The Science Behind Baby Gear

Decision fatigue It is a scene parodied frequently in movies and TV shows: A cheerfully naïve parent enters a big-box baby store, the flame of her confidence quickly extinguished by the towering aisles of baby gear... The daunting prospect of trying to make the right choice from an entire wall of b

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How to Make a Home Eco-Friendly, Green and Safe for Kids

I’m a nester. I rearrange rooms in my spare time, fantasize about buying furniture I won’t be able to afford for at least 30 years (if ever), and spend weekends painting walls and messaging Etsy sellers about accessories. But the more I learn about the products, the more complicated being a nester

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Run, Baby, Run! Jogging with Baby in Greater Seattle

It was the day I realized we were on a first-name basis with practically every duck and goose that lives along our local recreation path that I knew my toddler and I needed a new route for jogging. While we adore Green Lake’s 2.8-mile loop in North Seattle for its kid-friendly stops (one of the area

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8 Crafty Routine Charts for Chores, Bedtime, Out the Door and More

Days go by Is your little one always asking you when? This magnetic board featured over at So You Think You’re Crafty is aimed at helping kids understand the days of the week. Petite picture magnets made from clip art and magnet tape, vinyl stickers, a magnet board, and a wooden star (or other fun

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Kids Don't Have to Get Cavities: When and How to Start Caring for a Child's Teeth

As a dentist and mother of young children, I get lots of questions from parents about how to take care of baby teeth. This tells me that parents are increasingly aware that oral health is an important part of their child’s overall health.  In the past, baby teeth were often ignored because they fall

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Vaccines: What You Need to Know

It’s time to ask ourselves, how much more evidence do we need to convince parents that vaccinations are safe?In 2011, the National Academy of Sciences announced the results of an examination of more than 1,000 research studies on vaccine safety. The 600-page report boils down to one conclusion: Whil

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25 Surefire Indoor Play Ideas from a Preschool Teacher's Bag of Tricks

Northwest kids are used to gearing up to go outside: hats, jackets, rain boots and gloves. But sometimes, staying inside is the only option, and you need a quick game plan for fun. Here's my grab bag of easy kids’ activities I’ve gathered from teaching Pre-K in Seattle. Toys, technology, and rules

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Our Princess Boys: Breaking Gender Norms With Toys and Tiaras

Seattle author Cheryl Kilodavis was taken aback when her son Dyson, age 2 at the time, began gravitating toward dolls, “dress up” and jewelry. Initially, she tried redirecting him to the trucks and balls that her older son liked to play with, without much success. “The way that I explain it is that

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