Raising Moral Kids: Nurturing Kids' Character and Conscience

Molly and Justin Sousley of Ballard were caught off guard when their 6-year-old daughter, Jillian, suddenly displayed some unwelcome traits: cheating, fibbing and poor sportsmanship. During family game nights, Jillian would regularly alter the game’s rules to give herself an edge and throw a fit if

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Playing Favorites: Do We Treat Our Kids Differently?

If you’re like most parents, you place a pretty high value on “equality,” which, in the parenting universe, means treating all your children the same. That concept is reinforced by practically everyone: your friends, your parents and probably most of all, your own children. Who hasn’t heard the rall

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Sibling Rivalry: Keeping the Peace During Playdates

Playdates were anything but playful for Piper Leslie’s two older children, 10-year-old Kaylee and 9-year-old Kyle. “When we first started playdates, Kaylee was usually the one to have friends over,” says the Olympia mom. “Kyle has Asperger’s syndrome and has a harder time making friends, and I never

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Bossy Kids: How to Handle Your Take-Charge Child

Your preschooler is at it again: negotiating a bigger dessert, telling other kids how to play a game and refusing to do things someone else’s way. Though you might feel like you’ve got a little dictator on your hands, take heart. What you have is a child with a take-charge type of personality, and

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Helping Your Child Overcome Separation Anxiety

During my son’s first year, my husband and I were proud that we could hand him off to almost anyone and he was fine, happy even. Then I read that separation anxiety was an expected milestone for this age. Cue parental worry. “Have we had too many people care for him?” we wondered. “Shouldn’t he cl

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Secure Attachment: The Best Gift That You Can Give Your Child

When the average Joe and Jane Parent identify the most important ingredients in raising healthy kids, they’ll mention “love” at the top of the list every time. When you ask child psychologists this same question, they instead use the term “secure attachment.” Since even abusive parents state that t

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Child Stars: Reaching for the Sky with Both Feet on the Ground

Has your kid caught the acting bug? Does she show star potential? Or are you the only one who thinks she lights up the room? Seattle has a wealth of professional theaters and training programs geared specifically for kids and designed to nurture budding talent. We even have a few child stars of ou

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Kid’s Health: Food Allergies, Diet and Child Behavior

When Jodi Sternoff Cohen of Seattle became overwhelmed by her then-4-year-old son’s hyperactivity — and his recurring bouts of vomiting, rashes and ear infections — she searched for solutions in every parenting class and book she could get her hands on. And yet, no matter which method or approach sh

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