Family Activities + Advice for Greater Seattle Parents | ParentMap

young girl hopping across bright play structure at a new playground opening this weekend in Seattle

Seasonal Fun

The Weekender: Family Fun Ideas for May 8–10

mom and daughter celebrating Mother's Day in Seattle with a farm picnic

Seasonal Fun

Super Mom! Family Activities and Events for Mother’s Day 2026

Andrea with her great nephew

Parent Stories

A Field Trip to the ‘Jewelry-Er’

School kids placing putting phones away during class

Apps + Tech

Seattle Public Schools’ New Cell Phone Policy Takes Effect

Two kids sailing in small vessel

Sports

Protect Kids and Teens From Cold Water Shock Drowning

woman sitting on a couch with a cup of coffee and a book

Holidays

The Best Gifts to Buy Yourself for Mother’s Day

tree kangaroo in the new forest trailhead exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo

City Adventures

New Forest Trailhead Exhibit Opens at Woodland Park Zoo

dad talking to kid about generative AI

Apps + Tech

Tips for Talking to Children About Generative AI

student leaning against locker, looking sad, worried about end of the school year

Mental Health

Recognizing and Responding to Kids’ End-Of-School Anxiety

A girl with flowers in her hair participates in a May Day pole dance

Seasonal Fun

25 Free Family Activities in May Around Seattle and Beyond

teacher-getting-gifts-from-students

Elementary

The Best Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas, According to Teachers

kids at a preschool with parent

Preschool

7 Simple Tips for Finding the Perfect Preschool

Dale Chihuly art installation on the second floor of Union Station

Arts + Entertainment

5 Stops for the Perfect Artsy Day Out in Tacoma

Teenage girl sharing problems with her mother, credit iStock

Everything Parents Need to Navigate Kids’ Mental Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In partnership with Seattle Children’s, ParentMap has compiled essential resources to help parents support kids’ emotional well-being.

ParentMap's May 2026 magazine cover

The new ParentMap is here!

Read our May issue

Puget Sound Family Fun Calendar

The best family activities in Seattle and around the Sound.

May

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StoryWalk at Lake Wilderness Arboretum

May

8

Ai Weiwei: Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads

May

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May

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Asian American Pacific Islander Community Days at the Seattle Aquarium

May

8

Bubble Planet Experience

May

8

Tot Shabbat at the J

May

8

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Mother’s Day Plant Sale

May

8

Free Admission at Foss Water Seaport

May

8

Free Admission at the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum

May

8

North Seattle Tot Shabbat

May

8

Open Dance & Play at All That Dance

May

8

Moomins' Sea Adventures & Tove and the Sea

Spring

Longer days and family fun

girl taking photos of tulip fields during spring break

Seasonal Fun

Spring Break Outings for Families Around Seattle

two kids walk on a hiking trail on a spring hike near Seattle

The Great Outdoors

Best Spring Hikes in the Seattle Area for Kids and Families

dad with daughter on shoulders at a spring family festival

Seasonal Fun

Fantastic (and Mostly Free) Spring Festivals for Families

young child at putt putt mini golf course near Seattle on a rainy day, an indoor activity for families

Indoor Play

The Ultimate Rainy Day Guide to Indoor Activities in Seattle and the Eastside

Editor's Picks

Pssst! We think you'll like these

family of four full of joy

Parent Stories

Puget Sound Parents Share Ways They Add Joy to Their Busy Days

Simple tips that help parents conjure little moments of happiness with their kids

By: Tonya Strickland | Apr 28, 2026

little boy feeling sick in car seat

Travel

Road Trip Survival Guide: Motion Sickness Remedies to Help Kids Feel Better

Help everyone feel their best with these car sickness remedies

By: Kari Hanson | Apr 09, 2026

boy sleeping in bedroom

Sleep

10 Tips to Improve Sleep and Reduce Anxiety

Simple, practical ways to create a calm, clutter-free bedroom that helps kids rest, reset and feel at ease

By: Moriah Love | Apr 02, 2026