Family-Friendly Events in Northwest Indiana

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EDUCATION AND SUPPORT

ONGOING ABCs and 123s, 5-6pm Thu, Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. 219.762.9622. Children ages 3 to 5 can attend these classes, which will focus on learning a new letter and number each week. Parents do not need to be present during class. Register by the Friday before the first class.

ONGOING CAFamily Studio Sundays, 11am-3pm, Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.922.3432. architecture.org. These free architecture workshops, geared for children ages 3 through 12 and their adult companions, include activities, walking tours, and stories. Families are invited to drop in for the scheduled programs between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

ONGOING C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Natural Birth & Parenting Network, 7pm, first Wed of the month, Hebron Community Center, 611 N Main St, Hebron. 219.996.5188. indianabirthchoices.com. This free community program brings together midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, chiropractors, breastfeeding consultants and new and expecting parents. No need to preregister.

ONGOING Club Wonder, 2nd Tue of every month, Opportunity Enterprises, 2801 Evans Ave, Valparaiso. Call Kristin at 219.309.7187. Club Wonder is an advocacy group for parents and caregivers of individuals of special needs of all kinds. The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month for support, education and community planning. Club Wonder offers monthly speakers and presentations and also organizes play dates for the children.

ONGOING FYSB Parent Enrichment Workshops, Tue 4:30-6:30pm, Family and Youth Services Bureau, 253 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.464.9585. This group focuses on strengthening the family unit, and discusses topics such as how to avoid power struggles, choosing effective discipline, the power of encouragement, how to instill the desire to cooperate, and more.

ONGOING Healing Hearts for Kids, 4-5:30pm Wed, Ridge United Methodist Church, 8607 Columbia Ave, Munster. This free six-session support group, sponsored by Hospice of the Calumet Area, is for children ages 6 to 12 who have experienced the death of a loved one and need support for their grief.

ONGOING Healing Hearts for Teens, 5:30-6:45pm Mon, 600 Superior Ave, Munster. 219.922.2732, 708.895.8332. This free six-session support group, sponsored by Hospice of the Calumet Area, is for youth ages 13 to 17 who have experienced the death of a loved one and need support for their grief.

ONGOING Kindermusik, various times and locations. Designed to introduce children (from birth to 7 years old) to music, each Kindermusik unit provides a variety of activities that encourage creativity, exploration, language, movement and social development. With Kindermusik, children can experience the magic of music without the pressure to perform. See individual websites for enrollment information.

LOCAL KINDERMUSIK LOCATIONS

Chesterton, LaPorte, Valparaiso and surrounding areas: 219.926.5022. duneland.kindermusik.net.

Dyer, Highland, Munster and St. John (Ind.), and Lansing and South Holland (Ill.): 219.765.4363. nancy.kindermusik.net.

ONGOING Mother Goose on the Loose, 10:30am Sat, South Haven Public Library, 403 W 700 North, Valparaiso. 219.759.4474. This free, drop-in program for children ages birth through 2 and their parents or caregiver combines stories, music, movements and rhymes to help children get ready to read. No fee, no sign-ups, just come when you can.

ONGOING Music in Motion, 9:45-10:30am Fri, Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. 219.762.9622. Children ages 18 months to 3 years old will wiggle, jiggle, jump and shout while playing instruments, learning songs and playing games at this new class designed to explore the performing artist in each child. Parent participation is welcome but not required. Register by the last Friday of each month for the following month.

ONGOING Native Programs, Southlake YMCA, 1450 S Court St, Crown Point. 219.663.5810. slymca.org. This program encourages parents to set aside a couple of hours a month for their young child by participating together in a variety of activities that nurture mutual understanding, love and respect.

ONGOING Parenting Together, 11am, 2nd Tue of every month, Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center, Three Rivers County Park, 2800 Colorado St, Lake Station. 219.963.2070. mybellaboos.com. This new support group allows parents to visit with other parents and discuss interesting topics—including phobias, discipline, physical fitness, children’s literature, safety, separation anxiety and more. Parents can attend with or without their children, but those who attend without their children will need to leave promptly after the meeting.

ONGOING Pregnant/New Mom Question & Answer Sessions, 8:15-9am, every 2nd and 4th Thu, Kids First Pediatrics on 30, 1130 Joliet St, Ste 103, Dyer. 219.322.8534. In these free meetings, board certified pediatrician Dr. Parul Pathak will meet with any interested pregnant/new moms to answer questions on topics such as newborn screen, breastfeeding or bottle feeding, vaccine safety, circumcision, etc. Refreshments will be provided. Call the office to RSVP no later than the day before planning to attend.

ONGOING Southlake County Mother of Multiples Club, 7pm, first Tue of every month, Wesleyan Church, 2920 W 73rd Pl, Merrillville. This club is a support group for mothers of twins and/or higher multiples living in south Lake and Porter counties, and it holds monthly meetings, Mom’s Night Out evenings and family events.

ONGOING Stay and Play, 10:15-11am Tue, Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. 219.762.9622. These monthly classes, designed to help children ages 18 months to 3 years old develop large and small motor skills, are split into two parts: structured activity time and a mix of crafts, stories, songs or games. Parent participation is welcome but not required. Register by the last Friday of each month for the following month.

HEALTH, FITNESS AND NUTRITION

ONGOING Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, call for information, 219.755.3240. ces.purdue.edu/Lake/efnep.htm. This federally funded nutrition education program is completely free to limited income families with children 12 and younger. For 30 years, family nutrition advisors have helped families learn how to stretch their dollar while eating nutritiously with hands-on activities and demonstrations. These trained paraprofessionals will meet families in their own home or in small group community settings in Lake County and provide a series of lessons on understanding food labels, the food pyramid and the importance of breakfast.

ONGOING Yoga for Kids, 10:15-10:45 (ages 4-6), 11-11:30am (ages 7-10) Sat, Valparaiso Family YMCA, 1201 Cumberland Crossing Dr, Valparaiso. 219.762.9622. valpoymca.org. Boys and girls ages 4 to 10 can learn traditional yoga poses in fun and educational ways at this yoga class taught by certified Yogafit instructor Anita Beaudoin.

PERFORMANCES, ARTS AND EXHIBITS

ONGOING Deep Space Adventure, 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4:30pm Sat-Sun, Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.STAR. adlerplanetarium.org. Deep Space Adventure takes guests aboard the observation deck of a futuristic starship that is surrounded by the larger-than-life phenomena of our dynamic Universe. The centerpiece of Deep Space Adventure is the Grainger Sky Theater, which offers audiences the most immersive, technologically enhanced theater experience ever developed. Other exhibits/shows: Journey to the Stars; One World, One Sky: Big Birds Adventure; Planet Explorers; Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass; Shoot for the Moon.

ONGOING Kraft Free Family Night, 5-8pm Thur, Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, 700 E Grand Ave. 312.527.1000. chicagochildrensmuseum.org. Free admission for everyone.

ONGOING Target Free First Sundays, 10am-5pm, Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, 700 E Grand Ave. 312.527.1000.  chicagochildrensmuseum.org. Free admission for ages 15 and under.

ONGOING Journey to the Stars, Adler Planetarium’s Definiti Space Theater, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.STAR. adlerplanetarium.org. Experience the life and death of the stars in our night sky, watch as stars explode into supernovae across the universe, and travel through the heart of our solar system’s sun in Adler Planetarium’s newest space show, narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg.

ONGOING Michael's Museum -- A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures, 10am-5pm Fri-Wed, 10am-8pm Thu, Chicago Children's Museum, Navy Pier, 700 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.464.7737. chicagochildrensmuseum.org. This permanent collection of over 100 treasures, donated by founder and curator Michael Horvich, features hundreds of thousands of tiny objects including miniatures, trinkets, artifacts and curiosities.

ONGOING South Shore Arts Art Classes, call or visit website for dates, times and locations, South Shore Arts galleries. 219.836.1839 ext 103. southshoreartsonline.org. South Shore Arts offers art classes for children and adults at their various locations throughout Northwest Indiana. Class topics include drawing, painting, pottery, mixed media, drama and more for children and adults. Adults can also take photography, computer and art appreciation classes.

THROUGH DEC 31 3D Sun, Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.STAR. Adlerplanetarium.org. 3D Sun gives audiences the chance to see the sun up close in dazzling, high-definition 3D. Stand above the Arctic Circle and witness the most brilliant auroras on Earth. Take a ride on a solar blast from the Sun's surface to Earth's Magnetosphere. Witness the most powerful explosions in the solar system - equal to the force of a billion megaton nuclear bombs. Also: Undiscovered Worlds.

Jun 20-24 Dralion, various times, Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont. 800.745.2000. cirquedusoleil.com. Thrilling more than 8 million people worldwide since the show premiered in 1999, Dralion is the fusion of ancient Chinese circus traditions and the avant-garde style of Cirque du Soleil. The name Dralion (pronounced "Drah-lee-on") is drawn from its two main symbols: the dragon, representing the East, and the lion, representing the West. The international cast features 52 world-class acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, singers and comedic characters. Additional dates: Jun 27-July 1, United Center.

JUN 28-AUG 6 Disney's Beauty and the Beast, various times, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.560. chicagoshakes.com. Filled with the memorable characters and the songs in Disney's original Broadway musical, this 75-minute production tells the tale of a prince who must earn the beautiful Belle's love in order to break the spell that transformed him into a beast.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

ONGOING Young Athletes Program/Porter County Special Olympics, 2-3pm Sun, Valparaiso High School Gymnasium, 2727 N Campbell St, 219.465.1323. valpo.k12.in.us. The sessions provide an opportunity for parents to visit and network while children (typically ages 3-8) enjoy exercise and social interaction until they are old enough to compete in the Special Olympics. This program is free of charge, and not limited to Porter County residents.

ONGOING Valpo Skates, K-6 grade skate 6-9pm Fri; family skate 1-4pm Sat, Ben Franklin Middle School's annex gym, 605 Campbell St, Valparaiso. 219.462.4185 ext 249. valpoymca.org. Youngsters can meet new people, skate to music and get some exercise during Valpo Skates, which is open to all children and families. Parents are welcome to stay and skate with their children on either day. Bring your own skates or use skates at the rink. Enter door No. 8.

MAY 21 Born to Build Lego Class, 4:30-6:30pm, Crown Point Civic Center, 101 S East St, Crown Point. 219.661.2271. crownpoint.in.gov. The City of Crown Point Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to offer this class to children ages 6-12. Participants willl be working in teams and individually to build several items using Lego® building blocks. All supplies are included. The registration deadline is May 16.

JUN 17-22, 24-29, JUL 8-13 Dunes Learning Center's Summer Adventures in the Dunes Camps, Indiana Dunes, Porter. 219.395.9555. dunesleanringcenter.org  This camp for children entering 4th-7th grade. The camps provide five days and five nights for children to explore the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, search for salamanders and play games. Also, July 9-13 and July 23-27: ParKids Day Camps for kids entering 1st—3rd grade.

JUN 26-AUG 16 Camp Bellaboo, every Tues and Thurs, 1-4pm,  Bellaboo's Play and Discovery Center, 2800 Colorado St, Lake Station.  219.963.2070. mybellaboos.com. This camp is a unique, imaginative and extremely active experience featuring inside and outside games, art, stories, cooking, snacks, songs and dances revolving around creative themes. All the best of Bellaboo's and more for three hours of supervised activities. Enthusiastic and professional instructors add to an exceptional experience. Camp Bellaboo, designed for children ages 3 to 7 (potty-trained please).

SPECIAL EVENTS

ONGOING Parent's Night Out, 6-9:30pm Fri, Duneland Family YMCA, 215 Roosevelt St, Chesterton. 219.926.4204. dunelandymca.org. Need a night out without the kids? Take advantage of the Duneland Family YMCA's Parent's Night. Each Friday night, qualified staff members are available to watch children at the YMCA. Call at least 24 hours in advance to ensure that sufficient staff is available.