Recent Articles
Childhood Obesity: How Did So Many Kids Get So Overweight?
The most noticeable thing about looking at pictures from the ’80s—aside from identifying fashion that has made a comeback on Capitol Hill hipsters—is what you don’t see. Large people are noticeably absent, and extremely large people nearly nonexistent. It isn’t just the rose-colored glasses of nost
Read More »
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
Read More »
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
Read More »
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
Read More »
Basketball, Legos and Oz: 17 Winter Break Camps in Greater Seattle
You’ve noticed that Christmas and New Year’s fall on Tuesdays this year — fairly fuben, as our friends across the Pacific might say. (That’s Japanese for “inconvenient,” folks.) Nevertheless, parents need to work and kids need to get their rainy winter wiggles out. Fortunately, our regional camp pro
Read More »
15 Thanksgiving Crafts and Activities for Kids
Thanksgiving Harvest Royalty Got a house full of young harvest royals? (Don't we all?) Check out MADE's fun idea for making harvest crowns with your kids. They're quick and easy, yet'll offer plenty of creative play! Fabricate your crowns with poster board, fake leaves (or real, perhaps!), and an
Read More »
10 Thanksgiving Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Kids
Cheerful Turkeys Lian Mama Obento shares this terrific Thanksgiving-themed lunch idea for turning a simple bagel and cream cheese into quite possibly the most cheerful turkey that you'll ever see. Those smiley eyes are just irresistible! Perfect for a pre-Thanksgiving lunch box treat, this tasty l
Read More »
Play Nice! Bullying, Playground Politics and How to Help Kids Make Friends
On the first day of preschool, Issaquah mom Megan Thomas watched as her 4-year-old son, Aiden, tried to make friends. He was “the new boy” — most of the children in his class had been together the previous year. For nearly a month, Aiden was left out during free play time. “He brought it up with my
Read More »