Charlotte Parent Charlotte Aug 2019

August 2019 • Free

FLOAT, FISH, EXPLORE

at the New River

School Days Ahead Bye-bye bad habits, hello bright beginnings

160

WAYS TO PLAY

+

Fall Consignment Sales

MEET THE TEACHER

How to communicate and connect early

Let Them Fail Now for Success Later 1

charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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Walk-in Wednesdays

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Parent’s Night Out Wine Social Wednesday, August 7, 5 to 7 p.m., Corkscrew Wine Pub in Birkdale Village

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Infant • Toddler • Preschool • Kindergarten • Elementary Spanish Immersion programs available!

CONTENT › AUGUST 2019

12 A Clean Slate for the New School Year Reset the routine to organize and create lasting habits

17 Letting Your Child Fail How mistakes can be transformed into success

20 Building Bridges Communicate and connect with your child’s teacher

IN EVERY ISSUE 2

Editor’s Letter

5

FYI

8

Growing Up

12

10 Thrive 11 Families Managing Media 22 Excursion 32 Daddy Derek

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CALENDAR 23 Our Picks 24 Daily Calendar 24 Fall Consignment Sales 26 On Stage 29 On Exhibit 30 National Night Out Events

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20 charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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EDITOR’S NOTE

The End-of-Summer Pool Bag

S

morrismedianetwork.com

ummer days for my family mean many afternoons spent at the pool. It’s entertainment and

exercise for the kids, and a place I can seek shade, fire up my computer and work when the big kid isn’t at camp. At the start of summer, I happily organize the pool bag with sunscreens stashed in a smaller bag within the big bag, towels neatly folded for all, new goggles, water bottles and snacks. Never forget the snacks. I’d like to say that bag is packed with healthy or gourmet snacks, but the truth is it’s a collection of pretzels, popcorn, cheese puffs and nuts. I’m sure to include grapes or watermelon to balance the salty snacks, and the vending machine has the candy portion of the menu covered.

As the summer wears on, the efficiently packed bag becomes filled with random wrappers and scattered bottles of suncreen. The goggles are lost, as are the water bottles, and towels hang around drying near lost-and-found.

Summer starts with enthusiasm for kids and parents. School schedules are tossed aside, dinner and bedtime vary with the sunset. By August, however, many of us are starting to look forward to the regularity of school bells and weekly routines (and not having to pack that snack bag for the pool — or maybe that’s just me). School starts for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students Aug. 26, with many private schools in the area starting Aug. 20. As the countdown to the new school year begins, it’s time to trade the pool bag for backpacks and lunchboxes, and new routines. If you’re ready to reset, be sure to read “A Clean Slate for the

EDITOR Michele Huggins

ART DIRECTOR Melissa Stutts

DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Andy Smith • andy.smith@morris.com

MEDIA CONSULTANTS Fawn Anderson • fawn.anderson@morris.com Kathy Thompson • kathy.thompson@morris.com

MORRIS MEDIA NETWORK DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING Donald Horton

DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING SERVICES Karen Fralick

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Cher Wheeler

CONTACT US charlotteparent.com 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 302, Charlotte, NC 28203 phone: 704-344-1980 • fax: 704-344-1983 email: info@charlotteparent.com advertising@charlotteparent.com Circulation 35,000. 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.

New School Year” on page 12. A parent coach and executive functioning expert share their best tips on how to get organized and create lasting family habits for a smoother re-entry. Part of that reset includes letting kids shop for their school supplies. More on that on page 15.

Before summer days turn to cool fall evenings, consider a trip to the New River in Ashe County, North Carolina. The Excursion on page 22 gives a rundown of my family’s weekend experience camping and tubing. For this trip, bring a dry (waterproof ) bag with snacks. Cheers to a few more weeks of carefree summer schedules.

HAVE IDEAS TO SHARE? Email editor@charlotteparent.com.

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AUGUST 2019 | charlotteparent.com

A Publication of the Visitor Publications Division of Morris Communications Company, L.L.C. 725 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901 Chairman President & CEO William S. Morris III William S. Morris IV

Kid-Free in the QC Life with kids is busy, but you deserve a break. Book that sitter and plan your next date night or day. Whether you’re seeking adventure or a classy dinner uptown, we serve up ideas on how to explore the QC in our latest blog Kid-Free in the QC.

2019 Readers Favorites’ Let’s face it, we all play favorites. From favorite place to get a sweet treat to after-school care, check out Charlotte Parent Readers’ Favorites.

.../blogs

…/favorites

The Digital Issue Connect to Charlotte Parent when you are on the go with the magazine’s tablet edition available via magzter.com. It’s free with a quick sign-up. magzter.com.

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twitter.com/ charlotteparent

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have fun and learn to read Learn how to use the ABCs of Active Reading one-on-one with your child.

Parents and caregivers come prepared to play and learn together with your child. Find a workshop near you at cmlibrary.org/active-reading.

310 North Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 416-0100

charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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The Future Looks Bright

Charlotte Latin School was founded in 1970 to create an inclusive environment where academic excellence is encouraged, leadership is cultivated, liberal arts are valued and phonics-based reading is essential. We have educated thousands of students in the importance of learning, citizenship, service to others, hard work and Honor Above All.

Join Us for an Open House TK-Kindergarten October 11, 2019 | 9:30 — 11:30 a.m.

Grades 6 - 8 October 18, 2019 | 9:30 — 11:30 a.m.

Grades 9 - 12 October 18, 2019 | 9:30 — 11:30 a.m.

Register at CharlotteLatin.org/admissions

CharlotteLatin.org | 704.846.7207

TK TK TK TK. Photo by TK

Tony DiTerlizzi at the “Never Abandon Imagination” exhibit at Mint Museum Randolph.

Photo by Ann Gonzales

5 Reasons to See the ‘Never Abandon Imagination’ Exhibit Tony DiTerlizzi is widely recognized as one of this generation’s leading authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults, including “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” “The Spider & the Fly,” and the children’s book series “Ted.” More than 150 of DiTerlizzi’s original works are on display through Nov. 3 at the “Never Abandon Imagination: The Fantastical Art of Tony DiTerlizzi,” exhibit at the Mint Museum Randolph. The exhibit is designed with kids in mind. Here are five things to know before you go: 1. There are numerous interactive stations for kids to create their own art, including a sketching wall and station, plus a number of DiTerlizzi’s books to pick up and read.

2. Pieces are mounted at a lower level making it easier for children to really see the sketch work.

3. Many gallery walls are painted by local Children’s Theatre of Charlotte set designer Tim Parati to mimic the worlds of the characters DiTerlizzi created.

4. Sketches and drawings from DiTerlizzi’s elementary, middle and high school years are on display at the exhibit to inspire young artists.

5. DiTerlizzi’s first big break as an illustrator was drawing for the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, followed by the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. Many of these original sketches are featured in the exhibit.

Tips to Ease the Kindergarten Butterflies Letting go of your child’s hand on the first day of kindergarten can be hard for you and them. Try these tips to help ease into the transition.

1. Visit the school and meet new teachers ahead of time. Many schools offer popsicle playdates at the school before the first day.

2. Go shopping. Take your child shopping for school supplies and a new outfit to get excited for the first day.

3. Talk About it. Leading up to the first day, read books about school and kindergarten. Some to try are “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn, “On the First Day of Kindergarten” by Tish Rabe, and “Back To School With Bigfoot” by Samantha Berger.

4. Show Your Optimism. Show excitement and confidence for your child’s next big venture so your child can model your behavior.

5. Don’t Linger. Drop off on the first day can be tough, but hanging around can make it even tougher on your child.

Great Wolf Lodge Offers Day Passes Now anyone can spend a day at a Great Wolf Lodge water park without being a guest of the resort. Day passes start at $50, which gets you a full day of sloshing and splashing on the slides and in the wave pool starting at 10 a.m. until the water park closes. The number of water park day passes is monitored and limited each day to ensure guests a safe and enjoyable experience.

Water park day passes are only available online and cannot be purchased at the resorts. Passes are not required for toddlers 2 or under when accompanied by an adult pass holder. Great Wolf Lodge in Concord is located at 10175 Weddington Road. For more information about Great Wolf Lodge’s water park day pass program, visit greatwolf.com/daypass or call 888-960-9653.

AUGUST 2019

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FYI

Knight Foundation Makes 3-Year Investment in Read Charlotte

LOOKING FOR LOCAL

EDUCATION RESOURCES?

Read Charlotte is expanding its community-driven literacy initiative with a three-year, $600,000 investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Read Charlotte is working to increase the reading proficiency of Charlotte’s third graders from 39 percent to 80 percent by 2025.

The investment by the Knight Foundation helps the organization grow its Transformation Network, a group of literacy-focused school partnerships in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The Transformation Network launched in fall 2018 at 12 schools. In less than a year, 50 partners worked with schools to coordinate the distribution of 23,981 books to nearly 4,000 students at “Book-A-Palooza” events. In addition, it hosted 17 Family Literacy Nights, where over 1,000 parents learned effective ways to support their children’s reading at home. It also recruited 152 volunteers to provide fluency tutoring to almost 200 third graders. The network plans to double the number of under-resourced schools it works with, from 12 to at least 30 throughout the next few years. In addition, it plans to expand its innovative programming to enable more families to support their children’s reading development at home. Want to help? Volunteer at readcharlotte.org.

KidMoto App Launches in Orlando Find local tutors, academic support, foreign language and homeschool resources tn our Education Resources Directory. charlotteparent.com/ educationresources

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AUGUST 2019 | charlotteparent.com

If you’re flying to Orlando with the kids, download the Kidmoto App before you go. Kidmoto provides pre-arranged transportation rides with car seat services for families visiting Disney theme parks, Kennedy Space Center and other area attractions. Kidmoto drivers provide pre-harnessed and preinstalled convertible car seats for infants, toddlers, small and large children. Choose from three different vehicle classes — sedans, minivans and large SUVs. The reservation-based service allows users to schedule in advance ensuring a car is waiting at the airport for pick up to your destination. For more info or to book a ride: kidmoto.taxi/orlando.

Tera Black, far right, with her husband Jamie Black and two daughters, Hayley, 16, and Cassidy, 11. Photo courtesy of Tera Black

Get to Know: Tera Black

BY MICHELE HUGGINS

T

era Black is the chief operating officer for the Charlotte Checkers, overseeing the day-today business operations and overall marketing strategy. She is the only female COO in the American Hockey League. She and her husband Jamie Black are parents to Hayley, 16, and Cassidy, 11, and two cats Rick and Cheeto.

Where in Charlotte do you live? We live in Myers Park. We moved to Charlotte from San Diego 13 years ago. I grew up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California and consider myself very luck to have lived in beautiful areas all my life.

Tell us about your job. What do you like and what are the challenges? I have the wonderful responsibility of overseeing a group of very talented people. I like just about everything about my job, but like with any job, there are parts that are hard. I have been lucky to do something I love for my entire career, so there isn’t any room to complain. We do a lot of work in the Charlotte community, which is also incredibly rewarding.

What’s the hardest part of juggling family life and work life? With the virtual world in which we live in, I am never really off the clock. I answer emails as soon as they come in, no matter what time of day. I don’t feel like that is really fair to my family sometimes and I am trying to get better at balancing all the things that require my time. Conversely,

having the ability to work virtually has allowed me immense freedom to be at my kids’ school functions. I just try to be very thoughtful about how much time goes where and when.

Best advice ever received:The best advice I’ve ever received was from my grandfather.

He said to me at a very young age “Can’t never did, never could, never would.” I have so much respect for people who try and try again, never believing they can’t do something. I also have a quote on my office wall from Marlene Dietrich that says “There is a gigantic difference between earning a great deal of money and being rich.”

Choosing to do something you love, versus choosing to do something because just because of the money, are two completely different things. And some good personal advice from my awesome mother-in-law: “Always buy good shoes and a good mattress, because you’ll be in one or the other your entire life.”

Proudest parenting moment? We have spent the better part of our parenting lives arming our kids with tools to be good people and to make good decisions. Watching them

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FYI | people

organically use those tools is incredibly rewarding. I’m also very proud of my girls’ work ethics in school and sports. It would be so easy to swoop in and help them through their challenges, but somehow we have managed to get out of the way so they can manage on their own. They are very confident, hardworking, kind people.

What is your favorite thing about raising a family in Charlotte? Having moved from Southern California, I am constantly reminded of the true meaning of southern hospitality and grace. The tribe of families that we are lucky enough to call friends has been there for us time and time again, helping us through difficult times, crazy schedules and random health issues. Charlotte also offers lovely seasons, an intensely collaborative business community, a litany of different professional sports, a fantastic arts scene, history and golf.

Lowest parenting moment: My patience is tested when I am tired. I know this about myself. It is at those times that I have been known to have a complete adult meltdown around something as inconsequential as the cleanliness of a room in our house or a lost personal possession. After those episodes, I feel really bad for not managing my emotions and I always apologize to whomever happened to cross my path at the time.

What can’t live without? I cannot live without fresh air, outdoor activities, exercise, yoga, access to animals and animal advocacy, quality time with my family and laughter!

What is your favorite Instagram account? I have three: @womenirl, @thedodo, and @natgeo.

Last book read: “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown.

What inspires you? Talented people, superior work ethic, interesting, funny and creative people and stories of perseverance.

Michele Huggins is the editor of Charlotte Parent magazine. charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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GROWING UP

Ready, Set, Grow

A growth mindset encourages resilience, happiness and success

BY MALIA JACOBSON

L

et’s face it: Raising kids is hard work. What if there was a simple way to make parenting easier, your kids happier and your household more harmonious? Turns out, there is. When children develop traits like resilience and adaptability, they’re more peaceful, more open to new ideas and less likely to melt down when they don’t get their way, says doctors Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson, authors of the New York Times best-seller “The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child.” Here’s how to make it happen, age-by-age.

EARLY YEARS

Shift the Focus The term growth mindset was coined by Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck and refers to the understanding that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort. Building a growth mindset — as opposed to a fixed mindset, or the belief that ability is predetermined and can’t be changed through hard work — is linked to better grades, more resilience and higher levels of achievement.

Caregivers can begin encouraging a growth mindset in toddlerhood simply by ditching the “good job” habit. This type of reflexive, automatic parental praise seems harmless, but the unintended lesson for children is that a good outcome is the only acceptable one, and that their effort matters less than the results of those efforts. When children focus on outcomes instead of effort, they’ll be less likely to accept failure

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and less open to the idea that consistent effort creates success.

To shift your focus to a child’s effort, swap phrases that focus on outcomes like “good job” for ones that emphasize effort, like “You worked really hard on that!” and “I can tell you really focused — way to go!”

ELEMENTARY YEARS

Breaking Free While some children seem to easily slip into a growth mindset, others seem set in the fixed mindset camp, and others may fall somewhere in between.

“Signs that a child is using a fixed mindset include only doing things that they’re good at, using the same tools, and relying on skills that they know well. A child with a fixed mindset may be unwilling to try new things or to explore other ways of thinking,” says Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed clinical

social worker and owner of Kaleidoscope Counseling in Charlotte.

When a child seems stuck in a fixed mindset, it’s worthwhile to nudge them toward a more expansive, growth-oriented perspective, because a fixed mindset can contribute to issues with self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, Tawwab says. Encouraging creativity and self-expression, characteristics of a growth mindset, can help a child break out of the “fixed” zone.

“When a child struggles with a fixed mindset, caregivers can encourage them by celebrating moments where they try something new,” says Kamini Wood, a certified life and resilience coach for girls, teens, and young women in Cary, North Carolina.

“Reveal the growth to the child. Allow the child to embrace the moment where they tried something outside of the comfort zone.”

TEEN YEARS

Fear Factor Even if kids reach high school with a fixed mindset, it’s not too late to work toward a more positive, flexible attitude. Help teens learn to recognize and counteract ANTs (automatic negative thinking), Woods says. “These types of thoughts occur routinely with a fixed mindset, because the general idea is that you’re either born able to do something, or not,” she says.

“So the idea of trying something new and challenging will trigger a ‘no.’”

Often, automatic “no” responses are rooted in fear of failure, Wood says. “To help uncover the underlying fear, caregivers can ask questions like ‘Is it true that you could get better at this?’ or ‘Let’s assume that you are able to do this, how would that feel?’ The point is not to convince or force your teen into action, but to allow them to feel their fear while considering a new viewpoint.” Helping teens begin to look past their fear of failure to see the value in trying something challenging — even if they don’t succeed — helps to build resilience that leads to lifelong success.

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health journalist and author of “Ready, Set, Sleep: 50 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep So You Can Sleep Too.”

Rowan, 7 Heart disease hero

Named Charlotte’s

Children’s Hospital

From our award-winning hospital to neighborhood pediatricians, we have a full range of care that’s just for kids.

All the best care is at Levine Children’s.

#MyLevineChildrens

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THRIVE

Back-to-School IEPs and 504s

can be another parent who has previous experience dealing with the specialeducation process, or for a more formal route a person that was a former teacher or worked with special education that has knowledge and experience with effective behavior techniques, disabilities, knowledge of programs in different private and public schools within the county and special education law.

If you choose to bring an advocate, give them ample time to get acquainted with the school’s special education team and your child.

Once the school year resumes, and you have a scheduled meeting with the special education team, some things you may want to discuss are:

How to support an exceptional learner

•

BY BEA MOISE

•

I

f you are a parent of a child with special needs, getting ready for your child’s return to the classroom is more than purchasing school supplies. A common concern of parents who have children with special needs is how to properly advocate at school for their child. A student with a different academic profile or that has specific behavioral needs can benefit from an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan. An IEP comes with education services that may include occupational therapy, speech-language therapy or physical therapy provided by the school to a student who is eligible.

A 504 Plan protects a student with a diagnosed physical or mental impairment that limits the student’s ability to learn. 504 Plans allow for specific accommodations within the classroom, such as visual aids, preferred seating, extra books for home use, an oral test, extended time for assignments and tests. Schools cannot discriminate against a student with a disability, but a student’s rights under section 504 are less formal.

You may request an evaluation by the school if your child has a disability, you suspect your child may have a learning disability or if your child is struggling with academics. Make a request in writing to the special education team at your child’s school for an evaluation. The school then decides what level of intervention is needed.

Putting Plans in Place A parent’s primary role is to be their child’s advocate, which includes research and gathering information to meet your child’s needs best. To put an IEP or 504 Plan in place, request a meeting with the school counselor. Before you set up a meeting with the school, map out the goals that you would like for your child to strive to achieve in the upcoming school year.

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If a plan has been in place in the past, review previous plans to see if accommodations are still needed. Decide on goals you would like to keep and new ones you want to introduce. Finally, create an outline of topics to discuss to avoid going over issues that may no longer apply.

Let’s Meet Some parents choose to bring an advocate to their child’s school meeting. An advocate

•

•

• •

Will teachers be familiar with my child’s particular needs?

What are some realistic outcomes I can expect given my child’s limitations?

What therapists and counselors will be assigned to my child’s team, and what service hours will he receive from each team member?

How did last’s year accommodation work within the classroom environment for my child and what are some changes that are recommended for this year?

How is progress communicated and how can we follow through at home?

Who is the point person for communications regarding any changes or updates that have been made?

Creating a cohesive relationship with the school is the best approach to achieving academic success within the school setting.

The special education process can be long and tiring, but with proper preparation it can be very impactful for your child.

Bea Moise is a board-certified cognitive specialist, parenting coach and founder of A Child Like Mine. She and her husband have two children, one typically developing and one with autism.

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FAMILIES MANAGING MEDIA a dangerous match for social media.

Social media encourages them to overdo screen time like they tend to overdo other things in their lives.

4.

Social media replaces learning the hard work of socializing face-to-face with peers, a skill needed to be successful in real life.

5.

Social media can cause teens to lose connection with family and instead view “friends” as their foundation. While they need attachments to friends, healthy family attachment is important.

6.

Social media use represents lost potential for tweens. When their brain development is operating at peak

Social Media and Middle School The slippery slope between the real world and a distorted view of reality

I

it is easy to waste too much time and creativity in the abyss of the digital world.

So what to do?

First, rethink what you as a parent are

BY MELANIE HEMPE f you have been through middle school parenting, you may have noticed that strange things seem to happen to a tween’s brain the first day they walk into middle school. One might sum up their main goals in life this way: • To be funny at all costs. Hence, the silly bathroom jokes, talking at inappropriate times in class, and the anything-it-takesto-be-popular attitude.

• To focus on self, including their clothes, their nose, their body, their hair, and so on.

• To try new things, which can include playing dress-up with their identity and trying on things to see what fits.

• To be impulsive and scattered. They are up and they are down. It may seem that they have regressed in their development on a quest for independence.

During this time of development is when we as parents cave. Maybe we do it because we are exhausted from their constant begging for a phone, or because we think that all their friends have one, or because we want to upgrade ours to the latest model. We act

performance for learning new things,

allowing your child to do. Here are a few tips on impulse. Our brain seems to regress like theirs, and we give them our old smartphone.

With that one little decision comes the world of social media access.

Perils of the Middle School Mind and Social Media Because during the tween and early teen years, the midbrain is reorganizing itself, and risktaking is high and impulse control is low, it’s a tender time in a child’s life to have access to social media. Here are just a few reasons why: 1. Social media was not designed for them.

It takes a certain level of maturity to navigate social media. Middle-schoolers underdeveloped frontal cortex, along with their lack of impulse control, can’t manage the distractions and temptations that social media offers.

2. Social media is an addictive entertainment technology. It does not make your child smarter or more prepared for the future. It is a marketing platform, extracting bits and pieces of personal information and preferences from your child every time they use it.

3. A tween’s “more is better” mentality is

that work well for many parents.

1.

Delay access. The longer parents delay access, the more time a child has to mature so that he or she can use technology more wisely as a young adult.

2.

Create family accounts instead. This allows kids to keep up with friends in a safer social media environment.

3.

Plan more face-to-face time with their friends. They crave social gatherings, so encourage them.

4.

Spend more non-tech time together as a family. Teens who are strongly attached to their family show more overall happiness and success in life.

Don’t give that smartphone all the power in your home. Help tweens choose healthier forms of entertainment. They have the rest of their life to be entertained by social media, but only a limited time with you.

For more help balancing social media use from Melanie Hempe of Families Managing Media go to familiesmanagingmedia.com.

charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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A Clean Sl ate for the

New School Year

Get started on the right foot to create lasting family habits

BY JULIA PELLY As summer fades and displays of school supplies begin popping up in stores across the city, many parents ponder how they want the school year to unfold for their family. Whether it’s to maximize family time, help a child develop new study habits or foster more independence, we have expert tips on how to set and accomplish new goals.

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The start of a new school year is an opportunity to reset routines and put practices in place that can become habits as the school year progresses.

When thinking about the best ways to organize your family life for the upcoming school year, organization, routines, homework and balancing extracurricular activities are the most cited trouble spots. Take this time at the start of the school to design new routines to help you and your children achieve goals that fit within your family life.

ORGANIZE FIRST Chief among parents concerns is helping children to be more organized.

After diligently purchasing, preparing and packing school supplies, many parents are distraught to find that just a few weeks into the school year pencils are already missing, notebooks are disorganized and assignments that were due yesterday are somehow still stuffed in the bottom of their child’s backpack.

“Parents often express that they are tired of nagging and would like support with taking a step back while also ensuring that their child will independently engage in healthy habits,” says Lisa Podell, an executive functioning coach and founder of Better Sessions, a company that empowers people to work, learn and live better through one-on-one support.

“Although offering daily reminders can provide an immediate solution, it may lead to a perpetual cycle where your child relies on that parental support for accomplishing daily tasks. I encourage parents to integrate the skills required to be successful at school, such as time management and planning, into their home routine so that kids are exercising these muscles on a daily basis.”

The ability to manage time in class or at home without being rushed, and thinking ahead to know what they need tomorrow or in their next class, can be a challenge for kids. Help foster

these skills by practicing at home.

“Set deadlines for simple tasks like finishing dinner or getting ready for bed so your kids have an opportunity to practice time management,” Podell says.

“Provide responsibilities that enable your child to practice breaking down tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, and have them mark important dates and events on their own calendar so they begin to see a picture of their week and month ahead.”

Children also need to recognize that organization is a habit that requires effort each day. Bea Moise, parenting coach and founder of the company A Child Like Mine, recommends parents create designated spaces for school items to land each day to help teach organization.

“When things pile up kids can become overwhelmed and shut down,” Moise says, “but by helping them organize their things each day, and by ensuring that everything has its place, you can help them stay on top of their things and be organized and prepared for school.”

EVENING WIND DOWN In addition to helping children become more independent, many parents have a desire to re-work morning and evening routines that often are off track early in the school year. Want to have a better morning routine? First look at your evening routine, advises Moise.

“The most important routine for parents to establish at the beginning of the school year is an evening routine that includes effective preparation for the next morning,” she says. “A good evening routine is important because, not only does it allow for intentional time for connection between parent and child, it also helps set the tone for the next morning.”

As you craft your evening routine, think about everything that you and your child needs to do to get out the door in the morning, then prepare as much as

possible in the evening. Pack backpacks and hang them by the door, lay out the next day’s clothes and consider doing some prep work for breakfast. And, of course, consider bedtime.

“The morning is not going to go smoothly if your child wakes up tired and cranky” Moise says. Prioritize an early bedtime to ensure morning success.

THE MORNING CHECKLIST When it comes to morning routine, parents and children need to plan ahead.

For kids, Podell recommends a wake-up time that realistically matches your child’s morning pace.

“Kids routinely underestimate how long each morning task will take.

Consider timing how long each step takes before the start of the school year and then work backwards to establish a realistic and achievable wake-up time,” she says.

Save yourself time and foster independence by delegating a new task to your child. Start with what you know your child can do on his own like getting dressed or remembering to brush his teeth, then work toward a new goal.

“Select one task that you were in charge of last year and delegate that responsibility to the child for the new school year, such as setting the alarm the night before or packing lunch,” Podell says.

For kids that need a little more support, Moise recommends sitting down before the start of the school year and brainstorming a morning checklist.

“The checklist can include everything that needs to happen in the morning and, often, just having a visual list of these things helps the child move through their routine more independently,” she says.

Give yourself (and your children) a more relaxed start by getting up before they do.

“When you’re already awake and ready, your children are waking up to a charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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Set up a homework space before school starts and have your child do a quiet activity like drawing to help them prepare for sustained periods of time focusing at school.

structured environment rather than one in which everyone is trying to get ready at the same time,” Moise says.

AFTER-SCHOOL ATTITUDE While evening routines set the tone for the next day, and morning routines set the tone for the day, afternoon routines are where many families find challenges. With after-school activities, multiple pickups, and hungry, tired kids, getting children to sit down and do their homework or study can be a real challenge.

Whether you believe in the value of homework or wish your kids didn’t have to complete any work at home, the reality is that most families attend schools where homework is regularly assigned. When working to establish a homework routine that works for the whole family, think through your

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priorities before jumping in.

While good grades are important, a child’s love of learning is what most parents ultimately want. With that in mind, work to create a routine that celebrates learning rather than one that encourages your kids to rush through homework with only their grades in mind.

“Parents should work hard not to bring their own stress to homework time,” Moise says, “Center homework time around positive things associated with acquiring new skills and information, and really work hard to celebrate their hard work and learning.”

Allow kids some downtime when they arrive home from school before asking them to jump into homework.

Consider offering them a snack or some outdoor time before breaking out their bookbags. Also have a designated

homework spot that’s free of distracting noise and clutter so that kids can focus as they complete their work.

When it comes time to sit down to do homework, have them make a list of what they need to complete and check it off as they finish. Doing this can help homework feel less overwhelming and help kids practice their timemanagement skills.

In order to help students stay organized, include homework station cleanup in their typical homework routine. Have kids pack their backpacks and place them where they’ll need to grab them on the way out the door in the morning, and tidy their homework spot so it’s clutter-free for their next afternoon.

IN THE ZONE In addition to creating a good homework routine and a clean, organized homework area, recognize that focus is a skill that kids need practice to develop. Sustained focus can be difficult for kids when they are first transitioning back to school, Podell says. To help kids practice the sort of focus needed to sit down and get homework done, complete a project or prepare for a test, start by intentionally integrating focus practice into their lives before the start of the school year. Set up a homework space before school starts and have your child practice a quiet activity there for a few minutes each day.

“The activity doesn’t have to be school related, your child can increase their focus by simply sitting quietly and reading a comic book, putting together a puzzle or drawing” Podell says, “The key is to start in small increments so that by the time school begins, they are mentally and physically prepared to sit for sustained periods of time.”

EXTRACURRICULARS MATTER When parents are asked to describe the school year in one word, many choose busy. With work, homework, sports and extracurricular activities, many families find it difficult to come together, even for

dinner, at all during the week.

Avoid the sort of busyness that takes away from family life by considering how any new sport or activity may impact your family’s priorities, and consider how many activities are too many for your family.

“At a certain point, you have to say enough is enough and help your child prioritize their activities,” Moise says. When overscheduled, you may find everyone in the family is stressed and unable to enjoy the little moments. Reduce this stress by identifying how many activities or sports your family can reasonably handle, and be diligent about saying “no” or “next season” to any that cross that boundary.

SETTLING IN Good habits take time to establish. While it’s important to evaluate routines to make sure they’re working. Moise recommends giving new practices at least a few weeks before making any changes.

“It takes time to build routines and doing so can feel really hard at first,” she says.

Another key thing to keep in mind among the busyness of the new school year: “Remember to really, really enjoy these moments.

You can’t get the days back as your kids grow and these times are really special.”

Julia Pelly lives in east Charlotte with her husband and two young children. You can find more of her work at juliapelly.com.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

Shopping Skills When it’s time to buy school supplies, ordering items online can be much more efficient than planning a trip to the store, but what is lost is your child’s participation and investment in the process. These items are for his or her academic use, and there are many quality skills to learn and practice when given the responsibility of purchasing school supplies. It may take more patience and time, but practicing this independence now is worth the investment so that your child can develop functional life skills for the future, says executive functioning coach Lisa Podell. Below are ways back-to-school shopping can help to ignite your child’s brain.

Planning Skills: Create a Checklist To help develop planning skills, you and your child can create a back-toschool checklist to use at the store.

Decision-Making Skills: Choose Your Own Items When your child takes part in the selection process, her or she is more likely to use the items. It also teaches how to make choices with the guidance of the checklist created.

Independence and Initiative: Split up at the Store Let your child know that you will not be readily available to help. Create a plan of three steps your child can take before asking you for help at the store. For example: ask an employee, read the store signs, skip that item and come back to it later.

Time Management Skills: Set a Time Limit Estimate how long it will take for you and your child to independently browse, select items and meet back at the cash register. Set a timer or alarm for reminders.

Math Skills: Provide a Budget Estimate how much each item costs and how many of each item is needed.

If your child goes over budget, problem solve which items are a top priority and how to keep within the budget.

Communication Skills: Let Your Child Take the Lead Before heading to the store, let your child know they he or she is in charge of putting the items on the conveyer belt, exchanging money and communicating with the cashier. Discuss three actions your child can take to create positive and effective communication with the cashier. For example: make eye contact, project your voice, and ask how their day is going. charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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Letting Your Child How mak ing mistakes ca n build self- confidence a nd resilience

BY CAITLIN WHEELER From President Theodore Roosevelt to technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, successful role models have been telling us for over a century that we can learn from our mistakes.

But modern society’s obsession with perfection is stifling this long-held wisdom.

Today’s youth often compare themselves to the lives and images they see on their digital screens, which can increase anxiety and self-doubt. Fortunately, parents can take an active role in normalizing mistakes, and transform failures into strengths.

Perfectionism Versus Resilience Perfectionism is the opposite of resilience, says Andrew Hill, a professor of sociology at York St. John University in the United Kingdom, adding that it’s captured in “how unrealistic your standards are and how harshly you evaluate yourself.”

Hill has done extensive work chronicling the rise of perfectionism, and notes that perfectionists are highly sensitive to mistakes.

They “will often avoid scenarios that are challenging due to a fear of failure,” he says.

Striving for perfectionism can be especially damaging to teens. “Having unrealistic standards and being extremely self-critical is going to make life tough for charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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teenagers,” he says. “It is an important time for social and self-development. Perfectionism will make this time more difficult and stressful.”

Tara Egan, a psychologist, author and founder of Charlotte Parent Coaching, says perfectionism and resilience can be genetically determined. “You can see it as young as infancy,” she says. “Some babies are more fretful and rarely smile, and are more likely to grow into worriers, while others are more easy-going.”

At the same time, a child’s experiences also influence her traits as she develops. Stressors that zap resilience can include parent divorce, abuse, neglect and witnessing violence — any of which would have an even worse effect on a biologically sensitive child.

Nonetheless, Egan adds, kids with a high natural tendency towards perfectionism or worry can learn to be resilient — even those who are exposed to numerous stressors. Normalizing mistakes can go a long way toward helping children develop into confident and independent adults. Here are some tips for how to harness the benefits of making mistakes.

1. Provide Opportunities to Fail “Kids learn best through experience,” says Rebekah Talley, owner of and child therapist at Zola Counseling in Charlotte. Allowing your child to take age-appropriate risks is the first step in strengthening his self-confidence.

So, is it safe to let your baby fall while he’s learning to walk, to allow your middle-grader to flunk a math assignment or to give your teenager permission go to a party hosted by someone you don’t

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know? The key is to differentiate between a situation in which your child is physically or emotionally uncomfortable, from one in which he is actually suffering.

Trust your instincts, Egan says. “Parents are naturally aware of that difference. Practice ‘uncomfortable.’ It’s fine to give re-assurance and to coach them through a stressful moment,” she says. As long as the experience is age-appropriate and the child isn’t suffering or in physical danger, don’t completely take the stressor away.

2. Provide Opportunities to Reflect The UNC School of Education at UNC-Chapel Hill incorporates experiential learning into its masters degree teacher preparation program via either a weeklong Outward Bound wilderness trek, or a week of hard work and projects on the Hub Farm in Durham. Teachers in training are confronted with physical challenges, unfamiliar tasks, projects that require learning new skills, teamwork and innovation — along with plenty of frustration, uncertainty and failure.

“We want them to be uncomfortable, to take risks and make mistakes and learn,” says Suzanne Gulledge, a professor and program coordinator at the UNC School of Education. She says the experiences aim to make teachers empathetic to students who struggle with new concepts and skill development.

Help your child reflect on her mistakes so she can use those experiences as a point of reference. Ask her how she worked through the situation and what would help make it better next time. With your toddler, this

AUGUST 2019 | charlotteparent.com

means allowing a mistake, then addressing her frustrations.

“It’s a great opportunity to expand their emotional vocabulary,” Talley says. “By integrating discussion into their play, and by allowing them to grow and make mistakes and be supported and be encouraged, that helps them learn to regulate those emotions.”

With a slightly older child, focus on coping with loss and disappointment. If your child gets upset after losing a game, take the opportunity to help him learn that while disappointment is natural, he needs to find a way to calm himself and try again.

This is trickier with a teen, since many of them are caught up in social and extracurricular lives outside of the house. Make sure your teen knows you are always available either to talk, or to ask for a safe ride home if she needs one late at night.

3. Know the Difference Between Helping and Encouraging Jennifer Lansford, PhD, a research professor at Duke’s Sanford School of Public advises that a parent’s goal should be to provide tools so his or her child is eventually self-sustaining.

“Keep external factors in place until a child has enough resources to keep going on their own,” she suggests. In what she calls our “current hyperparenting climate,” the tendency for parents to provide constant care to older children has increased.

“Parents are spending more time than in the past in very direct teaching,” she says. “Kids are booked solid with extracurricular activities — from preschool to high school — and cellphones have made it possible for parents to be constantly checking in,

even when a child has moved away to college.”

While this connectedness has positive aspects, Lansford worries it is not conducive to a child’s healthy emotional development. Stepping in to make sure your child is always happy, or to ease your child’s path toward success, can have negative effects.

The worst case is when a child develops a sense of “learned helplessness” says Kate Paquin, owner of A Family Coach in Apex, North Carolina.

If a parent is always taking over in difficult times, then a child never gets the opportunity to try to solve problems on her own, which can decrease her confidence and put her at a disadvantage when she leaves home.

Talley advises parents to self-reflect before solving a child’s problem, whether it’s fixing grammatical mistakes on an essay, or navigating a social challenge.

“Really explore the intent behind your action,” she says.

“Ask yourself, am I doing this to make the day easier, is it for me?

Do I have fears about letting my child struggle? Am I worried about the external appearance of my child’s failure and how that might reflect on me?”

If you’re helping your child to satisfy your own needs, take a step back and encourage, instead of help. First, let your child try her best. If she makes a mistake or isn’t successful, praise her effort and point out the connection between hard work and success.

Egan suggests that after validating your child’s emotions, you can either offer coping strategies, such as a hug and words

of support, or problem-solving tactics, such as coming up with a plan for how to approach the issue differently next time.

For older children and teens, work on moving them from a fixed mindset (believing they are born with certain talents) to a growth mindset (believing they can improve with hard work) by praising effort rather than ability.

4. Evaluate Your Reaction Often, a child’s attitude toward a mistake depends on how a parent responds to it. “If you remain calm and regulated, your child can usually get back up and solve the problem,” Talley says. On the other hand, if you are overly critical, your child will associate your judgment with her mistake.

Paquin offers an example: “If a child is rushing to eat their dinner and they choke and get scared, there will be some parents who will say, ‘See! That’s what happens when you rush!’” Paquin insists that you “cannot shame and expect acknowledgement and growth.”

Instead, respond with patience and empathy. For example, “‘Oh no, I’m sorry you were choking. Is there a way we can prevent that from happening again?’”

Asking your child for the solution teaches and empowers her at the same time.

5. Avoid Promoting Perfectionism While it can be helpful to set high standards for your child, Hill warns that “perfectionism can be modeled and learned from parents, and it can also develop in response to parental expectations.”

The solution? “More positive relationships with parents based on unconditional acceptance will

reduce its development and likely help reduce its negative effects.”

6. Know Your Child Since some children might be biologically inclined to perfectionism and anxiety, different children need different levels of encouragement and guidance as they learn to deal with mistakes.

Egan advises striving to understand your child, as well as differences among your children, if you have more than one. “You do not have to parent your kids the same,” Egan says. “Eliminate the word ‘fair’ from your household.”

7. Model Mistakes Kids learn not only by doing, but by watching. If you’re too embarrassed to admit a mistake, or you respond with anger or frustration, your child may absorb this and think mistakes are frightening, shameful acts to be denied or hidden. Instead, own your mistakes and work through them out loud.

“As soon as you’ve calmed down, you should talk about it,” Talley says. “Show that you’re working on it, and that you’re just as committed to stopping. Apologize and take responsibility.”

8. Don’t Ignore the Positives Don’t ignore the pleasure you child can experience by learning from mistakes. Gulledge emphasizes that letting children work through their mistakes boosts self-satisfaction and confidence.

“Having a failure or a frustration and then working through the problem and finding a solution — that just feels good.”

Caitlin Wheeler is an awardwinning freelance writer who lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Managing Mistakes Tied to Risky Behavior As early as middle school, your child will likely be exposed to risks beyond a parent’s control. “Sexting, vaping, relational aggression from peers — these things will happen,” says Tara Egan, a psychologist, author and founder of Charlotte Parent Coaching. “It’s impossible to protect them from everything.”

Even as your teen heads further and further into her social world, you can control certain aspects of any situation. First, talk about risky behavior before it starts, and make sure your child has a plan. Second, make sure your child knows how to access a trusted adult.

This could be you, another parent, a teacher, or even a police officer if your child is in a public place, like a mall or a movie theater.

“Feeling connected with an adult is key,” Egan says. “If a child feels no connection, then every mistake gets harder.

They feel totally isolated and as if they are the only one who has messed up.”

Building Bridges

BY JANEEN LEWIS Do you feel intimidated when you think of talking with your child’s teacher? What if your child complains about problems with his or her teacher? What do you do then?

I’m a parent and a teacher, so I’ve been on both sides of the desk.

Here are some tips to help you communicate

COMMUNICATE AND CONNECT WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER

Meet and Greet the Teacher Teachers like to meet parents at the beginning of the school year so that if a problem does occur, a teacher’s first encounter with a parent isn’t a call about misbehavior or academic struggles. If your school hosts a back-to-school event in the days before school starts, make it a priority to attend.

Introduce yourself and show your support for the teacher. There likely will be several parents waiting to meet the teacher, so you may not be able to have a lengthy discussion, but making this initial contact helps break the ice.

and connect with your

Be Involved

child’s teacher so that

One of the best ways to get to know your child’s teacher is to be involved in the school and classroom. When school starts, let the

all involved can have an amazing school year.

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teacher know if you can volunteer. Because the beginning of school is a busy time for teachers, wait the first couple of weeks until the class is settled in, and then contact the teacher and ask “How can I help?”

If you can’t volunteer during the day, offer to organize donations or supplies for projects or parties by creating a parent sign-up list online. Ask if you can cut out items the teacher has laminated or track down supplies for a lesson. Come to after-school events, school productions and parent-teacher conferences so that you are visible and can touch bases with your child’s teacher.

If your career is related to something your child’s class is studying, offer to come in and answer questions. Many employers build in time

for employees to volunteer in schools so they don’t have to take time off from work.

talk about how people can have differences and still work together to succeed.

Keep Communications Positive

Advocate for Your Child

Teachers welcome questions and concerns and are proactive. As a teacher, I would much rather know about a problem early so that I can deal with it in the best way for all concerned. Your child’s teacher should be open to your questions and suggestions.

Don’t be too intimidated to ask.

Keep up with written teacher notes, field trip permission slips, report cards and any other written communications the teacher sends home. Sending a quick response to the teacher’s requests makes the teacher’s job easier.

Remember to keep communications positive. If you have concerns or think the teacher has unfairly dealt with your child, don’t dash off a negative note and send it first thing in the morning. For sensitive conversations, call and set up a time to meet after school.

See Both Sides Teachers have a lot to manage in their classrooms, and with 20 or more students to supervise, sometimes they make mistakes or don’t see every problem. Your child may think something happened in class that wasn’t fair, and it’s easy as parents to emotionally react and blame the teacher. Support the teacher as much as possible while you gather information about what happened. Try to help your child see the teacher’s point of view, and

Don’t be afraid to speak up if a problem in your child’s class becomes pervasive. If your child’s grades start to slip, he or she is continually unhappy or you suspect your child is being bullied, work with the teacher to devise a plan to help. Make a classroom change as a last resort.

Sometimes children have personality conflicts with their teachers. This actually offers an opportunity for growth if teachers and students can work together in a respectful and productive manner. After all, this is what children will need to be able to do when they grow up. If problems persist, it may be time to request a change to another class. Discussing your options with a school counselor or administrator can help you navigate a tough year.

Most teachers are caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of the children they teach. Often, they are parents too, and at one time they were students who lived through awkward growth spurts, problems with peers, lost homework and braces. They understand what parents and kids are going through, and they strive to build a positive connection between school and home.

Janeen Lewis is a teacher, writer and mom to Andrew and Gracie. She has been published in several parenting publications across the country.

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EXCURSION

Escape the City at New River State Park

Camp, float, fish and explore along the banks of the New River

BY MICHELE HUGGINS

B

uckeye Chestnut trees and the rushing sound of the New River make for a tranquil getaway from hot summer days in the city. Located in Ashe County, North Carolina, New River State Park is a quick two-hour drive from Charlotte that offers opportunities to canoe, tube, fish, hike and explore. There are 14 non-electric, walk-in campsites available at the U.S. 221 Access and 10 available at Wagoner Access. Tent campsites at the Wagoner Access are shady and complete with a fire ring, picnic table and designated tent pads, and can accommodate up to six people with a maximum of three tents. From the parking lot to campsites is approximately a 250-yard walk (2.5 football fields). Bucket-style wheelbarrows are provided to load and maneuver gear to campsites. The campground also has a wellkept bathhouse with hot showers. All sites can be reserved in advance.

Numerous outfitters in the area can provide canoes, kayaks or tubes for a float down the New River — the second oldest river in the world — or bring your own. A short drive from the campground, along Bill Bledsoe Road, are a few different access points to put in canoes or tubes for a leisurely float back to the camp site My crew of eight, including a 3-year-old, enjoyed a 2.5-hour float in inflatable tubes that we brought. Along the way we enjoyed small rapids, dips in the river, boulders for climbing

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Bring a hammock to relax and enjoy at New River State Park. Photo

by Emily Adams. and majestic views of the surrounding green hillsides. A listing of estimated river mileage and paddling times between canoe access sites can be found at the New River State Park website (ncparks.gov/new-river-state-park).

Always check with the park rangers on water levels before venturing on your own as water levels can change fast with heavy rains.

If fishing is a favorite family activity, bring your tackle. Fishing is easily accessible at the park’s canoe ramp or you can fish from the banks and rocks along trails throughout the park. Cast a line to catch a Smallmouth or Redeye Bass, as well as Rainbow Trout.

Swimming is also an option, but keep kids in life jackets and an adult on site.

Kids can be water scientists by checking out an aquatic sampling kit from the ranger station. The purpose of the activity is for children and adults to explore beneath the water and under rocks to learn about the importance of the aquatic food chain, as well as the need to keep public water clean for all wildlife — the ones you can see and others we don’t normally see, says park ranger Doug Blatny. For example, a mayfly larvae is very sensitive to pollution,

so finding the mayfly larvae in the river is an indicator of a healthy water source. The kit includes dip nets, an underwater viewer, critter containers and an oxygenator to keep aquatic insects alive in order to safely return them to the river after studying.

Just after the sunset, fireflies create spectacular natural light show in trees that surround the large field along the trail from the parking lot to the campsites. Summer evenings also bring a chorus of frogs. Salamanders thrive in the shallow tributaries of the river, and there are many signs along trails about salamanders, though we didn’t see any on our weekend stay.

The visitor center offers a variety of interactive exhibits and displays of maps, animal tracks, and forests around New River valley, local bird species, early culture, watersheds and river basins. Park rangers also lead interpretive programs, including nature hikes, tree identification programs and guided canoe trips.

Learn more about the park and park activities at ncparks.gov/new-river-state-park.

Michele Huggins is the editor of Charlotte Parent magazine.

AUGUST 2019 OUR PICKS

COMPILED BY TIFFANY WOLFF

Get big thrills watching big trucks at the Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash. Photo courtesy Charlotte Motor Speedway

Panthers Fan Fest | Aug. 2 Enjoy a night of football, fireworks and fun as the Panthers make their first appearance of the season at Bank of America Stadium. See the Panthers practice on the stadium field, and enjoy performances by the TopCats, Sir Purr, PurrCussion and the Black and Blue Crew before the night culminates with a fireworks and laser show. Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St. 7 p.m. $5. panthers.com.

Hummingbird Festival | Aug. 24 Attend this farewell celebration for hummingbirds that are preparing for their long trip to Central America.

Hummingbird banding, guest speakers, kids’ activities and food trucks on site. Wild hummingbird banding ongoing from 9 to 11 a.m.

Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, 2900 Rocky River Road. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. parkandrec.com.

Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash | Aug. 17 Monster trucks hit the dirt track for a night of high-flying action. Fans can arrive early for photos with some of the machines, inflatables, autographs from drivers and other pre-race festivities. Purchase the Monster Truck Ride upgrade for an additional $10. Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway S., Concord. 4 p.m. $10-$25. charlottemotorspeedway.com.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee | Aug. 22-Sept. 1 Kick off Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s first performance of the 2019-2020 season with this cheerful tale about zookeeper Amos McGee who knows friends can come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and species. Preschoolers will adore the show’s lively and engaging puppets.

See website for show times. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, Wells Fargo Playhouse, 300 E. 7th St. Recommended for ages 2-5. $10+. 704-973-2828. ctcharlotte.org.

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte presents “A Sick Day for Amos McGee” Aug. 22-Sept. 1.

Credit: John Merrick

charlotteparent.com | AUGUST 2019

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CALENDAR

1 THURSDAY

FALL CONSIGNMENT SALES CMOM’s All Seasons Consignment Sale | Aug. 3 Shop thousands of gently used items, including children’s and baby clothing, furniture, toys, games and maternity wear. 8:30am-3pm. $2 early-bird shopping begins at 7:30am. Half-price sale 12:45-3pm. No strollers, wagons or anything sold at the sale are allowed in the building.

The Park Expo and Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Road. charlottemultiples.com.

First Baptist Church Indian Trail Consignment Sale | Aug. 8-10 Shop for clothing, toys, infant items, shoes, books, games and furniture. No bags, strollers or carts allowed. Pre-sale Thurs., 7-9pm with $10 admission; Fri., 9am-1pm and 3-7pm; Sat., 8am-noon (half-price sale). First Baptist Church Indian Trail, 732 Indian Trail-Fairview Road, Indian Trail. fbcit.org.

Weddington Kids Consignment Sale | Aug. 9-10 Shop for shoes, accessories, clothes, gear, toys, books, boutique offerings and teen items. No strollers allowed.

Presale Fri., 5-8pm, $15 cash admission; Sat. 8am-noon.

Half-price sale on Sat. from 1-3pm. Family Life Center of Weddington United Methodist Church, 13901 Providence Road, Weddington. weddingtonkidsconsignmentsale.com.

TTB KidZ Fall/Winter Sale | Aug. 9-11 Shop more than 80,000 square feet of children’s items. $2 early entry at 8am on Friday and on Sunday. Fri., 9am-7pm; Sat., 9am-4pm; and Sun., 9am-3pm (half-price shopping). Park Expo and Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Road. ttbkidz.com.

Sail Again Children’s Consignment Sale of Landis/ Concord | Aug. 22-25 Presale Thurs., 6-9pm with $5 charity donation. Fri., 10am-7pm; Sat, 9am-7pm. (most items half-price); Sun., 11am-2pm. Turning House Mill Works, 501 S. Main St., Landis. sailagainlkn.com.

The Posh Closet Fine Children’s Consignment Sale | Sept. 4-5 Shop smocked, trunk-show and boutique brands, including Matilda Jane, Under Armour, Mini Boden and Persnickety. Presale Wed., 6-9pm for $25 per person; Thurs., 10am-12:30pm and 1:30-4pm (half-price sale).

South Charlotte Banquet Center, 9009 Bryant Farms Road. theposhclosetsale.com.

The Upscale Wee Sale | Sept. 4-8 More than 750 consigners. Early admission at Wed. at 4pm with donation of three canned goods per person.

Wed., 5-9pm; Thurs., 10am-7pm; Fri., 10am-4pm; Sat., 10am-7pm (half-price sale); Sun., 1-4pm (half-price sale).

Shiland Hills Shopping Center, 2685 Celanese Road, Rock Hill. upscaleweesale.com.

Harris Y Kids Konsignment Sale | Sept. 5-8 Shop for clothes, books, gear and toys. Preview sale Thurs., 8-9:30pm, $5 admission. Fri., 9am-7pm; Sat., 11am-2pm (half-price sale). Fill-a-Bag Sale on Sunday from 2:30-4:30pm. Children age 9 and younger, and strollers are not allowed in sales area. Harris YMCA, 5900 Quail Hollow Road. ymcacharlotte.org/events.

SEE MORE FALL CONSIGNMENT SALES AT CHARLOTTEPARENT.COM.

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AUGUST 2019 | charlotteparent.com

On Stage: Joedance Film Festival.

See page 26.

Board Game Night at Barnes and Noble: Arboretum. Barnes and Noble: Arboretum, 3327 PinevilleMatthews Road. 6pm. Free. Play board games with friends. barnesandnoble.com.

CM Library Presents: Frontline Puppeteers. Plaza Midwood Library, 1623 Central Ave. Ages PreK-grade 2.

11-11:45am. Free. The puppet show includes literacy, hilarity and hijinks. cmlibrary.org.

CM Library Presents: Frontline Storytellers. Independence Regional Library, 6000 Conference Drive. Ages 5-11. 2-3pm. Free. Learn traditional storytelling and listen to folk tales.

Register online. cmlibrary.org.

Culture Bites: Huntersville. Corner of Main and Maxwell streets, Huntersville.

5:30-8pm. Free. Come for familyfriendly music, cultural performances, interactive kids’ activities and giveaways. artsandscience.org.

Northlake Mall’s Summer Fun Thursday. Northlake Mall, 6801 Northlake Mall Drive. 11am. Free.

Entertainment for parents and children. shopnorthlake.com.

2 FRIDAY On Stage: Joedance Film Festival.

See page 26.

Mountain Bike Fundamentals Group Ride. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy.

6:15pm. Free, $6 for parking. Complete a 20-minute instructional session before heading out on a beginner-friendly group ride. usnwc.org.

Now Showing: “Moana.” Davidson Library, 119 S. Main St., Davidson.

Noon-2:15pm. Free. Bring your lunch and a blanket to watch a movie at the library. cmlibrary.org.

3 SATURDAY On Stage: Joedance Film Festival; Samson: The Last Judge; and The Dude Perfect: Pound It Noggin Tour. See page 26.

› #STEAMSaturdays by Digi-Bridge.

Aloft Charlotte Ballantyne, 13139 Ballantyne Corporate Place. Ages 4-12.

9-10:30 am. $35. Register for handson Lego Robotics with a certified K-8 public educator. digi-bridge.org.

2019 Bon Odori Festival. Wells Fargo Atrium and Plaza, 301 S. Tryon St. 11am-4pm. Free. Experience the 35th Japanese dance festival with dancing, music, food and crafts. jacharlotte. g1.xrea.com.

Carnivorous Carnival. UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, 9090 Craver Road.

11am-1pm. $10 per child, parents admitted free. Learn about insecteating plants with games, crafts, hands-on displays, fly-trap feedings, plus face painting. gardens.uncc.edu.

First Carolinas Ecuadorian Festival. Midwood International and Cultural Center, 1817 Central Ave. 2-7pm. $5, children 10 and younger admitted free. Enjoy Ecuadorian music, food and folklore. festivalecuatorianocarolinas.com.

Sensory Saturdays. The Museum of York County, 4621 Mount Gallant Road, Rock Hill. 9am. $5-$8, children 3 and younger free, included with admission. The museum opens an hour early on the first Saturday of each month during the summer for children on the autism spectrum and their families. chmuseums.org.

Special Open Swim + Dinner at Carrigan Farms. The Quarry at Carrigan Farms , 1213 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy., Mooresville. 4-9pm. $24, cash or check only. A special evening swim at that includes grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie burgers, and all the trimmings. Reserve a spot by emailing support@carriganfarms.com by Aug. 2 at noon, and use August 3rd as the subject line. carriganfarms.com.

4 SUNDAY Davidson’s Concerts on the Green.

Davidson Village Green, Intersection of Main Street and Concord Road. 6-8pm. Free. Enjoy music outdoors with the family. concertsonthegreen.com.

Front Porch Sundays. Sycamore Brewing, 2161 Hawkins St. 11am-4pm.

Free. Enjoy more than 65 vendors, puppies, Kombucha and food trucks. historicsouthend.com.

Hummingbird Journey Game.

McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 South York Road. Ages 4 and older.

2-3pm. Free. Travel the world like a hummingbird in this interactive game about migration. Preregistration required. parkandrec.com.

Sensory Sensitive Sundays at Chuck E. Cheese. Chuck E. Cheese, 7701 Pineville-Matthews Road. 9-11am.

Free admission. Families of children with special needs can expect smaller crowds, reduced lighting and noise, food and games, and specially trained staff. chuckecheese.com.

5 MONDAY Books Start Art: Eric Carle. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. 7th St. Ages 5-11. 11am-noon. Free.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” learn how Eric Carle creates collages, then create your own. cmlibrary.org.

Lego Program. South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road. Ages 5-11.

3-4pm. Free. Learn mathematical concepts of sorting, building, and geometry while using Lego building blocks. cmlibrary.org.

Owlets Nature Play Dates. Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, 2900 Rocky River Road. Ages 3-6. 10-11:15am.

Free. Owlets receive hands-on experiences, nature hikes, songs, stories and free play. parkandrec.com.

Preteen Scene: Digital Media Club.

Myers Park Library, 1361 Queens Road. Ages 9-12. 6:15-7:15pm. Free. Learn how to use technology to tell stories. This club is perfect for writers, artists and photographers.

Register online. cmlibrary.org.

6 TUESDAY CM Library Presents: Discovery Place Wind Energy Engineer.

Scaleybark Library, 101 Scaleybark Road. Ages 5-11. 6-7pm. Free. Design turbine blades to rotate with wind

power that transfers into lifting power.

Register online. cmlibrary.org.

Get Set 4 Kindergarten. South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road.

Rising kindergarteners. 3-5pm. Free.

Rising kindergartners participate in stories and activities in anticipation of the start of school. Register online. cmlibrary.org.

Purpilicious Story Time and Craft.

SAS Cupcakes, 9941 Rea Road, Suite C. 10:30am. $6 per child.

Decorate cupcakes and hear a story. sascupcakes.com.

Summer Break Finale at Mint Museum Randolph. Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road. 2-4pm. Free. Participate in fun activities for the whole family, plus free admission to the museum. cmlibrary.org.

Survival Series. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 194 Adventure Road, Fort Mill. Ages 7 and older. 6:30pm. $10-$15. Learn basic survival skills that translate to a more comfortable outdoor experience. ascgreenway.org.

Terrific Tuesday: Professor Whizzpop. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. 7th St. 1-2pm. Free. Performances are free, but space is limited and tickets are required. Join Professor Whizzpop for his hilarious, engaging magic show. cmlibrary.org.

7 WEDNESDAY CM Library Presents: Frontline Puppeteers. University City Regional Library, 301 E. W.T. Harris Blvd. Ages 3-11. 2-2:45pm. Free. See a puppet show based on children’s picture books. cmlibrary.org.

Story Explorers: Straight out the Box Improv. Beatties Ford Road Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road. Ages 5-11. 2-3pm. Free. Explore improvisational acting techniques.

Register online. cmlibrary.org.

Summer Break Learn, Connect, Play: Minute to Win It Wednesday. Myers Park Library, 1361 Queens Road. Ages 5-11.

10-10:30am. Free. Play learning games that encourage cooperation,

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critical thinking and problem solving. cmlibrary.org.

8 THURSDAY On Stage: Free Reign Theatre Presents: Saint Joan. See page 26.

Culture Bites: Ballantyne. Morrison Family YMCA, 9405 Bryant Farms Road. 5:30-8pm. Free. Enjoy familyfriendly music, cultural performances, interactive kids’ activities and giveaways. artsandscience.org.

Get Set 4 K. Mint Hill Library, 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill.

Rising kindergarteners. 2-2:45pm.

Free. Participate in stories and activities that build reading skills and prepare for school. Register online. cmlibrary.org.

LaLaCaboosa Downtown Music Series. Veterans Park, 201 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville. 6:30-9pm. Free. Hear live music, and enjoy food trucks and fun. huntersville.org.

Readers’ Theatre: Drama Scene, Puppetry. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. 7th St. Ages 5-11. 1:30-2:30pm. Free. Use scripts adapted from children’s literature to increase presentation skills, and make a paper bag puppet to take home. cmlibrary.org.

Summer Fun Thursday: Aloha Island Hula Girls. Northlake Mall, 6801 Northlake Mall Drive.

11am-noon. Free. Enjoy a morning with Aloha Island Hula Girls, including demonstrations and lots of audience participation. shopnorthlake.com.

9 FRIDAY On Stage: Free Reign Theatre Presents: Saint Joan; and Samson: The Last Judge. See page 26.

Campfire Chemistry. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. 6:30-8:30pm. Free. Learn about the science involved in building the perfect campfire. parkandrec.com.

Second Friday Street Festival.

Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius. 6-10pm. Free. Come out for live music, food trucks, craft

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CALENDAR breweries, local artists and kids’ activities. oldtowncornelius.com.

Sounds of Summer in First Ward Park. First Ward Park, 301 E. 7th St. 7-10pm. Free. Relax at First Ward Park listening to live music and enjoying food trucks, craft beer and wine. Brett Dennen performs with Emily Sage. uptowncharlotteparks.com.

10 SATURDAY

Kids can bop and sing along with family-friendly version of their favorite hits. Photo courtesy of KIDZ BOP.

ON STAGE Joedance Film Festival. (Aug. 1-3). Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance, 701 N. Tryon St. 8pm. $30+. 704-372-1000. Joedance Film Festival screens award-winning, original films created by directors, producers, writers and actors with a North Carolina or South Carolina connection. Festival raises funds for Atrium Health Levine Children’s for pediatric cancer research. joedance.org.

The Dude Perfect: Pound It Noggin Tour. (Aug. 3). Bojangles Coliseum, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.

7pm. $49+. 704-372-3600. One of the biggest personalities on YouTube, Dude Perfect, presents its first live tour. bojanglescoliseum.com/events/dude-perfect.

Samson: The Last Judge. (Aug. 3-Sept. 28). NarroWay Theatre, 3327 Hwy. 51 N., Fort Mill, S.C. 6:30pm. $10-$37. A dinner theatre performance that tells the story of Samson. No performances Aug. 30 and 31. narroway.net Free Reign Theatre Presents: Saint Joan. (Aug. 8-17). Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. Ages 12 and older. 7:30-9:30pm. $12-$15. Set in 15th century France, “Saint Joan” follows a country girl whose mysterious visions propel her into elite circles. When the nation’s rulers become threatened by her popularity and influence, and she finds herself on trial for her life. freereigntheatre.com.

KIDZ BOP World Tour 2019. (Aug. 11). PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd. 4pm. Tickets start at $25. Get ready to bop until you drop at KIDZ BOP World Tour 2019. kidzbop.com/tour.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee. (Aug. 22-Sept 1). Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, ImaginOn, 300 E. 7th St. $10-$12. Zookeeper Amos McGee knows friends can come in all sorts of species. Amos is a zookeeper who spends his days with his animal friends at the zoo. When Amos is too sick to visit his zoo friends, the animals know just what to do. See the website for showtimes. ctcharlotte.org.

SEE MORE PERFORMANCES ONLINE AT CHARLOTTEPARENT.COM/CALENDAR

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On Stage: Free Reign Theatre Presents: Saint Joan; and Samson: The Last Judge. See page 26.

Back-to-School Bash. Waxhaw Elementary School, 1101 Old Providence Road, Waxhaw. 10am-2pm. Free.

Celebrate the start of the new school year. waxhaw.com.

Beamer’s Back-to-School Kick Off. Main Library Rock Hill, 138 E. Black St., Rock Hill. Grades Prekindergarten-grade 12. 9-11am. Free. Learn about library resources, see robotic demonstrations, plus face-painting and other activities.

Participants receive free school supplies while supplies last. yclibrary.org.

Bubble Day. President James K. Polk State Historic Site, 12031 Lancaster Hwy., Pineville. 10am-1pm. $5 per car. Enjoy arts and crafts, bubble-making areas, and a water play table for little ones. jameskpolk.net.

Fire Pup Story Time. SAS Cupcakes, 9941 Rea Road, Suite C. 10:30-11:15am. $9 per child. Decorate cupcakes and hear a story. sascupcakes.com.

Lake Wylie Family Kayak Tour.

McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road. Ages 5 and older. 9:30-11:30am. $20 single, $25 tandem. Paddle with certified instructors while enjoying nature. Registration is required. parkandrec.com.

Rockin’ the Burg Concert Series.

Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. 6:30-9pm. Free. Enjoy food trucks, children’s activities, including an inflatable and other outdoor yard games, and live music. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. harrisburgnc.org.

Smokey Bear’s 75th Birthday Celebration. McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 South York Road. Ages 4 and older. 11am-1pm. Free. Learn about

› Smokey’s story and how you can prevent forest fires. parkandrec.com.

11 SUNDAY On Stage: KIDZ BOP World Tour 2019. See page 26.

Insect Safari. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 4-12.

2-3pm. Free. Explore the wonderful world of bugs by going on an insect safari. Parent participation is required. parkandrec.com.

Miss May’s Elegant Tea. Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville.

2-4pm. $15-$30. Dress in your tea finery, and reserve your spot for light refreshments, including teas and lemonade. ruralhill.net.

Open Swim at Carrigan Farms.

The Quarry at Carrigan Farms , 1213 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy., Mooresville.

10am-3pm. $15, cash or check only.

Swim in the cool, deep water at quarry. carriganfarms.com.

12 MONDAY Family Storytime: Pajama Storytime. Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews.

7-7:45pm. Free. Enjoy stories, songs and movement activities while wearing pajamas. Milk and cookies will be served. cmlibrary.org.

From Page to Screen. Myers Park Library, 1361 Queens Road. Noon2pm. Free. Bring a lunch, and watch the Disney movie “Dumbo, the Flying Elephant.” cmlibrary.org.

Perseid Meteor Shower Night Hike.

McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road. Ages 12 and older. 9-11pm. $4.

Stroll through the McDowell Prairie on the peak viewing night of the Perseid Meteor Shower. parkandrec.com.

Preschool Storytime: Back 2 School. Hickory Grove Library, 5935 Hickory Grove Road. Ages 3-5. 11am-noon. Free. Engage preschoolers with books, activities, stories and songs. cmlibrary.org.

13 TUESDAY CM Library Presents: Discovery Place Towers of Tomorrow.

ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin

Center, 300 E. 7th St. 11am-1pm.

Free. Drop in for hands-on activities, including a building challenge, coloring sheets and temporary tattoos. cmlibrary.org.

Free Tuesday at the Schiele Museum. The Schiele Museum, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. 4-8pm.

Free. Free admission to The Schiele Museum every second Tuesday evening of the month. schielemuseum.org.

Kindermusik Playdate. Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews. Ages 1.5 years and younger, 9:45-10:30am; ages 1.5-3 years, 11-11:45am. $18. Class explores music and movement with a child and their caregiver. matthewsnc.gov.

Summer Break Finale: Professor Whizzpop. University City Regional Library, 301 E. W.T. Harris Blvd.

2-2:45pm. Free. Books come to life in Professor Whizzpop’s hilarious and engaging Read to Achieve magic show. cmlibrary.org.

14 WEDNESDAY Kitchen Chemistry. University City Regional Library, 301 E. W.T. Harris Blvd. 4-5pm. Free. Teens can explore chemistry as seen in cooking, one of the oldest and most widespread uses of applied chemistry. cmlibrary.org.

Movie Nights with The Jolly Lollies.

Suffolk Punch, 2911 Griffith St. Ages 3 and older. 5-8pm. $45, $20 for additional sibling. Drop off the kids for an evening with The Jolly Lollies that includes creative play, sing-alongs, dance parties, pizza and a movie. thejollylollies.com/movie-nights.

Toddler Storytime at Barnes and Noble: Morrison Place. Barnes and Noble: Morrison Place, 4020 Sharon Road. 11am. Free. Come join story time with other families. barnesandnoble.com.

15 THURSDAY On Stage: Free Reign Theatre Presents: Saint Joan.

See page 26.

ASC Culture Blocks and CM Library Present: Clayworks. Scaleybark Library, 101 Scaleybark Road. 5:30-

7pm. Free. Learn how to texturize and manipulate clay to create art.

Registration is required. cmlibrary.org.

Back-to-School Jubilee. Fort Mill Public Library, 1818 2nd Baxter Crossing, Fort Mill. 3-5pm. Free.

Celebrate the end of summer with crafts, games and information about library resources. yclibrary.org.

CARsome Story Time and Craft.

SAS Cupcakes, 9941 Rea Road, Suite C. 10:30am. $6 per child.

Decorate cupcakes and hear a story. sascupcakes.com.

Culture Bites: West End. Renaissance West Community Initiative, 3610 Nobles Ave. 5:308pm. Free. Come for family-friendly music, cultural performances, interactive kids’ activities and giveaways. Small bites and beverages from local restaurants available for purchase. artsandscience.org.

Full Moon Hike. Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, 2900 Rocky River Road.

7-8:30pm. Free. Celebrate the full moon with a gathering in the woods and on the trails. Participants must be able to walk up to 2 miles on uneven terrain. parkandrec.com.

Get Set 4 Kindergarten. Morrison Regional Library, 7015 Morrison Blvd. Rising kindergarteners. 3-4pm.

Free. Rising kindergartners participate in stories and activities that build pre-reading skills and help prepare children for success in school. Preregistration is required. cmlibrary.org.

Hits after Six. Crossing Paths Park, 120 Blythe Drive, Indian Trail. 6-9pm.

Free. Enjoy a bounce house, face painting, yard games and music.

Food, beer and wine available to purchase. indiantrail.org.

Summer Break Story Explorers: Campfire Songs and Stories.

Myers Park Library, 1361 Queens Road.

7-7:30pm. Free. Explore songs and stories through interactive activities.

Register online. cmlibrary.org.

Summer Fun Thursday: The Piano Juggler. Northlake Mall, 6801 Northlake Mall Drive. 11am-noon.

Free. Dan Menendez performs,

CALENDAR

combining comedy, juggling and music. shopnorthlake.com.

16 FRIDAY On Stage: Free Reign Theatre Presents: Saint Joan; and Samson: The Last Judge. See page 26.

Back-to-School Ice Cream Social and Music. Lake Wylie Public Library, 185 Blucher Circle, Lake Wylie.

1-3pm. Free. Celebrate the new school year with free ice cream and music. yclibrary.org.

Food Truck Friday Rock Hill. Fountain Park, Old Town Rock Hill, 300 E. Main St., Rock Hill. 6-10pm. Free admission.

Enjoy food trucks, local beers, wine, children’s activities and live music. onlyinoldtown.com/foodtruckfriday.

Just Kidding Around. Veteran’s Park, 201 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville. 10-11am. Free. Come sing, dance, learn instruments and listen to stories with Bach 2 Rock of Huntersville. huntersville.org.

Mr. Putty’s Fun Park Five-Dollar Friday. Mr. Putty’s Fun Park, 2333 Dam Road, Tega Cay. 10am-5pm. $5, free for children 4 and younger. Enjoy a round of mini golf for $5 per person until 5pm. mrputtys.com.

Take it Outside — Family Game Night. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. 7-8:30pm.

Free. Enjoy the cooler temperatures of the evening while playing games.

Finish the night with a campfire and marshmallows. parkandrec.com.

17 SATURDAY On Stage: Free Reign Theatre Presents: Saint Joan; and Samson: The Last Judge. See page 26.

Aquatic Wild. The Schiele Museum, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia.

11am-2pm. $6-$7, children 3 and younger free, included with admission.

Make an aquatic site assessment through family-friendly activities at the pond along the nature trail. schielemuseum.org.

Cartoons and Coffee. Rea Farms, Sandy Rock Place. 9:30-11:30 am. Free.

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CALENDAR

Watch “Toy Story,” and meet some of the characters from the movie. reafarmsclt.com/happenings.

Charlotte Pride Festival. Uptown Charlotte, North Tryon Street. Free.

Features a youth zone, family zone, karaoke bar and food for purchase.

Sat., noon-10pm; Sun., noon-6pm.

Parade happens Aug.18 from 1-3pm. charlottepride.org.

Family Fun Night: Back-to-School Pep Rally. Town of Mint Hill, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane, Mint Hill.

6:30pm. Free. Kick off the school year with Independence High School faculty, staff, boosters, marching band, athletes and families. The evening includes bounce houses, corn hole and giant Jenga. minthill.com.

Lake Wylie Family Stand-Up Paddleboard. McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road. Ages 12 and older. 2-4pm. $25. Sit, stand or lay atop of the water, and enjoy the sights of nature. All equipment is provided; registration is required. parkandrec.com.

Learn to Ride. Berewick Recreation Center, 5910 Dixie River Road.

11am-1pm. Free. Kids of all ages can learn to ride a bike using the balance bike method. learntorideclt.com.

Movie Nights at Seventh and Tryon. Uptown Charlotte, 406 N. Tryon St. 8:45pm. Free. Watch “Jumanji” outdoors in uptown. blumenthalarts.org.

Special Open Swim + Dinner at Carrigan Farms. The Quarry at Carrigan Farms , 1213 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy., Mooresville. 4-9pm. $24, cash or check only. A special evening swim at that includes grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie burgers, and all the trimmings. Reserve a spot by emailing support@carriganfarms.com by Aug. 16 at noon, and use August 17th as the subject line. carriganfarms.com.

Tega Cay Concert Series. Runde Park, 5110 Windward Drive, Tega Cay. 6-10pm. Free. Enjoy a kids’ zone, live music and food-truck fare. tegacaysc.org.

Wild About Summer: Wild Wonders.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden,

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6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont.

10am-2pm. $8-$15, children younger than 2 admitted free, includes garden admission. Learn about the unique, bizarre and interesting adaptations plants develop in order to survive in different habitats. dsbg.org.

18 SUNDAY Cars and Cappuccino. SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road. 8-10am. Free.

See a variety of European sports cars on the third Sunday of every month. carsandcappuccino.com.

Charlotte Pride Festival. Uptown Charlotte, North Tryon Street.

Free. The Charlotte Pride Parade and Festival features a youth zone, family zone, karaoke bar and food for purchase. Sat., noon-10pm; Sun., noon-6pm. Parade happens Aug.18 from 1-3pm. charlottepride.org.

Mammal Discovery. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. 2-2:30pm. Free. Discover which animals live in the nature preserve by observing and identifying their furs and skulls. parkandrec.com.

Teatime with American Girl’s 2019 Girl of the Year, Blaire Wilson.

American Girl Southpark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road. Ages 8 and older. 3:305pm. $13.50. Make a reservation to enjoy savory delights, sweet treats, tea and time together. americangirl. com/retail/charlotte.php.

19 MONDAY CM Library presents: Blaze and Station 24 Firefighters. South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road. 10-11am. Free. Hear stories from local firefighters, meet mascot Blaze, and take a peek inside a fire truck. cmlibrary.org.

Preschool Community Program.

Anne Springs Close Greenway, 288 Dairy Barn Lane, Fort Mill. Ages 2-5.

10-11am. $2; additional $5 entry fee for nonmembers. Preschoolers complete nature themed activities, crafts and hikes while using their imaginations. ascgreenway.org.

Preteen Scene: Digital Media Club.

Myers Park Library, 1361 Queens Road.

AUGUST 2019 | charlotteparent.com

Ages 9-12. 6:15-7:15pm. Free. Learn how to use a variety of technology to tell exciting stories. Register online. cmlibrary.org.

20 TUESDAY Baby and Me Yoga. Tiny Blooms Yoga, 15905 Brookway Drive, Suite 4106, Huntersville. 11:30am-12:15pm. $15.

This class combines yoga and play through poses, songs and calming time. tinybloomsyoga.com.

Campfire Series. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill. Ages 5 and older. 6:30pm. $10-$15. Come make fun, kid-friendly campfire meals. Registration is required. ascgreenway.org.

21 WEDNESDAY Curious George Story Time and Craft. SAS Cupcakes, 9941 Rea Road, Suite C. 10:30am. $6 per child.

Decorate cupcakes and hear a story. sascupcakes.com.

Independence Regional Library Summer Book Sale. Independence Regional Library, 6000 Conference Drive. Free admission. Buy books at the fourth annual big book sale blowout. cmlibrary.org.

Muddy Boots Almanac. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. Ages 9-13. 1-4pm. $4. Snap photos, draw pictures and take notes like a scientist to create a living record of the park as it changes throughout the year. parkandrec.com.

Puppet Show. Mint Hill Library, 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill.

6:30-7pm. Free. Enjoy puppet shows, songs and movement activities that support early literacy. cmlibrary.org.

22 THURSDAY On Stage: A Sick Day for Amos McGee. See page 26.

Lil’ Yogi and Me. Tiny Blooms Yoga, 15905 Brookway Drive, Suite 4106, Huntersville. Ages 18 months-4 years. 10-10:45 am. $15. This class incorporates songs and movement and ends with a calming story. tinybloomsyoga.com.

Lyrics on the Lawn. The Historic White Home, 258 E. White St., Rock Hill. 5pm. Free. Hear music and enjoy children’s activities, local craft vendors and a farmers market. onlyinoldtown.com.

Movies in the Park. Veterans Park, Main Street and Maxwell Street, Huntersville. 6pm. Free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and watch “Lego Movie 2.” huntersville.org.

River Jam. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy.

7-10pm. Free, $6 for parking. River Jam brings live musical performances to the world’s largest man-made whitewater river. usnwc.org/riverjam.

23 FRIDAY On Stage: A Sick Day for Amos McGee; and Samson: The Last Judge. See page 26.

Friday Flicks: “Monsters, Inc.” Crooked Creek Park, 5900 Oakwood Lane, Indian Trail. 6pm. Free. Grab a chair or blanket, and come enjoy the bounce house, face painting, yard games and a movie. Activities start at 6 p.m., movie starts at dusk. indiantrail.org.

Huntersville Latino Night. Veteran’s Park, Main Street and Maxwell Street, Huntersville. 6-9pm. Free. Check out the car and truck show, as well as the music, family friendly activities, raffle and door prizes. huntersville.org.

Matthews Food Truck Fridays.

Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade St., Matthews. 5-9pm. Free. Matthews presents food trucks, kids’ activities, craft beer and wine, and weekly bands. matthewsnc.gov.

Movies in the Park Rock Hill.

Fountain Park, Old Town Rock Hill, 300 E. Main St., Rock Hill. 7:30-11:30pm.

Free. Bring a chair or a blanket, and enjoy food trucks or a picnic to watch “Avengers: Infinity War.” onlyinoldtown.com.

24 SATURDAY On Stage: A Sick Day for Amos McGee; and Samson: The Last Judge. See page 26.

Charlotte Area Kids Expo. Carolina Courts, 240 Chestnut Pkwy., Indian Trail. 10am-3pm. Free. A celebration of the best products, services and entertainment for children and families. Free activities include bounce houses, face painting, videogame truck, demos, character meetand-greets, balloon art and photo booth. sunshinefamilyexpos.com.

Friends of Summer at Legion Brewing: Legion Jam Fest.

Legion Brewing, 1906 Commonwealth Ave. 3-7pm. Free. Families and dogs are welcome. legionbrewing.com.

Intro to Dance. Elon Recreation Center, 11401 Ardrey Kell Road. Ages 7-14.

1-2pm. $10. Explore the expressive, active and creative benefits of dance. parkandrec.com.

Local Makers Market. Ballantyne Village, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way. 11am-4pm. Free. Come shop jewelry, art, kids clothing, pet gear, food, decor and a farmer’s market while enjoying live music. ballantynevillage.com.

Outdoor Cinema Series. Robbins Park, 17738 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius.

6:30-11pm. Free. All movies are shown on an inflatable screen with refreshments available for purchase. cornelius.org.

Rock Hill Rides. Rock Hill SC BMX Track Parking Lot, 1307 Riverwalk Pkwy., Rock Hill. 9am-noon. Free. New riders can learn how to ride. Borrow or bring your own bike and helmet. cityofrockhill.com.

SouthEast Crab Feast. Park Road Park, 6220 Park Road. 1pm. $10$55. All-you-can-eat fresh blue crabs, one side of fish and chips, snow crab-legs platter, music and a family-friendly environment. Tickets for 1-3:30pm time slot or 4-6:30pm. southeastcrabfeast.com.

Stream Stomping. Anne Springs Close Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill. Ages 8 and older. 10am. $10-$15. Explore the greenway’s water ways. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get muddy. ascgreenway.org.

Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks is on display at Discovery Place Science through Sept. 2. Photo by Michele Huggins

ON EXHIBIT Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks. (Through Sept. 2). Constructed with architectural detail and accuracy, “Towers of Tomorrow” features prominent skyscrapers and buildings from around the world built to scale with Lego bricks. Admire the skyscrapers and learn about their cultural significance.

Take time to build a tower from the 200,000 loose LEGO bricks located in hands-on construction areas of the exhibition. Discovery Place Science, 301 N. Tryon St. $18-$22. discoveryplacescience.org.

In the Dark. (Through Sept. 7). Discover the intriguing lives of nocturnal animals. This hands-on, family-friendly exhibit delves into dark environments and brings to light the unique animals and plants that live there. Learn about the mysteries of nature after dark through dioramas, life-like models, interactive features and graphics. The Museum of York County, 4621 Mount Gallant Road, Rock Hill. $5-$8, children 3 and younger free. chmuseums.org.

The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head. (Through Sept. 8). Designed to develop school readiness and academic skills for young children, Mr. Potato Head leads visitors on adventures ranging from jungle safaris to archeological digs. The exhibit is recommended for children ages 3-8. Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. 7th St. Recommended for age 3-8. FREE. imaginon.org.

Block Party. (Through Sept. 14). Let the kids build and be creative with large blocks at the interactive building exhibit at the Schiele Museum. The Schiele Museum, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. $6-$7, children 3 and younger free, included with admission. schielemuseum.org.

Grandiflora: Gamrath Glass at the Garden. (Through Sept. 29). Be mesmerized by dozens of vibrant sculptures by Seattle-based artist Jason Gamrath, including towering 10-foot orchids, vivid pitcher plants, energetic Venus flytraps and more. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont. $8-$15, children younger than 2 free, includes garden admission. dsbg.org.

Never Abandon Imagination: The Fantastical Art of Tony DiTerlizzi. (Through Nov. 3) Never Abandon Imagination showcases nearly 100 original works, featuring illustrations from Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Tony DiTerlizzi’s many fantasy and children’s books. Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road. $6-$15, children 4 and younger free, included with admission. mintmuseum.org.

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CALENDAR Celebrate National Night Out Aug. 6 at events happening throughout the area.

25 SUNDAY On Stage: A Sick Day for Amos McGee. See page 26.

All Ages at Abari Game Bar. Abari Game Bar, 1721 N. Davidson St. Noon5pm. Cost for games. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the arcade bar opens to all ages with a parent or guardian present. abarigamebar.com.

Hemby Family Fun Days. Hemby Program Center, 9760 Happy Valley Drive. 1-5pm. $10 per family. Enjoy a 50-foot Alpine climbing tower, a 40-foot challenge tower and zip-line, fishing pond, archery, sports, games and wooded hiking trails. ymcacharlotte.org/events.

Nature Scavenger Hunt. Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. 1-4pm.

Free. Get ready for self-guided adventure for the whole family. Drop in at the Nature Center between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for hunt details and prizes. parkandrec.com.

26 MONDAY NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS National Night Out events promote community partnerships and camaraderie with law enforcement. It’s also a great time for neighbors to mingle and meet. This year’s events take place Aug. 6. Following are local National Night Events scheduled in the Charlotte area.

National Night Out in Belmont. Stowe Park, 24 S. Main St., Belmont. Free. Enjoy free hot dogs, games, information, K-9 demonstrations, live music and McGruff the Crime Dog. cityofbelmont.org.

National Night Out in Davidson. Roosevelt Wilson Park, 420 Griffith St., Davidson. 5-7pm. Free. Join the Davidson Fire Department, North Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers and other community groups for hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks. Bring chips, a covered dish or a dessert to share. townofdavidson.org.

National Night Out in Indian Trail. Chestnut Square Park, 320 Chestnut Pkwy., Indian Trail. 6-9pm.

Free. Meet local law enforcement, view their equipment and enjoy free hot dogs, water and snow balls. indiantrail.org.

National Night Out in Mount Holly. River Street Park, 165 Broome St., Mount Holly. 6-8pm. Free.

Come out for free food, prizes, games and visits from special guests. mtholly.us.

National Night Out in Plaza Midwood. Veterans Park, 2136 Central Ave. 5pm. Free. Enjoy music, children’s activities and more. plazamidwood.org.

National Night Out in Waxhaw. Downtown Waxhaw. Free. The Waxhaw Police Department hosts the community event with activities for all ages. waxhaw.com.

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Art-Ventures. David W. Phillips Activity Center, 946 Burrage Road, Concord.

Ages 8-12. 11am-noon. $5-$10. Collect our art supplies on a walk in the great outdoors. Preregistration required. concordnc.gov.

Charlotte Knights: National Dog Day. BB&T Stadium, 324 S. Mint St. 7pm. $12+. Come for National Dog Day with Bark in the Ballpark, presented by Williams Subaru and $1 hot dogs. milb. com/charlotte-knights.

Yoga Storytime. Cornelius Library, 21105 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. 6-6:30 pm.

Free. Enjoy stories coupled with fun and easy yoga poses. cmlibrary.org.

27 TUESDAY International Bat Night. McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road.

Ages 4 and older. 6-9pm. Free.

Play educational bat games by the campfire before going on a night hike.

Registration is required. parkandrec.com.

Measure Up! Teen Cooking Challenge. Beatties Ford Road Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road. Teen. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Learn how to read a cookbook and follow a recipe to become a successful cook. cmlibrary.org.

› Toddler Time at Sky Zone. Sky Zone, 10200 Centrum Pkwy., Pineville. Ages 5 and younger. 10-11am. $8.

Little ones bounce under the supervision of their parents and without interference from bigger kids. skyzone.com/pineville.

Toddler Tuesdays at Barnes and Noble: Arboretum. Barnes and Noble: Arboretum, 3327 Pineville-Matthews Road. 9:30am. Free. This weekly story time includes classic tales and new favorites. barnesandnoble.com.

28 WEDNESDAY Free Wednesday Evenings at the Mint Museum. Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road, and Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. 5-9pm. Free. Explore the Mint Museum’s exhibitions. mintmuseum.org.

Sugar Creek Reading Lab Club. Sugar Creek Library, 4045 N. Tryon St., Suite A. Ages 5-11.

5-6pm. Free. Listen to interesting stories while improving literacy and critical-thinking skills. A reading incentive or snack provided. cmlibrary.org.

29 THURSDAY On Stage: A Sick Day for Amos McGee. See page 26.

B2R Huntersville at Davidson Public Library.

Davidson Library, 119 S. Main St., Davidson. Ages 3-5. 11:30am-noon. Free. Enjoy a music class, and explore instruments and musical concepts. huntersville.b2rmusic.com/events.

Family Storytime: Pajama Storytime. Mint Hill Library, 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill.

6-6:30pm. Free. Enjoy stories, songs and movement activities in your pajamas! cmlibrary.org.

LEGO Club: Blocks and Books. Cornelius Library, 21105 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. Ages 5-11. 6-7pm. Free. Bring your imagination. Blocks are provided. cmlibrary.org.

30 FRIDAY On Stage: A Sick Day for Amos McGee. See page 26.

Friday Nights at Camp North End. Boileryard at Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave. 5-10pm.

Free. Enjoy food and music at the Boileryard on Fridays. camp.nc.

CALENDAR

Matthews Alive. Downtown Matthews. Free admission. The four-day family event features arts and crafts vendors, food, the Kids Connection interactive area, games and rides for all ages, plus four stages of free entertainment.

Parade at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1. See website for schedule of events. Fri., 6-10 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 1-9 p.m.; Mon. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. matthewsalive.org.

Pinkalicious Story Time and Craft. SAS Cupcakes, 9941 Rea Road, Suite C. 10:30am. $6 per child. Decorate cupcakes and hear a story. sascupcakes.com.

31 SATURDAY On Stage: A Sick Day for Amos McGee. See page 26.

239th Anniversary of the Battle of Charlotte.

Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville.

10am-4pm. $9-$10, ages 5 and younger admitted free. Experience the Battle of Charlotte with historic encampments and a battle at 2pm. lattaplantation.org.

Belk College Kickoff. Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St. 3:30pm. Tickets start at $46. The University of South Carolina faces off against the University of North Carolina in the annual Belk College Kickoff. belkcollegekickoff.com.

Keeper Talks at Carolina Raptor Center. Carolina Raptor Center, 6000 Sample Road, Huntersville. 3pm. $8-$12, children 3 and younger free. Meet a resident bird and an expert keeper in these half-hour sessions along the Raptor Trail. carolinaraptorcenter.org.

Matthews Alive. Downtown Matthews. Free admission. The four-day family event features arts and crafts vendors, food, the Kids Connection interactive area, games and rides for all ages, plus four stages of free entertainment. Parade at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1. See website for schedule of events. Fri., 6-10 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 1-9 p.m.; Mon. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. matthewsalive.org.

Open Art Studio. Noah’s Art of Southpark, 5110 Park Road, 2C. Ages 2-10. 9:30-10:15am. $10. Join this familyfriendly open art session. noahs-art.com.

Pay-to-Play. My Gym Southpark, 5110 Park Road, 2D. Ages birth-10 years. 8:30-9:15am. $10 per child.

Come play with your kids. Parent participation is required. mygym.com/charlotte.

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CALENDAR POLICY

The Charlotte Parent calendar lists free and low-cost local and regional events for children and families. To submit an event for consideration, go to charlotteparent. com/calendar, then click on Submit an Event. Submission deadline for print is the 1st of the month prior to the next month’s publication. Time, dates and details of events are subject to change. Call venue to confirm.

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DADDY DEREK

Make Back-to-School

Oh-So Cool

BY DEREK JAMES

T

he first week of school always brings out a variety of emotions for kids and their parents — mostly relief and pure joy from parents, and a combination of excitement, nervousness and sadness from youngsters. Where did summer go? My boys are starting the third and fifth grade at the same elementary school they’ve always known. They luckily have a good understanding of how things work and what their teachers expect. My boys’ biggest unknowns are what their new teachers and classmates will be like.

Beginning a new school year is, in some ways, very similar to starting a new job. You need to get a feel for the new boss and the people in the cubicle next to you. There are some things you can do to help make the first week a smooth one. Remember, it’s always nice to make a positive first impression for everyone.

Meet Your Teacher Every school I know of has some sort of preview night where you can meet the teacher, check out the classroom, get an idea of the structure of the day and what the work will be like. These are often very hectic affairs, making it difficult to get a chance to let the teacher know about your child’s needs and what kind of learning and discipline works best. It may be better to let those teachers know that you’ll be emailing them a short introduction of your child — who they are and what he or she is like.

Set Goals Each school year offers a fresh start, but it’s OK — even encouraged — to go back and look at strengths and weaknesses from the previous year and use them

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to help set a few academic and social goals. My wife and I, for instance, are desperately hoping that this will be the year we get our third grader to eat his breakfast in less than 40 minutes. Other goals can include them making a specific number of new friends, getting involved in a new activity or club, or just working toward being better organization so all homework gets turned in on time during the first month of school.

Review Your Schedule Make sure everyone has a heads-up about what the weekday schedule looks and feels like — from wake-up times to when all leave for school and get home, to what time they eat lunch. Our kids know that on Mondays they have Faith Formation right after school. They also know which days they or their sibling has an extracurricular activity that we attend as a family. Nothing is worse for a kid than thinking they have a free afternoon to play or relax, and then find out that they actually won’t be home until just before bed. Be sure to get their input, too. Do they think they can balance all of their activities? Deciding how to best use the limited hours in a day can be a moving target.

Read Everyday Hopefully, this was something you didn’t let up on over the summer months. Maybe it’s because part of my job as a television anchor/ host involves this, but the truth is that you and your child can’t read too much. Our boys do a minimum of 30-45 minutes a day at home, but we offer small rewards/choices when they do more. Some of their reading is on their own and some is with either me or my wife. Reading out loud together is great practice and gives you an opportunity to engage in conversation about the material. It also helps make sure they understand the words and concepts.

First-Week Reward Make sure to give your kids (and yourself ) a pat on the back for a job well done and set a positive tone. Find a way to celebrate, whether it’s a special dinner, a unique treat or even a family excursion to a favorite spot around town.

Summer vacation goes quickly, but rest assured that the first few months of school will also go fast. Taking a few positive steps to help kick things off benefits all in the family.

Derek James is a host of WCCB News Rising and dad to 10- and 8-year-old boys.

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