Q: My 9-year-old wants to wear ratty gym clothes every day. I don’t need him in a suit and tie, but I think it’s important to look presentable. This discussion usually ends in tears. Where can I get decent looking,…
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…
Whether you are struggling with a couch potato or simply want to incorporate a healthy and active mindset, these free streaming video options have something for every kid. Cosmic Kids Yoga Age groups: preschool, elementary Master storyteller Jamie weaves…
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…
Q: What are some creative ways to make Valentines for the kids' classmates that don’t include candy?—Shannon A: I swear I’m not being a smart aleck, so, please don’t laugh… but your child handmaking a card, with no candy or…
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…
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…
SEE THE RAIL TRAIL LIGHTS The popular Rail Trail Lights return to South End February 3-19. See six public light art installations by local artists along the .7-mile stretch of the Rail Trail between Bland Street and Atherton Mill. Artwork…
We all want our kids to get out and play in the great outdoors. But when Mother Nature interferes, there are plenty of indoor play options all over town. Sky Zone Trampoline Park Charlotte 7325 Smith Corners Blvd. 704-709-9050 Pineville…
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…
Q: Hi, Molly. My 10-year-old son has started asking if he can ride his bike along the greenway by our house without a parent. When I was his age, my parents wouldn’t have blinked. But I just feel like the…
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…
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…
Q: Hi, Molly. I have four kids under age 10, and I feel like I have nothing fun to offer them. All I do is yell at them to pick up their toys or hurry up and get ready for…
Q: My son's teacher is always sending home a report that he can't sit still and stay focused. I talk to him about being respectful of his teacher and classroom, and have tried to offer him some breathing strategies when…
Planning a ski trip puts fear into the hearts of many parents. Between safety concerns and deciding where to go, what equipment to rent, and when to book ski school, it can feel like a logistical nightmare. Ski Sapphire Valley…
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…
Q: I have a weird problem. My 4 yr old was at a play date at her friend’s house who has a pet hamster. She got really excited to hold the hamster and squeezed too hard…and now they don’t have…
In January 2008, NHRA drag racing star Doug Herbert got the phone call every parent fears. His two sons, Jon and James, had been in a car accident. Neither survived. As Herbert fought his way through grief, he became resolute…
Beginning this month, Charlotte kids with special needs have a brand new indoor adventure park to explore. Here are 7 things to know about Friendship Circle’s new Inclusive Fun Zone, which opens at 6619 Sardis Road on October 6. …
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…
Q: My kid’s stepmom’s birthday is coming up. We’re not BFFs, but we get along really well and she’s been a great SAHM to my kids while I’m at work. We haven’t had much interaction outside of the kids, so…
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…
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…
