Recent Articles
What parents say - and what kids hear
There were more than a few verbal misfires that happened as I was raising my two children. I don’t recall them all, but I’m sure I told my kids it was cold when they said they were hot; that their class was exciting when they claimed they were bored; that their clothes were cool when they clearly t
Read More »Acceptance key for children with disabilities
For most people, the circle is a symbol of belonging, of connections and clasped hands. For families whose children often don't fit in, however, circles can look more like fences. Any line leaves someone in and someone out. In this story, families share their view from the outside of some of those c
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Exploring Puget Sound low tides: Summer science fun for kids
A summer low tide on Puget Sound is something else. The water scrolls away from a high-tide line marked by frizzled nests of dried seaweed, exposing an impossibly broad beach studded with rocks, barnacle-encrusted pier pylons and the occasional piece of rusting machinery. You want to follow the retr
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First Lessons in Responsibility for Toddlers
Some toddlers love vacuum cleaners, others love pots and pans. 18-month-old Taylor Kenoyer of Kirkland is fascinated by the refrigerator. His mother made the most of this attraction; one of Taylor's first lessons in cleaning up involved the fridge. Megan Kenoyer says that for her son, putting his m
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Choosing a pet for your preschooler
Whether you have no pets or many, it is nearly inevitable that your preschooler will ask for one, or another one. If he has a cat, he wants a dog; and if he has both, he wants a hamster or a pony. If your family is ready for a new pet, it can be a great experience for your little one, and there a
Read More »Help your preschooler control toy chaos
Matchbox cars, Polly Pockets, Transformers, Barbies, Bionicles, Legos, stuffed animals -- preschoolers love them, but keeping all those little pieces and parts completely organized can seem impossible. Many parents wonder if there are ways to control the chaos. No matter how overwhelming the task
Read More »'Child-centered' learning key to school readiness
Think back to your fifth-grade classroom. Chances are, your experience was more Ferris Bueller than Summerhill School. You sat at your desk and tried to stay attentive while your teacher droned on (and on) about places and dates you didn't remember two weeks later. "Very few people actually learn t
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Tater tots: New ideas for picky eaters
You’d think that we’d have it down by now. After all, we’ve been in the business of feeding our kids for a long time. But the same tired old questions keep cropping up: Why can’t we get our kids to eat vegetables? How bad are chips and pop, anyway? Is chicken soup really good for the soul? When I
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