at war with the world.

Recommended for families with kids 12 and up. $15-$55. Check website for schedule. Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago.

(773) 891-8985, windycityplay house.com.

PIGPEN. An interactive experience filled with stories, music, laughter and fun, just for kids 6 months-3 years. 10 a.m. Thursdays.

Bughouse Theater, 1910 W. Irving Park, Chicago. hogwashkids.com.

JUICEBOX. Parents and young children can enjoy Chicago’s best music, dance and theater in a kid-friendly setting. Kids sit on the floor, walk around, meet the artists and sometimes play with instruments and puppets. Parents are welcome to bring snacks and juiceboxes. 11 a.m. alternate Fridays at the Chicago Cultural Center and alternate Saturdays at Garfield Park Conservatory. cityofchicago.org.

Safari Land Explore Chicagoland’s Largest Indoor Amusement Park And Experience The Largest Indoor Roller Coaster In Illinois Exhilarating Family Fun filled with adventure, food, games and rides!

Tilt-A-Whirl • 3DMaxFlight Simulator • Bumper Cars Kiddie Go Karts • Cosmic Bowling • Soft Play Video Games • Atlantis Restaurant

Birthday Parties & Group Packages

701 W. North Ave., Villa Park 630•530•4649 www.safarilandfun.com

STORYTOWN. Kids are invited

onstage to decorate the backdrop and start to bring the story to life.

As the tale unfolds, graphic artists construct props, paint backdrops, modify costumes and create an environment as unique as the story.

A pianist supplies creates original songs on the spot. Recommended for families with kids 3-10. $10. 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 3275252, stage773.com.

BEAT KITCHEN CONCERTS FOR KIDS! A series of music shows

Party Packages Include:

Movie Kids’ Pack  Party Room 

Visit www.classiccinemas.com click “Plan an Event/Party”

plan your party around these coming movies!

3-4: Zootopia • 3-18: The Divergent Series: Allegiant 3-25: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 4-15: The Jungle Book

geared toward families with schoolage children. The Beat Kitchen’s full bar and brunch menu with homemade kid-friendly options is always available during the show. March 6: Animal Singdom: Erin Flynn; March 13: Future Hits. $6. Noon-1 p.m. Sundays. Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, Chicago. (773) 281-4444, beatkitchen.com.

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3 reasons for a Rockford roadtrip

S

pring is here, and you know what that means: road trip time! But you don’t have to go very far to score a successful family getaway. Rockford, Chicago’s friendly neighbor to the west, is an easy two-hour drive—and this month, it’s got three awesome festivals that are more than worth a little time in the car.

You might have had a sock monkey in your childhood bedroom, but did you know that they originated right here in Illinois? Celebrate the beloved toy at the Sock Monkey Madness Festival. This year’s theme is “Safari Adventure,” and activities include a Treasure Hunt Safari and the Yarn Jungle Trail, not to mention the Dance

of the Sock Monkeys. Plus, try safari-themed games and crafts, take a photo with a 7-foot-tall sock monkey, and make your own sock monkey to take to the zoo you call “home.” $8, $5 kids 3-17, free kids under 3. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. March 5-6. Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.

Jurassic World may have alerted a whole new generation to the awesomeness that is paleontology, but PaleoFest takes it to a whole new level. Kids (and some dino-obsessed parents) can try PaleoPassport activities and interact with famous paleontologists, as well as the museum’s resident Triceratops, Homer, and T. rex, Jane. Plus, for all the truthers out there, there’s a session on The “Real” Jurassic

Park. $10 general admission.

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. March 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 13. Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford. (815) 965-3433, burpee.org.

Put down your dish soap and check out these bubbles, which are (naturally) the stars of the Bubble Festival. Magician and “bubbleologist” Geoff Akins Hannah shows he knows his way around a bubble at his Bubble Wonders show, which includes

such tricks as a bubble caterpillar, bubble volcano and bubbles inside of bubbles. Kids are invited to test their own soapy skills in the Bubble-Palooza Playground. Caution: You might want to hide the Dawn when you get home. $5, $4 members, plus admission (prices increase at door). Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

Elizabeth Diffin

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ONGOING EVENTS EXHIBITS PETS UNLEASHED. Kids can play

with life-sized, stuffed animal pets, care for them, and even dress up and act like them. The Anti-Cruelty Society will bring specially-trained dogs and guinea pigs for little ones to interact with each week. Free with museum admission. Chicago Children’s Museum, 700 E. Grand Ave. at Navy Pier, Chicago. (312) 5271000, chicagochildrensmuseum.org.

ADVENTURES WITH CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG. Board the

Birdwell Island ferry and journey to the world of Clifford, America’s beloved big red dog. Slide down Clifford’s tail, work together to fill Clifford’s big dog bowl with bones, hunt for sea shells at T-Bone’s beach or “work” in the fish and chip shop on Birdwell Island and more. Free with museum admission. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

(815) 963-6769, discoverycenter museum.org.

BUILD IT! Exhibit puts an innovative spin on classic building blocks by letting children explore and interact with 10 varieties of blocks. Stations include Shadow Play; Build It, Test It, Shake It; and Sweet Home Chicago.

Free with museum admission. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. (847) 832-6600, kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

CHINA’S FIRST EMPEROR AND HIS TERRACOTTA WARRIORS.

Explore the life of the ruler who vanquished his rivals, unified China’s many states, constructed the first Great Wall, built roads, and standardized China’s script, currency, weights and measures.

See priceless treasures from one of the world’s greatest archaeological discoveries, including the fierce terracotta warriors. Free with museum admission. The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 922-9410, fieldmuseum.org.

OTHER EVENTS IRELAND ON PARADE. Includes

music, food and performances from

Chicagoland Fami F am ly Pet Expo S e this page Se

local dance schools. Call for schedule of events. March 4-17. 6119 W. 147th St., Oak Forest. (708) 687-9323, chicagogaelicpark.org.

CHICAGO FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW. Features garden displays,

classes, hands-on workshops, seminars, a home and garden marketplace, Garden Gourmet cooking demos and a Kids’ Activity Garden. The show’s theme celebrates everything wonderful about Chicago. $19 weekends, $17 weekdays; $5 kids 4-12. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays-Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. March 12-20. Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. chicagoflower.com.

CHICAGOLAND FAMILY PET EXPO. Features more than 200

vendors and exhibitors with the latest pet products/services, and pet rescue groups. Enjoy entertainment shows and get up and personal with hundreds of animals. $10; Friday

only buy one, get one same price admission free 5-9 p.m.; $5 kids 3-12; $7 parking. 1-9 p.m. March 18; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. March 19; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 20. Arlington Park Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. (847) 385-7500, petchicago.com.

Try hands-on activities. This month’s topic is All About Parrots.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays; 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sundays. Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St., Oak Park. (708) 725-2400, oakpark conservatory.org.

ARBOR READING ADVENTURES.

GNOME HOMES. Children can

Interactive story time and fun crafts indoors before heading out on the grounds for an adventure walk.

Themes change each week. $5, $4 members. 11-11:45 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

create a keepsake, light-up gnome home of their own made from natural materials. Tickets are limited and can be purchased in the Visitor Center. $10. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekends. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

TOT OPEN GYM. During the winter

NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE WORLD. Though March 13. Enjoy

months, the gym is open to the public for kids to burn off excess energy. $20 for 10-visit family punch card.

11 a.m.-noon Mondays; 1:30-3 p.m.

Tuesdays-Fridays. Takiff Center, 999 Green Bay Road, Glencoe. (847) 8353030, glencoeparkdistrict.com.

EXPLORATION STATION.

authentic live music, dance performances, cuisine and folk art from various ethnic Chicago communities. Noon-4 p.m. Sundays. Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. navypier.com.

78 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS

The Art of Dr. Seuss Gallery u Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Floor, Chicago u drseussgallery.com

A Seussical celebration

Y

ou could be forgiven for not knowing the date of March 2. It’s not St. Patrick’s Day, Pulaski Day or Easter—or even Poultry Day. But for families who love bedtime stories and silly rhymes, March 2 is a date to remember. Because on that day, we celebrate Theodor Geisel, more commonly known as Dr. Seuss, the man responsible for Green Eggs & Ham, The Lorax and countless other books that probably have a place of honor on your bookshelf.

So what better way to laud the man

behind The Cat in the Hat H than to visit Chicago’s own gallery iin n his honor?

The Art of Dr. Seuss, co conveniently onveniently located in Water Tower Place, isn’t yourr typical art gallery. ry.

You can see some me of Dr. Seuss’ well-known ell-know wn sketches, pose for a self selfie fie with statues of some of the most m beloved characters, and learn a bit about how his past informed his stories and formed h artwork.

If you’re feeling ng trulyy mischievous (we have feeling ave a fee eling

Dr. Seuss w would approve), stop by wou on March h 5 for fo a birthday-inspired bonus: Kids get a special Seuss-inspired hat to take Seuss s-insp home. ho me. Plus, 10 percent of purchases goes to a all p charity, a fitting way to cha honor a man who did so hono much h for childhood literacy. you’re looking to make a If you u’re lo might we suggest the splurge, mig cover off “Ha “Happy Birthday to seems only fitting, You”? IIt see all. after al ll.

Elizabeth Diffin

80 March 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Chicago Intercultural Montessori Language School 114 S. Racine, Ste. 100 Chicago www.interculturalmontessori.org 312.265.1514

Dual-language Montessori programs for ages 3-12 in Spanish, Japanese & Chinese.

Oak Park campus as well.

Montessori Academy of Chicago 1335 W. Randolph St. Chicago www.montessoriacademychicago.org 312.243.0977 Accredited programming for infants through 8th grade.

Montessori Foundations of Chicago 3575 S. Archer, Chicago www.montessorifoundations.com 773.254.5437

Chicago North/ Northwest Rogers Park Montessori School 1800 W. Balmoral Ave., Chicago www.rpmschool.org 773.271.1700

Countryside Montessori School 1985 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook www.countrysidemontessori.org 847.498.1105 Academic excellence. Personal Accountability. 18 months to 8th grade.

All-Year/Full day/Half day.

Est. 1966 serving children ages 2 through 14; Forest Bluff School Full day, half day, early arrival.

8 W Scranton Ave., Lake Bluff Fully Accredited.

Brickton Montessori School 8622 West Catalpa Ave., Chicago www.brickton.org 773.714.0646

Good thinking begins at Brickton Montessori School, with programs for students 24 months through Middle School, accredited

by AMS and the ISACS.

Suburban South Montessori School of Lemont 16427 W. 135th St., Lemont www.lemontmontessori.com 815.834.0607

Providing a quality Montessori education to children ages 6 weeks to 6 years at an affordable price.

Est. in 1979; Preschool - 8th grade offering Spanish, Mandarin and After School Programs on 7 acres with natural playground, chicken coop and nature trails

Near North Montessori 1434 W. Division St. Chicago www.nnms.org 773.384.1434

Montessori Children's Schoolhouse 5935 Hohman Ave. Hammond, IN mcshammond.com 219.932.5666

forestbluffschool.org 847.295.8338

AMI Accredited 1982. Birth to 14 years.

Paula Polk Lillard, Lynn Jessen founders.

Midwest Montessori Demonstration School 926 Noyes St., Evanston www.midwestmontessori.com 847.328.6630

Southwest Suburban Montessori 8800 W. 119th St. Palos Park www.swsmontessori.com 708.448.5332

Est. 1970. Beautiful woodland setting.

Traditional Montessori experience set in the Serving children 2 - 6 years; am & pm, heart of the city. Birth - 9 years old, AMS full-day Kindergarten. Spanish, Gym, Yoga, Music & Summer school. Accredited by Full Member School.

NAEYC.

University Village Montessori School 1304 S. Halsted St. Chicago www.uvmontessori.com 773.800.9780

Suburban North Chiaravalle Montessori 425 Dempster St., Evanston www.chiaravalle.org 847.864.2190

Serving children ages 2 months to 6 years Parent/Infant & Child, Full & Partial Day old. Offering Half, School and Full-day Toddler and Early Childhood, 1st through programs with enrichment classes available. 8th grades

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Providing a quality education for two decades using a foolproof equation: Highly experienced Certified Teachers, the Montessori Method, & Love.

Suburban West Alcuin Montessori 324 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park www.alcuin.org 708.366.1882

Est. 1961: ages 0-14, Spanish, art, theater, swim, before/after school. Come to a monthly tour.

Greenbrook Montessori School 1675 Greenbrook Blvd., Hanover Park Demonstration School (MMTTC) ages 3 - 6 www.Greenbrook-Montessori.com 630.830.1675 years, full and part time.

Skokie Montessori School 8401 Karlov Ave., Skokie www.skokiemontessori.com 847.679.4614

Serving children 15 months through Kindergarten all day, every day.

Montessori Language Academy 314 Circle Ave., Forest Park MontessoriLanguageAcademy.com 708.771.5030

Serving children ages 2 - 12; toddler, 3 - 6, elementary programs, full day and half-day, Japanese-English dual language, 3 through summer programs available.

Kindergarten. Art, Music, Spanish, Piano & Harmonica.

Vernon Hills Montessori

21 Hawthorn Parkway Vernon Hills, IL 60061 www.vernonhillsacademy.com

15 months - 6 years; afterschool, summer Est. 1963 serving children 6 mos - 14 years; AMS accredited (22 months - 14 years), Early morning, Afterschool & summer middle school, before & after care available. camp, private piano & voice; semi-private programs. Fully Accredited. karate & music Est. 1968

South Loop Montessori School 47 W. Polk St., Ste G15 Chicago www.southloopmontessori.org 312.431.8050

Montessori Academy of Illinois 418 W. Touhy Ave. Park Ridge, IL 60068 montessoriacademyofillinois.com

Suburban Northwest

Seton Montessori School 5728 Virginia Ave., Clarendon Hills www.SetonMontessori.org 630.655.1066

Est. 1965, a Lab School serving students 2 months - 12 years; accredited by AMS and NAEYC; offering full and half day, summer programs and Parent-Child class.

Buffalo Grove Montessori School 950 Ellen Dr., Buffalo Grove bgmsweb.net 847.541.8111

AMS accredited serving infants through kindergarten, Providing a lifetime foundation for 40 years.

Childrens Learning World, A Montessori School, Inc. 8101 Golf Rd., Niles ciw-montessori.com 847.470.0370

6 weeks - 12 years, open year round.

2/11/16 2:10 PM