Chicago Parent November 2016

Say thanks ...and mean it

NOVEMBER 2016

| FREE

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

November MUST-DOS

10

healthy

grub spots

Checking it twice 50 gifts under $50

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contents IN THIS ISSUE

11

11

BEST IN CHI

14

INSIDE VOICE

20

PARENT PANEL

21

CRAFT

73

CALENDAR

Penguins return to Lincoln Park Zoo, My Perfect Sunday and cast tidbits from Goodman’s A Christmas Carol Three high-energy shows for a high-calorie month onth How to survive tense e family get-togetherss Turkey leaf lanternss Tons of fun ideas to make this a great November

NOVEMBER 2016 | VOLUME 32 | NO. 11

FEATURES GA-GA FOR 24GO THESE GIFTS

ON THE COVER

50 items under $50 for every kid on your holiday list

Say thanks ...and mean it

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

MUST-DOS

10

your family 365 days a year

39

| FREE

November

37THANKS How to integrate it into GOOD EATS 10 awesome spots to enjoy healthy grub

NOVEMBER 2016

healthy

grub spots

44

TIME FOR ANOTHER? The great debate over sibling spacing

Checking it twice 50 gifts under $50

Cover kid: Jude Hall, 8, of Evanston Photography: Thomas Kubik of TK Photography Design: Claire Innes

Location: *Play 3109 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago

Available now

HEY BABY The Essential Guide for Expectant and New Parents

ChicagoParent.com November 2016 5 Ch

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EDITOR’S NOTE SPONSORED

Pie from trees What if pie could grow on trees?

If it’s pecan pie, it does.

Pecans are nuts—fruits that have hard shells.

Many kinds of nuts grow on trees, including walnuts, coconuts, hazelnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, black walnuts, and hickory nuts. Pecan trees are actually a kind of hickory tree.

You could plant a pecan tree in your yard, but it would be many years before the tree grew big enough so you could collect enough nuts to make a pie. To get each sweet nut, you’d have to open up a gray-brown husk and then crack a hard inner shell.

Pecan trees have larger nuts if they grow in the southern part of the United States. In the South, there are more warm months in the year when plants can grow. That gives the nuts more time to get big on the pecan trees.

Because people in the South had plenty of big pecans, they were the first to bake pecan pie. Of course, we love it up north too!

Cakes are often made from nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Some people make pie from walnuts, and American Indian people even ate acorns from oak trees.

But when it comes to pie, pecan is the most popular.

Pecan pie is the nuttiest pie!

Checking the list If your kids are like mine, they’ve been thinking about their holiday wish lists for months. Then when the lights and ornaments push back-to-school supplies off the store shelves, talk about the lists really gets serious.

Their excitement always rubs off on me, even though I am a terrible procrastinator when it comes to TAMARA L. actually getting out to the stores and O’SHAUGHNESSY opening my wallet to check off the items on the list, plus add a few surprises that strike my fancy.

That’s why this issue is always one of my favorites of the year, thanks to Senior Editor Elizabeth Diffin’s great gift guide. It offers 50 gifts sure to thrill that can be found right in neighborhood, independent toy stores that do their best to know ow what Chicagoland kids ds and families will love. ve.

For procrastinators nators like me, Elizabeth has done all of the work. She spends a month h carefully picking g out the gifts to be included in the guide, making sure each one is as great and kid-worthy as advertised.

It is time well spent because this guide also represents two ideals we hold dear at Chicago Parent, a love for helping local parents with advice and recommendations they can trust and a belief that we should all support local businesses that help our communities continue to

thrive. Plus, thinking about the smiling kids when they open the presents, whether during Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Christmas, just gives us all the warm fuzzies.

I am positive you will find something great for every little on your list.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. I am truly thankful for each and every one of you.

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CONTRIBUTORS

What’s the one thing on your holiday wish list?

EDITOR

Tamara L. O’Shaughnessy SENIOR EDITOR

Elizabeth Diffin DIGITAL EDITOR

Jackie McGoey ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Emily Adams ART DIRECTOR

Claire Innes EDITORIAL DESIGNERS

Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea IT AND DIGITAL DEVELOPER

Mike Risher CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Danielle Braff, Matt Boresi, Megan Murray Elsener, Cortney Fries, Keely Flynn, Amanda Simkins, Marianne Walsh, Taylor Wood DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES

Annette Coffee, Christine Griffith, Lourdes Nicholls, Karen Skinner ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER

Philip Soell

Since asking for world peace seems a little unattainable, I’m wishing for family events with tempered expectations yet fantastic memories. (Too grand? Fine. World peace.)

Keely Flynn

All I want for Christmas is a handheld cordless Dyson vacuum (which makes me feel both old and pathetic).

We will see if Santa can deliver and save my cleaning sanity.

Megan Murray Elsener

I would absolutely love one day free of bickering! We all adore each other.

Can’t we just get along? One peaceful day would be supreme.

Cortney Fries

A maid. A butler.

A chef. A chauffeur.

Bonbons. Oh, one thing? Lots of wine or world peace.

Whichever is more accessible.

Taylor Wood

ADVERTISING DESIGN MANAGER

Andrew Mead

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney CIRCULATION MANAGER

Jill Wagner DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR

Caleb Thusat BUSINESS MANAGER

Joyce Minich

Come enjoy our expanded office -

CREDIT MANAGER

Laurie Myers

We’re excited to see you & your family’s smiles!

PUBLISHER Dan Haley COMPTROLLER Ed Panschar FOUNDERS

NATALIE GOODMAN, CAROLYN JACOBS

HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-5555 ChicagoParent.com

Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Specializing in Children & Adolescents S. Kuhn, D.D.S.

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Modern General & Cosmetic Dentistry for Adults M. Kasper, D.D.S.

N. Kasper, D.D.S.

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The Classical Experience begins here

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Our commitment to the liberal arts challenges the ordinary. CGS students enjoy and thrive in an environment that nurtures curiosity, develops academic proficiency, and inspires personal virtue and wisdom.

Chicago Grammar School 900 N. Franklin, Chicago IL 60610 312.944.5600 www.chicagogrammar.org 8 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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ON THE WEB

Giving thanks on ChicagoParent.com

JACKIE MCGOEY OEY

Gobble, gobble

Makin’ a list

Break out the cornucopias, turkey basters and elastic waist pants!

November marks the official beginning of the holiday season. Visit bit. ly/CPGiveThanks to find the latest Thanksgiving recipes, crafts and events that will leave yyour familyy with huge smiles, full bellies and thankful hearts.

With Black Friday deals filling your inbox and Facebook timeline, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. Find the best gift ideas—handpicked by Chicago Parent editors and bloggers—for gg everyone ryone on your ur shopping list at bit.ly/ CPShopping.

Shopping.

®

Registered sign Unicode:

Holiday magic Our Contests page is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Head there to enter to win tickets tto see Rudolph at The Chicago Theatre and the chance to catch a ride on Chicago Trolley’s Holiday Lights Tour.

Plus, we’re giving away tickets some of this fall’s most to see so talked aabout movies: “Fantastic Beasts aand Where to Find Them” must-see for Potterheads), (a must “Trolls” and “Moana.”

Tiptoe into our enchanting world of Dance!

Our Nationally Recognized ballet class combines literature with costumes & props.

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Cozy, Cool, Colorful This autumn, “fall” into a school where there’s no limit to what your child can achieve.

Explore what awaits children in Preschool through Grade 12 at our upcoming open house!

2016 Open House

Saturday, November 5 10 a.m. to Noon Adults and children welcome! RSVP at www.bischicagosl.org/admissions. admissions@bischicagosl.org (773) 998-2472

10 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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20 200 01 0 1 N. Cl Clar arkk St St., ., Chi hicago Ho Hour urrs: 10 a. u a m. m -4 -4:3 :30 0 p. p.m. m Noove vemb mber mb er-M er r-M Mar arcch ch Ad Admi m ss mi s io ion: n: Fre n: reee

March of the

PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG/LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Chicago penguins

I

f your tiny human wants to be a penguin when they grow up, the new African penguin exhibit at Lincoln Park Zoo is just about as close as they can get.

With rocks for climbin’ and squishy flooring for waddlin’ that mimic the penguins’ habitat, kids will be immediately transported into the exciting world of the zoo’s newest buddies.

The glass water-viewing area allows kids to get nose-to-nose with the penguins and follow every graceful glide through the water or awkward shuffle on land. According to Curator Dave

Bernier, these little birds are just as curious about us as we are about them, which means they get energetically interactive the minute they see people, making them absolutely hypnotizing to watch.

The exhibit itself is so light and airy that it fits right in with the rest of the zoo’s African Journey exhibits and feels nothing like the typical dark, damp Antarctic penguin exhibits you might be used to.

Because these penguins hail from southern Africa, they’re more comfortable with all four of Chicago’s seasons, meaning the outdoor exhibit can stay

Best in Chi

Lincoln Park Zoo

open year-round.

Bernier says the closeness with the animals is something that Lincoln Park Zoo tries to foster with every exhibit it creates.

“We want people to connect with nature and the animals so that they develop even more of an understanding and empathy with them,” he says.

That’s especially true with the African penguins exhibit because these cuties are one of 10 animals on the SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) list. To find out how you can help this endangered species, visit lpzoo. org/adopt-animal.

Emily Adams

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MY PERFECT SUNDAY

Fab fall day out

I

s there anything better than a beautiful fall day in Chicagoland? The humidity is gone, the yellow jackets that ruin our summer picnics are finally dead and the entire Chicagoland community can come together to support the same sports team every Sunday. If you are looking for some places and activities that will not only impress your kids but also your Instagram followers, be sure to check these out. Check out my Chicag Chicago Parent Instagram takeover for other ideas.

A pla place to play The C Chicago Botanic Garden is the absolute perfect spot to take in the fall colors of the perfe Midwest, and now it is even more fun for Midw kids thanks to the brand new Learning the k Center and Nature Play Garden.

Cen Highlights include an open area of H mounded landscape for running, jumpm iing and rolling (it’s impossible not to join in on the fun), as well as the interactive Children’s Growing Garden. interac

PHOTO BY THOMAS KUBIK

A place to eat

A place for a rainy day

Fall is all about pie. Sweet, savory … it’s all delicious. And I mean, shouldn’t you go around Chicagoland checking out all of the pies imaginable before scooping one up for Thanksgiving?

While on your pie tasting journey, be sure to stop by Bang Bang Biscuits and Pie in either Logan Square or Ravenswood, as well as Hoosier Mama Pie Company in Evanston. Oh, and be sure to wear elastic pants.

One of my family’s favorite ways to spend a rainy fall day is curled up together in a cozy nook with a great book. Luckily for us, there are tons of great local bookstores that cater to readers of all ages and interests. If you are in the suburbs, be sure to stop by the family-owned Book Bin in

is part of your favorite social networks

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Follow us @ChicagoParent On Pinterest pinterest.com/chiparent

12 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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MY PERFECT SUNDAY Northbrook or the Book Market at the Glen Town Center. City options include Open Books in the West Loop or Pilsen (and bring some books to donate while you are at it), as well as Women and Children First.

A place to learn something new There is something about fall that makes me want to whip up a dish with as many carbs and calories as possible. You too? Then head to a cooking class and learn a new recipe that will impress even the crabbiest of guests at Thanksgiving dinner.

Dave’s Specialty Foods in Mount Prospect has great classes for a fun date night out, or you can head to The Kids’ Table (Lakeview and Wicker Park locations) for a cooking class geared toward the entire family. The Chopping Block and The Wooden Spoon are other great city spots to pick up a few new cooking skills.

December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18

A place to relax If all of the Christmas decorations in your favorite stores didn’t already warn you, the holidays are coming fast and furious. So before the mad dash of shopping and socializing begins, take some time for yourself and relax sans kids.

Egea Spa in Evanston and Kohler Waters Spa at Burr Ridge are my favorite places to forget where I am and what day it is.

A place for adventure The perfect fall day should be spent outside in order to take advantage of every moment until Old Man Winter comes and forces us inside. One of the best places to take a hike and enjoy the beautiful autumnal colors is Starved Rock State Park in Utica. Spend the entire day at this free state park, observing the breathtaking canyons and fall foliage. You can even stay overnight at the hotel, rustic log cabins or pitch a tent and camp the night away if you are feeling adventurous.

Amanda Simkins

Just 20 minutes north of Gurnee

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INSIDE VOICE

Three high-energy shows for a high-calorie month

N

KEELY FLYNN

ovember usually means one great big thing: a celebratory and thankful meal to end all meals.

Luckily for Chicagoland patrons of the arts, this November also brings plenty of opportunities to dance, shake and inspire an entire month of creative movement. (So go right ahead, you’ve just earned yourself another slice of pumpkin pie.)

Stomp You remember Stomp: the rollicking, thunking, energizing art form that began as a street performance in the UK, spurred on your love of drumming and eventually motivated your mother to hide everything wooden or metallic? The globally beloved show is back in Chicago, and this eight-person troupe of rhythmic magicians creates incredible beats and a truly electrifying show using Zippo lighters, hubcaps, wooden poles, trash can lids and brooms.

Bonus: Your kids might just be willing to help you clean out the garage after this one. (Can you say “hunting for free instruments”?)

Nov. 16-Jan. 1 Broadway Playhouse; broadwayinchicago.com

Moon Shot: A Race to Space Twenty-one square feet. That’s roughly the size of NASA’s original Mercury capsules and exactly the size of the table upon which seven Chicago actors squeeze to tell the story of America’s Apollo 11 lunar landing. No strangers to tight dimensions (their epic Superman 2050 was equally tiny), Theater Unspeakable teams up with Chicago Children’s Theatre for the second time with this Space Race saga.

Part funny, part informative and all impressive, the Moon Shot performers use only their bodies and voices to tell a tale—of Neil Armstrong, the final frontier and an exceptionally exciting time in human exploration—that’s simply out of this world.

Nov. 1-20 Ruth Page Center for the Arts; chicagochildrenstheatre.org

Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl History and geography lesson time: “Quetzalcoatl” is a word in the Nahuatl language that means Quetzal-bird snake, or serpent with feathers of Quetzal, a revered symbol throughout the history of Mexico and ancient Central American civilizations. Arts lesson time: Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl will knock your socks off with its company of 115 dancers (ranging from 6-45 years old), vivid costuming, dazzling music and internationally celebrated choreography. The eagerly anticipated annual fall extravaganza, a pageant of folk dances from across Mexico’s different regions, showcases an incredibly important aspect of Mexican culture and will send dancelovers twirling, spinning and soaring (at least in their corazónes).

Friday, Nov. 4 Paramount Theatre, Aurora; paramountaurora.com

14 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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BEST IN CHI

Fall in love with Goodman’s beloved annual tradition

T

he season of time-traveling ghosts and curmudgeonly “Bah Humbugs” is almost upon us!

We’re not alone in our gingerbread feelings: a wagonload of former Cratchits and Victorian children from the Goodman’s “A Christmas Carol” share what they love best about the magical (and ridiculously popular) show.

Memorable moments Those Cratchit family dinner scenes, Secret Santas and dressing room decorating contests were fond memories, but sometimes the younger castmates took the fun way offstage.

“In between shows, we went to Macy’s and tried out all of the massage chairs that were on display,” John Babbo (Tiny Tim in 2009) told me.

Occasionally, hilarity occurred when

PHOTO BY LIZ LAUREN

things didn’t quite work, like when the Ghost of Christmas Future got stuck and didn’t come all the way down. According to William Burke (Young Scrooge in 2014), “it was in a few scenes it wasn’t supposed to be in.”

however, is fierce with all who’ve donned the tiny cap: “God bless us, everyone” is the refrain they hope the audience holds all season long.

Keely Flynn

Audience reactions

A Christmas Carol

So what do audiences love best?

Those ghosts, the fun party scenes and Scrooge’s Christmas morning transformation top the list. The Tiny Tim pride,

Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago

Nov. 19-Dec. 31

goodmantheatre.org

ChicagoParent.com November 2016 15

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The Christkindlmarket is coming to Naper Settlement!

November 25 - December 24 523 S Webster Street, Naperville

More exciting reasons to visit Naperville this Holiday season!

Open Thursday - Sunday: Thursday Friday & Saturday Sunday

Also Open:

11am - 7pm 11am - 9pm 11am - 6pm

December 19 - 23: December 24:

11am - 9pm 11am - 4pm

The Christkindlmarket Chicago is excited to host a suburban location of the Christkindlmarket you have come to know and love at Naper Settlement!

Visit us and find a selection of gifts, food, beverages, and holiday cheer.

See you there! www.christkindlmarket.com/naperville /christkindlmarket.naperville /ChristmasCHI

Christkindlmarket Naperville 2016

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10/14/16 10:28 AM

FAILING WITH GUSTO

As with most stay-at-home moms, the idea of going back to work would occasionally pop up in our household conversations, along with theories on winning the lottery or becoming a supermodel. Yet with my oldest son approaching high school, a friend encouraged me to apply for a position at her office.

MARIANNE It was a part-time gig and the WALSH location and hours were perfect.

I was not required to invest in a professional wardrobe, as the office attire was “whatever you’d feel comfortable wearing getting pulled over by the police.” It was a bus tour company specializing in prohibition-era gangster tours, and I would be the office help.

But there was one thing lacking.

My confidence.

Nearly a decade has passed since I last spent entire days with grown-ups. My current skill set is limited to dry erase board management and ice hockey scent removal. Nonetheless, my friend Meredith insisted I would have a shot.

As the interview approached, I was ripe with anxiety. Yet the kids rallied around the cause, offering some critical advice: “I think you should wear a Blackhawks jersey to the interview.”

“Whatever you do, Mom, don’t swear.”

“If they ask you if you’ve ever robbed a bank, SAY NO.” With my resume and social awkwardness in check, I headed out the door with the assuredness of an atheist heading to a three-day tent revival.

Thankfully, my

interviewer was the warm and motherly type herself. Vanessa went over day-today operations and expectations. She grilled me only on my favorite form of chocolate. I knew there were other applicants, so I held my breath and hoped for the best.

The best came a few days later.

I was officially reentering the workforce.

Holy crap.

The training process was overwhelming for a mom with a stale brain.

A new computer system.

Processes. Procedures.

By the time I arrived home, my head was throbbing, and I realized I had spent the day calling my new boss “Valerie” instead of “Vanessa.”

I thought for sure I’d be fired by week’s end.

A few weeks in, it is

now a different story.

I actually learned that computer system. My mind is utilizing neurons I once left for dead. I even stopped calling Vanessa the wrong name.

I am reminded of those early days of parenting where everything was so new and overwhelming.

My husband was in the fire academy when I had to figure out how to get my newborn second son and me home from the hospital.

There was colic, IEP meetings, ER visits.

Life in Chi

A made mom

And going back to work?

I had built it up as something so far removed from reality that I would fail. As it turns out, I really love it.

I love the people. I love getting away from the laundry piles. And I love the pride I heard in my son’s voice the other day when he told a friend I am back at work.

“Where?” asked young Liam.

“She works for THE MOB.” Just call me Don Marianne.

ChicagoParent.com November 2016 17

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VIVA DADDY

What’s so great about gratefulness?

November is the month we celebrate gratitude via a mammoth display of gluttony. Just before we devour a 10,000-calorie meal, we raise a cocktail MATT BORESI laced with sage or some other autumnal constituent and declare our appreciation for all the good things we have in our lives. Then we stumble from the table to go buy upgraded models of the good things we have in our life.

If gratitude is to be more than a passing notion with a side of yams, we need to celebrate it more than one day a year, and we need to make gratefulness core to our children’s values. I spend much of my time thinking of ways to spoil my daughter Viva, and in Chicago, where festivals, classes, museums, parks, shows, games and distractions are as thick as the traffic, it’s easy to make your child completely numb to joy and always searching for their next hit of childlike wonder. But I don’t want to raise a little Veruca Salt—stamping her foot expectantly and throwing tantrums over mild disappointments. I want a child who handILLUSTRATION BY STEPHEN SCHUDLICH writes thank you cards and rises to greet the dawn with an open heart.

Our modern aesthetic of self-improvement can run contrary to gratefulness. We want our children to be ambitious, and ambition requires an eschewing of contentment. The machine of modern American life often paints gratitude as a cozy path to “good enough”—to never looking a gift horse in the mouth and saying, “I can do better than this mediocre horse I’ve been gifted.”

To marry ambition and gratefulness in Viva’s heart, I’ll have to school her in the paradoxical notion of being mindful of where you are AND looking ahead cannily. Of expressing graciousness for the bountiful cornucopia she possesses while still critically analyzing her position.

Parenting is hard.

Viva and I will be mindful of our good fortune this November: health and family and friends and nature and so much more. We will also be learning to express our thanks via personal introspection and both written and spoken words of gratitude to those around us. It is never too soon to teach your child to count their blessings—but you’d better count fast, because December is coming and you’re going to get mountains of swag.

Viva Thanks. Viva Viva. Viva Daddy.

Viva is 4. Daddy is about 10x that age. They live happily with Mommy in Chicago.

18 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Prepared for life.

Colleges want Waldorf students.

They can think on their feet and they’re socially eager and equipped to move into the world.

Our graduating class of 2016 was offered over 3 million dollars in merit-based scholarships at top universities and colleges.

See Waldorf in Action!

2016 Tours: October 20 November 17 December 8

2017 Tours: January 12 March 2 May 11

Pre-k through high school

Main Campus — Rogers Park, near lakefront Early Childhood Center — Lincoln Square

Call now: 773.465.2371

Learn more at discoverchicagowaldorf.org ChicagoParent.com November 2016 19

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REAL PARENTS IN THE TRENCHES

What is the best way to survive tense family get-togethers over the holidays?

Who has time for tense?? The holidays are a time for cheer and good spirits. I will actively limit any time in a tense situation if I cannot avoid it altogether.

Life is just too short!

Rani Morrison, Oak Park

Have a drink beforehand and decide before you go when you will make an exit for the night. Deep breathing, and let it all roll off your back! Until the next year!

Kerry Quirin, Downers Grove

Stay in a hotel.

You’ll have a place of refuge where you can take a break. While you’re together, if tension creeps in, “take a deep breath,” as my son reminds me.

Kate AtkinsTrimnell, Homewood

@

u Want more? Visit ChicagoParent.com/parentpanel

Setting boundaries! It’s easy to fall into old negative family habits. Stay strong, keep it brief if you must and remember, a glass of vino does wonders for the soul.

Ryan Salzwedel, Chicago

Make sure you have your ‘me’ time, even if it is just 10 minutes, and remember it is just one day.

Rebecca Moulfarha, La Grange Park

I feel trying to remember what the holiday is about and what it means to be together on the holidays helps.

Also learning to accept everyone for their personalities helps immensely!

Tracie Guzolek, Chicago

20 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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CRAFT

Turkey leaf lanterns Festive fall leaves transform into Thanksgiving decorations STORY AND PHOTOS

BY MEGAN MURRAY ELSENER

G

obble gobble! Get in the holiday mood by creating your own turkey leaf lanterns for some festive décor on your Thanksgiving table. Pick your favorite fresh leaves from outside or use vibrant silk leaves for your turkey’s feathers.

Materials u Canning or Ball jars u Real or silk leaves u Mod Podge u Foam brush u Brown construction paper or tissue paper u Orange and red construction paper u White tissue paper u Googly eyes u Scissors u Tea lights or candles Directions Cut out all the parts for your turkey. With brown construction paper or tissue paper, cut out a larger circle for the body and a smaller circle for the head. Check to make sure body and head fit on the jar. With the orange paper, cut a h ssmall triangle for the turkey beak. With the red paper, cut out the turkey wattle. p

1

2

Cut white tissue paper into 2-inch-wide strips. The length should be slightly longer than your jar. t

3

Cover the entire outside of the jar with Mod Podge using a foam brush. Then start to aapply the strips vertically from the top of the jar tto wrapping them under the bottom. Apply Mod Podge on top of the tissue to adhere. Repeat P with tissue paper strips until the jar is covered. w

4

Apply Mod Podge on top of the tissue paper. Also coat the underside of the real or silk leaves with Mod Podge and stick onto the jar as the turkey’s feather. Cover with Mod Podge.

5

Do the same with the body and head of the turkey by coating the underside before sticking on the jar, then cover with Mod Podge.

6

Put on the beak and wattle and coat with Mod Podge. Cover the entire turkey and leaves with another coat. Then stick on the googly eyes to the turkey face.

7

Allow to dry completely. Put in a candle or tea light to illuminate your turkey lanterns or leave as they are.

Megan Murray Elsener is a columnist at Chicago Parent and mother of three.

ChicagoParent.com November 2016 21

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22 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Underwritten by William and Mary Lane Additional support from the Max and Sunny Howard Memorial Foundation

EXPLORE NATURE’S WAY OF TEACHING. In Kohl Children’s Museum’s newest exhibit Animal Secrets (open through Dec 30), families can uncover the hidden habitats and secret lives of forest animals to see nature from the point of view of our furry and feathered friends. Let curiosity be your guide as you discover why we’re The Place Where Awesome Lives.

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ChicagoParent.com November 2016 23

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Go

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50 IDEAS UNDER $50 FOR EVERY KID ON YOUR HOLIDAY LIST

Our cover kid, Jude Hall, 8, of Evanston, is wowed by the toys in the window of *play in Logan Square.

PHOTO BY THOMAS KUBIK

24 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Linda Parthemer hand puppets

M

BY ELIZABETH DIFFIN

aking a list and checking it twice might be Santa Claus’ job, but it’s also a responsibility that falls to parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. And while you don’t have the elvish assistance at the Big Guy’s disposal, you do have this: our comprehensive guide to what’s hot in Chicagoland this year. They’re all available at some of our favorite independent toy stores, and they all cost less than one bill with Grant’s face on it.

You’re welcome.

Roly-Bop Lion

Vilac Bird of Paradise Pull Toy

Baby (0-12m) Your baby’s a genius (obvs). So shouldn’t his toys be just as smart?

Start with 15 different rattle sounds (you thought picking a ringtone was hard!), then add in coloridentifying technology and preloaded songs and stories, and you have a rattle that will help him reach his full brainiac potential.

Alilo Smarty Shake & Tell, $39.99, 0m+ ● Alilo Smarty Shake & Tell

Sorry, Chicagoans raised on Bozo, but this is way more charming than the old-school Bop Bag (and won’t instill a lifelong fear of clowns). The adorable wobbly lion is washable, for when your little one uses it as a teether. Plus it’s equipped with a chime— a more musical take on pugilism. Roly-Bop Lion, $24.99, 6m+ ●

Mirari Glow to Sleep

This musical soother’s sleek design is right at home in a world designed

by Apple. The soft lights lull baby to sleep, or you can pick from one of 10 soothing soundtracks. It’s also Bluetooth enabled, just in case you want your little one to catch her zzzs while listening to whatever’s queued up on Spotify.

Mirari Glow to Sleep, $49.99, 0m+ ●

The problem with shape pe sorters is, at some point, that triangle, oval and square are destined to be lost forever behind the couch, under the car seat or at the bottom of the diaper bag. Not so with this version, which keeps those pesky pieces safely tethered to the sorter itself.

OombeeCube, $17.99, 10m+ ●

You Y Yo u may have thought you gave up loud concerts the moment you became a parent, but these protective headphones let you bring your little rockstar along. They’ll be in good company, too: Boomer Phelps, North West and Prince George have all been spotted rocking the look. BanZ Mini earBanZ, $29.99, 3m+ ●

BanZ Mini earBanZ

OombeeCube

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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GIFT GUIDE

Toddler (1-3) If you’re going to spend good money on a pull toy, you might as well get lots of bang for your buck. This vibrant bird is made with lacquered Vilac Bird of Paradise Pull Toy beechwood from sustainable forests, and its spring-loaded neck bobbles adorably when your little totes it along.

Vilac Bird of Paradise Pull Toy, $36, 1+ ●

Pop-Up Puppy Ball Pit

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

We all want to see An elephant ourselves in popular never forgets—but culture, and these sshe does provide gorgeous board hours of entertainh books make it a ment for little hands. m bit more possible.

This charming pull Th These multicultoy encourages fine to tural fairy tales motor skills and senmo Upon a World give Cinderella sory learning through sor books a Mexican spin and set Snow a shape sorter and a White in a beautifully illustrated bead run, not to mention a tail Japan. An Indian Rapunzel that’s begging to be tugged. My comes out in the spring. Once Pal Elly, $29.99, 12m+ ● Upon a World books, $8.99, 2-4 ● Each of these puppets is oneof-a-kind, making them fitting companions for your equally Trust us: You don’t want to know what they find in some of those ball pits. Bring home all the fun—but none of the germs—with this mini pop-up version. It comes with 10 colorful balls and a puppy face that’s cute enough to rival your little love’s. Pop-Up Puppy Ball Pit, $29.99, My Pal Elly 6m+ ●

unique child. But what they all have in common is their high level of craftsmanship, whether you want a cross-eyed snake or a floppy-eared puppy. Plus, they’re made from recycled wool! Linda Parthemer hand puppets, $45, 0m+ ● Your toddler takes their favorite doll everywhere—including spots that aren’t so doll-friendly.

Good thing these beautifully designed plush dolls are meant for the bathtub. The filling is made from anti-microbial materials that can withstand its fair share of bubble baths. Nici Wonderland Minilotta, $24.99, 2+ ●

Nici Wonderland Minilotta

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26 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Preschool (3-5) Learning math has never been so fun!

This e-writer lets kids learn their writing and ‘rithmetic without wasting reams of paper, thanks to traceable letter and number cards. And the whole thing can be erased with the touch of a button.

Boogie Board Jot 4.5 Clearview, $26.99, 3+ ● Last year’s favorite holiday gift can go the extra mile with the help of this expansion kit. Kids easily can turn their magnetic masterpieces into formidable vehicles that are both colorful and stealthily educational.

Plus, you’ll be supporting a local company. (Win-win.)

Magna-Tiles Cars 2 Piece Expansion Set, $14.99, 3+ ● Monsters under the bed are no match for this game, which puts the power in the hands of fearless kids. They’ll love shouting “Go away!” at the not-too-scary brutes, while you’ll love putting them to bed with nary a monster-dreading tear.

Go Away Monster!, $15.99, 3+ ● onster!

Go Away M

It’s way more fun to learn to count if you can do it while getting some wiggles out. The cushiony base is safe for your hardwood, and there’s a digital counter, too—just in case you lose track.

Counting Pogo Jumper, $19.99, 3+ ●

Gigantic Step and Play Pian o

Tom Hanks in Big has nothing on this oversized keyboard. Let their little feet do the work (“Heart and Soul,” anyone?) with eight different instrumental sounds and record it to play back their masterpiece later. Like, say, when they start taking piano lessons. Gigantic Step and Play Piano, $49.99, 3+ ●

Brackitz Inventor 44 Piece Set

Happy, sad, mad, hurt.

Feelings are a hard thing for kids to grasp, but it’s a little easier with these magnets that let them create facial expressions that represent a whole range of moods. And it can be especially useful for kids with special needs who may need extra help identifying emotions. Magnutto Junior Make a Mood, $24.99, 3+ ●

Building’s not just for the boys, and playing with dollhouses isn’t girls-only. This groundbreaking magnetic building set combines both areas of play in a mashup that will appeal to 100 percent of kids. And d e a Moo k a M it’s compatible with r o Junio Magnutt MagnaTiles, which we know are spilling out of the toy box already. Build & Imagine, $49.95, 4-8 ●

Aspiring engineers can build all sorts of structures (even dinosaurs and elephants!) with these unique pieces that easily snap together. The connectors allow for all kinds of angles that really let kids use their imaginations.

The sky’s the limit—or more accurately, your living room ceiling.

Brackitz Inventor 44 Piece Set, $32, 3+ ●

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Build & Imagine

Magna-Tiles Cars 2 Piece Expansion Set

Boogie Board Jot 4.5 Clearview

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GIFT GUIDE • Unlimited Playtime 7 Days A Week

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

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Fairies are always welcome in our house, but these tiny doors make that more than lip service. Place the doors inside or out— wherever you think the winged ones like to be—and then see what magical treats start to show up. Keep an eye out for fairy dust! ‘lil Fairy Door, $29.99, 3+ ●

It feels like sand, molds like Play-Doh and stretches like Silly Putty, but this irresistible dough is definitely its own thing. The material comes in six different colors and is great for kids with sensory needs. Best of all: no mess! Mad Mattr, $14.99, 3+ ●

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‘L’ Train Kids’ Backpack

Mad Mattr

Show some Chi-town pride with this CTA-inspired backpack. Your kid will go to preschool looking like they’re heading toward the Loop for a fun day out—sans the smells and suspicious substances found on an honest-to-goodness L car. ‘L’ Train Kids’ Backpack, $27.99, 4+ ●

28 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Early Elementary (5-7) Shooting darts in the dark sounds like a risky proposition (to moms and dads, at least).

But that’s not the case with these light-up rockets that come equipped with a no-risk suction cup. Plus, it includes a light-up ball to round out your kids’ playtime.

Nightzone Night Darts, $29.99, 6+ ●

& Stikbot Stud io

Calling all aspiring directors!

This kit lets young filmmakers create their own stop-motion masterpieces with just a free mobile app and the smartphone of your choice. Here’s hoping whatever they create is a little more Spielberg than Scorcese.

Stikbot Studio, $12.99, 4+ ● Happy Salmon

High-fives and fist bumps are basically a universal language, which is partly why this game will appeal to pretty much everyone. The fast-paced frenzy of card matching has players high five, switch places, pound it out and perform a move named after the game itself. Laughter is required. Happy Salmon, $20, 6+ ●

f ireworks

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Introduce girls to the world of STEM with the help of this building set. Roominate lets young architects use their imaginations to design and build, then tap into their engineering sides to add up to eight circuits, all controlled by an easy-to-use app. Roominate rPower, $29.99, 6+ ●

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Nightzone Night Darts

Count down with Santa as he turns on the holiday lights & enjoy a fireworks extravaganza with a finale honoring veterans. Santa will visit with children until 8:30PM. The Barrington VFW Post 7706 will lead Santa’s arrival.

Visit ShopDeerParkTownCenter.com for details.

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

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GIFT GUIDE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Even Simone Biles would have trouble pulling off this tricky balancing act. Kids carefully place the colorful beans on the seesaw to keep p it from teetering—all while hille learning some esssential elementary ry algebra concepts. s.

Solving for x has never been so fun!

Balance Beans, $20, 5+ ●

If the only words to describe your kid are “imagination gone wild,” you’ll want to save their creative ideas for posterity.

These kits let young auy thors come up with their own stories o to the o match m illustrations, illu lu then th h use a website to t publish it. i Before you y can say “Pulitzer “P Prize,” the Pri Bling2o goggles ccompleted com book will arrive boo ok w at yourr do doorstep.

Write Brain Author’s Kits, $44.99, 5+ ●

s Balance Bean

Write Brain Author’s Kits

outfitted with gemstones, glitter and all manner of sparkle, but they’re still latex- and lead-free, fog-resistant and guaranteed to make your little mermaid feel like she’s in a whole new world. (#mixedDisneymetaphors) Bling2o goggles, $22.99 ●

You don’t have to give up glamour to become the next Olympic champion. These swim goggles come

les ogg og 2 g Blin

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30 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Even if you have a visceral reaction tto the words “fanny pack,” you’ll fall in love with these chic go-anywhere bags, lo perfect for stowing your girly-girl’s lip p gloss, hair ties or favorite tiny toys. g The mom-designed bags are made T ffrom super-soft faux leather that easily wipes clean. And they can even hold w ssnacks or juice boxes for your little lady on the go. Hip City Sak, $19.99, la 5+ 5 ●

The Original SnoBaller

Prepare for an epic snowball battle this winter with the help of this device, which prevents the soggy-mitten problem while simultaneously allowing you to build up an arsenal of perfectly shaped frosty weapons. If you move fast, you can make enough to last until the snow starts to melt sometime in April. The Original SnoBaller, $11 ●

We ain’t afraid of no ghosts!

Whether your kids are more on the W Melissa McCarthy-Kate M McKinnon end of the M spectrum or old-school Bill Murray-Dan Akyroyd, this single player puzzle game will keep them supernaturally immersed.

And the 60 different challenges mean it always feels fresh—no remakes required. Ghost Hunters, $18, 6+ ●

Late Elementary (8-10)

“Hot ice” may be an oxymoron, but it’s not as impossible as you might think. This kit uses a sodium acetate solution to create crystals that look like ice but release heat. But while kids might think they’re doing magic, they’re actually learnrning some importantt chemistry. Hot Ice Crystals Science Kit, $19.99, 8+ ●

Box & Balls

Hip City Sak

rs Hunte Ghost

What do you get when you twist (literally) a classic? In this case, a fun variation on a puzzle that has captured the imaginations of generations. This version, also created by Erno Rubik, has no single solution and encourages creativity and fine motor skills rather than mathematical mettle. Rubik’s Twist, $18, 8+ ● CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

You don’t always want to hide away the w toys when company to comes to visit. The good com news is this beautifully designed wooden game looks designe nice enough to display with the rest of your living room knick-knacks.

Plus, its multiple game options and wide age appeal are perfect for when you’ve run out of small talk. Box & Balls, $32.99, 5+ ●

Hot Ice Crystals Science Kit

Rubik’s Twist

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GIFT GUIDE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

Everything’s better with superheroes, even the classic toys of your youth. Those boxy fighting robots get a heroic makeover—and probably a better reception than they did at the box office. Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots: Batman v. Superman Edition, $35.99, 6+ ●

Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots: Batman v.

Superman Edition

At one point or another, we’ve pretty much all wanted to be a mermaid. Complete your Ariel fantasy with the help of these clever blankets that come in assorted color combos. We’re guessing they’ll make bedtime just a little less painful. (Yes, they’re also available in adult sizes.) Blankie Tails, $39.99 ● Once upon a time, you spent countless hours at the local arcade, trying to defeat unwelcome aliens. Now you can pass on that nostalgia to your own kids—in your own home!—thanks to this handheld version of the throwback fave.

But Dad, remember: They get a turn too.

Space Invaders, $24.99, 8+ ●

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32 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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SLAPZI

If you’re raising a Chicagoan, they really ought to know their Lincoln Park from their Lincoln Square and their Wells from their Wacker. This puzzle helps them get the lay of the land sometime before they get their driver’s license. Plus, it comes in a cute can that will make you crave potato chips. Geotoys Chicago City Puzzle, $9.99 ● Geotoys Chicago City Puzzle

Dr. Eureka

You don’t need to go to a laboratory to complete these experiments—Dr. Eureka brings the lab to you! This fast-paced brainteaser challenges players to configure their test tubes according to the challenge cards, and you can even compete head-to-head to intensify the mad scientist vibe. Dr. Eureka, $22, 8+ ● Think fast! That’s the object of this quick-matching, card-slapping game, which is in the same family as dice game TENZI. And like TENZI, it’s great to play in groups and will almost certainly result in uncontrollable laughter.

SLAPZI, $19.99, 8+ ●

Arachnophobes, beware! This oversized remote-controlled spider just might give you the creepy-crawlies. HEXBUG has grown its scurrying insects into larger-than-life specimens that would make Indiana Jones pass out. HEXBUG Spider XL, $39.99, 8+ ● HEXBUG Spider XL

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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GIFT GUIDE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Tweens (10-12) The View-Master, that orange device that clicked through discs of images, has had a 21st century makeover.

Now it’s entered the realm of virtual reality, with the help of a smartphone and specially designed apps that make you feel like you’ve gone for a deep-sea dive or been launched into outer space. View-Master VR Starter Pack, $29.99, 7+ ●

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Drones aren’t going anywhere (unless it’s to our door with our latest Amazon order).

This flying, climbing, rolling vehicle takes radio control to new heights (it literally climbs walls), and tthe built-in cage me means it won’t sshatter sh att into a million pieces mil the first time th it crashes.

Odyssey Turbo O Runner NX, R $49.99, 8+ ● $

If only there were a game that could help mold your kids into actual good people.

These cards challenge playEscape Rooms E ers to “become a are all the rage, a Odyssey Turbo Runner NX secret agent of joy,” but now you can try with suggesthe ttrend from tions like “Play tthe comfort of a board game yyour own home. with a stranger,” Families with F “Give this card older kids can o to someone who play together, or p makes you smile” llet your tween and “Hold the host a mystery h door open for party that’s like p 10 consecutive aan edgier round people.” We can of Clue. It’s all o Pixel Art Set feel the good the fun of an karma already! Sneaky Cards escape room with none of the claustrophobia! Escape The Play it Forward, $11, 12+ ● Room: Mystery at the Stargazer’s Manor, $22.99, 10+ ● If you’ve ever blown up a picture in Photoshop, you’ve seen how all those little dots become something much more Sneaky Cards impressive. Now kids can take Play it Forward part in that same phenomenon, inserting tiny pegs to create the bigger picture.

Plus, it comes with a frame, so others can enjoy the masterpiece. Pixel Art Set, $29.99, 9+ ●

34 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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December 10 - December 11, 2016 Featuring Guest Artists Marcus Romeo and Hannah Bettes of the Boston Ballet Tickets range from $20 - $30

Backstage Tour (following the 12/10 matinee performance only) $6

Performances held at Dominican University Performing Arts Center, 7900 W. Division, River Forest, IL For tickets visit: www.balletlegere.org For information: 773-237-1874

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ChicagoParent.com November 2016 35

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Holiday Dance Showcase // advertising Ballet Legere 32nd Annual Production of The Nutcracker December 10 & 11th, 2016

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Dominican University Performing Arts Center 7900 W. Division, River Forest (773) 237-1874 For tickets, visit: balletlegere.org

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Photo: Keith Gerling

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The Grover Hermann Foundation

36 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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How to do gratitude 365 days a year

I

BY MEGAN MURRAY ELSENER

t turns out that being thankful is not only good manners, but it’s also good for you and your kids. s.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Froh, psychologist and author of Making Grateful Kids, grateful kids are happier, more satisfied with their lives, more optimistic and more hopeful.

“They have a stronger desire to use their strengths to improve their communities, and they’re less depressed, envious and materialistic compared to their less grateful counterparts,” Froh says.

Science backs up the importance of gratitude.

Numerous studies show that regularly practicing gratitude contributes to better physical health, emotional resilience, stronger relationships and even improved sleep.

Mary O’Donohue, mom and author of When You

Say “Thank You,” Mean It, had an epiphany when she was coaxing a “thank you” out of her 5-year-old after he received a gift.

“I realized that when I repeatedly prompted those

‘thank you’s, we were just training our son to act thankful rather than tteaching him to be a grateful person,” O’Donohue says.

O Her advice: “Stop prompting your kids pr to say ‘thank you,’ because when we be focus on the words foc more than the feelings mo behind the words, we beh send tthe wrong message tto our kids.”

Teaching gratitude sstarts with a simple step: parents modelst ing gratitude to their in children. ch ““We have to do more than talk the mo talk; we must also walk talk the walk,” O’Donohue says. “In order to raise truly grateful children, gratitude has to be part of everyday

life in the family.”

It’s the little things that often can add up and serve as examples for your children.

Froh suggests using kids’ strengths to fuel gratitude, encouraging helping others and being generous, helping kids nurture their relationships, and helping kids find what matters to them.

Ideas to try Create a “Gratitude Board” with a large poster board and colorful markers.

Everyone in the family gets their own color marker and they write one thing they are grateful for every day for a month.

It’s also important to teach children to CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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THANKS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

acknowledge and appreciate the many abstract gifts they receive.

“Write a thanks for ‘No-Thing’ letter to express gratitude for an intangible gift of friendship, kindness, support or joy,” O’Donohue suggests. “This simple exercise helps children become aware that they receive ‘gifts’ every day, and this changes how they view their lives and the world they live in.”

If you are looking for concrete ways to give back in your community, make sure the kids are involved every step of the way.

“Try to make it so kids can use their strengths to help out others,” Froh says. “If a kid is good with an instrument, perhaps they can play a few songs at a local nursing home. Or if

your kid has an eye for beauty, they can plant and beautify a place in the neighborhood.”

Look for people who may not feel appreciated in your day-to-day lives, O’Donohue says. Get flowers for the librarian who goes out of her way to recommend books for the kids or do a craft project for a neighbor who shovels your snow, for instance.

And don’t forget that gratitude isn’t a one-way street.

Make sure kids feel appreciated, too, with thank you notes, hugs and words, she says.

“Gratitude is like social crazy glue. Grateful people ... know how to take care of the people who mean a lot to them,” Froh

“Gratitude is like social crazy glue.”

says. “You can trust them. They have integrity.

They’re respectful. They use their manners. In short, they’re people we admire and who inspire us to become a better version of ourselves.”

Dr. Jeffrey Froh, psychologist and author of Making Grateful Kids

Megan Murray Elsener is a columnist at Chicago Parent, a freelance writer and mom of three.

The Nutcracker

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A magnificent production of Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet, with live narration, professional dancers, and a cast of over 120!

Friday, December 2 -- 7:30 pm Saturday, December 3 -- 1 pm & 5 pm Sunday, December 4 -- 1 pm & 5 pm

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847.895.3600 1 38ChicagoParent_HalfHor_SchaumburgNutcracker_CMYK.indd November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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PRAIRIECENTER.ORG 10/12/2016 12:56:10 AM

10/13/16 11:04 AM

BY CORTNEY FRIES

W

hy is the worst food in a restaurant usually on the kids’ menu? As a mom, I can attest to the trap families fall into when kids see menus offering waffles with whipped cream and plates piled high with French fries.

The question also troubled Chicago moms Diane Schmidt and Sarah Stegner, who developed Healthy Fare for Kids, a program aimed to make healthier meals accessible to kids everywhere.

Healthy Fare for Kids offers nutritious and delicious options in many Chicago-area restaurants and concessions and is expanding nationally.

My family of four tried the dishes below and were delighted.

Our picky eater ate chicken in non-nugget form and our son is now putting edamame on the grocery list.

Look for the HFFK logo when eating out and enjoy!

Good eats 10 great spots to enjoy healthy grub (shh, kids will eat it up!)

Diane Schmidt

Sarah Stegner

Prairie Grass Café 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook (847) 205-4433 prairiegrasscafe.com Edamame and a Combo Plate with apples, carrots, bananas, cheese and cucumbers are the kids’ appetizers that catapult kids’ meals to a good start in this modern, casual establishment that boasts fine dining flavors.

Whitefish with grapefruit, carrots and capers, petite filet with mushrooms and heirloom carrots, and chicken cutlet with apple slaw are the HFFK options here.

It was the first time we ordered my son his own steak, and honestly we debated about that, but he devoured it. The fact that our super-picky daughter ate the panko crusted all-natural chicken cutlet is a sign of how good it looked and tasted. We parents felt much better about her

Frontera Grill

eating that than a deep fried nugget.

The whole family walked away with a new perspective on good eating after this meal.

Prairie Grass Café CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

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GOOD EATS

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Brookfield Zoo

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Brookfield Zoo

8400 W. 31st St., Brookfield (708) 688-8000 brookfieldzoo.org Save the stress of packing lunches and eat up the wholesome HFFK items offered at five eateries around the zoo. This past summer, Brookfield Zoo introduced HFFK meals that are so colorful and tasty you’ll want to gobble one up yourself.

Sandwiches are served on whole grain breads, adorned with pineapple or spinach, and look as fresh as they taste. Sides like jicama apple salad, quinoa salad, hummus and cucumbers, carrots with ranch and a fresh fruit cup round out nutritious, delicious meals. The baked chicken tenderloin strips were a runaway hit with my two monkeys.

Look for rotating, seasonal HFFK items next time you visit the zoo.

Lincoln Park Zoo 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago (312) 742-2000 lpzoo.org When little bellies start rumbling, visit Park Place Café or Café at Wild Things for a turkey sandwich or cheese quesadilla with fruit and carrots.

Kids’ meals with fruit or veggies instead of French fries are one of the staples of HFFK. It’s so nice to see concessions that offer sensible options so that families can eat healthy quickly and easily when out and about.

Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago (312) 939-2438 sheddaquarium.org Not only does Shedd Aquarium’s Right Bite program offer ocean-friendly, sustainable seafood, but Shedd also partnered with HFFK to provide aquarium guests 12 and under with healthy choices. Grilled mini shrimp skewers with mango dipping sauce and sautéed fish patty mini sliders with guacamole will be on the fall menu. Talk about unique and flavorful options!

Shedd Aquarium

Nookies Restaurants Old Town, Edgewater, Lincoln Park and Lakeview locations nookieschicago.com Brunch with the kids is the best when you don’t have to fight off requests for chocolate chips and whipped cream. HFFK items here include scrambled egg with multigrain toast and fruit, a berry and yogurt bowl with granola, oatmeal with raisins and fresh berries, a grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes and fresh veggies, as well as a veggie burger with fruit.

Had sugary options been offered, our kids would have been vying for those. Instead they enjoyed beautifully plump berries with their meals for a naturally sweet start to the day.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

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Uncommon Ground Lakeview and Edgewater locations uncommon ground.com Tiny diners will love healthy versions of kids’ favorites, like mini beef burgers, griddled chicken tenders and scrambled eggs with Cheddar Grove cheese. Fresh fruit, local veggies and smoked tomato ranch dipping sauce make sides even more scrumptious.

Our daughter couldn’t get enough of the juicy fruit and kept asking for more. Moms and dads will applaud the Edgewater location for being home to the first certified organic roof top farm in the U.S. Savor some suds at the Lakeview location, home to GreenStar Brewing organic brewery.

Frontera Grill

Frontera Grill

445 N. Clark St., Chicago (312) 661-1434 rickbayless.com/ restaurants/ frontera-grill/ Even though the HFFK items aren’t labeled on the menu, families will quickly see that Frontera Grill offers tasty and nutritious options for kids. Start meals off with a bang by ordering the kids’ tortilla soup with chicken and avocado. Jicama, pineapple and cucumber slices with lime is another fresh, flavorful appetizer to dive into. For dinner, kids will get a kick out of the griddle-baked cheese quesadilla with black beans. Our son devoured it.

Harvest Room 7164 W. 127th St., Palos Heights (708) 671-8905 harvestroomrestaurant.com Harvest Room is a treasure of farm-to-table, fresh-from-scratch goodness and their kids’ menu is one of the healthiest I’ve seen.

Egg breakfasts come with turkey sausage or oatmeal. Grass-fed burgers, grilled white fish and free range chicken breasts are offered with sides like soaked

Harvest Room

grain salad and homemade applesauce.

Of course, my son opted for the hot dog, but it was grass fed, uncured and came with cucumbers, a fresh bun and a healthy side of his choice.

O’Hare International Airport CIBO Express Terminal 2 and 3 flychicago.com/ohare Apple chicken salad on a mini whole grain roll with grapes, celery sticks and Justin’s Peanut Butter and a Tofu and Vegetable Kabob box are some of the exceptional offerings I wanted to try, too.

Pickier eaters may gravitate towards the Black Forest ham sandwich or free-range chicken snack box. The roasted turkey sandwich is served on CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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GOOD EATS

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Midway International Airport

Midway International Airport

gluten-free bread. These tasty meals for traveling families will make all even the littlest members want to get onboard with healthy eating.

flychicago.com/midway The first airport concessionaire to earn HFFK as well as F.I.T. City designation, Midway International Airport boasts six restaurants with fresh, tasty choices.

Gone are the days of the only options in the airport being greasy grub. Tuna sandwiches, whole wheat vegetable wraps and fruit and yogurt parfaits are great grab-and-go meals. ✳ Other restaurants offering HFFK menu items include Café Ba-Ba-Reeba, Convito Cafe & Market and Farmhouse. For information, visit healthyfareforkids.com.

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

You should know Diane Schmidt, a health educator, launched Healthy Fare for Kids in 2011 with Sarah Stegner, a two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, coowner and co-chef of Prairie Grass Café in Northbrook, co-president and co-founder of Green City Market.

“As a chef, it is important to acknowledge that we are leaders in the food community,” says Stegner. “I feel strongly about serving good food, using the right ingredients, prepared simply. Kids will enjoy it. It just happens to be healthy.”

The Healthy Fare for Kids guidelines were developed with holistic nutrition consultant Carol Wagner and center around offering local,

“I feel strongly about serving good food, using the right ingre dients, prepared simply.”

Sarah Stegner, chef, co owner and co chef of Prairie Grass Café sustainable ingredients, antibiotic-free protein and portions appropriate for children.

According to the USDA, nearly 1/3 of U.S. food dollars are spent eating out. You don’t have to abandon healthy eating when away from home.

“Life is often about making smart choices over and over, “ says Stegner.

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Time for another?

The great debate over sibling spacing T

I

BY TAYLOR WOOD will never forget the first time I heard the question, “When are you having your next kid?” My son had hit the ripe old age of four days old. I foolishly thought presenting the world with a newborn babe would stave off the overly personal questions from the checkout lady at Walgreens for at least a month, but I was woefully mistaken.

Little did I know that the question of when to have the next baby was not only one I would get often, but that it would also come with a strong opinion and explanations from anyone engaged in the conversation.

Sibling spacing is a hotly debated issue, one where experiences of one’s own childhoods and parents seeing their own children all seem to add to the equation. Add to that the fact that your OB has their own opinions, as does the pediatric medical community.

To bring this question full circle, we assembled a “panel of experts” to chat about sibling spacing in real-life terms.

Weighing in were real Chicago parents, along with Dr. Denise Duval Tsioles, Ph.D., LCSW, child psychotherapist and founder of Child Therapy Chicago, and Dr. Marc Feldstein, of Northwestern Women’s Health Associates.

With all these minds melding in the same place, we present to you some more opinions on sibling age gaps: the good, the challenging and the diapers.

So, so, so many diapers.

Fewer than two years apart The Good •Siblings can be very close-knit and will experience many of the same childhood events around the same time •Scheduling activities can be easier, especially when young; they will be able to be in the same levels for classes and teams •Siblings don’t remember a time when there wasn’t another child in the house •They can entertain each other at a very young age

Two years apart (up to three years) The Good •Older sibling is a little more independent and can entertain themself for longer •Activities can still be scheduled together, especially when kids are younger •Older siblings have a better understanding of the changes going on in the house •Your OB will more than likely be happier with this age range; the obstetric medical community generally suggests waiting 12 months to conceive after a vaginal delivery and 18 after a cesarean The Challenging •The first year is incredibly challenging for the parents with two very young children vying for attention and needing Mom and Dad for everything •There can be a larger amount of competition because of their closeness in abilities and activity levels •Older siblings are still quite young and cannot express their frustrations clearly after the arrival of a new baby •Preparing for a new baby with a young baby in tow can be exhausting while

•It’s a very common sibling age gap and kids are likely to find friends with siblings in the same range The Challenging •Older siblings are especially prone to behavioral regressions with the arrival of the new baby: potty training, sleeping and manners are all up for grabs •Older siblings are especially prone to tantrums after the arrival of a new baby with this age range The Diapers •This could potentially delay pottytraining for the older sibling, as the arrival of a new baby can be too much change to also introduce potty-training •Very little diaper overlap, if any—this might be a welcome hiatus while enduring pregnancy side effects.

pregnant and experiencing any pregnancy side effects •An easygoing first baby is not indicative of an easygoing second one; if the new baby is extremely demanding, it can be difficult to also care for a young toddler •Heightened risk for preterm labor, low birth weight and autism The Diapers •Long overlap of two children in diapers •You will be potty-training one child with another in diapers.

44 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Five years+

Our Chicago mom experts Tiffany Stallone’s oldest child was 21 months old when her second arrived.

Rebecca Zieben’s daughter was 19 months old when her twins were born Cate White’s son was 6 months old when she found out she was pregnant Joanne Garces’ children are 2 1/2 years apart Michelle Froeschle’s children are 3 years apart Christina Hollister’s children are 5 years apart (and she also grew up with her sibling being 5 years apart)

Three to four years The Good •Siblings are still in school together, but far enough apart to have different friend groups and more independence •Older siblings are able to play independently while the new baby receives Mom and Dad’s attention •Competition can be lessened as abilities and activities are more different and siblings are more independent in them •Older siblings have a very good understanding and grasp of the changes coming to the family and can really be involved in every aspect of the new baby’s arrival The Challenging •Scheduling activities begins to become challenging, especially as the older sibling goes to school and the

younger one needs to nap •Older siblings might expect a playmate immediately and be disappointed in having to wait a long time before their new sibling can play with them •Age-appropriate play is very different when the siblings are young The Diapers •Diaper overlap is extremely minimal, if present at all. More than likely potty-training has been well established •It could be difficult to go back into diapers after a longer hiatus

The Good •Each child has an incredible amount of independence to find themselves outside of their siblings •Much less comparison in school, activities, etc.

•Gives parents time to reflect on their own parenting choices and styles objectively and make adjustments as necessary •Older sibling is truly given time to develop their own personality before a new sibling comes in, and good behaviors are already established •Jealousy might not be as big an issue because of the true understanding the older sibling has about the new family member The Challenging •Younger sibling potentially loses the in-home peer confidant through high school •Scheduling activities can be extremely challenging, especially around school pickup times/naps and afterschool activities •It might be difficult for parents to return back to a time ruled by naps and sleep schedules •Siblings might have trouble connecting in the early years The Diapers •Depending on the situation, it might be difficult to transition back to a few years of diapers after experiencing years without them •There is a good distance between potty-training and the arrival of the new sibling

The Takeaway Differing opinions on timing aside, adding a new member to the house is (to put it lightly) an enormous decision. The infuriating (and, perhaps, liberating) answer is that there is no “right” or “wrong” answer to the question of “when.”

Dr. Duval Tsioles summarizes this perfectly: “I don’t necessarily think there’s one ‘ideal’ or ‘perfect’ time. All families are different and whatever seems to work for them is best.”

Factors of age, fertility, family dynamics, finances, special needs and many others may play a larger role in your family’s decision of if and when to have more children than in other families.

Often families may plan for one age gap between siblings and end up with an entirely different one. The thing that has been universally acknowledged: as time goes on and children get older, all the differences and challenges of varying sibling age gaps seem to disappear, especially as adults. So really, it turns out that while we may think timing is everything, in reality, it’s not.

Taylor Wood is a Chicago Parent blogger, freelance writer and mom of one expecting her second.

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Lake Michigan Association

Independent Schools PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCIENCE & ARTS ACADEMY AND AVERY COONLEY SCHOOL

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www.lmais.org // special advertising section //

What parents need to know when picking a school

By SHANNAN YOUNGER

W

hen it comes to selecting a school for their children, Chicago area parents have a wide variety of options, including numerous independent schools. Independent schools are not-for-profit, tuitionbased schools. Each one has its own philosophy and mission statement that guides the operation of the school.

Independent schools are uniquely positioned to help their students achieve. Here are nine ways they do that: A LOW STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO Independent schools have a 9:1 student to teacher ratio.

“That ratio means teachers can develop relationships

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PHOTO COURTESY OF BEACON ACADEMY

with students, and establishing a relationship is critical to students being comfortable and able to learn,” says Audrey Perrott, head of school at Near North Montessori in Chicago and Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools (LMAIS) board mem-

ber. “When a student feels like ‘this person knows me and cares about me,’ that student is far more open to learning,” Perrott says.

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A FOCUS ON TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

Good teachers are essen-

tial, and independent schools focus on teacher development. Michael Roberts, head of Catherine Cook School in Chicago and president of LMAIS, says that the independent schools in Chicago often work together to share best practices and learn from each other’s experiences.

“Our independent schools are not in competition with each other and it’s important for all of us as educators in Chicago to raise the bar for all the children. We want to share what we’re doing and make it available to as many teachers, schools and kids as possible,” he says.

FOSTERING STUDENT INDEPENDENCE Independent schools focus

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It’s a great feeling to belong.

There are many ways to get to know Latin.

Find out more at

www.latinschool.org/visitus ChicagoParent.com November 2016 47

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9 ways continued from page 47

COFFEE & CONVERSATION Wednesdays 9 AM | Hansen Hall

OPEN HOUSE

Wednesday October 26, 2016 9 AM | Hansen Hall

EARLY ED INFO NIGHT

Wednesday November 9, 2016 6:30 PM | Barker Hall

AFFORDABILITY NIGHT Wednesday November 9, 2016 6:30 PM

HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

experience

Thursday November 17, 2016 7 PM | Alumni Hall

To learn more about our whole child education pihlosophy, call 773.881.6700.

creativity

on fostering student independence. While that looks different at different age levels, there is a focus on problem solving. Jeff Bell, head of school at Beacon Academy in Evanston, says “Our students are very good at figuring out how to handle situations themselves, and confidence comes along with that independence.”

“The feedback we’ve received from parents of our ninth-graders is that they are less reliant on their parents than they were before arriving at Beacon just a short time ago. A sense of confidence comes with that independence,” he adds.

SUPPORTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT Independent schools focus on character development of their students, an approach that Roberts believes sets them apart. “We are teaching them to be ethical, kind people,” he says. Catherine Cook has been an ethical literacy school and worked in partnership with the Institute for Global Ethics for a decade. “It has made a difference in how our students interact with each other, with their teachers and with the world.”

ENCOURAGING STUDENT CREATIVITY “While independent

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where students discover their own voices and talents through the arts.

2153 West 111th Street, Chicago, IL 60643

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schools are different in how they deliver information, there is an effort to nurture and develop creativity in students. Creativity is a key skill that is necessary for success in life,” says Perrott, who notes that studies show the creativity quotient among U.S. students dropping after fourth grade. “Students can demonstrate knowledge in a way that keeps creativity alive.”

Catherine Cook students have joined the Maker movement, which encourages creativity as well as problem solving and working collaboratively. At Beacon Academy, assignments often involve hands-on projects and students have a wide variety of options when deciding how to complete projects.

CREATING TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES Many independent schools take international trips, some starting in middle school, and most often their travels are service-related. Students at Near North Montessori have traveled to orphanages in Honduras and Guatemala.

Beacon students will travel to Nicaragua with Allowance for Good, a teen philanthropy group.

“We are raising students to have an awareness beyond themselves and of the global community. It helps them see that they can make a difference and also develops cultur-

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NEAR NORTH MONTESSORI SCHOOL

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www.lmais.org // special advertising section // al competency,” says Perrott.

BUILDING FLEXIBLE SPACES Independent schools can optimize the learning environment to the advantage of students, be that through unique furniture that can be rearranged based on size of class and group to the structure of the actual classrooms.

Perrott says they rely on research showing the impact colors, windows and overall classroom design can have on learning. Flexible spaces also help foster that independence, as Bell notes that Beacon “feels similar to a college campus.”

GIVING ACCESS TO RESOURCES The old saying that you are only as good as your tools applies to education, too.

“Classrooms in independent schools are fully equipped with what teachers need to educate and inspire students.

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Teaching is not interrupted because they don’t have the necessary materials, be those didactic materials, technology, or anything else,” says Perrott. She notes teachers are given independence in their classroom to go beyond textbooks and that they can create creative and engaging lessons when resources are at their fingertips.

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A BILITY TO INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY At Beacon Academy, students interact with people from around the world meeting with the school’s neighbors at the Rotary International Headquarters, and Bell describes Evanston as an extension of Beacon’s campus. Students spend up to 20 percent of their time in the community. Says Bell, “Our students have a unique freedom to learn in and from the community.”

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ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE RSVP fwparker.org/openhouse Upper School (Grades 9-12)

Saturday, November 19 • 10 a.m.

Apply to Parker by December 1 Visit fwparker.org/apply • Accepting applications for Grades JK-12 • No application fee • Need-based financial assistance available Join us for a Public Event More at fwparker.org/speakers

ChicagoParent.com November 2016 49

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Athletes welcome What athletics look like at independent schools

By SHANNAN YOUNGER

W

ith not much time left on the clock in a critical match on the road for the girls’ volleyball team from the Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove, they got a huge point when an official called the ball out.

Surprisingly, the girls from the Avery Coonley didn’t celebrate. Instead, they all turned to the official to correct the call. All six players agreed the ball was actually in.

Coach Joe Schallmoser was remarkably proud of his Fightin’ Seahorses and describes the moment as one of his favorites as a coach. “I realized that it doesn’t get any better than this. We want to win, but we’re going to do it

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIARAVALE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

the right way,” he explains Schallmoser also serves as the athletic director at Avery Coonley, a position he has held for the past dozen years. The team’s actions are in keeping with the athletic department’s mission that, in

addition to helping students develop as players and have fun, the athletic program teaches life lessons beyond the game.

“We preach that the scoreboard is not the be all, end all,” Schallmoser says.

The same is true at Chiaravalle Montessori School in Evanston where the focus is also more on building life skills than winning. Athletic coordinator Ari Reinfeld has made “no sweat” the unofficial athletics motto for the teams.

All players miss free throws or step out of bounds or make mistakes. Reinfeld encourages players to move on and not get hung up on an error by saying to players, “No sweat.”

“It gives them perspective,” Reinfeld says. “It’s important to learn how to fail and to be able to shake it off. There’s always something else to move towards, whether it’s the next play or the next game or the next season. It’s the same thing as when something goes wrong at work.

Celebrating 140 years in Chicago and 200 years around the world Sacred Heart is an independent school, K— 8, rooted in the Catholic tradition.

Inspired teaching, personalized learning, and a supportive community combine to ensure our students thrive academically and grow in goodness, self-knowledge, and service to others.

Apply now for Kindergarten 2017-18 and Kindergarten Early Decision 2018-19

Your child is our mission.

Join us for an Admissions Coffee November 9 or 18, December 7 9:30-11 am To register call (773) 681-8418 or admissions@shschicago.org 6250 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, Illinois 60660 shschicago.org

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It’s not school, it’s Quest

PHOTO COURTESY OF AVERY COONLEY SCHOOL

They need the ability to move on quickly.”

Often at independent schools, making the team is not a source of stress. In fact, several independent schools do not make cuts, in part due to the small size of the schools and in part because of their philosophy that athletics are educational opportunities that should be available to all kids who are interested.

“Athletics here are truly for everybody,” says Schallmoser.

“Anyone, regardless of skill, is given the opportunity to not just be on a team but to play a role and have opportunities.”

In addition to the ability to play the sport, Reinfeld encourages all kids to try every position. “In some places, the biggest kid plays just one position. But just because a kid is the biggest one in the class in fourth or fifth grade does not mean that will always be the case.”

Available sports vary by school. At Avery Coonley, for instance, students may join the track team or play on co-ed soccer team. They also have basketball teams for each gender and girls’ volleyball. At Chiaravalle, cross country and flag football are

offered, in addition to track, basketball and volleyball.

The teams offer kids a chance to try something new and Reinfeld says parents are especially excited that their children can try a new sport in a low-stakes environment with friends.

School teams also often reflect the philosophy of the school. At Chiaravalle, sports skill clubs give children a chance to work with kids who are younger and older in mixed groups, as they do in their classrooms.

With a focus on inclusion and learning, an added benefit is that sports teams at independent schools help foster a strong sense of community, pride and school spirit. Schallmoser notes that playing for your school has a different feel than playing for a club team, where their teammates are not also classmates.

“We know going in that this may very well be the last team sport they have the opportunity to play for their school and we value that.

The opportunity to represent your school is truly special,” Schallmoser says.

An independent school for gifted children from Preschool through Eighth Grade.

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE 2016-2017 GRADES K-8 Thursday, November 3 Wednesday, February 15 5:30-7:00 pm

Meet our teachers and administrators. Tour our campus and learn more about our curriculum and the admission process.

PRESCHOOL & PRE-K (Ages 3-4) Saturday, January 21 & March 18 9:00-10:30 am Parents will have an opportunity to meet our teachers and learn about curriculum, observe your children as they interact with our teachers for fun activities.

Visit today!

Scan for more information

Tours available by appointment.

Contact our Admission Office at admission@questacademy.org or call 847.202.8035, ext. 438 today.

questacademy.org 500 North Benton, Palatine, IL 60067 ChicagoParent.com November 2016 51

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i  // special advertising section // www.lmais.org Early education takeaways Independent schools uniquely foster love of learning

By SHANNAN YOUNGER

A

child’s first experience in school can be a wonderful foundation for a lifetime of learning, and that is one of the many reasons why early childhood programs are so very important. Independent schools have unique approaches to learning.

Here are some early education takeaways from Chicago area schools that are part of the Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools.

LOVE OF LEARNING Early childhood classrooms look like a ton of fun, and that’s because they are. That’s by design.

“We really do believe that kids learn through play, but it’s an issue of what kind of

play,” explains Melinda Orzoff, Lower School division head of the Roycemore School in Evanston. “That play can have an academic bent to it and when it does, they really learn.

It’s amazing to see how excited they are about it, but they have no idea they are learning.”

Patty Crylen, director of early childhood at the Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove, agrees.

“We want our children to enjoy the process of learning when they are with us. We want our students to be lifelong learners.”

Parents can play a big part in helping kids love learning by continuing the learning at home and as part of their

better understanding of the concepts,” says Lisa Diones, Lower School head at Quest Academy in Palatine. Such efforts by parents also show kids that learning can happen anywhere, at any time.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROYCEMORE SCHOOL

experience out in the world.

“Extending learning outside of school lets kids make meaningful connections which are critical at this young age. Those efforts lead to

CULTIVATE CREATIVITY Little minds work in amazing ways, and independent schools focus on fostering that creativity. For instance, at Avery Coonley, teachers put items out for children to play with on their own before discussing the item’s intended purpose. “We have creative children and sometimes they think of things that would never occur to us. You can always go back and show them something, but when you start with the purpose, it is hard to break out of that,” Crylen says.

Pre-K through 8th Grade Independent School Guiding Bright & Gifted Children Onward & Upward

Upcoming Tours

November 9, December 7 and January 11

Kindergarten Information Night January 12

For more information:

The Avery Coonley School 1400 Maple Avenue Downers Grove, IL 60515 www.averycoonley.org admission@averycoonley.org 630-969-0800 Our students prefer complex challenges to simple tasks.

They have an insatiable appetite to learn.

They are motivated children of high intelligence.

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www.lmais.org // special advertising section // INVITE INNOVATION Innovation is a big word, and Quest Academy uses it to describe its littlest students.

“We encourage our young gifted learners to become innovators at a young age. We want them to understand the iteration process of focusing on a problem and taking a collaborative approach to problem solving,” Diones explains.

She says another key aspect of being an innovator is having a growth mindset and learning from mistakes.

says Julie Burdick, a junior kindergarten teacher at the Science & Arts Academy in Des Plaines, where early childhood students attend art, music and drama at least once per week.

“Participating in group activities, such as a song and dance, not only helps children to develop their gross motor skills, but also teaches them to collaborate and negotiate with others, and fosters the development of problem-solving skills,” she says.

APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS “Young children learn so much when they participate in the arts. Dramatic play allows children to explore their emotions, learn to display them appropriately and learn how to regulate them.

Visual arts in early childhood programs helps develop fine motor skills and introduces them to mathematical concepts like shape and size,”

MEET EACH CHILD WHERE THEY ARE Children learn at their own pace. Independent schools focus on differentiated learning for their youngest students to help them all reach their fullest potential. “(Science & Arts Academy) teachers are responsible for developing and adjusting the curriculum to match the changing needs and interests

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of the students. Within each grade level and each class, there exists a range of skill levels. SAA is prepared to take students where they are and provide an appropriate level of challenge to each student,” says Tim Costello, head of school.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING Playing well with others has long been part of early childhood education but independent schools are intently focused on the broader concept of social emotional learning, which also includes empathy and responsibility as well as a focus on making and maintaining positive relationships.

“In the early childhood area we help children develop interpersonal skills,”

Orzoff says. She explains that they foster social interactions to teach cooperation, sharing, taking turns and respect for others. “It becomes part of the children’s ethos,” she says.

At Avery Coonley, the teachers focus on the positive and finding the good in others.

“We treat our kids as we treat our parents — with respect.

We look them in the eye and listen to them. They know they have value in our eyes,” Crylen says.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCIENCE & ARTS ACADEMY

Come for coffee and stay for twelve years!

December 2 January 6 February 10

December 9 January 13 February 17

To reserve your spot at one of our school tours and information sessions, visit nnms.org.

From the day we first opened our doors more than 50 years ago, we made a commitment to every student that here they will discover an extraordinary place to learn. This is a place that will give them not just challenging academics but the skills that will strengthen their humanity and set their moral compass in a committed, compassionate direction.

Near North Montessori is a school where kids can soar!

MONTESsoaring

What a way to learn.What a way to fly.

773.384.1434 1434 W. Division Street

www.nnms.org Chicago, Illinois 60642 ChicagoParent.com November 2016 53

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// special advertising section // www.lmais.org

LMAIS

Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools

Discover Independent Schools Visit LMAIS.org for the latest on tours and open houses

Select an accredited school that promotes: Academic Excellence: Be the Best You Can Be

Exceptional educational opportunities allow students to fully pursue their intellectual passions

Experiential Learning: Taking Learning Outside the Classroom

Curricula intentionally designed to expose students to global issues and global citizenship

Character Education: How You Lead Your Life Matters

Values-driven education developing empathy through participation in service learning

Exceptional Schools In & Around Chicago Ancona School 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Hyde Park | anconaschool.org Avery Coonley School 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Downers Grove | averycoonley.org Baker Demonstration School 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Wilmette | bakerdemschool.org Beacon Academy Gr 9 - Gr 12 | Evanston | beaconacademyil.org Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Lake View | bernardzell.org Brickton Montessori School 24 Mo - Gr 8 | O’Hare | brickton.org Catherine Cook School 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Old Town | catherinecookschool.org Chiaravalle Montessori School 6 Mo - Gr 8 | Evanston | chiaravalle.org Chicago Academy for the Arts Gr 9 - Gr 12 | West Town | chicagoacademyforthearts.org Chicago City Day School 4 Yr - Gr 8 | Lake View East | chicagocitydayschool.org Chicago Waldorf School 27 Mo – Gr 12 | Rogers Park | chicagowaldorf.org Countryside Montessori School 16 mo - Gr 8 | Northbrook | countrysidemontessori.org Da Vinci Academy 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Elgin | dvacademy.org

Elgin Academy 3 Yr – Gr 12 | Elgin | elginacademy.org Forest Ridge Academy 3 Yr – Gr 8 | Schererville, IN | fra.edu Frances Xavier Warde School 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Chicago Loop | fxw.org Francis W. Parker School 4 Yr – Gr 12 | Lincoln Park | fwparker.org Hyde Park Day School Chicago Ages 6 - 15 | Hyde Park | hydeparkday.org Hyde Park Day School Northfield Ages 6 -15 | Northfield | hydeparkday.org La Lumiere School Gr 9 - Gr 12 | La Porte, IN | lalumiere.org Lake Forest Academy Gr 9 - Gr 12 | Lake Forest | lfanet.org Lake Forest Country Day School 2 Yr - Gr 8 | Lake Forest | lfcds.org Latin School of Chicago 4 Yr – Gr 12 | Gold Coast | latinschool.org Lycée Français de Chicago 32 Mo – Gr 12 | Ravenswood | lyceechicago.org Morgan Park Academy 3 Yr – Gr 12 | Chgo SW | morganparkacademy.org Near North Montessori School 6 Mo - Gr 8 | Bucktown / Wicker Park | nnms.org

North Park Elementary School 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Ravenswood | npeschool.org North Shore Country Day School 4 Yr – Gr 12 | Winnetka | nscds.org Quest Academy 3 Yr - Gr 8 | Palatine | questacademy.org Rogers Park Montessori School 2 Yr - Gr 8 | Andersonville | rpmschool.org Roycemore School 3 Yr – Gr 12 | Evanston | roycemoreschool.org Sacred Heart Schools 5 Yr - Gr 8 | Edgewater Beach | shschicago.org Science & Arts Academy 4 Yr - Gr 8 | Des Plaines | scienceandartsacademy.org The Stanley Clark School 3 Yr – Gr 8 | South Bend, IN | stanleyclark.org University of Chicago Laboratory Schools 3 Yr – Gr 12 | Hyde Park | ucls.uchicago.edu Wolcott School Gr 9 - Gr 12 | West Town | wolcottschool.org Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart Gr 9 - Gr 12 | Lake Forest | woodlandsacademy.org

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i  A closer look at Independent Schools

www.lmais.org // special advertising section // The Avery Coonley School 1400 Maple Avenue Downers Grove (630) 969 0800 averycoonley.org An independent day school for academically gifted students in Preschool8th grade, located in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Upcoming Tours: November 9, December 7, and January 11, Kindergarten Information: Night January 12.

Baker Demonstration School Pre-K through Grade 8 201 Sheridan Road, Wilmette (847) 425-5800 bakerdemschool.org Baker is Chicago’s North Shore leader in independent, progressive education, serving bright, creative students who are ready to engage in a challenging, hands-on education and thrive in a diverse community of learners.

Family Open House: Saturday, Nov. 12 from 11AM-1PM

Beacon Academy 9th-12th grade students 1574 Sherman Ave., Evanston (224) 999-1177

beaconacademyil.org Beacon Academy is an independent, Montessori-based high school offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme serving 9th12th grade students. Visit us!

Open House November 12th, 1:004:00PM. Prospective Parent Coffee November 3rd, 9:30AM

Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School Nursery through 8th grade 3751 N. Broadway, Chicago (773) 281-1858 bernardzell.org Bernard Zell is an independent Jewish day school for the 21st century where academic purpose, collaborative learning and a deep commitment to humanity develop engaged, confident learners and compassionate leaders.

Chiaravalle Montessori Ages 0-14 425 Dempster St., Evanston (847) 864-2190 www.chiaravalle.org For 50 years, Chiaravalle Montessori has inspired children’s sense of discovery and creativity. Explore our new LEED Platinum North Wing

designed to enhance integrated studies.

Prospective Parent Tours, 9-10:30 am, RSVP Nov 3, 5, 12, 17, Dec 1, 10, Jan 5, 7

Chicago City Day School 541 W. Hawthorne Place Chicago (773) 327-0900 www.chicagocitydayschool.org Chicago City Day School is an independent, co-educational, urban elementary school serving children in junior kindergarten through eighth grade. The School’s spectacular twoacre campus is located on a treelined residential street in Chicago’s Belmont Harbor neighborhood. A rigorous academic program encourages intellectual curiosity, aesthetic sensibility, critical thinking, joy in learning and a lasting commitment to physical activity and healthful living. Dedicated teachers and enthusiastic students work together in small groups with great success.

Chicago Waldorf School PreK-12th Grade 1300 W. Loyola Ave (Rogers Park Campus) 2156 W. Montrose Ave (Lincoln Square Early Childhood Center)

(773) 465-2371 chicagowaldorf.org Chicago Waldorf’s progressive approach meets distinct stages of child development by focusing not only on what children learn but how they learn.

Tours & Orientations⎯Pre-K thru 12th Grade (for adults only) Nov. 17th, Dec. 8th, Jan. 12th, March 2, May 11 Space is limited. Sign up today.

RVSP to 773-465-2371 or lpayton@ chicagowaldorf.org

Francis W. Parker School Serving Junior Kindergarten through 12th Grade 330 West Webster Avenue, Chicago (773) 797-5107 fwparker.org Parker’s inclusive, community culture engages students as learners and citizens while developing their confidence and leadership.

Come inside Parker and experience a vibrant educational environment like no other.

Upper School Open House Saturday, November 19 | 10 am Register at fwparker.org/openhouse

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i The Frances Xavier Warde School 3P – 8th grade 120 S. Desplaines St. & 751 N. State St. (312) 466-0700 www.fxw.org Oct. 13 & 27 (Pre & K) Feb. 2017 (gr 1-3) March 2017 (gr 4-8)

// special advertising section // www.lmais.org

and prepares the global leader of tomorrow.

High School Open House Thursday, November 17, 2016 – 7:00-9:00 pm

Quest Academy 8th 500 N. Benton, Palatine (847) 202-8035 questacademy.org

Setting standards for educational excellence in Chicago since 1888, Latin School is a diverse community where every student is known and valued. Visit www.latinschool.org for information.

Contact the Director of Enrollment Management at admissions@latinschool.org for more information or go online for admission deadlines.

Inspiring and Challenging Gifted Children. At Quest Academy, your child can discover the excitement of learning surrounded by motivated peers.

Open House 2016-1017 Grades K-8 Thursday, November 3, 2016, 5:307:00 pm Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 5:307:00 pm Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten Saturday, January 21, 2017, 9:0010:30am Saturday, March 18, 2017, 9:0010:30am Tours available throughout the year, call for an appointment.

Morgan Park Academy

Roycemore School

Latin School of Chicago Pre K – 12th Grade 59 W. North Blvd.

(312) 582 –6060 Latinschool.org

PreK-12 2153 W. 111th Street, Chicago (773) 881-6700 morganparkacademy.org Morgan Park Academy is a PreK-12, Independent Day School whose curriculum engages the whole child, inspires the independent learner,

Pre-K – Grade 12 1200 Davis St., Evanston (847) 866-6055 Roycemoreschool.org Celebrating 100 years of college prep education – Proud history, inspired

future.

Fall Open House:

Sunday, Nov. 6, 1-3 p.m.

Admissions Mornings: Dec. 6, 8:30-10a.m.

Jan 31, 8:30-10a.m.

March 7, 8:30-10a.m.

April 25, 8:30-10a.m.

May 17, 8:30-10a.m.

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

Sacred Heart Schools

High School Open House Saturday, October 29, 2016, 1 pm

Independent Catholic, Single Gender, Coed Campus, K-8 Extended Care Mr. Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools Educating Chicago children since 1876.

6250 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago (773) 681-8436 shschicago.org

Serving grades nursery 3 through 12th 1362 East 59th Street, Chicago (773) 702-9451 www.ucls.uchicago.edu

Join us for Admissions Coffees: 9:30am to 11am; Nov. 9, Nov. 18, Dec. 7, Jan. 18, Feb. 8, April 5, May 3 Can’t attend? Give us a call at (773) 681-8418 to arrange a Quick Tour.

Science & Arts Academy The Gifted Choice ® 1825 Miner Street, Des Plaines (847) 827-7880 www.scienceandartsacademy.org Science & Arts Academy educates Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade gifted students from over 50 Chicagoland communities. Attend our Open House on November 5th at 1:00pm to learn more.

PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEST ACADEMY

Personal, engaged education – for 100 years.

Beacon Academy brings together independent school best practices, Montessori principles, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme to offer an innovative and challenging education for students in grades 9-12.

Fall Admissions Open House Sunday, November 6, 1-3 PM At Roycemore, we know that it’s important to nurture a love of learning and excitement about coming to school every day, from pre-school through high school. Call Amanda at 847-866-6055 or visit roycemoreschool.org to learn more and to RSVP for our Fall Open House.

Now accepting applications for the 2017-2018!

Learn more today at beaconacademyil.org.

1574 Sherman Avenue, Evanston | 224.999.1177

1200 Davis Street in Evanston - roycemoreschool.org

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CH O S OL S P O T

PHOTOS COURTESY OF (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): THE GARDNER SCHOOL, BERNARD ZELL ANSHE EMET DAY SCHOOL, GEMS WORLD ACADEMY, CHICAGO FRIENDS SCHOOL

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Top Schools

9 traits every student needs before graduation What Chicago’s top schools are doing to help them

By CARRIE RODOVICH

A

lthough things like proficiency in math and science are important for students who are ready to graduate, there are intangible traits that students should have before they move on to high school, educators say.

At GCE Lab School in Chicago, values including accountability, purpose, autonomy and gratitude are worked into the curriculum.

“They are our core values.

For us, they are the four principle values of global citizenship that form the foundation of achievement,” says Kate Klein, head of school for GCE Lab School. “For us, though, we re-think what achievement means. For global

PHOTO COURTESY OF GCE LAB SCHOOL

citizens, achievement is a by-product of gratitude, purpose, autonomy and accountability. Students know how to learn, enjoy learning and

engage their peers, families and communities in their paths of inquiry and demonstrations of mastery.”

As this happens, students’

success can be measured through more traditional ways: high scores on ACT/ SAT tests, college enrollment, internship placement and international study and service.

Accountability is important because it is learning about risks, setbacks, setting goals, responding to challenges and growth, Klein says.

Developing a sense of purpose and autonomy are important as learning shifts from being a chore to a natural extension of their interests, Klein says. “School becomes meaningful when students are motivated—when they make a conscious decision to follow where their curiosities lead,” she says.

continued on page 62

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Top Schools

special advertising section care of themselves. At CGS, small class sizes allow teachers to build rapport with continued from page 61 students and support them as Gratitude is also another whole individuals,” he says. important component of This means going beyond the being a global citizen, she basics of biology and reprosays. “The concept of gratiductive health to talk about tude encompasses hard work, other areas of well-being, humility and conflict resoluincluding mental health, tion—all critical attributes for sleep, electronic media, selfhigh-functioning individuals advocacy, consent and peer as they transition into subrelationships. sequent stages of education, Phillip Jackson, head of professional careers, and perschool for Chicago Grammar sonal relationships.”

School, says one important Compassion goes handbeyond-the-basics skill stuin-hand with gratitude, says dents need is good writing Karen Carney, head of school skills. for the Chicago “It is imporFriends School tant that eighthin Chicago. grade students “Students go off to high should do serschool with writvice projects,” ing skills necesshe says. “That’s sary to be sucreally important cessful for the because it’s easy demands in the to think about early years of the troubles of high school,” he the world being says. “Writing …. too big for one is a lot of fun at person. You CGS since we use might think, ‘I such rich materican’t do anyals. By the time thing about it,’ our students are but if you pick in junior high, something you they are working care about, and PHOTO COURTESY OF with some hefty CHICAGO FRIENDS SCHOOL do something and challenging concrete, you reading. They have to work can change the world for with the variety of writing good.” styles used by authors. High Learning peaceful conflict school should not be the first resolution is also an importime they encounter a diffitant skill, she says. cult author.”

“You have to learn to Carney says the final, resolve a conflict honestly important trait graduates and by facing up to your own need is passion. role in the conflict,” Carney “You have to be able to do says. “You have to have empa- something you really care thy with the other person, about,” she says. “Every kid and that’s hard. Saying I’m has to learn to read and do sorry and actually meaning it math, but you have to pursue takes a lot of courage.” your interests, whether it be It is also important to learn paleontology or Japanese self-care, says Dan DeMoss, a cooking. You have to be able teacher at Chicago Grammar to go deep into something School in Chicago. you care about. You have to explore what makes you come “The first thing students alive.” need to know is how to take

9 traits

who our children

BECOME IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS

what our children

ACHIEVE At Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts, we inspire and enable our children to reach their full potential by providing a rigorous education combining academic excellence, an arts-integrated curriculum and a strong Catholic foundation.

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62 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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Top Schools

GEMS World Academy – Chicago students are as diverse and vibrant as our beloved city. Our International Baccalaureate curriculum, award-winning faculty and innovative Field Studies create a strong foundation for lifelong learning and global understanding. With our expansion to upper school in 2017, there's never been a better time to join the GEMS family.

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special advertising section

Innovation abounds with in-school projects STEAM is top priority for student learning at schools

By CARRIE RODOVICH

R

esearch has repeatedly shown that children learn best from interdisciplinary learning, and many schools are using STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – and STEAM – science, technology, engineering, the arts and math – projects as a way to help their students learn.

Throughout Chicagoland, these projects are enhancing student learning in a variety of interesting, innovative ways.

“Current scientific research and engineering are not done in a single lab with a lone scientist. Instead, it is done as collaborations with experts from several differ-

PHOTO COURTESY OF BERNARD ZELL ANSHE EMET DAY SCHOOL

ent fields and disciplines, and, often times, from different parts of the globe,” says Beth Sanzenbacher, science instructional leader at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School in Chicago. “STEM/

BERNARD ZELL CURIOUS

Our school encourages students to embrace the awesome wonder of life. And run with it. When our students graduate, they are prepared for any test life hands them. Learn more at our Fall Open House, Sunday, November 13 at 1:30 p.m. RSVP at www.bernardzell.org/openhouse.

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STEAM projects are essential because … they are able to experience how several disciplines, such as science, math and engineering, work together seamlessly to solve problems and answer questions.”

Sanzenbacher says Bernard Zell offers STEM/STEAM projects from nursery through eighth grade.

“We work to develop inherent wonder and curiosity in all children to better understand and develop questions about our world and universe,” she says. “We engender a passion for science, math, engineering and the arts that equips students with the analytical skills to become lifelong learners.”

For example, Bernard Zell sixth-grader become ecologists in Wallcology, a cyber learning collaboration with the Tom Moher Lab in the Learning Science Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The project gives students a complex virtual ecosystem, where they design and conduct investigations focusing on topics such as population ecology, energy flow in ecosystems, predatorprey relationships, adaptation

and response to environmental change.

Students use their interactions with cyber ecosystems to become environmental engineers and figure out how to solve specific problems, like preserving a high level of biodiversity within the ecosystem or farming a specific species.

They then apply their knowledge to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, where they learn about the problems the dunes face and take steps towards becoming stewards of their environment, she says.

The Children’s School in Berwyn is a progressive, project-based environment for students where all subjects and disciplines are integrated into projects.

“At TCS, most projects include a research (reading and writing) component, a math component (often around measuring and building in the younger grades and use of data and statistics in the upper grades), and an artistic component in building or design,” says Christina Martin, director of curriculum and instruction at TCS. Martin believes all subjects – science, technology, engineering, math and art, as well as social studies, literacy, economics, culture and current events – should be part of the child’s school experience.

“That is what will prepare them for the world they will inhabit as adults. When adults think about a particular issue or problem, the best problem-solving comes from considering not just the perspective of one discipline, but a range of responses and ideas,” she says. “The segregation of human knowledge into

continued on page 66

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Top Schools

Whole-Child, Personalized Education for the 21st Century New Junior Kindergarten to 8th Grade School Opening in Lincoln Park in Fall 2017 AltSchool offers a whole-child, personalized education to prepare students for their future by developing self-awareness, nurturing their innate capabilities, and fostering collaboration skills.

Our educators engage students by involving them in their own learning and incorporating projectbased learning to help students develop initiative and responsibility for their education.

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Top Schools

special advertising section

STEAM continued from page 64

Here’s where student potential becomes actual.

One-to-one classrooms give students the space to flourish emotionally, socially, and academically.

We believe that positive relationships are the key to unlocking the potential in every student. Our teachers are able to personalize curriculum and teaching styles to each student’s individual strengths, interests, and learning style, while also playing the role of mentor.

These connections give students the confidence to pursue their goals, whatever they may be.

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Be a part of something greater.

distinct separate disciplines is a convention of convenience for schools rather than the best way to approach learning (or life).”

At TCS, first-graders might explore space by building a space shuttle in their classroom out of cardboard, duct tape and other materials, Martin says. They might try on the roles of various astronauts and scientists on a space mission.

“Reading, writing, math, science and social studies concepts will all come into play. The teacher must be very skilled to wrap the grade-level curricular goals in these areas around the high-interest, extremely motivating project of building the space shuttle.

The entire experience is intricately connected with play because play is so central to 6-year-olds’ experience,” she says.

GEMS World AcademyChicago has incorporated a transdisciplinary approach to teaching students since the school’s inception three years ago, says Elysia Sheehan, founding art and design teacher for the school.

For example, during a sec-

ond-grade study of weather, the science teacher and art teacher lead a field study walk over to The Art Institute of Chicago to investigate how Gustave Caillebotte portrays weather in his painting Paris Street; Rainy Day, Sheehan says.

“The students sit with their oversized sketchbooks in front of the painting and begin to draw with the art teacher. The science teacher asks questions while they are drawing, such as, ‘If the painting is of a cloudy day where it has just rained, then how are there shadows on the ground?

Can the sun still shine through clouds?’ and ‘What time of day might it be if the shadows are at a 75 degree angle?’”

The goal of the projectbased approach is to raise 21st century learners.

“This goal creates students that can go beyond googling the answer to a question,” she says. “One important component of a 21st century learner is learning to ask questions.

The arts provide an access point for students to investigate the world around them, ask questions and learn to have difficult conversations amongst peers.”

Start your child’s path to great learning and discovery at Northside Catholic Academy.

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For more information call 773-743-6277 or visit www.northsidecatholic.org Photos: Shalimar B Photography

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEMS WORLD ACADEMY

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Top Schools

“I am a citizen of the world.”

Dual-Language Montessori Education for ages 3 to 12 Two Locations: Historic Oak Park Chicago’s West Loop

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Located in the Lincoln Square and Ravenswood neighborhoods, Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School offers a strong core curriculum, enrichment programs, dedicated faculty and supportive parish community for students from Preschool to 8th grade.

Coming in January

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JANUARY 2016 SPECIAL ADVERTISING EDUCATION GUIDE

12/10/15 2:24 PM

For more information, call (708) 386 5555 or visit ChicagoParent.com ChicagoParent.com November 2016 67

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special advertising section

It’s never too early to start preparing kids for college What some of the area’s top schools are doing

By CARRIE RODOVICH

W

hen you send your little one to school for the very first time, the college years seem so far away. But even while the littles are learning their A, B, C’s and 1, 2, 3’s, there are things your child’s school can be doing to help them prepare for college.

The biggest thing, already embraced by some of the area’s top schools, is encouraging a love of learning, creative thinking and teamwork.

Early childhood education, which takes place between six months old and preschool, has a tremendous effect on learning well past kindergarten, says Laura Miller, marketing manager for The Gardner School.

Having a structured academic setting in preschool helps teach them early about the importance of having a school routine.

“This sets the stage of having to be around teachers and groups of children. Kids learn to share, play with others, work under adult supervision, follow instructions and more,” Miller says. “Though The Gardner School is an academically-focused preschool, our rules of discovery are simple

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GARDNER SCHOOL

for first-timers — we let children adjust, explore and grow throughout their stages of development through gentle guidance and encouragement.

These experiences foster selfesteem and confidence, which are essential to grasping knowledge.”

It is also important to help young children develop a sense of self at an early age.

“Children make independent choices every day in a childcare setting. These decisions allow kids to choose activities that hold a personal interest, whether it’s playing make-believe on the playground with other

children, engineering towns with toy blocks or drawing self-portraits during art class,” Miller says. At Northside Catholic Academy in Chicago, teachers believe preparing a child for college and the realworld begins by educating the whole child.

“We are committed to educating the whole child: intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. ...

Our test scores consistently rank above the national average, and graduates place into Chicago’s top high schools each year,” says Melissa Soberanes, NCA’s marketing and development director.

Principal Christine Huzenis says project-based learning and student collaboration provides a dynamic learning environment that engages students in their own learning and academic success.

“Project-based learning allows students to actively explore real-world problems and challenges using critical thinking skills to gain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they’re studying.

Collaboration at the student level provides our students with more leadership and responsibility in their own learning and academic success.”

Huzenis says such projectbased learning and collaboration occurs across curriculum areas and grades. It can include a variety of strategies from literacy stations and peer editing to collaborative math discussions.

For instance, teachers use games, interactive white board lessons, iPad stations and hands-on activities in the lower grades throughout the day. In Middle School, students use Google Classroom to work together.

“All of these strategies provide a strong foundation for college and career readiness,” she says.

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Top Schools

“Nurturing children and families through play since 1968” Located on North Michigan Avenue, across from the John Hancock

Fourth Church

Day School Half-day preschool programs for children aged 2–5 years old

Call 312.640.2579 for more information and to schedule a tour

www.fourthchurch.org/dayschool

St. Chrysostom’s Day School Celebrating 40 years of excellence inDay Early Childhood Education St. over Chrysostom’s School Celebrating over 40 years of excellence in Early Childhood Education

Our carefully crafted and time tested developmentally appropriate play based curriculum makes it possible to offer: • Wonderful opportunities for developing enhanced social and cognitive skills through play and classroom routines • Small classroom size with teacher to pupil ration 1:5 • Experienced Masters level teachers

1424 North Dearborn Parkway | (312) 642-3422 | saintcdayschool.org Prospective Parent Open House Dates: December 1st at 6:30 PM | January 11th at 10:30 AM Please visit our website to RSVP and for more information!

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Top Schools

special advertising section

Top Schools in focus Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts

​Principal Dr Casimer Badynee Grades PreK - 8, extended care 1439 W. Wellington Ave.,Chicago (773) 348-4629 alphonsusacademy.org

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park Grades served – Toddler – Grade 5 814 W Eastman Street, Chicago (773) 907-5000 www.bischicagolp.org

We are a private international school for students ages 2 – 11 years old offering creative hands on experiences and personalized learning focused on skills for an ever evolving world.

Open Houses – November 13th and January 8th 10am – 12 noon Children Welcome

British International School of Chicago, South Loop 161 W. 9th Street (cross streets: 9th Street and Wells Street) (773) 998-2472 www.bischicagosl.org We are the only Chicago private school offering personalized, international education to children in Preschool through Grade 12 under one roof.

Chicago Friends School

K-6 1246 W. Thorndale Ave., Chicago (773) 442-2371 www.ChicagoFriendsSchool.org Teaching the whole child, Chicago Friends School offers small classes, differentiated instruction, integrated arts, and daily recess. Adding a grade yearly up to 8.

Chicago Grammar School 900 N Franklin Ste 104, Chicago (312) 944-5600 www.chicagogrammar.org CGS students enjoy and thrive in an environment that nurtures curiosity, develops academic proficiency, and inspires personal virtue and wisdom.

Serving students grades PS-8.

Open Houses: December 1st at 6:30 PM and January 11th at 10:30 AM

The Children’s School 1428 S. Wesley, Berwyn (708) 484-8033 TheChildrensSchool.info Students engage in project-based learning that nurtures curiosity, exploration, problem-solving, and collaboration. Small classes, no standardized tests, and parents are always welcome.

Serving K-8th grades.

Fusion Academy

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHILDRENS SCHOOL

vate middle and high school where positive relationships and one-to-one classrooms unlock academic potential.

Enroll at anytime for classes for credit, or tutoring + mentoring.

The Gardner School

6 weeks to 5 years old.

Naperville: 28 W 611 Ferry Rd. (630) 657-5029 Chicago-West Loop Campus: 1301 W. Madison St., Suite 100 (312) 229-4299 Northbrook: 2380 Waterview Dr. (847) 770-6260 Chicago-Bucktown Campus: 1612 W. North Ave. (773) 661-0151 Oak Brook: 17 W 642 E. Butterfield Rd. (630) 576-4740 Chicago-Lincoln Park Campus 2850 N. Lincoln Ave. (630) 639-1008 thegardnerschool.com The Gardner School is an awardwinning, academically focused preschool that offers educational programs for children ages

Lake Forest + Oak Brook Coming soon to Evanston + Lincoln Park www.FusionAcademy.com

GEMS World Academy-Chicago

Fusion Academy is a revolutionary, pri-

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the IB curriculum for students aged preschool through 9th grade. Now enrolling for 2017-2018!

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Intercultural Montessori Language School

Ages 6 weeks to 5 years 118 S Ashland, Chicago 312-492-9876 (option 1) www.littlegreentreehouse.com

PreK – 6th

Where Montessori and language immersion meet to create citizens of the world. Ages 3-12 Chinese, Japanese, Spanish Campuses in Chicago’s West

Loop and Oak Park 301 S. Ridgeland, Oak Park (708) 848-6626 114 S. Racine, Chicago (312) 265-1514 interculturalmontessori.org

Little Green Tree House (Evanston)

Ages 6 weeks to 5 years Opening in 2017 2814 Central Street, Evanston www.littlegreentreehouse.com

Little Green Tree House (Lakeview) Ages 6 weeks to 5 years 3111 N Ashland, Chicago

312-492-9876 (option 2) www.littlegreentreehouse.com

Little Green Tree House (Lincoln Park)

312-492-9876 (option 3) www.littlegreentreehouse.com

Little Green Tree House (West Loop)

Northside Catholic Academy Serves grades PK-8 Primary Campus: 6216 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago Middle School Campus: 7318 N. Oakley Ave., Chicago Admissions: (773) 743-6277 www.northsidecatholic.org Start your child’s path to great learning and discovery at Northside Catholic Academy. We offer a challenging, diversified curriculum within a nurturing environment for grades PreK-8.

Queen of Angels School 4520 N. Western, Chicago (773) 769-4211 queenofangelschicago.org Queen of Angels School, a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School, has served the Lincoln Square and Ravenswood communities for more than 100 years with a mission of blending Catholic values, character development , academic excellence and a challenging, comprehensive curriculum.

Ages 6 weeks to 5 years

70 November 2016 ChicagoParent.com

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ree!

Where Kids Ski F

G N I B U T T ING D I R T G N I I SK ells!

D n i s n o c s i W rom f s e t u n i m 5 1 t Jus

www.cascademountain.com

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calendar NOVEMBER

1

What does courage sound like?

Which instrument is the most heroic?

What epic qualities do the members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra all share? Find out the answers to these questions at Symphonic Superheroes, a musical exploration of the bold offerings of composers like Beethoven, Copland and Tchaikovsky.

This Family Matinee performance includes preconcert activities so your kids can meet some of the unsung heroes of the CSO—and try out their “gadgets,” aka instruments. BYO capes. $6-$57. 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Nov. 5. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 294-3000, cso.org

3 2

The storied Auditorium Theatre has been part of the Chicago landscape for more than 125 years—and has its fair share of stories to tell. Get a

glimpse behind-the-scenes of this legendary landmark at Family Fun Day, a free opportunity to learn how the magic really happens. Kids get photos taken on the stage, take dance classes from the equally renowned Joffrey Ballet, go on a scavenger hunt through the theater, and enjoy games, crafts and tours galore. It will be legen—wait for it—dary. Free. 1-5 p.m.

Nov. 13. Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. (312) 922-2110, auditoriumtheatre.org.

We’ve heard of butterfly kisses, but sea lion kisses?

They’re just one of the things you can try at Aquatic Experience – Chicago, a marine show that will have your familyy flipping pp g their fins with glee. The show, in its fourth year, brings together fish from around the world, piranhas and a touch tank stocked with sharks and starfish, not to mention Sea Lion Splash, a very upclose experience with the adorable whiskered beasts.

Go ahead, pucker up! (Dibs on the one who

sounds like Idris Elba.) $10; $25 family. Noon-6 p.m. Nov. 4; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 5; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 6. Renaissance Schaumberg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. aquaticexperience. org. g

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CALENDAR 6 | SUNDAY CHICAGO ANIMAL FARM. This children’s music band celebrates the release of its debut disc, “Run Free.” The eight-song disc features all original compositions by leaders David Ladon and Seth Freeman. The show is scripted with sketches setting up a song and reinforcing the positive message afterward. Recommended for families with kids 2-7. $7. Noon; doors open at 11 a.m. Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont. (773) 281-4444, beatkitchen.com.

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2 | WEDNESDAY GOING ON A LEAF HUNT. This sensory-based program for kids 18-36 months, with adult, draws upon the changing season’s themes and fall shapes and colors. Crunchy leaves, tree seeds and a color hunt are the inspiration for creating a work of art to take home. $22. 9:30-10:45 a.m.

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

NATURE SLEUTHS. Kids 6-10 work

together to solve mysteries about the natural world through weekly themes and hands-on experiments. $8, $5 members. 4 p.m. Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., Sycamore. (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.

3 | THURSDAY GOING ON A LEAF HUNT. This sensory-based program for kids 3-5 draws upon the changing season’s themes and fall shapes and colors.

Crunchy leaves, tree seeds and a color hunt are the inspiration for creating a work of art to take home. $25.

9:30-11 a.m. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

KNEE-HIGH NATURALISTS: SCURRYING SQUIRRELS. Kids 4-5

figure out why squirrels are scurrying around and so busy this time of year.

Enjoy hands-on activities, experiments, hikes, stories and crafts. $18, $12 resident. 1-2:15 p.m. Knoch Knolls Nature Center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville. (630) 8485000, napervilleparks.org.

5 | SATURDAY SUBURBS DOG ADMISSION DAY. Hit the arboretum trails with your furry friend.

Fee includes an arboretum bandana for your pup. $5 per dog, plus admission. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

FAMILY NATURE NIGHTS: HARVEST TIME. Families with kids

3 and up join a naturalist to learn about the fall harvest found in nature.

Many types of animals take advantage of this ample food supply before the cold weather of winter begins. $9, $6 resident. 6-7:30 p.m. Naperville Park District, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naperville parks.org.

NIGHT OF STARS. A fun-filled, social event that gives individuals with autism spectrum disorder an opportunity to celebrate their progress, talents and abilities in the presence of family, friends and supporters. $50, $35 kids 17 and under and all with ASD. 6-11 p.m. Hilton Oak Lawn Conference Center, 9333 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn. (773) 329-0375, chicagoautism.org.

CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL.

Families with kids 3-12 watch a curated selection of 2016 Festival work, with three separate, age-appropriate screenings scheduled in the John & Nancy Hughes Theater. $10 per screening. 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. (847) 295-9075, gortoncenter.org.

LAURA DOHERTY & THE HEARTBEATS. A Chicago favorite in

the family music scene, Laura Doherty & The Heartbeats acoustically rock your kid’s world with original folk-pop tunes that will get even the shyest wallflower to wiggle across the dance floor. Recommended for families with kids 7 and under. $12. 11 a.m.

Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. (773) 728-6000, oldtownschool.org.

SUBURBS SMASHING PUMPKINS. Unwanted pumpkins become parking lot projectiles when flung from a giant trebuchet.

Construct a mini-catapult, create a craft, fashion a bird feeder, design autumn artwork, and celebrate the harvest.

When the launching ends, pumpkin pieces are collected and fed to local livestock. Free with museum admission.

1-4 p.m. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

TOY SOLDIER SHOW. Toy soldier enthusiasts display collections of small-scale soldiers and armaments. $5 per car, $2 per car after 4 p.m. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cantigny Park 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.

7 | MONDAY DISCOVERIES IN PALEONTOLOGY. Kids 5-6 join

T.Rexplorers for a paleo adventure including real dinosaur fossils. Bring

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CALENDAR

About the calendar The deadline for submitting listings for the December issue is Oct. 31. 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 80.

Searchable listings updated daily ChicagoParent.com/calendar

p.m. Oriental Institute Museum, 1155 E. 58th St., Chicago. (773) 702-9514, oi.uchicago.edu.

9 | WEDNESDAY GOING ON A LEAF HUNT. Lisle.

See Nov. 3.

10 | THURSDAY GOING ON A LEAF HUNT. Lisle.

See Nov. 2. a snack and dress to go outside. $59, $39 resident. 9 a.m.-noon. 95th Street Center, 2244 W. 95th St., Naperville.

(630) 848-5000, napervilleparks.org.

TODDLER ART. Enjoy the Day of

the Dead exhibition with kids 18-36 months through engaging, fun sensory play and art exploration. $10. 10-11 a.m. National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago. (312) 738-1503, nationalmuseumofmexican art.org.

8 | TUESDAY GOING ON A LEAF HUNT. Lisle.

See Nov. 3.

STROLLING THROUGH HISTORY: KINGS, QUEENS, AND PALACES.

This light-hearted tour and lively discussion in the galleries is for parents and caregivers with kids 18 months or younger. Tour ends with playtime for babies. Today’s theme is “World in the Biblical Time.” $15, $10 members. 2-3

INDOOR MUSICAL PICNIC.

Experienced performers communicate positive messages to kids 10 and under through interactive and imaginative songs showcasing live music and instruments. Participants are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and lunch. A light snack is provided. 11 a.m.-noon. Mundelein Park & Recreation District, 1401 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. (847) 566-0650, mundeleinparks.org.

11 | FRIDAY VETERANS DAY CAMP. Each group

explores the zoo and participates in activities focusing on animal diversity, environmental conservation and the ways Lincoln Park Zoo cares for animals and conserves them in the wild.

The theme of this camp is “Animal Athletes”; campers will become acquainted with some of the fastest, strongest and smartest creatures on the planet. $58-$68. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. (312) 742-2000, lpzoo.org.

MUSEUM OVERNIGHT. An evening

of nighttime exploration, activities and fun for families with kids 6-13.

Tour the exhibit hall by flashlight and meet the animals that sleep at the museum every night. Includes a pizza dinner and breakfast in the morning. $45, $38 members. 6 p.m.-8 a.m.

Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., Sycamore. (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.

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CALENDAR Presents Gian Carlo Menotti’s

Great Opera, Made Affordable!

Amahl and the Night Visitors Frrrom F om Hog om og Hou ouse se to Sm to mo okeho oke ke eho hou us se

Don’t miss the 11th anniversary of this treasured Chicago holiday tradition, perfect for all ages!

Original direction by Francis Menotti, son of Gian Carlo, based on his father’s 1951 production Sung in English with orchestra. Featuring dancers from Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater.

“This one-act work is one of those truly rare family works that is immediately accessible on every level—by both children and opera novices—and yet is still meaningful to the most seasoned opera-goers.”

- Dennis Polkow, Newcity Stage “First rate.... The parting of mother and son at the work’s close was moving indeed.”

- Richard Covello, NIB Foundation

Opening with the premiere of a new one-act children’s Hanukkah opera

by Victoria Bond and Susan L. Roth! Directed by Kyle Dougan.

Sunday, December 11 - 3:00pm and Sunday, December 18 - 3:00pm NEW LOCATION: The Royal George Theatre 1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago

SSeee No Nov. v. 20

ROYAL BALL. Come dressed in a

princess gown to sing and dance with princess friends. Includes music and activities led by a DJ, royal crafts and dancing with the princesses. A buffet dinner will be served. $29, $19 resident. 6-7:30 p.m. Naperville Park District, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naperville parks.org.

Adults: $20 • Seniors (65+) and Students: $15 • Children: $10

12 | SATURDAY

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW! 312-988-9000 • www.chamberoperachicago.org

CHICAGO PLAYDATE AT OLD TOWN SCHOOL: ANIMAL SINGDOM.

www.classiccinemas.com

And don’t forget to pick up a Reel Money Gift Card.

Erin Flynn and Jarod Facknitz present coyotes crooning, birds whistling, whales singing, shadows, puppets, paper wings, the animal kingdom in song, and a drumming snake dance finale. $7. 10 a.m. Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave. (773) 728-6000, oldtownschool.org.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF GODDESSES.

Features live orchestral performances of theme music from Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda franchise, and a giant screen showing the most memorable moments of the series. $38 and up. 8 p.m. Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway.

(312) 922-2110, auditoriumtheatre.org.

doing farm work. $18. 1-4:30 p.m.

Angelic Organics Learning Center & Farm, 1547 Rockton Road, Caledonia.

(815) 389-8455, learngrowconnect. org/on-farm.

JUNIE B.’S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL.

From bus rules to Band-Aids, carpools to cookies, Junie B. and friends deliver the definitive word on surviving and thriving in style. This all-new musical adventure, based on Barbara Park’s popular book, features a postshow meet and greet with the cast and books available for purchase in the lobby. Recommended for families with kids 5-10. $20, $12 kids. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. (630) 942-4000, atthemac.org.

ROYAL BALL. Naperville. See Nov.

11. Today’s times are 9-10:30 a.m.

16 | WEDNESDAY INTERACTIVE KIDS CONCERTS. Enjoy a fun and free

interactive kids concert with Bubbles Academy. 3:30 p.m. Vanille, 2108 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 868-4574, vanillepatisserie.com.

NATURE SLEUTHS. Sycamore. See

Nov. 2.

SUBURBS

GIVE THE GIFT OF MOVIES!

classiccinemas.com

PUMPKIN PIE-FAMILY PROGRAM. Learn to make a deli-

cious dessert while learning about how we care for the soil, vegetables and animals on the farm. Includes a tour of the vegetable farm where squash are grown. Dress to be outside

17 | THURSDAY COOL SCIENCE: LET’S LEARN ABOUT PUMPKINS. Are pumpkins

vegetables or fruits? Kids 3-5 learn the answer and more while studying pumpkins’ life cycle, observing their different parts, reading a book about

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CALENDAR series focuses on the development of new acts. Professionals from the Chicagoland circus community will be featured, as well as advanced students from The Actors Gymnasium’s classes.

Recommended for families with kids 5 and up. $20. 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. (847) 328-2795, actorsgymnasium.org.

them, counting them and making a fun pumpkin craft. $27, $18 resident.

4-5:30 p.m. 95th Street Center, 2244 W. 95th St., Naperville. (630) 8485000, napervilleparks.org.

COOL SCIENCE: WIZARDS COOKING CLASS. Kids 6-11 learn

spells, play games and make polyjuice potion, chocolate frogs and pumpkin pasties. $36, $24 resident. 6-8 p.m.

95th Street Center, 2244 W. 95th St., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naperville parks.org.

THIRD THURSDAY. A time desig-

nated 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) 6378000, dupagechildrensmuseum.org.

18 | FRIDAY THE BMO HARRIS BANK MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL. Ring in the holiday

season with two days of free, familyfriendly activities. The celebration culminates on Saturday in an evening tree-lighting parade along North Michigan Avenue, which has become a beloved tradition. Check website for schedule of events. Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 409-5560, themagnificentmile.com/ events/lights-festival.

SLEEPING BEAUTY. Features a

dragon who roars and a princess who snores; a handsome brave knight and swashbuckling sword fights.

Recommended for families with kids in grades PreK-4. $8. 10:30 a.m.

North Central College, 30 N. Brainard St., Naperville. (630) 637-5300, northcentralcollege.edu.

WINTER LIGHTS HOLIDAY WALK. The lit streets are filled with

live music, costumed characters, live ice sculpting, local art, food vendors, festive photo-ops, live reindeer, trackless train and Christkindlmarket.

The official Holiday Tree will be

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY. The tree lighting

ceremony will be at 3 p.m. The Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. thepromenadebolingbrook.com.

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20 | SUNDAY

Seee No N v. v 122

CHICAGO CHICAGO TOY AND GAME FAIR.

illuminated by the mayor, Miss Merry Christmas and Mr. Jack Frost.

After the tree lighting, Santa will be listening to Christmas wishes and Mrs. Claus has a special treat for those who have been good all year. 5-9 p.m.; parade at 6:30 p.m. Downtown Water Street Mall, 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora. (630) 896-6666, aurora-il.org.

STORYTELLING HOUR.

Parents can catch a performance of Free Street Theater’s “100 Hauntings” while kids 3-12 enjoy an hour of storytelling, arts, and crafts facilitated by staff artists. 7-8:30 p.m. Pulaski Park, 1419 W. Blackhawk Ave., Chicago. freestreet.org.

place on North Michigan Avenue from Oak Street to Wacker Drive.

INTERACTIVE KIDS CONCERTS. See Nov. 16. Today’s

See Nov. 19. Today’s times are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

SUBURBS

location is 3243 N. Broadway.

FROM HOG HOUSE TO SMOKEHOUSE. See how 19th

BRI-KO. Filled with audience participation, incredible costumes and mind-blowing props and visuals, Bri-Ko is universally appealing and fun for the whole family. $12, $6 kids 12 and under. 2-3 p.m. Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. (773) 327-5252, stage773.com.

century farm families preserved meat and other food for the long winter.

Features authentic demonstrations, craft activities, wagon rides and refreshments. $3, $12 family. Noon-4 p.m. Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. (847) 985-2100, parkfun.com.

CHICAGO TOY AND GAME FAIR.

19 | SATURDAY

Preview and play with toys and games from around the world and meet toy and game inventors. Highlights of past shows include the Lifesize Tonka Truck, Giant Jenga, Settlers of Catan tournament, Star Wars lunch, GameTruck, stage events, magic, giant bubbles, Game Café, mascots, Electronic Petting Zoo, puzzle hunts and Young Inventor Challenge. $10, $5 kids 3-12, free kids under 3. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. chitagfair.com.

SETTLER’S DAY. Visit with costumed living history demonstrators representing American history from French fur trading days, pioneer times, and the Revolutionary and Civil War periods. Activities include joining an imaginary wagon train, going on guided history hikes, trying a twoperson buck saw and making a craft.

Donations of money or food accepted.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sand Ridge Nature Center, 15891 Paxton Ave., South Holland. (708) 868-0606, fpdcc.com.

CHICAGO

SUBURBS

22 | TUESDAY

HEJSAN–CHILDREN’S STORY AND CRAFT HOUR. A story and

craft hour for all ages. Reservations are appreciated. Free with museum admission. 11 a.m.-noon. Swedish American Museum & Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration, 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 728-8111, swedishamericanmuseum.org.

THE BMO HARRIS BANK MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL. See Nov. 18. The Lighting

Procession is at 5:30 p.m. and takes

CIRCUS IN PROGRESS. Get a

sneak peek at some of Chicago’s most exciting new works of circus art. This latest installation of the performance

CITY OF CHICAGO ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY. The

city’s 103rd Christmas tree is located in Millennium Park. Santa Claus will

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CALENDAR also set up shop for visits in the park during the holiday season. 5:30-6 p.m.

Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue and Washington Street, Chicago. cityofchicago.org/dcase.

23 | WEDNESDAY MINE, CRAFT, BUILD ADVENTURE GAME USING LEGO.

Resourcefulness, creativity and cooperation come together in a unique building adventure game. Kids 5-6 roll the dice to mine for resources and use them to build special items to help in their adventures. This Lego experience is designed by Play-Well instructors and inspired by Minecraft. $208, $179 resident. 9 a.m.-noon. Naperville Park District, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naperville parks.org.

MINE, CRAFT, BUILD SURVIVAL GAME USING LEGO.

NOV. 4 – 13 NOV. 17 – 27

ALLSTATE ARENA

UNITED CENTER

FREE PARKING in all official arena parking lots with ticket purchase.

Visit arena website for details. ticketmaster.com • 800-745-3000 357865

RINGLING.COM

Going Places 9

ROCKIN’ GETAWAYS

Food, football

+

fall fun GP Cover Fall 2016.indd 5

9/1/16 9:38 AM

24 | THURSDAY MCDONALD’S THANKSGIVING PARADE. The

parade features live performances, equestrian units, marching bands and the sky-high balloons. 8-11 a.m.

State Street (starts on Congress and moves north to Randolph), Chicago. chicagofestivals.org.

FREE | FALL 2016

Take a hike

Resourcefulness, creativity and cooperation come together in a unique building adventure game.

Kids 7-12 roll the dice to mine for resources, craft tools and watch out for Creepers. This ultimate Lego Minecraft experience is designed by Play-Well instructors using game play elements and characters inspired by Minecraft. $209, $179 resident. 1-4 p.m. Naperville Park District, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 8485000, napervilleparks.org.

25 | FRIDAY The Ultimate Guide to Family Fun!

Fall edition now available!

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

SCIENCE CORNUCOPIA. Turn cranberries into chemistry, engage in fruitcake physics, and find out what happens to whipped cream when it’s dropped in liquid nitrogen. Kick off the holiday season with extraordinary demos and festive arts and crafts. Free with museum admission.

11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Discovery

Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. (815) 963-6769, discovery centermuseum.org.

WREATHING OF THE LIONS.

The traditional ceremony of wreathing the Art Institute’s lions takes place on the steps of the museum. After the ceremony, families are invited to stop by the Ryan Learning Center to create a wreath inspired by art in the galleries.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 443-3600, artic.edu.

LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS FESTIVAL. Family activities include

a tree lighting ceremony, parade, museum free day, ice carving, craft activities and musical performances.

Check website for schedule. Joliet. jolietdowntown.com.

26 | SATURDAY SUBURBS CELEBRATE THE SEASON.

Wendy Morgan and her music bring joy to the holiday season.

Refreshments are served. Santa and the Rose Queen visit at 2 p.m. 1-3 p.m. Roselle Public Library, 40 S. Park St., Roselle. (630) 529-1641, ext. 351, roselle.lib.il.us.

SCIENCE CORNUCOPIA. Rockford.

See Nov. 25.

27 | SUNDAY CHICAGO RABBI JOE BLACK AND THE MAXWELL STREET KLEZMER BAND: EIGHT NIGHTS OF JOY! A HANUKKAH WARM-UP AND FAMILY CONCERT. Rabbi Joe Black,

the author of the popular song “Judah Maccabee,” joins creative forces with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band to launch the Hanukkah season together. This is the only Chicago-area performance of their show, an exuberant synthesis of Rabbi Black’s original songs and dynamic guitar mastery with the energy and creative genius of Chicago’s own klezmer Big Band. $75 VIP, $25, $23 members, $20 kids. 2 and 5 p.m. Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. (773) 728-6000, oldtownschool.org.

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All aboard!

T

is the season for model railroads, a trend that will have your little locomotive lovers totally on-board. So round up the family and head out to see these tiny trains around Chicagoland.

1

The Model Railroad Showcase goes for sheer scope, with multiple train layouts you can see up close (there’s even a hands-on one for the kiddos!). Train enthusiasts will appreciate the railroad memorabilia, while parents can be grateful for the Metra representatives who bring train safety and railroad crossing safety tips to the littlest conductors. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Nov. 5; 1-4 p.m. Nov. 6. Free.

Roselle Public Library, 40 S. Park St., Roselle. (630) 5291641, ext. 351, roselle.lib.il.us.

ORY

2

If your November is already bursting with more family time than you can handle, the DuPage County Historical Museum offers a great solution. The museum’s HO Gauge Model Railroad is open to the public on the third and fifth Saturday of each month, so you can see trains traveling over more than 2,000 feet of track that highlight the best of the ‘burbs. Free.

1:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 19. 102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton. (630) 5104941, dupagemuseum.org.

3

Wonderland Express is a holiday tradition for many local families—and for good reason. Multiple trains (including kid fave Thomas!) traverse the landscape, which features beloved Chicago landmarks recreated with natural materials. Keep an

eye out for The Bean, the Millennium Wheel and the Maggie Daley skating ribbon, not to mention the “snow” falling on your heads. Opens Nov. 25. $13, $10 kids 3-12.

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

4

Like your choo-choos with a little more color?

The Winter Flower & Train Show features vibrant

poinsettias, festive greenery, twinkling lights—and trains making their way through a charming, miniaturized version of Chicago. Best of all, you can shed your winter coats and soak up some of the sun coming through the conservatory’s glass rooftop. Opens Nov. 26. Free.

Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago. (312) 742-7736, chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Elizabeth Diffin

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY Pediatric dentistry

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Outstanding Pediatric Dental Care –

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

pediatric dentistry

It’s at the heart of what we do.

Nominated as one of CHICAGO’S FAVORITE

Kids

Doc

John P. Kenney, DDS, MS

Diplomate American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Children's Dentistry in Park Ridge

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.

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

Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

16345 S. Harlem • Tinley Park

708-633-8700 • www.kidsdds.net

Infants, Children, Teens & Special Needs Children

www.care4kidsteeth.com

1125 S. Harlem Ave., Forest Park (708) 386-5437 • (708) FUN-KIDS www.kidsdentistforestpark.com ChicagoParent.com November 2016 79

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ONGOING EVENTS against various frogs and play dress-up in frog costumes. Guests can activate recorded frog calls, view frog videos, spin a zoetrope and perform a virtual dissection. Free with museum admission. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. (773) 755-5100, naturemuseum.org.

CHINA’S FIRST EMPEROR AND HIS TERRACOTTA WARRIORS.

To T odd dle er Tu ues e d da ay ys s Seee th Se this iss paagge

EXHIBITS WINGS OF WONDER: THE LORIKEET EXHIBIT. Through Nov.

13. Visitors will be “face to beak” with the small- to medium-sized parrots known for their playful personalities, vibrant coloration and ability to mimic words and sounds. Free with conservatory admission. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford. (815) 9878858, nicholasconservatory.com.

WHAT IS A PLANET? Witness the reaction to Pluto’s demotion; voice your opinion about Pluto through an interactive voting poll; explore artifacts from the Adler collections that illustrate the ever-evolving definition of a planet. Free with museum admission. Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 922-STAR (7827), adlerplanetarium.org.

in naturalistic environments, including a stream, woodland, meadow and cave. Free with museum admission.

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

BRICK BY BRICK. Features a

collection of more than a dozen giant Lego-built structures, including a 60-foot-long Golden Gate Bridge.

Guests will learn how architects and engineers push limits; witness how form follows function; and explore Chicago’s impact as the birthplace of the skyscraper. Requires a separate, timed-entry ticket. Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (773) 684-1414, msichicago.org.

EXPERIENCE ROCK N’ ROLL.

through race jumps, long runs, loops, dips and super spirals within a colossal, multilevel race course. Free with museum admission. Chicago Children’s Museum, 700 E. Grand Ave. at Navy Pier, Chicago. (312) 5271000, chicagochildrensmuseum.org.

This interactive exhibit explores the history of rock and roll, uncovers the fundamental building blocks of music, demonstrates how instruments work, investigates how sounds are produced, reveals the science of sound recordings, and sheds light on careers in the music business. $14.95, $9.95 kids. Northbrook Court, 1515 Lake Cook Road, Northbrook. experience rocknroll.com.

ANIMAL SECRETS. Families learn

FROGS: A CHORUS OF COLORS.

where chipmunks sleep, how an eagle feeds its young and more, as they explore the hidden habitats and secret lives of forest animals. Discover nature from an animal’s point of view

Get up close with 70 frogs from around the world. The hands-on, family-friendly adventure includes opportunities to glide like a flying frog on a mini-zip line, test jumping skills

ZOOM ROOM. Send toy cars hurtling

Explore the life of the ruler who vanquished his rivals, unified China’s states, constructed the first Great Wall, built roads, and standardized China’s script, currency, weights and measures. Included with All-Access and Discovery passes. The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 922-9410, field museum.org.

Schaumburg. americasbakingand sweetsshow.com.

CHICAGOPEX 2016 STAMP SHOW. Features a youth booth,

75 dealers, USPS and U.N. postal administration and includes auctions, exhibits, speakers and meetings of stamp societies. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 18-19; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 20. The Westin Chicago Northwest, 400 Park Blvd., Itasca. chicagopex.org.

ICE SKATING AT LINCOLN PARK ZOO. Whiz past the goats and cows

at the rink in Farm-in-the-Zoo. Snacks and winter warming drinks are available for purchase. $5; $5 skate rental. Nov. 25-27; daily starting Nov. 29. Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. (312) 742-2000, lpzoo.org.

DAVINCI MACHINES EXHIBITION.

The exhibition displays handcrafted inventions built from Leonardo DaVinci’s 500-year-old designs. The main features include the “bicycle,” “spring powered car,” “hang glider” and “air screw” (a precursor to the helicopter). $18.95, $16.95 seniors, students and military, $14.95 kids 4-12, free kids under 4. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. discoverdavinci.com.

OTHER EVENTS HORSE-DRAWN HAYRIDES.

Through Nov. 6. Enjoy cultural and natural history stories on guided horse-drawn hayrides. $5, free kids under 5. Danada Equestrian Center, Danada Forest Preserve, 3S507 Naperville Road, Wheaton. (630) 6686012, dupageforest.org/danada.

AMERICA’S BAKING AND SWEETS SHOW. Go on a gourmet

tour of the most delectable and hottest trends in the world of baking and beyond. Includes competitions, celebrity demos, and hands-on classes.

At the Family Zone, kids learn to decorate and embellish cookies and cupcakes. The theme is “Peter Pan.” $8 and up; free kids 12 and under. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 11-13. Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive,

CHOCOLATE BAR YOUR WAY CLASS. Kids 4 and up learn the

art of tempering chocolate with a hands-on demonstration. Choose from decadent candy toppings to create three custom chocolate bars. $18. 6-7 p.m. Mondays. Sweet Pete’s Candy, 270 Market Square, Lake Forest. (847) 283-9500, sweetpetescandy.com.

TODDLER TUESDAYS. Legoland

opens early on the second floor exclusively for kids 5 and under and their parents. The lineup includes Lego-inspired arts, crafts and minifigure masks, a visit from exotic animals, gymnastics and yoga classes, creative building and specialized drawing classes, costume contests, scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, carnivals and an interactive magic show performance. No session Nov. 22. $7; $9 at door. 10 a.m.-noon.

Tuesdays. Legoland Discovery Center, The Streets of Woodfield (next to Woodfield Mall), 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. (847) 592-9700, legolanddiscoverycenter.com/chicago.

ARBOR READING ADVENTURES.

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

No class Nov. 25. $5. 11-11:45 a.m.

Wednesdays and Fridays. The Morton

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ONGOING EVENTS Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekends. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

ANIMAL TALES. Each week, an

interactive sensory experience accompanies the nature-based story for kids 2 and under. Program consists of 10 minutes of story and activities and 10 minutes of social time for adults.

Free with museum admission. 10:15 a.m. Thursdays. Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., Sycamore. (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.

NATURE DISCOVERY DAYS.

The River Room is open for families to participate in self-guided activities.

November will focus on Wild Turkeys.

11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Naperville Park District, 305 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naperville parks.org.

GNOME HOMES. After taking a hike through the Children’s Garden to hunt for all of the hiding gnomes, create a keepsake light-up gnome home. $10.

GNOME HUNT. Search for gnomes

in the Children’s Garden using “I Spy” skills. Checklist provided. Free with arboretum admission. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

WINTER PLAY. A self-guided glimpse

into the world of outdoor play will depend on the day. Possibilities include painting snow or building a fort. Free with arboretum admission.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES ADVENTURE TO SANTA. Opens

Nov. 5. Join Po and Friends for

Caroli Ca Caro rro oliin ng g at Clo Cl ou ud Gate Gate Ga t Millllen Mi enni niium niu um Parrk See pa Se See page ge 82

interactive games and an immersive, cinematic journey that transports guests to the North Pole for a private meeting with Santa. Reservations can be made online with the purchase of a photo package or at the Guest Services Lounge. $40-$74. Check website for schedule. Oakbrook Center, 100 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook. adventuretosanta.com

Chicago. Features German and international vendors who display hand-crafted ornaments, toys and unique gifts, as well as traditional German foods, sweets and beverages.

School groups, professional singers and dance groups perform. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago. (312) 494-2175, christkindlmarket.com.

CHRISTKINDLMARKET CHICAGO. Opens Nov. 18. Discover

ILLUMINATION: TREE LIGHTS.

a traditional centuries-old holiday market in the heart of downtown

Opens Nov. 18. Walk a mile-long path to marvel at trees illuminated in colors and

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ONGOING EVENTS interact with lighted trees that respond to voice or touch. Stop at the warming tent to grab a snack and a warm beverage. Visitors can also sing to the trees to activate LED lights that rain down from the trees like shiny strands of tinsel and watch as lights dance, synchronized to music from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. $12-$22. 5-9:30 p.m. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle.

(630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

CITY OF CHICAGO SANTA HOUSE. Santa Claus sets up shop for

visits in the park during the holiday season, as well as ice skating and Caroling at Cloud Gate. 6-8 p.m. Nov. 24; noon-3 p.m. Nov. 26; noon-6 p.m. weekends. Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue and Washington Street, Chicago. cityofchicago.org/dcase.

NAPER LIGHTS. Opens Nov.

25. Stroll the museum grounds and experience a magical holiday lights celebration. 5-9 p.m. ThursdaysSaturdays; 5-7 p.m. Sundays. Naper

ORY

Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. (630) 420-6010, naper lights.com.

CAROLING AT CLOUD GATEMILLENNIUM PARK. Begins Nov.

25. Hear a variety of choral groups and join them in a holiday sing-along at Cloud Gate in Millennium Park.

Santa comes at 5 p.m. and caroling starts at 6 p.m. Fridays. Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe streets., Chicago. (312) 7443316, millenniumpark.org.

CHRISTKINDLMARKET NAPERVILLE. Opens Nov. 25. Enjoy

a special suburban edition of the Chicago German-American Holiday Market. Includes hot beverages, German food, and gift shopping—just like at Daley Plaza. Check website for schedule. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. christkindl market.com.

ZOOLIGHTS. More than two

San Sa Sant ntta’ a’s M Ma agi gic ca al al Tro Tr ollle ley Ex Expr pres ess Seee th Se this iss pag age ge

million lights illuminate the zoo. This free event transitions Lincoln Park Zoo into a twinkling winter wonderland.

The event is complete with visits from Santa, ice sculptors, holiday crafts and activities, and sweet treats of all kinds.

4:30-9 p.m. Nov. 25-27. Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago.

(312) 742-2000, lpzoo.org.

ALL AGLOW. Opens Nov. 26. See sparkling holiday lights and beautiful floral displays inside the warm tropical conservatory. Outdoor grounds are also decorated for the season. Free with conservatory admission. Nicholas

Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford. (815) 987-8858, nicholasconservatory.com.

SANTA’S MAGICAL TROLLEY EXPRESS. Opens Nov. 29. A holiday

program that begins with a ride to Santa’s North Pole. Visit Santa’s enchanted polar workshop, where the kids enjoy whimsical games and lively music, get a picture with Santa, and receive a special surprise. Also includes entry to Little Beans Evanston. $55. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Little Beans Cafe, 430 Asbury Ave., Evanston. santasmagicaltrolley.com.

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EXHIBIT

3 things to do at MSI this month

I

n our opinion, you shouldn’t need an excuse to visit the Museum of Science and Industry, one of the largest science museums in the world that just happens to be located right here in Chicago. But if things are starting to feel a little beenthere-done-that when it comes to this South Side gem, here are three ideas to make your November visit one to remember.

1

Let the wild rumpus start! Kids of all ages can quote Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book, and MSI’s temporary exhibit Where the Wild Things Are: The Works of Maurice Sendak lets them learn more about the man behind Max, the king ki of all wild things.

Explore original artworks Ex

by Sendak, including S sketches and illustrations, sketc and an learn how presidents, illustrators and celebrities were inspired and touched by his treasured work.

Opens Nov. 10.

Op

2

If your kid’s the type who can spot every airplane departing from O’Hare, Above and Beyond is the exhibit to try. This new interactive experience explores advancements in flight and commemorates the 100th anniversary of Boeing. Visitors can step into a simulated space elevator, design and test a supersonic fighter jet and experience what it’s like to fly like a bird. Be sure to check out the mosaic mural, created by Chicago teens, that celebrates the past, present and future of Boeing.

Through Jan. 8.

3

Get a jump on the holiday season with Christmas Around the World, MSI’s yuletide tradition since 1942. More than 50 trees decorated by volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities represent global holiday traditions, while the 45-foot Grand Tree pays homage to Lego, the much-loved toy at the center of the temporary “Brick by Brick” exhibit. On Nov. 19-20 and 25-27, cultural groups will dance, sing and share holiday traditions in the Main Auditorium.

And on select weekends, guests can make their own brick-inspired ornaments to take home. Opens Nov. 17.

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PERFORMANCES (800) 775-2000, broadwayinchicago. com.

REPRISE. An old man returns a

violin to Northwestern Settlement that Ms. Harriet Vittum lent him 80 years earlier, with the promise that he bring it back when he was done. With original music and lyrics inspired by Chicago’s cultural traditions, “Reprise” follows an immigrant story as we discover what he did with the instrument all those years, how he knew he was finished and what it meant to keep his promise. $17, $12 kids 14 and under.

7 p.m. Nov. 4; 4 p.m. Nov. 5. Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago.

(773) 342-4141, adventurestage.org.

CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL.

Through Nov. 6. Features more than 250 films from 40 countries and engages kids of all ages with screening Q&As with filmmakers, interactive workshops with special guests, peer-to-peer dialogues, filmmaker-led seminars, and the CICFF Children’s and Youth Juries. Check website for cost and schedule. Facets Multi-Media, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago.

(773) 281-9075, cicff.org.

DR. SEWARD’S DRACULA.

Through Nov. 6. Picking up just after the end of Bram Stoker’s tale of the Prince of Darkness, “Dr. Seward’s Dracula” follows Seward as he tries to explain multiple dead bodies to the police now that Dracula is dead. The more Seward tries to plead his case, the less sure he becomes of his own sanity. $29-$39. 8:15 p.m. Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. firstfolio.org.

BILLY ELLIOTT THE MUSICAL.

Through Nov. 6. The inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle to make his dreams come true. Contains material that may be unsuitable for younger or more sensitive audience members. $22. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays.

Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook. (847) 291-2367, north brooktheatre.org.

THE NUTCRACKER. Opens Nov. 11.

Marie receives a beautiful nutcracker for Christmas from her mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer. When the Nutcracker comes to life, it’s a magical journey to reach the Sugar Plum fairy before the wicked Mouse King.

All performances are followed by a Q&A session with the cast. $17.23.

Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire.

(847)634-0200, marriotttheatre.com.

Seee thhis is page

Sputnik, from Yuri Gagarin to Neil Armstrong, this action-packed show brings the company’s tongue-in-cheek humor to a whole new atmosphere.

Recommended for families with kids 10 and up. $10-$39. Check website for schedule. Nov. 1-20. Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Ruth Page Center for Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (872) 222-9555, chicago childrenstheatre.org.

ANOTHER SNOWY DAY WITH BEATRIX POTTER. Featuring

iconic characters like Peter Rabbit and celebrating British country life, Beatrix Potter’s beloved stories are told through a series of mechanical suitcase sculptures, which invite visitors to pull levers and turn cranks, revealing images that surprise and delight. Recommended for families with kids 2-6. $10-$39. 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Nov. 5-20. Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Ruth Page Center for Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (872) 2229555, chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

ANNIE. A red-headed girl is selected

THEATER UNSPEAKABLE’S MOON SHOT. Seven actors re-create

the story of America’s Apollo 11 lunar landing. From the Cold War to

THE KID WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT. Through Nov. 12.

Rudo Ru ollp ph tth h he e RedNosed No se ed Re Reindeer: The M Th The Mu u usical

to leave the orphanage and move in with a rich man. Includes such unforgettable songs as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street” and

“Tomorrow.” Check website for cost.

Nov. 9-13. Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 977-1700, broadwayinchicago.com.

GETTING TO KNOW...

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA. The prince is giving a

ball and every girl is hoping to be the one he chooses for a bride. Mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella spends her days dreaming and wishing for a different life. A visit from her godmother teaches that if you wish hard enough, dreams come true. Recommended for families with kids in grades K-8. $14, $10 kids 12 and under. 6 p.m. Nov. 10-11; 1 p.m. Nov. 12. Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121, metropolisarts.com.

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.

Opens Nov. 11. ‘Tis the season to celebrate everyone’s favorite Peanuts pals as they dig past the commercialized gimmicks of presents and decorations to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. Recommended for families with kids 3-13. Call or check website for cost and schedule.

Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago.

Based on the books The Kid Who Ran for President and The Kid Who Became President by Dan Gutman. $8. Check website for schedule.

Chicago Playworks at DePaul University, Merle Reskin Theatre at DePaul University, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago. (312) 922-1999, theatre school.depaul.edu.

FANCY NANCY THE MUSICAL.

Through Nov. 12. Fancy Nancy is excited to be in her very first show.

When another girl gets the role she wanted, Nancy learns that with a little imagination, anything can be fancy. $12. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Saturdays. Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook. (847) 291-2367, northbrooktheatre.org.

CINDERELLA AT THE THEATER OF POTATOES. Opens Nov. 12.

Experience the classic fairy-tale heroine, Cinderella, in a completely new light. Here, Cinderella’s version of happily-ever-after is chance to realize her professional dreams. In signature Hypocrites’ style, the performers act as their own orchestra. $36, $15 students.

8 p.m. Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. The Den Theatre’s Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. the-hypocrites.com.

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL. The

tale of a young Rudolph who, because of his bright, shining nose, is ousted from the reindeer games in Christmastown. He flees town, meets up with

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PERFORMANCES new friends Hermey and Yukon, and a series of funny and endearing adventures ensue, including a visit to The Island of Misfit Toys. Check website for cost and schedule. Nov. 17-20.

Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. (312) 902-1500, thechicago theatre.com.

A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL. Opens Nov. 18. This musi-

cal is based on the movie classic. Set in the 1940s, it follows Ralphie Parker and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts: an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. $35-$38, $15 kids. 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Citadel Theatre, 300 S Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. (847) 735-8554, citadeltheatre.org.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO! Opens Nov. 18. Full-

scale production with Foley sound effects, an original score and a cast of eight. After each performance, milk

and cookies are served. $19-$49.

7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2:30 p.m.

Sundays. Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336, greenhousetheater.org.

Anot A not othe th he er S Sn no ow wy D Da ay w th wi h Beatrix Potttte er See page Se g 84

SLEEPING BEAUTY. Through Nov.

22. In a faraway kingdom, an evil sorceress casts a curse on the beautiful princess, causing her to sleep for 100 years. The spell can only be broken by true love’s kiss before time runs out.

Playing at Joliet Junior College, North Central College, Museum of Science & Industry, Tivoli Theatre, Prairie Center for the Arts and more. $8.50. 10:30 a.m. Check website for schedule.

AlphaBet Soup Productions, P.O. Box 85, Lombard. (630) 932-1555, absproductions.com.

DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Opens Nov. 23. The blockbuster Disney movie comes to life in this awe-inspiring production. Join Ariel on her quest for love and life on land.

$44-$59. Check website for schedule.

Paramount Arts Centre and Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666, paramountaurora.com.

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

THUMBELINA. Through Nov. 27.

THAT’S WEIRD GRANDMA: IT CAME FROM THE VOTING BOOTH. Through Nov. 28. The new

Pursued by all manner of woodland creatures eager to possess her, tiny Thumbelina must make her way through the great big world with nothing but her wits and will. A series of whimsical and magical adventures unfold as she sets out to find a community to call her own. Based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen.

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

school year brings plenty of new stories, all conceived and written by Chicago Public School students and adapted for the stage and performed

by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members. The line-up changes each week by audience vote, so no two shows are ever the same. $12, $6 kids under 12. 8 p.m. Mondays. Barrel

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Hotshots4kids.com ChicagoParent.com November 2016 85

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PERFORMANCES of Monkeys, The Neo-Futurarium Theater (2nd Floor), 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (312) 409-1954, barrel ofmonkeys.org.

ONE SHINY NOSE. A SLEIGHFUL OF MEMORIES.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. A lightJACK AND THE BEANSTALK.

Jack and his dancing Spanish cow Carmelita try to save their village from the crazy giant. Recommended for families with kids 2-12. $12.

Check website for schedule. 10:30 a.m. weekdays; 1 p.m. Nov. 12. Stahl Family Theater, 5900 W. Belmont, Chicago. (773) 205-9600, chicagokids company.com.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD. Sing

along with Red and her friends as she travels through the forest to visit her grandma. Will she get to Grandma’s before the Big Bad Wolf? Performances at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, 3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero (through Nov. 5) and Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago (beginning Nov. 8). Recommended for families with kids 2-12. $12. 10:30 a.m. weekdays; 1 p.m. Nov. 5 and 19. Chicago Kids Company, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago.

(773) 205-9600, chicagokidscompany. com.

DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER & A FLY. Enter the whimsical world of in-

NOVEMBER 17 - 20 Purchase tickets at Box Office or 800-745-3000

Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100, emeraldcity theatre.com.

,

TheChicagoTheatre.com The Chicago Theatre provides disabled accommodations and sells tickets to disabled individuals through our Disabled Services department, Ticketmaster orders are subject to service charges. which may be reached at 888-609-7599 any weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” animated television special adapted from a story by Robert L. May and the song by Johnny Marks, music and lyrics by Johnny Marks. All elements © and ™ under license to Character Arts, LLC.

sects with a cast of creepy crawly characters and laugh at the trials of being a young bug in school. Through musical genres such as rap, hip-hop, pop and Broadway standards, this choral comedy humanizes the life cycles of insects to celebrate and accept the differences in every child. Recommended for ages 3-9. $19 and up. Check website for schedule. Emerald City Theatre Company, Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100, emeraldcitytheatre.com.

JUNIE B. JONES IN JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS! Based

on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park, this show explores the challenges of giving selflessly through humor and holiday joy as fan-favorite Junie B. Jones journeys through a Columbus Day school play, a holiday sing-along concert, and Secret Santa Day. Recommended for ages 4-10. $19 and up. Check website for schedule.

Emerald City Theatre Company,

hearted spoof of frantic Hollywood as the advent of sound revolutionizes the movie industry. The iconic musical’s high power, toe-tapping energy comes to life on stage in this splashy adaptation of the beloved Oscarwinning MGM film. $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, marriott theatre.com.

ANNIE WARBUCKS. The story

begins on Christmas morning when Child Welfare Commissioner Harriet Doyle informs Daddy Warbucks that he must marry in 60 days so that the newly adopted Annie can have a proper mother. $40-$44. Nov. 17-Dec. 18. Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Ind. (219) 836-3255. theatreatthecenter.com PIGPEN. An interactive, musical story time for kids 6 months to 3 years. Free coffee is included for parents. 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 can 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. first and third Friday at Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago; 11 a.m. first and third Saturday at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago. cityofchicago.org/dcase.

HOGWASH: AN IMPROVISED TALL TALE. Hogwash is an improvised

children’s show full of music, art, laughs and audience participation.

Recommended for families with kids 2-12. $10 kids, adults free. 10:30 a.m.

Saturdays. Bughouse Theater, 1910 W. Irving Park, Chicago. hogwash kids.com.

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Photos by 5 Boys and 1 Girl make 6 Photography

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS

Shop and play local

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On Nov. 12, ASTRA retailers kick ou already have Black off the holiday season with a day Friday, Small Business full of games, activities and favorite Saturday and Giving characters—not to mention promoTuesday popping up tions and discounts mom and dad on your smartphone will love. (The holidays are calendar this expensive, ya’ll.) month. But here’s one expensive more special day to In an age of big box stores add to the list: store (love you forever, Target!), Neighborhood for you can feel good Toy Store Day. yo knowing that And as you k might guess, yyou helped some regional busiit’s way more nesses, explored fun than Chicagoland waiting in line C just a little bit at 3 a.m. for a ju more—and found flat-screen TV. mo a fu fun outing for your Neighborhood hard-to-please kids.

Toy Store Day is the hard-t Shin Photography we’ve heard brainchild of ASTRA TRA Plus, w has been (American Specialty alty Toy Santa Claus himself h known to shop local. And if it’s good Retailing Association), which has enough for the Big Guy, well … who dozens of members throughout the are we to say otherwise?

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Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders

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