Charlotte Parent February 2014

February 2014 • Free CharlotteParent.com

Not Your Mama’s CAMP! 5 UNCOMMON SUMMER SESSIONS

Paint Act Sing

Meet an Olympic SUPER MOM

LOCAL PROGRAMS TO

SPARK CREATIVITY

special advertising section

summer camps

Choreography by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux

march 6-16 | Knight Theater

Presented by

A dreams-come-true fairy tale ballet for all ages 704.372.1000 / ncdance.org Photo: Peter Zay

Spec ia perf l daytim o e for s rmance s tude nts & seni or ncda s - visit nce.o rg

2014

summer camps

register now @

csarts.org Over 15 weeks of summer camps for children ages 4-18

* Pottery Camps * Art Camps * Preschool Camps * Music Camps

Register online now! www.csarts.org | 704.377.4187

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

1

Clemson University Exciting & Innovative Academic-Based Learning For Middle and High School Students On Clemson University’s Campus

Automotive Engineering Multi-Media Journalism Beyond ER Vet Camp Architecture and Landscape Architecture

And More!

Registration is Open! clemson.edu/summer-scholars (864) 656-5535

Most courses are residential & one-week long

Feb. 21 - Mar. 9 Take a toe-tapping trip to the bayou in this Zydeco-driven musical based on the popular book’s fairy tale with a twist.

A red-hooded duckling named Petite Rouge and her sidekick cat lead the Big Bad Gator on a wild "duck" chase through Mardi Gras. Ooh-wee! Dis gonna be fun, y'all!

704-973-2828

ctcharlotte.org

We have a two-step program.

YOU COME HERE. WE HELP YOU.

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MonarchNC.org • (866) 272-7826 350 Pee Dee Avenue, Albemarle, NC 28001

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f e b r u a r y 2 014 26

features

26

Paint, Act or Dance Your Way Through Summer

Engage young minds at an arts-based summer camp

31

Beyond Kumbaya Overnight camps that offer out-of-theordinary learning experiences

34

Olympic Super Mom Meet Noelle Pikus Pace, member of the U.S. Olympic Skeleton Team and mom of two

36

Cupid's Aim: Tween Love 5 ideas to support budding romance

31 54

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Whimsical Adventures at Fairy House Festival Make your own fairy house and more

4 9 12 14 17 20 21 22 24 43 44 55 58 60

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in every issue

from the editor family fyi doc says chalk talk stay-at-home dudes sidelines food for thought mother of style growing up getting out daily calendar excursion daddy derek carolina smiles

February 2014 • Free CharlotteParent.com

31

Not Your Mama’s CAMP! 5 UNCOMMON SUMMER SESSIONS

Paint Act 26 Sing

Meet an Olympic SUPER MOM

34

LOCAL PROGRAMS TO

SPARK CREATIVITY

special advertising section

summer camps

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

3

FROM THE EDITOR MICHELE HUGGINS

Excitement is in the air

E

xcited. That's my word for the month of February. I'm Mom to a very awesome 4-year-old, make that one very awesome and enthusiastic 4-year-old. As I watch him giggle, make jokes, light up and simply bubble with curiosity about the tiniest of things that I — as a "grown-up" — take for granted, I've decided to dig up my excited, enthusiastic spirit that seems to get buried under work and a daily list of responsibilities. I'm going to embrace hugs and silly moments of laughter, as well as the inexhaustible questions and pleas by him to do things he loves. Then I'm going to step back and find some more things I can be excited about, beginning with my new role as editor.

Being a native North Carolinian and having lived in Charlotte most of my life, aside from college days at UNC Chapel Hill and time spent abroad, I'm now enjoying Charlotte on the parenting side of things. I'm honored to take this position and strive to bring the best about parenting and living in Charlotte with kids to our readers.

This is our annual camps issue. The story about out-of-the-ordinary overnight camps on Page 31 has me wishing I could turn back time and sign myself up. From racing on the blacktop to learning to hunt and taking your pup to camp, there are some great options for unique camp getaways.

Studies show that arts-based activities spark creativity, and also promote confidence and communication skills. Check out the story about local artsbased camps on Page 26 to get a taste of some of the great ones found in and around the Queen City.

Of course it's Valentine's Day Feb. 14. As a parent, Valentine's Day takes on new meaning. I think I may try making the sweetheart cookies on Page 21 to share with both my big and little sweetheart. If you have a tween in your house, Valentine's Day may come with a new surge of emotions, especially if there's a budding romance. See what the experts advise for helping support your child on the twisty path of young romance. And for some more adult ideas for Valentine's Day gifts, check out this month's Mother of Style column on Page 22.

We also introduce two new columns this month written by dads. Check out Stay-at-Home Dudes on Page 17 and Daddy Derek on Page 58. Both offer a Dad's point of view from the frontlines of parenting.

GROUP PUBLISHER Sharon Havranek

PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR Eve White

EDITOR Michele Huggins

ART DIRECTOR Melissa Stutts

AD DESIGNER Wade Baker

DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Susannah Carpenter

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Mikala Young

SR. MEDIA CONSULTANT Leslie Shinn leslies@charlotteparent.com

MEDIA CONSULTANT Jen Byrum jbyrum@charlotteparent.com Dawn Field dfield@charlotteparent.com

SALES & MARKETING ASSISTANT Kia Moore kmoore@charlotteparent.com

BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Kara Lynn Mann karalynn@charlotteparent.com

BUSINESS OFFICE ASSOCIATE Elizabeth Day eday@charlotteparent.com

CONTACT US Phone: 704-344-1980 Fax: 704-344-1983 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 302 Charlotte, NC 28203 advertising@charlotteparent.com calender@charlottparent.com distribution@charlotteparent.com editoral@charlotteparent.com promo@charlotteparent.com webeditor@charlotteparent.com Circulation 109,000. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. Charlotte Parent reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing that is not in keeping with the publication's standards. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Published by

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CharlotteParent.com Carolina Parenting Inc.

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools

Faith Tradition Academic Excellence

For over 80 years, Catholic Schools have provided a faith based education dedicated to academic excellence to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Children learn in an environment where the teachings of Jesus are promoted and upheld as core values of both school and life.

Visit one of our nine schools and see what a Catholic education can mean to your child.

Now Enrolling for the 2014-2015 School Year MACS admits students of any race, color, religion or ethnic origin

Admissions: (704) 370-3273

Visit us at: www.charlottediocese.org/macs Charlotte Catholic High School Christ the King Catholic High School Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School St. Ann Catholic School St. Gabriel Catholic School St. Patrick Catholic School St. Mark Catholic School St. Matthew Catholic School Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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what’s new at …

CharlotteParent.com SOLITARY MOM-AGEMENT

VALENTINE'S DAY FUN

New blogger Jen Byrum shares her hilarious, trying and heartfelt parenting moments as a single mom of two.

Sweet ideas for making Valentine's Day treats, crafts and more with the little ones you love.

…/blogs

…/thingstodo

DAY CAMPS

Start your search for local day camps — from theater to dinosaurs — find it here.

…/camps

Pinterest.com/CharlotteParent

CONTEST NC DANCE THEATRE CINDERELLA

Facebook.com/Cltparent

@CharlotteParent

Share a photo of your prince or princess to win a family four-pack of tickets to North Carolina Dance Theatre's "Cinderella," March 6-16 at Knight Theatre.

…/contests

instagram.com/CharlotteParent Photo by Jeff Cravotta

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“Make a list of family rules that everybody, including parents, stick to so kids have defined boundaries at home.”

CharlotteParent.com Parenting Tips blog

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WAXHAW

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Dr. Robert L. Young, Jr., D.D.S., P.L.L.C.

MINT HILL

fyi

FAMILY The newly cast Team Broadway members pose with co-directors Lori Anne Sword (far left) and Linda Booth (far right), as well as musical director Bill Congdon (behind Booth).Â

Ph

o to

by Pat

ri c k S c h n e i der

21st Century Skills Build CHALLENGE

Take an Underwater Walk at Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium

T

hough warm beaches may be miles away, you and your family can take a walk under the sea without masks and fins at the Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium, opening Feb. 20. The 36,000 square-foot aquarium, located in Concord at Concord Mills, introduces 5,000 marine creatures to visitors.

The centerpiece of the aquarium is the 180-degree ocean tunnel that allows visitors to see sharks, rays and other fish swim right over their heads. Another highly anticipated attraction is the Giant Pacific octopus, the largest octopus species in the world.

In addition to creatures from oceans around the world, Sea Life Charlotte-Concord will house species native to North Carolina’s Catawba River and the nearby Atlantic Coast.

The aquarium offers a strong interactive and educational experience for visitors to learn more about life in the ocean and how they can help to protect marine life, says Chris Andrews, senior curator for Sea Life U.S. Other unique interactive opportunities include viewing windows that offer a glimpse into the ocean itself, a touch pool experience, feeding demonstrations and

a behind-the-scenes tour to show guests how it all works, plus educational talks and a presentation video theatre.

Regular admission tickets cost $21 for adults and $17 for kids ages 12 and under.

Through Feb. 19, tickets can be purchased online for $16.

Kids ages 2 and under are free. Annual Passes offering unlimited entry to the aquarium for 12 months are also on sale for special rates through Feb. 19, and annual pass holders are invited to attend a sneak peek of the aquarium on Feb. 15 and 16.

For more information, visit visitsealife.com/ charlotte-concord.

The Goddard School preschools invite local families to join the fun on Feb. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m., for the 21st Century Skills Build Challenge. Children can create an innovative problem-solving invention.

As part of the TEACH. PLAY. LEARN. campaign created in partnership with TINKERTOY. Invention concepts will be submitted for a contest on The Goddard School National Facebook Page. goddardschool.com.

84% of camps use letters and postcards as a means of communication between campers and parents.

Source: ACA 2013 Emerging Issues Survey

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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fyi : : COMMUNITY

*

good deed: Karen Martinez

No school is perfect is the message Karen Martinez, a Vance High School senior, and the members of the Kinect Club are sending to the community.

She has seen the good and the bad in her school, but doesn’t believe Vance’s reputation should be defined by what some may call “a few bad apples.” In an effort to overcome the school's bad reputation, Karen is leading the Kinect Club as it launches the campaign Because it's Vance. To kick off the campaign, the club is asking Vance students to sign a pledge banner in the month of February committing to promote school pride by posting positive comments on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #ohitsvance. Karen hopes the campaign will not only improve the school's reputation, but build student pride.

get real with

Christine Nelson Quick stats: age 37, anchor/ reporter for WBTV … Family tree: lives with husband William Sperow II, and daughter Camryn, 4, and son William III, 2 … Favorite indulgence: Haagen Dazs ice cream bar, specifically vanilla milk chocolate almond, Yum! … Favorite outing: with family — Chuck E. Cheese …

Favorite local eats: Cowfish … iPod: Bruno Mars “Treasure” …

Latest read: “Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type.” I have two kids I end up reading what they read … DVR: last season of “Dancing with the Stars.” Still haven’t been able to see the full finale — remember, two kids … In your bag: spa services brochure (I’m due for a massage), lotion, wallet, earring that fell out of my ear while driving, a few Christmas receipts … Can’t live without: My husband … Stress buster: manicure/pedicure at ipolished and massage at Ballantyne Hotel spa.

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Karen Mar tinez, front lef t, with members of the Kinec t Club at Vance High School.

Green Teacher Network: Gardening 201 Workshop Join the Green Teacher Network Feb. 18 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Park Expo for its Gardening 201 Workshop. Get tips on starting a school garden, including hands-on demonstrations about how to compost and plant raised beds. $10, includes lunch.

Register at catawbariverdistrict.org/GTNCharlotte.

Local Mom Creates Zippy-Forms Solution Frustrated by the number of forms needed for your kids? Local mom Marinn Bengel created zippy-forms.com to help busy families go form free. Parents store data about each child on the website. Then, rather than filling out forms when they arrive, upload a PDF of the form, and Zippy does the rest. The Zippy library currently has Camp Thunderbird, Camp Greenville, Camp Harrison and many Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Myers Park High School forms available for easy access. In a zip, it’s ready to print. “The real energy and time saver for parents is storing their information in one place at one time,” says Bengel, “and then using the information multiple times when signing up for camp, school, sports, church and other activities.” The service costs 99 cents per form printed, a worthy investment when you have several kids, too many forms and not enough time! And a nickel for every form goes directly to a charity of the user’s choice. zippy-forms.com.

WANT TO BE A 2014

Spotlight

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JOIN US IN AN 8-WEEK CHALLENGE! Blog, upload photos, share videos and chronicle your healthy family journey online and in our monthly magazine. If selected, you will have access to a panel of experts, including a fitness and exercise trainer, dietitian and life coach, and hundreds of dollars in prizes and services!

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Interested? Visit CharlotteParent.com/FitFamilyChallenge CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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fyi : : WELLNESS

The Bloody Truth What parents really need to know about nosebleeds

S

eeing your child covered in blood from a nosebleed is a sight that causes anxiety in most parents, even though it is very common.

Almost DOC SAYS 60 percent of people have

BY DR. KATHERINE BATTISTI AND DR. SHIVANI MEHTA a nosebleed during their lifetime, most commonly during childhood. Some children will have a nosebleed only once during childhood, while others may have frequent nosebleeds. Because of this variability, it is important to know how to manage a nosebleed and when to see a doctor.

Nosebleeds can happen for a variety of reasons, but most commonly they come from blood vessels in the nose that are very close to the surface. Blood vessels can get damaged and break open from dry skin, foreign bodies in the nose, nose-picking or minor trauma to the face. Other causes, such as easy bleeding from a clotting disorder or a nasal mass, are much less common.

Most nosebleeds are not life threatening and can easily be managed at home.

To prevent frequent nosebleeds, try a cool mist humidifier in the child’s room, discourage nose picking, and put Vaseline inside his nostrils using a Q-tip to keep the inside of the nose moist. When a child has a nosebleed, he should not tip his head back to stop the blood from coming out of his nose. Instead, pinch his nose near the tip and tilt the head forward to prevent blood from going down the throat, which can cause vomiting. Tipping the head forward also helps prevent a child from choking on the blood that is dripping down the back of his throat.

A normal nosebleed usually stop after five to 10 minutes of pinching the nose. If it lasts longer than 10 minutes, or if it happens frequently, it is important to get checked out by a doctor. Other signs that a nosebleed is abnormal, include nosebleeds in a child with new, easy bruising; seeing a mass in the nose; or nosebleeds that have enough blood that your child is choking or vomiting blood.

As scary as nosebleeds may seem, they are common and can usually be taken care of at home with a few simple steps. If you are worried, however, or your child has any concerning symptoms, don’t hesitate to see the doctor.

Dr. Katherine Battisti is a pediatric resident at Carolinas HealthCare System, and Dr. Shivani Mehta is a board-certified pediatrician at CHS Myers Park Pediatrics.

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Here is one more great reason to make sure children and teens get the recommend one hour of physical activity a day. Based on more than a decade of research done at the University of Georgia, studies show that exercise training improves fasting insulin levels, which in turn can help prevent type II diabetes in children and adolescents. Another example of exercise can be the best medicine.

Measles is on the rise.

Fifty years ago, up to 500 Americans died from the measles. Then we got a vaccine. But now the CDC reports a threefold increase in 2013 compared to the past, with nine outbreaks across the USA, with the largest outbreaks in New York, North Carolina and Texas. That’s 175 cases with 20 hospitalizations.

More than 98 percent of patients were unvaccinated.

Pediatricians recommend the first MMR vaccine at 1 year old and the second at 4 years old, and as early as 6 months for traveling babies.

Kids who eat out of bigger bowls eat 52 percent more food and waste about 14 percent more food than those with small bowls, according to a study of preschoolers at the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab. Solution? Kids should have kid-sized portions in kid-sized plates and bowls.

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CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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fyi : : EDUCATION

School News

CMS Expands Options Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is adding a health science magnet at Hawthorne High School, a Montessori magnet at Long Creek Elementary, an early college program at UNC Charlotte, and several other S.T.E.M. options for students next school year, with more to follow in the 2015-16 calendar year. Learn more at cms.k12.nc.us.

Teaching Children to Overcome Failure App Alert Cultivate your child’s love of music with the musicplaying app Piano Dust Buster 2.0. Kids can learn to play the piano through games, and transition their skills from the mobile device to a real piano. The app includes an on-screen virtual piano with 3D perspective and life-size keys. iPad, Free.

Tip When it comes to test taking, teach kids to read directions and every possible answer — the best one could be the last one.

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E

veryone likes to succeed.

Who doesn't want to get the promotion, ace the

CHALK TALK

BY PEGGY GISLER AND MARGE EBERTS

quiz or be on the winning soccer team? It is natural to be disappointed when you fail at something. Nevertheless, children have to learn to cope with failure, from losing a board game to failing a test.

This does not mean accepting that they won't do well in an endeavor, but rather learning how to turn things around so they are successful most of the time.

When children get bad grades, it is usually because

CharlotteParent.com

they simply have not mastered the material. For the most part, children need to improve their study skills. This can mean paying closer attention to what is said in class, reading and rereading textbook materials and consistently doing homework.

When your child brings home a bad grade, make it a habit to go over the paper or test with her after she has calmed down. Help her explore where she made mistakes and how she could have done better.

Be sure to talk long and hard about the material that she handled correctly and why this happened. This is important.

Also, it is essential that she correct all of the material that

was incorrect so she can say: “Now I understand what the right answers are.” By doing this, she will be able to handle the material when she sees it again, as usually happens.

School just gets harder and harder every year, so you want your child to begin to develop a can-do attitude. You do not want her to become a child who gives up easily and expects to fail. Should there be an area in which your child is truly in over her head, get her help as soon as possible.

Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts are experienced teachers who have more than 60 publications to their credit.

EDUCATION

::

fyi

Homework Brain-builders Use these techniques, suggested by experts at Learning Rx to help your child build mental tools that help him think, reason and pay attention, as well as make homework fun.

Break down assignments into smaller chunks. Use a stopwatch to time your child to see how long they can pay attention to a task before giving up, then encourage them to go longer during the next timed round. This helps with sustained attention, and can help your child become an independent learner.

Turn math problems into a fast-paced game. Time your children as they do a row of problems as fast as they can, then challenge them to do the next row faster. This builds the cognitive skill of processing speed, basically turning them into faster thinkers.

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Play the distraction game. Tell your child to do their best to stay focused on a short homework assignment while a sibling tries to distract him in a goofy way. Reward him for blocking out the distraction and completing the task.

This fun, and often funny, activity builds the mental skill of selective attention, which helps kids block out distractions in school and throughout life.

Give your child two tasks at once. Test him on his spelling words while he’s doing a math problem, drawing a picture, or simply packing up his homework. While he’s spelling the word aloud, make sure he doesn’t stop the other activity.

This challenging exercise is harder than it may seem and grows the divided attention skills that help people multitask or listen to directions while working.

Let your child play teacher. Let him teach you a skill or concept that he's working on to improve his understanding of the concept, and build logic and reasoning skills. Then let your child “test” you, and let them determine a fitting reward if you pass their exams.

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CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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1

fyi : : LIFE CRAFT CORNER: Valentine’s Day Chandelier This Valentine’s Day project works for a variety of ages. Make one for the family by adding multiple photo hearts, or let kids make their own to hang in their rooms.

SUPPLIES: • 12- or 14-inch embroidery hoop • Fishing line • 12 or more small heart shapes (paper, craft foam, stickers)

• Coordinating ribbon, lace or tulle • 2 pipe cleaners • Craft foam • Child’s photo(s) • Craft glue • Scissors

1. Cross the two pipe cleaners in the center of the embroidery hoop base so that they overlap in the middle of the circle and attach to opposite sides of the hoop. This creates a cross in the circle to attach a heart photo frame.

2. Tie ribbons in knots around circle base to help cover up the ring. The closer your ribbons are, the more ribbon you will need, but the fuller it will be.

3. Cut 12 pieces of fishing line to about 12 inches each, and attach a heart shape to the end of each.

4. Tie each tiny heart-string equally spaced around the hoop circle, hanging at about the same length.

(Though don’t worry if the hearts hang unevenly since that is part of this project’s charm). Add more hearts if desired, either on separate lines, or use multiple hearts attaching down each piece of fishing line.

5. Cut a five-inch heart from craft foam. Glue a photo to front — and back if desired. Attach this to center of pipe cleaners where they cross the hoop circle and allow to hang down further than the tiny hearts on the outside of circle.

6. Tie two long lengths of ribbon, lace or tulle to opposite sides of the embroidery hoop to create a hanger for your chandelier.

— Renee Canada

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The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with Goddard Systems, Inc. Programs and ages may vary. © Goddard Systems, Inc. 2013

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LIFE

Cargo-Pocket Capers

I

never wanted to wear a purse. I knew I was a real man, even though I was staying home with two young boys and an infant boy while my STAYATHOME DUDES wife, known

BY RICHARD JONES to me as She-Who-Must-Be-Bringing-Home-TheBacon, worked. Sure, that was at the time a traditional female role, but I was OK with it.

Still didn’t mean I wanted to wear a purse. Fortunately, I had a secret weapon, for just such an emergency.

As a stay-at-home dad, I’d never used diaper bags with flowers and just-oh-mygosh-how-cute designs. Instead I used a well-designed, man’s man’s, manly type school backpack. Which worked just fine with our two oldest boys, Sarcasmo and Zippy the Monkey Boy, since they were so close in age.

Since Hyper Lad, who came along five years later with his own baby stuff, lived in the Baby Bjorn on my chest, I couldn’t carry the backpack and lacked trained sherpas.

Sarcasmo and Zippy the Monkey Boy were the untrained sort. When I needed what they were supposed to be carrying, I’d usually be handed a Transformer or appallingly sticky Buzz Lightyear instead.

I had a problem and an answer. My

secret weapon: a White Wipe in Dad Fu, the dad-centric martial art. I used the flex, pop, bend, tilt technique. By the time I finished that first beer, I had my answer.

The next morning, Hyper Lad and I purchased my first pair of cargo-pocket pants — first, but not the last, much to a certain someone’s chagrin.

Those things are amazing, wonderful and great. I packed in a change of clothes, diapers and wipes, zip-loc bags, bottles, breast milk or formula, a spare binky, my own regular carry, and assorted bits and bobs.

I swaggered around town, baby in Bjorn, thigh pockets full of the necessaries and almost completely unable to negotiate narrow aisles without knocking over everything at thigh height. Sure, it looked liked I’d decided to become the world’s first full-sized double watermelon smuggler, but it was worth it.

Eventually, cargo pockets were on every pair of pants I owned. The tailor said I was crazy, asking to have a pair sown on to my good suit pants.

Crazy like a smart guy, I thought, right up until my wife, known to me then as She-Who-Must-Be-Saying-SomethingImportant-Because-Her-Face-Is-Turning-

::

fyi

Purple-And-Loud-So-I-Really-Wish-I’dBeen-Listening-Earlier, convinced me of the error of my ways in that one respect. I wore a lot of cargo pockets, is what I’m trying to say.

One of the central tenets of Dad Fu is this: Find a way.

Through years of screaming, crying, temper tantrums and even some misbehavior on the part of my kids, I’d managed to elevate my skills. It all factors into how well we can cope with the obstacles (and occasional poopy diaper) life throws at us.

This is Dad Fu. Welcome to the dojo.

Richard Jones and Barry Robert Ozer are the authors of "A Dude’s Guide to Babies: The New Dad’s Playbook," a fast and funny how-to book to help new dads cope with being responsible for a smelly and very messy life.

And also their baby.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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fyi : : LIFE

TOP 5 Valentine’s Day Gifts Americans spend billions of dollars to celebrate Valentine’s Day. What do they buy?

1. Jewelry ($4.1 billion) 2. Evening Out ($3.5 billion) 3. Flowers ($1.8 billion) 4. Candy ($1.5 billion)

Parenting Toolbox: 5 Ways to Write Your Child a Love Note Valentine’s Day isn’t just for parents. Here are five ways to write your child a love note from “21 Ways to Connect With Your Kids” by Kathi Lipp (Harvest House Publishers, $11.99).

1 // Start a family mailbox. Set up a basket, pad of paper and pen and put it in a central location. Start with notes of encouragement and end with questions to encourage responses.

2 // Welcome your child home with a note. Use dry-erase markers to write “Welcome home! I love you!” on a dry erase board or china plate.

3 // Send a note in your child’s lunch. Your child is never too old for this and will appreciate you taking the time to write it — whether he admits it or not.

4 // Write an acrostic using the letters of your child’s name. Hang it on her door or the refrigerator so she can see how great you think she is.

5 // Write a list. Jot down the “top three reasons I love you” or the “top five reasons our family is the greatest.”

5. Clothing ($1.4 billion) "When Parents Worry" by Henry Anderson, M.D. (Adams Media, $12.95) includes real phone calls to doctors from moms and dads who ask quirky questions about their children, such as: “I was changing my child’s diaper, and he peed in his own eye. I’m panicking. Is he going to go blind?”“My 18-yearold does not want to get a flu shot. Please text her to tell her she needs it.” This book will make you laugh — and feel better about any parenting shortcomings you may think you have.

Source: Time for Kids Top 5 of Everything (Time Home Enertainment, $11.99)

choices ... VALENTINE’S GIFTS FOR KIDS

Lace love up for Valentine’s Day with Vans Sparkle Hearts Authentic canvas shoes for toddlers. These durable shoes feature a low top with laces, and pink and purple sparkling hearts splashed across a black background. $32, vans.com.

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“I Haiku You” by Betsy Snyder (Random House) is filled with sweet haiku messages of love and colorful illustrations you can share with your child or other loved ones.

Ages 3-8. Hardcover. $9.99, amazon.com.

Hang a Kikkerland’s crayon necklace around your child’s neck for Valentine’s Day to encourage artistic expression. This replica of the candy necklaces feature tiny crayons your child can use to create art wherever she might be. $11, kikkerland.com.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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r a o f g n i lo ok ho o l c s w e n child? r u o y for

2013-14

OPEN HOUSE CALENDAR Find local private school open house dates.

charlotteparent.com/openhouses

fyi : : LIFE Lessons Learned From Losing

E

very parent wants to see their child succeed, and the idea of watching them struggle with the disappointment of loss can be a challenging experience. In an effort to avoid this experience, some teams choose not to keep score. While we joke about the everyone-gets-a-trophy mindset, there is value in focusing on developing solid sports skills, emphasizing fun, cooperation and sportsmanship, ON THE SIDELINES putting less focus on winning

BY NYAKA NIILAMPTI or losing. The values of sport participation, however, include learning to set goals, working hard, risking 100 percent effort, and managing disappointment. Here are some ways adults can help young ones navigate loss with skill.

Help them learn from the experience. Developing a habit of reflecting on what you did well and what areas need improvement after any performance helps to create a platform for continual learning and growth. Maybe there is a need to spend more time at practice, work a bit harder or manage distractions. Remember, loss does not equal failure. Children should not be consumed by loss, but you don’t want them to just brush it off either. The experience of a big loss can sometimes be used as motivation for future effort and success.

Provide appropriate feedback. This includes both praise and constructive criticism. When young people are provided inappropriate praise or only positive feedback, they do not receive the message that there are areas where improvement is needed.

This can contribute to the longterm consequence of lack of responsibility and accountability.

Model behaviors you want your children to display. Parent behavior in youth sports can be one of the greatest champions and greatest disgraces. Take a look at how you manage failure and disappointment in your own life: What are the unspoken messages you send to young ones about losing? Actions speak volumes, despite the words you choose.

Disappointment is a part of life, and many of the skills needed for resilience and success are learned as we pick ourselves up and try again. Unfortunately, many parents — and their young ones — are so terrified by the thought of failing that they can miss the opportunity to learn those lessons, either on or off the court.

Nyaka NiiLampti is a psychologist at Southeast Psych and teaches at Queens University.

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LIFE

::

fyi

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

BY HEIDI BILLOTTO

Sweetheart Cookies Make a homemade treat for the ones you love

T

ADHD? Learning disability?

Autism?

Don’t address the symptom. Address the cause.

The Brain Balance Program® helps children overcome their behavioral, academic and social challenges with a drug-free, whole child approach that goes beyond the symptoms.

hese perfect-for-the-season cookies make great gifts for friends and family, teachers, kids at school, office coworkers or anyone else with whom you’d like to share a bit of Valentine sweetness. Wrap them individually or by the plateful in transparent or rose-colored cellophane. Tie up with pretty ribbons and Cupid’s little helper is all set for delivery.

SWEETHEART COOKIES • • • • • •

2 sticks butter 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 1/2 cups allpurpose flour

• Heart-shaped cookie cutters • 1 16-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips • Red, pink and white M&M’s candies

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add salt, egg, and vanilla, and beat to combine until well blended.

3. Gradually blend in flour until fully incorporated.

4. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill one hour.

5. Roll dough out onto a parchment paper lined or lightly floured

surface, to about 1/4 inch thickness; and use the cookie cutters to cut the dough into heart shapes.

6. Place the cookies on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake

in a preheated 375 degree oven 8-10 minutes. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

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GROWING

7. Place the chocolate chips in a glass bowl and microwave to melt,

stirring until smooth. If you’ve never melted chocolate in your microwave before, know that the chocolate will hold its shape even when melted, so it won’t look melted until you give it a stir. Start on high for 45 seconds to a minute, stir and then add on additional time as needed.

8. Dip the cooled cookies in the bowl of melted chocolate covering

half of the cookie at a time. Alternatively, try painting the melted chocolate onto the cookies using a baker’s spatula or table knife, then, while the chocolate is still warm, decorate them with the seasonal M&M’s candies.

Heidi Billotto is a culinary expert who hosts cooking classes throughout the Charlotte area. Find her on Twitter @HeidiCooks.

CHARLOTTE PREPARATORY SCHOOL APPLY NOW FOR 2014-2015 Charlotte Prep is accepting applications for select grades.

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CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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fyi : : LIFE

MOTHER OF STYLE »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» BY WHITLEY ADKINS HAMLIN

Showing Affection With

Valentine’s Day Style Show love. My every day necklace is a sweet thin gold shaped heart, the Mini Babylove Necklace from by boe.

On its own, it’s just the right amount of something to top off a chic minimalist look, but it’s also lovely when layered with other personal pieces. Check out the entire by boe line for a bevy of versatile modern pieces. $53, byboe.com.

There is a lot of pomp and circumstance that goes into the date Feb. 14, all in the name of St. Valentine. If Valentine’s Day is about showing love, are the flowers, cards and chocolates obligatory tokens of affection, or is the 14th of February a cleverly contrived reminder for us to show our spouse our love?

In the spirit of this masterfully acknowledged Hallmark holiday, if your spouse’s love language is that of receiving gifts, I propose a few unique considerations from the style corner.

Find your sexy. Men appreciate

the smallest of efforts when it comes to their woman sharing her sexuality. If you want to surprise your man with the gift of lingerie, it doesn’t have to be pin-up girl with the all-out look of garter belt and high heels. There is plenty of everyday wearable lingerie out there.

If you feel sexy, that’s what your guy picks up on, so just go with whatever makes you feel pretty.

Supermodel for a day. An

extension of finding your sexy, boudoir photo shoots are an increasingly popular and more intimate way to show your man your sexy side. Again, the photos and the clothes you wear are best when they reflect your true personal style. Keep it simple with an editorial-type photo shoot or go all-out burlesque pin-up style. Check local photographers Jim and Mari Merrill at jmtfoto.com.

Whitley Adkins Hamlin is a local stylist and mom to two boys under age 5.

Read her Mother of Style blog at CharlotteParent.com/blogs.

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Give him some Man Cave. Looking for a refreshing gift for your man? Check out Man Cave’s entire line of male grooming products. The Man Cave recipe can be summarized with a start of natural active ingredients, followed up with 12 essential oils. And each product is completed with a signature key ingredient ranging from caffeine, shea butter, borage oil or cedar wood. Sound fancy? Yea, I thought so.

This one’s been tried and tested on my husband, and I am totally digging the entire line’s intoxicating clean scent. $7-$14, mancaveinc.com.

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fyi : : LIFE Growing Up: First Crushes

W

hen cupid’s arrow strikes, it can be fun and exciting, but for young children just learning how to navigate social interactions, crushes can also be intense, GROWING UP puzzling and disappointing.

BY MALIA JACOBSON Early crushes start sooner than parents think, sometimes in preschool, and experts say they can lay the groundwork for a child’s future romantic relationships. Read on for age-appropriate tactics to help turn crushes into lessons about life and love.

Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three.

3-5 years

FAST FOCUS

Does your child spend every waking minute talking about a special friend or favorite teacher? You’re in the crush zone. A child’s first “crush” may take the form of an intense interest in a new friend, preschool teacher, or another non-family adult. It’s normal for a young child to fixate on someone he likes, even declare that he wants to marry his friend or teacher. Use these statements as bridges to discussions about concepts like marriage, friendship, living together and love.

“Remember, children this age are still learning how to interact in social situations,” says Jenell Kelly, family and human development specialist at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. Give your child simple instructions for expressing and receiving affection, being a good friend, and respecting others' personal space to help them navigate strong feelings and budding friendships.

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6-12 years

STICKS AND STONES

It’s normal for gradeschoolers to develop crushes as they become more social and interact with a wider circle of friends and peers. Often, though, crushes appear anything but affectionate. Kids may show interest by targeting their crush for negative attention, from name-calling to schoolyard chasing. And most have no idea how to deflect unwanted attention from a peer who has a crush on them.

It’s all part of learning about boundaries and group dynamics, says Kelly. “Getting along with peers — those they are interested in and those they may not be interested in — is an important component of normative development.” Kids need to understand that healthy relationships don’t involve rough physical interactions, name-calling or other negative attention. Help children interact positively with others by adopting a zero tolerance for bullying policy at home, and using games and role play to help children identify ways to express their interest in a positive way, such as offering a compliment or striking up a conversation about music.

DATING GAME 13-18 years

What’s the right age for teens to begin dating?

There’s no one-size-fitsall approach, says Kelly. While some may go on first “dates”— possibly chaperoned trips to the mall or movies — around age 13, others may not date at all as teens.

“Chronological age is not always the best way to determine when teens are ready to date,” says Kelly. If “real” dates are still a few years off, group dates, movie nights at home, or parent-chaperoned outings can help pave the way for more dating autonomy later on.

Before dating begins, start talking with teens about boundaries — things like responsibility, accountability, communication guidelines, dating curfews, how the family screens potential dates, and what to do if she feels uncomfortable on a date. Considering taking your teen on a “date.” Take that time to talk about healthy dating and appropriate behavior, and brainstorm fun date activities.

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queensathletics.com/camps or 704-337-2509 CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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HALF DAY PRE-SCHOOL

Programs for 18 months to 5 years Now Enrolling for Fall 2014

VOTED BEST HALF-DAY PRESCHOOL and BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL by the readers of Charlotte Parent magazine

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www.IvybrookAcademy.com Weddington Campus - 704.845.2310 Fort Mill Campus - 803.802.2390 CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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Ac a ce OR

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THE BENEFITS OF ARTS-BASED CAMPS

BY CAROL MCGARRAHAN AND MICHELE HUGGINS

W

hether you’re raising an artist, mathematician or athlete, an arts-based camp may be just what your child needs to balance out, or further enrich, his or her developing brain. A recent Harris Poll revealed that 93 percent of Americans consider the arts to be vital to providing a well-rounded education, and a critical link to learning and success. Research shows that arts-based education can wire the brain for creativity in ways we are only beginning to understand.

When it comes to shaping young minds, arts-based camps have become an essential piece of the puzzle. Charlotte claims a variety of exceptional arts programs and summer camps from visual arts and dance to theater and music. With so many choices, deciding which dream to chase may be the toughest decision your young camper has to make.

Summer Brain Boost Whether it’s music, drama, dance or painting, summer arts camp activities can stimulate young minds with new concepts and skills, as well as lessons about art and art history.

Research shows that music and dramatic play enhance comprehension and multisensory skills, and hands-on art encourages creative exploration and selfexpression, skills useful in many aspects of life.

“Art stimulates young kids’ imaginations,” says Jennifer Bryant, owner of Small Hands, Big Art that hosts summer arts camps for children 4 and older. By using upcycled materials, campers at Small Hands, Big Art stretch their imaginations and problemsolving skills to create a new piece of art.

For children that are head over heels for a specific art form, arts camps give them an uninterrupted amount of time to strengthen their skills and nurture their talents, time they may not get during the school year.

“It gives them a chance to not forget everything from school year ending and school year beginning,” says Jennifer Frisina, director of band orchestra camp at Community School of the Arts. Community School of the Arts offers various music camps, as well as visual arts classes and camps. Camp participants also get more structured, detailed instruction in small group sessions that they might not get in a large school setting, something campers frequently say they like.

Even if your child is not a budding young artist or passionate about plays, a creative summer camp experience may be a good option for your child, with many benefits.

Studies show that children of all ages have improved reading skills and comprehension after reading dramatic plays; and older students who participate in the arts perform better on standardized achievement tests than students with low arts involvement.

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Social Perks The California Alliance for Arts Education recently asserted that arts education helps students become globally competitive by developing their abilities for innovation, communication and collaboration.

Art becomes another way for children to express themselves. By encouraging communication with new friends and expression of emotions through dramatic dialogue or art creation, participants in arts camps can gain a big confidence boost, which can in turn be beneficial in how they communicate at home, school and with other adults.

Participants in arts camps often work collaboratively to create projects, which teaches negotiation skills. Campers work through creative differences, compromise, and learn they can collectively create something great.

By interacting and working with a different peer group, children also learn an appreciation of different perspectives. They observe how other kids create different kinds of artwork based on the same instructions. “It helps them be open to different interpretations, and that [different] doesn’t make you wrong,” says Bryant.

At the band orchestra camp at Community School of the Arts, children have the opportunity to play with other children from public and private schools throughout the region. For home-schooled kids or those who only take private lessons, it’s a chance to play as a group, and interact with other kids who share the same interest, says Frisina. “Many form friendships and look forward to seeing their camp friend next year.”

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte provides theatrical art experiences that foster creativity and confidence in children of all ages. In partnership with ImaginOn library, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte offers summer camps for children ages 3-18, with two satellite sites at Charlotte Latin School and UNC Charlotte.

The half-day, themed early childhood camps focus on stories, drama, art and creative play. Even shy, reluctant campers can find their voices through popular camp activites like "Podium" where children are encouraged to introduce themselves and share a few facts, such as their favorite color.

“These children may be hugging their mom’s legs on day one at the beginning,” says Michelle Long, director of education for the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. “It’s really exciting to watch them transform and gain some confidence.”

New Discoveries For the child who exhibits an interest in dance, doodling, singing or strumming a guitar, an arts camp can be a time to nurture an underlying talent.

“Kids are so constantly stimulated, literally sitting watching something mindlessly coming at them,” says Bryant, “but when creating art, they have to rely on themselves to create something and to keep themselves engaged and from being bored.”

Arts camps also provide a chance for children to explore what happens behind-the-scenes in various performance arts. A child who enjoys singing and dramatic play might develop a talent for stage performance, or rather discover a passion for stage and costume design.

Shining Stars Music, drama and dance camps often culminate in a full-scale production on the last day of each summer session. Campers at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte perform for family and friends at the end of a weeklong camp, giving the children a chance to show off what they’ve learned and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Top to bottom: Preschoolers learn confidence at Children's Theatre of Charlotte summer camps; Community School of the Arts Jazz Band camp, Photo by Mark Osborn; a stage performance at a Children's Theatre of Charlotte summer camp; and a work in progress at Small Hands, Big Art summer camp.

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This feeling of accomplishment isn’t limited to performing arts. Many camps that focus on visual art or mixed media, including painting, pottery or photography, send campers home with one or more finished projects to keep, fulfilling a sense of achievement and completion, as well as a newly found form of self-expression.

“They learn to follow through and finish a project,” says Bryant. “They are proud of themselves, and can’t wait to show off and leave with something tangible to keep and remember and share.”

Carol McGarrahan is a freelance writer in the Triangle.

In the studio at the Community School of the Arts Preschool Arts Lab.

Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours, three days each week for one full year are: Four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.

For a list of arts-based camps in the Charlotte area, go to CharlotteParent.com/ camps and click on day camps.

Four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair.

Three times more likely to win an award for school attendance.

Four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.

Source: Shirley Brice Heath, a Margery Bailey Professor of English and Dramatic Literature, Emeritus; and Professor of Linguistics and Anthropology at Stanford University.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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SERIOUS FUN. SUMMER CAMPS WOODBERRY FOREST’S 2014

Since 1967, Woodberry Forest’s summer camps have been getting boys outside to play their favorite sports — or try new ones. Visit www.woodberry.org/summer or call 540-672-6044 to register!

SPORTS CAMP June 15–July 5 ē Ages 10–13

FATHER–SON WEEKEND June 6–8 ē Ages 5–10 FOOTBALL CAMP July 9–12 ē Ages 12–16 BASKETBALL CAMP July 13–16 ē Ages 9–16 SQUASH CAMP July 13–17 ē Ages 10–16 LACROSSE CAMP July 17–20 ē Ages 10–16 WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL WOODBERRY FOREST, VIRGINIA | WWW.WOODBERRY.ORG

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Beyond Kumbaya Camps offer unique overnight experiences

Clockwise from top left: Racing at Camp Motorsport; investigating at Appalachian State University Forensic Science Camp; in the wild at Camp Woodie; working on the agility course at Shadow Hill Farm's Summer Camp for Kids and Their Dogs.

BY MARTY MINCHIN

L

ooking for something different for your camper this summer?

or playing Capture the Flag appealing. Several unusual camps around the Carolinas and Virginia offer an overnight experience unlike any other. This list highlights a few overnight camp experiences that mix fun with out-of-the-ordinary learning experiences. If your child is more likely to be interested in CSI or life at sea, then this is the list for you.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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Appalachian State University Forensic Science Camp . Boone, N.C. Forget campfires and s’mores. At Appalachian State University’s Forensic Science Camp, campers may spend an evening detonating explosives or making a DNA necklace. Designed for high school students, the camp oers a real-life look at what happens to evidence after it’s collected from a crime scene. Students learn from forensic professionals from all areas of law enforcement, which could include talks from bomb squads or digital evidence examiners. CSI comes to life in the lab where students can look for clues trying out chemical development of latex fingerprints and basic blood typing.

The university opens up its high-tech equipment for campers, allowing them to use scanning electron microscopes and polarized light microscopes to examine fusion methods of explosives such as TNT. The camp is staed by ASU chemistry faculty members, and students stay on-campus (with sta supervision) at ASU for the three-and-one-half-day camp sessions. http://conferences-camps. appstate.edu/youth-camps.

Camp Motorsport . Clover, Va. No driver’s license is needed at Camp Motorsport, where kids ages 8-16 can spend a week driving dirt karts, half-scale stock cars and racing go-karts. Campers get behind the wheel at least twice every day, taking a vehicle o-road or around a paved track. Drivers of all levels are welcome, from newbies to kids considering a career in motorsports. Teenagers who are closer to legal driving age can receive extra training in defensive driving and skills needed to get a learner’s permit or license. The Go Kart Racing Challenge oers a week of competitive go-kart racing. Between driving sessions, campers stay busy with paintball and daily swims. They come home with more than just improved driving skills — the camp’s activities teach kids math, science, technology and engineering related to motorsports. campmotorsport.com.

Camp Woodie . Pinewood, S.C. An evening at Camp Woodie could involve anything from tug-of-war over a tractor tire to learning how to navigate a night sky or shooting skeet. The weeklong camp, which was established in 1995 and is overseen by the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, mixes fun and games with hands-on education about wildlife, hunting and the outdoors. “(We teach kids) about how beautiful it is to step outside in God’s creation and to love, respect and use natural resources wisely,� says Ed Paul, Camp Woodie camp director. Campers learn how to operate in the outdoors, whether they are practicing hunting safety with firearms or figuring out where the best fishing is on a body of water. Outdoor survival classes teach campers everything from how to build a fire to how to navigate by the stars. Many campers arrive with little experience with the outdoors, and they leave with increased confidence and appreciation for nature, says Paul. “They

learn just how small we are when we step outside, but also how large of a role we can have in keeping the outdoors a place for the next generation.” wildlifeedcenter.org/camp-woodie.

Summer Camps begin June 16!

8 one-week sessions 9 am - 1 pm Ages 5½ to 14 $335

RV Sea Lab Summer Camp . Wilmington, N.C. Summer camp hits the water at RV Sea Lab, where campers spend up to five days sailing a research vessel up and down the Intercoastal Waterway. Students have likened the trip to living on Discovery Channel. “The kids get an adventure,” says Matt Perkins, owner, founder and captain of RV Sea Lab. “We are overseeing them, but they live on the boat and crew it.” Perkins packs in plenty of adventure, including exploring islands that only are accessible by boat, using an overboard camera to inventory ocean species and plenty of surfing. The camp is heavy on science that can benefit future chemistry and oceanography study, but Perkins says that many students come on board for the thrill and freedom of the trip.

“It’s sort of like a literary experience, like they’re Tom Sawyer,” he says. Popular stops include Beaufort and Shackleford Banks, where campers likely will encounter wild ponies. rvsealab.com.

Riding, Instruction, Horsemanship, Games, Crafts and a Horse Show Summer Lessons begin June 16, 2014.

For scheduling, call 704-843-5215, ext. 1

424 Waxhaw-Indian Trail Rd., Waxhaw, NC 28173

704-843-5215

www.providenceequestrian.com

Shadow Hill’s Summer Camp for Kids and Their Dogs . Jackson Springs, N.C. Kids can bring their best furry friends to camp with them at Shadow Hill Farm’s summer camp on its 134-acre property in Jackson Springs. Jane Hammett-Bright, who has decades of experience raising and showing Shelties, works with kids and their dogs on everything from agility courses to grooming. “Parents are floored that their child and the dog learned all that they did,” she says. All dogs are welcome as long as they are kid- and dog-friendly. Dogand-child pairs stay together in a large building that Hammett-Bright recently constructed using the proceeds from winning Fan Favorite on the television show “Survivor: Nicaragua.” Campers are up early to work dogs on agility courses, and Hammett-Bright also takes them swimming and camping in the Uwharrie Mountains. She shares her “Survivor” experience by teaching campers how to build fires and constructing “Survivor”-inspired games. All meals are homemade from scratch, and if the timing is right, campers may get to see a litter of newborn puppies. shadowhillshelties.com.

While specialty overnight camps can be expensive, costing up to $1,200 for five days, the experience can be life changing. Kids who follow-up with skills they learn at camp, whether it's marine biology or showing dogs, can earn everything from college scholarships to counselor jobs at the camp when they are older.

Find local unique day camps at

Marty Minchin is a freelance writer based in Charlotte. She has two elementary school age children.

CharlotteParent.com/ camps CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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Photos courtesy of noellepikuspace.com.

Winter Olympic Fun Facts

By Deanne Haines

The 2014 Winter Olympics take place Feb. 7-23 in Sochi, Russia. To help you get started, read this list of little-known Sochi Olympic trivia with your kids and settle in for a thrilling two weeks of family-friendly television.

S

ochi stores snow a year ahead of time.

Sochi, Russia is a resort town known for its mild winters located on the Black Sea about 1,000 miles south of Moscow.

Officials stored up 16 million cubic feet of snow in case the region experiences unusually warm temperatures during the Olympics.

Olympic

O

super mom

BY MIKALA YOUNG

S

keleton bobsledding is one of the most dangerous winter Olympic sports. You can find the contestant riding a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down.

Noelle Pikus Pace, member of the U.S. Olympic Skeleton Team, mom of two and competing in this year’s Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games takes “super mom” to the next level. For 11 years, Pace has used her strength and speed to become one of the best skeleton bobsledders in the world and plans to go for gold this year. We caught up with Pikus Pace to ask her what life is like as a full-time Olympian and mom of two young children, ages 2 and 5.

How do you juggle being a full-time Olympian and supportive mom?

It takes a lot to be able to balance the two of them, so I have a strong support system.

My husband takes a big load off of me. Time management is key. Having what you need when you need it is also a big thing for me.

Being an athlete, we have a lot of tools — we have a lot of gear to help us be the best performers. It’s the same as being a parent we need resources and Babies 'R' Us has been a huge saver for me. I just always make sure I take care of my family first and foremost.

What do you do to keep your kids engaged while you’re working out?

If I’m not up too early, my kids love to warm up with me. The kids will do plyometrics

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on the sidewalk or stretch with me down in the basement. It’s fun because it promotes healthy living as a whole. I’ll hear my kids say, “I want to eat my veggies to be strong like you mommy,” so its definitely a domino effect of healthy habits.

What advice do you have for moms with children who are aspiring Olympians?

Love your kids no matter what they choose, and know that they aren’t going to love what you love to do. Support them regardless of their dreams. The example that we set for our kids emulates in what their actions are. I just hope that Lacee (age 2) and Tracey (age 5) find what it is that they want to do and that they are passionate about something.

lympic torch rockets into space.

The Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch was sent by rocket to the International Space Station, where on Nov. 9, 2013, Russian cosmonauts performed the first ever spacewalk of the Olympic torch.

C

ostliest Olympics puts Sochi in record books.

It’s reported that the city of Sochi spent more than $50 billion preparing for the Olympics — making it the most expensive Olympics ever. One ski jump alone cost the city $265 million!

H

ockey rivals USA and Russia take to the ice.

On Feb.15, the U.S. Men’s hockey team competes against Russia. Use this matchup as a chance to explain “The Miracle on Ice.” America’s win on Feb. 22, 1980 in Lake Placid, NY against the dominant Soviet team is often thought of as the greatest sports event of the century.

I

ce sweeping helps the curling stone travel farther and straighter.

In the Olympic sport of curling, why does the sweeper use a broom to sweep ahead of the stone? Sweeping warms the ice and reduces friction causing the stone to travel farther and straighter. The goal is to have your stones closer to the target than your opponent.

Deanne Haines is a freelance writer and mom of three who enjoys writing about the pleasures and perplexities of parenting.

PRESCHOOL GYMNASTICS CAMPS

SCHOOL AGE CAMPS SCHOOL AGE TUMBLE & ART CAMP

Beginning June 16th

13601 Providence Road, Weddington, NC 28104

The home of

http://www.southeasterngymnastics.com

Introduction to the basic skills of gymnastics. Campers will gain flexibity, strength and conditioning all through fun and safe instruction.

June 23rd – Preschool Gymnastics July 14th -Preschool Gymnastics July 28th -Preschool Gymnastics August 11th -Preschool Gymnastics

704-847-0785

June 16: Tumble & Art June 23: Preschool Gymnastics July 7: Tumble & Art July 14: Preschool Gymnastics July 21: Tumble & Art July 28: Preschool Gymnastics August 4: Tumble & Art August 11: Preschool Gymnastics August 18: Tumble & Art

Five 1-week camps Convenient to Charlotte, Weddington and Waxhaw

Campers receive instruction on vault, bars, beam, floor, tumble road, tumble track and trampoline.

There are games, obstacle courses and lots of fun in the foam pit! Followed by seasonal art projects & instruction in the WAC Art Studio.

June 16th – Tumble & Art Camp July 7th – Tumble & Art July 21st – Tumble & Art August 4th – Tumble & Art August 18th – Tumble & Art

Come and join the summer fun!

FUN FOR A SUMMER…MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME!

Camp Cherokee Kings Mountain State Park Blacksburg, SC 29702 803-329-9622 campcherokee.org

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

35

CUPID’S AIM:

Tween L ve

5 tips to support young, budding romance

BY SARA KENDALL

a

s children enter adolescence, their emotional capabilities have grown. The range of their relationships deepens, and often is followed by a surge of feelings that lead to budding romantic relationships. These relationships are a natural step for most tweens, but young love comes with its highs and lows. By putting themselves out there and taking on new risks, tweens enter a new arena of finding acceptance when in a romantic relationship.

It’s essential that parents balance love, understanding and good listening skills with their tween as they take on this new step in life.

Don’t Tease

Tweens are stepping outside their comfort zone and testing the waters of romance, so don’t be tempted to tease your teen, even playfully, about a first love. “Don’t belittle them or minimize the importance of their love interest,” says Charlotte-based family therapist Laurie Howell. Keep yourself and other family members from giving them a hard time or embarrassing them.

Get to Know Their Love Interest

Create a space in your home where your tween can — and wants to — hang out. Encourage him or her to have the new-found friend over so they can get to know each other better outside of peer groups, and it gives you a chance to know the new friend better, too.

“If the relationship lasts past a week or two, have the kid over,” says Howell. “You want your tween to feel comfortable bringing their boyfriend or girlfriend to your home. You want all the chances you can to get to know your tween’s friend.”

Set Boundaries

“Whether it is live supervision at home, monitoring social media accounts or restricting electronic devices at bedtime, don’t expect your tween to know when to stop and walk away from constant contact with their first love,” says Howell.

Establish limits to avoid the new romance from consuming his or her life. It is important for a tween to have time for other relationships, homework and after-school activities without focusing on just one person. Though that may be a hard concept for a tween to understand, it’s important in learning how to maintain balance in future relationships.

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Model Healthy Communication

Encourage your tween to have face-to-face interactions and voiceto-voice communication with his or her love interest. It’s easy to communicate with someone behind an electronic device, but this method of communication is short on interpersonal skills building.

This is a good rule for parents to follow too. “It’s important for your tween to see how you communicate with your spouse or significant other,” says Howell. “Avoid having serious conversations via text with your family members, especially with your tween.”

Stop Talking, Start Listening

You want to show interest in your tween’s romantic relationship, but timing can be everything in making it a reciprocal conversation.

Avoid the moment he or she gets off the bus or jumps in the car after school. Kids need time to decompress from their school day.

Ask open-ended questions and let him or her share his experience.

“Resist acting like the expert. Be curious instead,” says Howell.

“Many parents confuse a 25-minute lecture as being powerful.

Being present and listening are more powerful. When you listen, you will find out so much more.”

Break-Up Bounce Back

Adolescent romances are often short lived. Tweens want lots of different experiences to discover who they are and what they value.

Losing love, however, can be a painful experience. Many parents panic when their child is going through something hard, but resist the temptation to jump in and try to fix the problem, says Howell.

If your tween is having a hard time with the break-up, give them a night out. Take them to dinner or go to the movies. You don’t have to talk about it while you are out, just be there.

“Let it be your child’s challenge with good parental supervision, so they can experience the natural growth that comes from these practice relationships. Be open-minded and supportive in a healing way. Struggling builds resilience, and the world needs resilient adults.”

Sara Kendall is a freelance writer and mom of two daughters who lives in Charlotte.

With a faster, smarter brain, life is easier.

And that’s something to smile about.

Is your child struggling with learning? Reading? Homework? If so, you’re probably seeing the impact of those struggles on your child’s confidence, attitudes at home and school, even dreams for the future.

Fortunately, there’s a fixable problem behind most learning struggles. In fact, 80% of all learning struggles are caused by one or more weak cognitive skills.

At LearningRx, we identify weak cognitive skills and make them stronger. In other words, if your child is struggling with learning, reading, homework—even attention—we can find the cause and fix it.

Best yet, our innovative one-on-one brain training programs get results that are unmatched by any other program out there, including brain training websites, digital products or tutoring. In fact, our programs raise IQ an average of 15 points and improve some mental skills by an average of 30 percentile points.

There’s a reason your child is struggling. More importantly, there’s a solution.

Call us today and schedule a FREE brain training demonstration for you and your child.

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37

Full-Day & Half-Day Camps, including:

• Dance Camps • Art Camps • Sports Camps • Discovery Place Science Camps … and more!

, Don t Forget about the easter eggstravaganza in April!

Over 50 different camps to choose from!

SUMMER PLANS? SUMMER PROGRAMS! TO REQUEST A CATALOG AND TO REGISTER VISIT PROVIDENCEDAY.ORG

BASKETBALL SOCCER SOFTBALL SWIMMING

VOLLEYBALL

LACROSSE CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK

SPORTS CAMPS AT QUEENS We invite your children to come to Queens and learn to love sports by working with college coaches and athletes who are the best in their field.

Half and full day options all summer Ages 5 - 18 Indoor camps will be in Queen's new state-of-the-art Levine Center and outdoor camps will be at Queens' Sports Complex and Myers Park Traditional Field.

queensathletics.com/camps or 704-337-2509 CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

37

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

guide to

CAMPS

Find more camp options at CharlotteParent.com/camps Anne Springs Close Greenway

971 Tom Hall St., Fort Mill, SC 803-547-4575 ascgreenway.org 3-14 years | Call for rates Choose from over 160 different camps.

Develop outdoor skills, such as fishing, hiking, kayaking, biking and horseback riding. Or focus on special interests, such as performing arts, engineering, technology and sports. June 9-Aug 1.

Camp Cannon

5801 Poplar Tent Road, Concord 704-721-7198 campcannon.com 3-18 years | $170 and up/session Offers half-day and full-day sessions in arts, college prep, sci-tech, and sports.

June 9-Aug 1 (no camp June 30-July 4).

Camp Cherokee

1299 Camp Cherokee Road, Blacksburg, SC 803-329-9622 campcherokee.org 5-14 years | $395-$425; $75 additional to bridge one week to another Swimming, hiking, rock climbing, zip lining, canoeing, soccer, flag football, lacrosse, stand-up paddle boarding, archery, kayaking, sailing, disc golf and a horseback riding program.

Offering one- or two-week sessions, June 8-Aug. 9. Fifth session cannot be bridged.

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Belmont School of Ballet

116 S. Main St., Belmont 704-829-7929 belmontballet.com 3 years and older | Call for session rates Technique classes, theme camps and performance workshops offered for dancers of all ages and abilities.

Camp Cedar Cliff

5 Porters Cove Road, Asheville 828-450-3331 campcedarcliff.org Grades 2-10 | $370-$1,380/session Outdoor activities include archery, swimming, overnight camping, zip line, climbing wall, whitewater rafting, rappelling, as well as Bible studies, and much more. Staff members are great role models and so much fun. One-, two- and half-week sessions available.

Camp Invention

Charlotte 800-968-4332 campinvention.org Grades 1-6 | Call for rates Camp Invention is returning to Charlotte. Where big ideas become the next big thing. Brought to your community by local educators. Register today at campinvention.org.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Catawba Science Center 2014 Summer Fun Science Camp

243 Third Ave. NE 828-322-8169 catawbascience.org Grades PreK-9 | $75-$120 Join Catawba Science Center’s Summer Fun science camp for 10 weeks of hands-on science fun, for rising Pre-K to ninth graders.

Charlotte Latin School

9502 Providence Road 704-846-7277 charlottelatin.org/camps 3-18 years | $150-$450/session At Charlotte Latin Summer Programs, our goal is to provide an environment that promotes a joy for learning. Our campers develop cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically through growthpromoting experiences.

Charlotte Preparatory School

Camps on Campus - UNC Charlotte

9201 University City Blvd.

704-687-8900 summercamps.uncc.edu Grades 1-12 | $150-$230 Half-day and full-day options available.

Programs in musical theater, engineering, robotics, law, medicine and more.

Week-long programs in June, July and August.

Charlotte Country Day Summer Programs

1440 Carmel Road 704-943-4846 charlottecountryday.org/summer-program/index.aspx 3-18 years | Call for session rates Charlotte Country Day Summer Programs offer a wide variety of enrichment, sports, and academic camps. Weekly camps run from June 2-Aug. 15.

Charlotte Nature Museum Camp

1658 Sterling Road 704-372-6261 charlottenaturemuseum.org Grades PreK-rising 5 | Call for rates Discover amazing critters and natural treasures in a fun, safe learning environment. Each camp offers a unique immersive experience to explore the outdoors, conduct experiments, meet live animals and more.

Charlotte School of Ballet

212 Boyce Road 704-366-5994 charlotteprep.org Grades pre-primary-8 | $150-$190/session From robotics to music, cooking to martial arts, science fun to sports, your child can find a camp that sparks his or her interests.

Camps are run by our staff and highly requested vendors.

627 S. Sharon Amity Road 704-622-8252 charlotteballet.com 3 years and up | Call for rates Themed camps and classes offered throughout the summer in ballet, jazz, modern and musical theatre. Intensive Ballet workshop with internationally recognized teachers from leading companies. Performance opportunities available.

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte Summer Camps

Club Scientific South Charlotte

300 E. 7th St. 704-973-2838 ctcharlotte.org 3-18 years | Call for session rates Award-winning summer camps at ImaginOn and satellite locations. Professional teaching artists foster confidence, creativity and fun. Find out why Charlotte Magazine considers this camp “The best theater-based summer camps in town for your rising stars.”

CAMPS

Camp Lurecrest

207 Charlotte Drive, Lake Lure 704-841-2701 camplurecrest.org 3-12 years | $445-$525 An overnight, adventure-filled Christian camp for 65 years, Lurecrest offers a truly unique environment that captures young hearts with the love of their Heavenly Father. Activities include tubing, paintball, hiking, disc-golf, crafts, dynamic chapel, and high ropes.

British American School of Charlotte, 7000 Endhaven Lane 704-566-9001 southcharlotte.clubscientific.com 4-14 years | $199-$350 Explore veterinary medicine, robotics, LEGO building, special effects, crime scene investigation, chemistry, video game creation, paleontology and more. Eighteen different camps to choose from. Science was never this much fun. Half- and full-day options.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Community School of the Arts

345 N. College St. 704-377-4187 csarts.org 4-18 years | $100 and up With over 44 years of experience in high-quality art and music instruction, CSA invites children to more than 15 weeks of summer arts programs. Creative music, art, preschool and pottery camps available.

Discovery Place KIDS Camp

105 Gilead Road, Huntersville 704-372-6261 discoveryplacekids.org 2-8 years | Call for rates From art to animals and cooking to fossils, there’s a new theme each week to keep little minds growing. Make new friends as we have fun experimenting with new ideas and learning new skills.

FunkyTown Parties Summer Camp

8155 Ardrey Kell Road 704-845-0750 funkytownparties.com Grades 1-5 | $139 FunkyTown puts the FUN in summer with our unique summer camps. Each day will be filled with activities including crafts, hip-hop and exercise. The week includes in-house field trips, water day, movie day and more.

iD Programming Academy at UNC-Chapel Hill

Held at UNC-Chapel Hill and select universities nationwide 888-709-8324 idprogrammingacademy.com 13-18 years | See website for rates Gain a competitive edge and learn how programming can become a college degree and even a rewarding career. Two-week, pre-college programs in programming, app development, and robotics. Also camps for ages 7-17 (iD Tech Camps).

Kate’s Kids Club Summer Camp

1530 Celanese Road, Rock Hill, SC 803-329-5283 katesofrockhill.com 5-15 years | $100 We are now accepting 2014 summer camp registrations.

We are very excited about our summer camp this year.

Our program will run from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

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Discovery Place Camp

301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261 discoveryplace.org Grades PreK-rising 9 | Call for rates School may be out, but adventure is always in at Discovery Place. Each week there’s a new theme to get kids fired up about science, technology, engineering and art.

Fort Mill YMCA

857 Promenade Walk, Fort Mill, SC 803-548-8020 upymca.org Grades K-8 | $150-$175, plus additional fee for Carowinds Season Pass Weekly activities, field trips, swimming, games, daily devotions, team building, crafts and character development games.

Full-day programs. Mon.-Fri. from 7am-6pm, June 9-Aug. 15.

Harris YMCA Day Camp

5900 Quail Hollow Road 704-716-6800 ymcacharlotte.org/harris 3-15 years | Call for session rates When your child comes to camp, they will experience adventure, form new friendships, play, learn and create new memories that will last a lifetime in a safe caring environment.

10 Sessions: June 16-Aug. 22.

iD Tech Camps

Held at UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University 888-709-8324 idtech.com 7-17 years | See website for rates Kids and teens take interests further and gain a competitive edge.

Develop iPhone and Android apps, program in C++ and Java, design video games, produce films, build robots, create websites and more.

Mint Museum Summer Camps

500 S. Tryon St. 704-337-2046 mintmuseum.org/happenings/family-children/summer-camps 6-18 years | $75-$250 Camps available at Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph at 2730 Randolph Road. Gallery experiences with the Mint’s collection of art and artists. Small class ratios of 15:1. Programs taught by local artists and master teachers.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Providence Day School Summer Programs

5800 Sardis Road 704-887-7008 providenceday.org/summerprograms 3-adult | $40-$620/session Whether catching bugs or balls, singing or dancing, making cakes and learning to bake, everyone can try something new at PDS this summer!

Camps start June 2-Aug. 1.

South Charlotte Baptist Church and Academy

12416 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville 704-544-7323 scbacademy.org 3-12 years | $90-$130; $30 registration fee Spend the summer exploring God’s creation through activities, crafts and weekly field trips. Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., June 9-Aug. 8.

Speech Summer Camp

2101 Sardis Road N., Ste. 112 704-845-0561 childspeechlanguage.com 3-5 years | Call for rates Child Language and Developmental Speech will offer Speech Summer Camp again this summer in June, July and August. Occupational therapy is also available. Morning and afternoon sessions; kids must be toilet trained.

CAMPS

Mountain Island Charter School

13440 Lucia Riverbend Hwy., Mount Holly 704-827-8840 micharter.org 4 and older | See website for rates Raptor Day Camp experience includes halfand full-day options for campers ages 4 and older, and half-day specialty camps featuring arts, music, Bricks 4 Kidz, sports and more! Register Feb. 1 on our website.

PlaySpanish™

8722 Lorraine Drive 704-442-5616 playspanish.com 2-12 years | $145-$175 Half-day, theme-based Spanish camps for children include sports, science, cooking, fairy tales, and more. Locations throughout the greater Charlotte area.

Providence Equestrian Center

424 Waxhaw Indian Trail Road, Waxhaw 704-843-5215 providenceequestrian.com 5.5-14 years | See website for rates Join Providence Equestrian for a fun, safe, educational week of horseback riding and horse-related activities. We provide individual instruction in small groups, so campers get personal attention and quickly gain confidence in their riding skills.

Southeastern Gymnastics

13601 Providence Road, Weddington 704-847-0785 southeasterngymnastics.com Visit website for age-appropriate camps and rates.

Join us for the best summer ever. Campers receive instruction by our full-time coaches on vault, beam, floor, tumble road, tumble track and trampoline. Play games, art projects and fun in the foam pit.

Storyland Celebrations

553 Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail 704-628-1105 storylandcelebrations.com 3-11 years | $120 From our stories to your kid’s camp!

Games, crafts, and fun activities all combined with educational and entertaining books. Weekday mornings.

Co-ed. Camp themes: Dr. Seuss; American Girls; Science Experiments; Eric Carle and more.

Wildcat Summer Camp

750 E. 9th St. 704-358-8101 tescharlotte.org Grades K-8 | $150-$250/session We are located in uptown and take daily adventures into Charlotte’s Center City. We offer complimentary before- and aftercamp care (7:30-9 a.m. and 4-5:30 p.m.).

Wildcat Summer Camp runs from June 23-Aug. 1.

You'll find more camp options on our website at CharlotteParent.com/camps CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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Epic fun for families in Uptown Charlotte, brought to you by EPICENTRE.

There’s lots for families to do in Uptown Charlotte and EPICENTRE wants you to know about it.

EPICENTRE recommends the following Uptown family events: Family Day at the Bechtler The Bechtler Museum, 420 S. Tryon St. Sat., Feb. 1: Noon-4:30pm Get creative during the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s Family Day. Art activities will illustrate the methods and materials addressed by architect Mario Botta, designer of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art building. Ages 5 & older. FREE for kids. Adults get $4 off price of admission.

Lollipops Series: Tubby The Tuba Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St. Sat., Feb. 1: 10:00am-noon Meet the orchestra and our new Charlotte Symphony Assistant Conductor Roger Kalia in this special concert that introduces children to the instruments of the orchestra. Especially featured in this concert is the TUBA. Help “Tubby the Tuba” find his melody in this classic tale that features our new principal tubist, Aubrey Foard. $15.50 - $24.50.

Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Fly ImaginOn’s Wells Fargo Playhouse, 300 E. 7th St. Sat., Feb. 1: 3-4pm A Children’s Theatre of Charlotte Performance inspired by the life and work of acclaimed folk artist Della Wells, this beautifully written story gives a glimpse into the sometimes challenging lives of an African-American family in the 1960s, where Tonia’s parents initially encourage their daughter to blend in with the crowd. With humor and sensitivity, Tonia’s family begins to learn the need to allow children to reach for their dreams. Preteen (8-11).

101 Inventions That Changed the World Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St. Sat., Feb. 8: 10am-6pm With more than 6,000 different video files, 40 projectors and floor-to-ceiling walls that display crystal clear images, this experience delivers a multi-sensory presentation to take audiences on a spectacular journey of inventions – from stone tools to the birth of the Internet. All ages. $18-$20, includes museum admission.

Out of the Shadows: Undocumented and Unafraid Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. 7th St. Sat., Feb. 8: Noon-5pm Explore how art can be a deliberative and imaginative forum for exploring complex issues about immigrant labor, education, and legal status. All ages. $5-$8.

Build It, Make It, Take It: Time Fountain Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St. Sat., Feb. 15: 10:30am-12:30pm Join our friends from Hackerspace Charlotte to build a water drop fountain that features an ultraviolet strobe light controlled by the rate of the falling water. The fountain can make the water, which contains a UV fluorescent chemical, look like it is falling up or suspended in mid-air. $15 per kit + museum admission.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Day at the Gantt Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, 551 S. Tryon St. Sat., Feb. 15: 11am-2pm The Gantt Center and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (main branch) are partnering to bring this great day that highlights the connection between literature, history, and art. Show your library card at the visitor’s services desk and receive free admission to the Gantt Center. Explore the center’s current exhibitions; sign up for a library card; participate in story time, and create your own work of art in a workshop led by author Kelly Starling Lyons! Special book displays and a session on special resources offered by your library system will round out this great day.

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood ImaginOn’s McColl Family Theatre, 300 E. 7th St. Sat., Feb. 22: 11am-12:30pm Take a toe-tapping trip to the bayou in this family-friendly, Zydeco-driven musical! Based on the classic fairy tale, a red-hooded duckling named Petite Rouge leads the Big Bad Gator on a wild “duck” chase through New Orleans and Mardi Gras. A Children’s Theatre of Charlotte performance. Elementary (5-11).

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G O! ETTING UT

COMPILED BY MIKALA YOUNG

Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly original artwork by Della Wells. | Mini Masters Workshop: Royal Africa photo courtesy of Mint Museum. | International Polar Bear Day photo courtesy of Discovery Place.

February 2014 go. see. play.

7

15

Children's Theatre of Charlotte ImaginOn, 300 E. 7th St. 704-973-2828 imaginon.org

Latta Plantation 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville 704-875-2312 lattaplantation.org

Celebrate Black History Month with your family at Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Fly. Based on the life of aclaimed folk artist Della Wells, the play gives a glimpse of life as an African-American family in the 1960s, and presents the value of creativity and importance of reaching for your dreams. Stick around after the show to meet cast members. Ages 8+. Tickets start at $12. 7:30pm. See page 48 for more show times.

For a Valentine's Day twist, explore the age of courting at Latta Plantation's Sweetheart Tour. Learn about 19th-century courting customs, English Country dancing, and see dresses from the 19th century. Hear excerpts from letters and love poems from the Sample family that lived in the home at Latta Plantation from 1853 to 1922. $8.

11am-4pm. A new tour begins each hour.

19

Take a trip to another continent at Mini Masters Workshop: Royal Africa. See beautifully beaded royal caps and other royal gear from African royalty, then draw, paint and decorate colorful jewelry fit for a king or queen. Children can take their designs home and show off their regal creations. Ages 3-5. $5-$10, includes museum admission.

10:30am and 1:30pm.

Mint Museum, 2730 Randolph Road 704-337-2000 mintmuseum.org

27

In honor of International Polar Bear Day take the family out for a day of exploration. Examine a polar bear and marvel at the biological features it uses for protection and survival. See how GPS radio collars help scientists at Polar Bear International study polar bears in the wild, and learn about what is happening to their habitat through crafts and other activities. $5-$12, includes museum admission.

Discovery Place 300 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261 discoveryplace.org

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1 SATURDAY Back In The Day Series: Candle Making. Learn how families lived without electricity or modern technology. Free. 10:30-11:30am.

Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road. 704-432-6459. parkandrec.com.

Birkdale Kids Club Storytime.

Explore imagination through the art of storytelling. Free. 11am.

Barnes and Noble, 8725 Townley Road, Huntersville. 704-895-8855. barnesandnoble.com.

BSA: Mammal Study Merit Badge. Scouts can complete the requirements to earn the Mammal Study Merit Badge under the guidance of a qualified environmental educator. Ages 12-18. Registration required. $15. 9:30am-4pm. Latta Plantation Nature Center, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-8752312. parkandrec.com.

Build a Race Car. A hands-on workshop.

Participants make and take their creation. Ages 5-12. Free. 9am-noon.

Home Depot Locations. workshops. homedepot.com.

Chinese New Year. A special story time to learn more about this cultural tradition, followed with a lesson on traditional lucky red paper envelopes. $8, includes museum admission.

9am-5pm. Discovery Place Kids, 105 Gilead Road, Huntersville. 704-3726261. discoveryplacekids.org.

Collage Art Workshop. Folk artist Della Wells leads children through a funfilled art experience. Ages 8 and older.

Registration required. Free. 1pm.

ImaginOn, 300 E. 7th St. 704-4164600. imaginon.org.

Family Fun Day. Become an architect for a day. Create an architectural sketch and design a blueprint. $4, adult; free for children, includes museum admission. Noon-4:30pm.

The Bechtler Museum, 420 S. Tryon St. 704-353-9200. bechtler.org.

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Saturday Art Session: Magical Ming Vase Paintings. Use oil pastels and paint to make your own scratch art inspired by Chinese pottery. $10.

11am-3pm. Mint Museum, 2730 Randolph Road. 704-337-2000. mintmuseum.org.

WWII Living History. Experience the atmosphere of a Southern England military base in 1944 as the soldiers prepare for D-day. $8. 10am and 4pm. Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-875-2312. lattaplantation.org.

OnStage: Connie Company Productions Presents: Cinderella • Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly • Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus • Tubby the Tuba.

See page 48.

2 SUNDAY Groundhog Day Groundhog Day. Come to see if resident groundhog Queen Charlotte sees her shadow, plus crafts, puppet shows and story telling. $6, includes museum admission.

Noon-3pm; shadow check, 1:30pm Charlotte Nature Museum, 1658 Sterling Road. 704-372-6261. charlottenaturemuseum.org.

WWII Living History. Experience the atmosphere of a Southern England military base in 1944 as the soldiers prepare for D-day. $8. 10am and 4pm. Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-875-2312. lattaplantation.org.

OnStage: Connie Company Productions Presents: Cinderella • Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus. See page 48.

3 MONDAY Babes in the Woods. Tuck the little one in the stroller for a walk along the paved nature trail. Ages 1-3. Registration required. Free.

10:30am-11:30am. McDowell Nature

CharlotteParent.com

Center, 15222 York Road. 704-5885224. parkandrec.com.

4 TUESDAY Afternoon Adventures. Develop literacy and critical-thinking skills through books and hands-on activities. Ages 8-11. Free. 5pm.

Beatties Ford Road Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road. 704-4163000. cmlibrary.org.

American Girl Book Club. Explore the beloved series with stories, activities and trivia. Ages 5-11. Registration required. Free. 4pm. Mint Hill Library, 6840 Matthews - Mint Hill Road. 704416-5200. cmlibrary.org.

Community Service: Book Repair.

Help the community by fixing up old books and bringing them back to life for continued use. Ages 12-18.

Free. 6pm. Mountain Island Library, 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way. 704-416-5600. cmlibrary.org.

Mini Model Build. Build a LEGO model and take it home. Quantities are limited while supplies last. Ages 6-14 years. Free. Call store for time. The LEGO Store at Concord Mills, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord. 704979-5708. stores.lego.com/en-us/stores/ us/concord-mills/.

5 WEDNESDAY Great Backyard Bird Count Workshop. Learn how to participate in the Great Backyard Bird count in your own backyard. Ages 14 and older. Free. 6:30-7:30pm. Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road.

704-432-6459. parkandrec.com.

Young Explorers: Groundhogs. Join in stories, crafts and activities related to the groundhog. Ages 2-3. $3. 10:1511am. Latta Plantation Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road. 704-875-1391. parkandrec.com.

6 THURSDAY Nature Detectives: Who’s Sleeping in the Woods? Investigate and learn about fun things that are found in the woods with games and activities. Ages 4-6. $3. 10-11:30am.

Latta Plantation Center, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-875-2312. parkandrec.com.

Thursday Toddler Tales: Giraffe’s Can’t Dance. Join in a morning of sing-alongs and story time. Ages 2-6.

Free. 9:30am. Barnes and Noble, 3327 Pineville-Matthews Road. 704-3419365. barnesandnoble.com.

7 FRIDAY Britax Car Seat Checks. Learn the correct way to install your child seat and safety recommendations from a certified child passenger safety technician. Free. 8-11:30am. Britax North American Headquarters, 4140 Pleasant Road, Fort Mill. 704-409-1695. britaxusa.com.

Daddy/Daughter Dance: Masquerade Ball. Dance the evening away to popular party tunes, take a souvenir photo and enjoy light refreshments. Ages 4-12. $30 per couple with $5 for an additional girl.

7-9pm. McBryde Hall at Winthrop University, 701 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill.

803-329-5633. cityofrockhill.com.

Fabulous Friday: Pajamarama Storytime. Hear "Squeak, Bumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!" by Wynton Marsalis. Participate with different instruments followed by an activity. Free. 7pm. Barnes and Noble, 11025 Carolina Place, Pineville. 704544-9985. barnesandnoble.com.

Heart to Heart. Make some heartfelt crafts to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Free. 11am. Mooresville Public Library, 304 South Main St., Mooresville. 704664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/ library.

Paint with Nature. Discover what happens when paint and nature

daily calendar meet using natural items to create a piece of art.

Ages 2-6. Registration required. $3. 10:30-11:15am.

McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. 704- 5885224. parkandrec.com.

Reader’s Theatre: DramaRama. Develop reading and comprehension skills by using scripts adapted from children’s literature to increase presentation and public speaking skills. Ages 8-11. Free. 3:45pm.

Mountain Island Library, 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way. 704416-5600 . cmlibrary.org.

OnStage: Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly. See page 48.

8 SATURDAY Bat-ittude. Become a “bat-ologist” and learn about their unique adaptations, how they benefit humans, and challenges they face. $6-$10, includes museum admission. 11am and 2pm. Schiele Museum, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. 704-866-6900. schielemuseum.org.

Bilingual Storytimes and Music. An interactive performance with music, plays and stories. Ages 2-8. $5-$10, includes museum admission. 11am.

Mint Museum, 2730 Randolph Road. 704-337-2000. mintmuseum.org.

CMOMS Spring/Summer Consignment Sale. Find everything from children’s clothes to toys. Free-$2.

Early-bird shopping 7:30-8:30am with $2 admission; free admission 8:30am-12:15pm. The Park Expo, 800 Briar Creek Road. 877-9002-6667. charlottemultiples.com.

Come Draw with Me: Family Day. Meet illustrators and see nature artists at work. Visitors are welcome to bring a sketchpad and pencils. $3-$5. Noon-2pm.

Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill. 803-329-2121. chmuseums.org.

Fairy House Festival. Discover the magic of fairy houses with story telling, face painting, crafts, activities. Free.

10am-4pm. Latta Plantation Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-947-3069. See Page 54. fairyhouses.com.

Father-Daughter Valentine Dance. Enjoy an evening of chocolate, crafts, balloons, a paparazzi line and lots of dancing. Ages 12 and under. Registration required. $10. 4-7pm. Crews Recreation Center, 1201 Crews Road, Matthews. 704-708-1261. matthewsfun.com.

Fourth and Fifth Grade Fun Night. Listen to music, dance, play games, enjoy concessions and hang out with friends. Ages 9-11. $5-$7. 7-9:30pm. Teen Activity Center, Harris YMCA, 5900 Quail Hollow Road. 704716-6910. ymcacharlotte.org.

Guiding Parents to Services ASD Workshop. For families of young children with an Autism Spectrum diagnosis. Free. 10:30am. Imaginon, 300 E. 7th Street.704-416-4630. imaginon.org.

Have a Heart Valentine’s Party. Join in a day of arts and crafts, and make cards that will be shared with the Buddy Kemp Caring House. Free. 10am-1pm. The Community Arts Project, 20700 N. Main St., Cornelius.

704-896-8980. thecommunityartsproject.org.

Hearts A’Fire Cat Show. It’s all about cats! See a cat-agility compeition, shop for cat furniture and cat-themed clothing. $4-$6, $5 parking. 10am-4pm.

Cabarrus Arena, 4751 Hwy. 49 N., Concord. 704-9203976. cabarrusarena.com.

Krafty Kidz. Have fun learning while making naturethemed crafts. Ages 2-7. Registration required. $2.

11am-noon. Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road.704-432-6459. parkandrec.com.

Valentines Day Symbols. Hear a special reading of Everyone Says I Love You, then learn about and make a craft of symbols around the world that are associated with expressions of love. $8, includes museum admission. 9am-5pm. Discovery Place Kids, 105 Gilead Road, Huntersville. 704-372-6261. discoveryplacekids.org.

OnStage: Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly • Tosco Music Party. See Page 48.

9 SUNDAY Family Opera: The Three Little Pigs. Opera Carolina’s acclaimed education program, Opera Express performs the traditional children’s tale. $5. 2-4pm.

Gorelick Theatre, Charlotte Country Day School, 1440 Carmel Road.704-332-7177. operacarolina.org.

Hearts A’Fire Cat Show. It’s all about cats! See a cat-agility compeition, shop for cat furniture and cat-themed clothing. $4-$6, $5 parking. 10am-4pm.

Cabarrus Arena, 4751 Hwy. 49 N., Concord. 704-9203976. cabarrusarena.com.

OnStage: Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly. See page 48.

10 MONDAY Budding Adventures. Discover winter plants and animals with crafts, games, stories and puppets. Ages 3-6. Free. 10-11am. Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road. 704-432-6459. parkandrec.com.

Salute the Winter Games. Celebrate winter sports and the winter games with kids club central. Radio Disney Charlotte will be in attendance with games and prizes. Free. 1-3pm. Epicentre, 210 E. Trade St. 704688-5980. epicentrenc.com.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

45

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CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S REPORT CARD? Huntington can Help!

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An academic evaluation identifies problem areas Programs tailored to address each student’s needs Highly trained tutors work individually with students Lessons taught at the students pace

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Call 1 800 CAN LEARN ® for possible specials on tuition

HuntingtonHelps.com Cannot be combined with any other offer. New students only.

Two area locations: 4701 Park Road, Charlotte - 704-522-7511 and 9601 Holly Point Drive, Huntersville - 704-896-3931

Sensory Storytime. Filled with stories, songs, and activities specifically designed for children with autism spectrum disorders, sensory integration issues, or other developmental disabilities.

Registration required. Free. 11:15am.

Mint Hill Library, 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road. 704-416-5200. cmlibrary.org.

11 TUESDAY Coffee with the Superintendent. Have coffee with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools superintendent Heath Morrison, and share ideas about district initiatives, legislative action and how to improve education.

Free. 7:30-9am. Garinger High, 1100 Eastway Drive. cms.k12.nc.us.

Read with Baron the Dog. Read a book to Baron, the lovable long-haired German Shepherd, a certified therapy dog. Free. 3:30pm.

Mooresville Public Library, 304 South Main St., Mooresville. 704-664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/library.

12 WEDNESDAY

Our open house will open more than doors for your child.

It will open a world of opportunities beyond their imagination.

Our focus on students with learning differences and all types of ADHD means your child receives an education that helps close the gap and provides a path to educational success.

OPEN HOUSE

SPEAKER SERIES

Tuesday, Feb. 10th 8:30 am Thursday, Feb. 20th 8:30 am Mini Tours: Mar. 3rd, 17th, Success strategies for students and 31st 8:15 am with ASD and Learning Disabilities

RSVP: 704-365-5490 or peley@johncroslandschool.org

JohnCroslandSchool.org 5146 Parkway Plaza Blvd. • Charlotte, NC 28217 • 704.365.5490 •

/JohnCroslandSchool

Crosland does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, marital status, disability, religion, creed, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions, financial aid policies or employment practices.

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Magnetic Poetry. Put literacy into action and create your own poems by arranging words on magnets. Ages 5-11. Free. 4pm. Scaleybark Library, 101 Scaleybark Road. 704-416-7000. cmlibrary.org.

Social Issues: Teen Dating Violence.

Learn more about how to identify and prevent teen dating violence with speakers from Love Speaks Out. Ages 12+. Free. 3pm. Independence Regional Library, 6000 Conference Drive. 704-416-4800. cmlibrary.org.

13 THURSDAY Awesome Oragami. Learn about origami and make origami crafts.

Ages 5-9. Free. 5:30pm. Mooresville Public Library, 304 South Main St., Mooresville. 704-664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/library.

Teens and Technology. Learn what your child is really doing on the Internet and gain a better understanding of popular social networking websites.

Parent seminar. Free. 7:30pm. JFS

Charlotte, 5007 Providence Road.

704-366-5007. jfscharlotte.org.

Teens and Technology. Learn how to help your teen handle school stress and the workload. Registration required. Free. 7:30pm. Levine JCC, 5007 Providence Road. 704-366-5007. charlottejcc.org.

Valentine’s Day Teen Matinee Movie.

Enjoy a teen feature film (PG-13), plus popcorn and soft drinks. Ages 12 +. Free. 3:30pm. Gaston County Public Library, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. 704-868-2164. gastonlibrary.org.

14 FRIDAY Valentine’s Day (Anti-)Valentine’s Ransom Note Poetry. Cut out words, letters and phrases from used books and magazines to create unique poetry.

Ages 12+. Registration required. Free.

3:30pm. Mountain Island Library, 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way. 704-416-5600. cmlibrary.org.

Black History Month Film Screening: The Loving Story. HBO films uses rare footage to show Richard and Mildred Loving who were arrested in1958 for violating Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage. Ages 10+. $5-$8, includes museum admission.

5:30pm. Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887. museumofthenewsouth.org.

Crazy Play Days: Heart Day Celebration. Make a craft and play games. Registration required.

5-8 years. $2. 6-7:30pm. Ivory/Baker Recreation Center, 1920 Stroud Park Court. 704-432-4580. parkandrec.com.

Kids Create: Valentines Day. Make fun-filled crafts to take home. Ages 2-5. Free. 11am. Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St., Mooresville.

704-664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/ portal/library.

Middle School Madness. Join in music, dancing, hoops, contests and video games. Ages 11-13. $7. 7-9:30pm.

Southwest Middle School, 13624 Steele Creek Road. 980-343-5006. ymcacharlotte.org.

Teen Open Mic Night. For experienced groups that love to play in front of people, or a new musician that wants to try something new. Ages 11+.

Free. 6-8pm. The Blackbox Theatre, The Ballantyne Arts Center, 11318 N. Community House Road. 704-7164650. ymcacharlotte.org.

15 SATURDAY Build It, Make It, Take It: Time Fountain. Join Hackerspace Charlotte to build a water drop fountain that features an ultraviolet strobe light controlled by the rate of the falling water. $10-$12. 10:30am.

Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St. 704372-6261. discoveryplace.org.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Day at the Gantt. The Gantt Center and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library are partnering to highlight the connection between literature, history and art. Free entry with library card. 11am-2pm. Harvey B. Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St. 704-547-3700. ganttcenter.org.

Girl Science Investigators at the Library. Calling all girls and Girl Scouts to help solve crimes in the library. Explore science and crime scene investigation with fun experiments. Ages 5-10. Free. 11am.

Gaston County Public Library, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. 704-8682164. gastonlibrary.org.

Great Backyard Bird Count. Join expert birders from the Charlotte Audobon Society as they count birds, and learn about bird that live in your backyard. $6, includes museum admission. 10am-1pm.

Charlotte Nature Museum, 1658 Sterling Road. 704-372-6261. charlottenaturemuseum.org.

Kids Night in Nature. After enjoying a dinner, kids will test their nocturnal senses during a flashlight hike, meet residential animals and make s’mores around the campfire. Ages 6-12.

Registration required. $15. 6-9pm.

McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. 704-588-5224. parkandrec.com.

McDowell Tree House Theater. Enjoy a nature-oriented puppet show. Ages 2-7. Free. 11am. McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. 704-5885224. parkandrec.com.

Pioneer Days in the Preseve.

Experience quilting, rope-making and butter-making. Free. 1-4pm. Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road. 704-432-6459. parkandrec.com.

Sweetheart Tours. Learn about 19th-century courting customs, English Country dancing, and hear sweetheart stories about the Latta girls. $8. 11am- 4pm. A new tour begins each hour. Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704875-2312. lattaplantation.org.

GIANTLEGOEXPO LEGOEXPO LEGO EXPO ®

FEB 28 – MARCH 2 • RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER

16 SUNDAY Sssssensational Snakes . Get up close and personal with snakes. Get answers to questions like where snakes go in the winter. Free. 2-3pm.

Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road. 704-432-6459. parkandrec.com.

Sunday Fun Day: Imagine, Invent, Innovate. Learn about artists who think outside of the box, try out a Drawing Machine Challenge, and get creative with artful inventions of your own. $5, includes museum admission.

1-4pm. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. 704-337-2000. mintmuseum.org.

Sweetheart Tours. Learn about 19th-century courting customs, English Country dancing, and hear sweetheart stories about the Latta girls. $8. 2-4pm. A new tour begins every hour. Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-8752312. lattaplantation.org.

We Love Animals. Create a Valentine’s Day card for a favorite animal, and decorate a picture frame to take home to keep a picture of a favorite animal. Free. 2-4pm. McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. 704588-5224. parkandrec.com.

Returning to North Carolina!

The popular LEGO® KidsFest tour returns with an exciting, interactive experience — packed with activities & creative fun for the entire family! Attend again, or come for the first time — there will be lots of new things to see and do!

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@ LEGOkidsfest

Tickets on sale at www.LEGOkidsfest.com LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick & Knob configurations and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group.

LEGO KidsFest is produced by LIFE Marketing & Events. © 2014

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

47

CHELITA KAYE KELLEY, DDS

MICHAEL HOLT, DDS

Accepting New Patients Board Certified in Pediatric Dentistry

17 MONDAY

18 TUESDAY

Presidents’ Day Sensory Storytime. Filled with stories, songs, and activities specifically designed for children with autism spectrum disorders, sensory integration issues, or other developmental disabilities.

Registration required. Free. Monday 11:15am. Mint Hill Library, 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Charlotte.

704-416-5200. cmlibrary.org.

President’s Day Homeschool Event.

Learn about John Hanson and four other early American presidents. $6; children under 4 are free.10am2pm. Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-875-2312. lattaplantation.org.

on

stage

ARMOUR STREET THEATRE

brookdalepediatricdentistry.com

Fun

Exit 36, off of I-485 9601 Brookdale Drive, Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28215 704-599-3901

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Morning and afternoon sessions are available.

WWW.CHARLOTTEPREP.ORG/CAMPPREP

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Connie Company Productions Presents: Cinderella. With a positive outlook and a never ending hope and yearn for love, this is a play every member of the family can enjoy. $10. Feb. 1-2. Sat., 10:30am; 1:30 and 4:30pm; Sun., 1:30 and 4:30pm.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly. Inspired by the life of Della Wells, peek into the life of an African-American family in the 1960s and learn about the value of creativity and the need to reach for your dreams. Ages 8+. Tickets start at $12. Through Feb. 9.

Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 3pm; and Sun., 2pm. 704-973-2800. ctcharlotte.org.

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. Take a trip to the bayou for this classic fairy tale. Ages 5+. Tickets start at $12. See website for showtimes. Feb. 21-March 9. 2pm. 704-973-2800. ctcharlotte.org. ImaginOn, 300 E. 7th St.

FULLWOOD THEATER The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. A twist on classic fairytales. No character is saved from silliness. $10-$12. Feb. 21- March 2. Fri., 7:30pm; Sat.-Sun., 2pm. 704-846-8343. matthewsplayhouse.com. 100 McDowell Street E., Matthews.

KNIGHT THEATER Tosco Music Party. An evening of acoustic music for the entire family. $15. Feb. 8, 7:30pm. 704-372-1000. toscomusicparty.org.

Tubby the Tuba. Discover the sights and sounds of the instrument families until you meet the whole orchestra at the "Great Gate of Kiev" for the grand finale. $15.50$24.50. Feb. 1. 11am.704-972-2000. charlottesymphony.org. 430 S. Tryon St.

TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus: Built to Amaze. Experience animal performances and daring high-wire acts with contemporary surprises. See website for ticket prices. Feb. 1-2. Sat.,11am, 3 and 7pm; Sun., 11am and 3pm. 704-6889000. ringling.com. 333 E. Trade St.

19 WEDNESDAY

21 FRIDAY

Community Service Project: Project Lineus. A great way to make connections and build leadership skills. Create blankets for children in need. No sewing skills required.

Ages 12 and older. Free. 4pm. South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road. 704-416-6600. cmlibrary.org.

Counting on Books. Explore math by working with numbers on a ruler and creating duct tape roses. Ages 8-11.

Free. 4pm. Mint Hill Library, 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road. 704-4165200. cmlibrary.org.

HomeSchool Wednesdays. Explore the realms of the ice-covered Piedmont and learn why some animals hibernate and others migrate when the going gets cold. $3-$5. 1-3pm.

Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill. 803-329-2121. chmuseums.org.

Mini Masters Workshop: Royal Africa. Draw, paint, and decorate colorful jewelry fit for a king or queen.

Ages 3-5. $5-$10, includes museum admission. 10:30am and 1:30pm. Mint Museum, 2730 Randolph Road.704337-2000. mintmuseum.org.

Young Explorers: Slimy Salamanders. Discover nature with through stories, crafts and activities related to salamanders. Ages 2-3. $3.

10:15-11am. Latta Plantation Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road. 704-8751391. parkandrec.com.

Box Oven Construction Competition.

Learn how a box oven works and how to build one. Compete for the best oven being judged on style, functionality and how well it works.

Ages 9-12. $3. 2:30-4pm. Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road.704-432-6459. parkandrec.com.

Little Foods for Little Fingers.

Learn how to make some fun and healthy snacks. Ages 4-5. Free. 11am.

Mooresville Public Library, 304 South Main St., Mooresville. 704-664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/library.

Second and Third Grade Fun Night.

Listen to music, dance, play games, enjoy concessions and hang out with friends. Ages 7-9. $5-$7. 6:30-9pm.

Harris YMCA, 5900 Quail Hollow Road.704-716-6800. ymcacharlotte.org.

Teen Ping Pong Tournament. Join friends for a table match. Winners receive a prize. $5-$7. 7-10:30pm.

Morrison Family YMCA, 9405 Bryant Farms Road.704-716-4650. ymcacharlotte.org.

Onstage: Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood • The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. See page 48.

20 THURSDAY Mini Masters Workshop: Royal Africa. Draw, paint, and decorate colorful jewelry fit for a king or queen.

Ages 3-5. $5-$10, includes museum admission. 10:30am and 1:30pm. Mint Museum, 2730 Randolph Road.704337-2000. mintmuseum.org.

Nature Detectives: Who’s Calling.

Become a nature detective investigating and learning about fun things that are found in the woods. Featuring stories, games, and activities. Ages 4-6. $3. 10-11:30am.

Latta Plantation Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-4326460. parkandrec.com.

22 SATURDAY Fossil Fair. Spotlights fossils, rocks, minerals and the ancient stories that these items tell. Kids can meet animated prehistoric characters, and see a full-sized T. rex. $9-$13, includes museum admission and fair fee. 9am4pm. The Schiele Museum, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd, Gastonia. 704-866-6908. schielemuseum.org.

George Washington Carver and Friends. Original family theatre production by Bright Star Theatre that celebrates famous AfricanAmericans. Free. 2pm. Gaston County Public Library, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. 704-868-2164. gastonlibrary.org.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

49

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Junior League of Charlotte: Go Kids Go. Kids can participate in various fun-filled physical activities; and learn about nutrition, safety and disease prevention. Free. 9am-noon.

Billingsville Elementary School, 124 Skyland Ave. 704-771-5426. jlcharlotte.org.

Nature Creations: Fort Building.

Create festive stars, cool pine-cone critters, and other creations. Dress to get messy. Ages 4+. Registration required. Free. 3:30-4:30pm.

McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road.704-588-5224. parkandrec.com.

Underground Railroad Adventure.

Learn about the dangers and triumphs of an escaped slave on the underground railroad and go on a scavenger hunt around the plantation. $8. 10am-4pm.

Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Hutnersville. 704-875-2312. lattaplantation.org.

OnStage: Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood • The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. See Page 48.

23 SUNDAY Leave No Trace. Learn to enjoy nature without leaving a trace while taking a hike and looking at animals who left tracks behind. Ages 8+. Free. 1-3pm.

McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. 704-588-5224. parkandrec.com.

NightWatch. Discover what you can see in the winter sky from your own backyard with binoculars and a telescope. $6-$10, includes museum admission. 3:30pm. Schiele Museum, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. 704866-6900. schielemuseum.org.

OnStage: Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood • The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. See Page 48.

24 MONDAY Budding Adventures. Discover the winter plants and animals with crafts, games, stories and puppets. Ages 3-6.

Free. 10-11am. Reedy Creek Nature

Center, 2900 Rocky River Road, 704432-6459. parkandrec.com.

School’s Out: Movie Day. Enjoy afternoon entertainment on the big screen. Free. 2pm. Mooresville Public Library, 304 South Main St., Mooresville. 704-664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/library.

25 TUESDAY Bountiful Bulbs. Read a story about bulbs that are edible and bulbs that bloom, then plant a bulb to take home and watch it grow. Ages 4 and older. $15. 3:30-4:30pm. Wing Haven Gardens, 248 Ridgewood Ave.704331-0664. winghavengardens.com.

26 WEDNESDAY Family Fun Day. See a unique headline entertainer, plus numerous activities, games, displays and prize giveaways, such as crafts, face paint and balloons.

Free. 11am. Carolina Place Mall, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy., Pineville. 704543-9300. carolinaplace.com.

Listen and Move: Warm Up Your Muscles. Hear stories, sing songs, and develop the skills needed to become a successful reader. Dress to move. Ages 3-5. Free. 11am. North County Regional Library, 16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville. 704-4166000. cmlibrary.org.

Operation College Launch: Encouraging Words College Planning. Learn tips on what to look for, how to find a good fit, and select your top three college choices. Ages 12 and older. Registration required.

Free. 6pm. Sugar Creek Library, 4045 N. Tryon St, 704-416-7000. cmlibrary.org.

27 THURSDAY Harrison UMC Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Sale. Spring children's consignment sale with gently used clothing, furniture, toys and more. Free. 6-8pm. Harrison UMC, 15008 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville.

704-737-7146. humcfaithcircle.org.

on

exhibit

DISCOVERY PLACE 101 Inventions That Changed the World. With more than 6,000 different video files, 40 projectors and floor-to-ceiling walls that display crystal clear images, this experience takes audiences on a multi-sensory journey of inventions, from stone tools to the birth of the Internet. $18-$20, includes museum admission.

Through April 21. Mon.-Fri., 9am-4pm; Sat., 10am-6pm; Sun., noon-5pm.

Hubble. See unprecedented views of galaxies far and beyond provided by the Hubble telescope. Shown in the IMAX theater and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. $5-$10. Through May 30. See website for showtimes. 704-372-6261. discoveryplace.org. discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St.

GASTON COUNTY MUSEUM The Evolution of Recorded Sound. Explore and listen to the difference between a late 1800s song and one recorded in 2013. Relive memories of the record player, 8-Track, and Walkman. Free. Through March 8. Tue-Fri., 10am-5pm; Sat.,10am-3pm. 704- 922-7681. gastoncountymuseum.org.

131 W. Main St., Dallas.

LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW SOUTH Out of the Shadows: Undocumented and Unafraid. Explore how art can be a deliberative and imaginative forum for exploring complex issues about immigrant labor, education and legal status. $5-$8, includes museum admission.

Through June 29. Mon.-Sat., 10am-5pm; Sun., noon-5pm. 704-333-1887. museumofthenewsouth.org. 200 E. 7th St.

MUSEUM OF YORK COUNTY Way Back When: Ice Age Beasts of Carolina. Travel back in time to the Carolina Piedmont during the Ice Ages when massive mastodons browsed our woodlands, and giant ground sloths ambles along the forest edge. $3-$5. Through July 31. Tues.- Sat., 10am-5pm; Sun., 1-5pm. 803-329-2121. chmuseums.org. 4621 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill.

SCHIELE MUSEUM Farmers, Warriors, Builders: The Hidden Lives of Ants. With the aid of a macro lens and the insights of ant expert and photographer Mark Moffett the incredible world of ants is explored in this Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition. $6-$10, includes museum admission. Through April 6. Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm; Sun., 1-5pm. 704-866-6908. schielemuseum.org. 1500 E. Garrison Blvd, Gastonia.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

51

Women’s Transitional Healthcare Mental Health Designed for Women Unique by design, a woman is instilled with purpose and potential. At Women’s Transitional Healthcare in Charlotte we appreciate and nurture those unique characteristics, thus allowing a woman to bloom into her natural state of beauty.

We treat: Postpartum Depression Postpartum Psychosis Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Psychosis Mood Disorders Anxiety

704-817-8230 info@wthealthcare.net www.wthealthcare.net Women’s Transitional Healthcare in Charlotte: A Return to Happiness 10400 Mallard Creek Rd., Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28262

International Polar Bear Day. Make Polar Bear crafts, look at Polar Bear artifacts, and learn how scientists study Polar Bears in the wild. $5-$12, includes museum admission.

9am-4pm. Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261. discoveryplace.org.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale.

Features children’s clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items.

Free. 6-9pm; Fri.-Sun., 9am-4pm.

Cabarrus Arena , 4751 US Hwy. 49 N., Concord. 704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment.com.

28 FRIDAY Children’s Consignment Sale. Shop for maternity clothes and children’s clothes, toys, furniture and gear. Free.

Fri., 6-9pm; Sat., 8am-noon. 317 S. Chester St., Gastonia. 704- 864-5675.

Fancy Nancy Tea Party. Have a tea party, play dress-up, and create a cool craft. Ages 2-5. Free. 11am.

Mooresville Public Library, 304 S.

Main St., Mooresville. 704-664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/library.

Harrison UMC Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Sale. Spring children's consignment sale with gently used clothing, furniture, toys and more. Free. 9am-1pm. Harrison UMC, 15008 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville.

704-737-7146. humcfaithcircle.org.

Homeschool Family Hike. Grab the family and explore different areas of the park, plus activities and games. Registration required. Free.

10-11:30am. McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. 704-588-5224. parkandrec.com.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale.

Features children’s clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items.

Free. Fri.-Sun., 9am-4pm. Cabarrus Arena, 4751 US Hwy. 49 N., Concord.

704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment. com.

OnStage: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales • Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. See Page 48.

CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI CLASSROOMS FOR INFANTS THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.

C

Infant 6 weeks-12 months Primary 3-6 years old

Toddler 18 months-3 years Elementary Grades 1-6

OPEN HOUSE DATES

February 9th 9:00 am-10:30 am February 20th 9:00 am-10:30 am WHERE STUDENTS GROW IN LOVE WITH LEARNING AND GOD!

CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT LAKE NORMAN

14101 STUMPTOWN RD., HUNTERSVILLE, NC CHRISTIANMONTESSORISCHOOL.ORG 704-875-1801

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CharlotteParent.com

Charlotte’s Got Heart

hildren of all ages can celebrate Valentine’s Day at these events around town. Dads and daughters Valentine’s Day Special Events can dance the evening away at the Daddy/Daughter Dance happening Feb. 7 at McBryde Hall at Winthrop University, or at the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance, Feb. 8 at Crews Recreation Center in Matthews. Little ones can create heartfelt crafts Feb. 7 at Mooresville Public Library’s Heart to Heart event. On Feb. 8, children can make special Valentine’s Day cards at the Have a Heart Valentine’s Party to be shared with cancer patients at the Buddy Kemp Caring House. Teens can settle in for a Valentine’s Day Teen Matinee Feb. 13 at the Gaston County Public Library, or join in the (Anti-) Valentine’s Ransom Note Poetry event at Mountain Island Library Feb. 14.

Find more details about these Valentine's Day special events throughout the Daily Calendar or at CharlotteParent.com/calendar.

PARENTING

on the go?

International Polar Bear Day. Make Polar Bear crafts, look at Polar Bear artifacts, and learn how scientists study Polar Bears in the wild. $5-$12, includes museum admission.

9am-4pm. Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261. discoveryplace.org.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale.

Features children’s clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items.

Free. 6-9pm; Fri.-Sun., 9am-4pm.

Cabarrus Arena , 4751 US Hwy. 49 N., Concord. 704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment.com.

28 FRIDAY Children’s Consignment Sale. Shop for maternity clothes and children’s clothes, toys, furniture and gear. Free.

Fri., 6-9pm; Sat., 8am-noon. 317 S. Chester St., Gastonia. 704- 864-5675.

Fancy Nancy Tea Party. Have a tea party, play dress-up, and create a cool craft. Ages 2-5. Free. 11am.

Mooresville Public Library, 304 S.

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FEBRUARY 2014

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CharlotteParent.com

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Main St., Mooresville. 704-664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/library.

Harrison UMC Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Sale. Spring children's consignment sale with gently used clothing, furniture, toys and more. Free. 9am-1pm. Harrison UMC, 15008 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville.

704-737-7146. humcfaithcircle.org.

Homeschool Family Hike. Grab the family and explore different areas of the park, plus activities and games. Registration required. Free.

10-11:30am. McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. 704-588-5224. parkandrec.com.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale.

Features children’s clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items.

Free. Fri.-Sun., 9am-4pm. Cabarrus Arena, 4751 US Hwy. 49 N., Concord.

704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment. com.

OnStage: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales • Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. See Page 48.

Charlotte’s Got Heart

hildren of all ages can celebrate Valentine’s Day at these events around town. Dads and daughters Valentine’s Day Special Events can dance the evening away at the Daddy/Daughter Dance happening Feb. 7 at McBryde Hall at Winthrop University, or at the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance, Feb. 8 at Crews Recreation Center in Matthews. Little ones can create heartfelt crafts Feb. 7 at Mooresville Public Library’s Heart to Heart event. On Feb. 8, children can make special Valentine’s Day cards at the Have a Heart Valentine’s Party to be shared with cancer patients at the Buddy Kemp Caring House. Teens can settle in for a Valentine’s Day Teen Matinee Feb. 13 at the Gaston County Public Library, or join in the (Anti-) Valentine’s Ransom Note Poetry event at Mountain Island Library Feb. 14.

Find more details about these Valentine's Day special events throughout the Daily Calendar or at CharlotteParent.com/calendar.

Teaching kids to swim since 1996.

International Polar Bear Day. Make Polar Bear crafts, look at Polar Bear artifacts, and learn how scientists study Polar Bears in the wild. $5-$12, includes museum admission.

9am-4pm. Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261. discoveryplace.org.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale.

Features children’s clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items.

Free. 6-9pm; Fri.-Sun., 9am-4pm.

Cabarrus Arena , 4751 US Hwy. 49 N., Concord. 704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment.com.

28 FRIDAY Your child will be Healthier Smarter Safer

now! l l o r En

704.341.9673

info@charlotteaquatics.com

www.charlotteaquatics.com

Children’s Consignment Sale. Shop for maternity clothes and children’s clothes, toys, furniture and gear. Free.

Fri., 6-9pm; Sat., 8am-noon. 317 S. Chester St., Gastonia. 704- 864-5675.

Fancy Nancy Tea Party. Have a tea party, play dress-up, and create a cool craft. Ages 2-5. Free. 11am.

Mooresville Public Library, 304 S.

Main St., Mooresville. 704-664-2927. ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/library.

Harrison UMC Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Sale. Spring children's consignment sale with gently used clothing, furniture, toys and more. Free. 9am-1pm. Harrison UMC, 15008 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville.

704-737-7146. humcfaithcircle.org.

Homeschool Family Hike. Grab the family and explore different areas of the park, plus activities and games. Registration required. Free.

10-11:30am. McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. 704-588-5224. parkandrec.com.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale.

Features children’s clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items.

Free. Fri.-Sun., 9am-4pm. Cabarrus Arena, 4751 US Hwy. 49 N., Concord.

704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment. com.

OnStage: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales • Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. See Page 48.

Kate’s of Rock Hill 803-329-5283

1530 Celanese Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29732

We a re n D I ’ K S S CL E’

M

P!

KA

T

We do fill up fast so get yours in today!

for ns tio MMER C A U

epting regis acc tr w o B H O US E a S U

Parent packets are available at Kate’s Skating Center.

For all children between the ages of 5 and 15 years old.

We promise your child a supervised, fun, exciting and safe summer.

Each week will feature a variety of activities, games and crafts.

We have a new outdoor playground — great fun for all ages!

CAMP STARTS ON MONDAY, JUNE 9TH. Monday-Friday from 7am to 6pm.

There is a $25.00 registration fee. Weekly session price is $100.00 per week.

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CharlotteParent.com

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Charlotte’s Got Heart

hildren of all ages can celebrate Valentine’s Day at these events around town. Dads and daughters Valentine’s Day Special Events can dance the evening away at the Daddy/Daughter Dance happening Feb. 7 at McBryde Hall at Winthrop University, or at the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance, Feb. 8 at Crews Recreation Center in Matthews. Little ones can create heartfelt crafts Feb. 7 at Mooresville Public Library’s Heart to Heart event. On Feb. 8, children can make special Valentine’s Day cards at the Have a Heart Valentine’s Party to be shared with cancer patients at the Buddy Kemp Caring House. Teens can settle in for a Valentine’s Day Teen Matinee Feb. 13 at the Gaston County Public Library, or join in the (Anti-) Valentine’s Ransom Note Poetry event at Mountain Island Library Feb. 14.

Find more details about these Valentine's Day special events throughout the Daily Calendar or at CharlotteParent.com/calendar.

early 1 SATURDAY

march

Children's Consignment Sale. Shop for maternity clothes and children's clothes, toys, furniture and gear. Free. 8am-noon. 317 S. Chester St., Gastonia.

704-864-5675.

Harrison UMC Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Sale. Spring children's consignment sale with gently used clothing, furniture, toys and more. Free.

8am-noon. Harrison UMC, 15008 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville. 704-737-7146. humcfaithcircle.org.

Junior League of Charlotte: Go Kids Go. Kids can participate in various fun-filled physical activities, learn about nutrition and safety, and disease prevention. Free.

9am-noon. Billingsville Elementary School, 124 Skyland Ave. 704-771-5426. jlcharlotte.org.

Oliver Twist. A timeless story of bravery, forgiveness, and the value of honesty and hard work. $10. 11am and 4pm. Fullwood Theater, Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St. E., Matthews. matthewsplayhouse.com.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale. Seasonal sale features children's clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items. Free.

9am-4pm. Cabarrus Arena, 4751 US Hwy. 49 North, Concord. 704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment.com.

UCUMC Spring Children's Consignment Sale. Shop for children's clothing and furniture to books, toys and maternity wear. Free. 8am-2pm. University City United Methodist Church, 3825 W. WT Harris Blvd. 704-369-8000. ucumc.org.

2 SUNDAY The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. A twist on classic fairytales. No character is saved from silliness. $10-$12. 2pm. Fullwood Theater, Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St. E., Matthews. 704-846-8343. matthewsplayhouse.com.

3 MONDAY First Monday Family Nights. Stories, songs and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books. Free. 6:30pm.

Hickory Grove Library, 5935 Hickory Grove Road. 704-416-4400. cmlibrary.org.

Listen and Move: Warm Up Your Muscles. Preschoolers engage with books and activities that encourage language and reading skills. Dress in active wear.

Ages 3-5. Free. 11am. North County Regional Library, 16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville. 704-416-6000. cmlibrary.org.

6 THURSDAY Art-Rageous Books. Join Miss Amy and use an illustrator's style to inspire unique creations. Ages 6-8. Free. 4:30-5:30pm. York County Library, 138 E. Black St., Rock Hill. 803-981-5858. yclibrary.org.

Charlotte Parent calendar lists free CALENDAR POLICY: The and low-cost local events targeted to

Educating Mind, Body, and Soul With an accelerated curriculum and nurturing environment, SouthLake Christian Academy prepares students to excel in academics, athletics, and the arts while inspiring them to live their lives with wisdom and moral integrity.

OPEN HOUSE Thursday, March 13 • 7 p.m. w w w. s o u t h l a k e c h r i s t i a n . o r g 704-949-2200

children and families. Time, dates and details subject to change. Call venue to confirm. Want to get listed? Go to CharlotteParent.com/calendar, then click on Submit an Event.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

53

early 1 SATURDAY

march

Children's Consignment Sale. Shop for maternity clothes and children's clothes, toys, furniture and gear. Free. 8am-noon. 317 S. Chester St., Gastonia.

704-864-5675.

Harrison UMC Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Sale. Spring children's consignment sale with gently used clothing, furniture, toys and more. Free.

8am-noon. Harrison UMC, 15008 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville. 704-737-7146. humcfaithcircle.org.

Junior League of Charlotte: Go Kids Go. Kids can participate in various fun-filled physical activities, learn about nutrition and safety, and disease prevention. Free.

9am-noon. Billingsville Elementary School, 124 Skyland Ave. 704-771-5426. jlcharlotte.org.

Oliver Twist. A timeless story of bravery, forgiveness, and the value of honesty and hard work. $10. 11am and 4pm. Fullwood Theater, Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St. E., Matthews. matthewsplayhouse.com.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale. Seasonal sale features children's clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items. Free.

9am-4pm. Cabarrus Arena, 4751 US Hwy. 49 North, Concord. 704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment.com.

UCUMC Spring Children's Consignment Sale. Shop for children's clothing and furniture to books, toys and maternity wear. Free. 8am-2pm. University City United Methodist Church, 3825 W. WT Harris Blvd. 704-369-8000. ucumc.org.

2 SUNDAY The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. A twist on classic fairytales. No character is saved from silliness. $10-$12. 2pm. Fullwood Theater, Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St. E., Matthews. 704-846-8343. matthewsplayhouse.com.

3 MONDAY First Monday Family Nights. Stories, songs and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books. Free. 6:30pm.

Hickory Grove Library, 5935 Hickory Grove Road. 704-416-4400. cmlibrary.org.

Listen and Move: Warm Up Your Muscles. Preschoolers engage with books and activities that encourage language and reading skills. Dress in active wear.

Ages 3-5. Free. 11am. North County Regional Library, 16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville. 704-416-6000. cmlibrary.org.

6 THURSDAY Art-Rageous Books. Join Miss Amy and use an illustrator's style to inspire unique creations. Ages 6-8. Free. 4:30-5:30pm. York County Library, 138 E. Black St., Rock Hill. 803-981-5858. yclibrary.org.

SUMMER PLANS? SUMMER PROGRAMS! Charlotte Parent calendar lists free CALENDAR POLICY: The and low-cost local events targeted to

children and families. Time, dates and details subject to change. Call venue to confirm. Want to get listed? Go to CharlotteParent.com/calendar, then click on Submit an Event.

TO REQUEST A CATALOG AND TO REGISTER VISIT PROVIDENCEDAY.ORG CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

53

early 1 SATURDAY

march

Children's Consignment Sale. Shop for maternity clothes and children's clothes, toys, furniture and gear. Free. 8am-noon. 317 S. Chester St., Gastonia.

704-864-5675.

Harrison UMC Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Sale. Spring children's consignment sale with gently used clothing, furniture, toys and more. Free.

8am-noon. Harrison UMC, 15008 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville. 704-737-7146. humcfaithcircle.org.

Junior League of Charlotte: Go Kids Go. Kids can participate in various fun-filled physical activities, learn about nutrition and safety, and disease prevention. Free.

9am-noon. Billingsville Elementary School, 124 Skyland Ave. 704-771-5426. jlcharlotte.org.

Oliver Twist. A timeless story of bravery, forgiveness, and the value of honesty and hard work. $10. 11am and 4pm. Fullwood Theater, Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St. E., Matthews. matthewsplayhouse.com.

Tarheel Kids Consignment Sale. Seasonal sale features children's clothing sizes infant through juniors, toys, accessories and maternity items. Free.

9am-4pm. Cabarrus Arena, 4751 US Hwy. 49 North, Concord. 704-644-3972. tarheelkidsconsignment.com.

UCUMC Spring Children's Consignment Sale. Shop for children's clothing and furniture to books, toys and maternity wear. Free. 8am-2pm. University City United Methodist Church, 3825 W. WT Harris Blvd. 704-369-8000. ucumc.org.

2 SUNDAY The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. A twist on classic fairytales. No character is saved from silliness. $10-$12. 2pm. Fullwood Theater, Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St. E., Matthews. 704-846-8343. matthewsplayhouse.com.

3 MONDAY First Monday Family Nights. Stories, songs and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books. Free. 6:30pm.

Hickory Grove Library, 5935 Hickory Grove Road. 704-416-4400. cmlibrary.org.

Listen and Move: Warm Up Your Muscles. Preschoolers engage with books and activities that encourage language and reading skills. Dress in active wear.

Ages 3-5. Free. 11am. North County Regional Library, 16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville. 704-416-6000. cmlibrary.org.

6 THURSDAY Art-Rageous Books. Join Miss Amy and use an illustrator's style to inspire unique creations. Ages 6-8. Free. 4:30-5:30pm. York County Library, 138 E. Black St., Rock Hill. 803-981-5858. yclibrary.org.

The Charlotte Parent calendar lists free and low-cost local events targeted to children and families. Time, dates and details subject to change. Call venue to confirm. Want to get listed? Go to CharlotteParent.com/calendar, then click on Submit an Event.

CALENDAR POLICY:

MORE FUN THIS SUMMER!

UPPER PALMETTO YMCA 10 locations serving York and Chester Counties. www.upymca.org

Explore More!

Discovering the Creator through his Creation

June 9-August 8, Monday-Friday 7:30-6:00 p.m.

(Half Day Program Rates are available)

Ages 3 - Grade 6 One Time $30 Registration Fee Full Day Weekly Rate of $130 Discounts Available for multiple weeks!

12416 Lancaster Hwy, Pineville, NC 28134

704-544-7323

www.SCBAcademy.org

Family Allergy Asthma & Sinus Care Quality Personalized Care!

VOTED

PPROVED DOC A M E READERS MO 2013 BY TOH TTE PARE IN CHARL OF

NT

Specializing in both Pediatrics & Adults Allergy (hayfever) Cough Sinus problems Bee sting allergy Food allergy

Asthma Eczema Hives Anaphylaxis Drug allergy

We’re Welcoming New Patients!

Call 704-817-2022 10370 Park Road, Suite 202 (Pineville)

www.AllergyForAll.com

Like us on

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

53

Whimsical Adventures at Fairy House Festival

BY MIKALA YOUNG

Fairy House Festival

Latta Plantation Nature Center Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Free parkandrec.com

O

n Saturday Feb. 8, families of all ages can discover the joy and magic of the Fairy House Festival at Latta Plantation Nature center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The festival, which began its annual tradition in February 2008, is free and does not require registration. “It’s a great family event in a time of year when there aren’t a lot of family events going on around Valentine’s Day,” says Stephen Hutchinson, manager at Latta Plantation Nature Center.

The event includes a roaming storyteller, Gnome Geocaching, face painting, fort building, fairy boats, and pony rides for a small fee. Tracy Kane, renowned author and illustrator

of “The Fairy Houses Trilogy,” will be attending the festival for story telling sessions and book signings at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Last year more than 2,700 people attended the festival, many dressed in their best fairy or gnome outfit. “Kids love dressing up ... we have lots of children that come and dress up,” says Hutchinson. “We even have adults who come to explore their imagination and bring them back to their childhood.”

Families can create a fairy house with their children right inside the FayLinn Village.

Prizes are awarded for the best costume, as well as for the best fairy house.

Each fairy house is made from all natural materials and mostly dead, nonliving plants.

“We really encourage families to use their creative abilities with what is left on the ground at the nature center,” says Hutchinson.

For kids that want to make their fairy house have a little more pizzazz, they are encouraged to find trash around the nature center that they can bring to a “trash for treasure” table set up for the festival.

“We’re teaching life lessons about cleaning while rewarding them with shells and other neat trinkets to include in their fairy house,” says Hutchinson. “It’s a great way to get the entire family involved.”

Now Serving Charlotte area also in Texas, Kentucky, Maryland and Georgia

18 Camp Themes to Choose from register online:

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Science Day Camps

Kids age 4-14 Monday - Friday 9am-4pm

Connect with us on Facebook

704-566-9001

xcursion EExcursi Explore Uptown on the ASC Public Art Scavenger Hunt

BY BERNIE PETIT

E

xposing kids to different art forms as they burn off excess energy is only a walking tour — or scavenger hunt — away in uptown Charlotte.

The Arts and Science Council offers both a public art walking tour and a public art scavenger hunt to highlight the abundance of public art found in center city.

The 45-minute walking tour podcast and map, as well as the scavenger hunt map and answer key, can be downloaded at artsandscience.org. Both are free and selfguided, meaning you can do as much or as little as young legs will allow.

The ease of the walking tour makes it a good option for families with young children. The map shows tourists where to go and the podcast offers fun factoids about the public art they will encounter, such as The Writer’s Desk

by Larry Kirkland, located on East Seventh Street near ImaginOn. The piece, which features oversized stamps, typewriter keys and pencils made of granite, pays homage to former Charlotte Observer publisher Rolfe Neill.

Families with older children who like a good challenge should consider the scavenger hunt, which provides an overview of public art along uptown Tryon Street stretching from the Levine Center for the Arts to the McColl Center for Visual Art. Cultural hunters have to answer not-too-difficult clues to find center city public artworks that help tell Charlotte’s story.

At the Trade and Tryon streets intersection, for example, is Raymond Kaskey’s four Sculptures on the Square. The monumental sculptures, one on all four corners and erected in 1995, point to economic activities — gold, rails and textiles — that shaped Charlotte’s history and look to its future.

As you take the public art walking tour or the public art scavenger hunt with your kids, be sure to ask openended questions such as “What does this artwork make you think of?” or “How does this piece make you feel?” and encourage them to share their observations.

It’s an opportunity for you to talk to your kids about the importance of artistic expression and for your kids to interact with the public art that gives uptown Charlotte its character.

Bernie Petit is communications manager for the Arts & Science Council in Charlotte.

Some of the public art encountered along the public walking tour includes Sculptures on the Square and the Writer's Desk.

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

55

B U S I N E S S

D I R E C T O R Y PA RTIES

Wish Upon A St r Children’s Parties • Look-A-Likes

Lynnwood Equestrian Center Come to the barn and Party with the Ponies!

• Supervised ring riding • Miniature pet pony & donkey • Pizza, drinks & decorations • Special present for the birthday child

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e m o c l Wtoethe Charlotte Parent family!

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Kate's Skating Rink Learning RX Levine Jewish Community Center One-on-One Tutoring Queens University Of Charlotte Storyland Celebration

UNCG Div. of Continuing Learning Upper Palmetto YMCA Weddington Activity Center Providence Equestrian Whispering Hope Farm Women's Transitional Healthcare

B U S I N E S S

D I R E C T O R Y

I N S T R UC T IO N CLASSES FOR AGES 18 MONTHS - AGE 6

PRO F E S S IO NAL SERVIC ES

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TM

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We also do BIRTHDAY PARTIES for ages 2-5!

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peace preschool

Looking for a preschool where children love to learn?

9am - 1pm, Monday - Friday children From 18 months to 5 years drop by or call for an appointment 4418 Rea Road, Charlotte

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Advertise in Charlotte Parent.

Call Kia at 704.248.5223 T U T O RING

PlaySpanish invites you to Play Languages with Us!

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Instruction for children as young as six months old.

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C H IL D CARE

Free referrals from a trusted source.

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(704) 348-2181 www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ how-to/find-child-care/ CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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Birthday Party Advantage: Home or Away?

M

y wife and I are busy trying to plan a birthday party for our youngest son Chase who turns 3 in April.

DADDY DEREK When I was

BY DEREK JAMES a kid, I had most of my birthday parties at home prior to turning 9 or 10. I do remember one party at McDonald’s in kindergarten where Grimace made my friend Craig cry. He was known as “Cryin’ Craig” for quite a while after that. I probably cried too at some point but my name was much tougher to rhyme.

There are advantages to home birthday parties. Chase’s first two birthday parties have been at home with family and friends. Our backyard is pretty good sized and fenced in so we had the party outside. Weather cooperated so we set up our Little Tykes Bounce House, Power Wheels and other toys for the little ones to play. I played the disc jockey, creating a mix of songs that would make Radio Disney jealous. Chase was comfortable being at home and it was easy to go from party to naptime.

Home parties can also be a pain. We spent hours cleaning our house to look more presentable than it normally does.

We had to prep everyone on Dawson, our crazy chocolate lab who loves to bark and jump on new visitors. At home parties also mean you have to take care of all the food, drinks and worst of all, hours of clean up. In the case of rain, we’re in trouble. We are still in our starter home and don’t have enough room to throw a party inside.

Our kids can also be a little too comfortable at home. Chase’s big brother Tyler got in the moment at one of our parties Writer Derek James' son, Chase, sizes up last year's cake at his backyard birthday party.

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when he was 3 and dropped trou in our backyard and peed on the back of my leg.

A friend alerted me and I turned around to see him hiking his underwear and pants up. When my son does something that funny it’s really hard for me not to laugh.

The obvious advantage to outsourcing your kid’s birthday party is you simply have to show up. With a party outside the home there’s no set up or clean up. You’ll have time to talk to your adult guests. It also means a time limit so the party is over at the scheduled time and you don’t have to deal with a guest who doesn’t get the hint that it’s time to go.

The biggest problem with away parties is cost. This may mean a smaller party with fewer guests to keep from going over budget.

Then you and your child spend time figuring out who

makes the cut and who doesn’t. I know it’s wrong but you hope some people won’t be able to make it due to other commitments to save a few bucks. It also means a shorter party, which can be a bummer if everyone’s having a great time. The lack of flexibility means you may have to rush through one activity because another went long.

We’re still going back and forth on whether to have a home or away party for Chase. I asked him where he wanted his birthday and he said “Elmo!” In the end as long as we don’t need to take out a second mortgage, everyone has a good time, and I don’t get peed on, I’m good.

Derek James is a host on WCCB Rising and lives with his wife and two sons, ages 3 and 5. To read more from Daddy Derek, go to CharlotteParent. com/blogs.

TTB KidZ

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A Healthy Smile Comes In Handy On Valentine’s Day!

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Our 3 Locations: Cotswold/Midtown University & Davidson Phone: 704-377-3687 www.CltPediatricDentistry.com

CharlotteParent.com | FEBRUARY 2014

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CAROLINAsmiles

More cute pictures from our readers. We love seeing the smiles.

Send your smiles to Photos@CharlotteParent.com. Include the child’s first and last name, and age.

Non-professional photos only. Photos must be high-resolution.

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Š Disney

Thu. MAR. 20

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