Seattle's Child "The Education Issue" September/October 2026

EDUCATION issue: THE BIG BAN | CAMP READ-A-RAMA | IS TECH HIGH SCHOOL A FIT? SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2026

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YOUR GUIDE TO A KID-FRIENDLY CITY

TROLL INVASION! New Thomas Dambo exhibit brings Puget Sound troll count to 17

R SE AT T L E SC HILD.C O M

It’s so much more than a gift! Washington State Heirloom Birth Certificate

>>Contents Seattle’sChild

September/October 2026 // Issue 519

WHAT PARENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT..................3 DAD NEXT DOOR...........................5 ROMP......................................................7 CARE......................................................11 INCLUSION....................................... 13 FEATURE: EDUCATION............................... 17-26

A portion of the proceeds from each birth certificate benefits the Children’s Trust Fund of Washington, administered by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families Strengthening Families Program. • This official birth certificate is personally signed by the Governor and State Registrar.

THE BIG BAN IS TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL A BETTER FIT?

• Certificate is 8 1/2 x 11 and includes the name, date and place of birth, as well as the name and birthplace of the parent(s). • Frameable keepsake.

ROCKING READING WITH READ-A-RAMA CALENDAR......................................28

• For each $45 purchase of an Heirloom Birth Certificate, $20 is tax deductible. To find out more information on Children’s Trust and child abuse prevention in Washington State visit: www.dcyf.wa.gov/about/governmentcommunity/community-engagement or visit the Department of Health to order your own Heirloom Birth Certificate.

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Preschool - 8th Grade | thevilla.org

ON THE COVER B oge, one of the new trolls at Point Defia nce Zoo & Aqua r ium. PHOTO COU R TESY OF I MAGI N E & THOMAS DA MB O

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Seattle will study universal childcare and preschool in 2027

Why every parent needs a will

This Hits Home: News that impacts Seattlearea families. Posted every Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

»What Parents

„ Find more local stories for families on seattleschild.com

Are Talking About Education, health, development and more

Dr. Jennifer Rubin Photo by Joshua Huston

Deeper, not shorter Teens want more and better conversation about social media​ by DR. JENNIFER RUBIN

Parents today are navigating an increasingly polarized conversation about social media. Schools are restricting phones, policymakers are proposing platform bans, and many families are questioning when young people should gain access to social media. These debates reflect legitimate concerns. Research has linked some forms of social media use to challenges such as sleep

disruption, body image pressures, and exposure to harmful content. Yet conversations about solutions often focus on restricting access while paying less attention to an important question: How are young people learning to navigate digital environments once they encounter them? Restriction and education serve different purposes. Restrictions may limit exposure to potential harms. Education helps young people develop the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to navigate online spaces. Regardless of where families stand on questions of access, most young people will eventually encounter social media.

To better understand how prepared they feel when they do, my colleagues and I surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. high school students. We asked where they learn about social media and whether that guidance helps them navigate the realities of online life. One finding stood out: parents matter more than they may realize. More than three-quarters of adolescents said their parents had talked with them about social media, making parents the most common source of guidance. When asked who provided the most helpful support, teens identified parents far more often CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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Seattle’sChild

September/October 2026 // Issue 519 “Seattle is my town. I know this city inside and out… or so I thought until I had kids.” Seattle’s Child is your guide to getting to know your city all over again. Finding things to do, places to eat, and how to get around — it’s a whole new ballgame with kids in tow. We’re interested in how parents make homes in a space-challenged urban environment, how families create community, and what parents are really talking about. Seattle’s Child reflects real Washington families and their broad range of parenting experiences. ANN BERGMAN Publisher, Founder abergman@seattleschild.com JASMIN THANKACHEN Associate Publisher jasmin@seattleschild.com KATHRYN HOLLOWAY Art Director CHERYL MURFIN Managing Editor, Print cheryl@seattleschild.com BRITT THORSON Managing Editor, Digital britt@seattleschild.com JOSHUA HUSTON Photographer ROSE WILLIAMSON Proofreader JEFF LEE, MD Columnist BRETT HAMIL ELIZABETH HUNTER MELODY IP YUKO KODAMA CHERYL MURFIN DR. JENNIFER RUBIN DIJANA STEWARD Contributors ADVERTISING NOAH DRETSKE Account Executive noah@seattleschild.com YULIA FIALA Account Executive yulia@seattleschild.com FABIOLA LOPEZ Ad Production Coordinator fabiola@seattleschild.com

Seattle’s Child has provided useful information to parents since 1979. In addition to our magazine, look for our special themed publications — Family Guide, School, Explore, Get Moving!, and SummerTime — distributed free throughout the Puget Sound area. Seattle’s Child is published every other month.

ONLINE seattleschild.com Facebook facebook.com/seattleschild Twitter @SeaChildMag Instagram @seattleschildmag MAIL c/o Postal Plus 1211 E. Denny Way, Seattle, WA 98112 VOICE 206-441-0191 TO ADVERTISE advertise@seattleschild.com STORY IDEAS editor@seattleschild.com CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS calendar@seattleschild.com Include date, time, cost, appropriate ages, address, contact information and description.

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«What Parents Are Talking About CONTINUED

than teachers, peers, or the platforms themselves. While adolescents may know more about the latest apps and platform features, they continue to look to adults for help making sense of their experiences. Our findings suggest that parental influence remains substantial and that these conversations should start earlier and occur more often. Nearly two-thirds of teens in our study said social media education should begin before age 13. Their instincts reflect the reality that many young people encounter social media well before high school. Yet many adolescents reported receiving guidance only after they were already actively navigating digital spaces. Only about one in five teens reported discussing social media with parents weekly or more often, and for many families, conversations occurred only a few times per year. Conversations often emerge in response to a problem — a concerning post, an online conflict, or a troubling news story. Our findings suggest that adolescents benefit from something broader: ongoing opportunities to discuss the role social media plays in their lives. This may be especially important given that nearly half of teens reported learning to navigate social media through trial and error, while fewer than one in five reported learning through formal education in schools. Perhaps the most important finding for parents was that teens wanted more than warnings. Most adolescents reported learning about risks such as cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and misinformation. However, fewer teens reported learning about the positive ways social media can be used,

including creative expression, exploring interests, and finding supportive communities. This imbalance matters because adolescents do not experience social media as entirely positive or entirely negative. Their experiences are often both. When education acknowledged this complexity and addressed both opportunities and challenges, teens reported feeling more confident and better prepared to navigate online spaces. The implication is not that parents should worry less about online safety. Rather, our findings suggest that conversations about social media are most valuable when they extend beyond safety alone. Ask your teen to show you how their feed works and why they think certain posts keep surfacing. Ask about something they recently encountered online that they found interesting, inspiring, or misleading. Talk about your own digital habits, what captures your attention, what you trust, and how you decide whether information is credible. You do not need to be an expert on every new platform to be an effective guide. What matters most is creating space for ongoing conversation. While public debates often focus on restricting access, the teens in our study pointed to another priority. They want trusted adults who can help them make sense of a digital world that is already part of their lives. Parents do not need to have all the answers. But they can help young people develop the skills and judgment they will need long after parental controls and platform restrictions are gone. ABOUT THE WRITER

Dr. Jennifer Rubin is principal investigator of the Digital Technologies and Education Lab at Seattle-based educational research organization foundry10.

„ Read all of Jeff Lee’s columns on seattleschild.com

»DadNextDoor A little encouragement from across the fence by J E F F L E E , M D

Cultivating failure I once read an article about a mother who sued her son’s high school because he was cut from the basketball team. She wasn’t alleging discrimination or unfairness — she simply claimed that he was deprived of his rights because he wasn’t allowed to take part in school athletics. I don’t remember all the details — I’m sure there was more nuance. But I do remember that the story got some national exposure because it struck a nerve. Many people wondered how we got to a place where children are told they have a right to something just because they want it. Over the years, I’ve noticed a clear shift toward protective parenting. That includes physical protection, which is a good thing, though it too can be taken too far. But mainly, I mean emotional protection. Somehow, it’s become a parent’s job to protect their children from any kind of emotional distress. These days, we try to shield our kids from even the mildest disappointment or failure, and start pointing fingers when that isn’t possible. This may be part of the natural pendulum swing that parenting styles go through. If our own parents weren’t emotionally supportive or clued-in, that caused many of us real pain. But when we react to that pain by shielding our kids from every conceivable setback, we do them a disservice. The only way kids learn to overcome failure is by failing. I think that’s why that news story irked me — sports are one of the last remaining settings where we can expose our kids to constructive failure. In sports, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. You have to assess your skills honestly, then figure out ways to get better. If we rig the game, then those lessons are lost. As parents, we can give our kids the opportunity to fail well. We can expose them to situations where failure is probable, but where improvement and eventual success are well within their reach. We can help them process and manage their emotions when failure does come. And finally, we can help them acquire the skills and grit to keep trying. This last part is tricky. When I coached Little League, I saw a lot of well-meaning parents give their kids feedback in unhelpful ways. Even now, as a leadership

development consultant and executive coach, I meet many people in positions of power who have no idea how to give skillful feedback. Here are a few quick tips that make a difference: • Pick the right time and place. That’s not in the dugout after they strike out, or on the drive home from a recital that went off the rails. But in the next couple days, find a time and place that feels calm and private. • Check your ego at the door. We all do it: we live through our kids’ accomplishments, and bask in their success. I wouldn’t begrudge any parent a little of that. But when they fail, don’t take it personally. The goal isn’t for them to collect trophies to put on your mantle. The goal is for them to grow — and to grow, they need to fail. • Start by asking what their experience was. How are they feeling? What do they think they did well? Did they give their best effort? What do they wish they’d done differently? You have to start where they are if you hope to go anywhere useful. • Help them adopt a growth mindset. Mistakes or failures aren’t who we are, they’re something we all do — you, me, Shohei Ohtani, and Caitlin Clark included. The point is to get better through focus and practice and determination. Success and failure, in the short term, are not under our control. Work and improvement are. • Use the magic words. You can frame your feedback with one simple sentence that turns it from criticism to faith, and makes it about them, not you: “I’m saying this because I know you have high expectations, and I know you can reach them.” These are just suggestions — you’ll find your own ways to do this. The most important thing is to get started. Children are not hothouse orchids. We don’t want their thriving to depend on a pristine, climate-controlled environment. We want them to be dandelions: tough, resilient, and ready to grow like crazy, even after they get mowed down. ABOUT OUR COLUMNIST

Jeff Lee fails frequently, but mostly constructively, in Seattle, WA.

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S P ON SORED CON TEN T

»ToolBox

Understanding ADHD in girls

Early signs, support and treatment options by K A I S E R P E R M A N E N T E

About 12% of children in the United States between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But there are twice as many boys diagnosed as there are girls diagnosed with ADHD. Most often, boys with ADHD are quickly recognized because of their inability to sit still or manage impulsive actions, particularly in classroom settings, where the behavior is a distraction. ADHD diagnoses for girls are often delayed, sometimes significantly, due to their quieter presentation. Girls are more likely to have what's known as “inattentive forms of ADHD,” says Dr. Ashok Shimoji-Krishnan, a clinical psychiatrist for children and adolescents at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center. For boys and girls alike, ADHD is a disorder of the brain’s frontal lobe, which, under normal conditions, helps us pay attention, manage impulses, regulate activity and complete tasks. As a result, people with ADHD tend to present as disorganized and distracted or are more apt to take risks. Left untreated, ADHD can raise a girl’s risk of mental health challenges, impulsive behaviors and substance use, ShimojiKrishnan cautions. Treatment can come in a variety of forms — counseling, medication, or behavior therapy.

What ADHD looks like in girls Teachers and parents are less likely to identify the quiet, daydreaming girl next to her loud, attention-seeking brother. Inattentive ADHD can look like an inability to pay attention in class, making small mistakes or forgetting assignments. Girls with ADHD may be disorganized, or they may try

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Courtesy of Kaiser Permanente

to hide their struggles by being hyper-focused on organization. Other signs may include: • Excessive talking • Risk-taking or impulsive behavior in peer or romantic relationships • Emotional outbursts • Irritability • Anxiety • Emotional withdrawal “Girls may internalize symptoms, seeing them as personal flaws,” says the psychiatrist, “while boys often quickly understand that it’s a struggle in the brain.” “At first, girls may come in with mental health issues like anxiety and depression. We find out where it’s coming from, often because they couldn’t stay on task at school or turned in incomplete work. The grades suffer, and now they’re anxious about school,” Shimoji-Krishnan says.

Diagnosis and treatment

ADHD’s root causes have yet to be determined, but it’s likely a combination of environmental and genetic factors, the doctor explains. No one has yet pinpointed a gene or chromosome responsible, he says, and there’s no clear evidence that dietary choices impact ADHD. After an evaluation by a qualified health care professional, treatment is often a combina-

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S p ons ored Cont e n t

tion of prescription medication along with behavioral therapy sessions. “Stimulant medications can help promote better focus and attention,” Shimoji-Krishnan says. It’s important to talk with your child’s doctor about what the right approach is for your individual child. Parents can also build a system that involves consistent routines for daily life to help support ADHD within the home. Chore charts can offer bite-sized visual reminders of what needs to be done each day, whether it's taking the dog for a walk or taking out the garbage.

ADHD in school and social life “Due to inattention and distractibility, it’s easier to make a small mistake such as forgetting to carry the one on a math problem,” Shimoji-Krishnan says. “Over time, that can easily evolve into a girl believing she’s not good at school or avoiding difficult subjects.” Parents should consider asking about school accommodations. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a school accommodation plan (such as a 504 plan or an Individualized Education Plan, or IEP) be part of an ADHD treatment plan for school-aged children. “Even if you feel like your child can manage without it, an accommodation plan will give

you strategies to access a year or two down the road, as a safety net. If your child starts struggling in school performance or with behavioral issues, you have that in your back pocket,” says Shimoji-Krishnan. Socially, girls can feel wounded by social exclusion that occurs after missing subtle body language cues. “They get the idea that they can’t make or keep friends. That isolation raises the risk of being picked on,” he says. Because of this, a girl with ADHD may avoid female friendships altogether. To determine whether your daughter might need an assessment, Shimoji-Krishnan suggests observing how she gets along with others and whether she can focus in class. Talk to other parents and your child's teacher. New evidence suggests that earlier diagnosis can help mitigate many of the negative outcomes for girls. In fact, girls can blossom when ADHD is caught early rather than later in life, when they may already be struggling with careers and relationships, says the physician. After getting treatment for ADHD, anxiety and depression often fade for most. “They quickly realize they’re not less intelligent or flawed — their brains just weren’t allowing full understanding,” says Shimoji-Krishnan. Early recognition and support can help girls with ADHD build confidence and succeed at school, at home and throughout life. ABOUT THE DOCTOR

Dr. Ashok Shimoji-Krishnan is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center. When he's not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids and playing music. S P ON SORED BY

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A trip to Edmonds City Park and beyond

2026 Guide: Pumpkin patches in or near Seattle

Free kid-friendly events around Seattle (September and October 2026 Guides)

»Romp Things to do with kids

Troll invasion!

New Thomas Dambo exhibit brings Puget Sound troll count to 17 by C H E R Y L M U R F I N

“What do you think of him?” “I wish he lived at my house. He could sleep in my swimming pool.” I’m listening to Lenon, age 5, as we stand in front of Bruun Idun, the sweet-faced, flute-playing wooden troll who lives under

a shady copse at the north end of the beach walk in Seattle’s Lincoln Park. The swimming pool, Lenon’s dad, Roger, tells me, is a kiddie pool, not big enough for even one of Bruun Idun’s feet, but he’s not going to kill the dream: “Maybe,” he tells Lenon, “but look, she’s got the whole ocean right here.” Lenon and Roger, by the way, are middle names at the request of a cautious White Center dad, who loves finding trolls but isn’t so

keen on them finding his family. “We’ve seen each one several times,” Roger tells me of the five wooden trolls installed by Danish artist Thomas Dambo in and around Seattle in the summer of 2023. “She wants each one to live with us.”

Don’t we all?

That’s because each Dambo troll feels like a friend (as opposed to scary). Every troll has a story. They change a bit as the seasons pass,

so they feel both familiar and new each time you visit. I tell Lenon that Bruun Idun, eyes closed as if caught up in a secret musical moment, is playing her flute to the orcas in the water. According to Dambo troll lore, she is asking them “why they have all left the Puget Sound.” I let her dad tackle that question CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

Taks, who believes trolls must understand humans before deciding how to help them change, is starting his field study at Northwest Trek on October 15. Photo courtesy of Imagine & Thomas Dambo

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Lilnut playfully catches a human in her giant net. Photo courtesy of Imagine & Thomas Dambo

«Romp CONTINUED

with Lenon, and watch as about 80 people, big and small, sidle up to Bruun Idun over the course of a Saturday afternoon.

The troll hunt expands south

Beginning Oct. 15, Lenon and her family will get to hunt down 12 more of Dambo’s whimsical giants — four hidden among greenage at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) in Tacoma and eight along the winding trails and native wildlife habitats of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville. The trolls will be peeking at people and gathering intel on humans at the two sister parks until Jan. 28, 2027. The installation of the traveling “TROLLS: A Field Study” has been months in the planning with PDZA and NW Trek and reflects a mission they share with Dambo: to promote sustainability and environmental awareness. “Honestly, the idea just fit us,” said Mick Szydlowski, spokesperson for PDZA and Northwest Trek. “When we first learned about Thomas Dambo’s trolls, it felt like discovering a new species we didn’t know we needed. “The zoo is already a place where people come face‑to‑face with awe. The trolls tap into that instinct,” Szydlowski said.

“Bringing them to the zoo felt like a natural extension.”

How do you get a troll to come to your city?

In general, a visit by Dambo trolls starts with a group willing to host and cover installation costs. The 2023 “Northwest Trolls” exhibition that brought Bruun Idun and four other trolls to greater Seattle was primarily funded by the Scan Design Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Those trolls are being cared for by volunteers and members of the non-profit organizations or municipalities that oversee each site. Each has remained standing beyond their contracted three-year lifespan. Barring any major damage or other concerns, officials at Scan Design said they hope each sculpture will remain in place for as long as 15 years. The request for a visit from the temporary “TROLLS: A Field Study” was approved by the Board of Park Commissioners for Parks Tacoma, which oversees Northwest Trek and PDZA. To install these new and sizable creatures, the wildlife parks are working with Imagine, an international immersive storytelling and experiential design company.

Valle takes a rest surrounded by beauty. Photo courtesy of Imagine & Thomas Dambo

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Don't forget to find the five resident trolls in the area, like Bruun Idun. Photo by Joshua Huston

If your little troll hunter asks how 12 trolls get to Puget Sound, the short answer is it “takes plenty of collaboration,” according to Ashley Friel, from Imagine. Dambo and his team of artists work out of his studio in the Danish countryside. Key parts (such as the face) are prefabricated in Denmark and shipped to the installation site. A giant is then built by staff and volunteers using roughly five tons of materials. “The Trolls are crafted from recycled or

reclaimed materials, including fallen branches, scrap wood, twigs, and pallets,” said Friel. “For this exhibition, each Troll's hair has been crafted from a special type of wood, such as birch, walnut, or chestnut, to give them a unique flair.”

What is it about trolls?

Western Washington doesn’t have the greatest number of commissioned semi-permanent Dambo trolls in the country. That honor goes to North Carolina with seven. But during the three months “TROLLS: A Field Study” exhibit is up in the Pierce County animal parks, the Puget Sound troll map will include 17 big, magical, wooden faces. Just what is it about those faces that so capture our families' hearts and interest? I asked Friel, Szydlowski and local parents to tell me, in a word, what the trolls inspire in kids (big and little). For Friel, the word was “curiosity.” “These trolls can teach us a lot about the importance of

Pia the Peacekeeper

Frankie Feetsplinter Ballard

Bainbridge Island

Bruun Idun Lincoln Park

Jakob Two Trees Issaquah

Oscar the Bird King

Vashon Island

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

taking care of our planet and seeking out adventure,” Friel said. Parents in the region came up with a whole list of single words to describe their and their kids’ attraction to Dambo’s structures: “mysterious,” “funny,” “mystical,” “soulful,” “sweet,” “spellbinding.” “Whoa.” Dambo’s trolls are “like a manifestation of a dream… a friendly monster, the best kind,” Susan, a Seattle grandmother, said. And then there was new mom Paloma’s word: “Grounding.” Indeed, these trolls feel rooted in the earth. “Kids love anything that makes the world feel bigger and stranger in a good way,” said Szydlowski. “A troll isn’t just a sculpture; it feels like a character you’ve stumbled upon mid‑adventure. A giant troll makes you feel small in the best possible way.”

It’s about story

Folklore is a valued part of Dambo’s Scandinavian culture, and his trolls are steeped in it. “I’ve always been a storyteller and creator,” Dambo told Mia Le Journal in a 2025 interview. “Growing up in Denmark, I was surrounded by fairy tales and learned early on that nothing should go to waste. Trolls, deeply rooted in Scandinavian folklore, became the perfect subject. They’re both protectors and tricksters, much like nature itself, and building them from recycled materials highlights the

idea that “trash” can be transformed into treasure.” While most of his creatures give off a gentle vibe, he points out that traditional troll stories carry a hint (or sometimes a bang) of warning: be on your best behavior if you don’t want to be captured by a troll. The affable crew that makes up “TROLLS: A Field Study” gets at the story of sustainability in a new way — by making human behaviors a point of troll research. “These 12 Trolls are on a journey to study humankind,” said Friel. “They explore how humans and Trolls are alike, as well as the many ways we differ. The Trolls’ individual stories are inspired by their curiosity about things we humans see as normal, like cellphone usage and grocery store food packaging.” To get deeper into the story, Dambo has created the “TROLLS: A Field Study” book to go along with the installation. It acts like an official field guide of the type anthropologists might use, and offers great and often funny questions and activities for kids and parents to explore together: “Why do humans wrap their food like gifts?” “Do they poop?” “Why do they give snacks to the bin (garbage)?”

Dambo and a commitment to sustainability

Dambo’s trolls have been built in more than 17 countries and have captivated millions around the world. All of that work is about getting people to rethink their relationship with what they throw away. Although Dambo was on leave and unable to provide new insights for this story, he stresses in every interview he gives that much of what we call trash can be reimagined as treasure: “Trash is not disgusting,” Dambo recently Poppi gathers small objects left behind. Photo courtesy of Imagine & Thomas Dambo

told The New York Times. “It’s disgusting to throw it out.” “Thomas Dambo doesn’t just build art; he builds stories about reuse, resourcefulness, and imagination,” said Szydlowski. “It’s one thing to talk about sustainability, and it’s another to let people walk inside it, touch it, and feel its scale.” “The trolls are basically giant conversation starters,” he said, adding that stewardships discussions are likely to arise from the ‘field study’ idea that the trolls are observing humans while humans observe animals.

The last words

Lenon and Roger have had many a troll conversation since the arrival of the first five trolls in Puget Sound. “She asks a lot of questions about trolls,” Roger said. “Like do they take baths?” As the two moved along the path at Lincoln Park, waving good-bye to Bruun Idon, I noticed the troll stayed put. She probably knows there are no orcas in Lenon’s kiddie pool. Roger’s words — he couldn’t get it down to just one — for what this and other Dambo trolls inspire in the young and young at heart hung in the air, perfect and right: “Enchanting,” he said. “Marvelous. Magical.”

Can you find them all? As colored leaves and cooler-butnot-yet-cold temperatures settle in, fall is a terrific time to make a troll trek. Here’s an introduction to each troll: Trolls visiting Northwest Trek Oct. 15 to Jan. 24 • Taks “organized the field study after noticing increasing signs of human waste and environmental damage. Taks believes trolls must understand humans before deciding how to help them change.” • Wilde “protects untouched areas of the forest, tracking how wildlife behaves when humans are present versus when the forest is quiet.” • Anja “closely observes human behavior, focusing on moments of kindness.” • Bignut “thinks about the future of forests, studying how small actions today affect ecosystems many years from now.” • Lilnut “protects seeds and new plant growth. She studies how forests regenerate after storms, fires, or human activity.” • Hasse “experiments with building structures from reclaimed materials so forests aren’t further harmed.” • Kirse “is always in motion, symbolizing curiosity or human physicality.” • Valle “reminds us to rest but not to sleep through the beauty around us.” Trolls visiting Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Oct. 15 to Jan. 24 • Poppi “gathers small objects left behind by humans. She wants to understand why humans create so many things meant to be used only once.” • Birch is interested in how trees communicate through roots and soil. “Birch may symbolize human connection or even disconnection from nature.” • Boge “believes trolls and humans should learn from one another.” • Larke “observes weather, birds, and seasonal change, reminding her fellow trolls that nature moves in cycles that cannot be rushed.” Northwest Trolls – maintained by volunteers and hopefully here for years to come • Pia the Peacekeeper (Bainbridge Island) was the first of the Northwest trolls. Find her at Sakai Park where she sits cross-legged, gently holding small human puppets. • Bruun Idun (West Seattle) is tucked in Lincoln Park where she plays her flute to the orcas, asking why they have all left the Puget Sound. • Jakob Two Trees (Issaquah) is nestled in the woods of Cougar Mountain, enjoying a peaceful moment and reminding humans to do the same. • Frankie Feetsplinter (Ballard) is located at the National Nordic Museum. Frankie is the youngest and “most irresponsible of all the Trolls.” • Oscar the Bird King (Vashon Island) traveled far and settled for a rest. Because he speaks crow, he’s been dubbed the bird king.

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LITTLE LEARNERS LEAD THE WAY

Each class is designed for caregiver participation!

Seattle Children’s Museum classes help kiddos ages 6 months - 4 years reach developmental milestones through hands-on S.T.E.A.M centered play. Fall classes begin the week of September 14th Registration opens August 18th

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Do some good together in September (and October)

Seattle Angels: Wrapping foster families in love

These two organizations have your babies covered

»Care

Find more local stories for families on seattleschild.com

Volunteer

A giving back opportunity kids will “get”

Creating communities where kids flourish

Gayathri Pochamreddy and her children Photo by Joshua Huston

One-stop family connection All about family resource centers by M E L O D Y I P

On a recent Saturday, volunteers at Akin, the non-profit family services organization handed out 500 baby diapers. The cost to families? Zero. One grandma who attended the giveaway was skeptical: “What’s the catch?” No catch. That’s because Family Resource Centers (FRCs) in Washington, including seven run by Akin, are all about helping families meet

their needs. Most FRCs provide free diapers, clothes, and food to families, while at the same time providing parent education, housing support, employment resources, toddler playgroups, and more. In this way, the centers are truly one-stop shops, helping families not only survive, but thrive. With everything accessed at one site, FRCs save parents time, confusion and missed opportunities. FRCs also reduce child suffering and save taxpayer dollars. According to the National Family Support Network, FRCs across the

Sack lunches. Just about every kid has been happy at one time or another to get a packed brown bag, especially if a long morning and active play at recess has left them hungry. So, making sack lunches for those in need is a way to connect them with the idea of caring for the community with an action they’ll understand. The nonprofit Plymouth Housing is always in need of volunteer families willing to purchase supplies, assemble lunches at home, and then deliver 50–100 sack lunches to one of its buildings in Seattle. Interested or have questions? Contact Kirsten Mintun at kmintun@ plymouthhousing.org — Cheryl Murfin

U.S. help cut foster care placements by as much as 50% and reported child abuse cases by upwards of 60%. In addition, according to Akin, every dollar invested in an FRC saves up to $4.93 in public spending on crisis systems, such as CPS investigations and judicial system costs. “We connect the whole family to the whole community,” said Akin’s Dr. Daniele Lyman-Torres. “[FRCs] are a hub, but also a front door to services everywhere. “We don’t ask families, ‘What CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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«Care CONTINUED

service do you qualify for?’” Lyman-Torres stressed. “We ask families what they need to thrive.” In 2021, Washington passed a legal definition of FRCs and guiding principles: an FRC is "a unified single point of entry where families, individuals, children, and youth in communities can obtain information, an assessment of needs, referral to, or direct delivery of family services in a manner that is welcoming and strength-based." Last year, Akin’s seven FRCs received more than 40,000 visits, including 20,000 at its Kent and North Seattle locations. At Akin, and typically at most FRCs, resource navigators are key. They

Family Resource Centers • Akin Family Resource Centers 3akinfamily.org • FamilyWorks FRC and School-based FRCs 3familyworksseattle.org • Southwest Youth & Family Services 3swyfs.org/family-resource-center • Neighborhood House 3nhwa.org/youth-and-family-services • Seattle Children’s Hospital 3seattlechildrens.org/clinics/family-resource-center • Chinese Information and Service Center 3cisc-seattle.org/family-support • White Center Heights Elementary School 3wch.highlineschools.org/about/family-resource

assess individual family needs and help parents connect to services — in some cases assisting in the completion of paperwork and making phone calls to set appointments. Families are led to FRCs by referrals from myriad sources, including schools, pediatricians, and food banks. Word of mouth is also effective: families served often provide a center’s greatest marketing.

Parent empowerment, an FRC essential Gayathri Pochamreddy was pregnant with her second child in 2025 when she went looking for kid-friendly activities and diapers for her toddler. She saw a flyer promoting FamilyWorks FRC near the Roosevelt light rail station. The FamilyWorks center served 1,500 households in 2025 and offers a wide range of programs and

family essentials. A year and a half later, Pochamreddy’s family still regularly attends events at the FRC. Her 4-year-old daughter loves storytimes and cooking classes and Pochamreddy has joined the organization’s FARE parent advisory committee. “FARE is a great place to share my thoughts about FamilyWorks’ programs,” she said. Parent ideas are taken seriously. Based on their input, FamilyWorks now runs a mobile pantry at Seattle Children’s Hospital and offers classes for caregivers of teens and tweens. Theresa Williams, FamilyWorks Supportive Family Programs manager, was in the committee meeting where those ideas surfaced: “I started crying because I was seeing their voices really come alive. I see the full

circle. We’re not just serving them — we look to them as our guide. This center is what they need it to be, because their voices are being heard.” FamilyWorks also has school-based FRCs at four Seattle Public Schools sites and two others in housing developments, with three more in the works. Williams is quick to point out perhaps the FRC’s biggest pull: the chance for families to simply have fun together. Case in point: At a recent role-reversal at a center barbecue, parents ran sack races while kids filmed them. “Families are often in survival mode. So, for us, it’s a great opportunity to give them a moment where they can enjoy each other and just be present.”

WHERE CURIOSITY LEADS THE WAY Photo courtesy Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust

Volunteer

Holiday trees for Habitat

Touch, build, splash and explore! Give your children the space to wonder, create and experiment on their own terms at KidsQuest Children’s Museum.

Fuel their imagination at kidsquestmuseum.org 12

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Is decorating a tree a traditional part of your Christmas or other fall or winter holiday season? The Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust’s Holiday Trees for Habitat gives that tradition new life. Families are invited to donate $100 or $200 to adopt living holiday tree with roots wrapped in burlap. Order between Oct. 1 and Nov. 23. After the holidays, help plant your tree in a local habitat restoration project site. Go to 3mtsgreenway.org/ holiday-market — Cheryl Murfin

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Supporting families with disabilities

VFAAB spells help

Vietnamese families have an ally in navigating autism by Y U K O K O D A M A

About one in six children in the U.S. experiences developmental delays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and other learning and developmental challenges. While there are dozens of resources for families with autistic children and those with developmental delays in Washington, Dr. Thanh Kirkpatrick, a pediatrician at Rainier Valley’s HopeCentral Clinic and executive director of the Vietnamese Family Autism Advisory Board (VFAAB), said she co-founded VFAAB because: “There are so many barriers for the community.” “In the Vietnamese community, children tend to receive an autism diagnosis much later than mainstream Caucasian children,” said Kirkpatrick, who notes that catching a developmental delay early makes a difference in outcomes. “Patients would be overlooked. There would be a slip due to a language barrier.” She meets with developmental experts and autism and disability organizations to build relationships for the community. VFAAB connects Vietnamese families with support and care services. It also educates families about autism and developmental delays and engages parents in ways to address their children’s challenging behaviors.

Autism Health Fair at Odessa Brown Children's Clinic, where VFAAB offers its Small Steps classes. Photo by Stan Matsui

A private parenting experience

Karen Yao, VFAAB family champion and a mother of an autistic boy, said many Vietnamese families don’t share their child’s learning delays with others. “Many times they don’t want others to know they have a child with disabilities because people in the community might

think the universe is punishing the family for something they did wrong,” said Yao. When Yao’s son, Ethan, was 3, he was a happy toddler but wasn’t speaking or eating and couldn’t pull up his pants. A

developmental specialist diagnosed Ethan with severe autism spectrum disorder, and the specialist noted that the outcomes would have been much worse if Yao had CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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«Inclusion

phrase meant because she wasn’t a native English speaker. “Now Elisha listens to what I say,” said Nguyen.

CONTINUED

waited another month for a diagnosis. Yao quit her job and sought physical, speech, and occupational therapy appointments for her son. She spent full days taking Ethan to any available appointments she could find. Today, Ethan is thriving and excelling in his middle school classes. Yao, who lived in Beacon Hill with her parents, said the effort and sacrifices paid off: “After a 16-week program, Ethan had a big jump in his progress. He was able to write his name and stomp his feet.” Yao said after watching her son’s growth, she doesn’t see autism as a disability. She was invited by VFAAB to speak about her experience, and Yao has been helping Vietnamese families seek help for their children ever since.

Educating families

VFAAB offers classes where families learn about developmental milestones to track their child’s progress and seek help if needed. The organization also offers parenting tips to decrease difficult behaviors. Kim Ha Nguyen, whose daughter, Elisha, was born with Down syndrome, attended the classes and described how the

Help during the long wait for services

Kids playing at a Small Steps class. Photo courtesy VFAAB

sessions helped her with her daughter’s needs. Nguyen, a resident of the Chinatown-International District, recounted, through an interpreter, that Elisha would bang her head against the wall and have tantrums. “I learned that instead of ignoring the behavior, I could hug her. I could play and talk with her and be really observant to see what she needs,” Nguyen said. “I asked her to try to tell me what she needs, and I told her I’ll try my best to understand. The class encouraged me to be patient.” Nguyen said Elisha had been saying “I’m hungry” in English. Nguyen recalled that it took her three days to realize what the

Nguyen stressed the importance of VFAAB’s work. “When it takes weeks to access an appointment for services, VFAAB can help me over the phone, in my language, at the time I have a question,” she said. Kirkpatrick noted that “accessing therapies can take a year or even a few years, and they’re offered in English. [VFAAB’s] courses can offer helpful tips for families to care for their children while they’re on the waitlist for therapies.” VFAAB partnered earlier this year with Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic to offer Small Steps 101 and 102 classes open to Vietnamese families. The groups also offer evidence-based interventions for behaviors like tantrums and meltdowns, as well as play-based strategies to support child development, communication, and social skills. This article first appeared in the South Seattle Emerald and is reprinted here with permission. Read more at 3southseattleemerad.org

Meeting their needs

Stand up for Parent to Parent

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More than 40 Washington legislators have urged the state Department of Social and Health Services to maintain the statewide Parent to Parent program, which supports families of children with developmental disabilities. The $900,000 state-funded program offers families peer mentorship, resource referrals, and community connection through family gatherings, social groups, workshops and other activities. “The Parent to Parent program represents exactly the kind of investment government should protect,” lawmakers wrote to Gov. Bob Ferguson and DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez this summer. The two said they’ve noted the outpouring of support. TAKE ACTION: Should Parent to Parent keep its state funding? Contact your state lawmakers and tell them. 3leg.wa.gov/help/contact-us —Cheryl Murfin

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

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meet the School Annie Wright Wright Schools Schools Annie aw.org aw.org

827 N N Tacoma Tacoma Ave., Ave., Tacoma Tacoma 98403 98403 827 (253) 272-2216 (253) 272-2216 communications@aw.org communications@aw.org Grades Preschool Preschool (age (age 3+) 3+) through through 12 12 Grades

About our our school school About

Annie Wright Wright Schools Schools in in Tacoma, Tacoma, Washington, Washington, serve serve Annie students from from age age three three through through Grade Grade 12. 12. Annie Annie Wright Wright students Lower and and Middle Middle Schools Schools offer offer co-ed co-ed programs programs in in PrePreLower school through through Grade Grade 8, 8, while while separate separate Upper Upper Schools Schools for for school boys and and girls girls offer offer day day and and boarding boarding options options in in Grades Grades 9 9 boys through 12. 12. Annie Annie Wright Wright is is proud proud to to be be an an International International through Baccalaureate World World School, School, delivering delivering IB IB programs programs in in Baccalaureate every division. division. every

What kids kids love... love... What

What parents parents love... love... What

Kids thrive thrive at at AWS AWS with with teachers teachers and and staff staff who who support support Kids and challenge challenge them. them. In In each each division, division, the the IB IB program program and encourages students students to to apply apply their their learning learning to to real-life real-life encourages situations, leading leading to to ample ample experiential experiential learning learning outside outside situations, the classroom. classroom. Students Students also also have have a a variety variety of of extracurricular extracurricular the options, wherever wherever their their interests interests lie! lie! options,

While the the education education at at AWS AWS is is preparatory preparatory for for college college and and While the real real world, world, parents parents also also love love the the tight-knit tight-knit community community the it offers, offers, with with plenty plenty of of opportunities opportunities to to connect connect with with fellow fellow it parents and and families. families. Parents Parents are are confident confident that that their their students students parents are receiving receiving a a strong strong education, education, ample ample support, support, and and the the space space are to fail fail and and succeed succeed without without fear. fear. to S e p t e mbe r/O c t o be r 2 0 2 6

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meet the School

The Meridian School

Three Tree Montessori School

meridianschool.edu

threetree.org

4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Ste. 242 Seattle 98103 (206) 632-7154 admissions@meridianschool.edu Grades Pre-Kindergarten – 5

The Meridian School cultivates a balance of mind and heart in Pre-K–5th Grade learners. Located in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood adjacent to a 6.5-acre park, our program extends beyond the classroom, encouraging students to build strong academic foundations while learning to care for themselves, others, and our place.

What kids love... • 30+ field trips and overnight adventures • Integrated specialist classes • Playing and learning outside every day in Meridian Park What parents love... • Data-driven curriculum • Passionate and collaborative faculty • Authentic sense of community and belonging • Whole-child development

What kids love...

220 SW 160th St., Burien WA 98166 (206) 242-5100 info@threetree.org Ages 15 months – 12 years

Three Tree Montessori School offers thoughtfully prepared classrooms that spark curiosity, independence, and a love of learning. With deep, authentic learning and a focus on social-emotional growth, TTMS helps children thrive as confident, compassionate learners. Schedule a tour today to discover what TTMS has to offer your child!

Children love being empowered to choose work, solve problems, explore freely, create often, imagine boldly, and learn alongside lifelong friends. What parents love... TTMS nurtures curiosity and independence, as children investigate, question, and master knowledge that inspires lifelong learning, confidence, and resilience.

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University Cooperative School ucoopschool.org 5601 University Way NE, Seattle 98105 (206) 434-1532 Grades: Pre-K through 5th grade

Bold questions and messy experiments are welcome! UCS is an independent PK-5 elementary school in NE Seattle and a Best in the PNW winner in the elementary school category. For 50 years, UCS has sparked wonder through outdoor exploration, creative expression, and hands-on learning. Caring teachers and small classes help every child feel known and supported.

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What kids love... • Learning that’s active, creative, and fun • Overnight trips that build independence and confidence • A kind community where friendships grow What parents love...

Grades Preschool-8 21705 58th Ave. W, Mountlake Terrace 98043 brightonschool.com ▶ October 22, 4-6 p.m. ▶ Middle School: November 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m. ▶ ECE & Kindergarten: December 10, 5:30-7 p.m. ▶ January 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ▶ March 25, 4-6 p.m. ▶ May 13, 5:30-7 p.m.

Evergreen Academy

Grades Preschool-5 16017 118th Place NE, Bothell 98011 evergreenacademy.com ▶ October 17, 9-11 a.m. ▶ February 6, 9-11 a.m. ▶ March 27, 9-11 a.m.

The Little School

Grades Preschool-5 2812 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue 98004 thelittleschool.org ▶ January 12, 2027, 3:30-5 p.m.

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What Seattle Public Schools and kids learned from month one of the cellphone ban by E L I Z A B E T H H U N T E R

W

ith six weeks left in the 2025-2026 school year, Seattle Public Schools announced a new policy officially limiting student use of smartphones at school. Enacted on May 4, the decision unifies policy across the district, replacing a patchwork of individual school rules. That the district finally came up with a ban was not surprising — it’s been discussed for years. Coming at the very end of the school year, the timing was a surprise to most. According to the policy, K-8 students must keep smartphones “Off and Away for the Day.” That means students are not permitted to use or access smartphones at all during the school day. For SPS high schools, the policy is “No Cell Bellto-Bell,” which gives students “limited access during lunch and passing periods, supporting responsible device use and digital citizenship

while keeping phones out of the classroom.” A month after Seattle’s ban kicked in, Governor Bob Ferguson, together with state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, announced a 2027 legislative goal: to ban smartphones bell-to-bell in all Washington public schools. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 > S e p t e mbe r/Oc t o be r 2 0 2 6

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EDUCATION issue

Sarah Jackson and Gigi Vann Photo by Joshua Huston

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Both efforts come on the heels of a sea change year in American education in which at least 44 states and countless individual schools and districts have enacted policies restricting smartphones in the classroom.

They’re just kind of…gone Gigi Vann, 15, is a rising sophomore at Ballard High School. She got her first smartphone at age 12, nearly the last of her friends to do so. Many of those friends had smartphones in elementary school. Despite research showing risks associated with giving children smartphones, most American children receive their first smartphone between the ages of 11 and 13, according to a study published earlier this year in the journal Pediatrics. As a freshman, Vann witnessed the outsized role smartphones played at school. Some teachers were strict about phones even before the official rule; some were not. In more permissive classrooms, students brought their phones into class 18

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and placed them in their laps. “Then they put their head on the desk and stare down at it, and then they’re just kind of gone. They’re not really there,” Vann said. Teachers who were strict before the policy utilized a variety of ways to keep kids’ phones out of their hands during class. Vann said that some teachers gathered phones into a bin or a homemade slotted wooden box, and some collected phones to take attendance. The teen added that the first week after SPS announced the policy teachers were strict about no phones and “some kids were anxious or angry about it.” But then, attitudes regressed. “Teachers who were already strict about phones stayed strict, but lots of teachers just let it slide,” Vann said. “It fully depends on the teachers to enforce it.”

Mixed feelings from parents Sarah Jackson, 45, is Gigi Vann’s mother. She’s diligent about managing her children’s smartphones — Gigi has a twin brother — but finds the burden on

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parents onerous. She manually sets the “downtime” setting on her kids’ iPhones every morning before they leave for school. Six weeks after the SPS policy went into effect, Sarah said, “My sense is that nothing has changed. I think if things had changed considerably we would have heard more about it from the kids.” Parents of younger students are cautiously optimistic. “I’m really excited and hopeful about this policy,” said Meaghan Kaul, who has a fourth grader at Gatewood Elementary. She explained that even when parents withhold smartphones, they can’t control what their children see at school on other children’s phones. “Having no cellphone policy undermines parents’ own policies around smartphones,” Kaul said. “Phones are addictive.” Kids, said Kaul, have enough on their plates without a lot of unsupervised Internet access: “The Internet is full of misinformation,” she said.

We figured, “Why wait?" About 75% of Washington state school districts had some smart-

phone policy for the 2025 – 2026 school year. SPS floated a ban in November 2025, before Superintendent Ben Shuldiner was hired, but many were caught off guard by the end-of-year timing. Shuldiner defended the timing “We knew and we know that cellphones are a huge distraction,” said Superintendent Shuldiner. “So, we figured, why wait? We want to make sure that we’re not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Enacting the policy at the end of the school year gave SPS leadership time to hear from constituents, like principals, parents, and teachers, “to see if we were on the right track,” Shuldiner said of the May policy start. “What we heard over and over again from principals and teachers was, ‘Thanks so much for creating one process, one system, one kind of rule,’” Shuldiner said of responses after one month of the K-8 policy. “It’s pretty simple. Off and away for the day. It seems to be doing very, very well.” Shuldiner says having the Governor’s support for the

TEACHERS WHO WERE ALREADY STRICT ABOUT PHONES STAYED STRICT, BUT LOTS OF TEACHERS JUST LET IT SLIDE. -Gigi Vann

policies is helpful, but “the devil is in the details.” Right now it is unclear if or how a state mandate would conflict with the SPS policy, but Shuldiner, with an eye toward the district’s $104 million deficit, said he will be wary of any “unfunded mandates.” The high school smartphone policy is more complicated, said Shuldiner, because “kids are in Running Start, or CTE programs, or they have to leave campus and drive somewhere.” That’s why for the upper grades, SPS chose not to enact a full school-day ban. In effect, high schoolers can use their phones anytime they’re not in class.

Phones distract in the classroom and dominate the hallways How the policies for K-8 versus grades 9 to 12 differ remains a point of debate, since both teachers and students agree to the fact that life outside the classroom is equally as formative as inside the classroom. As an activities coordinator at his alma mater, Garfield High School, Jamie Rees observes multiple classrooms throughout the school day. “It is vital,” said Rees, “that we build environments where young people can learn and experience themselves outside the influence of [smartphones].” Rees started as a language arts teacher at Garfield in 2020 and previously taught high school in Baltimore. In his experience, kids often “reach for the phone anytime they encounter a challenging emotion, or when something requires depth or persistence of engagement.” At Ballard High School, phones dominate interactions outside the classroom. “Maybe if we didn’t have phones we would talk,” Vann suggested. “But right

Logical + Imaginative + Intense + Verbal + Observant + Hands-on Although gifted children from all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds exhibit these qualities every day, they still may be overlooked in class. Not so at Seattle Country Day School. We offer all our students an environment where they can ask questions, create, and grow intellectually and emotionally. See if SCDS is right for your child. Reach out today to admissions@seattlecountryday.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

Seattle Country Day School For gifted children, K–8 seattlecountryday.org/admissions

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now if you don’t know each other people don’t really talk. We just default to our phones.” Current high schoolers spent some of their most formative social years in restrictive COVID lockdowns communicating with each other through laptops and smartphones. Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin, whose son is a rising senior at Franklin High School, watched the rapid transition to tech-based socializing. Given that loss of in-person contact and its lingering effects, he said, “Anything we can do to encourage face-to-face interaction is a good thing.” The challenge with managing smartphones is the same one both inside and outside of the classroom: it requires collective action. “It’s very difficult for one kid not to be able to use their phone when that’s how everyone is communicating,” explained Jackson. On the flip side, research shows that a single beep or buzz in a classroom or outside from a smartphone can distract, or draw the attention of, multiple students.

A game of digital Whack-a-Mole? In the wake of growing smartphone restrictions, parents and teachers across the country have reported a new challenge:

non-instructional activity, like chatting and gaming, shifting from smartphones to kids’ school-issued devices. For example, students have used Google Docs as a de-facto chatroom and found Internet-based games that escaped school content blocks. At SPS, students as young as nine years old spend hours of class time in front of a screen. “This goes to a much larger conversation about the inordinate amount of screen time that our children have,” Shuldiner said. “We are working diligently to reduce the number of minutes per day when children are using computers or on a screen.” Several states and large public school districts have already passed screen time limits for the school day, including Los Angeles Unified School District. SPS does not currently have a policy limiting screen time, but Shuldiner emphasized that in the coming year, the district will be looking at curriculum as a way to curb time spent on devices. Over the last school year, Shuldiner has expressed surprise at witnessing classrooms with very low instructional minutes. Rather than 30 instructional minutes in the first three hours of the day, for example, he wants to see the curriculum push that to hours. The new ELA curriculum approved by the Seattle School

Board, for example, allows for only 20 minutes of screen time. Once the tighter curriculum is widely adopted, screen time will drop. “Kids won’t have time to be on chat,” said Shuldiner, “because they’re going to be making soda volcanos in science class.” Neither the SPS policy nor the proposal by Governor Ferguson outlines how exactly these policies will be enforced, and without clear, enforceable consequences, the burden of policing will rest, again, on teachers and parents. Right now, most K-8 schools have tiered consequences for phone violations. “There’s so much time, energy, and emotional degradation to have to say ‘no, put this away,’ again and again, and teachers just get steamrolled,” said Rees.

Seeing improvement In general, teachers have been the most positive about bans in schools that have them. A survey of nearly 5,000 students, 220 teachers, and 480 parents led by UW researcher and assistant psychology Professor Lucía Magis-Weinberg found that kids were less positive. While some student respondents said they did better academically without phone access, few students reported feeling any emotional or mental-health benefits. As many as 15% of students reported

feeling less emotionally regulated and more stressed without phone access as well as feeling a loss of agency and personal authenticity. Schools that have implemented Yondr pouches, like Seattle’s Robert Eagle Staff Middle School and Hamilton International Middle School, saw a variety of student improvements. A month after launching the Yondr pouch requirement in 2024, the principal at Robert Eagle Staff told Cascade PBS the change was “transformative.” Teachers at the school raved about better attention in class and school staff said they saw kids actually engaging at lunch rather than staring at devices. Yondr pouches are successful because they mute phones and remove potential distractions, thus enabling more collective buy-in: students don’t experience “fear of missing out” or FOMO because no one else has a smartphone, and they aren’t reminded of their phones constantly through notifications. But even with a school discount, Yondr pouches cost between $15-$20 per student. For a district with nearly 50,000 students the cost could be upward of $1 million, a tough call in a district facing a huge budget deficit. When it comes to cost, Rees said the district needs to ask itself: “Is it an expenditure — or an investment?”

WE KNEW AND WE KNOW THAT CELL PHONES ARE A HUGE DISTRACTION. SO, WE FIGURED, WHY WAIT? -Superintendent Ben Shuldiner

Superintendent Ben Shuldiner Photo by Joshua Huston

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We teach them to think. They do the rest. At Brighton School, students are known, supported, and inspired to grow. From preschool through middle school, our engaging academic experience–grounded in strong relationships and thoughtful instruction–helps students build the confidence, skills, and character they need to thrive in high school and beyond.

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EDUCATION issue

Justice and his mom, Dijana Steward Photo by Joshua Huston

a

BETTER FIT Why technical high school was the best choice for our son

M

by D I J A N A S T E W A R D

y son Justice was struggling. As a person with autism, Justice’s school journey had long since shown us how challenging the traditional education path can be for students who need support.

In 11th grade, he told us in all sincerity that he had reached the end of his trajectory within a traditional high school — “Mom, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep going to this school. I’m tired of asking for permission to go to the bathroom, and I’m not like the other kids. I’m older and different.” We took our son seriously. A week later, a neighbor shared that their daughter had graduated from a local technical college with a 22

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high school diploma and an associate’s degree. She explained that for Justice to do the same, he would have to unenroll from the school district and get approval to enroll at a local technical college that included a technical high school program. The idea of taking my kid out of the one learning setting that had been a constant for me as a parent was scary and intimidating.

One size does not fit all In our area, schools are as much building blocks of community as institutions of modern education. Most of my friendships with other parents were formed through school connections. Many of the teachers in our schools live in the community and have children who attend the schools. And there’s a lot of pride in saying that your child would be or has graduated from the local high school. Starting research on technical high schools meant getting over feelings of failure and remembering what was important: my child’s best interests and future. Like many families, I understood that the one-size-fits-all model of education wasn’t the best fit for all kids, and that was ok. After touring local technical colleges and learning about their programs, it was shocking to me that more parents hadn’t encouraged their kids to make the pivot. I understand why high schools don’t widely advertise technical alternatives. When students leave traditional schools, schools lose money. “In-school” Running Start programs stand in the

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middle — they allow high school students to earn college credit and keep education dollars in-house. Technical High School moves money outside district coffers.

What is technical high school? Technical high school is not Running Start or the General Educational Development (GED) program. Instead, under the banner of the Career & Technical Education (CTE) program, they allow students in grades 9-12 to meet all the state general education requirements while also receiving training and certification in a number of trade and STEM careers. The program is regulated by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), which reassured us about the legitimacy of Justice’s eventual diploma and college credentials. Justice aspired to become a chef and was thrilled to find the culinary arts path within CTE. While he would take some general education classes at a college, Justice would also be in classrooms with slightly older students. The CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 > S e p t e mbe r/O c t o be r 2 0 2 6

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EDUCATION issue

Zoe Flores-Villagrani reading to campers at Camp Read-a-Rama. Photo by Joshua Huston

ROCKING READING with

READ-A-RAMA An interview with Dr. Michelle Martin

by B R E T T H A M I L

D

r. Michelle Martin spends a lot of her time reading books to kids. Martin may be a PhD, author, and graduate professor at the University of Washington, but she never strays far from that fundamental act. Whether she’s leading a monthly drop-in storytime at the Broadview Taphouse, reading over Zoom to children on the East Coast, or jumping on a video call with her nephew, reading to children is the beating heart of her mission. “It’s all about surrounding kids in a literacy-rich environment,” Martin says. “Children have to be exposed to a thousand books to be ready for the work of learning to read.” Literacy rates among children have declined alarmingly in the wake of the academic disruption caused by COVID-19 and amid the pervasiveness of video screens. Nationally, high school and middle school test scores are at their lowest rates since the 1990s, and here in Washington a study in January 2025 found that 68% of our state’s fourth graders scored below proficient in reading. “I consider it a literacy crisis, and everybody who can read can do something about it,” says

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Martin. “If kids don’t have those skills down by the third grade they’re already behind and might never catch up.” To that end, she co-founded Camp Read-aRama with Dr. Rachelle D. Washington in 2009, a curriculum for summer literacy immersion camps for kids age 4 to 11, especially those in historically underserved communities. And this fall, kids will return to Club Read-aRama, the afterschool version of the camp that will serve children at the Compass Broadview affordable housing development from Sept. 30 to Nov. 18. At a cost of $175 for eight sessions, kids ages 4 to 11 will sing, dance, play, and read as well as take home books for their own libraries.

DR. MARTIN’S CHILD LITERACY ADVICE FOR PARENTS • Self-selected reading is important. “Let kids guide what you read. Take them to a library and find a good librarian who knows the children’s lit landscape.” • Feed their interests. “Find the books that are their jam — they might not even know they have a jam but you can help them to find it.” • Find “just right” reading. “Pitch the level so it’s not too difficult but a little bit challenging.” • Don’t discriminate against graphic novels. “I personally don’t care for Dog Man but

I will read it to a child til the cows come home.” • Expose them to as many books as possible, however you can. “Turn on an audiobook when you’re not available to read with them. Ear reading is as important as eye reading.” • Give kids credit. “Acknowledge them when they notice things that you did not see.” • Reading and writing go together. “You really have to pair them to encourage the growth of both.”

(Scholarship assistance is available. Register at 3read-a-rama.org/camp-registration) Both camp and club programs pair songs, crafts, outdoor activities, and field trips with selected books to get kids hooked on the printed page. If they read a story about baking bread, they bake bread; a book about swimming precipitates a trip to the pool. Much of it happens outdoors, where little bodies are freed from the confines of a classroom to wiggle and explore. “Anything you read, there’s something you can do to enjoy it more. Anything you do, there’s something you can read to enjoy it more,” Martin says. “We think of Read-a-Rama as reducing the distance between books and life. “A lot of times people see Reada-Rama and think, ‘Oh, that’s just for passionate readers,”’ Martin adds. “No. We love the kids who can’t stand to read, or someone wrecked reading for them, or they are reluctant readers, or they may have learning disabilities, identified or unidentified. Read-a-Rama is for everyone. Our mantra is 100% engagement, 100% of the time.” Martin is keenly focused on helping black and brown kids and uplift-Dr. Michelle Martin ing diversity in children’s literature.

CHILDREN HAVE TO BE EXPOSED TO A THOUSAND BOOKS TO BE READY FOR THE WORK OF LEARNING TO READ.

“You’re much more likely to see yourself in children’s literature if you’re a white child or a bunny than a child of color,” she says. That self-recognition is crucial for young readers, but the Trump administration’s attacks on diversity efforts in education have deeply harmed ongoing efforts toward representation. “Small publishers that work in diversity have told me that 70 to 80 percent of their budgets are now gone because schools and libraries aren’t buying their books,” Martin says. “The holes that are being dug right now are going to take decades to reverse.” In the face of these daunting challenges to child literacy, Martin persists. Earlier this year, CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 >

Dr. Michelle Martin Photo by Natalie Post S e p t e mbe r/O c t o be r 2 0 2 6

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EDUCATION issue

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 >

Camp Read-a-Rama became the broader nonprofit Reada-Rama organization when it launched a national online educator training effort. The organization has already seen some of its former students come full circle. Siblings Kevin and Karina Louis-Jeune were campers at 9 and 10 years old and went on to become Counselors-in-Training. Then, Kevin was hired on as a staff member this year. “Seeing all those kids in the same place where I had been was a real full circle moment,” Karina says, “I got to show them that reading was something fun they could do on their own.” “I was in a position to flip these kids from thinking reading was a chore to seeing it as something they could enjoy that could have a big impact on their life,” Kevin adds. “I was really into space as a kid but that’s not something they taught much in school. I realized if I wanted to learn about it I would have to read about it on my own. Now I’m headed to Florida A&M to study astrophysics.” Charisma Ross is the mother of two kids — one of whom has dyslexia — who attended Camp

Read-a-Rama and she speaks of Martin reverently. “She was made to lead children in the right direction,” Ross says, “Get on one of her [online] storytimes and see how she interacts with the students to bring stories alive! The book they had the other day didn’t even have any words, just pictures, and she was asking, ‘What do you think the characters would say if they were talking?’” In addition to the complete Camp Read-a-Rama educator training that’s available online, Martin has plenty of advice for caregivers hoping to instill their kids with a passion for books. She encourages them to ask critical thinking questions that take kids into the text (“Why do you think he said that?”) instead of the usual “text-to-self” questions parents normally ask (“There’s a grandpa in the book, do you have a grandpa?”) The bottom line for making children into passionate, lifelong readers, according to Martin, is to encourage their innate curiosity by discovering and feeding their interests however you can: “Find the books that kids love, period.”

atmosphere would be more mature than in high school. It was exactly what he craved.

with instructors to ensure that any accommodations Justice needed were made available to him.

A ‘full and fulfilling plate’

On his way

Ultimately, after extensive research and soul-searching, we decided to enroll Justice at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood. He had general education classes a few days a week and attended immersive culinary arts classes on other days. This schedule kept him busy without burning him out. He even took a driving class and worked evenings at the local grocery store, and then as a dishwasher and in food prep at a local restaurant. His plate was full and fulfilling, and we immediately noticed a change in his disposition. We had made the right choice. Did he miss prom? Yes. Was there a learning curve for our 17-year-old to understand the collegiate environment? Yes. Did I have to partner closely with the staff at the new school to ensure that Justice was afforded the same learning support available to him at the traditional high school? Yes. But the school was happy to support him and lean in

Justice graduated with his high school diploma and a Certificate in Restaurant Management and Associates Degree in Culinary Arts from Clover Park 18 months after enrolling. He has worked in a kitchen ever since and is currently a line cook at a local restaurant. He lives on his own and is entirely self-sufficient because he can demand a living wage due to his education.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 >

Your child’s right If your child is disengaged, dreads going to school or shows a strong interest in a hands-on career, considering a program outside the traditional system is your right and theirs. I have another child who graduated from the local traditional high school — it was absolutely the right choice for her. And with one more child just beginning his high school journey, it’s reassuring to know that we have options for setting him up for a successful future.

The Russian School of Mathematics is an award winning after-school math enrichment program for K-12 students. Our math classes help children of all levels build a solid math foundation and develop critical-thinking and problem solving skills. RSM is “among the top 10 schools in the world.” -Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

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Building the future with heart and mind. At Evergreen Academy, learning is active, meaningful, and deeply connected to the world around us. Through hands-on, inquiry-based experiences, students from preschool preschool through the elementary years are encouraged to ask questions, collaborate with purpose, and develop both the skills and the heart to thrive.

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»Calendar

„ For our mobile-friendly, totally searchable, frequently updated calendar go to seattleschild.com/calendar

What's happening around town

September

The canoe welcome at the 2025 Salmon Homecoming. Photo by Jo Cosme courtesy Friends of Waterfront Park

HARRY POTTER AT THE PARAMOUNT August 27-September 12

Broadway’s award-winning “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is coming to Seattle! Tickets from $90-250+. $40 lottery tickets released before each performance. Ages 8 and up. 3seattleschild.com/harrypotter-cursed-child-seattle

WASHINGTON STATE FAIR PUYALLUP September 4-27 Washington’s largest family event, featuring classic carnival rides, farm animals, a dog stunt show, live entertainment, and traditional fair treats. Tickets $13 and up. 3thefair.com/ washington-state-fair/

SATURDAY FAMILY CONCERT: HARMONICA POCKET

​BUMBERSHOOT SEATTLE CENTER

TOWN HALL, SEATTLE

September 5-6 A full-spectrum arts and music experience for the whole family — from punk to performance art, ballet to roller skating, and food to fashion. Tickets $90+, Kids 12 & under are FREE. 3bumbershoot.com

BICYCLE WEEKEND ALONG LAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD September 5-7 Final chance this year to take the family for a scooter or bike ride along three miles of flat, car-free lakefront road without worrying about traffic. All ages. 3seattleschild.com/events/ bicycle-weekend-on-lake-washing ton-boulevard-is-back-24/ FREE

EDMONDS OKTOBERFEST FAMILY FESTIVAL September 12 Come to this well-loved event for live music, brats, and beer. Saturday’s Kids’ Korner activities will include face painting, crafts, a bouncy house, and more. $12 Adults 21 and up, Under 21 FREE. 3edmondsrotary.com/ oktoberfest/

September 12 Equal parts silly and sweet, The Harmonica Pocket is a young-at-heart band from the Pacific Northwest with songs you can’t help but hum. Tickets $10–$35 sliding scale; Ages 22 & under are FREE. 3townhallseattle.org/ event/saturday-family-concertharmonica-pocket/

BURIEN ARTS-A-GLOW DOWNTOWN BURIEN September 12 Discover light installations and performers, and visit a fabulous night market and museum. Come in costume and bring your favorite lantern! 3burienwa.gov/news_events/ featured_events/arts-a-_glow_2026 FREE

SUNFLOWER SATURDAY DOWNTOWN CARNATION September 12 Part of the Snoqualmie Valley Sunflower Festival, this event features a Vendor Village, raf-

fle and Where’s Sunny Scavenger Hunt. 3carnationchamber.org/snoqualmie-valley-sunflower-festival/ FREE

SALMON HOMECOMING PIER 58 & PIER 62 September 19

FAMILY SATURDAY RESPECT FOR ELDERS DAY SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN September 12 This day focuses on families and on appreciating our elders, and is a traditional public holiday in Japan celebrated in mid-September. This event will include the reading of traditional Japanese folk stories and the folding of origami frogs. $10 Adults, $6 Youth 13-17, FREE for ages 12 and under. 3seattlejapanesegarden.org/ events-calendar/2026/9/12/respectfor-elders-day​

SWAN TRAIL FARMS HARVEST FESTIVAL SNOHOMISH September 12-October 31 This u-pick apple and pumpkin farm has more than 4,000 apple trees, a huge 50-acre pumpkin patch, corn maze, apple cider donuts, and fresh-pressed cider. Tickets $24.95; Kids under 2 are FREE. 3swanstrailfarms.com

Celebrate Indigenous culture and conservation at Waterfront Park with a Native vendor market, canoe welcoming, and coastal songs and dances. 3waterfrontparkseattle.org/blog/ event/salmon-homecoming-2026/ FREE

SCULPTING WITH LIGHT: A FAMILY WORKSHOP FRYE ART MUSEUM, DOWNTOWN SEATTLE September 20 This workshop, inspired by Tom Lloyd, invites kids and their adults to explore the intersection of art, design, and technology through hands-on making. Ages 8 and up. 3fryemuseum.org/ calendar/event/sculpting-lightfamily-workshop-inspired-tom-lloyd FREE

ITALIAN FESTIVAL SEATTLE CENTER September 26-27 Featuring art, music, food, dance, and activities for the

E V E NT S AR E SUB JE CT TO C H A N G E : Please call ahead or check the venue’s website before you go.

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entire family. Highlights include a “Grape Stomp,” face painting, Venetian mask painting, and a Kids’ Pizza Toss. 3festaseattle.com FREE

FREE WASHINGTON STATE PARK DAY September 26 Celebrate National Public Lands Day by visiting a state park for free — no Discover Pass needed. Go for a scenic day hike, a family adventure, or just wander among the trees. 3seattleschild.com/washingtonstate-parks-free-days/ FREE

TOY BOAT BUILDING CENTER FOR WOODEN BOATS, SOUTH LAKE UNION September 27 Let your imagination set sail by assembling your very own toy boat before testing it out in the model boat pond in Lake Union Park. 3cwb.org/free-programs/ FREE

October

“LEONARDO! A WONDERFUL SHOW ABOUT A TERRIBLE MONSTER” SEATTLE CHILDREN’S THEATRE October 1-November 1 Spend a cozy evening at the theater watching this play that uses hundreds of puppets and props to bring Mo Willems’ books to life. Aimed at children ages 3 and up. Tickets $20-65. 3sct.org/onstage/productions/ leonardo-2026/

SEATTLE GREEK FESTIVAL ST. DEMETRIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, MONTLAKE October 2–4 An annual autumn tradition since 1960. Featuring authentic homemade Greek food, live music, and award-winning traditional folk dancing. 3seattlegreekfestival.com FREE

KELSEY CREEK FARM FAIR BELLEVUE October 3 Spend a day at the farm just minutes from downtown Bellevue with heritage demonstrations, animal viewing, tractor-pulled wagon rides, and food trucks. Some activities are ticketed. 3bellevuedowntown.com/do/ farm-fair FREE

SALMON DAYS FESTIVAL ISSAQUAH October 3-4 Celebrate the salmon homecoming with a parade, arts and crafts, a salm-

Pumpkin Bash at Woodland Park Zoo. Jeremy DwyerLindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

on BBQ, food booths, and live bands at this iconic autumn tradition. All ages. 3salmondays.org FREE

DIWALI COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

VOLUNTEER PARK HALLOWEEN PET PARADE

October 17

October 4 This delightfully spooky and silly parade and costume competition will feature pets in costumes, food trucks, prizes, and vendor booths. 3volunteerparktrust.org/ pet-parade-1 FREE

TAKE A HALLOWEEN TRAIN RIDE NORTHWEST RAILWAY MUSEUM, SNOQUALMIE AND NORTH BEND Last three weekends of October Ride passenger coaches adorned with autumn foliage and slightly spooky decor. Costumes encouraged! All ages. Adults $32, Kids 2-12 $16, lap children under 2 are FREE. 3trainmuseum.org/ upcoming-events/halloween/

COSTUME SWAP KIRKLAND CITY HALL October 10 A fun and easy opportunity to trade in old Halloween costumes and accessories for new-to-you costumes. Bring your own reusable bag! 3kirklandwa.gov/WhatsHappening/Community-Events/ Public-Works-Department-Events/ Costume-Swap FREE

SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM, VOLUNTEER PARK Make art together, enjoy live performances, and share delicious treats as you experience the vibrant cultural traditions of India. 3seattleart museum.org/whats-on/events/ diwali-community-celebrationoct-17-26 FREE

fall campus beauty at this annual 10K run and 5K run/walk. Husky Pups Run (8 and under): a short loop of less than 1 mile. Adults $45, kids 8 and under $15, dogs $10. 3washington.edu/alumni/ event/alaska-airlines-dawg-dash/

PUMPKIN BASH WOODLAND PARK ZOO October 31 Trick-or-treating, a costume parade, and zoo animals munching on giant pumpkins. Costumes encouraged! One child 12 and under is admitted FREE per full-priced adult zoo ticket. 3zoo.org/event/pumpkin-bash-2/

NILE NIGHTMARE FAMILY FUNFEST MOUNTLAKE TERRACE October 17 A family-friendly “Not-So-Scary” daytime opportunity for kids to explore a haunted house with lights on and no live actors, while collecting candy from friendly witches. Ticket prices coming soon at 3nilenightmares.com

TAKE A PUMPKIN PLUNGE! FEDERAL WAY COMMUNITY CENTER POOL October 17 Enjoy a unique pumpkin picking experience by choosing a floating pumpkin from the pool. Swim around with the pumpkins and take one home afterward. $12 Adults; $10 Youth. 3itallhappenshere.org/event/ pumpkin-plunge-2026/

DÍA DE MUERTOS SEATTLE CENTER October 31-November 1 This family-friendly event offers elaborate community ofrendas, live performances, face painting, and sugar-skull workshops. 3seattle center.com/events/featured-events/ festal/dia-de-muertos FREE

Find details on all these and many more events at 3seattleschild.com/calendar

ALASKA AIRLINES DAWG DASH RED SQUARE, UW October 18 Lace up your sneakers and soak in the

EVE NT S ARE SUB JE CT TO C H ANG E : Please call ahead or check the venue’s website before you go.

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»Enrich PAID ADVERTIS IN G S ECTION

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All That Dance

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With dance classes, camps, and more, All That Dance has been Seattle’s home for dance for over 30 years. Explore ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pop styles (formerly hip hop), modern, yoga and more in our inclusive, welcoming community. Financial assistance available.

Chickadee Music Together Ages Newborn-5 years (Mixed-Age Classes)

Locations in Ballard and Phinney Ridge 206-334-8002, chickadeemt@gmail.com chickadeemusic.com

Sing, dance, play and learn! Chicka-

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dee Music Together offers engaging, research-based family music classes for young children and the grown-ups who love them. Nine song collections span a rich variety of tonalities, meters, and musical styles — year-round classes on weekdays and Saturdays in Ballard and Phinney Ridge.

Creative Dance Center Ages 2 months and older

12577 Densmore Ave. N, Seattle 98133 206-363-7281 info@creativedance.org creativedance.org

Creative Dance Center sparks joy and learning through movement! From Nurturing Baby and Caregiver/Child to Creative Dance, Modern, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Adaptive BrainDance, we welcome

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Since 2011, Frog Hollow School's writing classes have immersed students in language arts broadly and creatively. The day includes art, music, and social outdoor play. By respecting young writers as artists, humans, and children, we help them become articulate voices and spark their imagination and love of writing.

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Seattle Children’s Museum 305 Harrison St., Seattle 98109 206-441-1768 info@seattlechildrensmuseum.org seattlechildrensmuseum.org

Seattle Children’s Museum offers hands-on field trips, group visits, and enrichment classes where students explore STEAM concepts through imaginative play, interactive exhibits, and daily programming. Fall classes begin the week of September 14th. Registration opens August 18th.

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Seattle Children's Theatre Ages 3.5-11 years

201 Thomas St., Seattle 98109 206-859-4079 x 10137 dramaschool@sct.org sct.org

Registration is open for SCT Fall classes and camps! Fall classes run October 3–November 14. School break camps begin in October. Choose from 15 different camps for ages 3.5–11, including Costume Quest, Musical Theatre, Audition Masterclass, Stage Combat and more!

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