Chicago Parks

The city of Chicago has over 220 public parks to choose from, many with preschooler friendly features like water sprinklers, whimsical playground equipment and shady, scenic sites for an impromptu picnic. And don't forget the 29 lakefront beaches along the Lake Michigan shore for sand castle building!   In this section, I’ll review parks in Chicago and nearby city suburbs that parents and their preschoolers will love to frequent.

Featured Chicago Parks

North Park Village Nature Center
This northside nature preserve caters to families with many free seasonal events and classes for children throughout the year. Preschoolers will enjoy checking out the indoor discovery room and hiking the center's wooded trails.

Mary Richardson Jones Park
This South Loop park has a fun interactive playground that preschoolers will enjoy complete with a large train, ticket booth and more. A rare and scenic find in downtown Chicago it has a beautiful view of the Sears Tower.

Seneca Playlot Park
A tranquil retreat located in one of Chicago's most popular shopping districts, Seneca Playlot Park is a fun little park to visit with your preschooler and a change of pace from other neighborhood parks. Kids will love the truck and train shaped climbers at this park.

Chicago Water Park Fun With Your Preschooler
Spend a day in the sun with your little guy or gal. Nothing beats the heat like a run through a sprinkler on a sunny day. Have fun exploring the many park district water parks and playgrounds with your preschooler. Best of all, they’re free!

Featured Preschooler Product

International Playthings iPlaygarden Gal Tote
This adorable pretend gardening set will have your preschooler caring for his or her own little garden right beside you. Gardening gloves, 3 pots, tools, a watering can, sunglasses, plant stakes and a tote complete the set. Your preschooler can dig, plant seedlings, learn how plants grow or just use it for pretend play in the sandbox or for mudpie building.

Around PreschoolRock.com

Summertime Preschool Education
Providing your preschooler with a rich learning environment does not have to be complicated or expensive. All preschoolers need to succeed and have fun is a caring parent and a little bit of imagination.

Potato Plants - How to Grow a Sweet Potato Plant
Start off simple preschool gardening with this wonderful kids' science activity. You and your preschooler can learn how to grow a entire sweet potato plant with a sweet potato and some water. Let your preschooler learn all about roots, stems and leaves with this fun science experiment. 

How to Teach Your Preschooler about Traffic Safety
Learning to cross the street is one of the fundamental lessons all preschoolers must be taught. In preparation for kindergarten, especially if your preschooler will be taking a school bus or walking to school, they will need to learn about traffic, how to cross the street safely, the role of the crossing guard, and how to properly use a cross walk. Here are six great tips for teaching your preschooler about traffic safety.