Chicago

Gorgeous pumpkins await at All Seasons Apple Orchard in Woodstock. Photo courtesy of orchard

Best Pumpkin Patches for Kids Near Chicago

Pick from more than a dozen pumpkin patches and pumpkin farms near Chicago for a day of fall family...

Even during COVID, kids can still get into the Halloween spirit in Chicago.

Top Halloween Events Near Chicago for Kids and Families

We've got Chicago families covered with more than three dozen great Halloween events and things to...

Just about an hour from Chicago, kids can pick apples at Apple Holler from mid-August to November.

Best Orchards for Apple Picking Near Chicago with Kids

We’ve selected 14 of the best apple orchards within a two-hour drive of Chicago for your...

Grab your list and head out for a scavenger hunt with the kids!

Indoor and Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids (Cute Printables!)

Print out one of these scavenger hunts for a quick boredom buster!

Virtual and Online Guide for Family Fun

Find fun online classes, entertainment, and more virtual things to do.

GUIDE

Homeschool & Online Learning Resources for Families

We'll help you navigate a complex school year with these tools and resources.

GUIDE

Enjoy the sights of Chicago on a Shoreline Sightseeing Cruise.

Best Boat Rides for Chicago Area Families

Choose a speedy ride, sailboat, or relaxing river cruise with these Chicago boat tours.

Splash Island in Oak Brook. Photo courtesy of the Oak Brook Park District

Best Water Playgrounds and Spraygrounds for Chicago Kids

The fun is as wet as it gets at these nearby sprinkler parks.

This patriotic pop is bursting with watermelon, coconut, and raspberry flavors. Photo by Mommy Poppins

8 Fun Popsicle Recipes to Make with Kids

Make frozen treats inspired by July 4th, cake batter, hot cocoa and more.

As families prepare for the uncertainty of the school year, many are looking to learning pods.

How to Create a Homeschool Pod or School Pod: Top Things to Consider

Pandemic pods are one more option for a fraught school year.

There are both woodland and paved trails at the Morton Arboretum. Photo by Maureen Wilkey

Best Places to Hike Near Chicago with Kids

Soak up nature in these forest preserves and parks near the Windy City.

Get ready to enjoy some mini golf near Chicago this summer! Photo courtesy of Maggie Daley Park/Facebook

15 Mini Golf Courses Near Chicago for Kid-Friendly Putt-Putt

There's no shortage of mini golf near Chicago—and it might just be one of the better summer...

Stay-at-Home Guide: 100s of Activities and Resources for Families on Pause

Indoor activities, games, and online classes to keep kids busy during the coronavirus pandemic.

GUIDE

Load the family in the car for the Dinosaur Adventure Drive-Thru, which features 80 life-sized dinos to gawk at. Photo courtesy of Dinosaur Adventure

Best Things To Do in Chicago in September With Kids: Dinos, Outdoor Movies, Festivals

Here's what's happening in Chicago this month!

Time to stock up for an unpredictable school year!

Essential School Supplies for Whatever This Year Brings Us

These supplies can help whether returning to the classroom or not.

There's plenty of seating for families at Hofbrauhaus Chicago.

Top 10 Chicago-Area Outdoor Restaurants for Families

Many family-favorite restaurants are safely opening outdoor seating for summer.

The gorgeous wide-open spaces of Yosemite National Park reopened to visitors with restrictions. Photo courtesy of NPS

Top National Parks for Summer Vacation with the Kids

A trip to one of our national parks might be the perfect 2020 vacay.

Mommy Poppins Online Camp Fair 2020

Families can continue to browse the Mommy Poppins 2020 Camp Fair all summer long for camp...

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Here's the Chicago Public School Calendar for 2020-21

The 2020-21 school calendar is here: Bookmark this page for handy reference.

Fight the restlessness of quarantine, join in for LIVE ONLINE YogiKids classes held every day, twice a day!!! Photo courtesy of Yogi Nation

Find Free and Affordable Online Classes, Parties, and Camps on Poppins@Home

Explore tons of virtual free and low-cost fun with our new platform.

Birthday Parties in Quarantine: Ways To Celebrate with Kids while Social Distancing

Birthday? How about a drive-by parade, a Zoom party, or a Broadway show from home?

10 Activities To Do with Grandparents on Zoom

Games and activities make virtual hangouts more fun and meaningful for all.

Relax on the shore and romp in water at the gorgeous Gillson Park and the Willmette Beaches.

Best Chicago Beaches for Families

Who says you need an ocean to go to the beach?

Best Playgrounds in Chicago: Destination Play Zones Worth the Trip

In a city of great playgrounds, these are the swings, climbers, and slides worth the trip.

Small camp "families" can help keep kids safe this summer. Photo courtesy of Camp Runoia

Where Summer Camps Are Opening and Parents' Safety Checklist

Camp is happening! Here's how to find one that's open and what to ask to keep kids safe.

Kids as young as age 10 can help load and unload the dishwasher.

Chore Charts for Kids: Age-by-Age Lists and Free Printables

There's no better time to enlist your kids help with housework. Here are age-appropriate tasks.

65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age

It's not a bad time to go back to basics, especially when we have the kids' full attention.

Making time for reading each day is a low-key goal that works for all ages. Photo by Josh Applegate/Unsplash

The Realistic Guide to Homeschooling for Busy Parents

No one expects you to run a full school. Here are some realistic tips instead.

Pull out a block, place it on top but don't let the tower fall in the fun and challenging Jenga.

Best Board Games for All Ages: Two Dozen Picks for Family Game Night

Pandemic playtime is lots of fun with these all-ages pleasing picks.

Watch your sketch appear in this invisible ink science experiment!

Science Experiments for Kids: How to Make Invisible Ink

Write secret messages with this simple invisible ink recipe.

VIDEO

Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting.

Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects for Creative At-Home Fun

Bookmark this blockbuster list of arts and crafts and never run out of ideas for creative play.

Boredom Busters for Kids

Crafts, recipes, games, projects, and experiments to spark kids' imaginations!

GUIDE

These free online classes and educational resources are perfect for homeschooling and remote learning..

30+ (Mostly FREE) Online Learning Resources, Apps, and Games for Kids

Supplement distance learning with these online lessons, apps, and more.

50 Best Kids' Movies for Family Movie Night

These classic family movies include wild adventures, sci-fi, and coming-of-age tales.

Fan favorite Frozen 2 got an early release thanks to coronavirus. Photo courtesy of Disney

Best Kids' TV Shows and Movies To Stream in Quarantine

Kids deserve a little escapism too!

Even if it's cloudy and raining outside, you can create sunshine and rainbows inside.

50 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day

Try one of these boredom-busting activities to turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.

WeeWork Activities: Indoor Balloon Tennis

Create this fun tennis game with a couple of paper plates and popsicle sticks.

Hand them a pail and a spoon, er, shovel, and let kids dig in the dirt.

Outdoor Fun with Kids: 30 Ways to Get Messy in the Backyard

Build a ladybug house, splatter paint, or just dig in the dirt!

13 Simple Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers to Do at Home

Create popsicle stick monsters, tinfoil Easter eggs, and more easy crafts with tots.

10 Outdoor Games from the '70s that It’s Time To Teach Your Kids

When folks say, “We just went outside and played,” can anyone remember what we played?

25 STEM Activities Easy Enough for Preschoolers

DIY projects for your smallest tinkerers, explorers, and scientists.

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Latest Articles

Top Holiday Toys for Kids' Christmas Wish Lists

Katie Nave , Oct 6 - Ready your wish lists for babies through teens.READ MORE

Free Things To Do Online in October: Halloween Events, World Space Week, Dia de los Muertos, and Coffee Fest

Toby B , Oct 2 - Replace big holiday gatherings with Halloween concerts, parties, and activities from all over the...READ MORE

SPONSORED

MiSight 1 day Contact Lenses Can Help Kids 8-12 Manage Eye Health

Maureen Wilkey, Oct 1 - Children with nearsightedness may benefit from advances in management.READ MORE

Best Things To Do in Chicago in October with Kids: Halloween, Fall Fests, and Outdoor Fun

Maureen Wilkey, Sep 30 - While you're deciding what to do for Halloween, October has plenty of other fun going on.READ MORE

Spooky and Sweet Halloween Face Masks for Kids

Rose Gordon Sala, Sep 29 - These face masks pair well with a COVID-Halloween.READ MORE

25 Fun Halloween Games for an At-Home Halloween Party

Ally Noel, Sep 27 - Pick a killer playlist from these Halloween games, and who needs trick-or-treating?READ MORE

Indoor and Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids (Cute Printables!)

Print out one of these scavenger hunts for a quick boredom buster!

Best Orchards for Apple Picking Near Chicago with Kids

We’ve selected 14 of the best apple orchards within a two-hour drive of Chicago for your...

Best Boat Rides for Chicago Area Families

Choose a speedy ride, sailboat, or relaxing river cruise with these Chicago boat tours.

Homeschool & Online Learning Resources for Families

We'll help you navigate a complex school year with these tools and resources.

GUIDE

Best Pumpkin Patches for Kids Near Chicago

Pick from more than a dozen pumpkin patches and pumpkin farms near Chicago for a day of fall family...

Make bubbles strong enough to catch and bounce in with fun science experiments for kids.

15 Backyard Science Experiments for Messy Summer Fun

Build a worm tower or bake solar oven s'mores in these fun experiments.

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