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Little Sparks Parenting Student Newsletter October 2025

Melinda Young - Wednesday, October 1, 2025
 Parenting Student News 

OCTOBER 2025

Logo for the Campus Center Week

Celebrate National Campus Children’s Centers Week with UIC Children’s Center! 

During October 6–10, the Little Sparks Program joins Campus Children’s Centers across the country in celebrating National Campus Children’s Centers Week. This week recognizes the extraordinary role campus-based centers play each day in supporting families and strengthening our campus community.

National Campus Children’s Centers Week is a time to:

  • Emphasize the services and support we provide to students, faculty, staff, and community families.
  • Build understanding of the value of high-quality early childhood programs in fostering children’s health, learning, and development.
  • Showcase our impact and visibility as a vital resource within the UIC community.
  • Highlight the importance of campus-based centers in recruiting and retaining students, faculty, and staff.

To spread the word, we are highlighting the incredible work of the UIC Children’s Center. The Little Sparks Program is committed to raising awareness and showing our support for the importance of campus-based centers.

We are proud to celebrate the meaningful difference the UIC Children’s Center makes in the lives of children and families throughout the UIC community each and every day.

Children gathering around Sparky

A Legacy of Care: Milestones from the UIC Children’s Center’s History

Here are some highlights from the Children's Center's history:

  • Originally named the Circle Children's Center, the program was established on January 16, 1972, through the efforts of the members of a student organization called the Circle Women's Liberation Union and other interested faculty, staff, and students to provide quality, full-time childcare. 
  • In 1974, the university assumed full responsibility for the Circle Children's Center, which was part of the College of Education.  The Center not only served as a childcare center, but the Children's Center staff also collaborated with UIC researchers Constance Kamii and Rheta DeVries to develop a curriculum that incorporated a constructivist approach to teaching, based on the theories of Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget.  Their work resulted in several publications that are still used in teacher training programs today.
  • In 1984, the program was expanded to a second site in the Applied Health Sciences Building on the west side of campus through the efforts of the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women.  At this point, the name was changed to the UIC Children's Center, and the Children's Center became a unit within Student Affairs. 
  • In 1989, the Children's Center was one of the first programs nationwide to achieve accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  This distinction is one that the Center still maintains today. 
  • In 2012, financial and operational challenges made it necessary to consolidate the two sites into the West Site location. 
  • In 2024, the Children's Center moved from Student Affairs to being under the direction of the Vice Chancellor of Finance.  
  • Throughout its 53-year history,  UIC has supported the Children's Center by providing space as well as an operating subsidy so that the Center can continue to offer a sliding fee scale based on a family's income.  
Picture of a Mother Parenting Student and her child in front of the UIC Childrens Center

UIC Children's Center Parent: Desiree Lopez
Pursuing a Bachelor's in Human Development and Learning

"As an expecting parent with a 2-year-old, you can imagine the struggle to stay up to date with everything. So I'm grateful that Little Sparks and the UIC Children's Center were able to assist me during this pivotal time in my pursuit of higher education. 
My child, Valentina, has thoroughly enjoyed being at the children's center. We were able to see the small changes in her that emphasize she is not just developing her social skills, but also her emotional and logical knowledge. She wakes up ready to go, and during pickup, is reluctant to leave. I'm glad to know that her teachers in the orange room (and staff) take care of the little ones with the utmost care and feel grateful for her pathway to loving school environments."

Mother with her children

UIC Children's Center Parent: Vanessa Garcia
Human Development and Learning Major

"The UIC Children’s Center has been an extreme blessing for our family. Before learning about the center and the Little Sparks program, I didn't think I would be able to attend UIC full-time or even enjoy any time on campus. Thankfully, the staff there has helped me and my son with every transition! The teachers in the blue room are truly amazing at their jobs; they not only play and care for the children but also spend time teaching things that can help my son at home and with the transition to kindergarten. As well as guide me through feeling confident that I can go to class and focus on school while my son is in great care! "

Story compiled by Desiree Lopez (Parenting Student) in collaboration with Kim Kull, Director of the UIC Children’s Center

Learn about what the Little Sparks Program offers.

Fall Family Friendly Events

Fall is officially here—the leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and it’s the perfect season to make memories with your family. UIC is offering exciting events where you can relax, connect, and celebrate the season together.

Family Weekend – Little Sparks Family Game Room
UIC Student Center East, 
Join us on October 11, 2025, for Family Weekend, where the Little Sparks Program will be hosting a free Family Game Room filled with classic favorites. Perfect for all ages, it’s the ideal spot to relax, connect, and enjoy some friendly competition. Come play, laugh, and create lasting memories with your Flames family!
To attend Family Weekend, please register your family using your UIC information through the Flames Family Hub.
Learn more here

Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago
Chicago’s free and family-friendly fall celebration returns to Lincoln Park Zoo with a full slate of harvest-time fun! From picking the perfect pumpkin and toasting s’mores over a fire pit to rides and entertainers, this festival offers something new and different each weekend in late September and throughout October. Enjoy free musical entertainment, professional pumpkin carvers, a pumpkin patch, and fall-themed enrichment for zoo animals. Closes at 4:30pm on October 11 and 24. 10am - 5pm. FREE with some ticketed activites. All ages.
Learn more

38th Annual Apple Fest
Lincoln Avenue between Lawrence and Sunnyside, Lincoln and Lawrence, Chicago
Usher in the Fall with the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce's 38th Annual Apple Fest! The festivities will take place on Friday, October 3rd from 3-7pm, and Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th from 9am - 6pm. Apple Fest is a long standing tradition in Lincoln Square, bringing community together to celebrate the beginning of autumn. Friday 3-7pm, Saturday 9am - 6pm & Sunday 9am - 6pm. FREE. All Ages.
Learn more

Make this fall season unforgettable by joining in these family-friendly events!

"Rise and Thrive" in bold magenta letters with three green leaves coming out of the final "E." Below that are details about the Rise and Thrive event (same info on this page).

October 8, 2025                    4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: 1700 SSB & Zoom

Address: 1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607

Join fellow parenting students at UIC to learn what resources exist to support you, connect to each other, and share tips about how to navigate parenting and academics successfully. Let’s show up—for ourselves and each other!

We highly encourage attendance in-person. Children are welcome; however, we are unable to provide childcare. Parking validation available.

go.uic.edu/RiseAndThrive

Hosted by the Women's Leadership and Resource Center and Little Sparks Program.

Front entrance of the UIC East Student Rec Center

Want To Take Your Child To The Gym?

UIC Recreation & Wellbeing offers opportunities for students to bring their children and families to participate in activities at the Student Recreation Facility. Student memberships are included with tuition. Depending on a child’s age, some areas and activities may be limited, but there are spaces and programs available for all ages.

Family & Dependent Membership Options (per semester):

  • Child (ages 17 & under): $85 – Birth certificate required
  • Adult Dependent (ages 18–26): $135 – Valid ID required
  • Spouse: $135 – Marriage certificate or proof of shared status (e.g., joint bank account, proof of same address) required

Additional Opportunities:

More Information & Daily Guest Fees:

Contact UIC Recreation & Wellbeing:

  • Email: uicrec@uic.edu
  • Phone: 312-413-5162
  • Address: 737 S. Halsted St., Student Recreation Facility, MC 127, Chicago, IL 60607
U&I care meals and information

U&I  Care Meals

The U&I Care Meals program offers a select number of meals per term to ALL undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in urgent need. The program is limited and intended only for those facing immediate need in an emergency, but it is not a long-term solution to food insecurity.
Due to the limited number of meals available, meals are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The application portal will close when there are no meals to be allocated at that time.

Food Insecurity Definition: Refers to the limited or uncertain availability of safe and nutritionally adequate foods, or limited or uncertain ability to obtain such food in a socially acceptable manner.
Disclaimer: Eligibility, limitations, and number of meals available are subject to change.

U&I Care Emergency Fund is now open! 

The U and I Care Fund provides temporary, short-term financial assistance to currently enrolled students who are unable to meet essential expenses due to a temporary or unexpected hardship. 

This emergency funding program is designed to offer financial assistance to students in the form of one-time awards (typically not exceeding $750). Emergency funding is NOT intended to provide ongoing relief for recurring expenses. Decisions regarding the disbursement of funds are made on a case-by-case basis. 

Questions: Elizabeth Rodriguez elizarod@uic.edu