kidwinks.com Blog - Chicago with Kids

Top Trainers Workout DVD Set

2012-01-29T22:36:00.000-08:00

I have a hard time prioritizing workout time for myself. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day. I have an elliptical machine, but that gets boring after awhile. I've tried working out to tv shows, but the commercials are annoying. I've tried checking out workout dvds from the library, but haven't liked any of them, and they all seem dated. And forget joining a gym, because that adds commuting time on top of workout time, not to mention the $$$. So what's a gal to do?

Last summer I was introduced to Top Trainers, a set of 10 workout dvds from top fitness trainers in different disciplines. The program uses the "blend method" offering workouts from multiple fitness disciplines. I LOVE IT! Here's a list of the dvds and their descriptions, with my comments following in blue:

Lindsay Brin's Shed Five Fast: Two different 30 minute workouts of total body and balance toning exercises with bursts of cardio. Great when you want to fit in a quick workout and hit all the major muscle groups.
Ellen Barrett's Yogini (45 minutes): Classic yoga poses intensified with Pilates and body-sculpting techniques. I love the way I feel after doing yoga, and this is a nice workout.
Angie Miller's Core and Strength Fusion (70 minutes): Fresh, creative and fun total body workout. This one is okay; I wouldn't say it's my favorite, but I can't give a good reason why. Maybe it's the length - I like 60 minutes or less.
Jennifer Galardi's Ballet Body (64 minutes): Five mini workouts blending exercises from classic ballet, Pilates and yoga to deliver a workout that elongates and strengthens your entire body. I LOVE this one. It really targets and strengthens hip muscles (a big area of weakness for me). I appreciate that she doesn't do tons of repetitions over and over -- it's a variety of exercises that accomplish the same thing. I always feel like I'm walking taller and straighter after this one.
Tracey Mallet's Six Minute Quick Blast Method (27 minutes): A total body calorie blast that fuses cardio with deep toning techniques to lengthen and strenghen your entire body. Targets the core for a flat, lean belly and healthy back. I like quickness of these videos: 6 minutes for cardio, mind/body, and abs. You don't get tired of one thing before it's time to move to the next.
Michelle Dozois' Your Best Body Circuit (58 minutes): A complete weight and fat loss system which utilizes a powerful combination of fun and easy to follow cardio intervals and metabolism boosting exercises. Nice mix; perfect length for me.
Ilaria Montagnani's PowerStrike 5 (52 minutes): An intense kickboxing workout filled with energy packed, exciting new drills and challenging choreographed routines. I haven't tried this one. I had my hip replaced a few years ago, and this one just didn't sit well with me & my titanium hip.
Christi Taylor's Mission: Possible (56 minutes): Step and multi-impact workout for all exercise levels. Burn calories and increase flexibility. I used to do step class all the time when it first came out, and I still have my step, luckily. I LOVE this workout, which mixes step with floor exercises.
Susan Tuttle's Latin Sensation (2 26 minute sessions): Exercise to spicy Latin rhythms, going through a variety of Latin dance routines such as Salsa, Meringue, Cumbia, Cha Cha and Reggaeton. Fun, fun, fun! It doesn't even seem like you're exercising!
Stephanie Vitorino's Ultimate Body Shaper (48 minutes) Full body workout. This workout is a little harder than some of the others, and has good cardio. I like it!

In general, I really like all of the instructors. I've attended many different fitness classes from many different instructors over the last 25 or so years, so I've got some experience behind me. The set comes with a workout calendar preprinted with a schedule for 60 days. I found I like to set my own schedule, though, depending on the time I have any particular day. The set also includes some information on nutrition and a one-month subscription to ediets which I did not bother to look into. Maybe I should....

I think the best thing about the set is the diversity. The variety of workout routines really gives you a chance to pick and choose what you feel like doing on any given day. Let's face it: some days a 78 minute full cardio workout sounds great, and other days you just want to squeeze in a little salsa. Also, you don't get bored doing the same workout over and over.

The cost for this set is about $90 (3 payments of $29.95 each). That's about $9 per dvd, which isn't bad. When you compare it to a gym membership, it's much cheaper. Of course, a gym would give you many workout options, too, with equipment you're not likely to have at home.

I recommend the set if you want to exercise at home and like a variety of options to choose from. It also helps, I think, to have a background of attending classes with a live instructor so you know what good form feels like. You don't need a lot of space, but you will need some light to medium handweights for several of the workouts, as well as a yoga mat. I've done the yoga workouts on carpeting without a yoga mat, and it was okay, but the yoga mat worked better.

Now excuse me while I grab some shuteye so I can get up and workout in the morning!

Disney On Ice Dare to Dream

2012-01-28T08:27:00.001-08:00

Last night my kids and I went to Disney on Ice Dare to Dream at the Allstate Arena. What a fabulous show! You expect a good show for Disney on Ice, but we were really wowed by how great it was!

The show highlights 3 main stories -- Princess and the Frog, Cinderella and Tangled. The Disney characters, Mickey & Minnie, Pluto, Donald Duck and Goofy, started the show with a New Orleans theme, skating and singing to “When the Saints Go Marching In” as well as other songs. The costumes and skating were both great. I felt like I was sitting in a theater in Walt Disney World!

Princess and the Frog had a cool, creepy start when they skated to “Transylvania Central.” My son liked the skeleton skaters and the villains in this scene. I didn’t really know all the details of this Disney story going into the show (although my 5 year old daughter apparently did), but I loved all the New Orleans music and skating. They used smoke and bright lights to hide the changes of Princess Tiana into a frog and then back into a human. It was done very well and was seamless.

The second story was Cinderella. I’ve never been much of a “princess person”, but I think I’ve been converted! They did a great job with this story, balancing both the beautiful dresses and skating and even some humor that poked fun at Cinderella’s stepsisters. The ball scene was beautiful with all the skaters in huge, sparkly dresses, making everyone wonder how they skate in those?!? The most spectacular part of the story was when Cinderella came out in her carriage that was pulled by “horses”. The horses were skaters with huge horse headdresses that were skating in unison pulling a beautiful lit-up carriage. It was really amazing! When the prince was looking for whoever fit the single glass slipper, a few little girls from the front row were “fitted” with the slipper by the performers.

The final story was Tangled. All the shows were great, but they definitely saved the best for last! Several songs from the movie were included and the best was the bar scene where the group of fabulously costumed thugs sings I’ve Got a Dream along with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Lots of people in the crowd singing along to that one! Maximus the Horse skated throughout this story with some very talented skaters inside the costume. Rapunzel and Flynn Rider did some spectacular acrobatic moves with long ribbons that hung down from the ceiling. They were literally flying through the air holding onto the ribbons.

The show ends with all the Disney princesses coming out in white and gold costumes. My daughter wondered why they weren’t in the dresses she was used to seeing them in, but still loved how “pretty” they all looked. Even Mickey & Minnie had white and gold sparkly costumes. The dance ended with fireworks and all the characters lined up on the stairs of the castle.

The show lasted about 2 hours, which included a 15 minute intermission. Each story included about 6-7 songs. Mickey & Minnie started the show, came out in between each story, then starred in the final song. It was a show that absolutely wasn’t just for princess loving girls. There was a group of childless women sitting behind us who loved every minute! Lots of adult humor and entertainment infused throughout the show. I can’t say that I would have went without kids, but I think I loved it just as much as my daughter and son. Lots of appeal for boys as well as girls.

After the show, we hung around for a short presentation done by the production crew. They told us some of the behind-the-scenes info on what it takes to put the production together. We learned that the scenery fits into 13 semi trucks, they travel with 2 washers & dryers, there are 178 costumes and over 1100 costume pieces! Four of the skaters came out in regular clothing and did some skating tricks for the crowd. It was fun to see and worth the extra time we stuck around. The extra time also helped to empty out the parking lot so we just walked to our car and pulled out.

Our seats could not have been better. We were straight in front of the the castle in section 115, right above the extra folding chairs they set up for the “VIP” section. I do think it made a difference to follow the stories when the characters are facing you all the time. Seats on the side would be fine, but if you can in the front section, its probably worth it.

Parking at the Allstate Arena was $13. There were many empty seats for our show, so you I don't think it would be a problem getting last minute tickets if you need to. All the food and drink prices inside the Arena were ridiculous, as expected. Lots & lots of Disney vendors set up all over to buy any kind of overpriced Disney toy you could imagine! We did end up with a Rapunzel flag, but it was $8, so I didn’t feel too bad about it.

Definitely a show that your whole family will enjoy. Highly recommended! You can get more information about Disney on Ice Dare to Dream on the Kidwinks site. It was a great way to start our weekend!

The Perfect Big Brother/Sister Gift!

2012-01-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

Baby GoGo Goes Home Doll Set and Diaper Bag is an adorable baby doll that would make any toddler happy! The doll is intended to be a new big brother or big sister gift, which it is perfect for. It could also be a great gift for any toddler that likes to take care of his or her dolls. The packaging it comes in makes it a great gift. The set includes the doll, a cloth velcro-tab diaper, a soft blanket, a small book entitled "Baby GoGo Goes Home" and a nice sized diaper bag to keep all of it in. The box is extremely sturdy .... my daughter put a few blankets inside the box and used it as a little bed for the baby doll.

The doll is gender-neutral (actually looks more like a boy), so its great for new big brothers as well big sisters. When my younger kids were born, I wanted to give my older boys their own babies to take care to keep them occupied (much to the dismay of my husband!). I had to search quite a bit for boy-looking dolls. Baby GoGo would have been perfect!

The diaper bag is relatively small, but large enough to carry the cloth diaper that comes with the set and maybe a few accessories you add yourself. My daughter likes to take a few things from her stash of doll accessories and put them in the diaper bag for Baby GoGo. Just the diaper and blanket didn't hold her attention for that long. Then again, she has no younger siblings that are having their diaper changed or blanket swaddled. That would make a difference. The pieces are all made very well .... the diaper bag is a heavy canvas.

Baby GoGo is a great gift for an older sibling and could be passed down from child to child as more brothers or sisters come into the family.

You can see a full descriptions of Baby GoGo in the shopping section of www.Kidwinks.com, as well as lots of other great toys!

Sledding in Chicago - A New Favorite Sled Hill for Kids

2012-01-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

I'm a Yooper - born and raised in the Upper Peninsula (Da U.P.) of Michigan. So snow, winter, cold and the great outdoors are in my blood. But sledding has always been a daddy-daughter activity in our house. By the time our oldest daughter was old enough to go sledding, we had our 2nd daughter, who was just a baby. So I stayed home with #2 while daddy took #1 out to enjoy the hills.

The first few reports from the sled hill in Park Ridge (Centennial Park) had me worried about my daughter's safety. My husband told me how crowded the hill often was, and how easy it was for kids to get hurt by other sledders. There was no way he'd even consider letting our daughter go down the hill by herself.

In a couple of years, #2 was old enough to join them, but I had a recent hip replacement (turns out hip dysplasia isn't a problem only in large breed dogs!) and not too keen on getting wiped out and hurting that precious hip. So I was relegated to staying home and making sure the hot chocolate was ready when the sledding contingent returned. Poor me!

Flick Park Sled Hill

After a couple of close calls at Centennial, my hubby tried Flick Park in Glenview and was pretty happy with it, but still felt somewhat concerned about solo sledding.

When the snow first fell this year, our neighbor offered to take our daughters sledding with him and his 3 kids at Melas Park Sled Hill in Mt. Prospect. Not familiar with this hill and concerned about safety, I made my husband go with so he could sled with #2 and help keep an eye on #1 and the others. Well, it turns out I had little reason to worry!

Melas Park Sled Hill
Mt. Prospect, IL

Melas Park
Mt. Prospect, IL

Melas Park is FABULOUS for sledding! It's a large, bowl-shaped area used for water retention after heavy rains. There is room for everyone to spread out and have their own piece of the hill, so the danger of sledding accidents is much lower. The slopes are steep enough to keep the older kids happy, but not too steep for the younger kids.

Melas Park - Pure Joy!

I think Melas Park might just tempt me out onto a sled this winter for the first time in years, and make this a fun winter family activity we can all enjoy together! I have to say I'm actually pretty excited about it! Who doesn't like a good sled ride? WHHHEEEEEE!!!!!

If you're looking for more Chicago area sled hills or other winter kids activities for Chicago kids, check out kidwinks.com. Kidwinks' Winter Fun for Kids online guide is a great way to find fun things to do with kids, and so is kidwinks' Chicago kids Events Calendar.

Weird & Wacky Contraption Lab

2012-01-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

The Weird & Wacky Contraption Lab by Smartlab is a fun do-it-yourself maze toy. The set comes with a standing velcro board that is about 2 feet tall. It includes all kinds of crazy and silly components that you put together to create a path for the small steel ball to race through. You can follow one of the "maps" outlined in the instructions or you can put together your own design.

My seven year old son played with this toy on his own (actually with some help from his little sister, but all the ideas were his!). He thought some of the pieces were hysterical. They range from a kicking boot that sets off a pointing finger, a chicken coop, a flying pig, a variety of maze straight and curved pieces, and my son's favorite... a toilet bowl (toilets will always be a hit with 7 year old boys). With all the pieces set up, they almost looked like a contraption straight out of a Dr. Seuss book.

With so many possibilities in how to use the pieces, the toy kept my son's interest for quite some time. You definitely need some patience to work with this. The pieces need to be lined up exactly in order to for the ball to flow through. There isn't much room for error in some of the pieces. My son was a bit frustrated in trying to get the ball all the way through to the end, but he did certainly enjoy the Contraption Lab enough to keep playing with it for a couple of hours! That sure says a lot! Working with a partner might have made things easier for him.

Overall, the Weird & Wacky Contraption Lab is a great toy that requires patience and creativity. It rewards your child with the satisfaction of seeing their creation work and is a great deal of fun! Its a perfect toy to enjoy for an afternoon when the freezing cold winter temps keep you trapped inside the house. You can find lots of other fun things to do with your kids both inside and out on Kidwinks family fun page.

Chicago Free Days - Free Museum Days in Chicago and Suburbs

2012-01-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Here is a great new addition to the kidwinks.com website.

Parents won't need to empty their wallets if they visit Chicago area museums / cultural institutions on one of the many free days offered. Below you'll find a list of the programs and Chicago museums' free days for 2012. After the Chicago museums, we have listed the suburban museums.

Each of the headings for the individual programs and museums is a direct link to the museum's discount page or the program's description page so you can easily click thru to verify the free days. NOTE: It's always a good idea to double check by calling the museum first, just in case their policies change before their website is updated.

Bank of America Museums on Us: Holders of a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch card can enjoy free admission to 150 museums nationwide on the first full weekend of every month. In Chicago, this includes:

Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago History Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Adler Planetarium.

Chicago Public Library's Great Kids Museums Passports: A Great Kids Museum Passport is good for two adults and two children for general admission to certain Chicago museums. Adults may check out these free passes at Chicago Public Library branches with your Chicago Public Library Card.

Adler Planetarium:

Read reviews of Adler Planetarium on kidwinks

Illinois residents can enjoy complimentary general admission on Adler Discount Days with proof of residency. 2012 Discount Days:
January: 9-12, 17, 18, 23-26, 31
February: 1, 6-9, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
March: 6, 7
Click on the link above and check out the Under One Sky membership - Members of the DuSable Museum of African American History and the National Museum of Mexican Art enjoy FREE general admission and sky show tickets at the Adler Planetarium, in addition to other discounts.

Art Institute of Chicago:

Read reviews of Art Institute of Chicago on kidwinks

Free Winter Weekdays: Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is free to Illinois residents every weekday, January 2–February 10, 2012.
Children under 14 are always free.

Chicago Children's Museum:

Read reviews of Chicago Children's Museum on kidwinks

Target Free First Sundays: First Sunday of each month, free admission for visitors 15 and under
Kraft Free Family Night: Thursday Evenings 5pm – 8pm, free admission for all visitors

Chicago History Museum:

Read reviews of Chicago History Museum on kidwinks

Illinois Resident Discount Days: The museum is no longer free every Monday, instead a new schedule of days is offered, which provide free admission to Illinois Residents only. Discount Days at the Museum are on:

Monday, January 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Sunday, February 5–Wednesday, February 29
Admission for kids age 12 and under is always free.
Free for members of: Chicago History Museum, DuSable Museum, and National Museum of Mexican Art.

Clarke House Museum

Tours are FREE on Wednesdays (not applicable to groups of ten or more).

DuSable Museum of African American History

Read reviews of DuSable Museum of African American History on kidwinks

Illinois residents can enjoy complimentary basic admission on free days.

Free Sundays: Admission is FREE to all on each Sunday of the year. The museum also offers free admission rates (on school days) to all Chicago Public School students.
Children under 5 are free every day.

Field Museum:
Read reviews of Field Museum on kidwinks

Illinois residents can enjoy complimentary basic admission during The Field Museum Discount Days.
January Discount Days: 11th - 13th; 19th - 20th; 24th; 26th - 27th; 31st

Glessner House Museum:

Tours are FREE on Wednesdays (not applicable to groups of ten or more)

John G. Shedd Aquarium:

Read reviews of Shedd Aquarium on kidwinks

On the Shedd's Illinois Resident Discount Days, Illinois residents can enjoy free general admission. Shedd's 52 discount days a year take advantage of civic and school holidays to make family visits more convenient.
2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days
January: 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31
February: 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28
June: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
September: 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25
October: 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
November: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27

Museum of Contemporary Art:
Read reviews of Museum of Contemporary Art on kidwinks

Admission is FREE for Illinois residents on Tuesdays year round.
Members of the military and children aged 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult) are free every day.
Family Days: Every second Saturday of the month, the MCA invites families to learn about the art of our time through hands-on art activities, scavenger hunts, Look & Learn stations, and more. Admission is FREE For families with children 12 and under. Activities are appropriate for all ages.

Children 12 and under eat FREE at Puck’s cafe at the MCA on Family Day with purchase of one adult entrée per child.

Museum of Science and Industry:

Read reviews of Museum of Science and Industry on kidwinks

Illinois residents receive free general admission on the following dates in 2012:
January: 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31
February: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
March: 5
April: 19
May: 23
June: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11
September: 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
October: 1, 2, 3
November: 5
December: 3

National Museum of Mexican Art:
Read reviews of National Museum of Mexican Art on kidwinks

Free admission every day.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum:
Read reviews of Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on kidwinks

Thursdays: Illinois Residents can enjoy free admission.
Children 3 and under are free every day.
Plenty of free street parking along Cannon Drive.

Swedish American Museum / Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration

Read reviews of Brunch Children's Museum of Immigration on kidwinks

Admission to the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration is included with Swedish American Museum admission.
Free admission: second Tuesday of every month.

FREE DAYS AT SUBURBAN MUSEUMS / ZOOS

Brookfield Zoo:

Read reviews of Brookfield Zoo on kidwinks

Free Admission Off Season: Zoo admission is free on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28.

Hamill Family Play Zoo Admission
Admission is free November 1 to March 1.

Free Admission for Military Personnel:
To show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the men and women in the United States Armed Forces, the Chicago Zoological Society is offering free admission to Brookfield Zoo to all active, reservist, and retired members of the military. Qualified personnel who present a valid ID at one of the zoo's admission booths will be admitted free of charge.

Milwaukee County Zoo (Milwaukee)

2012 Family Free Days:
• January 7
• February 4
• March 3
• April 14
• November 3
• December 1

ALL VISITORS RECEIVE FREE ZOO ADMISSION; THE PARKING FEE REMAINS IN EFFECT.

Rockford Art Museum

Tuesdays are FREE to the public; group rates still apply.
Children under 12 are always free.

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens (Rockford):

Every Tuesday is Donation Day, which means there is no fixed admission price, but you can leave a donation if you like.

For Chicago parents who are looking for rainy a day activities for kids, what to in Chicago kidwinks is the site for you.

Places for Birthday Party for Kids - Birthday Parties Jump Zone - Chicago with kids

2012-01-13T07:22:00.000-08:00

For Chicago area parents looking for children birthday parties locations for kids check out Jump!Zone with 5 locations you get access to the entire play arena for the first 75 minutes of the party and the next 30 minutes in the party room.

Parties will have use of their Private Party Room for almost the entire time of the party (party room will be made available shortly after the party start time). Parents can relax and socialize or jump into the fun (as long as no children are playing on the inflatable at the same time).

In addition they are also a good option for indoor fun in Chicago and suburbs. As an indoor kids venue they offer open jump times. To find the exact times and days click thru on the links and then View Website. Also if the weather is not great outside or if you are looking for rainy activities for kids.

For additional birthday parties locations for kids take a look at the kidwinks' Birthday Party Guide for Chicago Kids

Here are links to all 5 Jump!Zone locations:

Birthday Parties at Jump Zone Buffalo Grove
Jump Zone, Volo
Birthday Parties Jump Zone - Niles
Jump Zone Party and Play Centers - Mokena
Open Play Jump Zone - Bolingbrook

Places for Birthday Party for Kids - Pump It Up - Chicago The Inflatable Party Zone - Chicago with kids

2012-01-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

Only at Pump It Up "The Inflatable Party Zone" can you enjoy a fully staffed, private, indoor party with giant interactive inflatable play structures and a 20' rock climbing wall. A Pump It Up party is a fun and unforgettable event for ages 2 to adult. Allow the staff at Pump It Up to do the work while you are a guest at your own party. And it doesn't stop there, we offer more than just birthday parties.

Let Pump It Up host your field trip, corporate team building event, scout troop, sports team or special event. We are happy to customize a package that suits your individual needs. They also offer weekly structured play classes for Ages 5 and under. These classes run, jump, climb, slide, sing, dance and more. The focus is on having fun and learning.

Click thru to read reviews by Chicago area parents - 13 Great Reviews as of today.

For more places for birthday party for kids check out the Birthday Party Guide for Chicago Kids on kidwinks.com.

Click thru - Parents looking for Indoor Fun in Chicago with Kids.

Great Toy for your Junior Scientist!

2011-12-18T21:09:00.001-08:00

The Primary Science Kit by Learning Resources is a great toy for a young scientist! Its a science kit geared for kids aged 4 and up. Its a very complete kit that includes a beaker, eyedropper, flask, funnel, magnifying glass, test tubes, tweezers and of course goggles. In our house, when you dress the part, its always more fun........

All the pieces included in the kit are made very well out of a hard plastic which seem perfectly safe and durable for small kids. The test tubes include a stand which helps to avoid messes and makes it easier to see your scientific discoveries! I really liked the size of all the instruments. They are very chunky which makes it easy for little hands to use, but they still work very well.

The 10 activity cards are large, plastic coated, colorful cards. Some of the activities include mixing primary food colors, cleaning pennies with lemon juice acid, sink vs. float, even a mini-volcano! The cards show a clear picture of the tools that will be necessary as well as specific directions for the activity. A non-reader could easily use the cards to gather all the necessary items, while an adult or older child reads the directions. Its actually a great toy to enlist the help of an older child with your toddler. The directions are easy to follow and some of the activities would be fun for older kids, too. My daughter had a couple of "helpers" in her experiments:

The Primary Science Kit is a fun learning toy that should definitely keep your child's interest! Many "younger" versions of toys end up being difficult to use or break very quickly. That is definitely not the case with this set. Its very usable for younger kids, yet includes everything you would need to conduct an actual experiment and learn about science. You can use the included activity cards or just play around with the kit to make your own discoveries and concoctions!

You can find lots of other fun activities for your kids on the Kidwinks Winter Fun Guide!

Penbo the Lovable Penguin

2011-12-18T20:05:00.000-08:00

Penbo is an adorable bright pink penguin that my daughter has been carrying around for the last week. Penbo is the Third Toy of Christmas on the Kidwinks 12 Toys of Christmas list. She is an interactive toy, so she reacts to movement and voice. Although she is sitting right next to me as I type this and is slightly creeping me out because she is staring at me, my daughter (5 years old) loves her. She has a big round belly that opens up to store her egg, which holds a cute little fuzzy blue baby penguin, Bebe.

Penbo reacts to your child's voice and touch by blinking her eyes, moving her arms & legs, and speaking "penguish" back to your child. There are no real words spoken back, just "penguish". You might think that would be a negative, but I actually don't think it is. Any words would be limited by what is recorded within the toy, you would get the same responses over and over. With "penguish", your child can user her imagination to determine what Penbo is saying. Your questions can be endless!

The legs are a kind of rolling wheel so Penbo can move backwards and forwards. She can even do a little cha-cha! There are 5 different games you can play with Penbo & Bebe. You start the games and interaction with different combinations of pressing their hands, forehead and heart on Penbo's belly. The interaction you see from just rubbing Penbo's head or talking to her is exciting for a 5-year old. In order to start the games however, there are specific steps to follow that seem a little complicated for a child to execute. We went through the games once, but my daughter prefers to just rub her head or talk to her to get her to respond. Getting her to open her belly and release the egg & baby penguin seems to be a popular activity for my daughter also. The enclosed play guide describe Penbo's delivery of her egg as a magical moment! I'm not sure its magical, but it is fun!

It definitely seems to have more potential than just a regular stuffed animal, but I'm wondering if the electronics piece would lose interest after a while. After a few days, my daughter was putting barrettes and headbands on her and just dressing her up. Penbo is such an incredibly cute-looking toy, regardless of whether you enjoy all her neat features. Kids who love electronic toys will really enjoy the games and interactions that Penbo makes. You can find lots of other ideas for great toys on the shopping section of www.kidwinks.com. You can also find tons of ideas for fun ways to spend your holiday break on the Kidwinks events section.

Chocolate Without Guilt

2011-12-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

I love chocolate. Love, love, love it. So when I was offered some sweetriot chocolate to try, of course I said yes! I'll get to the chocolate in a minute, but the company story is interesting, so you should hear about it too.

sweetriot believes in creating products that are good for the world: healthy, natural, fairly traded and ethically sourced. Their mission is: "To create a more just and celebrated multicultural world for our next generation." Wow! A chocolate company that truly believes they can change the world and make it better. I salute them!

Okay, now to the chocolate. It is absolutely delicious! I tried these little squares shown. They're vegan, kosher, gluten-free, dairy-free and only 25 calories each. This dark chocolate beats anything else I've tasted. And the best thing is, it is not super sweet, so just a little satisfies your chocolate quest. Anyone who's read anything about sugar knows that eating sweets makes your body want more. Well, not with this chocolate. Really. It's smooth and silky and does not kickstart the never-ending sweet craving that continually feeds on itself. You can enjoy a square (or even 2) without guilt.

Another cool thing about this chocolate is that the packaging is beautiful and designed by up and coming artists. Artwork in a wrapper - who'd've thunk?

sweetriot chocolate would make a great gift or stocking stuffer for the chocoholic in your life -- even if it's you!

Click here for more info and a DISCOUNT code for sweetriot.

Hoot Owl Hoot!

2011-12-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

We've been playing with the Kidwinks 7th Toy of Christmas these days. It's Hoot Owl Hoot! and my 5 year old and I love this game!

This a cooperative game by Peaceable Kingdom. I'll have to admit, considering I love to drive my older boys into bankruptcy in a hard core game of Monopoly, I really didn't have high expectations of a "cooperative" game. I was wrong!

The game works like Candyland, where you pick color coded cards ..... no reading necessary. Each players has 3 cards at a time. They can either be color cards or sun cards. The sun cards move the sun across the board, from sunset to sunrise. When you pull a sun card, you must play that first. The object of the game is to work together and move through the board, getting all your owls back to the nest before the sun rises. Since you are working together you either win together or lose together.

You strategize together to figure out how to best utilize your cards with the other players. Not only does the cooperative effort take the pressure off the idea of winning and losing, but I could see my daughter putting a lot of thought into how to use our cards together in order to get the owls as close as possible to their nest. The only "bad" thing that can happen to you in the game is to pull a sun card. We ended up cheering for each other and crossing fingers when the other was drawing a card, hoping not to draw a sun. Lots of high fives as we got our owls closer to their nest!

Depending upon how many owls you choose to play (anywhere up to 6), you are still able to lose. Its pretty hard to lose with only 3 owls, but it could be a nail-bighter with 6. You can have the lesson of sometimes losing in a game, but no one is singled out for losing. You all lose together.

The box cover includes several games made by the same company. I think any of these games would be a great gift!

You can now see all the great toys that have been picked for the Kidwinks 12 Toys of Christmas. If you are looking for fun things to do with your kids, check out Kidwinks Christmas Events listings!

Here We Go! Time to Exercise the Imagination

2011-12-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

Here I am just two weeks before Christmas and I'm still just making lists and checking them twice. Not enough shopping, baking and general merriment going on yet. So, I got busy this week and began to check out potential gifts for my friends and family. First up, I sat down to read Here We Go!, Around-the-World Adventure, part of a multi-media creation of GrandCamp Adventures, a relatively new Atlanta-based company.

Cute story, but my first reaction was "huh?" My boys are going to wonder why their very own grandma and papa aren't taking them on extravagant trips to the Congo, New Zealand and China, among other foreign places, not that they want them to. My guys are all pretty happy exploring the hills and waterways that surround their grandparents' farm.

Then I slept on it. I re-read the book, listened to the accompanying music CD and checked out the Grandcamp Advenstures' website.

And I "got" it. I must've been sleep deprived the first time I read the book, because the whole concept behind Grandcamp Adventures is to foster imaginative play and storytelling between grandparent and grandchild. The organization's first story, Here We Go, takes readers (and listeners) around the world looking for their families' lost treasures -- photos, travel journals and other memory-jogging riches.

As part of the adventure, tech-savvy grandparents can navigate the online activities on their next visit with their grandkids. A CD of music (the Nobody Loves me Like My Grandma, lullaby version, had me grabbing the hanky), and various accouterments can also be purchased to complete the experience. These additional items seemed a bit pricey for my tight wallet, but the book and CD are reasonable and will find their way under my in-law's tree this holiday.

Sssshhhh. Don't tell them!

For more gift ideas, check out Kidwinks' 12 Toys of Christmas at Kidwinks.

Kidwinks is your online resource for everything kid-related in the Chicagoland area.

Enter to Win Kidwinks' 11th Toy of Christmas - Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy Airport Game

2011-12-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

ZOOB Building System

2011-12-07T18:29:00.000-08:00

The 5th Toy of Christmas is ZAC, The Zoob Alien Creature.

ZAC is part of a building system that is made up of ball & socket type connectors. Those connectors allow you to move the pieces once they are snapped in place. The pieces are all the same length but come in a variety of colors. The ZAC kit comes with some special pieces that not all the kits include.

My 9 year old son played with this kit and built the space station.

When we first took a look at it, we thought it would be a cross between Legos and K'Nect. It really is totally different, however. The fact that the pieces can move independently once they are connected is really great. You can have a moving hand or foot, or even individual toes and fingers, like ZAC does. The pieces are a good size & shape for building larger structures and adding stability to structures. The connections are very tight, so once you put something together it is not going to break apart, which can be both good & bad. The age range for the toy is 6 & up. A 6 year old would definitely be able to imagine a fantastic creature to build with the pieces, but he might have a difficult time snapping them together or taking them apart to rebuild. Our set is new, however, and we thought that over time the connections may become easier as they loosen.

This set also comes with a couple of light up balls. You can see in the picture that they are attached to long wires and they bob up and down. Those were a big hit!

Visual instructions were included which show how to make several different designs with this set. I think after the initial build, most kids would love to build something unique with them. Z.A.C, The Zoob Alien Creature is a great set for kids who build with legos, tinkertoys, etc. It has unique pieces that would spark their curiosity and get them building something new and different.

This was a good choice for the 5th toy of Christmas! You can check out all the 12 toys of Christmas as they are revealed by clicking here.

Enter to Win the 10th Toy of Christmas

2011-12-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

My Daughters the Designers

2011-12-06T23:29:00.000-08:00

My daughters received two design toys from Fashion Angels last week and happily got to work testing them out. The first course of action was to determine who would get which toy first. Thankfully, it was a peaceful negotiation that was resolved quickly and without parental intervention. Good to know that's still possible!

The creative process.

The Interior Design Light-Box Lap Desk is a back-lit lap desk that comes with graph paper, templates of various furniture pieces, crayons and texture plates. The templates look like overhead projector slides. They're placed on the desk, over the graph paper, and then traced. Kids can choose fun, funky furniture and fixtures to design the room of their dreams and then color it. The day after they got this toy, the girls each had a friend sleep over, and everyone had to have a turn with the lap desk, designing their own room. All four girls really enjoyed it. We also discovered the desk is great fun to take along in the car during these short winter days. Running errands after dinner becomes fun time when they can draw in the dark, thanks to the back-lit screen.

The finished products:

Project Runway Sticker Stylist is a book with drawings of model figures, and many stickers of various clothing pieces and accessories. The girls can use the stickers to dress and accessorize the drawings. Kind of like paper dolls but without having to do all that tedious cutting and trying to get the paper clothes to stay on. Another very fun project to occupy the kids and bring out their creative side. Of course, the sleep over pals all had to try the Sticker Stylist too!

These toys are part of kidwinks' 12 Toys of Christmas series. Check it out for some great ideas for Christmas gifts, and a chance to win some cool toys. You can also click through the kidwinks Shopping Section if you're looking for kids gift ideas - you'll find some unique online boutiques and can narrow your search using the categories along the left side of the screen.

SciTech Hands On Museum

2011-12-04T21:16:00.000-08:00

My husband took our girls to the SciTech Hands On Museum for the first time two years ago. I'll admit (sheepishly) that at the time I was sort of relieved I couldn't go with them, because science really isn't my thing. And the drive to Aurora from Park Ridge is not a short one, so I was happy to let them have a daddy-daughter day. Well, they all came back raving about it, and my DH was so impressed he wrote a review on it. The first and only review he's ever written on kidwinks. We've been to a lot of places with our kids, and it speaks volumes to me that this is the only place he's ever taken the time to review.

I got my chance to see it the following year, when I chaperoned my daughter's 3rd grade class field trip to the museum. I was interested to see if the third graders might think the museum was boring or too young for them. NO WAY! The kids LOVED it! I was really struck by how engaged the kids were with the exhibits, and how friendly and knowledgable the staff was. They did a great job interacting with the kids to periodically teach them the science behind the cool things the kids were "playing" with. When it came time to leave, the class was genuinely disappointed, and had a hard time leaving the exhibit area. There were many calls of "Wait! Just let me try this one more time!"

I've taken a personal interest in this museum since our visits, and have been impressed with the cool special events and programs they offer: Drop and Shop Days, SlumberTech Family Overnight, Family Friendly New Year's Eve Party and Winter Break Camps to name just a few. When I learned they were opening a preschool and cafe, I jumped at the chance to tour them.

SciTech Discovery Preschool offers STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programming. WOW! For a preschool! The physical space is within the museum but with a separate, touch screen entrance, so it's very secure. The preschool is bright and cheery and made me wish I lived nearby and had younger kids so they could attend.

I chatted with the Executive Director of the museum a bit, and learned that they will be offering a theater camp for the first time, and have a small theater group on staff. No wonder I was so impressed with how animated and engaging they were! It's in their blood!

The cafe is a great addition, and offers cold and hot drinks along with a few snack options. I had the gingerbread coffee -- YUM! Parents can take a break here and sit at the tables while the kids (the older ones, anyway) explore the exhibits.

All in all, this is one of my favorite places in the Chicago area to take kids, and I highly recommend you check it out. It's an especially great place for kids who still want and need hands-on interaction but have outgrown other Chicago area children's museums. SciTech is more sophisticated for older kids, and also offers a separate area for the younger ones.

Oh, and bring quarters for the parking meters. One quarter gives you one hour.

If you're looking for kids activities in Chicago and the suburbs, check out the kidwinks Events Calendar or check out one of the online Guides - you'll find them all on the kidwinks homepage, including:

Pix Mix .... A Great Game!

2011-12-04T15:35:00.000-08:00

So you are the kind of person who can't ever find the scissors in the junk drawer...... even if they are right in front of your face ....... regardless of how hard you try?? This is the game for you! Sharpen your visual skills with Pix Mix, The Super-Speedy Game of Scrutiny! What a fun game!

It comes with 80 transparent picture cards which include things like a bowling pin, anchor, pencil, palm tree, and so on and so on. Each player starts the game with 6 cards stacked on top of each other. You flip the timer and have 30 seconds to figure out how many objects you can decipher through your stack. The lines of all the cards blend together and it gets tough to tell what you are looking at! The game includes a scorecard where you write down the objects you see. When the timer runs out, you go through your cards one by one and see how may objects you guessed correctly.

Here's an example of what 6 stacked cards looks like in Pix Mix:

Can you figure out what you see??

I played the game with my 7 year old son, and we both scored almost the same! You turn the cards all directions to help you make sense of all the crazy shapes. We cheated a little bit and extended our time to help us figure out a few more pictures. Its great to play with your kids because you really don't have any advantage with age. Its easy for your kids to beat you in this one (without actually letting them win!) There are no complicated instructions to review and not much setup. Since each game is supposed to be 30 seconds long, you can play if you only have a few minutes or keep going if you have more time.

If you are looking for other great games or places to go this holiday season with your family, check out the shopping section and events section of the Kidwinks site for lots of great ideas.

Oh, by the way, if you're still stumped on what you were looking at in those six stacked pictures....... saw, airplane, butterfly, camel, anchor, Christmas tree. How many did you get?

Light Up your Creations!

2011-12-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

My boys have been having a great time playing with Laser Pegs Lighted Construction Kits. We have three sets..... Tractor, Mini Monster Bug and Dune Buggy. What's great about them is that you are not limited to building just what the set is for. My kids enjoyed using their imagination and building a sword, a football goal post, and various other contraptions as well.

The Laser Peg kits each have approximately 30 pieces, which includes various shapes, a power cord and a power unit. Just like legos, the kits all work together, so you can combine them and make a much larger model. Once you make your design, you plug in the power cord (all pieces have a spot available for the power cord), then right into the power unit. The power unit is fully enclosed in plastic.... nothing dangerous. Once you plug it in, the whole design lights up! You can very quickly make an impressive project, which is nice for those of us with a little less patience!

We have three sets that are new, and one set that is over one year old. We've had no issues with any lights fading. There are a few pieces in the kit that intentionally do not light up (not sure why). This caused a little confusion for my kids but they eventually figured it out. The pieces need to be fitted together tightly in order to light up.

The toy is rated for ages 7+, which I think is very appropriate for following the instructions and building the models. If you want to just connect the pieces and watch them light up, a much younger child could play with it as well. My daughter liked to make a pattern with the pieces because of their different lighted colors.

If you are looking for other great gift ideas, don't forget to check out the 12 days of Christmas on www.kidwinks.com!

The Magical Shirt

2011-12-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's not really magic, but it sure is cool. My daughters each have a colorfusion t-shirt from Quagmire that changes color with change in temperature. Really. They sort of remind me of mood rings from my youth, but for clothing.

E's shirt is green when it's cool, yellow when it's warm. A's shirt is pink or purple, depending on the temp. The girls had a blast this summer, moving from the air conditioned comfort of home to the warmth of outdoors, and watching their shirts gradually change. Then they'd go back inside and transform again. It didn't take them long to realize that even the warmth of their hands could make the color change, so they started making handprints on their shirts, laughing all the while.

Hmm..not warm enough to
change the color all the way.

So let's add heat
with the hair dryer!

I was a bit leery of these shirts, thinking the color changes would end as soon as I washed them. Wrong! These shirts have now been washed many, many times over the several months we've had them, and they still react to temperature changes unfailingly. I'm impressed!

The shirts come in collared and uncollared versions, and also in adult sizes. So if you're looking for a unique Christmas gift for a kid and hate to give another toy, consider one of these shirts. Or if an adult on your list has everything and is tough to buy for, give them a conversation piece with one of these shirts.

If you need more ideas for Christmas or birthday gifts for kids, check out kidwinks' 12 Toys of Christmas or just click through the kidwinks Shopping Section.

12 Toys of Christmas

2011-11-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

Kidwinks' 3rd annual "12 Toys of Christmas", and we look forward to it each year because it gives us another way to help out our fellow busy moms with some fabulous gift ideas, and also gives them a chance to win some of the toys!

Beginning Monday, November 28, 2011, and continuing each day for the following 11 days, we will reveal one of the 12 great toys that have been hand-picked by us after conferring with a few local, independent toy store owners. We will be holding periodic contests during this 12-day series to win some of these toys, too! All announcements will be sent by email, so make sure to sign up for our 12 Toys of Christmas Email List so you don't miss out.

Got Friends With Kids? Use our Share buttons in the upper right, yellow portion of this screen to share this with your friends who may also be looking for gift ideas. This is one of the few things we do that is not specific to the Chicago area!

Click here to see 12 Toys of Christmas 2010 - they're still great ideas!

1st Toy of Christmas

2nd Toy of Christmas

3rd Toy of Christmas

Win the 1st Toy of Christmas

Win the 3rd Toy of Christmas

Big Orange Bouncy Thing

2011-11-29T19:27:00.001-08:00

Ok, so Big Orange Bouncy Thing is not the official name of this great toy, but its how my kids refer to it. Its actually called the Tandem Space Hopper and its fantastic!

My kids ride it alone, they ride it together, they fight about whose turn it is to ride it! They have bounced through the house on the wood floor and on carpet with no problem. They brought it to Grandma's house on Thanksgiving and bounced with their cousins! Its the kind of toy that you keep going back to because its not only so much fun to ride, but it just looks fun!

Its made from the same sturdy material as an exercise ball and it has horns to use as handles. You can ride it alone or with two people. Riding with two people is a little tricky as you need to get your bouncing in sync, but that is part of the fun. Its aimed at kids 10 and over, but all of my kids have had no problem controlling it .... ages 5, 7, 9 & 11.

It comes with a hand-help pump and was very easy to blow up. I stayed out of the way and the kids blew it up and put the plastic sealing pin in by themselves.

We're keeping it inside for more fun this winter and then Big Orange Bouncy Thing will get to see the backyard once spring hits. You can find more great toys like the the Tandem Space Hopper here, as well as get great ideas on the 2011 12 toys of Christmas!

Create a Lego Scene

2011-11-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

The Lego Storage bin made by Neat-Oh company is a great way to store a small to medium amount of Legos if you are traveling, even if its just from room to room in your own house! The inside of the bin opens up to a playmat that can become part of the Lego scene that your kids are building. They are made from a washable vinyl material with very sturdy zippers on all sides. They are a great way to do a quick cleanup of Legos that are cluttering up your entire family room floor! Just throw them in the bin and zip it up!

My boys have been playing with the standard yellow bin that has a landscape scene inside .....

And the dinosaur bin ..........

The bins we have are the smaller size. There are larger bins available also.

My kids are Lego fanatics and are always creating scenes, so the concept of these are a great idea. Here's the only problem we had ..... when we tried to put Lego buildings or characters on them they would fall over pretty easily. The mat is slightly uneven because it has been folded and is made out of a cushiony material. I think the solution for that is to use the larger Duplo blocks instead of the regular small legos, which is what we tried. The larger blocks have a bigger base and would have no problem standing. With that said, the age range for this product is probably about 4-6, for kids that are playing with bigger blocks.

They would also work out great for any type of small toy .... matchbox cars, small figurines, etc. My youngest son used the dinosaur bin to create a prehistoric scene. The mat worked great for this:

All in all, this would be a good Christmas present to go along with larger legos, cars or figurines, and a great way to store the toys while they are not in use. You can find other great Christmas present ideas here!

TerriLee Doll a Hit!

2011-11-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

My 5-year old daughter has been playing with the TerriLee doll and loves her!

She thinks the doll is “very pretty” and I agree! She is a great traditional 15” doll for a little

girl ..... simple and not too over the top, as some of the girl toys can be! Her clothes are made very well and are all separate pieces - shirt, skirt, sweater, bloomers, knit hat, socks and shoes. My daughter likes to dress her and is able to take the clothes on and off by herself. Because they are made so nicely, there is no worry that she will rip the velcro or fabric.

She comes with a plastic hairbrush that is just the right size for my daughter’s small hands to comb the doll’s long hair. We have only been playing with her a short time, but the hair seems manageable. Overall, she is a great doll and will likely be played with for a long time!

If a TerriLee doll isn’t something that you’re looking for, you might find more toy ideas here!

I Found My “Can’t Wait to Give It” Gift

2011-11-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

I just received My Very Merry Christmas Board Book in the mail, and one look through it, I knew it was my “can’t wait to give it” Christmas gift. You know there’s always one or two gifts each year that make you giddy with anticipation to see the recipients' faces when they unwrap their presents.

This year it will be my 3-year-old niece’s face I’ll get to watch light up when I read to her from her new book, “Jocelyn’s Very Merry Christmas.” The only problem is her 6-year-old sister may be disappointed she didn’t get one too.

The book is recommended for children 0-6. So while I missed it for Jocelyn’s sister and another 6-year-old nephew, I won’t despair. The Christmas title is the 11^th personalized children’s book from the award-winning company, I See Me! Inc. The company got its start nearly 12 years ago when its founders received a personalized book for their own child and thought they might be able to create a better product.

I’d say they succeeded in creating a quality product for kids of all ages. The illustrations are beautiful. The Christmas book has a quaint, patchwork quilt look to it. I am no art expert, but I know what I like. Each page makes me feel like I’m enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, sitting in front of a warm fire with Grandma’s hand-knit afghan wrapped around me and all the people I love nearby. Yeah, really, like that.

The story is simple and sweet and Jocelyn’s name is inserted in a natural way, not forced like in some personalized books I’ve read.

The World According to Me is another title from the company and is geared toward the 4-12-year-old reader, the original title is My Very Own^© Name, and there is A Hanukkah Bear for Me book as well. A few of these books are likely to find their way into the hands of my other nieces and nephews for upcoming birthdays and holidays.

My Very Merry Christmas Board Book retails for $24.95. Check it out at I See Me Personalized Books.

Imaginets: A Toy Worth Fighting Over

2011-11-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

The value of a toy, to me, a mom of three very busy young boys, is its ability to entertain, educate if possible, and to do it without much interaction from me. Just being honest.

The “Imaginets” from MindWare was the perfect toy for my guys on a recent overnight trip, when we were up too late and crowded in too small of a hotel room.

With its wooden traveling case, containing 42 magnetic wood blocks and 50 full-color design cards, the toy became a fast favorite of my 5-year-old and fought over by my nearly 10-year-old. Plus, a few days later, the toy was the exact distraction my 2-year-old needed while I hosted a book club meeting in my home but didn’t have childcare on hand. (The toy is recommended for children 3 and older due to its small parts.)

The cards give easy, visual instruction of how to arrange the wooden blocks, easy enough for the 5-year-old to follow, but there are enough different blocks to allow for kids’ own creative designs.

The traveling case makes it easy to pack in the car or take on an airplane. So if you’re just looking for something for your kids to do at home or while traveling, I highly recommend “Imaginets,” priced at a reasonable $29.95.

For more ideas for toys and gifts, check out the www.Kidwinks.com shopping guide!http://www.kidwinks.com/ShoppingKidFun/Gifts/Toys/

No One Will Sleep Through Goodnight Moon - The Musical

2011-11-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

Fast-paced, funny and full of visual chicanery, Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Goodnight Moon The Musical Victory Gardens Biograph Theatre, in Chicago, was the perfect afternoon treat for my 5-year-old. Though not too scary, it offered enough elements of surprise, paired with a fair amount of loud sounds and live music, to keep my son on the edge of his seat with anticipation about what Bunny, Mouse, Cow, Bears with Chairs and the Little Old Lady Whispering Hush might do next.

My middle guy wants
to paint his room green now!

The repeated references to bed bugs are timely, albeit discomforting, and I’m hoping CTC will post a video at its website with directions to the Handshake Tornado, because that alone was worth the ticket price ($36 adult/$26 child).

My 5-year-old asked if we could go back an upcoming Friday (Nov. 11, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16), when the Theater hosts “pajama parties;” and he said he wished we’d brought his almost-3-year-old brother with us. “Andy would love this,” he said. (Feel free to donate new pajamas to the theater’s pajama bin … pjs will benefit children awaiting adoption, while Scholastic Books will donate an equal number of early learning books for disadvantaged youths. More info at www.pajamaprogram.org.)

Mouse was my guy's fave character.

Playing through Dec. 23, performances of Goodnight Moon the Musical are Tuesday through Friday at 10:15 a.m., Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and the special Friday night 7 p.m. pajama party performances. For more information or to purchase tickets follow the link and click View Website.

Overall, Goodnight Moon the Musical is a fun 65 minutes for children of all ages, although CCT recommends it for children four and older.

Learn about more things to do with kids in Chicago at www.kidwinks.com.

Kidwinks visits Halloween Party at Navy Pier in Chicago

2011-10-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

A couple of Fridays ago I took the kids to Chicago to enjoy the Halloween Party at Navy Pier. The Really Big Halloween Party features: animal rides and a petting zoo, a dance party with live brass bands at noon & DJ spinners after 4 p.m., street performers, Harry Houdini's death defying water chamber escape, and if you purchase the Big Party Pass you get tickets to seven attractions - a very good deal ($20 for adults and kids 5 and over, and $15 for ages 3-4).

Using the pass we were able to ride a camel. I never knew they were so soft and fuzzy.

We rode the carousel and played mini golf. The kids rode on the swing ride... something I just can not do any more.

We also went to the Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze. Believe it or not we have never been there.

There were performers dressed up who interacted with people walking along the pier. Here are my kids having a hissing contest with a cat.

We also saw the fire performers who are always amazing to watch. Keep in mind that most of attractions are outdoors so bring your coats. They also have costume contests on Saturdays for children, teens and adults with first, second and third prizes and there is Trick-or-Treating for children 12 and under in costume on select dates. ~ Nina

Family Workshop at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago

2011-10-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday my two boys and I headed over to the Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago for one of their family workshops - Thanksgiving Platters. The space is in a large warehouse that has been converted into the art studio with many classrooms along with a store and restaurant (counter service) area. We checked in by the front desk which is in the store area and were given directions to our studio which we quickly forgot and got lost. Thankfully we are a smart family and the facility is not that big and we found our way without too much trouble. It did give us an opportunity to walk around and peek into the other studios. So inspiring! I wish that I could have spent the day in each area learning something new, creative, and artistic.

The workshop was set up for 11 people total, a nice size. However, in the end there were only 7 of us there, an even nicer size. We had two instructors covering the workshop and that was perfect for some real one-on-one guidance and assistance. I too was able to make my own platter which I quickly turned into bowl, with help of course. This was not the kind of workshop where I, the parent, was there to just help my kids. At the beginning of the class we were given some brief instruction which once again quickly forgot because I was anxious to get my hands dirty and get to work. Luckily, Matt knew that little was more and let us at it. The clay was already formed into large slabs resembling large platters so that the kids didn't have to waste time and energy getting the clay to a starting point. Once we figured out our shape we then started in on the decorating. First by carving pictures into the clay with various tools, my favorite was a wooden skewer. Then we set to work painting our creations.

Because the paint is so dull when it is applied it is hard to get an idea of what the end piece is going to look like. By all of the paint jars they did have a sample of what it looks like before and after the glazing and kilning process.

As you can see in the picture I had to try to be an over achiever with my intricate detail which ended up taking far longer than I had expected, than my children appreciated, and than the class time. Matt and Mary were supper nice and repeadly told me not to feel rushed and to take all of the time that I needed to get it done. I can not wait to see my, I should say, our platters. We should be receiving a post card in the mail letting us know when they are ready to be picked up.

The Lillstreet Art Center not only offers family workshops but they also have kids classes and camps for kids and birthday parties for Chicago area kids. Walking around I noticed that they have a lot of adult classes and workshops too so this place isn't just for kids. I am sure that we will be back.

Kidwinks - Fall Family Fun in Chicago with Kids

2011-10-14T05:40:00.000-07:00

Fall is here, and for parents, that means a chance to make memories with their children through visits to area pumpkin farms, apple orchards, and other autumn destinations. Jam-packed schedules, though, mean precious little time for researching all Chicagoland has to offer – dozens of pumpkin farms and apple orchards, and hundreds of fall events & activities. In this economy, budget constraints are also a reality parents must wrestle with.

Kidwinks.com, a website developed by Nina Taluc and Jean Lemke, two moms from Park Ridge, IL, offers a quick way for busy parents to easily plan fun family outings this fall – even if “free” is the only price that fits the family’s budget. Their Chicago with Kids Fall Fun Guide is an interactive online directory stocked with hundreds of the area’s best fall activities: all accessible with the click of a mouse. Today, Jean and Nina are here to share some of those activities with us.

Apple Picking in Chicago Featuring JonamacOrchard

Kids should grow up understanding that apples come from trees, not the grocery store. Your kids will never taste a sweeter apple than one they picked themselves, so head to an orchard and see how much fun they have picking their healthy snack from where it grows. The Chicago area is blessed with orchards of all types, from small intimate orchards to large, commercial orchards that host petting zoos, mazes, bouncy houses and more during the picking season.

Jonamac Orchard gets top ratings from kidwinks’ members. It boasts over 7,000 trees and a huge 10-acre corn maze with over 3 miles of pathways and 2 bridges! The kids will love the Barn Yard activity area with a huge bale pile, peddle tractors, sand pile, corn bin, play barn, bunny barn, mazes, tube slides and other fun activities. Animal lovers can enjoy the Petting Zoo and on Sundays take a pony ride. On weekends the Apple Train will be running and you can show off your marksmanship skills with the Apple Launcher and Apple Cannon. If you’re also looking for a pumpkin farm to visit, Jonamac has that too!

A popular event here is the Haunted Corn Maze, which will be held Oct. 9; 14 and 15; 21 and 22; 28 and 29. It begins at Dark and ends at 10:30 p.m. Flashlights will not be allowed in the Haunted Maze, only glow sticks or pen lights.

Where: Jonamac Orchard, 19412 Shabbona Road, Malta, IL

When:

· Apple Picking 7 days a week when in season – consult website

· Regular Corn Maze hours: Fridays and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The maze will also be open Columbus Day.

Cost:

· Pick your own apple prices are $10.00 for 1/2 peck (5 lbs), $17.00 for a peck (10 lbs) and $30.00 for a 1/2 bushel (20 lbs).

· Corn Maze Admission is $5 per person; kids 2 and under are free with paid adult.

· Haunted Corn Maze admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for kids 6 to 12.

Ages: All ages, though the Haunted Corn Maze is more suitable for older children.

Harvest Fest at Santa’s Village Azoosment Park

Chicago area parents grew up visiting Santa’s Village in East Dundee, and many are not aware that it has been reopened. The Park has kiddie rides, including a few favorites from Kiddieland, and has added animals to the mix. Children can enjoy a petting zoo, reptiles, turtles, reindeer and unlimited pony rides with their admission. The Harvest Fest is a chance for parents to bring their kids to this iconic park to enjoy, in addition to the animals and rides, special activities like haunted hayrides, rubber duck races, face painting, caramel apples and more. The weekend before Halloween will also feature costume contests, trick or treating and pumpkin carving.

Where: 601 Dundee Avenue, East Dundee, IL

When: Saturdays 11am – 8pm; Sundays & Holidays 11am – 6pm

Cost: $16.50 PER PERSON (adults and children 3 years and up); $13.50 for Seniors (65 and up);
2 and under free. $2 off coupon found on kidwinks.com.

The AZoosment Park proudly supports the brave men and women in the US armed forces. Active Military with a valid ID are free with 1 paid child’s general admission.

Ages: All ages

Pumpkin Farms & Patches

Featuring ThePumpkin Patch at The Children’s Farm

Where do pumpkins come from, and how do they grow? Give your kids the chance to find out by taking them to one of the many pumpkin farms in the area. Choose your favorite experience: a more natural, “day on the farm” setting or a larger, commercialized farm with exotic animals, camel rides, bouncy houses and more.

The Children’s Farm at The Center gets a unanimous 5-wink rating from all kidwinks members who have reviewed it. It is a working farm where families can come on the weekends and tour at their leisure, visiting animal pens to learn about them from the informed guides. Kids can enjoy hands-on interaction with the Farm’s animals: cows, sheep, donkeys, horses, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, and geese.

During Pumpkin Days in October, the farm’s pick-your-own pumpkin patch is open, and complimentary hayrides to the patch are offered. Wear a costume on October 30 & 31 for some surprises.

Where: The Center, 12700 Southwest Hwy, Palos Park, IL

When: The animal barns are open to visitors from 10 am to 4 pm, on Saturdays, Sundays, and Columbus Day.

Cost: Admission to the animal barns is $4.50 per person. Children under 2 years of age are free.

Ages: All ages.

Quick Links to Chicago Fall Family Fun:

Kidwinks Fall Fun Guide

Chicago Area Pumpkin Farms

Chicago Area Apple Orchards

Chicago Area Fall Events

Chicago Area Fall Kids Activities

Chicago Kids Halloween Guide

ABOUT KIDWINKS.COM

Kidwinks.com is a boutique website that caters to today’s generation of parents who are time-crunched, socially conscious and internet reliant. Kidwinks provides one-stop access to information about kid-friendly events, activities, restaurants, shops and services in the Chicago area. There is no charge to use kidwinks and membership is also free. Members enjoy additional benefits including the ability to enter contests for great prizes, email reminders and the ability to sort search results by distance from their home. Developed by two Park Ridge, IL moms, kidwinks has grown to thousands of members. For more information, please visit www.kidwinks.com.

Follow us on Facebook:

1. Kidwinks – We share contest information along with pictures, videos and tips on Chicago area fun for families.

2. FreeThingsToDoInChicagoWithKids - Get daily links to free events and activities for kids in the Chicago area.http://www.kidwinks.com/FamilyFun/4/JonamacOrchard/2523/

Neater Feeder for Dogs

2011-10-12T05:50:00.000-07:00

About 2 weeks ago I got rid of my standard dog bowls and replaced them with a Neater Feeder. The Neater Feeder raises the the food and water up off the ground so that it is at a better level for my Lab. Although she is still relatively young I am sure she will really appreciate this feature in a couple of years. Everyone in the family chuckles a little when the see her eating at this new level because it looks like she is eating off a small table.

Another nice feature of the Neater Feeder is the high rim around the side and the back. The rim helps prevent my walls and floor from getting wet and grimy. When water or food is spilled out from the bowls it lands inside the Neater Feeder. The water goes down through the slats and the food stays on top. No more soggy gross food to clean up.

My 12 year old son is the one who is responsible for feeding our dog. Often he would be in such a hurry to get the food into the bowl that he would inevitbly spill a dozen pellet with each scoop. With the Neater Feeder whatever doesn't make it into the bowl is at least contained within the feeder and not all over my floor.

Now I just need to get one for our cat. Our cat has always preferred drinking out of the dog's water bowl... I am sure because she could tell how jealous and protective the dog became each time she did it. Since the dog's water bowl is higher now she can no longer reach it. The dog is happy but the cat is thirsty. ~ Nina

Screams in the Park in Rosemont - A Chicago area Haunted House

2011-10-07T06:01:00.000-07:00

Up until this time I have never gone into a haunted house. Okay, I have gone into the fun houses at carnivals and fairs but nothing that was supposed to be super scary. Before kids I was a big fan of horror movies and slasher movies. Name an older one and I have probably seen it. Even though I enjoy being scared I was never brave enough to venture into a haunted house. Then I realized that it is sort of my duty to check out new exhibits and venues in the Chicago area. Even though Screams in the Park is not geared toward the little ones there are plenty of families with older kids and plenty of moms and dads who enjoy a good fright. So, I felt a lot of responsibility and didn't want to let anyone down. Days before going I would lay awake in bed and fret over what my experience was going to be like. The day of I though off all kinds of ways to back out. I must say though, what made me so interested was the theme of this haunted house, H.H. Holmes. He was a mass murderer who was doing his hunting during the Columbian Exposition here in Chicago over a century ago. I read and loved the Devil in the White City and that is where I first learned about H.H. Holmes. I guess I should stop right here and say THIS IS NOT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. The recommended age is 13 an over. Waiting in line with my husband I was nervous but knew there was no turning back. Once we were admitted in I loved it! The rooms of H.H. Holmes boarding house were well thought out and creepy. I don't want to give too much away but... there were costumed "creatures" lurking around every corner keeping me on my toes. It was not over the top scary (no one chasing me with a real chainsaw... one of my big worries) but it was definitely scary enough, well done, and very entertaining. I think I might be hooked.

Kidwinks vistis Hallowed Haunts - Chicago Symphony Orchestra

2011-10-07T05:23:00.000-07:00

My family and I love Halloween. I really enjoy classical music although I am not a aficionado. I use to go to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Michigan Ave. in Chicago a couple of times a year but that was before kids. Now I go about once a decade. I loved Hallowed Haunts presented by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a concert specifically for kids. Go early because there are activity stations set up for the kids where they can do crafts and a haunted trail that they can walk through. All of it is geared for the younger set. The performance itself is only an hour which is the perfect amount of time for kids. All of the musicains too are dressed in costume. It is obvious that the orchestra is enjoying the relaxed playful atmosphere. Once the performance starts the music comes to life. The maestro and his terrified assistant must use the power of the baton to control the ghoulish orchestra of the undead and lead them in concert. It is a twist on the classic story The Sorcerer's Apprentice and is brought vividly to life in concert. Dress up in costume and take the kids to this concert at least once. ~ Nina
For more information follow this link - Hallowed Haunts - Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Chimney Sweepers - Rob Riemer - 847-220-7830 - SCAM new # (630) 589-6217

2011-10-03T03:12:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I learned a costly but important lesson. Do your research, ask friends for recommendations, and check with the Better Business Bureau before hiring. I know nothing about chimneys which is why I should have been more careful. I was told by my home inspector that I needed a liner installed in the two chimneys in my new house in Chicago. So, I looked on the internet and called The Chimney Sweeps, Robert Riemer who came out to my house to give me an estimate. There were so many warning signs but I didn’t pay attention because I wanted to get the fireplaces taken care of as soon as possible.

The Chimney Sweeps, who service all of the Chicago area, drove up in a black unmarked truck, warning # 1 – no business name on vehicle. Rob Riemer was very nice, outgoing, personable, friendly, etc. He said that during the week he worked for Early Times Chimney Sweeps of Chicago who also do chimney cleaning and repair. Rob and his partner then started talking about what needed to be done to the chimneys and how much it would cost. Rob said that my home inspector was wrong and that I did not need a liner, what I needed was sealant placed on the inside of the chimneys. He claimed he had just saved me $1,000. The sealant cost $35 per foot. So, Rob and his partner started figuring out how much it would cost… this is when it started to feel wrong. They started throwing out numbers and sort of playing off each other. At one point his partner walked away and I asked if he was going to write up the estimate. Instead, he came back a few minutes later and said “we got our other two jobs do early today so we can do your job right now for $600 cash”, warning #2, #3, & #4. #2 always get a written estimate. #3 don’t jump into anything. #4 don’t pay in cash when you have no idea what good complete work looks like. My gut was screaming at me that it was wrong but I ignored it. So, an hour or so later Rob said they were done. I could see that the chimney caps were replaced, I saw them with their wet/dry vacs cleaning the fireplaces but I had no proof that the sealant was applied. When I asked Rob “well how do I know that you applied the sealant?” he got flustered, stammered a little and said there was no way to tell unless you watch them apply it. He gave me instructions not to use the fireplace for the next 24 hours. I felt bad for putting him on the spot and let it go at that. I paid him. Warning #5 – Rob told me that the appointment before him had over paid because Rob significantly over estimated the height of the chimney. They were going to keep the money.

After he left I started thinking a bit more. It seemed strange to me that a sealant was applied but I couldn’t smell it and that there would be no dripping or leaking. I took a look up the chimney and saw that nothing had been applied to the interior of the chimney. I am now concerned that they may not have attached the caps to the chimney.

I have left several messages for Rob asking him to either apply a sealant or to give me back half of my money. I am sure you are not surprised to read that I have not heard back from him.

While this lesson hurt financially what really hurts is my pride. I thought I was smarter than that. In my frenzy to get everything done as quickly as possible I made the wrong decisions. However, this is a good lesson too. Although I am out several hundred dollars in the big scheme of things I got off cheap. I now know that I am going to do my research not just on the companies that I am going to use but on the work that is going to be done. I am going to get 3 estimates. I am going to check the BBB.org website. I am going to pay more to a reputable company to get guaranteed work. I hope that reading this will prevent you from hiring The Chimney Sweepers http://mysafechimney.com/Home.html or anyone who prays on the trust and naiveté of others. Ohhh, it burns me that he lied right to my face. My guess is that in a few months his phone number, business name, and maybe even his name will change in order to avoid the bad reputation he is earning but he will keep on doing it. As they say there is a sucker born every minute and this weekend I was defiantly the sucker. Remember, if your gut is screaming take a step back, you may never know how much you saved.

Giveaway - $20 Cold Stone Creamery Gift Cards

2011-09-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

In honor of the 10th Annual World's Largest Free Ice Cream Social at Cold Stone Creamery we are giving away 2 - $20 Cold Stone Creamery Gift Cards.

A visit to Game Pazzo in Downers Grove

2011-09-22T09:47:00.001-07:00

I took my 2 boys and 1 of their friends to Game Pazzo in Downers Grove last weekend. They thought that they were in heaven. Game Pazzo is a huge video game faciltiy that has all of the home gaming systems avalible for play. You can bring in your own games or rent one of theirs. It is not often that I give my kids the okay to play video games for hours and in fact even to encourage it. When we walked to Game Pazzo we, like all other newcomers, were shown around the facility. The space is very large and clean. There are tons of huge screen tvs ready for play. There is a pc area where visitors can play pc games and if you have an account to an online game such as World of Warcraft you can login. I used the computers to get a bit of work done while the boys enjoyed themselves trying out new games and diffrent game systems. There was a young boy's birthday party going on and they seemed to be having a great time. In the back there is a full bar and a restaurant area. They recently added kids meal options to their menu. The prices are decent which is unusual when a business knows that they have you captured.

As a mom of C hi cago area kids and one half of kidwinks.com, I will keep Game Pazzo in mind as great way to try new games and game systems before buying; nice for larger groups who want to play together; a great opportunity for parents to hangout, have a few drinks, and some food while the kids play; a nice place for the dads to get away; another rainy day option and as a cool place for a kids birthday party. For more information about Game Pazzo click here. ~ Nina

Biking with Kids along Chicago Lakefront

2011-08-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

August 30, 2011
An update from our Chicago with Kids Activities Guide.
Monday August 29 - Monday September 5, 2011
Labor Day weekend is bittersweet for me: Love the long holiday weekend; hate to see another summer come to an end.
Sunday we loaded up the kids and put the bikes on the car and headed to the Chicago lakefront to enjoy the gorgeous morning. It was great, but don't make our mistake! We parked at Chicago's Leone Beach, and headed south on the trail, only to find it ended several blocks later. We had to ride the sidewalks for about a mile before picking up the actual trailhead. The best places to park near the north end of the trail are at Foster or Lawrence Avenue beaches - nice big parking lots. We need to do this again because we only had time to bike to Lawrence Avenue before we needed to head home for a birthday party my daughter was attending. Check out more pics from our bike ride on the kid winks facebook page .

CONTEST: Hurry! There's not much time to enter to win 4 free tickets to Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey! Contest ends this evening (Monday)!
COUPONS: Ready to save some money? Visit our Coupon Section below to find new coupons for Santa's Village, People's Choice Fun Center, StageCoach Theatre Arts School and Academic Associates Reading Clinic.
July 18, 2011
Here is a little info from our Weekly Chicago for Kids Activities Guide:
We made our first trek to the beach this season, and tried out a new beach. Evanston's South Boulevard Beach is a nice, uncrowded and well-maintained beach. My daughters and their friends had an excellent time jumping in the waves and digging in the sand. Here's a link to Evanston's beaches and the beach status report; always remember to check the status report before you go. One or more of the beaches may be closed due to bacteria levels, and the beach report is updated each morning.

Don't forget to visit our Events Calendar to find much, much more going on this week and throughout the summer. I also post pics and favorites on ourkidwinks facebook page, so "like" us there to stay in the loop. If you're interested in FREE events, "like" our Free Things To Do In Chicago With Kidsfacebook page.

NEW COUPONS: We've added more savings opportunities for you!! Visit our Coupon Section below, where you'll find more new coupons this week including Cirque Shanghai (discount code) and Hesston Steam Museum.

Chicago with Kids Weekly Activity Guide June 13 - Sunday June 19, 201

2011-06-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

Kidwinks - Chicago with Kids - Blog

June 13, 2011

Here is a little info from our Weekly Activities Guide. If you would like to view the whole guide with a great selection of hand picked events and activities for kids in Chicago and the suburbs click here.

Ummm...Is it June or October? Hard to say judging by recent temps! On the bright side, at least I haven't had to don my bathing suit yet this year!

Dads, it's all about you this Sunday! Kidwinks is proud to have many dads as members. They subscribe to our emails, write moving bios about how much they love their kids, write reviews and participate in our contests. Cheers to you, Dads! Find area Father's Day Events.

WGN: If you missed it, here's the link to our appearance on WGN Midday News last week. If your kids like biking, check it out - there are some activities on there you probably haven't heard about.

NEW COUPONS: Check our Coupon Section below for two new coupons. Make-A-Messterpiece, a fun & messy creative studio for kids, is offering savings on their Messiest Package and their birthday parties.

June 7: Focus on Family - Biking With Kids in Chicago

2011-06-07T11:42:00.000-07:00

June 7: Focus on Family - Biking With Kids in Chicago

Biking With Kids in ChicagoAs the weather turns warmer, parents begin looking for outdoor activities to share with their children. Biking is a popular activity that can be enjoyed (often for free) in many different ways and places throughout Chicagoland, and today Jean Lemke and Nina Taluc, co-founders of kidwinks.com, are here to share some of them with us. All of these bike activities and more may be found in their online Guide to Biking With Kids in Chicago which is published on their free website, www.kidwinks.com.

For many more ideas on year-round and seasonal kid-friendly events and activities, restaurants where kids eat free, birthday party places, summer camps and more, visit www.kidwinks.com, their terrific website that gathers the best of Chicago area family fun into one easily searchable site.Busse Woods Bike Trail (Cook County Forest Preserves)There are many bike trails in Chicago and the suburbs, and you can find them easily in kidwinks' Guide to Biking With Kids in Chicago.

The trail we are highlighting today is the Busse Woods Bike Trail, part of the Cook County Forest Preserves. This trail is particularly well-suited to families. The trail winds through forest, past a lake, and even past Elk Grove Village's resident elk herd. The terrain is mostly flat so it is easier for small children to navigate. The trail is also shorter in distance, so it is not a particular favorite of die-hard bike enthusiasts who often travel at high rates of speed and may pose a bit of a safety concern for younger riders just learning the rules of the road.Where: Schaumburg / Elk Grove Village When: Open daily Cost: Free Ages: All ages

Safety Town Open Road Times (Elmhurst)Looking for an opportunity to teach your child safe biking skills in a fun environment? Safety Town Elmhurst is a miniature representation of the Elmhurst community, and is designed to teach children the importance of safety. Safety Town includes miniature buildings, street signs and lights, sidewalks, railroad crossing, and a distinctive residential and downtown area. On Thursdays from June 9-August 11, children ages 4-7 with tricycles and helmets can ride through Safety Town Village free of charge. Qualified Safety Town staff is on hand to help children walk, bike, and practice being "safety smart." All ages are welcome, but no two-wheeled bikes (with or without training wheels), roller blades, roller shoes or skateboards are allowed. There is a $5 fee if you would like to rent a bike and/or helmet. Bicycling safety classes are also offered throughout the year for kids 6-10 years old. For more safety towns in the Chicago area, visit kidwinks' Guide to Biking With Kids in Chicago.

Where: 511 S. York, Elmhurst When: Thursdays 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. June 9 August 11 weather permitting. Cost: Free; three-wheel bikes and/or helmets are available for rental for $5. Ages: 4 7 years

Kidical MassKidical Mass is a takeoff of the term, Critical Mass -- the monthly bicycle ride that happens here in Chicago and around the world. Whereas Critical Mass is a ride for everyone, Kidical Mass is a ride for kids! The rides are chaperoned by parents and generally stick to residential streets. Rides depart regardless of weather: rain, snow, or shine! Where: Palmer Square, 3064 W Palmer Blvd, Chicago When: The second Saturday of every month; gather at 10:30AM for 11:00AM departure. Cost: Free Ages: All ages babies and younger children may ride in trailers or bike carriers with their parents.

Plainfield Bike ParkThe Plainfield Bike Park is a free to the public, two acre bicycle skills park which includes dirt jumps, a pump track, and a skills section. The park was designed with progression and safety to allow boys, girls, young children and adults to learn bicycle handling skills in the safest environment. There are different areas designated for different skill levels, from beginner to expert. This is an extreme sports facility and is a high risk area. The park is ride at your own risk, and an appropriate bike, helmet and safety gear is strongly recommended.Where: Approximately one mile south of the Rt. 30 and I-55 interchange in Plainfield, IL. When: Open daily Cost: Free Ages: Anyone who can ride a two-wheel bike

ABOUT KIDWINKS.COM Kidwinks.com is a boutique website that caters to today's generation of parents who are time-crunched, socially conscious and internet reliant. Kidwinks provides one-stop access to information about kid-friendly events, activities, restaurants, shops and services in the Chicago area. There is no charge to use kidwinks and membership is also free. Members enjoy additional benefits including the ability to enter contests for great prizes, email reminders and the ability to sort search results by distance from their home. Developed by two Park Ridge, IL moms, kidwinks has grown to thousands of members. For more information, please visit www.kidwinks.com.

Follow us on Facebook: 1. Kidwinks We share contest information along with pictures, videos and tips on Chicago area fun for families. 2. FreeThingsToDoInChicagoWithKids- Get daily links to free events and activities for kids in the Chicago area

Educational & Free in Chicago with Kids

2011-06-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

School is out for many kids in Chicago and the suburbs. If you are looking for a fun educational experience check out the Free Admission - Museum of Science and Industry June 19th and Free Admission - Adler Planetarium.

Chicago with Kids - May 24th, 2011

2011-05-24T06:46:00.000-07:00

What else is going on this week? Well, here are a few sugestions:Now doesn't this look totally cool? - Calving Kline Creek Farm what kid doesn't want to see calves being born? Here another that may also apeal to Chicago kids - Chicago Turkish Festival at Daley Plaza. This is such a great program that I just have to post it. They fit the helmet to YOUR child's head (I think this is the hardest thing to do) and the helmets only costs $10. They have many helmets to choose from. It is best to call before you go. Bike Helmet Program - Advocate Lutheran General Hospital - Chicago with Kids - Blog

Kidwinks - Chicago with Kids - Weekly Activities

2011-05-23T07:14:00.000-07:00

Kidwinks - Chicago with Kids - Blog

May 23, 2011 Kidwinks Blog
Here is a little tidbit from our Weekly Activities Guide - if you don't get it you should sign up for before summer starts so that you will never be at a loss for things to do with your kids:
What a (mostly) glorious weekend! Perfect for our soccer games, bike riding and graduation party we attended. Let's hope we can get a repeat performance for the coming holiday weekend. Speaking of which, this Activities Guide covers the long Memorial Day Weekend, so the next Guide will go out on Tuesday, May 31st rather than Monday, May 30th.
To view the whole guide click here: Chicago With Kids - Weekly Guide for May 23 - 30, 2011

Kidwinks' Jean Lemke and Nina Taluc with ideas for Chicago Area Free Sum...

2010-07-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

Flying With Kids

2010-07-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about all of the wonderful things that I wanted to say about my vacation to Costa Rica. However, what I thought might be useful was something different. While at the airport waiting to board our plane my boys were playing their PSPs (A big treat for them since I usually don’t let them play). It occurred to me how much easier it had gotten to travel with them now that they are a little older. When my boys were very young I took them on several trips without my husband. That means it was just me and them, scary! I took them to Germany, the East Coast, and Mexico in addition to other places that we went with my husband. I thought I would share some of the things that I have learned so that maybe one or two of the tips may make your travel experience better.

Here it goes….

Nurse – if you are still nursing your baby then plan to nurse on take-off and landing. It helps their ears to adjust to the altitude easier. With my younger one it would put him to sleep, double bonus.

Buy them a new book. Before one trip I went to the discount lane of the book store and picked up a huge sticker book for just a few bucks. It was great to keep them occupied for a little while.

Pack little bags. This works for car rides too. I get some brown paper lunch bags. In each bag I put something different. A few toys from the dollar store, a toy or game from home that they haven’t played with for a while, an edible treat that they usually don’t get at home, a few hot wheels, you get the idea. You want to create a little surprise in each bag. When they would get bored with the items in one bag I would give them another. Don’t let them know you have several bags that way they won’t just rip through them all right away. I always try to avoid candy on a trip. The sugar does not encourage sitting still and relaxing.

If you have a portable DVD player bring it. Our DVD player was invaluable the time it took me and the boys 26 hours to get home from Mexico. We spent most of that time on the runway in airplanes, or waiting at the airport. My kids held up almost better than me.

Choose a direct flight whenever possible. It is faster, less taking off and landing, less chance of delays and cancelations.

If you do have connecting flights pack your carry-on bag with things you will need in case you spend the night. Another lesson I learned from my Mexico trip. Luckily my youngest always had his blankie with him but there were other things that it would have been nice to have. Bring a change of clothes or two (depending on the age) and plenty of diapers, ointment, and underwear. Bring fever medication. You will be hard pressed to find children’s Tylenol at an airport especially the later it gets and that is when they cancel flights.

Bring small games such as cards, right left center, dominos, etc.

With babies don’t underestimate the entertain value of the plastic cups they give you your drinks in. When my oldest was a baby he played with 3 of the plastic cups for almost the entire flight.

Plan to be ON the entire time. After a flight I was always exhausted because I spent so much time making sure my kids were content. When I flew to Germany it just so happened that when my 2 year old would fall asleep my 4 year old would be awake and need something to do. There was no rest for the weary on that flight. So many times after a flight other passengers would come up to me and tell me how well my kids did. These were the same people who were looking very worried about the prospect of having a baby or small child near them on a flight.

And one last note. Please don’t let your kids kick the back of the seat in front of them.

On our way back from Costa Rica our connecting flight was delayed 4 hours. It was 10:30 at night (we had been traveling since 10 that morning) and we were all a little stir crazy. We played UNO, Right Left Center, Rummy, you name it we played it. Luckily we had bought a small kick ball in Costa Rica and packed in one of our carry-on bags. I found a deserted spot in the airport and the boys played soccer to burn off some energy. An airport security guard even joined in the game which the boys thought was really cool. Earlier we had lent it to a fellow passenger who was trying to keep their 2 year old entertained. My husband had put the ball in his carry-on bag because there was no room for it in our checked baggage. Who knew it would be so useful!

I would love to hear your suggestions on how to keep the little ones happy on a flight.

Contest - Get ready!!

2010-06-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Get ready Chicago area parents. Check kidwinks.com because we are going to be announcing a contest soon. There will 20 winners. If you are already a member you will be getting an email announcing the contest including all of the details.

QRCP Summer Camp in Lake Zurich

2010-06-25T05:22:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day that we are dropping the kids off at Quentin Road Christian Preschool Camp. My kids, who have never been big fans of camp, said they would like to go next week too. They have had an unexpectedly great time. The camp is all day. We could have dropped the kids off as early as 8:30 a.m. but we were never able to get up and ready by that time. Yesterday we picked them up at 5:45 p.m. and could have been even later because they were somewhat disappointed that it was time to leave. Don’t let the word preschool fool you. My 11 year old was having a great time. Not only are there regular camp activities but there are also activities that can be added such as horseback riding lessons, swim lessons (indoor pool), math lessons, etc. Lunch and snacks are provided by the school. It is so much easier and faster to get ready in the morning when you don’t have to worry about getting a lunch or two together for your kids. This is cool; when you check the kids in in the morning you go over to one the computers and type in their code. The computer records when you dropped the kids off. Then when you pick them up in the evening you stop by the computer again type in the code and you get a receipt that you need to sign and give to the teacher before your child is released. I sort of felt like I was picking up a pizza but what a great idea! The camp is very large and can accommodate over 400 kids. Some of the regular activities include a huge slip and slide, a big inflatable slide, paddle boat rides, computer time, and many other things that I just can’t think of right now. Here is another bonus, on Wednesdays they sell dinner. You can place your BBQ dinner order when you drop the kids off in the morning and then pick up your dinner when you pick up the kids or stay and eat it at there. This was a no brainer for us. How great is it not to have to cook and not to have to clean up, all for a very reasonable price. I had the pulled pork sandwich, Dylan (11) had a half slab of ribs, and Tyler (8) had the chicken nuggets. The kids were even saying they would like to go back next year. This camp is very well done!

Chicago Family Activities Guide May 24 - 31

2010-05-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

I fought it for as long as I could, and finally had to break down and turn on the a/c Sunday. Good day for sprinklers, hoses and water balloons. Can't wait for the pools to open this weekend!
It's hard to believe Memorial Day Weekend is already here. This issue of our Weekly Chicago Family Activities Guide incorporates Memorial Day, since it's part of the long holiday weekend. Our next issue will come out on Tuesday, June 1st. Some of this week's events are highlighted below, with links to easily find the rest. Don't forget to check our guides and our site frequently - we're always adding to them, even after this email goes out!

Summer Memberships!
Make a Messterpiece - Glenview
You asked for it... and now you got it! Make A Messterpiece is pleased to announce its inaugural Summer Memberships program, click the above link for more information. Summer hours are: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm / Sunday 11 am - 5 pm.

¿Habla Español? Want your kids to?
Language Stars FunImmersion® Studios! - Various LocationsA two hour blast of FunImmersion® with an exciting theme! These Spanish studios are available June - August. Register online and SAVE $5.00 on each studio! Use coupon code: studio2010 when registering. Click on link above for more information!

Monday - Friday, May 24 - 28

Free Weekday EventsChicago and Suburbs
It’s a long list! Kidwinks’ members can sort this list by distance from their homes!

Weekday Free Admission Days
Chicago and Suburbs, ILFree admission at Chicago area museums and other institutions. Click then scroll down.
Open Play Times
Chicago and Suburbs

Story Times
Chicago and Suburbs
Shrek Forever After in 3D Hollywood Palms Cinema Naperville, IL
Downers Grove Park District Family Concert Series Downers Grove, IL

Little Green Thumb Wednesdays - Garfield Park Conservatory Chicago, IL

Date Night! - Kidz Parties Plus More Barrington, IL
Fan Fest Joliet Jackhammers Joliet, IL
Schaumburg Flyers Shrek Night Schaumburg, IL
More Activities for Kids Chicago and suburbs, IL
Bored kids? Get some ideas here: museums, mini golf, indoor play & swimming ...
More Weekday Family Friendly Events Chicago and suburbs, IL
Click through the Events Calendar to find more fun. Lots to do - don't miss out!

Saturday, May 29
Memorial Day Parade Downtown Chicago Chicago, IL

Memorial Weekend Block Party Arboretum of South Barrington, IL
Free activities & concert by 10,000 Maniacs!

Stylists' Secrets From The Doll Salon - American Girl Place Chicago, IL
2010 Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Chicago, IL

Flower Fairy Festival at The Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL Saturday and Sunday

Great America Discount Passes Grayslake, IL
Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest Oak Forest, IL
Homecoming Celebration at St. James Bartlett, IL
Opening Weekend Hesston Steam Museum La Porte, IN
Red, White & BBQ - Ty Warner Park Westmont, IL
Friday - Sunday
Free Weekend Events
Chicago and suburbs, IL
A list of FREE, family-friendly events for this long weekend.
More Fun Things To Do With Kids on Saturday
Chicago and suburbs, IL
Plenty more going on this weekend: children’s theater, story times, family programs and more.

Sunday, May 30
Cuneo Gardens Art Fest Vernon Hills, IL Saturday and Sunday
Family Campout Kane County Cougars Geneva, IL
Flying 4 Kids - Schaumburg Park District Schaumburg, IL
WoofStock - Meineke Recreation Center Schaumburg, IL
Sunday Family Days - Arlington Park Arlington Heights, IL
Brookfield Zoo day!
More Kids Activities and Events on SundayChicago and suburbs, IL
Find more events to enjoy this Sunday.

Monday, May 31 - Happy Memorial Day!
Memorial Day Parades Chicago and Suburbs, ILNote the days - not all parades are on Monday.
More Kids Activities and Events on Memorial DayChicago and suburbs, IL
Find more to do on Memorial Day. Call ahead to ensure businesses are open on this holiday.

Dining Out?

Check our Kids Eat Free Calendar before you head to a restaurant with the kids.

Click on any day to get a list of restaurants offering kids meals deals on that day. Some restaurants also offer special entertainment for kids on certain nights, and you'll find those listed too. Don't forget: Members can sort this list to see what's nearest to them!

Save!

TopGolf - Free Mini Golf
TopGolf Birthday Parties
Pump It Up Summer Jump Camp Coupon (Chicago location only)
QRCP Summer Camp
Splatters Birthday Parties
Fair Oaks Farms
Pop In Playtime - Pump It Up Vernon Hills
Naperville Park District Birthday Parties
Party Time Palace
Home Comfort Heating & Cooling
Merry Music Makers
TechStuff Video transfer, computer & handheld game repair, etc.
Park Ridge Speed Skating Club
A Sterling Design Photographic Artists Memories Wow!

New to kidwinks!

Clow International Airport and Museum - Ongoing Activities
Table Side Magic Shows - O'Donovan's Restaurant - Restaurants Northbrook Farmers Market - Shopping
Von Orthal Puppets Summer Camp - Services

Kidwinks Guides

Tip of the Week

Kidwinks' Shopping Section is not just for kids! If you're looking for clothing, eco-friendly products or a gift, click through our Shopping Section. We've got several cool stores (many have online catalogs) listed there that offer just about everything imaginable.

Let the categories along the left guide you to what you need...or didn't know you needed!

Help Us Grow!

Here are two ways you can help kidwinks grow:
Tell businesses you found them on kidwinks. Tell them in person when you visit, or use our handy form letter to email them.
Join us on Facebook.

Join kidwinks!
Sign Up!

Did your bff forward this eNewsletter to you?? Sign up to
become a member of kidwinks.com.
Make sure you check the box to join our mailing list so you can receive this eNewsletter yourself!

Enjoy your week!