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Park It
The Lake Norman area has an abundance of parks. Here’s the skinny on which ones are best for kids. One of the things moms like best about the Lake Norman area is the amount of parks it has to offer. Though all of them are nice in their own right, some more suitable for little people. Here’s the scoop on the best parks in the area for kids. Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius One word sums up the appeal of this cute park — silo. The playground at Bailey Road Park features a silo with slides protruding out of its sides, and kids eat it up. Bellingham Park, 1600 Bellingham Drive, Mooresville This quaint family park offers a huge playground, a covered picnic area just waiting for a birthday party and a one-mile walking trail that’s mostly in the shade (excellent for infants who can’t wear sunscreen yet). Holbrook Park, 100 Sherwood Drive, Huntersville Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, Holbrook Park offers lots of shade. It’s also void of any tempting high slides or monkey bars. Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road, Cornelius The two main kid attractions at Jetton Park are the playground and the beach. Although you can’t swim at the beach yet, the water and the waves amaze kids. Note: On weekends and holidays there is a vehicle entrance fee for Jetton Park ($2 senior citizens, $3 for county residents and $5 for non-county residents). Legion Park, 21214 Legion Street, Cornelius If your child is a little older, Legion Park is the place to be as it has higher slides. North Mecklenburg Park, 16131 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville With a large playground and another smaller one in the back of the property, North Mecklenburg Park makes kids happy. Mom can walk laps on the track around the soccer field if another caregiver comes along. Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius On a hot day, Ramsey Creek Park offers lakeside breezes that can’t be beat, and this park also has lots of shade. The Funbrellas with their vibrant colors are a hit with children, as are the frequent geese sightings. Richard Barry Memorial Park, 13707 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville
An afternoon at the park does wonders for children and their mothers.
— Lori K. Tate
Time for a Tutor
How to know when it’s the right time to bring in extra help for your child Jennifer Bates of Mooresville worried that her 14-year-old daughter, Sarah, would need a little extra help with math before she entered eighth grade. “The summer’s not terribly long,” Bates says, “but kids can forget some of the things they worked so hard on last year.” Bates, who asked us not to use her or her daughter’s real name so other students wouldn’t know their story, hired a tutor for Sarah. The tutor, a teacher at Sarah’s school, visited a few times during some weeks and less in others, depending on Sarah’s camp and vacation schedule. Many parents consider hiring a tutor as the school year begins, but not every child needs one, says Juli VonCanon, a middle school teacher at the Community School of Davidson and a part-time tutor for 13 years. How can you tell if tutoring is right for your child? Start by asking the student, VonCanon suggests. “The child might say, ‘Yes, [working with a tutor] would make me feel better,’ or he might simply say, ‘No, I just need to work a little harder,’ ” VonCanon says, adding that if the child is spending an excessive amount of time on homework or consistently exhibiting low performance on assessments, the parents should talk to the child’s teacher. High school math teacher Matt Glass agrees. “The teacher sees what’s happening in the classroom,” says Glass. “He or she will know if the student really needs tutoring or if they need to make better use of the time and resources available to them.” The main benefit of tutoring, says Glass, is that a tutor explains something in a one-on-one setting, without the distraction of a full classroom. When choosing a tutor — often a local teacher or college student — make sure that he or she knows the material, VonCanon says. That’s essential, along with a personality that provides a connection with the student. It’s also helpful if the tutor has some knowledge of child development and an understanding of differing learning styles. Says VonCanon, “If the child does not feel comfortable, he or she won’t receive the intention of the tutoring.” — Karen Martin 11
Lake Norman Currents | August 2010
One of the newest parks around, Richard Barry Memorial Park features Mecklenburg County’s first inclusive playground. Tread Town is a Boundless Playground where children with and without disabilities can play together.
Tutoring can boost your children’s confidence while improving their grades.