July 2019

’cause parenting is a trip!

Annual

FAMILY DIRECTORY

inside!

y a l P is the thing!

10 surefire sleep solutions for new parents 10

AVOIDING SUMMER BRAIN DRAIN

School-break strategies for combating the summer slide 35

Good Growing newsletter inside SPONSORED CONTENT

JULY 2019 SNS

DESPERATELY SEEKING SLUMBER?

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Only two hours from Seattle, Semiahmoo is the perfect place to experience the moments with your kids that you live for. And with paddleboarding, art classes and pickleball, you can try something new, too.

Visit Semiahmoo.com or call 360.318.2000.

Holistic Treatment Programs for Women & Girls

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Transformative DBT Based Treatments for Anxiety & Depression Diet & Nutrition | Yoga | Art Therapy | Medication Management | Family Support

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Read to earn a free book, attend a library event and lift off into

JUNE 1

AUGUST 31

sno-isle.org/exploresummer 4 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

L I B R A R I E S

inside

P lay is the thing!

PAGE 24

, cause parenting is a trip!

JULY 2019

Parenting

6 DEAR READER

In praise of the far-reaching benefits of playtime

Ordinary child’s play has never been more studied — or more endangered

Out + About

16 IT STARTS WITH YOU(TH)

31 THE GREAT OUTDOORS:

35 AGES + STAGES: 5–18

School-break strategies for combating the summer slide

38 PARENT DAY JOBS

Meet a dynamic duo working to close the gender wage gap

WILL AUSTIN

24 PLAY IS THE THING

10 CRIB NOTES

10 surefire sleep solutions for new parents

This young artist has a vision of empowering women

38

Feature

9 high-octane family playdates

32 THE GREAT INDOORS:

111 ways to play it cool this summer

18 JULY CALENDAR

Advertising Sections 26 C amps + Activities 30–33 S ummer Play 36–39 S chools + Preschools parentmap.com • July 2019 • 5

note Presents

Dental health education made interactive and fun!

The Delta Dental Tooth Fairy is on a mission to promote healthy smiles! Join us for The Tooth Fairy Experience including free, interactive presentations, story time, fun smile facts and educational activities.

JULY 9

Pacific Science Center, Seattle Meet the Delta Dental Tooth Fairy for story time, learn fun smile facts and get a free toothbrush.

11:15 a.m. FREE with Pacific Science Center paid admission

JULY 22

Emil Kissel Park, Yakima Meet the Delta Dental Tooth Fairy for story time, learn how to care for your teeth and get a free toothbrush!

10:30 a.m. FREE.

JULY 26

Washington State Ferries, Colman Dock, Seattle Ride a ferry with the Fairy! Join the Delta Dental Tooth Fairy for story time, learn how to care for your teeth and get a free toothbrush! FREE for kids 10 & under with paid adult fare.

Arrive by 11 a.m. for the 11:25 a.m. sailing to Bainbridge.

See our calendar for an event near you DeltaDentalWA.com/ToothFairy Email us at toothfairy@deltadentalwa.com to schedule your own visit 6 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

In praise of play I

promise to give you all a break from hearing about how extraordinary it is being a Bubbie … soon — but that is not happening in the here and now!

Here’s the skinny: As I read through this issue, my heart started racing and I wondered at the cause. Was the rapid beating due to a flashing “Wish I would have done this or that” for my kids over the last two decades of parenting?

You bet it was!

Did our family spend enough time exploring the great Northwest outdoors?

Did my husband and I sufficiently stimulate the Sulkin kids’ brains in an effort to avoid the “summer slide” (Battling Brain Drain, p.35), by emphasizing reading programs and transforming simple hikes into botanical science adventures?

Heck no, we did not! But it was all good enough.

We managed through the scariest moments and dealt with the biggest questions as best we could, seeking out resources and wisdom along the way. As a Bubbie on the other side of the tumultuous day-to-day parenting pressures, I see how lucky our grandson is to have that which money cannot buy and every kid deserves: adoring (okay, occasionally overly doting) and present parents.

I LOL when I witness healthy expectations and boundaries already being set for my little 8-month-old grandson Levi, as when he grabs for his dad’s iPhone with a sixth sense. I’ll applaud from the sidelines as his parents impose screen-time rules, while ensuring he has chores before he can talk (back!). Most Bubbies like me who have been on the parenting rollercoaster of joys and challenges that come with every child can write a near-perfect prescription for parenting success in hindsight.

Skills-building, age-appropriate development and strength come to our kids in the most straightforward ways, and one of the surest is through ordinary child’s play.

I learned in the feature, Play Is the Thing (p. 24), that play is so essential to a child’s health and well-being that doctors are actually prescribing a “healthy dose of the outdoors” as an antidote to our toxic and stressful environment. Could the Greater Seattle area be more spectacular for getting our best outdoor play game on?

Not so great is the fact that Washington state — and particularly King County — has one of the worst gender wage gaps in the United States. Former ParentMappers Tara Buchan and Dani Carbary to the rescue (Parent Day Jobs, p. 38)! This unstoppable duo works at 100% Talent, a Washington initiative aimed at challenging and changing this reality. Their ultimate goal: to guarantee that all are paid for 100 percent of the valued work they do.

If there is one message you should read loud and clear in this month’s issue, it’s this: Get outside with your kids and play! To that end, look inside for ParentMap’s Annual Family Directory, jam-packed with readers’ choice picks for the best resources, outings, dining and services around.

ParentMap

July 2019, Vol. 17, No. 7 PUBLISHER/EDITOR Alayne Sulkin

EDITORIAL

INTERIM MANAGING EDITOR Patty Lindley OUT + ABOUT EDITOR Nancy Chaney DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Vicky McDonald DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Nicole Persun

OUT + ABOUT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Dora Heideman

COPY EDITOR Sunny Parsons CONTRIBUTORS

Nancy Schatz Alton, Bryony Angell, Will Austin, Malia Jacobson, Rachel McClary, Elisa Murray

DIGITAL MARKETING DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

Lindsey Carter

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST + TRENDING EDITOR

Diana Cherry

MARKETING + OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

Maureen Taasin

EMAIL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Angelica Lai

ADVERTISING SALES + PARTNERSHIPS SENIOR ADVERTISING AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Ida Wicklund

PARTNERSHIP ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

Jen Dine

AD OPERATIONS MANAGER Elisa Taylor ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES SPECIALIST

Jessica Collet

ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Angela Goodwin

MARKETING/EVENTS EVENT OPERATIONS Brenna McCown EVENT COORDINATOR Mallory Dehbod MARKETING + EVENTS ASSISTANT Taryn Weiner

ART + PRODUCTION SENIOR DESIGNER Amy Chinn

ADMINISTRATION FINANCE MANAGER Sonja Hanson BUSINESS ANALYST Carolyn Brendel

PARENTMAP EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Benjamin Danielson, M.D.

ODESSA BROWN CHILDREN’S CLINIC

Joan Duffell COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN John Gottman, Ph.D. THE GOTTMAN INSTITUTE PROFESSOR EMERITUS, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Laura Kastner, Ph.D.

PSYCHIATRY + BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Bea Kelleigh

VICE PRESIDENT AT DOVETAILING, LLC

Yaffa Maritz, M.A.

LISTENING MOTHERS + COMMUNITY OF MINDFUL PARENTS

Ron Rabin THE KIRLIN FOUNDATION Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MINDSIGHT INSTITUTE ADVERTISING INFORMATION

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parentmap.com • July 2019 • 7

news

News Around Town

Free program offers safe space for youth

New app combats noxious weeds

New campaign promotes smoke awareness

Seattle Parks and Recreation will offer a free program, Summer of Safety (SOS), to provide structured activities and a safe space for young people not connected to other supervised programs over the summer.

Offered at five community center locations, the program is geared towards serving diverse groups of tweens and teens from low-income families. Most sites will provide a free lunch, as well as engaging activities such as field trips, arts and crafts, sports and more. parkways.seattle.gov

Have a budding citizen scientist in your household? King County has teamed up with tech partners to launch a new app, King County Connect (for iOS and Android), aimed at eradicating invasive plants that damage our local environment. Residents can use the app to easily identify, geotag and report priority invasive plants. Scary fact: If the top 23 invasive species were not managed for a single year, damages to Washington state’s environment could reach $1.3 billion. kingcounty.gov

Experts are saying we may see a record number of wildfires in 2019. A new campaign, #NWSmokeReady, coordinated through a taskforce of government entities and agencies, aims to educate families on the proper steps to be “smoke ready.” Recommendations include talking to their health-care provider about their health risk, taking steps to keep their indoor air cleaner, sharing existing cleaner air spaces in their homes with neighbors, and limiting outdoor activity when air quality is poor. Learn more at pscleanair.org and doh.wa.gov.

Giving Together 2019

Please join us each month as we promote, support and learn about an extraordinary local organization or program that strives to improve the lives of families.

8 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

THE PROGRAM Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) administers this program to offer free meals to kids ages 0–18 at locations around the state through sponsor organizations. To locate a summer meal site, use the interactive map at fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks, call 866-3486479 or text “Food” or “Comida” to 877-877.

THE GOAL

To ensure kids and teens have access to meals during the summer while school is out.

SUPPORT

Learn more at k12.wa.us/childnutrition.

She has your eyes, and our expert care.

Franciscan Family Birth Centers We are here to help ensure your pregnancy is exceptional and uniquely yours.

To strengthen the fathers’ role in raising children with behavioral health needs through education, peer support and advocacy.

We are a father-driven family support organization providing support, advocacy and training for parents raising children with behavioral health disorders.

dadsmove.org

We’ve been helping mothers deliver healthy babies for decades—close to home, in a place dedicated to you and your baby’s safety and comfort. It’s your birth, your way.

Equally important, you can rest easy knowing you have access to some of the region’s top experts who support complex pregnancies, should the need arise.

Take a virtual tour at chifranciscan.org/birthvirtualtours, or to find an obstetrician or midwife near you, call 1 (888) 825-3227.

Franciscan Family Birth Centers Burien Highline Medical Center 16251 Sylvester Road SW Enumclaw St. Elizabeth Hospital 1455 Battersby Ave. Federal Way St. Francis Hospital 34515 9th Ave. S Silverdale Harrison Medical Center 1800 NW Myhre Road Tacoma Midwifery Birth Center 1708 S. Yakima Ave., Suite 10 St. Joseph Medical Center 1717 S. J St.

Learn more at chifranciscan.org/baby SNS • parentmap.com • July 2019 • 9

all about baby Find Your Village Being a new parent can be really isolating, but baby, we’ve got your back.

ALLI ARNOLD

Notes From Recent Research to Gaga Gear

Sign up for our weekly eNews for the best in outings and advice, ’cause parenting is a trip!

h

parentmap.com/enews

10 Surefire Sleep Strategies for Slumber-Starved New Parents

By Malia Jacobson

T

he one piece of sleep advice that will serve you best throughout your years as a parent is this: Give your child the sleep support he needs, and no more. It’s that simple. Respond to his needs compassionately and learn when to step back, because, really, he’s got this. This “line” is tricky to find, and it shifts: Your child may need you more at certain times, less at others. But once you figure out this essential balance, you’ll become your own sleep expert, supporting your child’s needs with compassion and wisdom for the rest of your parenting journey.

Here are few tips to help you prime your child for healthy rest and encourage his natural instinct for sleep.

1. Support your child’s circadian

rhythms. Forget the old adage “Never wake a sleeping child” and embrace your role as your child’s guide in establishing a regular sleep cycle. It’s perfectly appropriate to wake a child when she is sleeping at an inappropriate time — for example, sleeping past normal wake-up time in the morning or napping too long or too late in the afternoon — to protect her healthy sleep routine.

2. Keep a sleep log. Tracking your child’s sleep is the best way to detect patterns that will help you identify the root causes of any sleep troubles. For tips on keeping a simple log, visit parentmap.com/sleeplog.

3. Rise and shine. Preparation for a good bedtime begins first thing in the morning: At least 15 minutes of strong morning-light exposure combined with a morning meal tells your child’s brain that it’s time to wake up and also helps them feel sleepy come bedtime.

4. Maximize melatonin. Darkness is a powerful cue regulating the body’s

the same thing: Bedrooms should be completely dark — the darker, the better. So, douse those cute nightlights; they are not necessary for babies and can even be harmful to sleep quality.

6. Create a quiet sleeping space. Introduce a source of pure, high-quality white noise to create a constant screen of background sound. This makes sudden noises less detectable, and therefore less likely to rouse your little sleeper.

7. Monitor room temperature.

Temperature is an important physiological cue that promotes sleep. When your child or the bedroom is too warm, this natural process is interrupted. Doctors say the ideal bedroom temperature is between 60 and 68 degrees.

8. Fuzzy-wuzzy is no more. It’s a myth that babies sleep best on soft, fuzzy surfaces.

Fleece sheets, flannel sheets and sheepskins trap heat, which can lead to an uncomfortably warm sleep environment. Instead, opt for simple cotton sheets to keep things cool.

9. Move that body! Physical activity promotes deep, restful sleep and is important for children of all ages, beginning at birth. For brand-new babies, this means ample time on their tummies and on their backs so they can look around, work their neck muscles, and wiggle their arms and legs.

10. Master the art of the nap. Naps help young children rest and process new information, support healthy development and promote restful sleep at night.

They should be long enough to be restorative, but no longer. Avoid naps longer than two and a half hours, and for babies taking multiple naps, from one to one and a half hours per nap may be plenty.

biorhythms and a potent sleep aid for children, because it triggers the brain’s natural production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Dim the lights an hour or so before the time you’d like your child to be in bed.

For more science-backed strategies for a setting a peaceful bedtime routine, resolving nighttime parenting struggles or maintaining your family’s sleep success, get the author’s e-book “Ready, Set, Sleep” at parentmap.com/parentmap-books. n

5. Black out the bedroom. Nighttime light exposure interferes with the body’s production of melatonin. Every sleep doctor I’ve ever interviewed has said

Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three.

10 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

A Seattle Children’s Publication | Summer 2019

Child Passenger Safety Changes Child passenger safety guidelines are updated as new data tells us how we can best protect children in vehicles.

Washington state has updated its law based on the latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here are the new rules: Rear-facing until at least age 2.

Children under age 2 must ride in rearfacing car safety seats, and they should remain rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their seat. (Most convertible seats have limits that allow children to ride rear-facing up to 40 pounds or more.)

Then, forward-facing seats with a harness for as long as possible. Once they outgrow

Better Babysitters: Offered in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett and Federal Way Do you know a tween or teen age 11 to 14 who is interested in babysitting?

Taking the Better Babysitters class is a great first step. Students learn about responsible babysitting, basic child development, infant and child care, safety, handling emergencies, ageappropriate toys, business tips and parent expectations. The cost is $45 per person.

rear-facing seats, children must use a forwardfacing seat with a harness until they reach the seat’s height and weight limits. (Many seats can accommodate children up to 65 pounds or more.)

Then, booster seats for all kids under

4 feet 9 inches tall. When children exceed the limits of a harness-style car seat, they must use a belt-positioning booster seat until they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall. Booster seats correctly position the vehicle’s lap belt low across the hip bones and the shoulder belt across the center of the shoulder. In a collision, poorly fitting seat belts are associated with injuries to the spine, intestines, head and neck. Most kids will need a booster seat until age 10 to 12.

Then, use the vehicle’s seat belt properly, and ride in a back seat until at least age 13. When children are tall enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they must use both the lap and shoulder belts; they must never slip the shoulder portion behind their backs. All children younger than 13 should ride in the rear seats of vehicles for the best protection, even if they are as tall and heavy as an adult.

Keep in mind that it’s generally safest to transition a child to the next stage only when they become too big for the stage they are in.

The new law officially goes into effect in 2020. However, it’s safest to adopt these rules immediately, and share the changes with others, too. It may seem challenging to keep up with the latest rules, but it’s worth it to keep your child as safe as possible!

to learn more:

to learn more:

View dates and locations at seattlechildrens.org/classes.

Visit depts.washington.edu/hiprc/ washington-state-updates-booster-seat-lawto-improve-child-safety.

Paddle Sport Safety Paddle sports like kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding are growing in popularity. They’re all fun, physically challenging activities for families, and they’re fairly easy to learn — ideally in warm weather and calm waters. Whether you rent equipment on a local lake or while on vacation, or try it out while at a friend’s waterfront home, practice paddle-sport safety. Be sure the equipment is in good shape

and you have the gear you need. Wear a life jacket with a whistle attached. Don’t go out in rough waters, and avoid areas with motorboat or jet-ski traffic. Finally, never paddle under the influence: you need to be at your physical and mental best to keep yourself and your family safe. to learn more:

Visit parks.state.wa.us/832/Paddlesports.

Tetanus Vaccines Tetanus bacteria exists naturally in soil, and it can enter the body through breaks in the skin caused by scrapes and cuts. A tetanus infection affects the muscles; it causes muscle pain and can trigger seizures and difficulty swallowing and breathing — and can even be deadly. Tetanus is also known as lockjaw, because it can cause jaw muscles to spasm and clamp the mouth tightly shut. It’s crucial that your entire family is up-to-date on their tetanus vaccines. There are a few different vaccines that protect against tetanus, and they all protect against other diseases, too. The DTaP vaccine protects babies

and young children from diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). Kids age 11 or 12 need one dose of Tdap, which also protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Adults then need the Td vaccine every 10 years to stay protected against tetanus and diphtheria. Talk with your doctor to be sure you and your family are protected. to learn more:

Visit doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/ Immunization/DiseasesandVaccines/ TetanusLockjawDisease.

Summer Mental Wellness Tips Most children feel happy and relieved when school lets out for summer. But as the days and weeks go by, they often miss the structure and built-in social time that school provides. This can cause kids to feel restless and bored — and sometimes lonely and sad.

As parents, we can help our kids avoid the ‘summer blues.’ We can provide them with comforting structure, keep them busy and socially connected, and promote healthy habits.

To create the structure kids crave, we can enforce bedtimes, provide age-appropriate chores, limit screen time and stay committed to regular family meals.

To help our kids stay busy and socially connected, we can arrange play dates with their friends, plan meet-ups at local parks and pools,

and take advantage of community events and programs like festivals, camps and sports teams. Public libraries offer summer reading lists and enrichment programs. For older kids, a part-time job keeps them on a schedule,

boosts confidence, builds a strong work ethic and allows them to earn their own money.

To support their overall health, we can be sure our kids get plenty of exercise and time outdoors. Summer is an ideal time for swim lessons, family hikes and bike rides. Simply taking the dog for a walk after dinner each night has a positive effect. And keep an eye on snacking; continue to avoid sugary drinks and keep lots of fruits and vegetables on hand.

If you suspect your child is dealing with something more serious than the summer blues — such as depression, anxiety or ADHD — talk with your child’s doctor. to learn more:

Visit https://bit.ly/2JZIzPy.

Kid Bits

Time-Out Tips

Wildfire Smoke

Device-Free Zones

Young kids sometimes need some help to reset themselves: to reset their emotions, their attitudes and their behaviors. Used properly, a time-out is a great tool to help kids age 2 or older cool down and learn good behavior.

Time-outs work best if you first warn your child that a time-out will happen if a certain behavior doesn’t stop — and name the behavior. If it continues, follow through and have your child sit in a quiet place with no distractions, like the corner of a room. Then set a timer — one minute per year of age works well. If they leave before time is up, the timer starts over.

Remember, time-outs are not a punishment; they are an opportunity for a fresh start.

Seasonal wildfires may be the new normal.

Breathing in wildfire smoke is not good for anyone, and children are at extra risk for negative health effects. Infants and children under age 18 — whose lungs and airways are still developing — breathe more air per pound of body weight compared to adults. For healthy people, inhaling smoke commonly irritates their eyes, nose and throat. It can cause more serious health problems for those with asthma, lung disease, heart disease and diabetes. Be aware of air quality and heed health warnings to stay inside. (In Washington, www.ecology. wa.gov/WAQA is an excellent source.) Also, be sure your child’s daycare or school has an air-quality policy.

It’s common for parents to feel frustrated or guilty that their kids are getting too much screen time with phones, video games, television, tablets and computers. The problem is often worse in summer, when kids have a lot of free time and there’s a lack of routine. For many families, the solution is to agree on device-free zones and devicefree times of day. For example: no screens at the dinner table or during meals, in bed or after a certain hour, and when visiting grandparents or doing a family activity.

Hold a family brainstorming session and start with some rules you all agree upon.

Then, lead by example and embrace the change: less screen time results in more connected family time!

to learn more:

Visit seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/

to learn more:

keeping-kids-healthy/development/

Visit doh.wa.gov/Communityand

to learn more:

discipline.

Environment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires.

Visit healthychildren.org/MediaUsePlan.

Quick Tip Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a minute! Set up a system to check the backseat of your car for your child every time you get out.

facebook.com/seattlechildrens instagram.com/seattlechildrens

twitter.com/seattlechildren youtube.com/seattlechildrens

Regional Clinic Locations

Online Resources

• Bellevue • Everett • Federal Way

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

• Olympia • Tri-Cities • Wenatchee

Primary Care Clinic • Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic

Main Hospital Numbers 206-987-2000 866-987-2000 (Toll-free)

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 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. © 2019 Seattle Children’s, Seattle, Washington.

Classes and Events These classes are popular and often fill up several months in advance, so please register early. Scholarships are available. If you would like to ask about a scholarship, call the number provided for the class you’re interested in.

PARENTING CLASSES Autism 101 This free 90-minute lecture is designed to provide information and support to parents and families of children recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. A portion of each session is dedicated to answering questions from the attendees.

Lectures are at Seattle Children’s main campus in Seattle, once per quarter, on a Thursday, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Lectures are also available via live streaming.

View dates or sign up for live streaming at seattlechildrens.org/autism101. Call 206-9878080 if you have questions.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Sibshops

This 8-hour class is for adults who regularly interact with adolescents ages 12 to 18. Youth Mental Health First Aid will improve your knowledge of mental health and substance use problems and will teach you how to connect youth with care when needed.

Sibshops are lively peer support groups for siblings of kids with special needs. Separate sessions are held for kids 6 to 9 years old and kids 10 to 13 years old.

This class is offered at the Sand Point Learning Center in Seattle for $20 per person, which includes class materials and lunch. View dates at seattlechildrens.org/classes or call 206987-9878 if you have questions.

CHILD, PRETEEN AND TEEN CLASSES Better Babysitters See page 1 of Good Growing for details.

Autism 200 Series

CPR and First Aid for Babysitters

Autism 200 is a series of free 90-minute classes for parents and caregivers of children with autism who wish to better understand autism spectrum disorder. Each class features a different topic.

For youth, ages 11 to 15. Topics include pediatric CPR, treatment for choking, and first-aid skills.

Students receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid, CPR, AED completion card, which is valid for 2 years.

Classes are usually offered on the third Thursday of the month, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Seattle Children’s main campus in Seattle. These classes are also available through live streaming.

View dates and topics, sign up for live streaming or view past Autism 200 lectures at seattlechildrens.org/autism200. Call 206-9878080 if you have questions.

Babysafe Babysafe is a 4-hour class for new and expectant parents and others who care for babies. Topics include infant development, baby safety, injury prevention and care of common injuries for infants from birth through 12 months of age.

Infant CPR is demonstrated and practiced, but this is not a certification class.

This class is offered in Seattle. The fee is $75 and each registration is good for 2 people from the same family. View dates and locations at seattlechildrens.org/classes or call 206-7892306 if you have questions.

Heartsaver First Aid, CPR and AED This video-based class for parents and caregivers covers how to treat bleeding, sprains, broken bones, shock and other first-aid emergencies. Also includes infant, child and adult CPR and AED use. Students receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid, CPR, AED course completion card that is valid for 2 years.

This class is offered at Seattle Children’s main campus in Seattle for $75 per person.

View dates at seattlechildrens.org/classes or call 206-987-2304 if you have questions.

This class is offered at Seattle Children’s main campus in Seattle for $75 per person. View dates at seattlechildrens.org/classes or call 206-987-2304 if you have questions.

For Boys: The Joys and Challenges of Growing Up This class is for boys, 10 to 12 years old, and a parent or trusted adult.

For Girls: A Heart-to-Heart Talk on Growing Up This class is for girls, 10 to 12 years old, and a parent or trusted adult.

An informal, engaging format is used to present and discuss issues most on the minds of preteens as they begin adolescence: body changes, sex, and other growing-up stuff.

This class is offered in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett and Federal Way in partnership with Great Conversations. The cost is $90 per parent/child pair; $70 per extra child. A copy of the book “Will Puberty Last My Whole Life?” is included.

View dates and locations at seattlechildrens. org/classes or call 206-789-2306 if you have questions. Content outlines and short videos are available at greatconversations.com.

Sessions take place at Seattle Children’s main campus in Seattle at a cost of $25 per session.

View dates online at seattlechildrens.org/classes or call 206-987-4133.

EVENTS Free Bike Helmet Fitting and Giveaways WHEN: Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Seattle Children’s North Clinic, 1815 13th St., Everett WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Skyway Fire Station, 12424 76th Ave. S, Seattle WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Pybus Public Market, 3 N Worthen St., Wenatchee Come get your child properly fit for a new bike helmet. Kids must be 1 to 18 and present to receive a helmet. The person who will be using the helmet must be present for proper fitting.

First come, first served. No appointments needed.

Learn more at MakeSureTheHelmetFits.org.

Low-Cost Life Jacket Sales WHEN: Saturdays, July 6 and Aug. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Evans Pool, 7201 E Green Lake Drive N, Seattle WHEN: Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Rainier Beach Pool, 8825 Rainier Ave. S, Seattle COST: $10 for infant, child and youth sizes; $20 for adult sizes CALL: 206-684-4961 Bring your family to purchase low-cost life jackets. The person who will use the jacket must be present for proper fitting. Children younger than 18 must be with a parent or guardian.

Children less than 6 months or 18 pounds cannot be fitted at this sale.

Free Car Seat Check WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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16 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

This young artist has a vision of empowering women

By Patty Lindley

W

hen South Seattle native Maya Milton was a little girl, she poured herself into two passions: art and dancing. Born with sickle cell anemia, she was otherwise generally a healthy child, until an overdose of medication she was taking to manage her condition resulted in a stroke. Unable to recover her ability to dance, Milton funneled her considerable creative drive into making art. “So, from there, I focused all of my attention, all of my love, all of my everything on art and I grew it. And it was almost like I was raising a kid, [how I nurtured] my knowledge of arts and [how I stretched] my awareness of my surroundings — I threw all of that into my art,” she recalls.

A self-described introvert, Milton discovered that her creative expression ultimately helped to facilitate connections with her peers “on a very human level,” and her art flourished and took form during her years attending first Franklin High School and then Seattle Central College. “In college, I decided that I was going to get out of my shell and actually become a human who could talk to people and could relate to people,” she says. Milton joined the college activities board, which plans, organizes and hosts campus events. “During this experience,” Milton notes, “I’m creating art for the events and I’m given a bunch of opportunities to use my artwork to communicate with people on even another level.”

Now 24, Milton is a working artist with rising aspirations and a very succinct mission: “I’m just making art. I make art all the time for whoever wants or needs it in their life.” What makes her artwork particularly satisfying to her is that she uses it to empower people of color — African-American/Black women, specifically. “I work to empower women of color to just be comfortable in their own skin. No matter who you are, you belong here. You belong in this world. You belong. You are perfect with all of your flaws and imperfections. And I think that that’s a big part of why I create art,” says Milton.

Though Milton has dabbled in various artistic mediums — including pen and ink to create highly detailed artwork early on in her artistic career — she is currently focused primarily on painting larger works on canvas. She shows her paintings in local galleries, at art walks, and at multimedia events for performing and visual artists of all types.

She has found success promoting and selling her art through her Instagram presence (@21entities) and her website, Maya’s Art (21entities.com).

Her own experience dealing with health crises and overcoming shyness to shine as an artist have given Milton a unique perspective on female self-realization and agency,

and this is reflected in her boldly colorful portraiture of powerful, regal female figures.

“I think one thing that really changed the way I processed things was having the stroke.

It really opened my eyes: This experience here in this world is something to not take for granted. [You must] steadily live your best life on earth and do what you think is best for you,” she advises.

Speaking of advice, I ask Milton how she would counsel parents to best support their kids to pursue their passions — creative, academic, activist or otherwise. She credits her own parents for being “The Golden Soul,” by Maya Milton extremely attentive to her own budding interests as a youth. “Both of my parents were very, very supportive of me and always supplied me with the things that I needed to become the person that I wanted to become. [That showed] they wanted to be there for me, that they loved me and that they cared about my dreams. And they still do.”

What’s next for this thoughtful young artist? In addition to working to expand the presence of her artwork in galleries (and eventually museums!), both locally and in other states, Milton has begun the planning process for opening her own art gallery. There she can present works by “people who have the same message to send to the world [that I do].” This message centers on empowering women to celebrate themselves.

Hers is a hopeful vision for a more loving and tolerant world. “What the world needs now is the love of women. I feel like we need more love, mama love. We need more of that loving rock, telling us to get our [act] together,” says Milton. “When I feel concern that we’re going backwards in society, I remind myself that marches are happening and protests are happening everywhere — I myself have participated in [them]. I think that those are huge signs of hope, to know there are people out there who are continuously fighting for what’s right and fighting for what they believe in.” n

ARRIVE LEAVE CURIOUS. INSPIRED.

Patty Lindley is interim managing editor at ParentMap. Sponsored by:

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Explore the Shore at Owen Beach, July 3 and 17 Jetty Island open, July 5–Sept. 2

Green Lake Bat Walk, July 31

18 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

TUESDAY

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Music Under the Stars. Pack your picnic and enjoy Seattle Chamber Music Society concerts broadcast live at area parks. Mondays, July 1–22, 7:30–9 p.m. (more parks and dates online). FREE. seattlechambermusic.org Ducklings and Down Dogs. Kids and their grown-ups do yoga and take a nature walk.

9:30–10:30 a.m. $5–$10 suggested donation. Child with caregiver. Adriana Hess Wetland Park, University Place. beyogawild.com

Summer Sounds at Skansie. Check out the musical skills of the Washington Army National Guard Band tonight; see full lineup online. Tuesdays through Aug. 13, 6:30–8 p.m. FREE. Skansie Brothers Park, Gig Harbor. gigharborguide.com/music Wildlife Safety Family Class. Learn about our natural world and what to do when you encounter animals in the wild. 9:45–11:45 a.m. $25/person. Families. Lake Sammamish Hans Jensen Group Camp, Issaquah. wolfcollege.com

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Mary Olson Farm. Learn about family farm life in a bygone era at a wonderful historic farm. Saturday–Sunday, through Aug. 25, noon–5 p.m. FREE. Mary Olson Farm, Auburn. wrvmuseum.org/the-farm Bicycle Sunday. Practice pedaling on a carfree lakeside boulevard; helmets required.

10 a.m.–6 p.m. select Sundays through Sept. 15. FREE. Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle. seattle.gov/parks/bicyclesunday

Rhino Encounter. Gather around for a close-up experience to meet and learn about the rhino residents of the zoo.

1:30–2:30 p.m., daily except Wednesdays.

Admission or membership plus $10; under 5 free. Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle. zoo.org Pool Playland. It’s swim time for parents and tots in the warm pool. Daily, 11 a.m.– noon through Sept 8. $4–$6; under 1 free.

Ages 0–5 with caregiver. Mounger Pool, Seattle. seattle.gov/parks/aquatics

Lunchtime Concert Series. Kick off this summer concert series with kindie rock from fan-favorite Recess Monkey. Tuesdays through Aug. 13, noon–1 p.m. FREE. Richmond Beach Saltwater Park (check online for each Tuesday’s location). shorelinewa.gov Lacey in Tune Children’s Entertainment Series. Show up Tuesdays for interactive summer fun. Tonight, it’s Reptile Man, followed by a big-screen viewing of “Smallfoot” (rated PG).

Tuesdays through Aug. 13, 6:30 p.m. FREE. Huntamer Park, Lacey. ci.lacey.wa.us

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Eth-Noh-Tec: Under Asian Moon and Stars. Join storyteller Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo as he brings Pan-Asian folk tales and mythology to life. 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. FREE. Fife Pierce County Library. piercecountylibrary.org Free Monday Night at PlayDate. Let the kids loose at this sea-themed indoor playground, FREE Monday evenings. 5–8 p.m.

Ages 12 and under with adult. PlayDate SEA, Seattle. playdatesea.com ONGOING EVENT

Karaoke in the Park. Belt it out on stage at this family-friendly summer program.

Tuesdays, July 9–30, 5:30–8 p.m. FREE. Cromwell Park, Shoreline. shorelinewa.gov Downtown Movies in the Park. Enjoy free popcorn, pre-show entertainment and the movie “A Dog’s Way Home” (rated PG).

Entertainment at 7:30 p.m.; movie shows at dusk. Tuesdays, July 9–Aug. 27. Bellevue Downtown Park. bellevue.com

Kent Cornucopia Days. Dragon boat races, live entertainment and a grand parade (Sunday, 2 p.m.) are just a few of this festival’s attractions. Friday–Sunday, July 12–14. FREE; fee for some activities. Kent. kcdays.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 12–14.

FREE. Along N.W. Market St., Seattle. seafoodfest.org

21 Trout Fishing Derby, daily through summer

MONDAY

Parkadilly. One of the biggest kids’ concerts and fairs on the Eastside features a petting zoo, live entertainment (Recess Monkey!), arts and crafts, and more. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE. Lake Sammamish State Park, Issaquah. lakesammamishfriends.org SandBlast Festival of the Arts. Enjoy a weekend of music, art, food, live sand-sculpting and more near the scenic Snoqualmie River. Saturday–Sunday, July 20–21. FREE. McCormick Park, Duvall. duvallarts.org

22 Alex Zerbe: Gravity Catastrophe! Don’t miss the “Professional Zaniac” putting on a wacky and entertaining science show.

2:30–3:30 p.m. FREE. Gig Harbor Pierce County Library. piercecountylibrary.org Puppet Theater Presents: Tortilla and Turtle. Classic stories for kids told by enchanting puppets. FREE. Ages 6 and up.

South Hill Pierce County Library, Puyallup. piercecountylibrary.org

23 Alien Invasion Concert. Join entertainer Rick Huddle on a mini-musical adventure with comedy, puppets, dancing and more.

11 a.m.–noon. FREE. Kelsey Creek Farm Park, Bellevue. parks.bellevuewa.gov Issaquah Summer Fun. Draw and create with provided chalk at the Chalk Art Fest (noon–5 p.m.), then pack a picnic for entertainment on the lawn by party band The Nines (7:30 p.m.). FREE. Issaquah Community Center. issaquahwa.gov

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Ethnic Fest. Celebrate the cultures that make up the Pierce County community with music, dance, art and kids’ activities.

Saturday–Sunday, July 27–28, noon–7 p.m.

FREE. Wright Park, Tacoma.

Kirkland Summerfest. Create Zone, giant obstacle course, inflatable rides, train rides and more! Saturday–Sunday, July 27–28.

FREE; some activities have a fee. Heritage Park, Kirkland. kirklandsummerfest.com

Live Animal Show. “Sheruff” Bones entertains and educates about sustainability with a cast of animal and human co-stars.

Daily, noon (additional 3:30 p.m. show on weekends). Included with admission. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma. pdza.org Trout Fishing Derby. Try to catch a tagged trout for prizes at one of many derby lakes across Washington. FREE with valid fishing license; no license needed for ages 14 and under. Find lakes online. wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/derby

Regal Summer Movie Express. Cheap summer flicks: This week, it’s “Sing” (rated PG) and “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (rated PG). Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Aug. 21, 10 a.m. $1. Check online for participating Regal locations. regmovies.com/movies/summer-movie-express Kirkland Kids Concerts. Captain Awesome Sauce entertains all ages today.

Tuesdays, July 9–Aug. 20, 10–11 a.m. FREE. Juanita Beach, Kirkland. kirklandsummerconcerts.weebly.com

2019 Summer of Learning

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WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

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Explore the Shore. Discover marine creatures in tide pools with naturalists from Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Wednesdays, July 3 and 17, 11:15 a.m. FREE. Ages 5 and up. Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park, Tacoma. pdza.org 3rd of July Fireworks Spectacular.

Live music, free kids’ bounce house, food vendors and super 10 p.m. fireworks show.

4–11 p.m. FREE. Rainier Vista Park, Lacey. ci.lacey.wa.us

Tacoma Freedom Fair. All-day fun leading up to 10:10 p.m. fireworks show. FREE; donations requested, fee for some activities.

10 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Ruston Way Waterfront, Tacoma. freedomfair.com Bellevue Family 4th. Family activities and 10:05 p.m. fireworks display. 2–10:30 p.m.

FREE. Bellevue Downtown Park. bellevuedowntown.com Seafair Summer Fourth. Party in the park, plus 10:10 p.m. fireworks show. FREE. Noon– 11 p.m. Gas Works Park, Seattle. seafair.com

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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Jetty Island Opening Day. Play on the beach and splash in the warm, shallow water. Daily, July 5–Sept. 2. FREE; $1–$2 suggested donation for ferry; $3 parking.

Everett. everettwa.gov Summer Story Time. Meet up at this historic cabin site for pioneer-themed stories and crafts. Fridays, 11 a.m.–noon through Aug. 30. Pay-as-you-will. Ages 3–9 with families. Job Carr Cabin Museum, Tacoma. jobcarrmuseum.org

Seafair Pirates Landing. Ahoy! The famous pirates come ashore amid a beachside festival that includes live music, a pirate look-a-like contest and more family fun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (pirates land about 2 p.m.). FREE. Alki Beach, Seattle. seafair.com 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

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Auburn Kids SummerStage. Fab outdoor entertainment series for kids kicks off with Reptile Isle show today; pack a suit for the spray park! Wednesdays, July 10–Aug. 14, noon–1 p.m. FREE. Les Gove Park, Auburn. auburnwa.gov Summer Sounds: Tweenland. Catch the group claiming to be the best tween cover band in Seattle! Noon–1 p.m. FREE. Town Square Park, Federal Way. itallhappenshere.org

Children’s Concert Series. Pack your sunscreen and get your dance on at the beach; this week, enjoy family power-pop with The Not-Its! Thursdays, July 11–Aug. 22, 10–11 a.m. FREE. Thornton A. Sullivan Park, Everett. everettwa.gov Music in the Park. The Not-Its! are busy!

Catch a second show at Fife’s summer concert series. Thursdays through Aug. 1, 6:30 p.m. FREE. Dacca Park, Fife. cityoffife.org

Redmond Derby Days. Carnival, fun run, pancake breakfast, live entertainment, bike race and parades make for non-stop fun.

Friday–Saturday, July 12–13. FREE; some activities have a fee. Redmond City Hall. redmondderbydays.com West Seattle Summer Fest. Explore the Kids Zone, packed with carnival rides, crafts and activities. Friday–Sunday, July 12–14.

FREE; fee for rides and some activities.

West Seattle Junction. wsjunction.org

Wallingford Family Parade. Show off your school spirit in this themed parade celebrating its 70th year and the grand reopening of Lincoln High School. 11 a.m.

FREE. Parade begins at Meridian Park. celebratewallingfordwa.org Lakewood SummerFEST. One-day party with bubble soccer, extreme trampoline, live performances, Kids Zone fun, car show, Lego contest and more. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

FREE; some activities have a fee. Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood. cityoflakewood.us

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Swingin’ Summer Eve. Find your village at this family fest with food, games, used book sale, live music and more. 5:30–8:30 p.m.

FREE. Cromwell Park, Shoreline. shorelinewa.gov Capital Lake Fair. Car show, carnival, parade (Saturday, 4:45 p.m.) and fireworks finale (Sunday, 10 p.m.). Wednesday–Sunday, July 17–21. FREE; some activities have fee. Heritage Park, Olympia. lakefair.org

‘Mamma Mia’ Sing-Along. Get caught up in the hit musical with this special onetime-only sing-along performance with the show’s cast and crew. (Regular show runs July 12–Aug. 4.) 7:30 p.m. $22–$31. Tacoma Musical Playhouse. tmp.org Auburn’s Summer Cruise-In. Car show, music, food and family fun. 4–7:30 p.m.

FREE. Les Gove Park, Auburn. auburnwa.gov

Center City Outdoor Cinema. Cozy up under the stars and catch “Christopher Robin” (rated PG) at Westlake Park, or “Up” (rated G) at Cascade Playground. Pre-movie activities begin at 6 p.m., movies start at dusk. FREE. seattle.gov Kla Ha Ya Days. Carnival, grand parade (Saturday, 10:30 a.m.), circus acts and lots more. Wednesday–Sunday, July 17–21.

FREE; some activities have a fee. Frogtastic Kids Fair today, 3–7 p.m. Snohomish. klahayadays.com

A Day Out With Thomas. If your little train fan wants to meet the “real” Thomas, this is your chance; get tickets early. Friday– Sunday, July 12–14 and 19–21, $24–$28; age 1 and under free. Northwest Railway Museum, Snoqualmie. trainmuseum.org Covington Days Festival. A grand parade kicks off this festival (Saturday, 10 a.m.), followed by carnival games, entertainment, inflatables, a watermelon-eating contest and more. Saturday–Sunday, July 20–21.

FREE. Covington. covingtonwa.gov

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Movies at Marymoor. Cozy up for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (rated PG); part of this summer series with entertainment and food trucks. Wednesdays, July 10–Aug. 28, 6:30 p.m.; films shown at dusk. $5–$6. Marymoor Park, Redmond. epiceap.com/movies-at-marymoor Sounds of Summer Concert Series. Park it among swanky U Village shops and enjoy live local music. Wednesdays, July 10–Aug. 21, 7–8:30 p.m. FREE. University Village, Seattle. uvillage.com

Mostly Music in the Park. Bring your family and friends to enjoy free live music and pre-concert activities. Thursdays, July 11–Aug. 15, pre-concert activities at 6 p.m., live music at 7 p.m. FREE. Mercerdale Park, Mercer Island. mercergov.org Music at the Marina Concert Series.

Come ready to dance to the upbeat bluesyswing tunes of the Dusty 45s tonight. Thursdays through Aug. 29, 6:30–8:30 p.m. FREE. Port Gardner Landing, Everett. everettwa.gov

Renton River Days. Cheer for the duckies in the Rubber Ducky Derby (Sunday), watch the parade (Saturday, 10 a.m.), get wild in the KidZone inflatables and more. Friday– Sunday, July 26–28. FREE; fee for some activities. Liberty Park and other venues, Renton. rentonriverdays.org Cinema Under the Stars. Outdoor entertainment (7:30 p.m.) followed by a family movie at dusk. Fridays, July 19–Aug. 16. Thornton A. Sullivan Park, Everett. everettwa.gov

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.

FREE; donations appreciated. South Kitsap Regional Park, Port Orchard. kitsaplivesteamers.org BAM ARTSfair. Celebrate art and design with hands-on kids’ activities and free museum admission. Friday–Sunday, July 26–28.

FREE. Bellevue Arts Museum and Bellevue Square. bellevuearts.org/artsfair

31 Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist Program. Explore tidal life at area beaches on low-tide days. 9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. FREE. Richmond Beach, Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens, South Alki and Lincoln Park, plus Seahurst and Saltwater State Park. More dates online. seattleaquarium.org Green Lake Bat Walk. Meet on the hill above the Seattle Public Theater to see and learn all about our flying, furry friends.

7:45 p.m. FREE. Green Lake, Seattle. batsnorthwest.org

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SNS • parentmap.com • July 2019 • 23

feature This Is Your Kid’s Brain on Play: 6 Fun Facts 1. Play increases social skills.

Studies using rats show that play appears to spark changes in areas of the brain used for thinking and pro-social behavior.

2. Pretend play increases cognitive function. In one study, children who are better at pretending proved better at thinking about and imagining different possibilities.

3. Play builds resilience.

According to the “The Power of Play” report, play “may indirectly affect brain functioning by modulating or buffering adversity and by reducing toxic stress to levels that are more compatible with coping and resilience.”

4. Playing syncs cooperation.

Swinging in synchronicity seems to increase kids’ ability to cooperate with each other, a study by the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (ilabs.washington.edu) found.

5. Play helps kids learn. In a recent study conducted in Texas schools, kids who got more recess time were more disciplined and focused in class, and they performed better academically than peers who did not get extra recess.

6. Outdoor play helps with everything. Numerous studies correlate outdoor play and time in nature with “physical activity, improved motor skills, and better vision and vitamin D levels,” as Dr. Pooja Tandon and co-author Kyle Yasuda, M.D., recently wrote in an op-ed for The Seattle Times. Look for more health research emerging from the University of Washington’s Nature for Health Initiative at EarthLab.

16 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

Play

is the thing

Ordinary child’s play has never been more studied — or more endangered

I

By Elisa Murray

magine this scenario: A neighbor kid is at your door, asking your 8-year-old if he can come outside and play.

As your child scrambles to put on his shoes, you remind him he has homework to do. He wavers, then shoots you a zinger: “Sorry, Mom. Remember? Doctor’s orders — I gotta play.”

Your pediatrician probably hasn’t yet written your child a prescription for hiking or hoops, but some experts hope that a standard well-child visit, especially for younger kids, will eventually include a checkup on how — and how much — your child plays.

Why? More and more evidence suggests what many observant parents, educators and kids themselves know intuitively: that ordinary child’s play is essential to learning and development.

Last September, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP; aap.org) made waves by publishing a paper titled “The Power of Play” in the influential journal Pediatrics. It stated that developmentally appropriate play is so vital to the health and well-being of children that pediatricians should advocate unstructured play and playful learning for kids in different settings — and even write “prescriptions for play.”

“At a time when early childhood programs are pressured to add more didactic components and less playful learning, pediatricians can play an important part in emphasizing the role of a balanced curriculum that includes the importance of playful learning for the promotion of healthy child development,” states the report.

Which begs the question: Is play — something that children and all mammals do naturally from infancy — really in such short supply that we need a medical intervention?

And what is play, anyway — why is it so important?

“The Power of Play” report loosely defines play as “an activity that is intrinsically motivated, entails active engagement, and results in joyful discovery.”

Kids define it even more simply. When I asked a few children, here are some of the phrases they used: “Free time, doing what you want to do.” “When you go to the living room and get out all your toys and do what you want.” “Fun things that make you laugh.”

“Going to the park.”

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D. (kathyhirshpasek.com), a fellow in

Temple University’s Department of Psychology and author of 14 books about child development, co-wrote “The Power of Play.” She subscribes to a similarly grounded definition.

“Play is a safe space where you get to try out stuff you can’t try anywhere else,” she says. “It’s the ultimate soup. It’s got all the right ingredients. It even disguises the veggies.”

If you start dipping into the abundant research on how various forms of play benefit kids, you might never come up for air. The AAP report sums it up well: “Play is fundamentally important for learning 21st-century skills, such as problem solving, collaboration and creativity, which require the executive functioning skills that are critical for adult success.”

Simply put, play is how kids learn, says Amelia Bachleda, Ph.D., outreach specialist for the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS; ilabs.washington.edu). “[Through play], children are able to explore their world in a context that’s individualized exactly for what they’re interested in in the moment and what they want to explore.”

Perhaps most critically, the paper summarizes research indicating that play is an important buffer against toxic stress, which — as you’ve probably noticed — is reaching epic proportions in kids and teens. Studies show that playing with teachers and peers can alleviate stress and anxiety in young children (see sidebar “This Is Your Kid’s Brain on Play”). More research is also emerging on the role of outdoor play in reducing stress, anger and aggression in kids.

Play, as you’ve probably also heard, is on the decline. According to one study, from 1981 to 1997, children’s playtime decreased by 25 percent. Thirty percent of kindergartners no longer have recess.

As has been exhaustively detailed by journalist Richard Louv (author of nine books, including “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder”) and others, outdoor and nature play is especially endangered.

Can all this attention to play reverse this seriously unamusing trend? Hirsh-Pasek says she and other authors of “The Power of Play” were thrilled by the coverage the report received, with stories featured in every major newspaper and morning show.

The authors don’t currently have a way to track how pediatricians apply the recommendations, but Hirsh-Pasek says the

parentmap.com • July 2019 • 25

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Leave No Girl Inside In the Puget Sound region, with water and mountains at our doorstep, many of us might take for granted our numerous opportunities for outdoor pursuits. But this ready access isn’t easy for all — particularly school-age girls. The following organizations are on a mission to reduce barriers to girls’ participation in outdoor adventure.

Girl Scouts of Western Washington • girlscoutsww.org Girls Scouts promotes leadership and social and environmental stewardship among its members. Girls can participate at multiple levels of commitment, from joining a troop to attending a camp.

SheJumps • shejumps.org SheJumps’ skills-building programs for girls ages 6–18 have a low barrier to entry, being free or donation-based, and the org provides equipment and instruction to any interested girl.

Washington Outdoor Women (WOW) • washingtonoutdoorwomen.org This volunteer-run organization is expanding its programming to offer more than its traditional yearly Pre-WOW Workshop weekend event for girls ages 8–13 and their caregivers (other programs are for women 18 and older).

Latino Outdoors Washington • Facebook, “Latino Outdoors Washington” Latino Outdoors Washington is the local chapter of a national organization and fosters meetups and information sharing about outdoor recreation among the Latinx community.

Out There Adventures (OTA) • outthereadventures.org OTA partners with outdoor leadership organizations such as Outward Bound and Northwest Youth Corps to lead immersive weeklong service and skills-building trips for queer youth.

YMCA BOLD & GOLD program • yboldgold.org/locations/seattle This YMCA of Greater Seattle summer outdoor program is now available to youth ages 11–18. A majority of the trips are single-gender, tuition is on a sliding scale, and gear can be provided.

Learn more at parentmap.com/girls-outdoors.

26 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

— Bryony Angell

feature

Play is the thing

continued from page 25 response has been encouraging.

“Pediatricians are now aware, and that’s a big deal. And there are people doing stuff about it, coming up with new programs around play, helping parents who don’t know how to play learn to play. It’s almost as if we’ve forgotten these very basic instincts, and we need to bring them back.”

What are you waiting for? Go outside and play!

When you talk about the decline of play in children, the conversation quickly goes outside.

Nature and outdoor play have enormous benefits for kids, including good physical health, improved vision, better gross motor skills, emotional regulation, even empathy. But as noted above, kids are indoors more than ever.

Factors abound: the rise of digital media, an upsurge in structured activities and increased parental fears, to name a few. Many kids lack access to safe outdoor play spaces.

If they do have access, perceived dangers or fear of parents’ judgment keep kids inside.

Ask a pediatrician about this trend and they’ll no doubt have a story to share.

Danette Glassy, M.D., a Mercer Island pediatrician, will tell you about the time she asked a 6-year-old patient what she liked to do outside. The response? “Oh, Dr. Glassy, I’m not an outdoor girl.”

“I wanted to cry!” recounts Glassy. “We had to talk a long time about why she wasn’t an outdoor girl. Could she go outside at her house and tell me when she comes back next year what that was like for her?”

A few years ago, Glassy and several other pediatricians associated with the nonprofit BestStart Washington (beststartwa.org) started thinking about what they could do to plant a seed at the beginning of children’s lives that might blossom into a family and personal habit of outdoor play.

In 2018, this concept bloomed into BestStart Washington’s Project Nature (projectnaturewa.com), an initiative that aims to increase kids’ access to nature through a multipronged effort: First, at well-child visits for ages 1–3, pediatricians talk to families about the benefits of nature play and give each child a small bag with an ageappropriate outdoor toy (e.g., a spade and seeds, a bug box, a pocket kite). The kit also includes a colorful brochure detailing the benefits of outdoor play and easy ideas for how to do it: belly hikes for 1-year-olds, mud play for 2-year-olds and so on. Parents are also directed to the project website, a clearinghouse of places, activities and resources.

The project is a cousin of the ParkRx movement (parkrx.org), a rapidly growing national effort that encourages physicians to prescribe time in nature “with the goal of improving [patients’] health and well-being.” Recently profiled in Outside magazine, ParkRx reports that as of a year ago, the United States had at least 71 provider-based nature prescription programs in 32 states.

But the people involved in Project Nature make an important distinction between their project and the parks prescription movement: They’re not “prescribing.”

Glassy says the goal is more about “joining” with families, rather than “telling them what to do.” Much like Reach Out & Read (reachoutandread.org), a very successful 30-year-old program that promotes literacy and hands out books at well-child visits, Project Nature includes a fun physical component.

Project Nature, which piloted its play kit with 60 families in three different pediatric clinics, is gathering survey data and other feedback on the model before reshaping and rolling it out more broadly this year. (Among the changes it will make: addressing weather and providing materials in Spanish.) It says it’s focused on reaching families with the most need and hopes to eventually partner with child-care centers as well as share its resources more broadly.

Seattle Children’s researcher and pediatrician Pooja Tandon, M.D., who is known for her research on kids and physical activity and is an adviser for Project Nature, believes that the model is a natural outgrowth of wellness questions that pediatricians already ask.

“Children need physical activity and to play outdoors. Even well-meaning parents might not be able to make that happen. Pediatricians and health-care providers have a role in asking about things, indicating that it is a priority,” she says.

Whitney Hemker and her 2-year-old daughter, Penelope, participated in the Project Nature pilot program through Glassy’s practice, which included filling out a questionnaire about the family’s outdoor play habits.

Though Hemker, a fifth-grade teacher, was already knowledgeable about the benefits of outdoor play, the process of quantifying how much time the family actually spent outside was helpful.

“I appreciated the reinforcement of ‘Yes, we need to get outside, even when it’s cold.’

We’re more intentional about dedicating time when there’s awareness of the need,” Hemker says.

Penelope, for her part, was delighted with the bug box she received as part of her

Lighten Up!

20 two-minute ways to get playful Taking time to play with your kids can feel like adding one more thing to the parenting to-do list. Get playful instead. Here are easy ways to lighten up your daily routine.

0719_swimlabs_1-4.indd • Have a thumb war.

• Wake your kids up with a pillow fight.

• Have a joke-telling contest.

• Keep water guns at the ready and fire when no one expects it.

• Take silly selfies.

• Teach armpit farts and fake burping (or have your kids teach you).

• Play a practical joke.

• If you have enough people around the table, play the game “telephone.”

• Revisit one of your most embarrassing childhood moments.

• Record your kid telling you one of his favorite early childhood stories.

1

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FREE

SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS AND TEENS!

• Blow up balloons. Fun will emerge.

• Play hide and seek in the house.

• Make up a joke, the sillier the better.

• Play “Would you rather …”

• Have a staring contest.

• Have a laughing contest.

• Have a dance party.

• Step outside for five minutes of flashlight tag before bed.

• Watch a funny video. (Try parentmap.com/viral as a starter.)

• Laugh at yourself.

Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 or call 1-866-348-6479 parentmap.com • July 2019 • 27

feature

Play is the thing continued from page 27

play kit. “She points out every bug we see now,” says her mom.

Play access and equity Pediatricians have unparalleled access to families, yet can a few minutes at a well-child visit make a difference in troubling trends such as the childhood obesity epidemic and the decline in physical activity and playtime for kids?

Access to outdoor play, in particular, reflects larger societal inequities. Children in lower-income neighborhoods have less access to safe parks and greenspaces.

“For parents who work two or three jobs, it can be hard to get kids outside,” says Beth Harvey, M.D., one of the pediatricians who piloted Project Nature; 50 percent of the patients in her Olympia practice are on Medicaid. “Safety is a big issue. Lots of our patients live in apartment complexes without a play area. They don’t have transportation or the ability to get to a park. That’s a challenge.”

There are also cultural considerations, says Khavin Debbs, an environmental educator who works as partnerships manager for the Tiny Trees (tinytrees.org) outdoor preschool, and as an educator manager for Kids & Race (kidsandrace.org).

Debbs spent a lot of time outdoors as a child, but his father wasn’t part of his experience. “My dad worked for the railroads for 40 years. He would spend his days outside. When he came home, the last thing he would want to do is take me to a park.”

In addition, stereotypical images of outdoor recreation might not feel welcoming to children of color. “It’s a white dude with a five o’clock shadow jumping off a rock,” says Debbs. “When I see that as a black person or even as a kid, that’s telling me straight up that this isn’t a place where I belong.”

Through his work with Tiny Trees and Kids & Race, Debbs hopes to help kids weave an updated story of playing in nature. “We’re getting them outside, building those positive experiences with the outdoors. They’ll be able to change that narrative about being in the outside.” (See sidebar, “Playful Resources.”)

Project Nature is learning from initiatives in other cities. Founded by pediatrician and clinical scientist Nooshin Razani, M.D., Children’s Hospital Oakland’s Center for Nature and Health in California not only prescribes time in nature for its patients — 90 percent of whom live in poverty — but leads families on monthly nature outings.

In a recent Sierra magazine article, Razani notes that a randomized study indicated that “every single park visit substantially reduced parent stress.” Closer to home, University of Washington’s EarthLab (earthlab.uw.edu) is launching research into the benefits of time in nature for kids (among other groups).

Schools can play an important role, says Tandon, by helping schoolyards double as nature spaces for families with little access to parks. She points to the green schoolyards movement (greenschoolyards.org), which aims to leverage the 2 million

acres managed by U.S. public schools as community greenspaces. “Many cities don’t have space to put in a park … but every community has a school,” she says.

Between homes, schools and parks are sidewalks, streets and bus stops. Hirsh-Pasek tells of another project, Learning Landscapes (learninglandscapes.org), that essentially “prescribes” play for cities.

Working with city designers, community organizations and nonprofits such as Kaboom! (kaboom.org), Learning Landscapes advocates turning ordinary urban elements — such as bus stops and park benches — into playful experiences that encourage learning. The City of Seattle is presently working with Learning Landscapes to mark safe routes to schools with playful designs.

“The vision is to have all cities make this part of how you do business,” explains Hirsh-Pasek.

Lightening up on play So, what are the takeaways for parents? Should we add making sure our kids get enough play — unstructured play, outdoor play, play with us — to the top of our already teetering to-do list? Is this another thing we should feel guilty about?

According to all the experts I interviewed, the answer to that question is a resounding no.

What I heard instead was this: Yes, be aware of how important play is and advocate where you can. But also: Relax, pay attention. Allow small moments of play to unfold, wherever you are.

Tiny Trees’ Khavin Debbs says, “The way that kids are going to learn from those moments is to allow those moments to happen. Something as simple as picking up a rock, seeing a snail, climbing a tree.”

Tandon, the mother of two boys, reminds us that outings don’t have to be a big deal, a lesson she learned when her sons were small and “we would drive two hours to get to a beautiful setting, and they would play with the same rocks and sticks [they would play with home].”

I’ve noticed that my 9-year-old son frequently writes his own tiny “play prescriptions,” taking time between structured activities or homework to connect with Lego mini figures or a basketball.

Hirsh-Pasek gives her own example of walking with her 4-year-old granddaughter in the woods and looking at shadows. “She was amazed.” Soon she was asking about what this “shadow thing” was: “When does it come out? When doesn’t it?” They started observing, then predicting. Soon, “we had a hypothesis.”

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“Every single day, every moment, is an opportunity,” says Hirsh-Pasek, “to change the lens on an everyday routine.” ■ Elisa Murray is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor of the guidebook “52 Seattle Adventures With Kids” (parentmap.com/52adventures).

Playful Resources Want to become a play advocate? Start here.

Children & Nature Network: Founded by Richard Louv, this global movement aims to increase equitable access to nature so that children — and natural places — can thrive. childrenandnature.org EarthLab’s Nature for Health Initiative: A new project at the University of Washington, the Nature for Health Initiative is launching a robust program of research exploring why and how contact with nature improves health. earthlab.uw.edu Green Schoolyards America: Public schools in the United States manage 2 million acres of public land. This nonprofit aims to transform schoolgrounds into “richly layered outdoor environments that strengthen local ecological systems while providing place-based, hands-on learning resources for children and youth of all ages.” greenschoolyards.org Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS): Follow the research at this interdisciplinary center at the University of Washington that’s dedicated to researching human learning, with an emphasis on early learning and brain development. ilabs.washington.edu Kaboom!: Dedicated to giving all kids “great, safe places to play,” Kaboom! has built 17,000 play spaces since 1996. kaboom.org

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Learning Landscapes: Learning Landscapes works with city planners and nonprofits to reinvent everyday urban elements, such as bus stops and park benches, into playful, fun learning experiences. kathyhirshpasek.com/learning-landscapes Lunch & Recess Matter: This nonprofit helps parents and education advocates champion longer lunches and more recess time for kids. lunchandrecessmatter.org Outdoor Childhood – Puget Sound: A Seattle-area Facebook community for parents, educators and caregivers that shares ideas and inspiration for outdoor play. Disclosure: the author cofounded it (Facebook, “Outdoor Childhood Puget Sound”).

Project Nature: A project of pediatrician-led BestStart Washington (beststartwa.org), Project Nature aims to break down barriers to outdoor play for kids to help improve child health, achieving this by providing advice and tools from health professionals, as well as online resources. projectnaturewa.com Outdoor recreation communities for people of color: Communities such as Outdoor Afro, Latino Outdoors, Outdoor Asian and Climbers of Color organize outings for families of color to get outside and help to make outdoor recreation welcoming and equitable for all. parentmap.com/outdoors Tiny Trees: With nine locations, this outdoor preschool has pioneered a model of high-quality, equitable outdoor preschool in parks around the Puget Sound area. tinytrees.org

WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR COUPLES

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parentmap.com • July 2019 • 29

S U M M E R

P L AY

Visit the Award-Winning

INSPIRED LEARNING

Children’s Museum

BE CURIOUS. TO THE MOON AND BACK. Celebrate 50 years of lunar landings, ALL SUMMER LONG. Rocket launches, interstellar virtual reality experiences, planetarium shows and maximum moon adventure.

Visit museumofflight.org to learn more about events throughout the city.

Make Summer Memories!

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ages+ +about stages out

Seize the Play!

9 fab family playdates for summer fun in the sun

By Elisa Murray

T

he family that plays together builds memories that take them through the stresses of the school year and beyond. Try these high-octane fun stops, excerpted from ParentMap’s guidebook “52 Seattle Adventures With Kids.”

(Psst! Buy the book at parentmap.com/52adventures to find lots more!)

►

Amble through a farmers market. Local farmers markets double as a

source of fresh entertainment. Try the Wallingford Farmers Market (Wednesdays, located next to the awesome Meridian Playground); Kirkland’s Juanita Friday Market, across the street from the beach; and the Bellevue Farmers Market (Thursdays), which rewards kids for trying new produce.

►

Forage. Ditch the drive out to a farm and head to a local park (or food forest) to pick not just blackberries, but thimbleberries, salmonberries and huckleberries, to name a few. The Beacon Food Forest at epic Jefferson Park is ground zero.

►

Hike and seek. There are so many ways to hunt for treasure, starting with geocaching (parentmap.com/geocaching). Lesser-known low-tech options include letterboxing (learn more at parentmap.com/letterboxing), which involves following clues to a cached journal; and hiding and finding painted rocks (join a local Facebook group to get started).

►

Play in the street. Want to connect with your neighbors and have more

space for your kids to play outside? If you’re in Seattle, it’s a simple process to get a free permit to close down your street regularly to create a “play street.” Find tips at parentmap.com/playstreet.

► Tackle an adventure course. It’s a splurge, but an hour or two of zipping, swinging and climbing around the aerial playground that is High Trek Adventures (hightrekeverett.com) in Everett will bind your family together like Spider-Man to a web. ► Row, row, row a boat. Take advantage of our waterlogged wonderland. Boating spots such as the University of Washington’s Waterfront Activities Center (washington. edu/ima/waterfront), Foss Harbor Marina (fossharbormarina.com) in Tacoma and Issaquah Paddle Sports (issaquahpaddlesports.com) at Lake Sammamish offer affordable rentals. Every Sunday, Seattle’s Center for Wooden Boats (cwb.org) offers free boat rides.

(Arrive early and visit the new education center/museum while you’re there.) ► Watch Shakespeare in the park. Sword fights, crazy costumes, free admission — Shakespeare in the park is kid-friendly right out of the gate. Try GreenStage’s Backyard Bard program (greenstage.org), featuring four actors in onehour versions of the Bard’s best. ►

Take an urban hike. You don’t have to escape to the forest to find great walks. Explore new corners of the city by following a designated trail, such as the parentmap.com • July 2019 • 31

S U M M E R P L AY Saturday, July 27 9:00am - 1:00pm Westfield Southcenter's South Parking Lot

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out + about

Summer Family Playdates continued from page 31 Cheshiahud Loop (parentmap.com/cheshiahud) around Seattle’s Lake Union, or by blazing your own route.

►

Get a new reality. Have a wild gaming adventure — from Spider-Man to Creed — at virtual reality cafés, such as all-ages Beyond Reality (Facebook, “Beyond Reality”) in Bremerton (combine it with a ferry ride) or Portal (portalvr.us), with locations in Ballard and Bellevue. ■

THE GREAT INDOORS

Get our go-to guide to

111 ways to play it cool this summer

Seattle family fun!

Between the (anticipated) smoke and heat of summer, sometimes even the most sun-starved Northwest family will need to seek respite from the great outdoors. Here are several indoor ways — some with AC included — to play in and out of the home.

Take in a cool movie. The big screen can be a cheap, chill thrill. In addition to the Regal Summer Movie Express matinees (regmovies.com), try the Tuesday kid matinees at the historic Edmonds Theater (theedmondstheater.com), the always-cheap Crest Cinema Center (landmarktheatres.com) in Shoreline and, of course, movie nights at your library. (Or plan a home movie night that’s outta sight at parentmap.com/movie-night.)

Get your copy! ParentMap.com/52adventures

Go bowling. Go online to the Kids Bowl Free website (kidsbowlfree.com) to get access to free alley time for kids at participating bowling alleys.

Love your library. Your public library is a summer treasure trove of performances, story times, STEM activities and so much more (parentmap.com/library-fun).

Roll on. Relive the 1980s and get your heart pumping at a local roller rink (parentmap.com/skating-guide).

Rocket on. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing — and take a virtual-reality rocket ride — at The Museum of Flight’s “Destination Moon” exhibit (museumofflight.org).

Teach thrift. Give your kids $5 to spend on clothes or craft supplies at Goodwill and see how far they can stretch it.

Set up an indoor gym. Indoors doesn’t have to mean inactive. Get a mini trampoline, hang a swing, use the hallway for ball games and get creative.

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For more information visit www.ci.lacey.wa.us/events or call 360.491.0857

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Get the kids to “Kondo.” First, have the kids watch an episode or two of “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.” Then, make a game of having them go through their books and toys to figure out what “sparks joy” and have fun giving away what doesn’t.

Camp indoors. Set up your old pup tent in the living room, break out the sleeping bags and marshmallows, and let the kids play at camping.

Stock up on homemade gifts. Let the kids get creative and make easy gifts for relatives — bookmarks, hand-painted mugs and the like — which you can then pull out in December.

Seek respite at over 100 indoor places to play. When the air quality or outdoor conditions are unhealthy or uncomfortable, peek at our list of the best indoor play destinations and ideas at parentmap.com/indoors to keep you and your crew from going completely stir crazy.

Elisa Murray is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor of the guidebook “52 Seattle Adventures With Kids” (parentmap.com/52adventures).

S U M M E R

P L AY

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Laura S. Kastner, Ph.D. “A welcome resource for parents who want to understand how to calm their young children.”

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ages + stages

Battling Brain Drain

School-break strategies for combating the summer slide 5–18

By Nancy Schatz Alton

S

chool’s out for summer! Blinded by sunlight — or dozing away beneath the morning fog — kids everywhere are focusing on not focusing. Meanwhile, as parents unpack those last-day-of-school backpacks, they’re unearthing vacation learning packets along with the half-eaten lunches and other year-end detritus. Or they’re reading that final school email quoting dire summer-slide statistics. But what does that really mean, and what should parents do about it?

“Summer slide” is the term used to describe how students regress academically during extended breaks from school, forgetting a portion of the previous year’s learning. Researchers today still cite a systematic review of 39 studies published in 1996 that indicated students’ achievement scores declined by one month’s worth of school-year learning during summer break, and more recent data shows similar results. And it’s not just reading achievement that is perishable under the summer sun: Math scores take an even deeper dip than reading scores.

“Research has also established a link between socioeconomic status and the loss of reading skills experienced over the summer,” writes Ariel Goldberg in an article for EdSurge, an education news organization, citing the impact of the “faucet theory,” which provides a hypothesis as to why the summer slide hits lower-income children harder. Over the summer, access to learning resources diminishes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, but not for students from advantaged backgrounds.

“The summer slump definitely highlights accessibility and equity issues,” notes Jessica Werner, a children’s librarian at the Seattle Public Library. “Not all families

have financial access to activities like day camps, or they lack transportation to [attend] free events. A family language barrier can also make summer learning difficult.”

With equity and achievement gap issues in mind, we spoke with educators and local librarians to gather tips for parents that encourage and support learning while school is out of session.

Take advantage of summer’s unique learning experience possibilities Before plunking down your credit card to buy flash cards on Amazon, academic counselor and consultant Ana Homayoun (anahomayoun.com) suggests that parents first reframe their family’s concept of summer learning.

“Not all learning takes place in the classroom. Help your child consider skills they’re interested in acquiring, such as executive functioning skills of planning and organizing, or navigating friendship, social connection, communication skills or connecting to community,” says Homayoun. “Brainstorm with them, using a wide lens to ponder opportunities that include these skills.”

Homayoun provides the example of a student who walked back into her office taller — literally and figuratively — after spending his summer months working at a market bagging groceries.

“His dad told me that he’d never seen his son more exhausted or happier than after putting in a full day of work. That job got him to talk to people; and those parentmap.com • July 2019 • 35

ages + stages Battling Brain Drain continued from page 35 incremental communication opportunities were exactly what he needed,” says Homayoun. “I think the key is talking with your child to figure out what version of ‘grocery bagging’ they need in their life right now.”

She advises having another trusted adult (or more than one) brainstorm with your child (i.e., without you, the parent, in the room) to come up with ideas. “Every topic they are interested in probably has 10 threads they could follow, thanks to summer’s lack of routine,” says Homayoun.

A project for learning executive functioning skills, for example, is to create a budget and plan a day trip using public transportation, mapping out every detail.

If your child wants to work on social skills, volunteering for a cause they love will push them toward building new relationships without the pressure they experience in their school social scene.

Make a plan for completing summer packets That summer packet lurking at the bottom of the backpack also contains an opportunity to develop executive functioning skills, says Elizabeth Hamblet, author of “From High School to College: Steps to Success for Students With Disabilities.” “I tell the students [whom] I work with that there’s no right or wrong way to get a project done. What matters is how you feel when doing it and how you feel about your results,” she says.

S C H O O L S

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With that in mind (and depending on their age), help your child set goals and make their own decisions about how to get that packet and assigned reading finished. “If rewards work for your child, you can set up rewards along the way and at the end,” says Hamblet. “Some teens may be less interested in rewards but more interested in having a sense of control over how they get their work done. Talk with them about different strategies, such as doing five math problems a week and chunking out the novel reading over the whole summer. Ask them how that sounds compared to what it felt like doing the entire math packet and reading the whole book during the final week of last summer’s vacation. Use their prior experiences to help make them ‘informed consumers.’”

Parents can also support their kid’s management of the workload by helping them set up goals on a calendar, create reminders and establish regular check-ins to assess progress. Another strategy: Schedule family time when you all do work that you’d rather not be doing, such as you working on budget planning or bill paying while your teens read “Pride and Prejudice.”

If they fail to do any work until the last week of summer, have them write a note to themselves (or record a video) about how it felt doing it at the last minute, suggests Hamblet. Save this to pull out next summer. If they really felt uncomfortable doing their work in the final hours, revisiting that reflection could

P R E S C H O O L S What’s Really Important for Early Literacy?

You guessed it: Play!

Research suggests that the best way to promote foundational literacy is through play. In play-based kindergartens and preschools, teachers intentionally design language experiences that help prepare children to become fluent readers. How can mom and dad best support literacy development and retention at home? Here are six playful ways: • Read together every day. Early literacy experts recommend sharing five stories a day with preschool-age children, returning to familiar books until kids can “read along.” Make it fun, not a chore.

• Eat dinner together to promote important skills for reading, writing and comprehension. Encourage discussion, taking turns, listening and telling stories about everyone’s day.

• Sing together and learn rhymes. Singing helps children learn to recognize rhyme, rhythm and patterns in language.

• Read the signs. Seek words and letters in the environment, pointing out common words on signs.

• Model being a reader. Give your child opportunities to see you reading and writing. Also, write notes and lists with your child, keep a notice board in your kitchen and show children that books are to be treasured.

The best summer camps, school-break solutions and classes in Seattle and around the Sound.

ParentMap.com/camps 36 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

• Play games that help your child discriminate sounds. For example, have your child stand with their back to you while you play different instruments or sound-making toys and ask your child to guess which you are playing; or go on a walk together to discover different sounds.

— Rachel McClary

SCHOOLS + PRESCHOOLS NOW ENROLLING! AGES 21/2 - 6

help them make a different choice the next time.

“That’s how change and intrinsic motivation works — people have to be motivated to change how they approach homework,” says Hamblet, who adds that if the plan for summer homework goes well, these planning skills can be applied to doing homework in the fall.

Learning Academy PRESCHOOL

Flex brain muscles daily and seek out free experiences Summer break is about realizing that foundational learning takes place at home, too, says John Hughes, summer program coordinator for Seattle Public Schools.

“Parents can extend learning at home and out in the world. You can flex your brain muscles literally anywhere,” says Hughes.

Say you’re watching a show with your children. “Instead of passively watching, ask them what the theme is: What motivates the characters to do what they do?

Ask them how they’d feel if what happened on the show happened to them,” says Hughes, who notes that caregivers sometimes miss the opportunities available to spark learning in everyday situations. For example, your kid is going to have to do math when you ask them to make a double batch of brownies and lemonade for their lemonade stand.

Seek out experiences (and many of them will be free) in your local community, too. Here’s the starter list of resource websites that Hughes shares with the families he works with in the school district, each listing engaging and educational programming for kids: • School’s Out Washington Youth Program Registry (schoolsoutwashington.org) • City of Seattle Resources for Parents (seattle.gov/education/for-parents) • King County School & Community Partnerships (ydekc.org) • ParentMap School-Break Solutions (parentmap.com/camps-and-classes) One of parents’ best resources for engaging and inclusive summer learning is their closest public library branch and the librarians who work there. Programs at public libraries are almost always free and thoughtfully scheduled to be convenient for working families. Regional public library systems all present summer reading programs that put a focus on reading and building literacy every day, with a reward system based on the number of hours spent reading or listening to books.

“I tell parents to not only read to kids, but to let your kids see you reading. I also want them to know that oral storytelling activates the same part of the brain that reading does, so tell family stories to your kids,” says Werner.

Programming at public libraries is also designed to combat the summer slide, adds Werner. She encourages families to stop in at their local branch and talk to a librarian. This spring, librarians also spent time visiting schools and letting kids know about all the options available online and at branch locations. Go ahead and ask your kids what they learned from librarians — we’re betting they can teach you how to download graphic novels on your phone.

(For a list of amazing free library services to check out this summer, visit parentmap.com/librarycool.) ■

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Nancy Schatz Alton is a writer, teacher and poet. Read her work at withinthewords.com. parentmap.com • July 2019 • 37

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Meet 100% Talent’s Dani Carbary and Tara Buchan This dynamic duo is challenging our state’s gender wage gap, one conversation at a time

By Patty Lindley • Photo by Will Austin

I

n the Pacific Northwest, we like to think we are on the bleeding edge of progressive innovation in all areas of life, but an assessment of how men and women are differently compensated in our industries, organizations and economy reveals a sobering truth: The gender wage gap in Washington state is one of the largest in the country. The stats are startling: A recent analysis indicates that women who work full-time year around earn just 79 cents for every $1 earned by men, and moms who work full-time and have school-age children earn 58 percent of what comparable working fathers earn.

Dani Carbary and Tara Buchan are committed to

challenging and changing this reality, one conversation and one strategic partnership at a time. This dynamic duo works for 100% Talent (100percenttalentseattle.com), an initiative for Washington aimed at raising awareness of equity issues and creating a collaborative coalition of member employers (called signatories) to redress the systemic factors that contribute to the impacts of the gender gap on women in our region’s workforce. The initiative’s ultimate goal? To ensure that everyone is paid for 100 percent of the valuable work they do.

We caught up with Carbary and Buchan to learn more about 100% Talent.

What’s the founding story of 100% Talent?

Carbary: In 2013, the National Partnership for Women and Families released a report that found Seattle had the worst wage gap among the country’s 50 largest metropolitan areas.

Local leaders immediately began working on assembling a city taskforce and convening business leaders in a similar effort. They put their heads together to create a voluntary, employer-led program to emphasize best practices and collective learning and action: the 100% Talent initiative. Initial support came from founding signatories Amazon, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Microsoft, Ben Bridge, King County, the City of Seattle and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Buchan: We’ve grown to nearly 90 organizations strong today!

and creating practices that are free of bias. Other companies may have identified that women seem to be promoted less often than their male counterparts, so creating mentorship and sponsorship programs will be a game changer.

Buchan: Some of our signatories have really figured out best practices around workplace flexibility, but maybe need help with compensation evaluation, tools and metrics. We love working with these organizations to identify where they can improve.

What are the key strategies and initiatives that 100% Talent is employing to close that gap?

Buchan: We believe that our employerled approach can make a real difference in influencing change. Our 100% Talent signatories [which collectively employ 1.5 million people globally] are working together to tackle the systemic factors that contribute to the wage gap: things like unconscious bias in organizational culture, hiring, salary negotiations and performance evaluation practices. Then there’s the need to provide flexible work arrangements and prioritize equal female representation in senior leadership.

What are the best practices that are proving most successful in changing the culture and achieving gender equity in the organizations you work with?

Carbary: Each company is different.

Some companies might benefit from taking a look at their hiring structure

38 • July 2019 • parentmap.com

L to R: Tara Buchan and Dani Carbary

Are there particular areas of emphasis in 100% Talent’s research and program development?

Carbary: Yes! It is so important to recognize and take specific action around the gaps between women. At every level and on each issue regarding the wage gap, women of color encounter additional barriers.

Buchan: We also focus on combating the “caretaker penalty”: things such as offering paid family leave, encouraging those with power in an organization to “parent loudly,” giving new parents support both during leave and at work.

What is a perhaps surprising tactic for diminishing the gap that people might not consider?

Carbary: Equalizing parental leave can be a key contributor to shrinking the gap, so we also work with companies to reevaluate their leave policies and to train managers to support and encourage taking advantage of these policies.

What motivates you as individuals to do this work?

Buchan: I love that we get to work with and connect passionate people who care about their colleagues and recognize their impact.

Carbary: The late Paul Allen once said, “As long as we work together, with both urgency and determination, there are no limits to what we can achieve.” This is very much how I feel about the partnership that 100% Talent has with its signatories. ■

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