Kids, teens and family
Events specifically for children or teens as well as those for families, including classes, park and library programs, music, dances, family fitness events, battles of the bands. Send items to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com two weeks before event date.
April 13
Lapsit Storytime: 10-10:30 a.m. Monday, April 13, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Babies birth to 18 months and their caregivers can build language skills through the use of songs, finger plays, rhymes and stories. Registration required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Preschool Drop-in Storytime: 11-11:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesdays, April 13 and 14, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Ages 3 to prekindergarten 5 can enjoy a short film and stories. No parents or siblings in story room. Registration required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Pizza and Pages Teen Book Discussion: 6-7 p.m. Monday, April 13, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. The library provides pizza on discussion night. Teens can discuss "Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles. For information or to register, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
April 14
Family Trip to Legoland: Register by Tuesday, April 14. Trop leaves 9 a.m. to return 2 p.m., Saturday, May 16, from the Belvidere Recreation Center, 412 S Lewis Ave., Waukegan. The Waukegan Park District will travel to Schaumburg for a family trip to the giant indoor Lego World, designed for families with children ages 2-12. Cost is $16 per person for Waukegan residents, $18 for nonresidents. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For information, call Jessica, at (847) 360-4702.
Teen Action Group: 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, Wauconda Area Public Library, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda. Teens can let the library know what they think about book selection, teen programming, and more. For information, call (847) 526-6225 or visit wauclib.org.
April 15
Parent/Child Book Discussion: 7-8:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Discuss "Airball: My Life in Briefs" by L.D. Harkrader. For information or to register, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
Marina and Her Puppets: 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Children's stories told with puppets in the Russian language. Enjoy a snack and a craft. Registration required. Call call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Earth Day Poetry Contest: Submit a poem by Wednesday, April 15, then attend the Coffee House from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Teens can celebrate Poetry Month and Earth Day by sharing a green Earth-themed poems Submit entries to the library's Readers' Services Desk or email them to sstrahl@eapl.org by April 15. For information, call (847) 438-3433.
April 16
Movies for kids: 10:15 a.m. Thursday, April 16, Wauconda Area Library, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda. Preschoolers and their adult caregivers are invited to see the animated movies "Dinosaur Bones" and "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" free of charge. For information, or to register, call (847) 526-6225, ext. 212.
Kindergarten Enrollment Night: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, Grass Lake School, 26177 W. Grass Lake Road, Antioch. Kindergarten enrollment night for Grass Lake School District 36. Call (847) 395-1550.
April 17
Family Fun Day: 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, April 17, Hunt Club Park Soccer Fields, 900 N. Hunt Club Road, Gurnee. A free evening of spring activities, including kite flying competitions, touch-a-truck, musical entertainment and refreshments. Event is weather dependent; for day-of-event update, call (847) 599-5455. For information, visit gurneeparkdistrict.com or call (847) 623-7788.
"F5" Family Night: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17, Mundelein Community Center, 1401 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. This "Friends, Family, Frenzied Fun Fridays" event features open gym and family swim time. Cost is $8 for up to four for Mundelein residents, $12 for nonresidents. Each additional person is $1. Register at (847) 566-0650; walk-ins are welcome. For information, visit mundeleinparks.org.
Friday Night Out: 7 p.m. Friday, April 17, Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Road, Round Lake. Drop in to draw your own mandala. Family program-admission is free. For information, call (847) 546-7060 or visit rlalibrary.org.
Teen Drawing Club: 4-5:30 p.m. Friday, April 17, Wauconda Area Public Library, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda. An art instructor will be on hand to help teens develop their artistic expression. For information, call (847) 526-6225 or visit wauclib.org.
Teens Recommend Books: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 17, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. The next meeting of Fremont's Impressive Teens will feature the annual "Book Dash," in which teens choose their favorite books to receive the "Teen Recommended 2009" sticker. Open to students in grades 7-12. To register, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
April 18
Family Ice Cream Social: 2-4 p.m. Saturday, April 18, Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa. Ice Cream will be provided by The Twisted Cow, with music by the Chordmasters, a barbershop quartet. Strolling entertainer Jason Kollum will demonstrate juggling and balancing with a variety of interactive props. There will also be face painting and balloon animals. All are welcome to attend this free event. For information, call (847) 356-7711 or visit lvdl.org.
Egg Hunt and Earth Day: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 18, Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Center, 3849 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. The Long Grove Park District's Spring Egg Hunt and Earth Day Celebration will feature an egg hunt for ages 3-6 at 10 a.m. (bring a basket); nature safari for ages 6 and up at 11 a.m.; Dennis "Swiftdeer" Paige will present "Springtime with the Frogs" from 1-3 p.m.; live bird demo from 1-4 p.m.; and more. For information, call (847) 438-4743.
Biz Kid$: 11 a.m. to noon April 18, Zion-Benton Public Library, 2400 Gabriel Avenue, Zion. Grades 5-8 are invited to view an episode and participate in activities from the PBS series "Biz Kid$," where kids teach kids about money and business. To register, call Sue Malo, at (847) 578-8869, or email susanm@glcu.org.
April 19
Sunday Sampler: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19, Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Road, Round Lake. Internationally acclaimed tap troupe BAM! will perform. Admission is free. For information, call (847) 546-7060 or visit rlalibrary.org.
April 21
Storytimes: Terrific Twos & Threes, for accompanied children age 2 or 3, meets from 9:30-9:50 a.m. on Tuesdays or Wednesdays; Preschool Storytime, for unaccompanied children age 3, 4 or 5, meets from 10:30-11 a.m. Tuesdays, April 21 to May 14, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. To register, call (847) 438-3840, or visit eapl.org.
Special Kids Special Families: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, Protected Tomorrows, 103 Schelter Road, Lincolnshire. A panel of therapists will discuss "So Your Child Needs Therapy: What Should You Know?" There is no charge for the meeting, which is open to all parents of children in all school districts. For more information or to RSVP, call Chris Eng, at (847) 913-1812, or Marilyn Green Rebnord, at (847) 821-7740.
April 23
Mad City Money: 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23, Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. Teens in grades 9-12 can participate in the Mad City Money simulation. For information, call (847) 244-5150. Register at wnpl.info.
April 24
Teen Coffee House: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. The library's open mic night and karaoke jam for students in grades 6-12. Pizza and soda will be available. Registration required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
April 28
Teen Advisory Board: 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Students in grades 6-12 can voice their opinions on past programs and help start new ones. Registration required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Ongoing
Preschool screenings: Gurnee Public School District 56 holds preschool screenings during the school year at Spaulding Elementary School, 2000 Belle Plaine Ave., Gurnee. The screenings are for children ages 3-4 who live in District 56, and examine a child's skill in speech/language, fine and gross motor skills, concept development, attention span, behavior, vision, and hearing. Parents with questions or concerns about their child's development in any of these areas may schedule an appointment by calling Spaulding School at (847) 662-3701. There is no charge for the screening.
Baby Jam: 9:45 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Offers music specially chosen for babies 6- to 23-months-old to give the babies a safe space to move and bounce; an alternative activity will be provided for siblings older than 3. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Family Jam: 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:45 and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Features a different style of music each week to get everyone dancing, for children ages 2-5 with an adult. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Big Screen Games: 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Offers a different interactive DVD game each week for first- and second-graders. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Afternoon Adventures: 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Features a different craft, game, or activity every week for first- and second-graders. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Lunch & Listen: Noon Fridays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Features a one-hour sample of a different book on CD each week for students in fourth grade and up. Participants are invited to bring a sack lunch, and the library will provide drinks and snacks. For details, call (847) 918-3225 or visit fremontlibrary.org.
Fremont's Impressive Teens: 4 to 5:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Open to students in grades 7-12. Teens who attend two F.I.T. meetings are eligible to earn service hours by volunteering at the library. Register online at fremontlibrary.org, by calling (847) 918-3218, or in person at the Youth Services desk.
Homeschool Mondays: 10:30 a.m. to noon Mondays, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. A chance for homeschooling families to get to know one another. Parents can network while their school-aged children can play together. Most Mondays require no registration; one Monday per month will feature a program for which patrons must register. To register or for information, visit fremontlibrary.org, call (847) 918-3218, or stop at the Youth Services desk in the library.