My son has never been invited to a wedding. Itâs fair: Heâs a toddler whose energy and emotions know no bounds. But every child-free invite my husband and I receive is followed by a long, thoughtful conversation: Do we RSVP no? Do we get a sitter? If only one of us goes, who should it be? Sure, itâs just one of a million logistical conversations parents have on the regular, but thanks to a new local service, there might be an easy answer to all of the above. Read more about The Wedding Nanny below, as well as the evolution of the âwildestâ preschool in the metro area and St. Louis summer camp tips that you wonât want to miss.
đ Have a little train enthusiast? Sign up now for this monthâs Playdate on January 26, when The Magic House will be open only for St. Louis Family readers to explore its new Thomas the Tank Engine exhibit. Grab your discounted tickets here!
Wishing you a wonderful week with the ones you love!
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Things to Do
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SPONSOREDSee Americaâs top skaters compete at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, January 7â11 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis! Purchase tickets.
A MESSAGE FROM PONCE HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY
Turn compassion into a career this spring
Ponce Health Sciences University launches its new BSN program with a Spring startâdesigned for future nurses ready to serve, lead, and make a difference locally.
The âkids or no kids?â wedding debate doesnât have to be all-or-nothing. A new St. Louis service is offering couples a third option: invite the little onesâand let a pro handle the chaos. Wedding Nanny, launched by longtime sitter and former youth camp director Sommer Hopkins, helps families feel welcome while keeping receptions (and parents) a whole lot calmer.
đ What it is: Hopkins provides on-site childcare specifically for weddingsâthink a separate kid zone with games, crafts, and toys, in addition to a check-in/check-out system to keep everyone accounted for.
đ° How it helps: Itâs designed for those moments when kids are in the ceremony (and parents are busy) or when couples want guests to enjoy the night without spending the whole reception chasing toddlers near the dance floor.
âïž Itâs flexibleâand not the only option in town: Pricing is tailored to each wedding (no minimum spend), and Hopkins can scale up with extra help if needed. Similar event-care services in the area include STL Event Nanny, TLC Family Care, Jovie, and Elegant Event Sittersâthough Hopkins is positioning Wedding Nanny as wedding-focused.
LASE Specialized Education builds life-changing success for every learner
Every child deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated. LASE helps students across St. Louis learn with confidence and faith. Find out more.
WILD ONES
Saint Louis Zooâs Second Nature Preschool set to expand in fall 2026
The Saint Louis Zooâs Second Nature Preschool is growing up. Starting in fall 2026, the beloved nature-based program will expand to include full-day classes and move into a brand-new, purpose-built facility on zoo groundsâopening the door for more families to access one of the regionâs most immersive early childhood learning environments.
â° Full days, finally: For the first time, Second Nature will offer full-day preschool, a shift designed to support families who need all-day childcare while still prioritizing outdoor, play-based, nature-centered learning.
đą A classroom inside the zoo: The new facility in the Henry A. Jubel Foundation Destination Discovery area includes dedicated outdoor space (think mud kitchens, garden beds, climbing logs, and a balcony overlook), as well as classrooms with live animals such as turtles, frogs, geckos, and fish.
đ Learning goes far beyond worksheets: Students spend at least half their day outdoors, participate in conservation projects, and learn from the zooâs wider âneighborhoodâ of experts, from keepers to horticulturalists to first responders. The goal isnât memorization but curiosity, empathy, and becoming âgood humans among humans.â
đïž Applications for the 2026â27 school year are now open.
Rosati-Kain Academy blends academic excellence with a deep sense of sisterhood, empowering students to think boldly, lead confidently, and embrace their full potential as compassionate changemakers. Learn more.
Forsyth School provides an engaging, challenging, and joyful learning experience for children age 2 through Grade 6 on a one-of-a-kind campus located in the Wydown-Forsyth Historic District.
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