Summer 2026
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The Face of CHEER Oklahoma City Vortex Cheer Erica Evans PHOTO CREDIT: FOTO ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY
O klahoma City Vortex Cheer began with one coach’s big dream: to create a program that combined a lifelong passion for cheerleading with a deep desire for personal growth and self-development. Founder and coach, Erica Evans, envisioned a space that supported a young athlete’s technical excellence while building confidence, resilience, leadership, kindness and teamwork. Vortex was built on the belief that cheer can be a powerful tool for shaping young people both on and off the mat. The organiza- tion’s mission centers on building confident humans, one cheer- leader at a time, while creating a supportive community where athletes and families feel encouraged, connected, and valued. Celebrating its newly opened studio space at 217 NW 96th St., Vortex is expanding its offerings to include sideline cheer, competition teams, tumbling and stunting classes, leadership development programs, free community clinics, and themed camps, such as the upcoming Barbie Summer Camp. “Looking ahead, we hope to continue increasing access to cheer opportunities in Oklahoma City while growing our commu- nity partnerships and outreach efforts,” says Evans. “One of the things that makes Oklahoma City so special is the sense of community and the support people are willing to give when they believe in something meaningful. We’ve experienced so much encouragement from local families, small businesses, and community members who want to see youth programs thrive.”
At Vortex, community involvement is a core value that is represented through its free clinics, community-based fundraising events, and leadership-focused activities beyond its standard programs. “As Vortex continues to grow, one of our greatest goals is to strengthen our impact within the OKC community by creating more opportunities for connection, encouragement, and youth development,” says Evans. “Our Sideline Program will kick off in July, where we will cheer at Friday Night Lights Flag Football games. This program focuses on building confidence, teamwork, and team spirit.” In the fall, competition season begins giving athletes the oppor- tunity to continue growing their skills, perform at high-energy events, and compete in a fun and supportive environment focused on both athletic and personal development. “My dream for Vortex, from the beginning, has been to create a community where both athletes and parents feel supported and encouraged to become the best versions of themselves — not just in cheer, but in life,” says Evans. “We want families to walk into Vortex and immediately feel the positivity, encouragement, and sense of belonging that makes this community so special.” For more information about Oklahoma City Vortex Cheer, visit oklahomacityvortex.org.
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The Face of SWIMMING LESSONS Oklahoma Swim Academy Megan Bachman PHOTO CREDIT: FOTO ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY
M egan Bachman’s passionate work as a lifeguard and swim instructor has grown into a year-round, family-owned business: Oklahoma Swim Academy, with two locations serving thousands of Oklahoma families. As founder and CEO, Bachman is dedicated to teaching children life-saving swim skills and educating families on water safety. As a mom herself, she understands both the joy and weight of that responsibility. “Swimming is an essential life skill, and I truly believe the earlier children gain water competency and survival skills, the safer they are,” she says. Oklahoma Swim Academy serves all ages and abilities, but is best known for its private Swim-Float-Swim survival lessons. Designed for infants and young children, these lessons teach kids to roll onto their backs, float, breathe and self-rescue if they fall into the water unexpectedly. “It still amazes me to watch children who aren’t even pot- ty-trained learn how to swim, float and save themselves,” Bachman says. “Our individualized instruction builds essential survival skills alongside confidence and a genuine love for the water — and I believe we can teach children quickly and effec- tively without sacrificing emotional safety, trust or connection.” Additional programs include parent/toddler classes, adaptive
aquatics, stroke development, swim team preparation, adult swim lessons and fitness classes. With locations in Oklahoma City and at Bryant Square in Edmond, Bachman’s vision for the academy has always been focused on the community. “It has been such a beautiful journey, from teaching in backyard pools to leading an incredible team across two locations,” she says. “It was always important to me that Oklahoma Swim Academy be a place that loved our community well while helping children grow in both confidence and competence.” Looking ahead, Bachman intends to continue growing the academy as a trusted resource for families — continuing to prioritize water safety education and life-saving skills, delivered through an approach that is gentle, fun and relationship-based. “One of the greatest gifts we can give children is confidence — in themselves, in their abilities, and in the water,” she says. “Watching children realize they are capable of more than they imagined is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. We love our community deeply, and it’s an honor to walk alongside families during such an important stage of their child’s development.” For more information, visit oklahomaswim.com.
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Places of Oklahoma PIONEER LIBRARY SYSTEM
P ioneer Library System (PLS) continues to set the standard for innovation, accessibility, and community impact across central Oklahoma. Serving residents of Cleveland, McClain, and Pottawatomie counties, PLS operates twelve branches in ten communities, along with Information Stations in rural areas — ensuring that library access reaches far beyond traditional walls. In 2023, PLS was honored as the Oklahoma Library Association’s inaugural Library of the Year, recognizing its commitment to forward-thinking services and meaningful community impact. From pioneering a 24-hour library and launching a locally developed mobile app, to introducing a Maker Mobile and forming partnerships like the Cleveland County Jail Reset Pod, PLS consistently redefines what a modern library can be. Guided by its mission — inspiring innovation, engagement, and learning in our communities — PLS is rooted in a customer service philosophy centered on creating positive experiences for every visitor. Its core values — Welcome, Empower, Respect — shape each interaction, program, and service offered across the system.
Under the leadership of executive director Lisa Wells, PLS continues to expand opportunities for connection and growth. Whether through workforce development partnerships, early literacy initiatives, or access to cutting-edge technology, the system remains focused on meeting the evolving needs of its communities. Administrative offices are located in Norman (300 Norman Center Court), serving as the operational hub for a system that keeps all branches open seven days a week. With a shared collection accessible to anyone who lives, works, owns property, or attends school in the service area, PLS exemplifies the power of collaboration, proving that while individual libraries make a difference, together they are truly transformative. At its core, Pioneer Library System isn’t just a network of librar- ies; it’s a dynamic, community-driven force shaping the future of learning in Oklahoma.
For more information, visit pioneerlibrarysystem.org.
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The Epic Birthday Planner
sweetfriendsbakery.com Sweets by Karen
(405) 586-5567 balloontherapyokc.com Card My Yard Emond & Norman (405) 726-1206 cardmyyard.com Happy Yard Card (405) 367-5770 happyyardcard.com Inflatable Adventures 110 Yukon Crossing Ave., Yukon (405) 251-8465 inflatableadventures.org Kona Ice Yukon/ Mustang/Norman (405) 397-4105 kona-ice.com Marisa Made Party & Events marisamadeevents.com Moon Bunny Playhouse instagram.com/ moonbunnyplayhouse Never Grow Up Party Rentals nevergrowupokc.com OKC Balloon Bar 1133 W 15th St., Edmond (405) 876-6848 okcballoonbar.com Opulent Couture Balloons 192nd & N. Penn. Ave., Edmond (405) 600-8431 opulentcoutureballoons.com Savor OKC (405) 394-3000
3935 N College Ave., Bethany facebook.com/sweetsbykaren91 Tous les Jours 1841 Belle Isle Blvd., Ste. J, OKC (405) 849-4810 tljus.com Twisted Tree Ste. 3, Edmond (405) 920-6303 twistedtreebakingcompany.com ENTERTAINMENT 4ever Creations 19200 Blossom Ct., Edmond (405) 215-9339 4evercreationsok.com Cloud9 Gaming Truck (405) 885-2205 c9gt.com Extreme Animals (405) 205-5006 extremeanimals.org Flix Brewhouse 8590 Broadway Extension, OKC (405) 766-5900 flixbrewhouse.com Kaleidoscope Arts Face Painting (405) 740-7791 Baking Company 111 N. Broadway, kaleidoscopeokc.com Keith Coast, Comedy Magician & Family Entertainer 305 NW. 5th St., #1645, OKC (580) 284-2404 keithcoast.com My Princess & Character Parties (405) 445-8339 princesspartyoklahoma.com Pilar Designs Face Painting (740) 817-4149 facebook.com/pilardesignsokc The Character Connection Co. (405) 777-2411 thecharacterco.com
F rom over-the-top cakes to crowd-pleasing entertainers and everything in between, this guide is packed with the bakeries, venues, party pros, and must-have supplies to turn your child’s birthday dreams into an unforgettable celebration. BY AMANDA MILLER
BAKERIES Allie’s Baking Boutique (405) 426-2900 621 S. Rock Island, El Reno alliesbakingboutique.com Cups N Cakes 16708 N. Penn. Ave., Edmond (405) 916-5788 cups-n-cakes-ok.com Eileen’s Colossal Cookies 9044 S. Sooner Rd, OKC (405) 455-5005 eileenscookies.com En Pointe Bakery & Sweets Yukon enpointebakery.com Harvey Bakery & Kitchen 301 NW 13th St., OKC (405) 898-8811 theharveybakery.com L’Arc Pậtisserie 9309 N. Penn. Ave., OKC (405) 838-4249 larcpatisserie.wixsite.com/ my-site-1 La Baguette Bistro 7408 N. May Ave., OKC (405) 840-3047 labaguettebistro.com Leko Pậtisserie 1021 SW 19th St., Moore (580) 808-5288 instagram.com/lekopatisserie Leo’s Cakery 2820 S. Goff Ave., OKC leoscakery.com
Mike’s Custom Cakes & Desserts (405) 240-1394
mikescustomcakes.com Nothing Bundt Cakes Multiple locations nothingbundtcakes.com OKC Sweets 7306 N. Western Ave., OKC (405) 882-7922 okcsweets.com Pie Junkie 1711 NW. 16th St., OKC (405) 605-8767 piejunkie.com Quincy Bake Shop 1135 N. Broadway Pl., Ste. D, OKC (405) 724-7038 quincybakeshop.com Raspberries N’ Crème 7606 N May Ave., OKC (405) 755-3560 raspberriesncreme.com Set it Off Eats & Treats OKC (405) 414-4040 setitoffeatsandtreats.com SusieCakes 5810 N. Classen Blvd., Ste. 3, OKC (405) 777-2253 susiecakes.com/locations/OKC Sweet Friends Bakery
savorokc.com Sign Gypsies (405) 428-3427
signgypsies.com Simply Sign It simplysignitok.com
VENUES Altitude 1291 6235 SE 15th St., Midwest City (405) 455-8386 altitude1291.com Andy B’s Bowl Social 11917 N Penn. Ave., OKC (405) 755-7575 bowlandybs.com Arcadia Lake 9000 E. Second, Arcadia
The Sanctuary Escape 7650 W. Reno Ave., OKC (405) 726-1022 thesanctuaryescape.com PARTY SUPPLIES Balloon Therapy OKC
309 S Bryant Ave., Ste. 120, Edmond (405) 216-3648
(405) 216-7470 edmondok.gov
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Arena51 Sports & Event Center 2205 S. Agnew, OKC (405) 492-7244 arena51fun.com Arctic Edge Ice Arena 14613 N. Kelly Ave., Edmond (405) 748-5454 arctic-edge.com Breakaway Indoor Playground 14350 N Lincoln Blvd., Ste. 218, Edmond (405) 286-4079 breakawayok.com Brickopolis 101 South Mickey Mantle Dr., OKC (405) 516-2745 brickopolisu.com Celebration Station 509 Westline Dr., OKC (405) 942-7888 celebrationstation.com/oklahoma- city-location/home Chaos Factory 2215 NW. 178th St., Ste. A, Edmond (405) 920-6400 chaosfactoryok.com Chester’s Party Barn & Farm 5201 Cimarron Rd. NW, Piedmont (405) 373-1595 chesterspartybarn.fun Color Me Mine 1632 24th Ave. NW, Norman (405) 364-1223 norman.colormemine.com Dodge City Paintball 16425 NW 150th St., Yukon (405) 373-3745 dodgecitypaintball.com Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge 421 NW 10th St., OKC (405) 609-3302 dustbowllounge.com Goldfish Swim School 10 NW 146th St., Edmond (405) 347-8383 goldfishswimschool.com/edmond HeyDay Entertainment Bricktown & Norman heydayfun.com iCode Edmond 2217 NW. 178th St., Ste. B, Edmond (405) 757-0500 icodeschool.com/edmond111
Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum 1714 W Wrangler Blvd., Seminole (405) 382-0950 jasminemoran.com/ birthday-parties KidStrong Edmond 3325 S. Boulevard, Edmond (405) 594-7853 edmond.kidstrong.com Jo’s Famous Pizza 900 S. Kelly Ave., Edmond (405) 340-7070 josfamouspizza.com Level Up Arcade 2001 W. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie (405) 466-8004 leveluparcadeok.com Mad Science of Central Oklahoma 575 Enterprise Dr., Edmond (405) 285-9643 okc.madscience.org Main Event 1441 W. Memorial Rd., OKC (405) 751-4900 mainevent.com/locations/ oklahoma/oklahoma-city Magnolias & Prayers: Everything Alpaca 2901 NW 16th, Newcastle (405) 412-4845 magnoliablossomranch.com Metro Gymnastics 7420 Broadway Ext., OKC (405) 848-5308 metrogymokc.com Mr. Gatti’s Pizza 9410 N. May Ave., OKC (405) 395-2844 mrgattispizza.com Myriad Botanical Gardens 301 W. Reno, OKC (405) 445-7080 myriadgardens.org/visit-us/ rentals/childrens-birthday-parties National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St., OKC (405) 478-2250 nationalcowboymuseum.org/
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden 2000 Remington Pl., OKC (405) 424-3344 okczoo.org Oklahoma City’s Incredible Food & Fun 5833 NW Expy., Warr Acres (405) 728-8360 incrediblefoodandfun.com/okc Oklahoma Railway Museum 3400 NE Grand Blvd., OKC (405) 424-8222 oklahomarailwaymuseum.org Paint Pals 11617 S. Western Ave., OKC (405) 508-0856 paintpalsokc.com Pelican Bay Aquatic Center 1034 S. Bryant, Edmond (405) 216-7649 pelicanbayaquatics.com RIVERSPORT 800 Riversport Dr., OKC (405) 552-4040 riversportokc.org/groups/ birthdays Sam Noble Museum: Oklahoma Museum of Natural History 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman (405) 325-7977 samnoblemuseum.ou.edu/ birthdays Science Museum Oklahoma 2020 Remington Pl., OKC (405) 602-6664 sciencemuseumok.org ScoreOKC 18509 N. Meridian Ave., Edmond (405) 920-2121 scoreokc.com Six Flags Frontier City 11501 N I-35 Service Rd., OKC sixflags.com/frontiercity Six Flags Hurricane Harbor 3908 W Reno Ave., OKC sixflags.com/ hurricaneharborokc Skate Galaxy OKC 5800 NW 36th St., OKC (405) 605-2758 skategalaxyokc.com SKELETONS Museum of Osteology 10301 S. Sunnylane Rd., OKC (405) 814-0006 skeletonmuseum.com
SoccerCity Oklahoma City 4520 Old Farm Rd., OKC (405) 748-3888 soccercityokcity.com Sooner Bowling Center 550 24th Ave. NW, Norman (405) 360-3634 soonerbowl.com Studio J Performing Arts Center 2241 NW. 178th St., Edmond (405) 348-3377 studiojdanceok.com Surge Adventure Park 24 E. 33rd St., Edmond (405) 216-3992 surgefun.com/locations/ oklahoma-city The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen 1004 N. Hudson, Ste. 106, OKC (405) 600-1991 thehallskitchen.com The Reverie Event Venue 9705 N. May Ave., Ste. 200, OKC (405) 777-2411 thereverieokc.com Threshold Climbing, Fitness & Yoga 6024 W. Memorial Rd., OKC (405) 470-3611 thresholdclimbing.com TopGolf Oklahoma City 13313 Pawnee Dr., OKC (405) 607-7154 topgolf.com/us/oklahoma-city UCO CO-OP Gaming Arena 101 N University Dr., Edmond (405) 974-2757 coopgamingarena.com Unpluggits Paint & Play 575 Enterprise Dr., Edmond (405) 340-7584 unpluggits.com Urban Air Adventure Park 2800 South Telephone Rd., Moore (405) 655-5805 urbanair.com/oklahoma-moore We Rock the Spectrum Edmond, Norman & Yukon
learn/birthday-parties Oklahoma Awesome Adventures 2647 East 2070 Rd., Hugo (580) 406-2485 oklahomaawesome adventures.com
werockthespectrum oklahomacity.com YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City Multiple locations ymcaokc.org
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The Overscheduled Childhood Are We Raising Successful Kids or Stressed Out Ones? BY AMANDA MILLER . B rrring! That’s the sound of the school bell ringing, signaling the end of the school day. But for
Why Parents Say Yes There are several benefits to participating in these activities, from developing time management and prioritization skills to learning teamwork and how to handle both winning and losing. Many parents see these activities as valuable opportunities for their children to build character and grow into more well-rounded individuals. Then there’s the comparison to other children and the fear of their own kids falling behind, adding even more pressure to participate. Kodi Brown, M.Ed., Ed.S., a behavior specialist and parent educator, says today’s families are facing a different kind of pressure than previous generations. “There is now enormous cultural pressure to ensure children are constantly engaged in sports, tutoring, extracurriculars, and enrichment programs,” she explains. “Parents often fear that if their child slows down, they may fall behind socially, academically, or developmentally.” Shelton shares that most parents do feel that pressure. “There’s the feeling that, ‘If I don’t put them in the club sport and they don’t get that training, will they make the middle school or the high school team? Are they going to be as prepared as their friends?’ That’s a giant guess we’re making sometimes. You don’t want your kid to show up and not be ready, but looking back now, there are God-given talents some kids are going to have regardless of elite training, and so they’re going to have that edge on your kid no matter what you do with your kid.” At the heart of it, most parents say yes to activities because they don’t want their children to miss out on opportunities, and they’re making those decisions with good intentions. When Busy Becomes Too Much Mom of four Scarlett Pourciau’s children are
involved in a variety of sports and activities. She encourages families to be intentional about the activities they choose, trying new things while also “protecting the schedule.” When the busyness becomes too much for children, the signs are clear. She’s seen it in her own home through tears and tempers. According to Brown, “Children respond to overload in very different ways. Some children become emotionally explosive, while others completely shut down.” Brown shares some common signs to look for: ● Meltdowns over seemingly small situations ● Increased irritability or emotional sensitivity ● Frequent frustration or anger ● Withdrawal or emotional shutdown ● Difficulty transitioning between activities ● Sleep problems or exhaustion ● Increased anxiety or perfectionism ● Complaints of headaches or stomachaches ● Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed ● Resistance to attending practices, lessons, or events
46 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JULY-AUGUST 2026 schedules create nonstop busyness and often leave families juggling unpredictable days. Michelle Shelton, a mom of three, shares that her family doesn’t have a typical week. “It depends on what sport is in season and what activity is going on. Then you shift to the summer schedule, which can be just as crazy as to who’s going when and where. If I was going to describe a typical week, it’s a lot of activity,” she says. many students, it’s only the beginning of a marathon of after-school activities, sports, and enrichment programs — not to mention squeezing in homework, dinner, showers, and a full eight hours of sleep before doing it all over again the next day. This is what modern childhood looks like: jam-packed, fast-moving, and exhausting. It’s teaching them discipline, teamwork, and life skills. But it also leads us to one important question: Are we actually raising successful children, or simply stressing them out? Childhood on a Schedule Today’s children have access to a myriad of extracurricular activities. From sports and the arts to educational opportunities and school clubs, their schedules are often a beast to manage. For some families, those busy afternoons and weekends consist of baseball, basketball, dance, cheerleading, theatre, and more, along with the countless hours of practice needed to thrive in those chosen activities. Did we mention game times too? These packed
The Role of Boredom & Unstructured Time
Downtime is not wasted time. Just as there are benefits to participating in activities, there are also benefits to simply being. According to Brown, “Unstructured time is incredibly important for child development. Free play, rest, imagination, and even boredom help children build emotional regulation, creativity, problem-solving skills, independence, frustration tolerance, and social confidence.” Pourciau even recalls a recent vacation when she and her husband loved keeping a full itinerary, while their children expressed a desire to slow down, relax, and simply sit on
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