Best Chicago Parenting Groups In Chicago
Luckily, the Chicago area is home to myriad parenting support groups, many of which host informal, kid-friendly meetings, parenting workshops, play dates and moms' {even dads'} night outs. Some groups host free, child-friendly meetings, while others request membership dues or simply charge enough to cover production costs; those fees are noted.
Attachment Parent International
Chapters in Lake County, Naperville and Schaumburg
Find the group closest to you: www.attachmentparenting.org
Attachment Parenting is a philosophy based in the practice of nurturing parenting methods, like gentle discipline and respectful communication that create strong emotional bonds between children and parent. Local Chicago land API chapters have lively online discussion groups in addition to hosting monthly educational meetings where discussions relevant to the responsive parenting not only educate parents but also encourage parents to form connections with others on the same journey. API group leaders plan official play sessions outside of meeting times at locations around the Chicago land area and group members can be found creating their own park date play times, facilitating book club discussions and planning moms night outs.
Babywearing International of Chicagoland
To join: groups.yahoo.com/group
bwichicagoland.wordpress.com
A recent merge between the Chicago City Slingers {Babywearing International of Chicago} and the Lake County Babywearers, the newly formed Babywearing International of Chicagoland fosters connections between parents who are interested in wearing their youngsters in baby carriers while teaching them the art of babywearing. Meetings span three counties with Volunteer Babywearing Educators facilitating monthly get-togethers in Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. At each meeting, parents will find VBEs presenting a topic, sponsoring a meet and greet introduction session, facilitating a social time as well as doing what they do best – educating new parents about the various slings available while providing one-on-one help in adjusting the carrier and positioning baby and the wearer so that both are comfortable, safe and happy. The group also connects virtually with its Yahoo discussion board, Facebook page and blog.
La Leche League
City and suburb wide
Find the group closest to you: www.llli.org/Web/Illinois
La Leche League seeks to help mothers succeed at breastfeeding by offering a community of support. In addition to finding experienced nursing mothers at the meetings, La Leche League leaders are also on hand to weigh in and help mothers with any breastfeeding needs. Nursing mothers looking for support in their breastfeeding journey as well as pregnant mothers who are considering beginning a nursing relationship are welcomed at the meetings. In addition to discussing topics relevant to nursing baby, discussions also stem around generally adapting to life with children and raising a family.
Lake/McHenry Cloth Diapering Group
groups.yahoo.com/group/lakemchenrycloth
A relatively new group on the scene, the cloth diapering group formed to meet the needs of parents who choose reusable diapers for their babies. Cloth diapers are so very different from those of our mothers' generation with different styles widely available, so new cloth diapering parents usually have questions abound. The group is run by Corry, owner of Clean Green Nappy {www.cleangreennappy.com}, a cloth diaper laundering service that serves the greater Chicagoland area. She brings the experience of a cloth-diapering mother and laundering expert to the monthly group meetings, and topics explored at the meetings vary monthly.
Moms Offering Moms Support Club {MOMS Club}
Gurnee, Chicago and Naperville
Find the group closest to you: www.momsclub.org/join
Stay-at-home moms looking for the support of other who chose to work inside the home as mothers and homemakers have a place to connect and find support within a MOMS club group. The groups facilitate play dates, moms' night outs, field trips and other mom-centered events. Annual dues range between $25 and $30 for a year's membership. Aside from providing a place where topics relevant to mothers can be discussed, MOMS club chapters also aim to engage members in one service project per year that help needy children.
Mothers of Preschoolers {MOPS}
City and suburb wide
Find the group closest to you: www1.mops.org/web
Meeting twice per month at most Chicago-land locations, MOPS aims to help mothers find rest, encouragement and support in their mothering journeys while children are lovingly cared for by nursery workers during the two-hour meeting. During the meeting, moms dine together on a brunch while conversing and enjoying the company of their contemporaries. Craft projects and speakers, who talk about everything from finances to faith and cooking to caring for kids, are alternately scheduled for the time after brunch. Meeting dues vary per chapter, but the MOPS International yearly fee is $23.95.
The Parent Circle
To join: www.theparentcircle.com
The Parent Circle, which serves parents geographically located in the north shore communities and northern Chicago, seeks to encourage positive family experiences through education, support and social interaction. The group facilitates family activities, play dates and workshops, all of which are meant to bring families together and help them make new connections or maintain relationships with other families. Notably, The Parent Circle offers sessions for just the parenting couple where an emphasis on the adult relationships is the focus, and it features a preschool readiness seminar among other workshops. The group even organizes a babysitting co-op for members. Membership fees range between $18 and $35, and the babysitting co-op is an additional $5.
Hyacynth Worth writes about raising boys, healthy parenting, faith and everything else included in arena of motherhood at Undercover Mother.
