Falling for Color: Five Fall Family Hikes in Greater Seattle

With summer a fading memory, hiking might be the last thing on your mind. But don’t pack up the kids’ hiking boots just yet. Autumn is a terrific season to hit the trail. Our wildlands are bursting with fall color right now — hues of flame red, bright orange and soft yellow. Summer crowds have dwin

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Too Much Tech? Tweens and Screen Addiction

Libby Boggs of Olympia says her 10-year-old son, Drake, watches about four hours of television daily: two shows and a movie, plus another hour of video games on the Xbox. If that number sounds high, it’s not. Drake’s techno time actually clocks in several hours below average. According to the Kaiser

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Ten Ideas for Shaping up School Lunches

The return to school means a new round of schedules, homework and hassles; but worse for some is the return to the grind of making school lunches every day. Although a seemingly innocuous task, making lunches that kids will actually eat ranks near the top of the list of daily drudgery for many of us

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Back-to-School Cool: Mom-Approved Style Trends for Tween Boys

Style PointsBoys in this age bracket will be itching to look like their older role models, so let them dress similarly. Don’t opt for anything over the top, sticking to plaid button-downs and plain tees. Plenty of athletic gear is essential, especially a great shoe he can show off to his buddies. Me

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Back-to-School Cool: Mom-Approved Style Trends for Tween Girls

Style PointsTweens are by definition in a transitional age group, and that is extremely evident in their choice of style. When shopping for your tween girl, remember this important rule of thumb: Think more toward teenager than child when it comes to selecting their clothes. Colors and prints are hu

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Back-to-School Cool: Mom-Approved Style Trends for Kids

Since your child’s clothes usually don’t last two years — they are constantly growing, after all — it’s time to start shopping, updating their wardrobe for the coming school year. And just like the trends you see in magazines that make you want to whip out your credit card, your kids’ clothing comes

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Whose Pet Is It, Anyway? Getting Your Kids to Walk the Walk (and Walk the Dog)

We know pets can be man’s best friend, but can they be your child’s best teacher? Wet dog kisses and warm kitty cuddles aren’t the only things kids gain from furry friends. Caring for pets fosters responsibility and a whole lot more. “Loving something that needs you and depends on you teaches empath

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Teen Volunteers: Enriching Animals' Lives, Elevating Their Own

For animal-loving teens, volunteering with man’s best friend can be a richer experience than simply owning a pet. In the Woodinville 4-H Puppy Power group, for example, teens raise puppies to be service dogs. “Emmalyn is completely in charge and responsible for her puppy,” says Snohomish mother Ann,

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