July 2017 by ParentMap

’cause

parenting is a trip!

Let’s play! Conley Law-Rudge, age 7, and other kids rule the road at a Seattle Play Street event

GAME ON We’re making the case for play, from tech to outdoor fun newsletter inside

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WALKING DOWN MEMORY LANE

Readers share favorite memories of playing as kids 6

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Near and far, playgrounds that dare to be scary 14

FAMILY DIRECTORY INSIDE

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inside

JULY 2017

JIAYING GRYGIEL

play along

Parenting

Throughout this issue, look for the bouncing ball for a fun idea to get out and play

5 DEAR READER

We’re all about play this issue

6 ASKED AND ANSWERED

Favorite childhood play memories

2 2 CUT THIS OUT

8 ways to have more fun with your family

The case for play Feature 8 G ROWING A ‘PLAYBORHOOD’

From Play Streets to out-of-the-box backyards, getting back to free outdoor play

14 A DVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS, AHOY! The Northwest tests European play zones

Ages + Stages

34 SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW

25 A GES 0–2 AND 3–5

Out + About

31 A GES 6–10

Lawrence Cohen advocates for making parenting playful

16+21 JULY CALENDAR

Advertising Sections

12–13 Indoor Play Spaces 17–20 S eattle Children’s Good

Growing Health Newsletter

22–24 Schools + Preschools 30–35 Camps + Activities

The scientific case for play How playtime boosts learning

Where tech fits in Because screens aren’t going anywhere

FAMILY DIRECTORY INSIDE

31 COVER PHOTO BY JIAYING GRYGIEL

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What’s your favorite memory of play as a kid?

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My sister and I love video games where we can play at the same time. We’re particularly fans of the Lego series of games (no blood, just bricks). We’ve spent hours roaming the Millennium Falcon, Gotham and Hogwarts exploring, building and laughing.

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We’d make fake dog poops out of this big pile of wet dirt, place 12:23 PM them one by one on neighbors’ doorsteps, ring the bell and run and hide.

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One of my grandmothers had a cabin on a lake. I loved to wade in the water to get a good-sized heavy rock and then go dive off the deep end of the dock with it and let the rock carry me down to the bottom. Once I grew up I was disappointed to realize the “deep” only came up to my ears.

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Play really happened best in our family when we escaped the city to our grandparents’ summer cottage where life was one block long, from beach to dinner at the Roadhouse.

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ParentMap July 2017, Vol. 15, No. 7 PUBLISHER/EDITOR Alayne Sulkin

Girl Scout camps! Cheap, free of parents and running wild with a pack of girls. I cherished those weeks of camping, canoeing and sailing, when I got to test my mettle in nature. The pranks on the counselors were fun, too.

note

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Child’s play

“Great family experience!”

y family of origin moved a lot when I was growing up (six times “…my kids loved the from kindergarten to sixth grade), but a steadying constant was the hands on activities.” stretch of every summer that we spent at my grandparents’ house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My two sisters and I listened to my grandmother’s stories, warded off the heat with swims at my aunt’s apartment pool and — best of O P E N N O W – S E P T. 4 all — played flashlight tag and many other games with the four boys who just pacsci.org happened to also be visiting their grandparents, who lived next door to ours. Decades later I learned that (of course) our two grandmothers had actually coordinated our visits so we would have playmates. I love this story not only because it reminds me of the simplicity of a magical childhood memory — kids right next door, ready to play — but also because Local Major Sponsors: Visit Seattle and Office of Arts & Culture - Seattle it reminds me a little of Seattle. Media Sponsors: After a rain-soaked winter and KOMO News and Seattle Refined spring, we are all getting outside Additional support provided by Alaska Airlines and The Boeing Company and finding our summer friends again. And like my sisters and me, our children (definitely including my 7-year-old only kid) need a presented by by 0717_pacific_science_center_1-4.indd 1 presented little social engineering to help make the dream of an old-school The author (bottom right) with her sisters and mom on a long-ago summer day “playborhood” happen (see p. 8). Creating a “playborhood” (to borrow a term from neighborhood play champion and author Mike Lanza) is just one of the seriously fun topics we cover in this issue devoted to all aspects of kids’ play. In an era when unstructured outdoor play is on the decline; when the lure of the great indoors has never been stronger; and when the evidence has never been more compelling about how critical play is to kids’ health and development, it seemed like a good time to size up our 21st-century playscape. take out tuesdays In this issue, you’ll find out why a play-based curriculum helps the littlest 12-1 pm Kent Station Plaza kids learn about perspective, emotional regulation and cooperation (p. 25). weds picnic performances You’ll get excited about the slow rise of European-style adventure playgrounds 12-1 pm Town Square Plaza in the Northwest (p. 14). And you’ll explore why a little screen time is a good thing and find out what type of video games leverage the power of play most fully (p. 31). Finally, it turns out even some of parenting’s most challenging moments can be solved with fun and games. Psychologist Lawrence Cohen, author of Playful Parenting (“Someone you should know,” p. 34), builds a case for skipping timeouts and lectures for play. “Conversation is not at the center of how [kids] connect and form a bridge with someone else,” he says. “There’s basic primal affection and love — and there’s play.”

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parentmap.com • July 2017

play along

we asked, you answered

Find a fort or treehouse parentmap. com/fort

What’s your favorite memory of play as a kid? These responses are from readers like you. They’ve been slightly edited for brevity and clarity. We’d make a picnic of dandelion and burdock and snacks and go to a den in the woods by a stream and pretend we were the famous five on an adventure. I love the freedom we had just to be with friends in nature. — Rachel M., Sammamish

I spent endless hours in the community pool. At the end of the day, I’d have wrinkled fingers and be shivering but still not want to get out of the water! — Dawn A., Seattle

We once spent hours digging a very substantial pile of dirt, dreaming of making it into a swimming pool. When it was time to come in the for the day, my mom stood me in the bathtub and poured a bucket or two of water over my head and let it drain. Then she filled the tub a few inches and I swished around in it a few times. Then I was finally clean enough to take an actual bath! — Greta H., Edmonds We loved climbing to the tippy top of the 70-foot fir tree

I was lucky enough to have cousins and neighbor kids all around the same age living on our block. We lived on a dead-end street so there was a lot of playing catch or riding bikes on the street without any traffic. And if a slowmoving car had to pass us, we’d all yell “Car!” and step to the side. I remember fondly that we were raised as a group of about eight families

in the woods near our house, walking through the swamp to catch frogs, building tree forts and following deer tracks. — Anne M., Seattle As a kid, I loved to roller skate. My skates were clunky but indestructible. I felt so free. — Natasha M., Seattle

all taking care of one another’s children. — Melanie L., Bothell

I remember one summer night at my cousins’ house. We could hear the croaks of frogs

and decided to catch them. Pretty soon we had caught enough to fill half of a 5-gallon bucket! — Katie K., Seattle

July 2017 • parentmap.com

The best part of my childhood summer? No supervision. I’m not sure what our parents did with their quiet evenings but they never checked on us. I’m sure they could hear us laughing and playing as the day turned dark. — Mary M., Bothell

All of us kids had the run of the neighborhood. Our parents would just blow a whistle when it was dinner time. The rest of

the day was free for playing outside. — Cindy S., Seattle

We had some great vine maples in the backyard that were bent and springy — nature’s trampoline! We would climb and bounce and bounce on these. Falling wasn’t a problem; there were too many branches to catch you! Trees are the best, and these natives were super fun. — Michelle T., Seattle

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feature

Growing a ‘playborhood’ From Play Streets to out-of-the-box backyards, getting back to play By Elisa Murray

n a recent summery spring evening, I was at a Seattle park with a friend, watching our 6- and 7-year-old boys bounce around a playground and talking about the way we used to play as kids. Lisa, a secondgeneration Korean-American, had spent much of her suburban Connecticut childhood playing with friends in the woods and climbing trees — as high as possible. “Like that,” she said, pointing to a nearby tree — 50 feet or so tall, spiked with branches up to the top. “My mother didn’t have a clue,” she added. Child’s play has changed. Kids play outdoors less (up to half as much as their parents, according to several studies), roam less and are watched more. Child obesity is up, physical activity is down. Meanwhile, research piles up about the benefits of unstructured outdoor play — from

July 2017 • parentmap.com

physical strength and motor skills to improved executive function and emotional regulation to a lifelong connection with nature. The decline of outdoor play isn’t news. We talk about it, and books have been written about it (the seminal text is Richard Louv’s 2005 Last Child in the Woods). And many of us Northwest parents are on it: We proudly hike and bike and camp, watching kids play for hours in the woods. But when we go old-school at home and kick our kids outside, they drift back in, complaining that there’s no one to play with and nothing to do. (And of course, many of us don’t have a place to kick our kids outside to.) So, what’s a nature-loving, time-limited Puget Sound–area parent to do? Mike Lanza has an explanation and an answer.

The Silicon Valley dad of three and author of Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play, a practical handbook for reactivating neighborhood-based play, acknowledges the many factors that have contributed to the decline of kid-generated outdoor play: busy schedules, twocareer families, safety fears. But he also spotlights a reason that’s less talked about: competition. “Decades ago, free play in neighborhoods was practically the only option for children looking for something to do. Today, though, children have the internet, lifelike video games, hundreds of television channels, dozens of structured activities and relentless marketing messages that draw them into malls and stores.” And because kids (not surprisingly) want to play with other kids, it’s a downward spiral.

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Climb high at Puget Sound’s best playgrounds parentmap.com /playgrounds

Left to right: A Seattle girl draws during a Play Street event (Seattle Department of Transportation); William and Oliver Schlichting have a water gun fight in North Seattle, while their street is shut for play (JiaYing Grygiel); one of Mike Lanza’s sons jumps from fort to trampoline (Nicole Scarborough).

is right next door Neighborhoods, Lanza says, have got to get their game back. “The big task,” he says, “is to make that neighborhood into a comfortable, warm, inviting place where parents can feel comfortable stepping back.” Not all neighborhoods are equal, of course. Some are “playborhoods” by design, with sidewalks, front porches, quiet streets. Others have busy traffic, no sidewalks, crime. The good news: A grass-roots movement of city planners and play activists, as well as community-minded parents, are identifying steps that almost any neighborhood can take to promote connections and safe play. And summer, when outdoor fun is at its peak, is a great time to pilot a new play project.

Shut

down the street

“Wheeee!” At 5:30 p.m. on a Friday, a crew of six kids, mounted on a motley collection of scooters, balance bikes, trikes and two-wheelers, takes turns flying down a short, gently sloped driveway and across the street. It’s Play Streets night in this North Seattle neighborhood of close-in wood and brick houses. From about 5 to 8 p.m., a stretch of two usually busy blocks just off N. 85th Street, often used by cars as a shortcut to Green Lake, is shut down to vehicle traffic — marked by trash cans at one end and a barricade at the other. In other words, for one night a week, a 2-year-old and his red balance bike can rule the road right there in front of his house, while his

parents do something almost as rare: hang out. “Most of the time, we’re standing around chatting, which is nice because we never get to do that,” says Wendy Law, a biomedical research administrator and mom of two who started this Play Street last fall. She had heard about the 3-year-old municipal program, which allows city residents to apply for a permit to shut down a non-arterial block for several hours as often as three times a week. After Law discussed it with neighbors at a neighborhood summer block party, the residents decided to try it. Different neighbors take turns putting out and monitoring street barricades, an important role for a successful Play Street. On a warm evening, as many as 20 kids may be out riding bikes, playing soccer, drawing with chalk and playing games. >> parentmap.com • July 2017

feature

Growing a ‘playborhood’ continued from page 9

Be out there

Teddy McGlynn-Wright, who lives in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood, has a 4-year-old daughter, Charlie, who likes doing something that’s not done much anymore: popping in on neighbors. The family — Teddy, wife Annie, Charlie and toddler Theo — will be on a nightly walk, when Charlie will want to say hello. “It’s kind of uncomfortable,” says McGlynn-Wright with a laugh. “She’ll knock on neighbors’ doors, even though she is not usually an extrovert.” Sometimes, there’s no response. But other times, a kid comes out to play. For McGlynn-Wright, who works in Seattle’s Office for Civil Rights and was an early supporter of Tiny Trees outdoor preschool, these small steps are important to build connections in their neighborhood. “It has so many hills … you’re really close to neighbors, but it feels like you’re really far away,” he says. In Playborhood, Lanza lists dozens of other ways that families can “be out there.” A biggie is to make the front yard, not the back, your hangout area.

July 2017 • parentmap.com

ELISA MURRAY

Law says that the weekly tradition is stitching closer bonds on a street where casual interactions can be infrequent, partly because of schedules and partly because of street design (traffic is busy, and front yards are small and not play-friendly). Building neighborhood cohesion and, by proxy, safety, were among the goals of the city’s Play Streets initiative, which started as a Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) pilot project in 2014. “It’s important to have open spaces where we can play and get to know each other,” says Brian Henry, a SDOT program development supervisor. And it’s equitable. “Play Streets is a great example because it can happen in nearly every neighborhood.” The program is growing; 350 streets have applied for permits since it began. You can even apply for a Play Street permit for a street that you don’t live on; plus, it’s free to apply. (Find out how to apply at seattle.gov/transportation/ playstreets.htm.) Play Streets aren’t always successful, of course. Neighbors might not be on board, or it might not attract enough participants; on Law’s street they’ve dealt with irate drivers trying to pass through. But it is an example of a regular community ritual that can create informal play connections. If your city doesn’t have an official program for closing streets to traffic (or you find Play Streets doesn’t work for you), set aside a regular time to gather in a yard or park. Summer is an ideal time to start a “Friday play day” that might extend through the school year. An annual ritual can also pay off. Some Puget Sound neighborhoods band together for an annual progressive dinner, multi-family volleyball tournament or even a pig roast.

Two girls at Woodland Park Cooperative School’s junkyard playground

Adding fun features to the front yard, planting a garden in the parking strip and installing benches so people can sit all contribute to a neighborhood culture of spontaneous play. Families that live in apartments might have a courtyard that can double as a play area. Linnea Westerlind, author of Discovering Seattle Parks, says that alleys behind many busy urban streets can become the “new cul-de-sac.” Some housing developments, such as Snoqualmie Ridge or Tehaleh in Bonney Lake, actively incorporate (and market) elements of play-friendly design, including sidewalks, trails, playgrounds and regular events. It can take time. Robin Bailey, a mom of four who lives in an Olympia neighborhood with few young families, has done many of the things Lanza suggests. But the response has been slow. “It’s a long game, not a short game,” she says.

Think

outside the cardboard box

Visitors to Woodland Park Cooperative School in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood can be forgiven for confusing its outdoor play space with a junkyard. The small, hilly space, which adjoins Fremont Baptist Church, is strewn with ladders, tires, pallets, logs, plastic pipes and even an upside-down shopping cart. Natural materials also abound: tree trunk rounds, stumps, logs, garden boxes and a two-level sandbox with a pump at the top. On a cloudy Thursday afternoon, a group of 3- and 4-year-olds joyously play with all of it. One kid operates the pump, while another carefully walks across a log beam. One child hammers nails into scrap wood at the workbench while two others swing in unison on a metal swing set. The most fun is watching two small girls in pink dresses climb up a concrete slab built into the side of the yard, using a rope ladder to give them traction. What is this magic? It’s loose parts: a staple concept of early childhood

play along

Play hide and seek with painted rocks parentmap.com /rocks

• • • • • • • • •

ways to prompt outdoor play

1 Join or start a community group. Buy Nothing groups, neighborhood Facebook groups, local babysitting co-ops, community gardens, meet-up groups like Hike It Baby — these are all purposeful ways to make connections with local families. 2

Let the loose parts flow. Collect (safe) reclaimed material for kids to build with, from cardboard boxes to sticks and logs.

SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Live out front. Invest in your front yard (or apartment courtyard) as a place for play and hanging out. Or take down backyard fences.

Invest in one big thing.

If you have space, invest in a play feature that will keep kids busy for years, from a safe trampoline to a multi-kid swing (see HearthSong for cool examples) to a pingpong table. Find more reader-tested ideas for outdoor toys at parentmap.com/outdoor-toys.

5 Make a patch of nearby nature yours. Destination hikes are great, but a small patch of green space with plenty of loose parts (sticks, water, stones) is better for everyday play. 6

Schedule unscheduled time. If you can’t do a Play Street, set up a weekly park date dedicated to a solid block of free play.

7 Teach pick-up games: Lenore Skenazy, author of FreeRange Kids, refers to games as the “language of childhood.” 8

Go camping: Camping gives kids (and parents) a swath of unplugged outdoor play that can carry over to everyday life. Find tips on top last-minute campsites at parentmap.com/ no-reservations and parentmap.com/last-minute-camping.

Find camps or child care where outdoor play is the norm. Day camps and preschools such as Woodland Park

Cooperative School, Wilderness Awareness School and Tiny Trees dedicate all or much of the day to outdoor play. See parentmap.com/nature.

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parentmap.com • July 2017

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feature

Growing a ‘playborhood’ continued from page 10

3 reasons to beat the heat this summer We love making the most of the Pacific Northwest’s fleeting sunshine but sometimes, even we max out on the Vitamin D. But how do you handle the guilt of staying indoors when the sun’s streaming in? Here’s why you should build indoor time into your summertime play:

Skip sunburn — UV rays are strongest and most harmful at midday, says the Centers for Disease Control, which makes lunchtime the ideal stopping point for outdoor fun. Maximize those sunshine hours in the morning and then head indoors until late afternoon. Even the most outdoorsy of kids needs time out of the sun. Check the gear — Anyone with little kids knows that outdoor summertime fun means even more gear to haul. Between the bottles of sunscreen, the umbrellas and the hats, packing up for an afternoon outside can feel like a multi-day expedition. Leave all that gear behind and add in some air-conditioned playtime, which keeps summer days fun and simple — and isn’t that the point? Still get in play — Of course,

stepping indoors doesn’t mean pausing playtime. Thankfully, our typically gray PNW days mean there are plenty of options for active fun indoors, from children’s museums to trampoline havens and awesome swimming pools. Not only are these spots typically less crowded in the summer, they offer climate-controlled environments where the whole family can cool off.

education that simply refers to materials without a clear use that prompt open-ended creative play (think of the proverbial cardboard box). Also, it’s risk. The Woodland Park co-op’s loose parts tend to be bigger and more multi-use than those at many preschools — kids can climb, move and build with these parts. In essence, it’s a mini adventure playground (see p. 14). Or, as lead preschool teacher Tom Hobson describes it, it’s a re-creation of “the natural free play environment of the city: the vacant lot.” Hobson — better known as “Teacher Tom” — writes a blog about the preschool that’s gained fame in early childhood education circles (he’s also just published a book, Teacher Tom’s First Book). He believes that kids are looking for risk, and if they don’t find it physically, they’ll create it in other ways. “They tend to play so peacefully together in a place like this,” he says. “There are so many challenges other than getting into conflicts with each other.” Places to tinker, connect and challenge themselves are important for kids, says Lanza of Playborhood. Trampolines and other big investments have their roles as kid magnets, but the Woodland Park outdoor space offers a compelling example of how loose parts can also work in a yard. “Anybody can do this,” Hobson says. Families can adapt the principles according to kids’ ages. Natural loose parts, such as sand, water, stumps, logs and edible

plants, create variety and adventure. Loose cardboard boxes and crates add building materials. Scrap wood and tools (with training) spark fort building. A pile of dirt with spades engages kids long past preschool age. (See Mike Lanza’s book Playborhood for an example of an epic front yard that combines loose parts with a trampoline, two-story fort, “stream,” and more.)

S low down and step back

Angela Hanscom, pediatric occupational therapist, author of Balanced and Barefoot, and founder of TimberNook nature programs, writes about not rushing kids into play. “It sometimes takes a good 45 minutes before children get into ‘deep play,’” she writes. “This is the sort of play where children start creating their own games and their own rules.” Slowing down doesn’t take special technology, but it’s a mind-set that doesn’t seem to fit modern culture. (My specialty is rushing through a hike.) But taking extra time is a good fit for summer and for neighborhood play. Ever heard the phrase “hummingbird parenting”? It means being around but zooming in only when really needed — for instance, freeing ourselves to work on our badminton game as the kids make up a new version of “kick the can.” And it’s what I’ll be doing this summer. n

Places to tinker, connect and challenge themselves are important for kids

Roam, sweet roam From kindergarten on, I walked or biked home from school alone in settings ranging from suburban Tulsa to urban Chicago, not because my parents were “free range,” but because that was the cultural norm. Today, parents have been arrested for similar behavior. But the tide may be turning. In 2016, a federal law was signed that protects kids’ rights to walk or go out alone. Summer is a good time to experiment with more roaming privileges, which

can be facilitated with technology (walkie-talkies, cell phones). But before cutting kids loose, take note of a recently released study that shows kids don’t fully develop the perceptual judgment and motor skills to cross busy roads safely until age 14 (yes, you read that right). Researchers say this doesn’t mean we need to shadow our kids until high school; rather, we should spend extra time training kids in how to cross roads safely. And if you want to roam while the kids stay home unsupervised, the minimum age guideline (not law) for Washington state is age 10. — Elisa Murray

parentmap.com • July 2017

feature

Adventure playgrounds, ahoy! The Northwest tests the European play zones that let kids create By Elisa Murray

July 2017 • parentmap.com

“Kids can come week after week to add on to their existing structures” versus how they played with traditionally designed exhibits that had more of a built-in narrative. “We couldn’t deny the change of behavior we saw in the kids,” Mills says. “They took a deep breath and geared down dramatically, lost themselves in this carefree, child-directed free play.” When he heard about growing interest in European adventure playgrounds in the U.S., he wanted in, and he saw Bainbridge Island, populated by artisans and nature-loving families, as an ideal locale. In a studio, Mills is using reclaimed materials such as cardboard and tires to design play-friendly prototypes, which he’s been testing at “pop-up” playdates, where he puts out the materials and lets the kids have at it. “Ninety-nine percent of the kids instinctively took to the stuff knowing what to do,” he says. Mills’ project, which he describes as “one part sculpture garden, one part junk playground,” has a long road ahead, including clearing the land, getting funding and hiring playworkers. He also hopes that adventure playgrounds will eventually be part of a cycle through which manufacturers can pass on play-friendly scrap materials, with some modifications, for children’s play. “My vision is to eventually get the maker movement and the adventure playground movement to get to know each other,” he says. Meanwhile, there are signs that local playground design is becoming more CITY OF MERCER ISLAAND

n 2014, The Atlantic magazine published an article about a play zone in North Wales called The Land, and by doing so, shared the concept of European “adventure playgrounds” with mainstream American audiences for, arguably, the first time. Adventure playgrounds sprang up in urban, post–World War II Europe as spaces for kids to build with real tools, play freely and even light fires with minimal adult supervision. Instead of fixed equipment, loose building materials — from old tires to wood and rope — are on hand as fodder for kids’ creative visions. Often, the parents stay out, while trained “playworkers” facilitate but never interfere. The Atlantic article and accompanying video on The Land was a visceral reminder of how U.S. playground design, in contrast, had long prioritized safety Hammering kid: Mercer Island’s over adventure. Adventure Playground is open three But change is afoot. In 2010, the afternoons a week in the summer City of Mercer Island, inspired both by European adventure playgrounds and Richard Louv’s book Last Child in impressive: In eight years, Mortenson says, the Woods, opened its own “adventure they’ve only had a few nails in shoes and one playground” in a wooded acre at Deane’s broken arm. Children’s Park, where hard-hat-wearing Despite the Mercer Island program’s popularity kids ages 4 and older use real tools and scrap — it’s been written up in books about play and wood to build forts. Now in its seventh year, the been studied by other cities — it remains unique program runs three afternoons a week from late to the Puget Sound area. June through late August (with a more limited But perhaps not for long. On Bainbridge schedule in September). It’s extremely popular. Island, an industrial designer and artist named Even better, says Diane Mortenson, recreation Kevin Mills is exploring the idea of creating an superintendent for Mercer Island Parks, “The industrial-themed play zone on an acre of land forts are all up all summer, so kids can come not far from Winslow. Mills’ background is in week after week to add on to their existing designing exhibits for the Children’s Museum structures.” Some parents have safety concerns Tucson, in Arizona; in his work, he was struck by (parks staff check toolboxes out to kids, but don’t the difference in how kids played with big, loose actively supervise; parents must accompany parts such as Imagination Playground blocks kids 12 and under) — but the injury data is

play along

Splash into a spray park parentmap .com/spray

This Summer

and rule adventurous, too. In just the past three years, new play spaces such as Seattle Center’s Artists at Play playground, Miner’s Corner park in Bothell and the new

KidsQuest Children’s Museum

in Bellevue have included features intended to promote “safe risk” and open-ended play. An exhibit at Seattle’s Center for Architecture and Design titled Extraordinary Playscapes documents 10 of the most exciting play spaces locally and internationally. It opens July 13. n Elisa Murray is ParentMap’s managing editor.

WIGGLE wi th a WALRUS

pdza.org

Find out more Mercer Island’s Adventure Playground is open from June 27 to Sept. 27 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, from 1 to 4 p.m. (in September, it’s only open on Sundays). Find rules and guidelines at mercergov. org (search “Adventure Playground”). Extraordinary Playscapes opens at the Center for Architecture and Design on July 13 (aiaseattle. org). Find updates on Kevin Mills’ adventure playground project on Facebook (search “PlayCzar”). Read more about adventure playgrounds and play pods in Playing It Up, a new book published by Alliance for Children (allianceforchildhood.org). And find a list of Puget Sound’s most thrilling playgrounds at parentmap.com/ adventure-playgrounds.

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6/12/17 12:12 PM parentmap.com • July 2017

july SUNDAY

1 5/12/16 3:46 PM MONDAY

160511 Crossroads ParentMap Calendar ad f.pdf

TUESDAY

JULIA SUMPTER

PICKS Explore the Shore at Owen Beach, July 10 and 24

CARL STRIDSBERG/PIXABAY

Seward Park Bat Trek, July 12 Vashon Strawberry Festival, July 21–23

Mary Olson Farm. Learn about family farm life in a bygone era. Saturday–Sunday, noon–5 p.m. through Aug. 27. Suggested donation $2–$5. Mary Olson Farm, Auburn. wrvmuseum.org ONGOING EVENT Discovery Backpacks. Grab a themed backpack ﬁlled with tools to experience nature in a whole new way. Available daily 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. FREE. Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, Bellevue. parks.bellevuewa.gov ONGOING EVENT

Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival. Free boat rides, music, pond boat sailing and toy boat-building, all in celebration of Seattle’s maritime history. Saturday–Tuesday, July 1–4. FREE; fee for select activities. Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle. cwb.org Exotic Supercars at ACM. Take your race car lover to ogle the best of the best. Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $10–$18; ages 5 and under free. LeMay — America’s Car Museum, Tacoma. americascarmuseum.org

Bellevue Family Fourth. Family Fun Zone with awesome activities (some with fee), live music and 10:05 p.m. ﬁreworks display. 2–10:30 p.m. FREE. Bellevue Downtown Park. bellevuedowntown.com Tacoma Freedom Fair. Kiddie fun plus air show, car show, entertainment and ﬁreworks show at 10:10 p.m. FREE; donations requested, fee for some activities. 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Various venues, Tacoma. freedomfair.com

Ballard Seafood Fest. Lots of neighborhoods have street fairs, but only this one has a luteﬁsk eating contest, among other attractions. Friday–Sunday, July 7–9. FREE. Along N.W. Market St., Seattle. seafoodfest.org Summer Celebration. Join Mercer Island’s community festival for rides, car show, pancake breakfast, parade (Saturday, 10 a.m.) and more. Saturday–Sunday, July 8–9. FREE; some activities have fee. mercergov.org

Toddler Time. Open-early play gym lets the little ones burn off energy with bikes, slides and toys. Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.– noon. $2. Ages 3 and under with caregiver. Issaquah Community Center. ci.issaquah.wa.us ONGOING EVENT Explore the Shore. Discover marine creatures in tide pools with naturalists from Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. July 10, 11:45 a.m.; July 24, 11:30 a.m. FREE. Ages 5 and up. Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park, Tacoma. pdza.org

Summer Sounds at Skansie. Outdoor concerts for families. Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 15. FREE. Skansie Brothers Park, Gig Harbor. gigharborguide.com ONGOING EVENT Adventure Playground. Build in the woods with provided tools and materials; closed-toe shoes required. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; 1–4 p.m. through Aug. 31. Admission by donation. Ages 4 and up; under age 12 with caregiver. Deane’s Children’s Park, Mercer Island. mercergov.org ONGOING EVENT

Kent Cornucopia Days. Dragonboat races, live entertainment and a parade (Sunday, 2 p.m.) are a few of this festival’s attractions. Friday–Sunday, July 14–16. FREE; fee for some activities. Various venues, Kent. kcdays.com Bicycle Sunday. Take your family’s two-wheelers out for a car-free ride along the lake; helmets required. Select Sundays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. through Sept. 17. FREE. Lake Washington Boulevard, Seattle. seattle.gov/parks/bicyclesunday

Marine Creature Monday. Watch as local divers collect sea life for up-close viewing. 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m.; preregister. FREE. Boston Harbor Marina, Olympia. streamteam.info Pool Playland. It’s swim time for parents and tots in the warm pool. Daily, 11 a.m.– noon through summer. $3.75–$5.50; under age 1 free. Ages 0–5 with caregiver. Pop Mounger Pool, Seattle. seattle.gov/parks/ﬁnd/pools ONGOING EVENT

Downtown Movies in the Park. Enjoy free popcorn, pre-show entertainment and the movie Storks at the revamped Bellevue Downtown Park. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 29 (ﬁlm shown at dusk). parks.bellevuewa.gov Lacey in Tune Children’s Entertainment Series. Show up Tuesdays in summer for kid-centered shows; tonight it’s Leapin’ Louie’s Western Comedy. Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 1. FREE. Huntamer Park, Lacey. ci.lacey.wa.us ONGOING EVENT

Renton River Days. Cheer for the duckies, bounce in the inﬂatables, watch the parade (Saturday, 10 a.m.) and more. FREE; some activities have fee. rentonriverdays.org

Family campout in the park, July 14 and 21

July 2017 • parentmap.com

Tiptoe through the Tidepools. Explore life in tide pools during low tide. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE. All ages. Titlow Beach, Tacoma. tacomanaturecenter.org

Canoe The Mercer Slough. See the slough from the water. Select weekends, 8:30 a.m.–noon through Aug. 27. $16–$18; preregister. Ages 5 and up. Enatai Beach Park, Bellevue. parksreg.bellevuewa.gov.gov

Indoor Playground. Bounce, balance and play. Check website for daily times and locations. $6. Ages 1–5 with caregiver. Seattle Gymnastics Academy gyms. seattlegymnastics.com ONGOING EVENT

Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist Program. Explore marine life on low-tide days. 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. FREE. Richmond Beach, Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens, South Alki, Lincoln Park, Seahurst and Saltwater State Parks. Additional dates and locations online. seattleaquarium.org ONGOING EVENT Jack and the Dragon. Experience this Appalachian folk tale through the magic of shadow puppets. 10:30 a.m. FREE. Ages 5 and up. Seattle Public Library, Douglass-Truth Branch. spl.org

WEDNESDAY

A Seattle Children’s Publication | Summer 2017

Help Your Child Avoid Summer Weight Gain There’s a reason they’re called the lazy days of summer! Without the structure of school, summertime is full of free time and relaxation. The result is often weight gain that outpaces growth in height. In fact, children gain weight two to three times faster during summer vacation than during the entire school year. So during summer break, it’s important to stick with healthy habits and routines relating to nutrition, exercise and sleep. Keep consistent mealtimes and eat together as a family whenever possible. It’s wise to try to rid your house of junk foods and sugary drinks, especially if your child will spend time home alone. Designate sections of the refrigerator and pantry as snack zones. Keep them stocked with healthy choices including fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Make water your family’s

Columbia Winery Charity Run and Walk, Aug. 19 Saturday, Aug. 19, 8:30 a.m. to noon Columbia Winery, Woodinville

Sign your family up for this all-ages race through Woodinville’s wine country. Participants can register to run a 10K, 5K or kids’ dash. The event is hosted by the Run for Children’s Guild and proceeds benefit uncompensated care. to learn more:

Visit www.runforchildrens.org.

go-to drink. Keep a pitcher of enticing water that contains slices of fresh citrus or cucumber in the fridge. Plan some family adventures that include biking, hiking, rollerblading or swimming. See what’s happening at your local ‘Y’ or community center. Swim lessons are a great way for kids to stay active and socialize; more importantly, they help your child develop the water-survival skills they need. And if your child will attend camp, choose one that’s action-oriented. Later bedtimes are natural in the summer months. Stay vigilant to ensure your child is getting to bed at a reasonable hour. (Tweens and teens tend to become nocturnal if no limits are in place!) Keep media screens out of bedrooms during sleep hours. Set summer reading goals and encourage your child to read before sleep. (If your local library is nearby, walk or bike there each week for fresh batches of books.) Many kids seem to grow faster during the summer months, so make an activity out of tracking growth, along with minutes spent exercising and reading. Devise a fun rewards system when they meet their goals. The summer will fly by, and your child will be back to school before you know it. Help them maintain healthy habits so that when that day comes, they’ll feel their best and be ready to learn! to learn more:

Visit www.seattlechildrens.org/obesity.

Never Leave Young Children Alone in the Car About 38 children in the U.S. die each year from heat stroke after being trapped in a car. It might seem that a parent could never forget about their child. But this tragedy happens to busy parents from all backgrounds. It doesn’t have to be as hot as you might think: deaths have occurred when the temperature is just above 70° F. How can parents prevent this from happening? Set up a system to check the backseat of your car every

time you get out. Put your phone, purse, briefcase or work shoes in the backseat so you’re forced to see your child before you get out. Remember: never leave a young child alone in a car — not even for a minute — regardless of the temperature. to learn more:

Visit www.seattlechildrens.org/safety-wellness/ dangers-child-alone-car.

Choosing the Right Childcare Looking for childcare? A solid plan will make your search less stressful and more fruitful. Start by making a list with your parenting partner to decide what you want. Do you prefer a small, home-based childcare, or a larger center with more kids and lots of providers? Should the location be closer to your home or your workplace? Visit several providers to observe. Look for supervision, positive interactions, cleanliness, safety, engaging activities, and the ratio of kids to providers. A quality childcare will welcome your questions about qualifications, training, communication, immunization rates and

holidays. Be sure to ask for references, too. It’s never too early to begin your search. If you are pregnant (or hope to be soon) and you will work outside the home, ask trusted friends for recommendations and start looking. Childcare can be difficult to find in some cities, including Seattle. Waitlists are common, and some providers require a nonrefundable fee just to get on the list. The time and energy you invest now will be worth it! to learn more:

Visit www.childcareaware.org.

Make Water-Safety Skills a Top Priority For children ages 1 to 14, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury deaths. Swim lessons are a must. But learning to swim is much more than learning strokes. It’s about learning water survival skills and water safety too. When looking for lessons, be sure that water competency skills are taught. If your child can already swim, do they have the five essential skills to avoid drowning? Most children and teens don’t. The Red Cross calls these critical water-safety skills ‘water competency.’ Here are the five skills: 1) Step or jump into water that’s over your head. 2) Return to the surface and float or tread water for one minute. 3) Turn around in a full circle and find an exit. 4) Swim 25 yards to the exit. 5) Exit the water without

help. (If in a pool, this means without using a swim ladder.) Swimming in a pool is very different from swimming in open water such as lakes, rivers and the ocean. Even the most confident pool

swimmers may panic when the water is very cold, they can’t see the bottom, and there’s no nearby edge or shallow area. And in open water, swimmers must be aware of extra dangers including sudden weather changes, currents or undertows, objects below the surface, sudden drop offs, or plants such as lily pads that can entangle them. Of course, kids must always be closely supervised whenever they swim. Young kids should wear life jackets when in or near water. Older kids and adults should wear life jackets when in a boat or swimming in open water, even if they know how to swim. to learn more:

Visit www.seattlechildrens.org/dp.

Kid Bits

Ask About Safe Firearm Storage

HPV Vaccine Protects Girls and Boys

Chores Are Good for Kids

About one-third of U.S. homes with children have one or more firearms. These firearms may be loaded, or not safely locked away. About every 8 days, a child or teen dies by firearm in Washington state. Most of these incidents happen in or around the home. Before a play date in the home of a friend or classmate, be sure to add this question to the list of things you normally ask about. Be direct and respectful. Remember, this quick question could save a life! You might start with, “Knowing how curious my child is, I need to ask if you have a firearm, and if it’s safely stored . . .” If you’re not certain about firearm safety in someone’s home, don’t leave your child there.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common infection that spreads by skin-toskin contact. You can protect your child from certain cancers and other diseases caused by HPV. Both girls and boys should be vaccinated when they are 11 or 12 — or as soon as possible if they’re already older than that. Waiting to get the vaccine until a child is older than 11 or 12 isn’t safer in any way, and it leaves your child open to exposure for a longer period of time. The current vaccine is given as two shots, 6 to 12 months apart (if given between the ages of 9 and 14). All doses are needed for full protection. If you have questions about the HPV vaccine, talk with your child’s doctor.

Doing chores teaches kids to be responsible and reliable, and to manage their own time. Chores also let them see the family working together, and let them feel that they are an important team member. Parents must be realistic about what they expect, based on the child’s age and the amount of free time they have. Don’t expect tasks to be done exactly the way you would do them or at the precise moment you’d like them done. Agree on a system kids can use to remember chores. For teens, this might be a reminder on their phone. Younger kids respond well to a posted chore chart. Keep it positive! Chores aren’t a punishment; they are your child’s chance to pitch in and make a difference.

to learn more:

Visit www.seattlechildrens.org/

Visit www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/

Visit www.seattlechildrens.org/

firearmsafety.

hpv-vaccine-for-girls-and-boys.

goodgrowing.

Quick Tip Window screens keep bugs

Regional Clinic Locations

Online Resources

• • • •

Visit www.seattlechildrens.org for the following: • Child Health Advice • my Good Growing email newsletter • Doctor Finder • Seattle Mama Doc, Teenology 101, Autism and On The Pulse blogs • Medical condition information • Safety & wellness information • Ways to help Seattle Children’s • Research Institute information

Bellevue Everett Federal Way Mill Creek

• Olympia • Tri-Cities • Wenatchee

Primary Care Clinic

out, but they don’t keep kids

• Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic

in. Install window guards or

Main Hospital Numbers

stops to prevent window falls.

206-987-2000 866-987-2000 (Toll-free)

www.facebook.com/seattlechildrens www.instagram.com/seattlechildrens

www.twitter.com/seattlechildren www.youtube.com/seattlechildrens

Heather Cooper is the Editor of Good Growing, which is produced four times a year by the Marketing Communications Department of Seattle Children’s. You can find Good Growing in the January, April, July and October issues of ParentMap and on our website www.seattlechildrens.org. For permission to reprint articles for noncommercial purposes or to receive Good Growing in an alternate format, call 206-987-5323. The inclusion of any resource or website does not imply endorsement. Your child’s needs are unique. Before you act or rely upon information, please talk with your child’s healthcare provider. © 2017 Seattle Children’s, Seattle, Washington.

Classes and Events To register or view more information, please visit www.seattlechildrens.org/classes. A phone number is provided for those without Internet access. No one will be denied admission if unable to pay the full amount. If you need an interpreter, please let staff know when you register. These classes are popular and often fill up several months in advance, so register early. PARENTING CLASSES Autism 101 WHEN: Thursday, July 27, 7 to 8:30 p.m. FEE: Free WHERE: Seattle Children’s main campus, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle CALL: 206-987-8080 For parents and caregivers of children recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who wish to better understand this disorder. The class is also available through Children’s video and teleconferencing outreach program in various locations throughout Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

For youth, ages 11 to 14. Topics for responsible babysitting include basic child development, infant care and safety, handling emergencies, age-appropriate toys, business hints and parent expectations.

CPR and First Aid for Babysitters WHEN: Sunday, July 30, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. View more dates online FEE: $60 per person WHERE: Seattle Children’s main campus, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle CALL: 206-987-2304

Autism 200 Series

For youth, ages 11 to 15. Topics include pediatric CPR, treatment for choking, and first-aid skills. Students receive a 2-year American Heart Association completion card.

Autism Autism 206: Transition to Adulthood: Finding a Job WHEN: Thursday, July 20, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

For Boys: The Joys and Challenges of Growing Up

Autism 207: Transition to Adulthood: Keeping a Job WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 17, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

WHEN: Mondays, July 17 & 24, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Overlake Medical Center, 1035 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue

FEE: Free WHERE: Seattle Children’s main campus, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle CALL: 206-987-8080 For parents and caregivers of children with autism who wish to better understand this disorder. These classes are also available through Children’s video and teleconferencing outreach program in various locations throughout Washington. Past lectures are available online.

Heartsaver First Aid, CPR and AED

4 locations

View more dates online FEE: $45 per person CALL: 206-987-9878 for all locations

Low-cost Life Jacket Sales WHEN: Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Green Lake (Evans) Pool, 7201 E. Green Lake Dr. N., Seattle

For Girls: A Heart-to-Heart Talk on Growing Up

Come get custom-fit life jackets for the whole family. The person you are buying the jacket for must be present for proper fitting. Children must be at least 6 months old and 18 pounds to be fit.

4 locations

WHEN: Tuesdays, July 18 & 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Overlake Medical Center, 1035 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue

View more dates and locations online FEE: $80 per parent/child pair; $60 per extra son or daughter CALL: 206-789-2306

WHEN: Sunday, August 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Seattle Children’s admin. building, 6901 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle

Get your child properly fit for a new bike helmet. Kids must be 1 to 18 and present to receive a helmet. First come, first served. Supplies are limited.

FEE: $20 for infant, child and youth sizes; $30 for adult sizes CALL: 206-684-4961 (Seattle Parks and Recreation)

For parents and caregivers. Topics include how to treat bleeding, sprains, broken bones, shock and other first-aid emergencies. Also includes infant, child and adult CPR and AED use.

locations

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Covington Kohl’s, 17002 SE 270th Pl., Covington CALL: 206-987-1569

WHEN: Wednesdays, August 9 & 16, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Seattle Children’s main campus, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle

WHEN: Thursdays, July 27 & Aug. 3, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Seattle Children’s main campus, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle

WHEN: Sunday, July 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Overlake Medical Center, 1035 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue

WHEN: Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: Snohomish Kohl’s, 2909 Bickford Ave., Snohomish

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Rainier Beach Pool, 8825 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle

WHEN: Saturday, July 29, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. FEE: $60 per person WHERE: Seattle Children’s main campus, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle CALL: 206-987-2304

PRETEEN AND TEEN CLASSES Better Babysitters 4

EVENTS Free Bike Helmet Fitting and Giveaways

These classes use an informal and engaging format to present and discuss the issues most on the minds of pre-teens ages 10 to 12 as they begin adolescence; conversations about body changes, sex, and other growing up stuff. Content outlines and short videos available at www.greatconversations.com.

Free Car Seat Check WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: Seattle Children’s main campus, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle CALL: 206-987-5999 Learn how to safely secure your child in the car. Child passenger safety experts will check your child in a car seat, booster seat or the seat belt and answer any questions you may have. First come, first served. No appointments needed.

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

play along

ELISA MURRAY

WEDNESDAY

Visit Seattle’s quirkiest landmarks parentmap.com /landmarks

Dragon Fest, July 15–16

1 Tanabata Japanese Star Festival. This month’s First Saturday Family Day at Seattle Japanese Garden features a sword demonstration and origami lessons. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $4–$6; ages 5 and under free. seattlejapanesegarden.org Lewis Creek Ranger Hike. Join a ranger and learn about wildlife exploring this terriﬁc Bellevue park. 10:30 a.m.–noon. FREE. Lewis Creek Park. parks.bellevuewa.gov

Jetty Island open, July 5–Sept. 4

Jetty Island Opening Day. Play on the beach and splash in the warm, shallow water. Daily, July 5–Sept. 4. $1–$2 suggested donation for ferry; $3 parking. Everett. everettwa.gov ONGOING EVENT Storybook Corner. Cozy up for story time and nurture a love of books in the little ones. Wednesday, 10:30–11 a.m. FREE. Ages 1–5 with adult. Island Books, Mercer Island. mercerislandbooks.com ONGOING EVENT

XPogo Stunt Team. Head to Hands on Children’s Museum to see the world-famous extreme pogo stunt crew ﬂy through the air. Thursday–Saturday, July 6–8; noon, 1 and 2 p.m. show times. Included with admission. Olympia. hocm.org Storytelling: What the Griot Said. Griot is another name for storyteller; all are invited to hear the tales the Griot tells. Noon–1 p.m. FREE. Northwest African American Museum, Seattle. naamnw.org

SATURDAY

7 Redmond Derby Days. Carnival, fun run, pancake breakfast, live entertainment, bike race and parades make for nonstop fun. Friday–Saturday, July 7–8. FREE; some activities have fee. Redmond City Hall. redmondderbydays.com Arlington Fly-In. Enjoy tank demonstrations, air show, activities and more. Stay late and watch Hidden Figures on the runway. Friday–Sunday, July 7–9. $15–$17. Arlington Airport. arlingtonﬂyin.org

8 Wallingford Family Parade. Join the all-comers parade (this year’s theme is “Dog Days of Summer”) on your bike, in a costume, with your pooch or just watch. 10 a.m. to participate; 11 a.m. to watch. FREE. Along N. 45th St., Seattle. visitwallingford.org Lakewood SummerFEST. One-day party with triathlon, safety fair, live performances, KidZone fun, car show, trapeze show and more. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. FREE; some activities have fee. Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood. cityoﬂakewood.us

The Not-Its! Let your tot dance it out at this free concert series, then spend the day by the lake. Thursdays, July 6–Aug. 17, 10–11 a.m. FREE. Thornton A. Sullivan Park, Everett. everettwa.gov Capital Lake Fair. Car show, carnival, parade (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.) and ﬁreworks ﬁnale (Sunday, 10 p.m.). Wednesday–Sunday, July 12–16. FREE; some activities have fee. Various venues, Olympia. lakefair.org

West Seattle Summer Fest. Explore the kids’ play zone packed with carnival rides, crafts and activities. July 14–16. FREE; fee for rides and some activities. West Seattle Junction. wsjunction.org Family Camp Out. Camp without the drive and enjoy activities and a sunrise breakfast. Friday, 7 p.m.–Saturday, 9 a.m. $50–$100 per tent space; preregister. Ages 3 and up. Owen Beach, Tacoma. metroparkstacoma.org

Wednesday Evening Orienteering. Cascade Orienteering Club invites families to try out this fun way of exploring terrain; barbecue afterward. 5–8 p.m. $17–$20; preregister All ages. Big Finn Hill Park, Kirkland. cascadeoc.org Summer Storytime at the Cabin. Listen to pioneer stories and then participate in games, dress-up and a craft. Wednesdays, 3–4 p.m. through Aug. 30. FREE. Job Carr Cabin Museum, Tacoma. jobcarrmuseum.org

Young Author’s Day. Writing workshops and activities for burgeoning young writers; part of the Paciﬁc Northwest Writers’ Association conference. Noon–4 p.m. FREE. Ages 8–16 with adult. DoubleTree Hotel, Seattle. pnwa.org Toddler Time at WiggleWorks. Enjoy special themed activities just for the wee ones. Tuesday, Thursday; 10 a.m.–Noon. $8–$10; adults and under age 1 free. Designed for Ages 0–3; all children under 48 inches in height welcome. WiggleWorks Kids, Bellevue. wiggleworkskids.com ONGOING EVENT

Urban Family Campout. Camp near the swimming beach at Magnuson Park; hot dogs, s’mores and family fun included. Friday, 6 p.m.–Saturday, 11 a.m. $10 per person; ages 2 and under free; preregister. Seattle. magnusonnatureprograms.com Sprout Smart. Drop by and learn about plants by playing Plant Bingo at the conservatory. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. $3 suggested donation. W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, Tacoma. metroparkstacoma.org

Vashon Strawberry Festival. Hop on the ferry to reach carnival rides, vendors, music, Kiddie and Grand Parades (Saturday, 11 a.m.) and more. Friday–Sunday, July 21–23. FREE; some activities with fee. vashonchamber.com Kitsap Live Steamers Train Rides. Friendly railroad enthusiasts give rides on their scale mini trains. Second and fourth Saturdays through October, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. weather permitting. FREE; donations appreciated. South Kitsap Regional Park, Port Orchard. kitsaplivesteamers.org

Auburn Kids Summer Stage. Kids’ outdoor entertainment series features kindie band Recess Monkey today. Wednesdays, July 12–Aug. 16, noon. FREE. Les Gove Park, Auburn. auburnwa.gov Junior Naturalists Program. Explore nature like a naturalist on this guided hike. 9:30–11:30 a.m. $5 per child; adults free. Ages 4–10 with caregiver. Cedar River Watershed, North Bend. seattle.gov

Movies at Magnuson. Cozy up in the grass for Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), part of this summer series with entertainment and food trucks. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 24 (ﬁlm shown at dusk). $5. Magnuson Park, Seattle. moviesatmagnuson.com ONGOING EVENT Animal Adventurers. Preschoolers learn about and act like kittens in this sweet class followed by a tour of PAWS. 10:30–11:45 a.m. $12. Ages 3–5 with adult. Lynnwood. paws.org

Kruckeberg Garden Tots. Visit this lovely hidden garden for exploration and a craft project. Fridays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. through Aug. 25. $10/family. Ages 2–6 with adult. Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, Shoreline. kruckeberg.org ONGOING EVENT Summer Sounds and Cinema. Outdoor movies series at various parks features inﬂatables, crafts, music and more. Fridays, July 28–Aug. 11, 6 p.m. (ﬁlms shown at dusk). FREE. Auburn. auburnwa.gov

BAM ARTSfair. Celebrate art and design with art marketplace, hands-on activities and free museum admission. Friday– Sunday, July 28–30. Bellevue Arts Museum and Bellevue Square. bellevuearts.org ‘Princess Bride’ at the Mural. Take your teens to picnic on the lawn and guﬀaw at this classic 80’s comedy. 9 p.m. FREE. Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle Center. seattlecenter.com

Bat Trek. Go on a guided sunset walk to see and learn about the important role of bats. 8:30 p.m. $5; preregister. Ages 8 and up with adult. Seward Park Audubon Center, Seattle. sewardpark.audubon.org Hooked on History. Make music with musical instruments you create, then head to Les Gove Park for summer concerts. Wednesdays, July 5–26, 10:30–11:30 a.m. FREE. Ages 3–12 with families. White River Valley Museum, Auburn. wrvmuseum.org

Arab Festival. Kids’ activities, traditional food, music, dancing, marketplace, strong coﬀee and more illuminate Arab culture in the Northwest. Saturday–Sunday, July 15–16. FREE. Seattle Center. seattlecenter.com/festal Dragon Fest. Pan-Asian street fair, live performances, kids’ activities, $3 food walk and more. Saturday–Sunday, July 15–16. FREE. Chinatown-International District, Seattle. cidbia.org

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The scientific case for play How playtime boosts learning for toddlers and preschoolers By Malia Jacobson

hen Meag Diamond of Tacoma began touring potential preschools for her toddler son, Keats, she saw a number of beautifully laid-out spaces filled with immaculate worktables, inviting book nooks and inspiring art stations. What she didn’t see was unstructured, unhurried play — kids completely immersed in activities of their own choosing, absorbed in their own imaginations, creating with peers and engaging with nature. That underwhelmed Diamond, who spent six years as a Montessori teacher. “Kids aren’t getting that long amount of time to enter into play, manipulating materials, learning about balance and cause and effect. It didn’t feel right to me to have my son in a program that would limit the amount of play and stop that flow from happening.” She didn’t find a school that fit the bill — so she created one. With her husband, Jose Estrada, Diamond opened Tacoma’s Chavitos Nature School (chavitosnatureschool.com), an outdoor Spanish immersion school, in the fall of 2015. In the preschool program for ages 2–5, children spend virtually all of the three-hour class session outdoors, deep in play. They climb trees, build fantastical forts with planks and plastic piping, dig for worms, collect pinecones and engage in the type of uninterrupted play that Diamond views as critical to learning and brain growth. “We don’t call them in until there’s a natural break in the play,” she says. When play does slow down — typically about halfway through each session — the kids gather for snack and journaling. Within a year of Chavitos’ opening, the school had a full roster of children (two preschool classes with eight children in each; and a class for kindergartners through fifth graders). The school maintains a year-round waiting list of families eager to try Diamond and Estrada’s model of playbased learning. But does it work? The short answer: Yes. According to researchers, a child’s earliest learning is rooted not in formalized education, but in play.

ages

0–2

SENSORY SCIENTISTS

From birth, children are “scientists exploring the world, building their understanding of the world through play,” says Amelia Bachleda, Ph.D., outreach and education specialist with the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS; ilabs.washington.edu). Now’s the time to dig out all those colorful toys, rattles and mobiles. In the first six months of life, bright, textured, crinkly or noise-making toys help spark brain-building play as infants fine-tune their senses. “Grasping for an exciting toy that’s just out of reach during tummy time, feeling different textures, looking at brightly colored things — engaging the senses is important at this point in development when babies are first exploring their world and building

fine motor skills and coordination,” says Bachleda. The best toy in the room? You. During backand-forth interactions with caregivers in games like peekaboo, infants learn about empathy and social dynamics. During these earliest play sessions, an adult’s closeness and attentiveness can help encourage cognitive growth. In a 2017 study published in the journal Child Development, 5-month-old infants who spent more time in mutual gaze — i.e., holding eye contact — with their mothers during play had longer attention spans at 11 months old than infants who spent less time locking eyes with Mom. Child-led play is also important, even in infancy. When children lead their own play, they naturally gravitate toward uncovering something they want to know about, says Bachleda. But parents may not always realize it. According to Bachleda, “Children are amazing logical thinkers, constantly running their own experiments” and testing newfound knowledge to

The best toy in the room? You

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ages + stages

The scientific case for play continued from page 25 see if people or objects act the same way consistently — as any parent can attest who’s taken part in a baby’s repeated experiment of dropping a drinking cup or spoon, then gleefully dropping it again as soon as it’s retrieved. Research from Johns Hopkins University suggests that 11-month-old infants will pay more attention to an object that surprised them — like a ball that’s seemingly passed through a solid wall — than one that performs as expected. Another Johns Hopkins study found that when 11-month-olds saw an object presented in an unexpected way — like a toy car flying in midair instead of rolling on the ground — they changed the way they played with that object. Babies who saw a floating car were more likely to replicate this scene in their play, reflecting a new understanding of the world. Like scientists, babies are always using past discoveries to try to predict future events. In a 2015 study led by Andrew N. Meltzoff, Ph.D., a University of Washington psychology professor and an I-LABS co-director, children as young as 24 months old showed an intuitive understanding of probability. By watching adults play a game, the tots were able to predict the strategy that would lead to success, even if the strategy was complex. This showed that simply observing adult interactions can help toddlers learn about cause and effect.

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As toddlers turn into preschoolers, play becomes more complex in the form of coordinated play with peers. (You’ll see more side-by-side or “parallel” play in younger toddlers.) Coordinated play among preschool-age children helps bridge the gap between the simple back-and-forth game play of babies and the rule-driven play of older children. It also builds a child’s prefrontal cortex and offers kids vital lessons about themselves and the world. >>

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ages + stages

The scientific case for play continued from page 27 “In coordinated play, children are playing imaginative dramatic games, learning how to tell a story through their actions, developing plot through their imaginative play or playing games with rules that require executive functions, like paying attention, flexible thinking, short-term memory and inhibitory skills,” says Bachleda. A prime example of a coordinated play game for the preschool set: “Simon Says,” in which players act out a simple command, but only if “Simon says.” Players must recall the game’s rules and exercise flexible thinking because sometimes they’ll have to do the opposite of what’s requested or inhibit their reaction. Research shows that this type of coordinated play helps build vital social skills such as gaining perspective, restraint, emotional regulation and cooperation. In a 2017 study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, Meltzoff of I-LABS found that coordinated movements during play, such as swinging in sync with another child on a swing set, enhanced cooperation in 4-year-olds. Kids who participated in coordinated physical movement were then more likely to collaborate successfully — in this case, by working together to solve a problem presented by a computer ® 0717_dizzys_tumblebus_1-4.indd 1 6/13/17 game — immediately after the coordinated physical activity (in this case, the swinging). Private Preschool – 8th Grade Researchers don’t know exactly why this happens, but the study showed the importance of coordinated play among preschoolers, says Bachleda. In one 2017 study in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, researchers at Cornell University found that children as young as 4 could understand and apply complex social rules in a game setting, deciding when rules could be changed and who could change them. In the study, children determined that a game’s rules could be changed by the child who invented the game, but not by other players — only when a game was initiated by the group could the group jointly alter the game’s rules. This nuanced view of authority and social boundaries helps expand a child’s abilities to navigate the world at large, says Bachleda. Our challenging, well-rounded curriculum helps students master Such complexity among preschoolers doesn’t surprise Meag Diamond of the core academics while developing skills such as creativity, Chavitos. Play provides an ideal platform for social education that can’t be problem solving and collaboration. Our individualized approach matched by a formal curriculum, she says. “Social and emotional skills are to instruction helps each child grow, flourish and excel. created through conflict, turn-taking and kids not getting what they want in • Art, engineering, music, PE, • Personalized learning the moment, and learning to communicate.” Play, she adds, is the best way to Spanish and technology • Before and after school instill that complex learning. • Full-day kindergarten programs But perhaps the best part? The simpler pleasures of play: Kids collecting pinecones, digging for worms and exploring the forest, lost in thought. Thursday, August 31 “When children get to play freely, they’ll grow up knowing more about their own passions and interests, and about themselves,” Diamond says. “It’s a 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm tremendous gift.” n

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C A M P S

A C T I V I T I E S Bedwetting at summer camp: What to do Sleepaway camp is a childhood ritual that every child should be able to enjoy. But for children who wet the bed, sleeping away from home can be a scary prospect. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are an estimated 5 million children in the U.S. who wet the bed. The good news for these kids and their families is that with some planning and preparation, children who wet the bed can enjoy sleepaway camp just like their peers. Before camp: Call ahead! Call the camp before your child’s session to discuss the problem and to ask about procedures the camp may already have in place. If the camp doesn’t have a plan, create one together. At drop-off: Even if you have made a plan with the camp director, it is a good idea to directly speak with the camp counselors who will oversee your kid. Pull them aside for a quick private conversation. During camp: Change in and out of Pull-Ups with ninja-like stealth! Kids can keep private things private by changing into bedtime pants in a bathroom stall. Also, note that some counselors will wake bedwetters up a few minutes earlier than the rest of their cabin, so the child can clean up unobserved. For more tips, visit parentmap.com/bedwetting-camp. — Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

Registration for Bellevue Parks & Community Services’ summer day camps is now underway! Don’t miss out on a summer packed with fun, adventure, variety, and value.

425-452-6885 www.bellevuewa.gov 30

July 2017 • parentmap.com

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Where tech fits in Because screens aren’t going anywhere By Jody Allard

efore my kids were born, I couldn’t imagine giving them iPads instead of crayons. I was certain they’d spend long summer days building tree forts and decorating the sidewalk with chalk creations. What I didn’t expect was that they’d do all that and still bug me to use the iPad. As much as I declare myself a free-range mom and embrace the concept of “playborhoods” (see p. 8), I’ve also come to deeply appreciate the value of a little screen time. Our kids aren’t growing up in the same world we did; they’re expected to be tech-savvy problem-solvers. So, while ditching screen time entirely feels impractical, it’s hard to know how and where tech fits in. Is there such a thing as “good” tech play? The (perhaps surprising) answer: Yes. A study published in the September 2014 issue of Pediatrics found that adolescents who play low levels of video games (less than one hour per day) had higher levels of life satisfaction, were more interested in social interaction and less likely to report ineffective methods for coping with their problems than their peers who didn’t play video games. Adolescents who play high levels of video games (more than three hours per day) had the opposite results. Kids who fell in the middle — playing video games between one and three hours per day — experienced no differences from their video-game-free peers. So, while moderate video game play doesn’t appear to pose a threat to their development, kids who forgo video games entirely may be missing out. Results like these buck the trends of prioritizing off-line play or viewing screen time with concern. Much of this concern has its roots in earlier studies about the impact of technology on kids that focused on passive forms of entertainment, like television, which present different risks and benefits from the interactive games most kids now play. Those earlier studies led to recommendations for parents to strictly limit their kids’ screen time, or even avoid screens entirely. Screen time recommendations have since loosened; the American Academy of Pediatrics

recommends that children younger than 5 limit screen time to one hour per day, and parents of school-age children are advised to enforce consistent screen time limits, rather than strictly setting a total number of hours. “Balance is the key. You wouldn’t encourage a child to spend their entire day assembling puzzles at the expense of social interactions with peers,” says Richard Shuster, Psy.D., MSW, a clinical psychologist whose doctoral dissertation focused on technology and personality functioning. “The fact is that there are countless apps and games that encourage prosocial development, learning and development of fine motor skills. It isn’t an all-ornothing proposition.” The type of games kids play also matters. Games don’t always look like they’re educating kids, but a number of studies have demonstrated that kids are more engaged when they play games that leverage interactive aspects and encourage players to make choices. One study

published in the May 2014 edition of Computers & Education found that kids learned more when they played interactive reading games than when they played the same game but skipped the interactive activity — a result contrary to some educators’ concerns that such activities detract or distract from learning. Sierra Corbin is a speechlanguage pathologist. She says selecting quality interactive games for kids can help them develop healthy social and language skills. Even young kids can use apps, such as “Wheels on the Bus,” which rely on simple interactive elements like touching the screen to make something happen. “This develops an understanding of cause-effect relationships, improves language by having the child ask, ‘Can I open the yellow doors?’ and facilitates the learning of concepts such as colors, shapes and feelings,” Corbin says. With toddlers and young children, it’s important for their parents to interact with them as they play in order

It’s important for parents to interact with their children as they play in order for them to get the most benefit

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ages + stages

Where tech fits in continued from page 31 for them to get the most benefit. In her practice, Corbin also uses the “Maker” app, which lets kids put ingredients in a bowl and touch the screen to “cook” various items, such as pancakes. “Kids love to choose the different ingredients, and it lets me control what they work on,” she says. “For instance, if we are working on prepositions, I ask where the ingredient is going to go, ‘On top or inside?’” Kids are so busy having fun that they don’t realize they’re learning. Much like the games Corbin uses, many of the most popular kids’ games (such as Minecraft and Pokémon Go) are highly interactive and encourage kids to explore. This explains their popularity and may also be the reason why kids are so loath to set devices down. University of Washington researchers found that

giving kids a two-minute warning that screen time was about to end actually made tantrums worse while forming routines for screen time or leveraging a natural stopping point in the game eased the transition. Like it or not, screens are here to stay. For parents like me who want their kids to explore everything the world has to offer, including technology, the takeaway is clear — screen time isn’t the enemy. But it might be time to say goodbye to passive screen time in favor of interactive games that pack a one-two punch for intellectual and emotional development. n Jody Allard is a single mother of seven kids living in Seattle. She writes primarily about parenting, social justice and life with a chronic illness.

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High-tech ways to play My own kids can’t get enough of Bitsbox (bitsbox.com), a subscription service that teaches even young children how to code their own apps. Using instruction cards to create different apps every month, kids can build on their knowledge and experiment by combining different code elements to develop new app-based experiences.

Circuit Cubes (tenkalabs.com) are batterypowered building cubes that turn everything from Legos to household items, like toilet paper tubes, into inventions. By combining battery cubes with motorized or LED cubes, kids can build a seemingly endless number of unique creations while learning about electricity — and without electrocuting themselves. While virtual reality (VR) is primarily designed for entertainment, Tim Lynch, Ph.D., a psychologist who specializes in how computer interaction affects personality, says one of the benefits of VR for kids is the ability to practice new skills, like sports, without risking negative feedback from peers. Plus, because our brains can’t distinguish between experiences that occur in VR or in the real world, the tool allows kids to experience things that they’d otherwise not be able to, such as running the Boston Marathon or biking the Tour de France. — Jody Allard

parentmap.com • July 2017

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Lawrence Cohen Why this psychologist advocates for making parenting playful By Jessica Murphy Moo

ecoming a dad 26 years ago changed everything for psychologist Lawrence J. Cohen. He saw the importance of connecting with children and their emotions in a new way, and how play was key to that connection. Since then, Cohen has written the books Playful Parenting and The Opposite of Worry, and cowritten work on roughhousing, childhood friendships and teasing. His books have been translated into 14 languages. In addition to running a private therapy practice, the father of two and grandfather of one teaches parenting classes and speaks at schools. Cohen’s books offer countless ideas for how to turn a typical parent-child impasse into a game. Drawing from his wisdom, I’ve already changed a stressful “getting out the door for work” routine with my 4-year-old into play. She has fun, we get in the car on time and I don’t raise my voice (or my blood pressure). Cohen can count me among the converted. n

Jessica Murphy Moo is a writer, editor and teacher based in Seattle.

q KIND

PHOTO COURTESY LAWRENCE COHEN

Raising

Editor’s note: Join ParentMap on a year-long conversation to explore how families and schools can nurture empathy, mindfulness and kindness. parentmap.com/raisingkind

How did you come up with the phrase “playful parenting”?

connect and form a bridge with someone

attachments is very clear. It makes for

else. There’s basic primal affection and love

better friendships, better marriages, better

I called it “playful parenting” not because

— and there’s play.

grades, better successes, less addiction.

What’s a game you’ve used with a child?

to go. Bye!” Then, “I’m back!” I do it 50 times

In your work, you’ve written about finding ways to “invite” the bad behavior and turn it on its head (you’re also not a fan of time-outs). Do people ever say you’re being too easy on kids?

and keep it lighthearted.

A lot of parents ask me, “If your child

it’s play all day long, but because play and laughter go out the window when we’re under stress. And we’re always stressed! At the heart is connection — emotional connection and empathy. I wanted to put play back in the mix and to do that by joining children in their world. Children live in the world of play.

For a child dealing with separation anxiety, I play the “hello-goodbye game” with a stuffed animal. I’ll say, “Hello.” Then, “I’ve got

We’ve taken a painful experience — we’re

does something wrong and you offer

How does “play” work as a way to connect?

not laughing at it or mocking it — and we’re

reconnection, isn’t that rewarding that

bringing it to light so the child can see it

behavior?” I’ve never seen that to be the

We as adults have come to think about

better. Instead of “talking about it” when

case. I’ve never seen, “Oh, the last time I

conversation as the number-one way to

we want to be helpful, we can play with it

hit my sister, my mother gave me more

form a bridge between two people. (And

and bring it into the open, and put them in

attention because I wasn’t getting enough

we’re not even good at that anymore. We

charge. We’re not solving the problem, but

attention. I know what I’m going to do. I’m

send text messages.) But for children,

we’re making a connection. We’re saying

going to hit my sister tomorrow and get

conversation is not at the center of how they

we’re there for you. Research about secure

attention.” Children don’t think that way.

July 2017 • parentmap.com

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