Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids - Chicago

Douglass Park Creative Space Grand Opening

Maureen Wilkey — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:37:47 +0000

Saturday, January 10, 2026 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/creative-space-grand-opening-douglass

Cost:

Free

Meet the talented art partners and staff at the new Douglass Park Creative Space and explore the new beautiful space. Enjoy hands- on experiences at art stations where you can create and discover. Refreshments provided. No registration required in advance.

Recommended Age:

All ages

Age:

Douglass Park

1401 S. Sacramento Dr

60623 Chicago , IL 41° 51' 44.316" N, 87° 41' 58.776" W

Illinois

Ticketed:

Activity Category:

Arts

Free

Admission Services

Vernon Hills Winterfest

Maureen Wilkey — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:22:46 +0000

Saturday, January 10, 2026 - 11:00am to 2:00pm

https://www.vhparkdistrict.org/event/winter-fest-2/

Cost:

Free

Enjoy winter activities for all ages in Century Park Arboretum. Watch the sled dog team take action, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, and toast s’mores over the fire. If it’s snowy, bring your sled and take a ride down the hill. New in 2026 – an iceless skating rink! Special skates are provided.

Recommended Age:

All ages

Age:

Century Park Pavilion

1400 Indianwood Drive

60061 Vernon Hills , IL 42° 15' 5.3424" N, 87° 57' 59.3352" W

Illinois

Ticketed:

Activity Category:

Free

Admission Services

RAIN: For Babies and Their Carers

Maureen Wilkey — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:19:01 +0000

Repeats every week every Sunday and every Tuesday and every Wednesday and every Saturday until Sun Jan 18 2026.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Various times

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Various times

Saturday, January 10, 2026 Various times

Sunday, January 11, 2026 Various times

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Various times

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Various times

Saturday, January 17, 2026 Various times

Sunday, January 18, 2026 Various times

https://filamenttheatre.org/rain/

Cost:

$15-$28

RAIN is a mesmerizing and intimate sensory experience for babies and their families in which they are invited to slow down, notice, and wonder. Audiences are invited to participate in an experience that responds to the generosity of rain. Carers and their littlest ones are immersed in an intimate and mindful installation space full of surprise, delight and opportunities for connection through sound, touch and performance. A trio of performers on cello, voice, and movement act as gentle guides in a brand-new world of surprise, delight, and opportunities for connection through sound, touch, and performance.

Recommended Age:

0-2 with adult

Age:

Filament Theater

4041 N. Milwaukee Ave.

60641 Chicago , IL

Phone: (773) 270-1660

41° 57' 16.1424" N, 87° 44' 54.7116" W

Illinois

Ticketed:

Activity Category:

Music

Admission Services

South of Chi Family Improv

Maureen Wilkey — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:58:50 +0000

Sunday, January 11, 2026 - 2:30pm

https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/69629954/south-of-chi-family-improv-park-forest-na...

Cost:

Come join in on family friendly afternoon of improv provided by South of Chi improvisational group. Through improvised games that work on teamwork, confidence, public speaking, and creative thinking you’ll laugh away the winter blues!

Recommended Age:

4 and up

Age:

Nathan Manilow Theatre at Freedom Hall

410 Lakewood Boulevard

Park Forest , IL 41° 29' 5.7228" N, 87° 41' 8.8404" W

Illinois

Ticketed:

Activity Category:

Theater & Dance

Admission Services

Chicago Architecture Center Family Days

Maureen Wilkey — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:53:23 +0000

Saturday, January 10, 2026 - 10:00am to 1:00pm

https://www.architecture.org/events-programs/family-days

Cost:

Free

Visit the Chicago Architecture Center for a fun, activity-filled day inspired by CAC’s current exhibition, The Disappointed Tourist. “Is there some place that you would like to visit or revisit that no longer exists?” This is the question posed by The Disappointed Tourist, an ongoing project by artist Ellen Harvey. Children and families of all ages are invited to respond through a range of activities. Create your own drawing to add to the growing collection of ‘forever buildings.’ Build a LEGO model of a building you remember, or imagine another world. Explore the Center with a scavenger hunt.

Recommended Age:

3-10

Age:

Chicago Architecture Center

111 East Wacker Drive

60601 Chicago , IL

Phone: (312) 922-3432

41° 53' 14.532" N, 87° 37' 24.798" W

Illinois

Ticketed:

Activity Category:

Free

STEM

Admission Services

Chicago's Best Indoor Places for Tweens and Teens To Hang Out

Maureen Wilkey — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 13:48:00 +0000

Fun and safe indoor spots for teens and tweens in Chicago.

St. Lucia With Kids: Stay at Coconut Bay and Explore the Island’s Best Family Adventures

Meghan Rose — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 13:10:07 +0000

I live in LA, so for tropical vacations, we tend to head to nearby Hawaii. But we took the long flight to the Caribbean this fall, and I have to say, I’m sorry we waited so long. For a fantastic mix of awesome adventures, gorgeous beaches, relaxing cabanas, stunning nature, great food, loads of animals, and a plethora of activities for kids and the whole family, you can’t beat the island of St. Lucia. Yes, the island famous for honeymooners and romance is actually a wonderful family vacation.

We stayed at the all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort and had maybe the most perfectly balanced tropical family vacation I’ve ever experienced. Think chocolate tasting/making, drive-in volcano, snorkeling with endangered turtles, and the best Kids Club I’ve seen.

Below, I’m sharing the real insider stuff. Not just the list of top things to do, but the details: what you need to pack (and what to not pack!), which days you should plan on adventures and which you should lie by the pool, and even what to eat.

Check out our complete Guide to Caribbean Family Vacations. Now, here are my tips on making a trip to St. Lucia with kids a rousing success:

25 Free Things To Do Indoors in Chicago: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days

Maureen Wilkey — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 14:53:21 +0000

These free destinations are sure to keep kids (and parents) happy and warm!

Adventures Press

ashleykey92_203270 — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 13:10:22 +0000

Chicago

Family Fun

Kids

Best Shared Family Calendar Apps (Tested by a Real Parent)

Ally Noel — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:02:52 +0000

If you’ve ever missed a Spirit Day, double‑booked soccer practice, or realized after pickup that early dismissal was today... "Hi! Welcome to the club." This is exactly why I went down the rabbit hole of family calendar apps in the first place.

For Mommy Poppins, I didn’t just research these apps; I actually used them with my own family. On iPhones, Android devices, and laptops. With kids who sometimes check apps… and sometimes make me wonder why I pay for cell phone service

Below are the best shared family calendar apps I’ve personally tested — what actually worked in real life, what felt over hyped, and which families each app is truly best for. For more tried-and-tested parenting hacks, check out our Mommy Poppins Parenting Hacks Guide.