ParentMap January 2024 Issue

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Are You Ready?

Prioritize emergency preparedness for your family in 2024.

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15 Perfect Play Ideas Go away gray, we want to play!

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PNW INSIDE + OUT

SEATTLE CHILDREN’S Good Growing Newsletter P. 23

The Quest For Mental Health Families struggle for accessible behavioral healthcare. 10/

We gett you coverage with free and low cost Apple Health and Marketplace insurance to fit amily’s needs. your family’s So you can focus on what matters.

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C ONTENTS

January 2024 In Every Issue Editor’s Picks The Current Play List

6 8 44

Local Resources Birthdays Schools + Preschools Pediatric Dentistry Camps, Arts + Activites

9 13 28 41

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PARENTMAP.COM

Parenting

Features

CELEBRTATIONS

Navigating the Maze 10 An inside look at local child mental health services

Healthy Birthday Cake Alternatives for Toddlers 9 Avoid the sugar rush with tasty fruit-forward options ARTS + ACTIVITIES

Winter Crafts for Preschoolers 20 Who needs real snow when you’ve got these cute crafts?

Why Kids Need To Connect With Nature Read up on the current research

46

HEALTH + WELLNESS

Apps That Actually Get Kids To Brush Their Teeth Ditch the nightly battle with an assist from tech Making Amends With Your Kids We all mess up. Here’s what to do when you do

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Are You Ready?

17 Prioritize emergency preparedness for your family in 2024

43

Family Fun OUT + ABOUT

Seattle Cafés Serving the Best Hot Cocoa 39 Stop in for a rich and creamy treat to take the chill off

20

44 January Play List 15 exciting events that pair well with winter’s blustery days SEATTLE CHILDREN’S

32

One parent estimated she spent 20 hours seeking a therapist for her child.

Good Growing Newsletter

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COMMUNITY

Neighborhood Spotlight: Tacoma Museum District 43 This walkable area is chock-full of family-friendly spots

“It has given me a lot of anxiety,” she says. “I know he needs that support. Why can’t I find someone who takes insurance?” p. 10

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PARENTMAP PICKS

If you could instantly master any skill or hobby, what would it be?

JANUARY 2024, VOL. 21, NO. 1

PUBLISHER

I’d like to be great at stand-up comedy. It’d be nice to expand my audience beyond just my husband and my cat.

Alayne Sulkin EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Allison Sutcliffe

PARENTMAP EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

TRENDS + ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Madison Miller

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ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kari Hanson CALENDAR EDITOR Julie Dodobara

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COPY EDITOR Sunny Parsons CONTRIBUTORS Gemma Alexander, Sanya Pelini, Ph.D., Kellie Schmitt

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I wish I could build and repair things, and cut hair well, too. There are so many things!

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I love plants and gardens so much, but unfortunately I did not inherit my parents’ aptitude for gardening.

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When you purchase a Keep Kids Safe license plate, you help keep children of all ages healthy and safe.

FEBRUARY 24

Wild symphony FAMILY CONCERTS SERIES

Sunny Xia conductor Sophia Nam viola – 2024 Young Artist Alexandria J. Henderson narrator Seattle Symphony RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Flight of the Bumblebee from The Tale of Tsar Saltan WALTON Vivo from Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (1962 version) DAN BROWN Wild Symphony Travel through the trees and across the seas with Maestro Mouse and his musical friends!

Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Associate Conductor.

Delta Air Lines proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Community Partnerships for Youth and Education.

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WHAT W E L IKE

Editor’s Picks Listening “I’m a sucker for anything LeVar Burton, so when I heard he had put out a new podcast for elementary school-age kids, I was on board before the first listen. ‘Sound Detectives’ is a serialized mystery in the same vein as ‘Wow in the World,’ with lots of goofy sound gags thrown in for good measure. My kids are enjoying it so far.”

— Allison Sutcliffe, managing editor “‘The Kids of Rutherford County’ four-part podcast series, from The New York Times and Serial Productions, tells the story of a county in Tennessee where hundreds of kids (some as young as 7 years old) were illegally arrested and jailed. You’ll be captivated, enraged and inspired to speak up in the face of injustice.”

— Kari Hanson, associate editor “My girlfriends and I don’t have as much time to meet up and gab as we used to, so to get my fix, I’ve been listening to ‘Normal Gossip’ on Spotify, a podcast dedicated to delivering juicy, strange and funny gossip about people I’ll never meet.”

— Madison Miller, trends + engagement editor

Going “Cinerama has finally reopened under new ownership as SIFF Cinema Downtown and will still offer the famous chocolate popcorn!”

— Nancy Chaney, former out + about editor “East Lake Sammamish Trail has opened, extending the trail network from Ballard around to Marymoor to Issaquah. It makes for the perfect trail to walk the pups.”

— Nancy Chaney, former out + about editor Watching “In my never-ending effort to get my kids interested in science, I’m glad to have one of their favorite brands on my side: Disney.

Its new program ‘Science Fair: The Series’ premiered on Nat Geo and Disney+ last month. It follows students as they compete for a coveted spot at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), and it’s as engaging as it is inspiring.”

— Allison Sutcliffe, managing editor “‘Loki,’ the mini-series from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, tells the story of the Time Variance Authority tasked with protecting all the strands of time. It’s confusing, complex and a lot of fun. My 15-year-old and I loved watching it together.” — Kari Hanson, associate editor “While this isn’t a new show, I’ve been rewatching ‘Gilmore Girls’ with my husband.

Watching him experience the drama of Stars Hollow and Rory’s and Lorelai’s love lives is like seeing it for the first time.”

— Madison Miller, trends + engagement editor Reading “My 10-year-old is fascinated with dragons and spends hours drawing them, so it’s no surprise that he loves the ‘Wings of Fire’

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book series. ‘A Guide to the Dragon World’ is a full-color, beautifully illustrated, giftworthy book for any dragon fan in your life.” — Julie Dodobara, calendar editor “Although date night is a rarity in our house, my partner and I seem to fall back on the same old, same old when we finally have a chance to go out. That’s why we picked up a copy of ‘The Seattle Book of Dates’ for inspiration. The illustrations are as engaging as the suggestions, which include both little-known city adventures and surprising weekend getaways.”

— Allison Sutcliffe, managing editor “I just started reading ‘How to Be Sane: A Groundbreaking Mental Wellness Guide’ by Emily Altman. It’s a funny fake self-help book about the lengths we go to stay sane, and it’s made for a great lunch-break read.”

— Madison Miller, trends + engagement editor

Photo courtesy of mtjoy.com

Eating “We recently visited the new Mt. Joy food truck at 1600 E. Olive Way. The chicken sandwiches were yummy!”

— Madison Miller, trends + engagement editor “The innovative ice cream chain Salt & Straw is opening a Bellevue location in early 2024 across from Bellevue Square. We’ll be sure to order our favorites, as well as try some new flavors. Pear and blue cheese, anyone?”

— Nancy Chaney, former out + about editor

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WHAT ’ S NE W

The Current ‘Hello, It’s Elmo!’

Elmo and Cookie Monster are the first “Sesame Street” characters to join Cameo Kids — a digital platform that allows you to book personalized videos featuring favorite celebrities. Book a special video message for your “Sesame Street” fan for just $25. cameo.com/kids

2023 Toy Hall of Famers Rock ’n’ roll, NFL and … toys? Who knew there was a hall of fame dedicated to toys, but the National Toy Hall of Fame recently announced its 2023 inductees: baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper and Nerf toys. All four toys have been enshrined and are on view at The Strong National Museum of Play in New York City, home to the National Toy Hall of Fame.

No SPS School Closures or Consolidations for 2024–2025 School Year Despite declining enrollment and a $104 million deficit, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) will not see any school closures or consolidations in the next school year, according to SPS Superintendent Brent Jones.

Kids Connect in Urban Sandbox When Danna Okuyama, an entrepreneur and mom, saw her son struggling to make friends and his screen time increasing, she launched Urban Sandbox. It is a modern-day pen pal platform for kids with safety front and center. Urban Sandbox gives students the space to connect with other like-minded peers around the globe, learn from credentialed educators, access educational resources, and publish their own work and achievements — and parents are given the oversight to track their activity. urban-sandbox.com

Generative AI Fears Washington state lawmakers will take action after AI-generated nude photos of Issaquah High School students began circulating in October.

Washington state Sen. Mark Mullet, who has two children at the school, helped pass a 2015 revenge-porn bill that was updated during the past session. He is confident another updated bill will be passed during the 2024 legislative session, which begins in January. king5.com

Read with Ello Ello is the first AI reading coach that works with real books to help struggling readers through the use of evidence-based instruction and motivation. It was recently named as one of Common Sense Media’s top 10 AI products. helloello.com

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However, school closures and consolidations could come in the 2025–2026 school year in an effort to transition to “a well-resourced school system,” according to district officials. Instead of closing schools in 2024, district leaders will adjust programs and ask the state Legislature to extend SPS’s ability to use loans to shrink the district’s projected $105 million deficit. seattletimes.com SAT Goes Digital The final paper-and-pencil SAT was administered in December. Starting in spring 2024, all students will take the full SAT Suite of Assessments digitally. The digital SAT will be shorter than the current paper-and-pencil test. It will include two sections (reading and writing, math) with a break provided in between. collegeboard.org

LO CAL R ES O UR C ES / BI RT HDAYS

Healthy Birthday Cake Alternatives for Toddlers Boost the fruit factor and just say no to all that added sugar If you’re like me, the birthday circuit is a year-round trip on the sugar train: At each stop, there’s cake or doughnuts or cupcakes. While all that frosted goodness may set your toddler’s heart pounding, you (and every other parent) is intimately familiar with the resulting sugar rush. These simple, fruit-focused alternatives are just as tasty as cake (well, almost) and they won’t cause such a rush. When you serve them, your guests will thank you.

1/ Rather than serving ice cream sundaes, let the kids build their own fruit sundaes. Set out all kinds of prepared fruit, a few bottles of whipped cream (or whip your own to control the amount of sugar) and popular sundae toppings, such as sprinkles, chocolate shavings, coconut and crushed nuts (be sure to check in with your guests about allergies first). Then, let the kids build a colorful concoction they’re sure to eat.

Education Directory Raising learners, from cradle to college.

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2/ Apple pops were all the rage this past fall. But this healthier dessert alternative doesn’t have to be relegated to the autumn months. Choose your favorite variety of apple and slice it vertically; then, insert popsicle sticks into the bottom, just like you would for a cake pop. You can drizzle the apple with a bit of melted chocolate or caramel before adding sprinkles. If you want to go even healthier, try the recipe for healthy peanut butter caramel apple pops from Healthy Little Vittles (healthylittlevittles.com).

3/ I love this idea from My Fussy Eater (myfussyeater.com): chocolate-dipped fruit cones. This recipe offers a fruity alternative to traditional cake, capitalizing on the ice cream angle. Let the kids fill chocolate-dipped cones with their favorite fresh fruits and dig in.

4/ This popular recipe also uses a toddler favorite as a base. Build fruit and yogurt parfaits in sweet toddler-size cups and you’ve got a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Layer in granola for texture and, depending on your yogurt choice, drizzle honey on top.

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­— Allison Sutcliffe

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FE ATUR E

K I D S ’ M ENTA L HE A LTH

Navigating the Maze:

By Kellie Schmitt

Every Wednesday afternoon, Gillian Gordon-Smith drives to her 11-year-old daughter’s school in Mountlake Terrace, picks her up from class early and heads south to Pioneer Square for a weekly therapy appointment. She budgets more than an hour for the stop-and-go trek along State Route 99, through the tunnel — and the toll — past the stadium and looping back to downtown, where she then scouts for street parking.

But that weekly commute pales in comparison to her arduous journey just to find a good child therapist, says Gordon-Smith, a substitute teacher.

In search of support for her daughter’s ADHD and school struggles, Gordon-Smith combed online directories, made more than a dozen calls and consulted a school district placement agency to find a child therapist. Ultimately, she posted about her search for local mental health counselors to a social media group, from which a trail of personal referrals ultimately led her to the Pioneer Square clinician. Since that therapist does not accept insurance, the family pays out of pocket and then submits a month’s worth of bills to the insurance company for lower out-of-network reimbursement.

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Gordon-Smith’s quest didn’t stop there, however. Her daughter required a full neuropsychological evaluation, an appointment that required even more calls and placements on wait lists — some with a wait of up to two years. After an eightmonth wait, the psychologist pinpointed an additional three diagnoses: autism, depression and anxiety.

“How much time did we lose that we could have been working on these because of the system?” she asked.

Parents, often at the height of their child’s mental health crises, are left scouring the internet in search of nearby providers who accept insurance and can address their children’s needs.

These challenges accessing pediatric mental health services are widespread, reflecting a confluence of factors impacting parents throughout the Puget Sound region and beyond. While nearly 1 in 5 children in the United States have a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder, only about 20 percent receive care from a

specialized mental health care provider, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even with the pandemic creating additional mental health needs and backlogs, more and more providers are forgoing the paperwork hassles and typically lower payments from insurance companies. Parents, often at the height of their child’s mental health crises, are left scouring the internet in search of nearby providers who accept insurance and can address their children’s needs.

“It seems impossibly hard,” says University of Washington psychology professor Shannon Dorsey. “There are huge inequities in who can access care.”

Even with insurance, families pay cash Families interviewed for this story shared accounts of time-consuming internet searches, unanswered phone calls and lengthy wait lists. One parent estimated she spent 20 hours seeking a therapist for her child. Faced with outdated information, a local mom created her own makeshift 30-name provider directory in the form of a Google document, which she discreetly shares with trusted friends and acquaintances. In an effort to bypass wait lists, even people with health

An Inside Look at Child Mental Health Services insurance have decided to pay cash.

Take Susan Hall, who struggled to find a provider who would accept the family’s military insurance. She decided to pay out of pocket for her son’s weekly therapy sessions in order to select the clinician who could best address her son’s needs.

The Seattle-based provider was willing to adjust her rates on a sliding scale based on what the family could afford.

Like Gordon-Smith, Hall also sought a neuropsychological exam for her son, who is “twice exceptional,” that is, intellectually gifted with learning challenges. She wanted an accurate diagnosis to ensure he was receiving adequate school-based support, such as help moving between classes. As she made nearly a dozen calls, she learned of wait lists that were up to two years long.

Hall jumped on the first opening after a frustrating 13-month wait, paying $4,000 for a provider who didn’t take insurance.

“Every year makes a difference in the child’s life,” she says. “My child could have had more support.”

Local mom Angela Agelopoulos also decided to pay cash for her seventhgrader’s talk therapy in order to secure a

spot with a desired provider. Agelopoulos would still like her son, who has ADHD, to see an occupational therapist, a specialist who could hone organization and executive functioning skills. Since she’s already paying $260 per session for therapy, though, she joined a wait list in the hopes of using her insurance. Two years later, the family is still waiting.

“It has given me a lot of anxiety,” she says.

“I know he needs that support. Why can’t I find someone who takes insurance?”

What are the logistical hurdles?

As the owner of Seattle Counseling and Wellness, a 20-clinician practice that

accepts insurance, Agelopoulos knows the likely answer: Insurance typically pays less and brings additional logistical hassles. At her practice, for example, private insurance pays about $120 for the published $200 hourly rate.

As a psychologist, Agelopoulos has spent hours waiting on hold to figure out if a client’s insurance benefits will cover the appointment. That’s a hard sell for many providers, especially when there are plenty of people, like Gordon-Smith, willing to pay cash, or pay up front and submit outof-network reimbursements. As a result, the providers that do take insurance often experience higher demand.

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K I D S ’ M ENTA L HE A LTH

continued from page 11

Children’s schedules can also complicate access challenges. Families are often unwilling to have their child leave school for the appointment, preferring the coveted after-school spots. Plus, there are fewer providers accepting young patients.

From the clinician’s perspective, pediatric mental health can be more labor intensive than working with adults, with unpaid time spent coordinating with teachers and parents.

For the more than 800,000 children who have Apple Health, the state’s version of Medicaid, provider reimbursement rates are typically even lower than private insurance, which can contribute to longer wait times. At the same time, the government has rigorous rules regarding wait times and care navigation, which can improve access and reduce wait times, explains Jessica Molberg, the senior director of behavioral health services ParentMap_January_12-4-23.pdf

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for Coordinated Care, a managed-care organization for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Efforts attempt to ease demand Some efforts are in the works to improve the mental health backlog and ease the high demand. For example, Coordinated Care is investing in community college scholarships to improve the flow through that mental health practitioner pipeline, Molberg says.

Researchers are also examining a number of other measures that could change mental health delivery, such as promoting short-term sessions versus ongoing care, says Dorsey, the University of Washington professor. Other efforts are exploring the use of trained community members who can deliver high-quality mental health interventions and bolster social-emotional support for all students in school settings.

The pandemic-related changes in tele-

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health reimbursement show promise in improving access in underserved areas, such as rural regions of the state, Dorsey adds.

For now, parents in need of child mental health services will likely continue to face a tough road ahead. The stress of finding a provider often comes at a time when parents are already facing challenges at home and school, making the search and decision making that much harder.

The experience of searching for a therapist and waiting for an evaluation has given Gordon-Smith empathy for the other families still struggling to navigate a complex system.

“All of these families need help and don’t know what to do,” she says. “Why is our system so broken?”

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Kellie Schmitt is an award-winning health and science writer.

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FE ATUR E

EMERGENCY PREPA RED NE S S

Are You Ready?

Make emergency preparedness your resolution for a safe and healthy new year

By Gemma Alexander

Everyone is afraid of The Big One — the predicted Cascadia earthquake that would destroy everything west of Interstate 5 and be felt throughout the Pacific Northwest.

We’ve been talking about it for at least a decade, but earthquakes are not the only emergencies that Puget Sound–area families need to prepare for. We’ve always had

severe seasonal windstorms, and now pandemics are part of the mix. Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of wildfires, heat waves and other extreme weather events. Let’s face it, emergencies are a lot more common and more varied than they used to be. So, in a world that’s getting more dangerous, how can you keep your family safe? Here’s what you need to know to make emergency readiness your New Year’s resolution.

Getting started When you try to imagine and prepare for every disaster scenario, it quickly becomes overwhelming. But you don’t have to do everything all at once. Just take it one step at a time — every step you take makes you

more prepared than you were before. And the first step is pretty straightforward. The most common types of emergencies are the ones we’re most likely to forget. Homebased accidents are much more common than earthquakes yet just as devastating when they occur. Plus, you have a lot more control over them than you do over geology.

So if you own a gun, triple-safe storage is more likely to save your child’s life than your emergency kit. Start by scanning your house for overlooked hazards. Think about fire and water safety, upstairs windows, household poisons and button batteries.

Buy bicycle helmets and make sure car seats are installed safely — and that older kids are wearing their seat belts every single time.

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EM ERGEN CY P REPA RED NE S S

continued from page 17

Primary preparedness Once your house is in order, start to plan for natural disasters. At a minimum, every family should have an emergency kit and a plan. The American Red Cross provides a checklist of supplies to include in a basic emergency kit.

The Red Cross provides a simple three-step guide to preparing a basic family emergency plan, and Ready has a form that assists families with putting together a plan. These basic steps are fairly uniform for all types of natural disasters. If you want to go beyond the minimum, learn about regionally relevant natural disasters and check out the Red Cross emergency resource library for those disaster-specific preparations. You can also work your way through FEMA’s nearly 50-page Basic Preparedness manual. It’s very detailed, but for a federal publication, it’s straightforward and easy to follow.

Emphasize that being prepared makes you stronger — just like studying helps you do better on a test and practicing makes you better at sports.

Ready all year While some people struggle to get started, others may try to do everything at once. But rushing into preparedness is a good way to waste money on unnecessary survivalist purchases while overlooking some of the simpler steps that may make a bigger difference to your family’s real-life safety. To prepare thoroughly one step at a time, follow a yearlong program that breaks preparedness down into simple monthly steps. Two good ones are Disaster Ready Washington’s Prepare in a Year guide and the Do 1 Thing 12-month plan.

Although the two programs break down the tasks a bit differently, both of them will guide you through the basics of planning, assembling and storing emergency supplies, and making your home safer.

The Prepare in a Year guide will walk you through developing a communications plan and an action plan for evacuation and family separation. It will teach you what to do during earthquakes, when you need to shelter in place, and how to manage important documents. On the supply front, it will help you store water, gather two weeks’ worth of survival supplies, and put

LO CAL R ES O UR C ES / S C HO OL S , PRES C HO OL S + N WA IS

together both under-the-bed and grab-and-go kits. It will also help you improve your home’s fire and utility safety as well as eliminate other home hazards.

Do 1 Thing also includes planning guidelines, but has specific tasks for addressing unique family needs, getting involved in community safety, and keeping all family members informed and trained to act.

Overachievers might even want to follow one program this year and the other one the next year to reinforce what they’ve learned and pick up any additional tips that the first program didn’t cover. Both programs have printable guides, and you can sign up for monthly reminders from Do 1 Thing if you’re worried that preparedness will go the way of most New Year’s resolutions without some kind of external prompt.

Share the plan All the prepping in the world won’t help you much if your family doesn’t know about it. Make sure everyone in your family knows the details of your family communication plan and your evacuation plan. You might even go so far as to practice these with your family once or twice a year.

You can talk to your kids about emergencies without scaring them to death. Instead of emphasizing the dangers, reassure children that we don’t expect bad things to happen, but that we are doing things to make sure we stay safe if they do. Emphasize that being prepared makes you stronger — just like studying helps you do better on a test and practicing makes you better at sports.

Ready (ready.gov) is a valuable preparedness resource for parents and for kids, who can play online games such as Prepare with Pedro to become a “disaster master.”

If your child is made anxious by safety drills at school, you may be tempted to avoid them at home. A better option is to help your child with anti-anxiety strategies such as “Worry Time,” which they can use in a variety of situations. Safety drills don’t have to be scary. You can turn at-home fire and earthquake drills into a game.

Real-life practice is no less effective if kids are having fun, and you can even surprise them with prizes for a job well done. Your prize is feeling confident that your family is ready to handle any emergency.

■

Seattle-based freelance writer Gemma Alexander focuses on the intersection of parenting and the arts.

When she’s not writing for ParentMap, she blogs at gemmadeealexander.com and tweets @gemmadeetweet.

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Easy Snow-Themed Crafts for Preschoolers To Pull Out Any Time We may not get a lot of snow in the Pacific Northwest, especially if you live around the Sound, but that doesn’t mean your kids can’t enjoy the fluffy white stuff in other ways — through crafts, for example. During the next uninterrupted run of winter rain, pull out these crafts to keep the kids (and yourself) from going stir-crazy.

1/ Coffee filter snowflakes are a staple for a reason: Kids willingly make them over and over again. You’ll need coffee filters, washable markers and an eye dropper for the project. Flatten out the coffee filters so that kids can draw colorful

patterns and designs on them. Then, squirt water on them using the dropper and watch the patterns change. Finally, fold the filters in half (repeat four times) before cutting out small shapes. When you unfold them, you’re left with colorful snowflakes you can hang anywhere.

2/ Amanda at Crafts by Amanda (craftsbyamanda.com) is the creator of this adorable polar bear cardboard tube craft. Easy to make with a leftover toilet paper tube and the provided templates, this critter is sure to make your drab days a little wilder. White construction paper, pink and black crayons and googly eyes complete this arctic friend.

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3/ While kids in the Pacific Northwest aren’t always able to build a snowman, they can certainly appreciate this melted-snowman craft (thanks, Olaf!) by Teaching Mama (teachingmama.org). A mix of shaving cream, glue and flour is used to make the slushy puddle. And kids will have tons of fun cutting out the snowman’s hat, arms and nose before placing them in the middle of the mess. Add embellishments, such as googly eyes, to complete your creation.

4/ This project from Sam at Simple Everyday Mom (simpleeverydaymom.com) uses DIY puffy paint to make magical snow globes. Use construction paper to make the base, globe and the wintry items within the globe. But the project really pops when you add her puffy paint, made with equal parts white shaving cream and white liquid glue, a mixture Photo courtesy of simpleeverydaymom.com that spreads like frosting and dries into beautiful 3-D paintings. For a bit of bling, give your masterpiece a sprinkling of glitter before it dries.

■

— Allison Sutcliffe

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Good Growing

Winter 2024

IN THIS ISSUE: KNEE PAIN | FROSTBITE | DRY SKIN | HEALTHY EATING | HEALTHCARE ADVOCATES | CLASSES AND EVENTS

Talking About Scary News Events We often hear disturbing news about local and global events. Images of natural disasters, wars, mass shootings and other tragedies reach us every day. It can feel overwhelming. How can we talk with children about these events in a way that’s both honest and reassuring?

Here are some ideas on how to approach these conversations — and create an always-safe space for sharing thoughts and feelings.

Limit your family’s media exposure.

Even when we don’t seek it, we can get bombarded with scary news, including graphic images. Young children should have zero exposure to the news, and even teens need limits. Keep all news off when little ones are nearby. For older kids with phones, use content filters and other safeguards.

Start by asking what they already know.

Before any conversation, it’s important to know your child’s level of understanding — which may be inaccurate or exaggerated.

This gives you a good starting point for your discussion.

Answer questions and reassure them.

Don’t volunteer too much information but do answer your child’s questions honestly and clearly. If appropriate, remind them that they are safe, and that their family and friends are safe, too. Be sure other caregivers also reinforce this message.

Check in often.

Stay tuned in to your child’s concerns and revisit the topic as often as they need. Reinforce that they are loved by responding to their physical and emotional needs. Offer plenty of physical closeness, like back scratches and

snuggling on the couch; these times together can help create the right mood to talk things out.

link below has more information, including how to spot signs that a more serious problem may be developing.

Stick to family routines.

Healthy routines and comforting rituals are essential. Start the day with a cheery “good morning” and end it with a hug goodnight.

Do family things together: eat meals, play games, go outside for a walk or a bike ride.

Enforce regular bedtimes for little ones and older kids, too.

One of the best things about families is that we support one another through everything. Meaningful conversations and staying connected help our bonds grow even stronger!

Take care of yourself.

To best care for your child, make self-care a priority. Eat nutritious foods, get regular exercise and spend time with close friends.

Practice whatever helps you feel calm and centered — whether that’s yoga, breath work, meditation or prayer. (Invite your child to join you!)

Get expert help if needed.

Don’t hesitate to find professional help to boost your family’s mental wellness. The

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Preventing Frostbite Playing outdoors is a great way for your child to get both fresh air and the movement they need each day. But in the winter when temperatures drop, extra care is needed to prevent frostbite, a skin injury caused by cold. Common frostbite sites are toes, fingers, the tip of the nose, cheeks and outer ears.

Kids’ Knee Pain and Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome If your active, growing child complains of pain at the bump below their knee, they may have a common condition called Osgood-Schlatter syndrome. It’s an irritation of the growth plate where the patellar tendon attaches to the shin.

This condition can happen during growth spurts or with overuse from activities like running, jumping and squatting. There may be swelling, tenderness or pain with direct pressure or when kneeling. Also, a child’s knees may get sore when sitting in the same position for a long time.

Osgood-Schlatter syndrome is most common among young athletes, and it typically resolves with time. Reducing the activities that cause pain can help.

Home treatments include icing, taping and bracing. Stretches and strengthening routines can also help; in some cases, physical therapy may be needed. The source below has more information, including recommended stretches and when to seek medical help.

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Mild frostbite — known as frostnip — results in cold, tingling, painful skin. With frostnip, the skin returns to normal after it’s warmed up. More serious frostbite is classified by degrees, the way burns are. First-degree frostbite causes skin to be paler than normal, waxy and hard while frozen, with mild redness and swelling after rewarming.

Second-degree frostbite is the same as first degree, plus blisters appear after 24 hours.

Third-degree frostbite creates blood-filled blisters and can cause permanent skin damage. See a doctor if skin color and feeling do not return to normal after an hour of rewarming, or if pain persists.

Prevent frostbite by dressing your child properly in warm boots, gloves and a snug hat that covers the ears. Their clothing must also keep them dry; frostbite happens faster and is worse if the clothes and skin are wet. The longer the exposure, the greater the heat loss and the chance of frostbite. So be sure your child comes inside frequently to warm up — especially when they feel cold or have tingling or numbness.

Help for Dry Winter Skin Skin can get dry, irritated and itchy during cold weather. Known as winter itch, this condition can be caused by cold, dry air outside plus heated air inside. Our bathing habits and cleansing products can also worsen the condition. To prevent winter itch, minimize hot showers or baths and limit bathing time to 10 minutes so you don’t remove natural oils from the skin. Avoid bubble baths and drying soaps; instead, use moisturizing soaps or cleansing lotions.

Gently pat — don’t rub — the skin dry with a soft towel. Immediately apply a non-scented moisturizer while the skin is still damp and reapply it several times a day.

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For those with symptoms on their hands, use a moisturizer immediately after hand washing. If the skin is inflamed, apply a 1% hydrocortisone cream, available over the counter. You can also turn down the thermostat, run a cool-mist humidifier and avoid irritating fabrics (such as wool) in clothing and blankets. If things don’t improve, see your child’s doctor, who may refer you to a dermatologist.

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Giving Your Child a Voice in Their Healthcare

No More ‘Clean Plate Club’ Many parents and grandparents grew up in a house where the goal was to finish everything on their plate. But there are important reasons to end that practice. Training a child to clean their plate can lead to overeating and losing touch with the body’s natural cues that tell them when they’re hungry or full.

Making a child finish everything on their plate can also cause power struggles and damage their sense of self-control.

Instead, the role of the caregiver is to offer a variety of healthy foods on a regular time schedule. Then, allow your child to choose which items to eat and how much they eat — and enjoy your dining time together!

You can prepare your child to become an informed and confident healthcare consumer. Starting at an early age, allow your child to make simple decisions about their care. For example, let them decide which arm they prefer to get their shot in, or whether they’d like to sit on your lap or in their own chair. Before your visit, encourage your child to ask any questions they have. Help them create a list and review it just before the appointment.

And when their provider asks questions, allow your child to answer rather than responding yourself.

When it’s time for the big transition and your child will lead their own care, equip them with essential information. Help them create a list of their major illnesses, injuries and surgeries from infancy to the present. Be sure they have their up-todate immunization record, a list of their current medications and a brief family health history. They’ll also need their health insurance information, plus contact information for their doctors and dentist.

Once your child is around age 13, you can expect they’ll have part of their medical visit with you in the room, and part of it alone. Soon, they’ll be on their own for the entire appointment — both the interview and the physical exam. So encourage them to bring up any concerns, big or small.

Remind them that there are no questions that their healthcare provider hasn’t heard or answered before. A few days before their appointment, remind them to think about their upcoming visit and write down any questions they have.

own password. They can keep their information updated and make their own appointments. Stress the importance of asking questions and taking notes.

Everyone needs to be empowered to take charge of their own healthcare!

Be sure your teen knows how to access their health information online with their

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Classes and Events

About Good Growing

Please check our website for the latest information. Scholarships are available. If you would like to ask about a scholarship, use the contact information for the class you’re interested in to connect with the registrar.

PARENTING CLASSES

EVENTS

Autism 101 Watch the lecture, in English or Spanish, at seattlechildrens.org/autism101.

Free Online Mindfulness Groups for Parents and Caregivers Join a culturally relevant mindfulness and compassion session by phone or with Zoom.

Sessions are offered for the African American/ Black community, Somali community, parents of a child with special needs, the Latinx/Spanishspeaking community, as well as any other parents or caregivers. Take part in activities and mindfulness practices led by parents for parents, and share strategies to cope with challenges.

Learn more and view dates and times at seattlechildrens.org/clinics/odessa-brown/ community-programs/mindfulness-program.

Conversations About Autism Learn more or view past sessions at seattlechildrens.org/ conversationsaboutautism.

Babysafe Learn more, view dates and register at seattlechildrens.org/classes.

Finding Mental Health Care in Washington State: A Class on Where to Start This class is available in English and Spanish.

Learn more, watch a recording, view dates and register at seattlechildrens.org/classes.

First Approach Skills Training: Behavior Basics Learn more about this on-demand, self-paced class for parents and caregivers of children ages 5 to 12 with disruptive behaviors at seattlechildrens.org/classes.

Your Child With Disabilities Is Turning 18 Learn more and watch the class in English, Spanish or Vietnamese at seattlechildrens. org/classes.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Funded by the King County MIDD Behavioral Health Sales Tax, supporting behavioral health and recovery. Learn more, view dates and register at seattlechildrens.org/classes.

CHILD, PRETEEN AND TEEN CLASSES Better Babysitters Learn more, view dates and register at seattlechildrens.org/classes.

The Chat Workshop Series (Is Puberty Weird?; Body Basics; More Body Basics; Crushes, Consent, and Other Conversations; Our Sexual Selves) Learn more, view dates and register at seattlechildrens.org/classes. See a trailer for The Chat at greatconversations.com.

Sibshops for Siblings of Children With Special Health and Developmental Needs Learn more, view dates and register at seattlechildrens.org/classes.

Free Car-Seat Checks Tuesdays in Bellevue Learn how to safely secure your child in the car. Child-passenger safety experts will check your child in a car seat, booster seat or the seat belt and answer any questions you may have. Car-seat checks are by appointment only.

Learn more and register for an appointment at seattlechildrens.org/carseatchecks.

Free Virtual Car-Seat Checks King County Certified Child-Passenger Safety Technicians are offering free virtual car-seat check appointments via video-chat platforms. For more information, email Laura Miccile at laura.miccile@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-8664.

South County Fire and Safe Kids Snohomish County offer free virtual car-seat classes.

Registration is required. Visit southsnofire.org/ community-programs/classes/car-seats.

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. © 2024 Seattle Children’s, Seattle, Wash.

SEATTLE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Regional Clinic Locations Bellevue Everett Federal Way Olympia Tri-Cities Wenatchee Primary Care Clinic Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic Hospital Numbers 206-987-2000 866-987-2000 (toll-free) Online Resources Visit seattlechildrens.org for: Child health advice Good Growing newsletter Doctor Finder On the Pulse and The Autism Blog Medical condition information Health and safety information Ways to help Seattle Children’s Research Institute information Find us online

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When learning is fun, it lasts a lifetime.

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LO CAL R ES O UR CES / P EDI ATRIC DENT ISTRY

Disney Magic Timer

Smartphone Apps That Actually Get Kids To Brush Their Teeth Stop the nightly power struggle What is it about kids and nightly routines that make parents consider the unthinkable?

You begin to wonder if anyone will notice the potatoes growing behind their ears or the film covering their once pearly white teeth. And don’t even get me started on brushing with braces. When all else fails, or you’re just too tired for the fight, it’s time to bring in everyone’s favorite heavy hitter: technology. With its never-ending allure and promise to solve all of our problems — yes, even simple ones like getting kids to brush their teeth — letting an app do the heavy lifting almost feels too easy. So hand over your phone and take a break from the nightly battle with these toothbrushing apps for kids.

Disney Magic Timer App by Oral-B: Leave it to Disney to create an incentive-focused app that combines its trademark magic with healthy habits for kids. You’ll need to purchase a special toothbrush for this one, but once you do, kids can access badges,

prizes and animated “games” that help keep them on track to brush twice daily.

Brusheez – The Little Monsters Toothbrush Timer: Music and customizable little monsters prove to be irresistibly motivating for kids who use this toothbrushing app.

According to lore (or at least the Apple App Store), the app was borne out of a father’s relatable frustration with trying to get his son to brush his teeth. It tracks brushing time, and multiple users can be added.

The Little Monsters Toothbrush Timer

Toothsavers Brushing Game: A hero’s story is at the heart of this playful toothbrushing app. A wicked spell has been cast, and now your kid, along with Toothy and the Toothsavers, has to save the kingdom’s residents from getting cavities. I’ll bet you can guess what breaks the spell and gives your kids a sense of accomplishment each time they brush.

■

— Allison Sutcliffe

Toothsavers Brushing Game 2 8 / PA R E N T M A P. C O M

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Giving Together ParentMap is proud to highlight local area nonprofits making a difference in our community as part of our Giving Together campaign.

For more than 75 years, ADL’s Pacific Northwest Region has

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been dedicated to combating antisemitism and hate, promoting civil rights and securing fair and just treatment for all. ADL’s local programs promote inclusion and respect in K-12 schools, partner with law enforcement to address hate crimes and white supremacy, advocate for civil rights policies, build bridges with diverse communities, and assist victims of antisemitism, discrimination and bias. ADL offers workshops, trainings and school-wide initiatives to empower learning communities to become welcoming and inclusive for all.

From its No Place for Hate® Initiative in K-12 schools to its partnerships with providers of Holocaust Education, and its on-demand workshops through the A World of Difference Institute®, ADL is at the forefront of anti-bias education for K-12 students/educators and community members. In addition, ADL provides free resources for parents, families and educators that include family conversation guides, timely lesson plans, curriculum guides, webinars, podcasts and more.

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Wellness Making Amends to Children

By THIRA Health

The new year is a time of celebration and a time of reflection.

Sometimes when we’re being honest with ourselves, those reflections are painful. We may look back at our role as a parent and cringe at some of the decisions we made, some of the actions we took or some of the things we said. We may want to make amends with our children, whether they are adults or still living at home. But what is the best way to do that?

It can be a struggle to figure out how to ask for forgiveness from your children for the mistakes you feel you’ve made. You want to make amends, but there never seems to be a time or place where doing something so pivotal becomes easy or comfortable.

the way you’d like to say it. Consider what’s most important to communicate and then map a path to state it clearly and in an age-appropriate way.

Whether your child is 8 or 28, they will hold two headspaces when confronted with pain in their parental relationships: where they are now and the space they were in when the event(s) occurred. The inner child is a powerful kind of hurt, so be sure that your amends honor the child in them as much as their actual developmental age.

Perhaps it feels inappropriate to address the complexity of your mental health and its impacts with your young children. Or maybe you’re contemplating tackling the difficult conversation with your adult children about the ways your struggles have affected their lives over the years.

Maybe your self doubt or fears keep you from apologizing for behaviors you’re worried you’ll repeat. No matter the circumstance you find yourself in, you’re here now and ready to make your amends to your children — but where do you begin?

Start with them Begin with your child. Maybe that seems too obvious or simplistic to state, but it deserves time and thought. Who is your child? If you have more than one, who are they as individuals? What matters to them? Outside of the struggles that lead you to want to make amends, what does your relationships look like? How do they feel?

If you can identify the things that matter most to your child, you’ve got a starting point.

You may have a clear idea of what makes you feel shame. That’s important, but when making amends to your children, focus on who they are and what they need instead. If you can’t identify those things, ask. Keep in mind their experience as you shape the way you offer up these amends. If repair is on the horizon in those relationships, you will be able to move forward with a clear path.

Make a plan Once you’ve got an idea of what you need to get off your chest and what they most need to hear, move forward with developing

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If you are making amends to children:

• Bring another trusted adult to support your child as they process this information

• Keep the details to a developmentally appropriate level • Let them know clearly what to expect moving forward • Apologize plainly • Offer them the chance to share their feelings (even if it’s hard to hear) The capacity of a child to forgive is astounding, but it shouldn’t be assumed or taken for granted. Children know when they’ve been wronged, and you are here to ask them to understand what you’ve gone through.

For amends to adults or teens:

• Be sure you approach them honestly and with the level of transparency you’re comfortable with

• Prepare yourself for hard questions • Come ready to listen, not get defensive • Remember they ultimately have the agency in how they decide to respond to your amends

Adult children will likely be able to see you in a parental role while maintaining their agency as an adult in the situation as well. Their self-esteem and emotional memory deserve space in those conversations. Honor that, no matter how vulnerable your amends make you feel. You may be surprised to learn some of those emotional experiences are ones your child(ren) can relate to.

Keep it brief When you begin to formulate the way you’d like to offer your amends, do so succinctly. Children of any age may struggle with staying present in a conversation about the pain they’ve experienced. Adding a layer of complexity about your mental health struggles that may be deeply personal or traumatic only adds to that.

While brevity is key to keep from being emotionally overwhelmed, having one’s attention wander, or either of you resisting the shape the conversation takes, the last thing you want is for either of you to walk away from the conversation feeling like there are things left unsaid.

Be gentle with yourself While the amends process has much to do with clearing the air and righting wrongs with others, it’s also a powerful tool of accountability for you. You are doing challenging things as you move toward healing, and there is a lot of space for pain and hurt to overwhelm you. Ensure that you are asking for support and leaning into those spaces when you want or need to. There is no shame in needing help to process the powerfully difficult road towards wellness of body, mind, and spirit.

Amends are for everyone, including yourself. You’ve walked a difficult path, and you’re doing something difficult now. The lifelong struggle of mental health can be exhausting, but we believe in you. Keep marching forward, as you are worth the battle for your healing, and so are your children. If you’re looking for support on your journey with acute or chronic mental health concerns, THIRA Health has options for every step.

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can’t-miss talks for parents

ParentMap’s FREE ParentEd Talks series continues with a tremendous lineup of expert speakers who will help boost your parenting IQ. Topics include tips for raising technology-savvy kids in a screen-obsessed world; deepening connection with our partners and children; fostering the key traits and habits that are predictors of children’s success and good health — and much more.

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Upcoming ParentEd Talks ParentEd Talks with host, Laura Kastner, Ph.D. ParentMap is honored to present Laura Kastner, Ph.D., as the host of its 2023–2024 ParentEd Talks series. Kastner is the author of a number of parenting books, including the acclaimed “Getting to Calm” series, and a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington.

JANUARY 2024 Brave Listening: The Secret to Safeguarding Your Child’s Mental Health | Jan. 10 2024 In this essential talk, suicide risk assessment expert Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., LISW, will guide parents through the sensitive and challenging topic of supporting their child’s mental health. Among the powerful strategies Freedenthal will outline is brave listening, which not only helps our children feel seen, heard and supported, but can literally be the difference between life and death.

Nurturing the Healing Power of Play for Ourselves and for Our Children | Jan. 23, 2024 Amelia Bachleda, Ph.D., child development specialist from the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, will join Mike Browne, senior director of Community Engagement for Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington, for an engaging conversation about the brain science of play and the critical role of play in our lives.

FEBRUARY 2024 Conscious: Curious, Connected Discipline Strategies for Happier, Healthier Kids | Feb. 6, 2024 Parenting expert and Sproutable cofounder Julietta Skoog, Ed.S., will share her conscious discipline playbook in this talk that compassionately translates research, child development expertise and Positive Discipline principles into everyday parenting solutions that have helped countless families discover greater joy, connection and calm.

APRIL 2024 Stronger Together: A New Model for Modern Marriage | April 16, 2024 Nate and Kaley Klemp, two of the most respected voices in the field of modern relationships, will impart key insights of their 80/80 marriage model, which is based on the concept of “radical generosity.” Learn game-changing strategies for redesigning the structure of your partnership based on practices and principles that will result in shared success and lasting satisfaction.

MAY 2024 What’s Love Got to Do With It? The Power of Nurturing Yourself First | May 1, 2024 To best nurture others, we must expand our capacity to nurture ourselves. In this can’t-miss talk, veteran mindful self-compassion facilitators Blair Carleton and Yaffa Maritz, LMHC, will teach caregivers how to cultivate a habit of restorative self-compassion, equipping them with powerful techniques for developing greater self-awareness, self-reflection, self-care and emotional resilience.

JUNE 2024 Calm and Connected: Coaching Coping Skills in Your Children | June 5, 2024 Mental health counselor and author Janine Halloran, LMHC, will draw on her decades of experience working with children and families to impart practical and effective strategies to help kids and teens develop the coping, self-regulation and social skills they need to manage stress, reduce anxiety and manage other common mental health challenges.

Missed an event?

Watch past ParentEd Talks at parentmap.com/live-archive!

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FAM I LY F UN

Out + About

Warm Up at Seattle’s Top Hot Chocolate Cafés Take the chill off your family escapades with a decadent cup of cocoa

By Madison Miller

It’s officially the cozy season here in the Pacific Northwest, and we’re looking forward to donning our coats and boots for family outings to ice skating rinks, invigorating hikes and other local adventures. But, what better way to finish a day of chilly escapades than to sip a steaming cup of velvety hot cocoa? Load up the car and treat the family to a cup from one of the city’s best spots.

Seattle Rey Amargo Chocolate Shop Hailed as one of the state’s best chocolate shops, Rey Amargo specializes in making all-natural chocolates with 100 percent Mexican cacao. The result?

Beautiful, sweet chocolate with a little kick. Its hot cocoa is no exception, and there’s plenty of variety, with more than 15 different hot cocoa drinks to choose from.

Find it: 722 E. Pike St., Seattle

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OUT + A B OU T

Set Up a Sweet Hot Cocoa Bar at Home Nothing delivers cozy winter vibes like a steaming mug of delicious hot cocoa with all of the fixings. If you can’t make it to one of the many Seattle cafes serving decadent cups of steaming hot goodness, opt for an at-home hot cocoa bar. Arrange a seasonal station to add festive cheer to your holiday décor, and foster independence in your kids by making it simple to serve themselves. Follow these tips to create your own sweet setup.

Cocoa pods. Photo courtesy of indichocolate.com continued from page 39

Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery Hot cocoa and molten cakes?

Yes, please. Double up on the chocolate at Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery. Turn up the heat with a spicy hot chocolate or keep it mild and creamy.

Find it: 5427 Ballard Ave. N.W. or 1650 E. Olive Way, Seattle Chocolat Vitale Sipping Chocolat Vitale’s traditional European drinking chocolate is an unforgettable experience.

The decadent drinking chocolate is concocted from a blend of pure Swiss and Belgian chocolate. No cocoa powder here — it’s made from 100 percent pure chocolate.

Find it: 6257 3rd Ave. N.W., Seattle Indi Chocolate A chocolate oasis awaits at Pike Place Market. Satisfy your chocolate cravings with a cup of Indi’s single-origin drinking chocolate.

Or, for the ultimate chocolate experience, try the ultrarich sipping

chocolate. Filled with an entire bar’s worth of chocolate, it offers a thicker texture than traditional hot chocolate.

Find it: 1901 Western Ave., Ste. D, Seattle Chocolati Staying true to the drinking chocolate theme, the popular Chocolati doesn’t make its hot cocoa with water or milk. This omission allows for a thick and velvety blend. As if it wasn’t delicious enough, you can have your cup flavored with lavender, raspberry, Irish cream, peanut butter, peppermint, cayenne and more.

Find it: Multiple locations — Green Lake, Greenwood, Wallingford, the downtown library and a factory outlet Caffè Umbria Enjoy your hot cocoa Italian style at Caffè Umbria. The thick, spoonable chocolate is served with a generous dollop of whipped cream. Be sure to try its delicious Italian-inspired baked goods and lunch bites, too.

Find it: Multiple locations — Pioneer Square, Westlake, Olive Way and Ballard Fran’s Chocolates With four Fran’s boutiques to

Set up base camp Find a spot to assemble your bar — the kitchen or dining room are obvious choices, but keep your family’s habits in mind. You may want yours in the family room to go with movie-night popcorn; people have even set them up in bedrooms. Pretty much any surface will do. Try a buffet or sideboard, small table, shelf or even an upcycled antique hutch. If you’re short on space, go with the kitchen counter or dining table. Keep in mind the bar’s proximity to electrical outlets, as well as access to the fridge for milk or whipped cream.

Get the goods Now, to focus on the essential reason for your bar — making cocoa. Depending on whether your kids are old enough to safely handle hot liquids on their own, you may want to have your appliance of choice accessible, or you may choose to limit your bar to cocoa and toppings only. Keurig coffee makers are a popular option, as are electric milk frothers or even a specialty hot chocolate maker.

As for the cocoa itself, the choices are limitless. Go with your favorite mix or pod; or make it fancy with syrups, drops or hot chocolate spoons; hot chocolate bombs are a fun addition, too. And, of course, don’t forget the toppings! Marshmallows, crushed peppermints and candy canes are classics, or go wild with sprinkles, chocolate chips, fun stirrers, cookies and whatever else you can dream up.

Dress it up Finally, this is the part where you can get creative.

When it comes to decorating your bar, there really aren’t any rules. If you want to focus on aesthetics, stick with one color theme — whether classic red, black and white, bright colors or any combo you love.

From there, keep it simple or go all out with fabulous décor finds. Experiment with what you already have — trays and jars to organize ingredients, fun holiday mugs, twinkling lights or Christmas ornaments are a great start; hang a fun sign, and get the kids involved with ideas, DIY decorations and paper snowflakes.

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LO CAL R ES O UR C ES / CAM P S , ARTS + ACT I V I T ES

choose from, you’re bound to experience excellent hot chocolate close to home. While perusing the decadent chocolate displays and flavors, be sure to try the dark hot sipping chocolate. Each cup comes with a perfect dollop of whipped cream and a bonus chocolate square.

Find it: Multiple locations — downtown Seattle, University Village, Georgetown and Bellevue Eastside and South Sound Bellden Cafe Come for the hot cocoa, stay for the mission. Bellevue’s Bellden Cafe serves delicious breakfast and lunch items, coffee, pastries and, of course, hot cocoa. Its mission? Bellden partners with nonprofit organizations, creating signature drinks to highlight different organizations and donating a portion of the profits from the sale of each drink.

Find it: 10527 Main St., Bellevue Frosty Barrel Curious combinations await at this Newcastle ice cream bar and cafe. Order the tried-and-true flavors or take a leap and try something new; haystack butterscotch and balsamic strawberry are just two

hTt h { . ]vytHy] ,T[ i y li \ H examples of its many ice cream offerings. As far as hot cocoa, both kids and parents can enjoy the tasty treat, and they have a whole list of tipsy hot chocolates to choose from.

Find it: 13197 Newcastle Commons Dr., Newcastle Dilettante Mocha Café Decisions, decisions, decisions. With six choices of chocolate — extra dark, Mexicano, dark, Ephemere dark, milk and white — there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Melting pots are behind the counter, and each cup of hot cocoa is melted down to liquid perfection.

Find it: Seattle, Bellevue, Kent and Sea-Tac International Airport

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Madison Miller is ParentMap’s trends and engagement editor.

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FAM I LY F UN

C OMMUNI T Y

Neighborhood Spotlight Tacoma This eclectic South Sound nabe features beauty and culture

By Madison Miller The Vibe There’s a reason why Forbes named downtown Tacoma as one of its 13 Art Trips You Need to Take. From public art, which includes Dale Chihuly glass installations scattered around the city, to a rich cultural history (there are six museums within walking distance of each other), to impressive and varied dining experiences and engaging and entertaining activities, the Museum District serves as a one-stop spot for families.

Play on The Museum District, in the heart of downtown, has many great kid-centric spots to keep you entertained whenever you visit.

In fact, you’ll find four of the city’s six museums along a short stretch of Pacific Avenue. Both Tacoma Art Museum and the Washington State History Museum have excellent youth programs and offer free

Children’s Museum of Tacoma.

Photo courtesy of greentrike.org

can search for treasures from about late January to early- to mid-February.

W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory.

Photo courtesy of aiawa.org

admission on first and third Thursdays (respectively). A short walk over the Chihuly Bridge of Glass leads to the nearby Museum of Glass. There is also the near magical Children’s Museum of Tacoma, and its pay-what-you-wish admission gives every family the chance to enjoy it. Bonus: Tinkertopia, an alternative art supply and creative reuse center, is another fun stop in the area.

Wright Park, located just north of the Museum District, is a 27-acre arboretum filled with lush, beautiful trees and home to the recently remodeled W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. At this time of year, the park will be one of several locations along the Tacoma Light Trail. The light trail is celebrating its fourth year and features more than 40 locations of lighted art in downtown Tacoma buildings. It’s a New Year event you can enjoy through Jan. 14.

Tinkertopia. Photo courtesy of tinkertopia.com

Also returning this year is the Monkeyshines hunt, Tacoma’s Lunar New Year tradition of searching for beautiful handmade glass orbs hidden around the city. Avid Monkeyshines hunters look forward to the Lunar New Year with great anticipation.

2024 is the year of the dragon, and you

Eats + Treats Whether exploring the parks, navigating the light trail or hunting for glass treasures, you need to satiate your hunger — or your sweet tooth — while on your Tacoma adventure. Pop in to Corina Bakery for cookies that are the size of your face.

These cookies measure an average of 5–6 inches each, and there are endless flavors to choose from (we recommend the snickerdoodle).

Since you’re likely hitting a few museums while in the area, why not grab a bite at one of them? La Finestra Cafe, at Museum of Glass, offers delicious breakfast and lunch items. While some menu offerings might be a bit pricey, it’s hard to say no to its $4 cheese pizza by the slice.

While it might not be the most out-of-theordinary dining destination in the area, The Old Spaghetti Factory offers much-needed comfort food. And with its robust kids menu, even the pickiest of eaters will find something good to nosh on. Fun fact: The Tacoma location is one of the oldest in the company’s history. Tacoma’s first Old Spaghetti Factory was located on Jefferson Avenue from 1971 to 2016. It then relocated just blocks away to its current location on Pacific Avenue.

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Madison Miller is ParentMap’s trends and engagement editor.

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PL AY L I ST

January Don’t let winter get you down. These activities hold up even on the darkest, rainiest days.

Check out many more happenings online at parentmap.com/calendar.

By Julie Dodobara

A new year is a great time to go on new adventures and make new memories with the kids. Resolve to make the most of these short gray days by filling them with winter wonders, such as ice skating, wildlife-filled nature walks or a chilly polar plunge. Catch a show, whether it be live theater or a concert, to round out your family’s cool January agenda as we look forward to a brand-new year. Cheers!

� Glide into your 2024 — smooth as ice — at seasonal skating rinks around town.

Skate at Pacific Ice in Everett through Jan. 8; at the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink, Oly on Ice and Lights & Ice in Tulalip through Jan. 15; and at Snohomish Valley Ice Rink all the way through Jan. 28. Book your skate session online and plan to spend $12–$20 per person, including skate rental. � The magical sparkle of an

outdoor light display can still be found well into January on the Tacoma Light Trail, a series of light-art installations set up around downtown Tacoma.

Artworks will light up the dark and (otherwise) dreary nights

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Dec. 31–Jan. 14, and include live music, circus and dance at Tollefson Plaza. Free.

� Defy the January chill, sum-

mon your courage and start the new year off with a very cold dip. Show up for one of the many polar bear plunges making a splash around the Sound. You’ll find one on Monday, Jan. 1, in Seattle, Renton, Issaquah and Tacoma, to name a few locations. Times vary. Free or by donation.

� There is no bad weather, only

bad clothing. Test this theory by bundling up and heading to a Washington state park on two free-entry days this month, Jan. 1 and 15, when you don’t

need to display a Discover Pass to park. Fresh wintry air, tall trees and wildlife await. If you plan an outing for New Year’s Day, take advantage of one of the many guided snowshoe, hiking or bike-riding excursions offered through the state’s “First Day Hikes” event.

Highlighted Events for January

Jan. 10 | Wednesday

Jan. 15 | Monday

Jan. 27 | Saturday

ParentEd Talks with Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., LISW

King Day

Kidstock!

Northwest African American Museum, Seattle

Edmonds Center for the Arts

Online ParentEd Talks event

� Join ParentMap for our next

Pounding rice for mochi tsuki

� Join the Japanese American

community on Bainbridge Island to ring in the new year in the traditional Japanese way, with a celebratory mochi tsuki, when rice is cooked over an open fire and pounded by hand using wooden mallets to make mochi (rice cake). Sample the finished product and enjoy traditional dance and performances at Woodward Middle School, Saturday, Jan. 6 starting at 11 a.m.

� Who says “Giraffes Can’t

Dance”? Watch Gerald, the clumsy giraffe, find his footing and discover his own song while dancing to the beat of his own drum. Filled with African rhythms, this musical adaptation of the popular children’s book comes to Tacoma’s Pantages Theater Friday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $9.

� Skagit County welcomes

visitors to join free nature walks and spy eagles during the Skagit Eagle Festival. Join a free guided walk starting from Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport during weekends this month, Jan. 6–7, 13–14, 20–21 and 27–28, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

essential ParentEd Talks event, Wednesday, Jan. 10, as we welcome suicide risk assessment expert Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., LISW. Freedenthal will guide parents through the sensitive and challenging topic of supporting their child’s mental health, and provide strategies to help children feel seen, heard and supported. Log in to the webinar live at 1 p.m. or receive a recording if you can’t join at that time. Self-selecting sliding-scale fee of $0–$15.

ers, inspirational performances, kids’ activities and giveaways.

Monday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

� Join Bluey and the Heelers in their first live show, brought to the stage as life-size puppets in “Bluey’s Big Play” at the Paramount Theatre. Based on the popular children’s series,

Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. Pay what you can, $0–$15.

� Kidstock!, the free, full-day

arts celebration for families with kids of all ages, makes its triumphant in-person return this year. Rock out to kindie faves The Not-Its!, get the giggles at Alex Zerbe’s comedy

� Dog lovers unite and head to

Puyallup to rub shoulders with all types of talented pooches at the Western Washington Winter Dog Show Cluster. About 2,000 dogs will compete in categories ranging from obedience to rally.

And did we mention that there is a puppy category as well?

Swoon. Spectate for free at this canine fest held at the Washington State Fair Events Center. Saturday–Monday, Jan. 13–15, 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

� Make live music a family

affair when you watch totfocused bands playing at the Mount Baker Community Club.

Book your tix to one or more Kindiependent Kids Rock shows in the new year. Dance and sing along with Johnny Bregar at the clubhouse on Saturday, Jan. 13, and Eli Rosenblatt on Saturday, Jan. 27. Tickets $10.

� Honor the life and legacy of

Martin Luther King Jr. by joining the Northwest African American Museum at its annual King Day celebration, with notable speak-

The Not-Its! Photo courtesy of wearethenot-its.com

this brand-new theatrical production features an original story by show creators and runs 50 minutes, with no intermission. Bring the whole family! Jan. 20–21. Tickets $25.25 and up.

� Couldn’t we all use a little

more play in our lives? Block out an hour for an engaging ParentEd Talk and discover the critical role of play, not only for our children, but for ourselves as well. Speakers Amelia Bachleda, Ph.D., of the University of Washington’s I-LABS, and Mike Browne, MBA, of the UW’s Cultivate Learning program, discuss the brain science behind play and how it supports learning and well-being. Preregister for this free talk and tune in Tuesday,

show, join a hip-hop workshop and more. The fun happens at Edmonds Center for the Arts, Saturday, Jan. 27, 9:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.

� Don’t miss the mind-blowing

trick shots of the Harlem Globetrotters, legendary team of basketball experts, when they dribble into town to perform at Climate Pledge Arena at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Tickets start at $39 per person.

Or, catch a second show at Angels of the Wind Arena in Everett, Sunday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m., with tickets starting at $30.

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Julie Dodobara is ParentMap’s calendar editor.

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ew ’s aaN e r of A r t !

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It

Why Children Need to Connect With Nature Every Day You don’t have to live near green spaces to experience their benefits

By Sanya Pelini, Ph.D. It has been scientifically proven that people who spend a lot of time outdoors are happier, healthier, less stressed and suffer from fewer psychological problems than those who do not.

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Studies that have analyzed the impact of nature on children specifically have found similar results: The more time children spend connecting with nature, the better their overall social, academic and psychological outcomes. And time spent in nature has an impact even in later years; children who spent a lot of time in green spaces when they are young have a better sense of well-being than those who did not.

How nature affects your child A group of researchers interested in understanding how exposure to natural settings influences behavior studied more than 2,500 children between the ages of 7 and 10. They compared the children’s exposure to green spaces at home, at school and on their commute to school. The researchers found that the children who were surrounded by greener neighborhoods had better self-control, a better working memory and less inattentiveness than those who were not.

In a different study, a group of Australian researchers found that combining nature and “micro-breaks” helped increase children’s attention. They found that participants exposed to a flowering green roof while performing tasks made fewer mistakes than those exposed to a concrete roof.

Yet another study’s results suggest that simply listening to natural sounds, such as crickets, birdsong or moving water, improves performance, unlike listening to urban sounds such as car horns.

Connecting with nature is good, but not everyone has the opportunity to live in green spaces or within walking distance of a lake, river or ocean. But here’s the thing: There are many simple ways you can help your child connect with nature or even bring nature to your own doorstep.

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Family music classes for children ages birth through age 8 and the grownups who love them!

sunshinemusictogether.com 4 6 / PA R E N T M A P. C O M

Sanya Pelini is a parent and researcher in education.

She is passionate about child development issues and holds a Ph.D. in educational research. She transforms educational research into practical tools and resources on her blog Raising Independent Kids.

Conscious: Curious, Connected Discipline Strategies for Happier, Healthier Kids

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Tuesday, Feb. 6 | 1-2 p.m. PT

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PA R E N T M A P / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 / 47

DAY SCHOOL

AFFORDA B I L I TY INI TI ATI V E

It’s never been more important to send your kids to Jewish Day school. Fortunately, it’s also never FIIR QSVI EǺSVHEFPI Get an exceptional, private, K-12 Jewish day school education for less than you ever imagined.

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