Development

Indoor Swim Lessons Around Charlotte

Updated March 2023 Aqua-Tots Founded in Arizona in 1991, this swim franchise offers group lessons for babies as young as 4 months old (with a parent) up to age 12. Instruction is available for children with special needs, and classes are…

Charlotte’s Best Indoor Playgrounds

Updated March 2023 MULTI-ACTIVITY FREE PLAY Sports Connection 11611 Ardrey Kell Rd. 704-583-1444 Pricing: Varies by activity Enjoy bounce houses, laser tag, bowling, arcade games, bumper cars, a ropes course, virtual reality, and more at this Ballantyne mega center. The…

Baby Registry Must-Haves

I remember the day my husband and I, in all our naivete, went to create our baby registry. Four hours later, we emerged from the store anxious, bewildered, and in need of a very long nap. Attempting to stock yourself…

A Guide to Pregnancy

Ah, pregnancy. One of the most beautiful and strangest experiences of your life. From the nausea and constant need to pee to the first flutters of movement from the tiny creature inside you, you quickly learn your body is not…

Tips for Parents of Reluctant Readers

When my daughter was in the first grade, her teacher required students to complete a reading log each school night. I remember one evening when my daughter had tears as she struggled to get through her 15 minutes of required…

ROOM WE LOVE: A Neurodivergent-Friendly Space

In my book Our Neurodivergent Journey, I write about how important it is for your home to accommodate your child’s needs. Kids need a space that elicits feelings of calmness but also leaves room for rambunctious behaviors. Our library allows…

Stress-Free Bedtimes

One of the biggest challenges we face as parents is sleep—making sure our children get enough of it and finding a little for ourselves along the way. In addition to helping parents keep their sanity, adequate sleep is a huge…

PARENT TO KNOW: Patrice Gopo

Patrice Gopo is an award-winning essayist and author who often returns to themes of race, immigration, identity, and belonging. Her essay collection, All the Colors We Will See, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection. Her debut picture book, All…

How Does Your Garden Grow?

As parents, it's common to worry about what our children are eating. We want them to enjoy a wide range of nutritious foods and to develop a healthy relationship with food, but getting children to try new flavors and eat…

WEEKENDER: New Bern

If you drive toward the coast, about 4.5 hours east of Charlotte, you’ll find the waterfront town of New Bern, North Carolina. Nestled where the Neuse and Trent rivers converge, this small city is the state’s former colonial capital and…

The Cult of Mom Friends

My husband and I lived in our South Charlotte neighborhood for about a year before we had any meaningful interaction with our neighbors. Then one weekend, I showed up to the pool sporting 38 weeks of pregnancy. Suddenly I was…