From Art to Zoos: Seattle Summer Mini-Adventures for Kids

The rest of the world has New Year’s resolutions. We Northwesterners have summer resolutions. We start summer so very ambitiously, making up lists of camping trips, cabin trips, day trips, must-do parks, picnic sites and playgrounds. Then reality sets in: We haven’t booked the campsites in time. Or

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Puppy Love: Your Child's First Crush

It’s not easy to be young and in love; ask any preteen girl. Most likely, she’s obsessing right now over a boy in her class — a boy who thinks having a girlfriend is cool, but is frankly more interested in who’ll be playing basketball with him after school.The gender gap is only one of the hurdles t

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Caught in the Act? What to Do When Your Kids Walk in on You Having Sex

Ah, sweet bedtime. The kiddos are tuckered out and tucked in. You’re (miraculously) still awake. Even better, you’ve finally stolen a moment alone with your spouse. Things get amorous, and you’re too caught up in the moment to notice the sound of little feet padding down the hall. “Mommy? Daddy?”

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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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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

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Brutal Blitz: Protecting Tweens From On-Screen Violence

At first glance, Colby Burch of Dupont, Wash., seems like any other 11-year-old boy. He enjoys school, hanging out with his friends and playing with his little sister, Bailey, 3. But one family rule sets Colby apart: He’s not allowed to play the violent video games, like Call of Duty, that are popu

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They Won’t Play With Me! What to Do When Your Child is Left Out

We’d all like our kids to thrive in academics, the arts, sports and citizenship. Here’s another item to add to our wish list for their success: friendship. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), those early social bonds are highly important. “Friends help define personality and indep

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Family Traditions: Finding Meaning, Joy and Community

Between the juggling of homework, careers, soccer and nightly dinners, family life just gets busy. Desperately seeking some quality one-on-one time with their kids, Tacoma residents Meilee and KC Anderson each take one of their children, ages 5 and 14, on a monthly date night: ice skating, opera, a

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