However you plan to visit Santa—whether it’s a classic mall lap-sit or another unique sighting throughout the DMV—these meet-and-greets with St. Nick are sure to be memorable

Santa is back in town, and if you missed him IRL last year, now is the time to jump on one (or all) of these photo-worthy events. From a festive breakfast that features Santa and the Grinch to personalized letters from the North Pole hand-delivered by the Big Guy himself, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to mingle with Kris Kringle. After you meet Santa, be sure to explore some holiday light displays! And not to worry if you and your kiddo can’t make it out to meet Santa this year: try giving Santa a call or writing him a letter.

Mall Santa Experiences in and around Washington, DC

Christmas jokes
Jesson Mata on Unsplash

Meet Santa at Tysons Galleria: Beat Tysons Corner Center crowds by ducking into its near-by neighbor, Tysons Galleria. This mall has always offered a convenient reservation system for a hassle-free Santa visit. Santa is located on the lower level near the old Macy's. If you want your pooch in the pic, nab a reservation on a Mon. between the hours of 4-8 p.m.

Dates: Nov. 18-Dec. 24

2001 International Dr.
McLean, VA
Event details

Visit Santa at Westfield Montgomery: If you're looking for a free sit-down with Ol' St. Nick, you'll find that at a pajama party at Macy's at Westfield Montgomery. There will be tons of other festivities like a magic show, balloon art, face painting, a DJ, and more. Your kiddo will enjoy making crafts and devouring treats. And of course, Santa will be joined by Rudolph and a few other friends. Don't miss this exciting event!

Dates: Nov. 26

7101 Democracy Blvd.
Bethesda, MD
Event details

Meet Santa at Dulles Town Center: Visits with Santa are always free at this mall! You don't have to purchase a photo package to chat with the Big guy. Get that perfect picture that's just what you're looking for.

Dates: Now through Dec. 24

21100 Dulles Town Cir.
Dulles, VA
Event details

Get a Picture with Santa at Mall at Prince Georges: Santa comes in all colors and you can head to Prince Georges, which hosts the closest Black Santa to the DMV. The Mall of PG has been celebrating Christmas with a Black Santa for over a decade. Reservations are required, so act fast. Want to include your four-legged friends in the pic? Be sure to visit on a Monday when your pets are part of the picture!

Dates: Nov. 19-Dec. 24

3500 East West Hwy.
Hyattsville, MD
Event details

Related: 9 Places to Cut Down Your Own Tree in DC

Unique Santa Experiences in and around Washington, DC

HIller Aviation Museum

Watch Santa Fly In: See Ol' St. Nick touch down at the historic College Park Airport at 10 a.m. After, kids can participate in hands-on crafts and tour the museum. Take-home crafts are also available. If you want to share your Christmas Wish List with the Big Guy himself (and pose for a photo op), you'll need a separate reservation. 

Dates: Dec. 4

1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.
College Park
Event details

Meet Santa at the Captain Wheel: Before you board The Capital Wheel, snap a pic with Ol' St. Nick in a specially themed holiday booth. This special photo op is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-4 p.m. 

Date: Select days Nov. 26-Dec. 18

141 American Way
National Harbor, MD
Event details

See Waterskiing Santa: For more than 30 years, Santa has skied the open waters of the Potomac River. This year, Santa, his elves, and Frosty the Snowman will make a special appearance on Christmas Eve (right before they hop in the sleigh!). After the show, mingle with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and his merry helpers by the Christmas tree in Waterfront Park.

Dates: Dec. 24

1A Prince St.
Alexandria
Event details

Related: Magical Santa Train Rides to Book NOW (Before They Sell Out)

black santa in seattle meets kids at the Northwest African American Museum
iStock

Visit with Santa at the Children's Museum: A Richmond tradition since 1936, Legendary Santa has been delighting families for many years. You can visit with Santa in person this year and experience that holiday excitement firsthand. But you don't have to make the drive to Richmond to get in on this tradition. Invite up to six of your friends for a magical Zoom where Santa hints that he knows just a little bit more about you and your fam than the run-of-the-mill mall Santa. After all, he is a Legend! 

Dates: Nov. 30 - Dec. 24

1500 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC
Event details

Receive Letters from Santa: This special annual event lets your child receive a personalized letter from Kris Kringle himself! Have your child write a letter to Santa and pop it in the Red Mailbox on this farm (or email it ahead of the event). On Dec. 18, Santa will make the rounds to guest tables handing each child a letter straight from the North Pole. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served; food and beverage can also be purchased.

Dates: Dec. 18

38506 John Wolford Rd.
Waterford, VA
Event details

Ride the Polar Express: Take a ride on the beloved Polar Express (yes, the one from the book and hit Tom Hanks movie!) and experience the joy of the holiday on a memorable train ride. Oh, and say hello to Santa while you're there! For extra festive fun, arrive in your coziest pajamas! 

Date: Nov. 25-Dec. 19

901 West Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD
Event details

Related: What to Say When Your Kids Ask “Is Santa Real?”

Breakfast with Santa Experiences in and around Washington, DC

iStock

Have Breakfast with Santa at Tysons Galleria: What's a better time to meet Santa than over breakfast? Enjoy a delicious meal at the Neiman Marcus Restaurant and have a meet and greet with the big guy. It'll be a day your kiddo won't forget and the breakfast won't be too bad either. Tickets are going fast!

Date: Dec. 3

2255 International Dr.
McLean, VA
Event details

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa & the Grinch: Have you had breakfast with Santa AND the Grinch before? Well, now is your chance at Adventure Park USA in Maryland. About an hour outside of DC, make a day of it and enjoy the park as well. Your family will have a blast at this event!

Date: Dec. 10

11113 W Baldwin Rd.
Monrovia, MD
Event details

And that doesn’t include college

New estimates show that inflation isn’t just jacking up the cost of groceries and gasoline, but childrearing, too. The cost to raise a child for a two-parent, married family with two kids on a middle income? Over $310,000.

The Brookings Institution‘s estimate addresses children born in 2015 and spans all the costs through the age of 17. And spoiler alert: it doesn’t include any costs for sending your kids to college.

That $310K price tag has jumped $80,000 from 2017, which equals out to be over $18K per year.  Expenses that fit into the increase are plentiful and include child care, healthcare, housing, food clothing, haircuts, diapers and other must-haves like sports and lessons.

Related: 16 Ways to Shop Smart & Save Money on Groceries

iStock

So how did experts arrive at that number? It came down to using an average inflation rate of 2.23% (2015-2020), plus another 1.77% for the last two years. Thank you, recession!

“The new estimate only crunches numbers for middle-income, married parents, and doesn’t include projections for single parent households, or consider how race factors into cost challenges” reports The Hill. The cost for those family dynamics are even more bleak.

“Rising expenses for raising a family could disproportionately affect lower-income families. For a single parent earning $20,000 or $30,000 a year, shelling out the extra funds for a child might be difficult,” says said Dr. Isabel Sawhill, a senior fellow at Brookings.

For Black families, the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute found that “that Black households are more exposed to inflation fluctuations than White households.” The Wall Street Journals says that “can make it difficult for households to determine how much the money they earn will buy.”

At the end of the day, no one enters parenthood thinking they are going to get off cheap. But for the next generation, we’re betting they’ll think long and hard about opening the purse strings before having kids.

Boston is known for many things. Our great sports teams. Fantastic attractions that bring visitors from all over the world. And the city’s storied history (who else can claim a molasses flood or the largest art heist in the world?). So we thought it would be fun to gather up the city’s popular places, people and historically significant spots and turn them into a list of Boston baby names for a little fun and inspiration. Whether you’re expecting, or you just want to see how your kiddo’s name stacks up, these Boston-themed baby names are all the inspiration you need. Read on to find out just how “Boston” your kiddo really is.

a bay smiles on a mat
Daniel Thomas via unsplash

Abigail

A powerful woman in American history, Abigail Adams was one of the founders of the United States, bearing the designations of second First Lady and first Second Lady. She is well known for her numerous letters to her husband John Adams that are filled with complex, political discussions. 

Amelia

While the first woman to fly across the Atlantic originally hails from Kansas, Amelia Earhart moved to Medford, MA with her mother and sister following her mother's divorce. Amelia makes a powerful middle or first name that definitely stands the test of time. 

Beacon

Boston parents have a number of street names that work well as baby names, with Beacon topping the list. You could even go for Bea as a girl's name. 

Benjamin or Franklin

One of the founding fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. A scientist and inventor, Franklin is most known for his discoveries relating to electricity. 

Brockton

A suburb of Boston, Brockton makes a strong first or middle name, with Brock as a nickname. 

Brookline

We love this name for a girl as it differs from the more popular Brooklyn. It pays homage to this neighborhood just a few T stops past Kenmore Square. 

Brady

This one's for you, Patriots fans. Quarterback Tom Brady has made the names Thomas and Brady popular among fans in recent years. We'll have to wait and see if his recent split from the team will change that trend.  

Bruin

Another for the sports fans out there, Bruin pays homage to the hometown hockey team and makes a good middle name (or dog name, for that matter). 

Cambridge/Cam

We love the name Cambridge for a girl with Cam as the nickname. This name conveys a brilliant sophistication of the college town that is home to Harvard, with a double meaning for sports fan, acknowledging Boston Bruins president Cam Neely. 

Celt

Boston is steeped in Irish history and this name (pronounced "Kelt") is the ultimate. Bonus: it doubles as a Boston Celtics reference. 

Charles

The Charles River is an 80-mile river that meets the Atlantic Ocean in Boston and Charles (or Charlie) are classic names we love. 

Chelsea

Named for a neighborhood in London, this working class city just north of Boston is bordered on three sides by water. 

 

Clara, Clarissa or Harlowe

Clara Barton (born Clarissa Harlowe Barton) was a pioneering American nurse who founded the American Red Cross and was born in North Oxford, MA. Barton is noteworthy for doing humanitarian work and civil rights advocacy at a time before women had the right to vote. 

Conan

Irish Catholic comedian Conan O'Brien hails from Brookline, MA where he attended school through high school, followed by nearby Harvard University. 

Copley

Copley Square, named for painter John Singleton Copley, is a public square in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. This Boston baby name would be great for either a boy or a girl. 

Dorothea 

Name your child after 19th century activist Dorothea Dix who lived in Boston with her grandmother for much of her childhood. She drastically changed the medical field and championed causes for both the mentally ill and indigenous populations. 

Duncan/Dunkin

Only the most die hard fans would choose the more unique spelling of this name, which pays homage to the coffee company that got its start in 1950 in Quincy, MA. 

Fenway

While this name may be more popular for pups than children, Boston Red Sox fans are a dedicated bunch and have been known to give this Boston baby name as a middle name to their human children. Plus, naming your kid "Green Monster" is out of the question, right?

Isabella

Isabella Stewart Gardner was a long-standing American art collector, philanthropist and patron of the arts who founded the museum with her name in the early 1900s.

Jasmine

Parents raised in the '80s will know why this name is on our list. Anyone who watched the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World, is hip to Boston-born actress Jasmine Guy, who played the part of Whitley Gilbert.

John, Jack or Kennedy

It's no surprise to see these popular names around Boston as the Kennedy family has a long history in Massachusetts.

Jordan 

This '80s-throwback name is popular for both boys and girls, especially for fans of the boy band New Kids on the Block that hails from Dorchester, MA. 

Logan

You don't have to be an aviation geek to name your offspring after Boston's seaside airport. 

Lois

Maybe you and the kids have seen the works of this respected artist gracing the walls of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts or at the National Center for Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) in Boston. Born in 1905, Lois Mailou Jones' successful career spanned continents and decades. 

Lucy (or Stone)

In 1847, Lucy Stone of West Brookfield, MA graduated from Oberlin and became the first Massachusetts woman to receive a college degree. She spoke out for women's rights and against slavery at a time when women were discouraged and prevented from public speaking. 

Mary (or Eliza)

It's no secret that there are tons of Catholic families raising kids in Boston, so this name may seem obvious to include. But we're giving it a second look as a way to honor the work of Mary Elize Mahoney, the first African-American nurse to work in our country's hospitals. She worked for 15 years, while she waited to be let into nursing school, and was only one of four students (out of 43) who actually graduated. 

Quincy

We love this name for either a boy or a girl and it has long-standing Massachusetts roots with Quincy, MA being known as the "birthplace of presidents." Both John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams were born there. When the town split from Braintree, it was named Quincy after Colonel John Quincy, maternal grandfather of Abigail Adams and after whom John Quincy Adams was also named

Revere

Prominent Boston silversmith Paul Revere is best known for his midnight ride to alert the colonial militia in April 1775 to the approach of British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord. The town of Revere, MA was named after him in 1871. 

Skylar

Do you really know anything about Boston if you haven't seen Good Will Hunting? We think not. The name Skylar was made popular after Minnie Driver played a character with this name in the movie that was written by Cambridge, MA friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. 

Tremont

This prominent street in Boston takes you along the Boston Common, through Boston's Theater District and across the Massachusetts Turnpike (affectionately know as the "Mass Pike"). We love it as a boy's name. 

Trinity

Trinity Church is located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston and was founded in 1733. 

—Allison Sutcliffe & Kate Loweth

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Dear Parents,

Black History is American History. So why aren’t our schools teaching it?

I grew up going to the ‘good schools.’

The ones with well-funded arts programs. The ones with computer labs, well-maintained facilities. The ones with teachers who had master’s degrees and decades of experience, who invested a lot of time in students.

In these good schools, the truth of American history was glossed over.

“Rosa Parks sat peacefully in the front of the bus. Martin Luther King, Jr. marched peacefully for civil rights. Slavery was bad, but not all slave owners (like our first Presidents) were bad. Everything is all good now.”

These good schools failed me.

It wasn’t until I took a Black History class in university that I learned what really happened.

I learned that the modern police system evolved from slave patrols.

I learned that voter suppression efforts began right after the 13th Amendment was ratified.

I learned how deadly the civil rights movement—which was always taught as non-violent and peaceful in these good schools—really was.

I learned about the Black Wall Street massacre—something I never learned before, not even in an honors US History class.

What was I taught, prior to college?

I was taught that slavery was bad, but not all slave owners were bad. How could they be, when they were our early Presidents?

I was taught that racism was fixed after the Civil War and during the civil rights movement. That Rosa Parks sat in a different seat and MLK Jr. marched peacefully, and everything was okay.

I was taught that we live in a world where race no longer mattered and that everything was equal.

My ‘good schools’ failed me. They failed us.

Will we allow them to fail our children?

It’s said that history is written by the winners—and it has. That history has continued to be taught by said winners. And the cost has been far too high.

American education needs to be overhauled as a whole, but we can start by teaching our children our nation’s history in its entirety. Children are aware of racial differences as young as 6 months and begin making decisions based on race as young as 2 1/2. If we continue teaching our children our history the way it had been written—by the White winners—then we are failing them to do better than we did.

The 1619 Project, the Pulitzer Prize-winning body of work, is slowly being adopted in the curriculum in Chicago, Washington D.C, and in Buffalo, NY. It should be incorporated in every school’s history curricula, nationwide.

This won’t be easy. There is a concerted, well-funded effort to block the 1619 Project’s inclusion in curriculums. One criticism is that “the curriculum is designed to inculcate in a new generation of workers a divisive racialist historical, and by extension political, worldview.

Isn’t that what’s happened already? By being unaware of the bloody struggle for citizenship and equality in America—which is still happening today—we have been inculcated in a false worldview of merit over race and class.

It’s on us to raise actively anti-racist children. That starts with what and how they learn.

The 1619 Project curriculum should be incorporated alongside existing US History curriculum, and our children should be given the opportunity to learn both and think critically about both.

It starts with one call, or one e-mail, to the principal:

“How are you incorporating the 1619 Project in the school’s history curriculum?”

If they say they are not, ask why. Reach out to other parents and have them ask why. Tell them that you’re not satisfied with the version of US history being taught to your children, and you expect—and pay for—more.

It’s on us to teach our kids better. This is where we can start.

Photo: Frank Mckenna on Unsplash

Hitha is a mom of two, New Yorker, CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceueticals, author and investor in female founded businesses. To say she is a force is an understatement. Known widely for her popular daily round up of 5 smart reads on her must follow instagram https://www.instagram.com/hithapalepu/?hl=en

Family photos to Dallas families are like Tex-Mex cuisine—sacred. With the holidays on the horizon (get in while you can!), we decided to make a list of some of our favorite photographers in the metroplex. From studio portraits to outdoor mini sessions, keep reading to discover 10 photographers ready to capture your memories.

Brittney Fort

Brittney Fort

A Denton-based photographer, Brittney will travel to you and does everything from family photos to senior portraits. She loves scouting out unique locations, and her passion drives her to learn more and more about the art of capturing memories. 

See her work here

Consider the Lilies 

Focusing on North Dallas (Richardson, Allen, Plano, Dallas, McKinney and Frisco), Jordan Haney does in-home and on-site sessions. 

See her work here.

Miette Photography

Recently named “Best Family Photographer in Dallas” by D Magazine, you can’t go wrong with the exquisite work of Jayme Okerblom. She has a studio but will do on-site sessions as well.  

See her work here.

Ryan O'Dowd

Ryan O’Dowd

Ryan is based in McKinney and is a full-time professional photographer. He’ll do family, weddings, corporate and more! 

See his work here.

Alyssa Reyes Photography

Fort Worth-based Reyes will come to you, and as a mom herself, she knows how important memories are! 

See her work here.

Fly Hippie Photography

Robin Thompson is a member of Dallas PPA (Professional Photographers of America), and she’s been taking photography classes at Collin College for over a decade. She even has a dark room and offers workshops! 

See her work here.

Tonia Laferriere

Photography by Tonia

Flower Mound-based Tonia Laferriere fell in love with photography when her teenage boys were young, and that passion drove her to start her start capturing precious memories of families all across the metroplex. 

See her work here.

 

Jenny Havens Photography

Award-winning photographer Jenny Havens serves the DFW metroplex, and as a mother, understands how important it is to capture every milestone. 

See her work here.

Tammy Molnar

Molnar is a Rockwall-based photographer, mom and teacher. Her experience with kiddos comes in handy when she’s capturing your family’s memories! 

See her work here

Rachel Friedman Photography

Rachel is a Plano-based photographer whose work has been featured in Modern Luxury and People magazine, among other locations. She specializes in newborn, maternity, child and family portraits, so you’ll be in good hands. 

See her work here.

—Gabby Cullen

 

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At Rollins College, every day is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. That’s because Fred McFeely Rogers, otherwise known as Mister Rogers, is an alum and the school just unveiled a new sculpture to celebrate. “A Beautiful Day for a Neighbor” is a beautiful 360-degree monument to the goodness of Mister Rogers and it’s exactly what the world needs.

To honor Roger’s legacy, the College commissioned renowned British artist Paul Day to create the detailed piece. It stands over seven feet tall and weighs more than 3,000 pounds, with a final cast in bronze. Mister Rogers appears in his iconic sweater and sneakers, holding his Daniel Tiger puppet and surrounded by children.

Courtesy of Tomas Hruza

“This inspirational sculpture will be a permanent reminder of the ideals and values modeled by Mister Rogers as he set out to make the world a better place,” said Rollins President Grant Cornwell. “This tribute will reinforce the quest for empathy, acceptance and kindness so needed in our society today.”

Courtesy of Scott Collins

Rogers transferred to Rollins College from Dartmouth and graduated with distinction in 1951. He majored in music composition and met his wife of over 50 years, Joanne Rogers, on campus. If you decide to make the trip to Rollins to see the impressive sculpture, you can include it in the Mister Rogers Walking Tour that features tributes to his life across campus.

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Scott Cook, Rollins College

 

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Have you forgiven yourself? Yes, you read that correctly. Have you forgiven yourself? We are human beings, and we make mistakes. Somehow or another, parent status is synonymous with perfection. We expect it from others, especially now in the digital age, and we expect it from ourselves. We portray images online and cry in private. I am just 13 days away from entering my 30th year of parenting and I can tell you that perfect is not how I would describe those years. They were perfectly broken. They were perfectly difficult. They were perfectly dysfunctional. I think you are starting to understand.

My oldest daughter, who will be 29 in a couple of weeks, has chosen to not talk to me or her sisters for a year and a half now. Mental health issues have been a steady theme in our lives. By the time I found out that I was pregnant with her, I had thought about suicide more times than I care to count, had taken drugs, had drank until I puked, had stayed out all night, had slept with too many guys, flunked out of my freshman year of college, and the list of poor choices goes on. I was looking for validation. I needed someone to make me feel like I was okay. I needed to feel like my presence mattered. I thought having my daughter would change things. I thought that she would give me everything I was looking for. I was scared as hell, but in my young mind I couldn’t come to any other decision but to continue with the pregnancy. 

They say that hindsight is 20/20 but even now I don’t think I know what the right choice was. Perhaps keeping her helped me stay away from some damaging behaviors but not all of them. I continued to use alcohol for many years. I went out at nights trying to find fun and excitement. I had men in and out of my life. I failed at getting my college degree. I quit jobs when things got hard or I didn’t know how to resolve issues. I have thought about the alternatives. But there is not another person that could love her more than I did and do. However, I was broken. Right now, I am, at best, refurbished.

I think about those years more than you could even imagine that I do. I could never find peace and admonished myself many nights in the dark when I was trying to sleep. Once my daughter became an adult, she seemed to get more adjusted as time went on. She was finding her stride and told me thank you many times. I mentioned several times that I was happy that she still loved me. I would tell her this because it was truly how I felt, and I knew that if she could still love me after everything I put her through that maybe I could find a way to forgive myself. In the last few years, I started to allow myself to heal and forgive myself for everything: the poor choices, the yelling, the lack of guidance, the physical punishments, etc. Everything changed this year when you spoke about your recent diagnoses. That telephone conversation brought everything back and the doubt and self-punishment crept back in. This was closely followed by another conversation where you asked me questions that I knew would come someday. Questions that could have been asked a dozen times over the last ten years. 

It is impossible for us to do better until we know better. It really wasn’t until a few years ago that my mind started to get better. I took control of my depression and anxiety. I started walking every day and allowing myself to get in my thoughts and resolve how I felt about my life. I started to lose weight and gain a smile. I started to get more active in my community. I joined the booster club associated with my daughter’s basketball team, made friends, and eventually started to feel like a good person. This was a stark difference to all the parenting years beforehand. I was never involved. I didn’t go to school events and, most of the time, would try to talk my kids out of taking part in things that would require me doing so. My oldest daughter had ADHD and that, combined with my own mental health issues, just made it nearly impossible for me to be an active parent. I was always exhausted, sad, and angry.

And part of the process of knowing better and moving forward is the process of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a process and is never over. We will, most likely, need to continue forgiving ourselves for years to come. I know that I am. Allow yourself to go down the road of forgiveness and you will find yourself in the glorious world of the chaotic perfection that is parenting. I ask you again, have you forgiven yourself? 

I am a single mom of three beautiful daughters ages 29, 20, and 15.  At 50, I am recently divorced and making a career change.  I'm trying to put my BA and my MA to use finally!  My life hasn't always been easy but I feel good about the future!

Remember Steve, the OG host of Blue’s Clues? Well, he still remembers you, even if it’s been quite a while since he starred on the animated show. 25 years after the show first appeared and 19 years after Steve left, he re-emerged with a touching message to celebrate the big anniversary.

“You remember how when we were younger we used to run around and hang out with Blue and find clues…and then one day I was like ‘oh hey, guess what? Big news, I’m leaving,” Steve starts the video. He goes on to let viewers know that he’s been able to pursue his dreams, even if the departure was sad and unexpected for young fans.

But that’s not all. Steve has a special shout out for his now grown up fans and it might be a bit of a tear jerker! He ends the video with one last heartfelt (and humorous) message. “I’m super glad we’re still friends. You look great, by the way. Whatever it is you’re doing, it’s working.”

Since Steve exited the show in 2002, he’s pursued various musical and acting opportunities, including starting his own band and releasing a children’s album. But it’s safe to say Blues Clues, where he appeared in 100 episodes over six years, will always be his biggest hit. With 20.8 million views at the time of this publication, it’s obvious the show (and Steve) will never be forgotten.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Nickelodeon

 

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Once upon a time, kiddos practiced tying their shoes well before starting kindergarten. But then came Velcro. And kids swapped tying their shoes for pulling their Velcro straps. Easy. Right? Well, at some point kids need to tie their shoes. That is, unless your little one wants to head off to college in Velcro sneakers (hint: they don’t).

One five-year-old boy gained internet fame with his super-simple shoe-tying trick. If your child isn’t taking to tying like a pro, you need to check this out.

To start with, shoe-tying isn’t easy. It may seem like second nature to you. But to your child, it’s a totally foreign idea. Add in still-immature fine motor skills, and you can see how this seemingly simple activity can feel like an Olympic-level challenge to a young child.

When Ashley Lillard posted a video on Facebook of her son Colton tying his shoes, it quickly went viral. Even though there are plenty of people praising the easy-to-follow tutorial, Colton admits that it wasn’t exactly his idea. The little boy credits his friend River for coming up with the shoe-tying trick!

––Erica Loop

photo: iStock

 

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