What’s Happening
What’s Happening
Beyond ‘How Was School?’: 10 Questions to Get the Conversation Going
You ask: “How was school?” They answer: “Good.” You try again: “What did you do today?” “Nothing.” Sound familiar? 😅 After spending hours apart, it’s natural to want to hear about your child’s day. But sometimes a big, general question can be hard for kids to answer, especially after a long day of listening, learning, socializing, and following directions. As families head back to school, here are 10 questions you can keep in your back pocket when you want to hear a little more than “fine.” 😂 1. What Made You Laugh Today? Start with something fun. Instead of asking your child to summarize an entire school day, this gives them one specific moment to think about. And sometimes one funny story leads to another. 🌟 2. What Are You Proud of Today? Maybe they got an answer right. Maybe they tried something difficult. Maybe they helped a friend. This question gives kids a chance to recognize their own wins, including the little ones. 🧠 3. What Was the Most Interesting Thing You Learned? Notice we didn't ask what the teacher taught. What your child found interesting might be completely different, and their answer could give you a glimpse into…
From Screen Time to Skill Time: What Ravenswood Kids Build When Gaming Meets Coding
Ravenswood has a strong creative streak — the neighborhood is full of artists, makers, and small studios, and that same maker energy shows up at iCode Ravenswood. Kids who love gaming aren't just entertained here; they're introduced to the actual craft behind the games they play. In a neighborhood that already values hands-on creative work, building your own game fits right in alongside painting, music, and design. From Player to Creator: The Mindset Shift That Sticks Parents often look for a productive alternative to screen time without a clear option. This class offers exactly that — kids stay just as engaged with games, but now as builders instead of players. The underlying skills (logic, patience, iterative problem-solving) transfer directly into schoolwork and other areas of life. It's a shift in relationship to the screen, not just a reduction in time spent — closer to the same shift Ravenswood's creative community already makes between consuming art and making it. Why Kids Who Love Gaming Make Natural Coders Every game runs on code — physics, character movement, scoring systems, level design. Kids who already spend hours immersed in a game world have an intuitive feel for how these systems connect. Instructors build…
The Best Podcasts & TV Shows for Raising Emotionally Strong Kids
As parents, we spend a lot of time helping our children grow academically. We celebrate good grades, cheer on accomplishments, and encourage them to keep learning. But one of the most important skills children develop has nothing to do with math, reading, or coding. It's learning how to understand and manage their emotions. Emotional regulation helps children navigate friendships, work through frustration, communicate effectively, and bounce back from challenges. Like any skill, it develops over time with practice, guidance, and positive role models. The good news? There are some incredible podcasts and shows that can help reinforce those lessons in a fun and engaging way. Here are a few of our favorites. 🎧 Peace Out Best for Ages: 5–10 Peace Out combines short stories with breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques to help children calm their minds and bodies. Whether it's before bedtime, after a busy school day, or during a stressful moment, each episode encourages kids to slow down, focus on their breathing, and recognize their emotions in healthy ways. Why we like it: It gives children practical tools they can use anytime they feel overwhelmed. 📺 Stillwater Best for Ages: 5–10 Based on the beloved children's books, Stillwater follows…
Gaming Platforms vs. Creator Platforms: Why We Use Roblox Studio & Minecraft Education
One of the most common questions we hear from parents is: "What's the difference between Roblox Studio and Roblox?" or "Is Minecraft Education the same as regular Minecraft?" It's a great question, and the answer is actually quite simple. While the names sound similar, they're designed for completely different purposes. At home, many students use Minecraft and Roblox to play games, explore worlds, and have fun with friends. At iCode, we use Minecraft Education and Roblox Studio to help students become creators. They learn to build, design, code, solve problems, and bring their ideas to life in safe, instructor-led environments. The difference isn't just in the software. It's the difference between playing and creating. 🎮Gaming Platforms vs. Creator Platforms Gaming platforms are designed primarily for entertainment. Players explore worlds, complete challenges, and enjoy experiences created by others. Creator platforms shift students from playing games to understanding how they're made. Instead of simply consuming technology, students begin creating with it. Whether they're designing a game, building a virtual world, or writing their first lines of code, they're developing creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and confidence along the way. 🤖Roblox vs. Roblox Studio Roblox is the platform where players can enjoy millions…
🎮 Learning That Feels Like Fun
Our Favorite Games for Growing Young Minds When most people think about video games, they think about entertainment. At iCode, we like to look a little deeper. Some games do much more than keep kids occupied. They encourage planning, problem-solving, creativity, persistence, and critical thinking. Best of all, kids are developing these skills while doing something they genuinely enjoy. Here are a few of our favorite games and the real-world skills they're helping kids build. ⛏️ Minecraft At first glance, Minecraft looks like a game about placing blocks. Look a little closer, and you'll see kids following the same design process engineers use every day. Every project starts with an idea. Then they: 📝 Make a plan 🏗️ Build 🧪 Test their ideas 🔄 Redesign and improve Whether they're building castles, roller coasters, Redstone machines, or automatic farms, they're constantly learning through trial and error. That's the Engineering Design Process, the same approach engineers use to design bridges, buildings, machines, and new technology. 💡 What they're really practicing Planning before building Testing ideas Learning from mistakes Improving designs Creative problem-solving 🎮 Roblox Studio Many kids dream about creating their own video game. What many parents don't realize is that game…
RAVENSWOOD BACK TO SCHOOL BASH- iCode Ravenswood 8/15
🚀 RAVENSWOOD BACK TO SCHOOL BASH! 🎒- Free Admission Robotics, Coding, Freebies, & Fun! Get ready for the ultimate back-to-school celebration! Join us at iCode Ravenswood for a jam-packed morning of high-tech exploration and family fun. Whether your child is a gaming fanatic, an aspiring engineer, or just loves to create, this FREE community event has something for everyone. Plus, we are rolling out our biggest perks of the year for families who decide to join iCode Ravenswood during the bash! 🎉 EXCLUSIVE SAME-DAY ENROLLMENT OFFERS: Thinking about STEM after-school programs? Secure your spot during the event and score these awesome perks: $50 OFF your registration fees! FREE iCode T-Shirt for your child! 🔬 WHAT’S HAPPENING? We’re throwing open the doors to our state-of-the-art facility and letting kids get hands-on with the coolest STEM tools on the planet: 🤖 Robotics Arena: Meet and command our advanced VEX-IQ robots. 💻 Coding Zones: Dive into game design with Scratch, Minecraft, and Roblox. 🖨️ 3D Printing: Watch imagination come to life layer by layer. 🚁 Drone Demonstrations: See high-flying drone tech in action. 🎨 Face Painting: Fun designs to keep the party vibe going strong! 🍿 Complimentary Snacks & Drinks: Fuel up on…
☀️ Is It Too Late to Enroll My Child in Summer Camp?
There's still time to make this summer one they'll remember. If you're reading this in the middle of summer and wondering, "Did I miss my chance?" You're not alone. In fact, it's one of the questions we hear most from parents this time of year. The short answer? Not necessarily. Some of our favorite camp stories begin in the second half of the summer. Life gets busy. Vacations, sports schedules, work, and family plans have a way of filling the calendar before we know it. But if you're still looking for a meaningful summer experience for your child, there are still great opportunities ahead. 🌞 Why the Last Weeks of Summer Matter By this point in the summer, many kids have had time to relax. They've slept in. They've enjoyed vacations. And eventually... "I'm bored." 😅 That's where a great camp can make all the difference. Instead of filling the day, kids spend it: Building robots Designing games Creating 3D models Solving engineering challenges They're not just staying busy. They're building confidence. 🚀 No Experience? No Problem One concern we hear all the time is: "My child has never coded before. Will they be behind?" Absolutely not. Many students walk…
Can Minecraft Really Teach Engineering? The Science Behind One of Kids’ Favorite Games
Can Minecraft Really Teach Engineering? The Science Behind One of Kids' Favorite Games 🎮 The Science behind Minecraft For many parents, Minecraft is simply another video game. It's easy to wonder whether all those hours spent building worlds are helping your child learn or just adding to their screen time. The answer might surprise you. When paired with the right guidance, Minecraft becomes much more than entertainment. It encourages children to think like engineers by solving problems, testing ideas, and creating something entirely their own. 🧱 Why Minecraft Is More Than "Just a Game" Unlike many games with a set objective, Minecraft is open-ended. Every project begins with an idea, followed by: 💡 Planning 🏗️ Building 🧪 Testing 🔄 Improving That's the same process engineers use to design everything from bridges to software. This style of learning, often called project-based learning, helps children actively apply what they're learning instead of simply memorizing information. As they experiment and overcome challenges, they're strengthening skills that transfer far beyond the game itself. 🚀 From Playing to Creating There's a big difference between using technology and creating with it. While many digital activities encourage passive consumption, Minecraft invites kids to become designers, builders, and…
Summer Activities in Chicago for Families That Keep Kids Learning (Without Feeling Like School)
Summer has a funny way of speeding up. One minute you're celebrating the last day of school, and the next you're wondering how August is already around the corner. Between vacations, neighborhood festivals, and pool days, summer is also the perfect opportunity to keep your child's curiosity growing. The best part? Learning doesn't have to look like worksheets or homework. Some of the most valuable STEM lessons happen when children are simply exploring, asking questions, and discovering how the world works around them. If you're looking for summer activities in Chicago for families that are both fun and meaningful, here are a few ideas that can turn everyday adventures into opportunities for learning. 💡 Parent Tip: Wherever your summer adventures take you, ask your child one simple question: "What problem do you think someone was trying to solve?" It's a question engineers, inventors, designers, and scientists ask every day, and it's one of the easiest ways to turn an ordinary outing into a STEM adventure. 🏛️ Become a Curiosity Detective at Chicago's Museums Chicago is home to some of the best museums in the country, including the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium, and the Field Museum. Instead…
What Kids Really Learn in a STEM Belt Program
🎓 What Kids Really Learn in a STEM Belt Program When most people hear "coding class," they picture kids learning programming languages and building games. That's certainly part of the experience. But what often surprises parents is everything else students learn along the way. At iCode Ravenswood, our Belt Program is designed to help students develop technical skills while also building confidence, creativity, communication, and resilience. These are the skills that help kids succeed not only in STEM, but in school, future careers, and everyday life. 🧩 Learning How to Solve Problems Technology doesn't always work the first time. Neither do robots. Neither do games. And that's actually a good thing. Every project gives students opportunities to think critically, troubleshoot challenges, and experiment with different solutions. Instead of looking for the "right answer," students learn how to ask questions like: 💡 What caused this problem? 💡 What can I change? 💡 What happens if I try a different approach? Over time, they become more comfortable tackling challenges independently and thinking through problems step by step. 💪🏽 Building Resilience Through Trial and Error Learning to code teaches students that mistakes are part of the process. Every programmer encounters bugs. Every engineer…
How Robotics Competitions Help Kids Build Confidence, Creativity, and Problem-Solving Skills
When most parents hear "robotics competition," they picture robots racing across an arena, completing challenges, or battling it out for points. What they don't always see are the moments happening behind the scenes: a child solving a problem they thought was impossible, finding the confidence to try again after a setback, or discovering a passion for technology they never knew they had. While the competition may last a day, the skills students build along the way can last a lifetime. Let's take a closer look at why robotics competitions have become one of the most powerful ways for kids to learn, grow, and develop future-ready skills. 🤖 Confidence Grows One Challenge at a Time Building a robot rarely goes perfectly the first time. A design doesn't work. A program crashes. A robot misses its target. Then something important happens. Students learn how to troubleshoot, make adjustments, and try again. Each obstacle becomes an opportunity to prove to themselves that they can overcome challenges. Over time, kids begin to see mistakes differently. Instead of viewing them as failures, they learn to see them as part of the learning process. That mindset often carries over into school, extracurricular activities, and everyday life.…
Best STEM Books for Kids by Age — Part 2 of Our Ultimate Reading List
More STEM Books Your Kids Will Actually Want to Read Because one list was never going to be enough If you caught our first STEM reading roundup, you already know how much the right book at the right age can do for a curious kid. A great STEM read doesn't just teach facts, it shifts how a child sees the world and their place in it. The response to part one was so great that we had to keep going. Before we dive in, if you haven't read part one yet, go check it out first. There are some really great picks in there sorted by age that are absolutely worth starting with. Ready for more? Here we go. 👉🏽 Read Part 1 of our STEM Book Recommendations here before diving into this one! 📚 Ages 4 to 6 — Little Learners, Big Ideas This age group is all about wonder. The best STEM books for early readers use colorful illustrations, simple language, and relatable characters to make big concepts feel exciting and approachable. Firefly Song: Lynn Frierson Faust and the Great Smoky Mountain Discovery By Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim (Simon & Schuster) A beautifully illustrated picture book…
