June 2019

52

’cause

parenting is a trip!

Seattle Adventures

Our go-to guide for summer fun PAGE 30

Let’s Go to the Library!

How the humble public library is evolving into the ultimate community learning space 16

How books boost empathy and cultural competence 8

OUT + ABOUT: DESTINATION LIBRARIES Build a day trip around these library gems 25

AGES + STAGES: READING OFF THE PAGE! Book-inspired adventures to slay the summer slide 29

JUNE 2019

BEYOND TOLERANCE: ENLIGHTENED READING

SWIMS FOR HOURS. TUCKERED AT EIGHT. THE NIGHT IS YOURS.

MILESTONES. JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. In less than two hours from Seattle, you can be peering into tide pools with your kids or treating yourself to a hot stone massage. At Semiahmoo Resort, Golf & Spa, the little moments you live for are waiting around every corner. semiahmoo.com

9565 Semiahmoo Parkway Blaine, WA 98230 855.917.3767

Dream big. Plan ahead.

Washington College Savings Plans can help you start saving towards a brighter future.

Learn more at wastate529.wa.gov

Enroll Nov 1 - May 31

Start saving today

GET and DreamAhead are qualified tuition programs sponsored and distributed by the State of Washington. The Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment and College Savings administers and the Washington Student Achievement Council supports the plans. DreamAhead investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. If in-state tuition decreases in the future, GET tuition units may lose value.

FAMILY FIELD DAY SAT JUL 20, 11 AM – 3 PM OLYMPIC SCULPTURE PARK

0619_wash_college_savings_plan_br_1-4.indd 1

5/13/19 11:51 PM

SAVE $200 with promo code

PARENTMAP

Be a mover and a maker this summer!

Bring the family for a free day of art making, performances, family-friendly yoga, and community partner activities.

Summer at SAM is an entire season packed full of activities and performances that combine visual art, music, and community. These free events take place every Thursday and Saturday from July 11 through August 22.

visitsam.org/familyfieldday Presented by

Sponsored by RealNetworks Foundation

Media Sponsor

WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR COUPLES Photo: Robert Wade

gottman.com

4 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

TEAM READ, DUNLAP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL / PHOTO BY LISA BONTJE

inside , cause parenting is a trip!

JUNE 2019

Let’s Go to the Library!

PAGE 16

Parenting

6 DEAR READER

Finding roots of empathy in the written word

8 BEYOND TOLERANCE

How books boost empathy and cultural competence

Feature 16 LET’S GO TO THE LIBRARY! How the humble public library is evolving into the ultimate community learning space

Out + About

10 CRIB NOTES

25 DESTINATION LIBRARIES

12 IT STARTS WITH YOU(TH)

20 JUNE CALENDAR

14 WELLNESS

Advertising Sections

Timeless tales to read to a captive audience

This Edmonds youth shares her secret for change

Precautions to keep kids safer this summer

29 AGES + STAGES: 3–18

Build a day trip around these library gems

24–28 C amps + Activities 29–34 S chools + Preschools irthdays 36–39 B

Book-inspired adventures to slay the summer slide Meet PNB principal dancer and new mom Laura Tisserand

Cover photo: Oren (dad), Abigail and Ethan Nissim at the SPL Central Library; photo by Will Austin

38

WILL AUSTIN

38 PARENT DAY JOBS

29 parentmap.com • June 2019 • 5

note

In Praise of Reading Fathers

M

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! We’ve been excited to watch students from more than 40 high schools and skills centers across Washington – including here in King County – build real-world skills through hands-on learning and Core Plus Aerospace. Those high school students are graduating ready for manufacturing jobs, continued education, and more. Imagine the challenges they’ll solve and things they will build right here in Washington!

LEARN MORE ABOUT CORE PLUS AEROSPACE STUDENTS AND PROGRAMS

COREPLUSAEROSPACE.ORG

6 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

y kids hit the bonanza with a father who is particularly easy to celebrate on Father’s Day. In each of their eyes, he is flawless. My husband Bobby is a rare combination of having exceptional wisdom to share with our kids, yet he does so judiciously and always in a way that is judgment-free. I will keep learning from him.

He also has an uncanny ease about who he is, inside and outside his own skin. His charm, warmth, wicked sense of humor, insomnia, big heart and seemingly limitless brain capacity, coupled with his Mr. Magoo-ness (search it!), make him a most endearing father.

And he has hit a whole new stride as grandfather to lucky baby Levi and a devoted uncle to many adoring nieces and nephews.

Our youngest daughter’s frequent reaction to a friendly yet fierce discussion with her father on some complex topic, from history or politics to the royals and popular culture, is to walk away in wonderment, shaking her head and mumbling, “How does daddy know everything?”

The answer: He reads!

Our kids were raised on and surrounded by books everywhere beginning at birth. Through their parents’ deep affection for the written word and Bobby’s magnificent ability to tell stories, our kids experienced worlds of complex emotion, empathy, exploration and adventure. It is impossible not to flash back to each of our kids’ unique emotional constitutions that tied them to a certain bedtime story night after night. Don’t we all have one child who relates to William Stieg’s “Spinky Sulks,” about a highly sensitive, slightly impossible boy driven over the edge by an occasionally unbearable but very loving family who helps him to see what constant sulking looks and feels like.

In fact, researchers have found that those who read fiction regularly score better on measures of empathy than those who read other types of content. The owner of my neighborhood bookstore, Laurie Raisys of Island Books, shared with me my favorite piece of reading wisdom: “A book takes time, and maybe what kids need is to be given time to appreciate the power of their imaginations and a chance to learn about themselves and others.” (Enlightened Reading, p. 8) As we enter the sacred slowdown of summer vacation, we packed up priceless exploration and learning for your family through our precious local libraries (Let’s Go to the Library!, p. 16) — at a great price: free! Visit a few of the extraordinary libraries in our region; your passport to endless adventure is your library card. (9 Destination Libraries for a Summer Day Trip, p. 25).

Happy Father’s Day!

ParentMap

June 2019, Vol. 17, No. 6 PUBLISHER/EDITOR Alayne Sulkin

EDITORIAL

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

Nicole Persun

OUT + ABOUT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Dora Heideman

COPY EDITOR Sunny Parsons CONTRIBUTORS

Gemma Alexander, Will Austin, Sarah Bradley, JiaYing Grygiel, Allison Holm, Malia Jacobson, Wendy Lawrence, Elisa Murray

DIGITAL MARKETING DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

Lindsey Carter

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST + TRENDING EDITOR

Diana Cherry

MARKETING + OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

Maureen Taasin

EMAIL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Angelica Lai

ADVERTISING SALES + PARTNERSHIPS SENIOR ADVERTISING AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Ida Wicklund

PARTNERSHIP ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

Jen Dine

AD OPERATIONS MANAGER Elisa Taylor ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES SPECIALIST

Jessica Collet

ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Angela Goodwin

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

ART + PRODUCTION SENIOR DESIGNER Amy Chinn

ADMINISTRATION FINANCE MANAGER Sonja Hanson BUSINESS ANALYST Carolyn Brendel

PARENTMAP EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Benjamin Danielson, M.D.

ODESSA BROWN CHILDREN’S CLINIC

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

Laura Kastner, Ph.D.

PSYCHIATRY + BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Bea Kelleigh

VICE PRESIDENT AT DOVETAILING, LLC

Yaffa Maritz, M.A.

LISTENING MOTHERS + COMMUNITY OF MINDFUL PARENTS

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

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MINDSIGHT INSTITUTE ADVERTISING INFORMATION

206-709-9026 or advertising@parentmap.com Fax 206-709-9031 CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

calendar@parentmap.com EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS

editor@parentmap.com DISTRIBUTION distribution@parentmap.com SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@parentmap.com

ParentMap is published monthly PMB #190, 7683 SE 27th St. Mercer Island, WA 98040 ADMINISTRATION 206-709-9026, parentmap.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 year: $24; 2 years: $40

All rights reserved; reproduction in whole or part without permission prohibited ©ParentMap 2019 • Printed in Oregon

parentmap.com • June 2019 • 7

beyond tolerance

REQUIRED READING

Enlightened Reading

How books boost empathy, self-discovery and growth

By Malia Jacobson

L

ike any parent trying to raise culturally competent and compassionate kids, I fill our family’s days with experiences designed to spark emotional and social growth. Ambitious travel experiences, check. Cultural festivals, check. Language lessons, museum trips, social justice club, all checked.

But even with a calendar that fills up all too quickly with commitments that speak to us, I try to preserve time each day for reading books.

Unlike other pursuits, reading won’t produce a tangible result, such as a trophy or an impressively stamped passport. Its rewards are less flashy and slower to emerge. But reading offers a reward that even the most enriching after-school activity never could — the opportunity to expand my kids’ worldview beyond our cozy community and ignite empathy, self-discovery and growth.

Empathy education A slew of studies show that reading stories helps build empathy and social understanding. And when it comes to emotional development, it turns out that some books may be more beneficial than others.

Researchers in one study found that those who read fiction regularly score better on measures of empathy than those who read other types of content.

By stimulating deeply felt emotion, stories engender emotional skills that translate into realworld social growth, the researchers noted. In other words, stories help kids begin to see and understand the struggles of others. Georgia S. McDade, Ph.D., founding member and coordinator of Seattle’s African American Writers’ Alliance (AWAA), witnessed this growth over and over during her 30 years teaching at Tacoma Community College. “I called my four volumes of poetry ‘Outside the Cave,’ because that’s my favorite metaphor. There’s so much to gain if we step outside of our own experience.

We don’t have to be afraid; we can let others be themselves. And children can learn that through reading.”

Just as important, literature enables children to see and understand themselves, notes Cindy Hudson, author of “Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs” (Seal Press).

8 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

“Gaining empathy and knowledge from stories is important for existing in a diverse society, but just as important, in my opinion, is being able to see yourself and your life situation in stories so you don’t feel isolated and alone.”

Reading imagined stories aids kids in making sense of their reality, says Tom Nissley, owner of independent bookstores Phinney Books (phinneybooks.com) and newly opened Madison Books (madisonbks.com). “Not only does literature help develop empathy, but it can help develop selfidentity as well. As important as it is to see others in stories, it’s important to be seen as well, to find our own stories portrayed. I think fiction for kids has made huge strides in that sort of representation recently.”

Melissa Hart, author of “Better With Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage SelfAcceptance in Tweens and Teens” (Sasquatch Books), hopes this trend continues. “It’s critical that kids see themselves and their life reflected in literature. It’s beginning to happen, but young people deserve much more diversity in literature.”

Seeing themselves, friends and classmates represented in a fictional story such as “Lily and Dunkin” by Donna Gephart, which is about a friendship between a transgender girl and a boy with bipolar disorder, builds insight and compassion for the characters as well as their real-life counterparts, Hart notes. “When kids read about protagonists who struggle with issues reflecting their own, they’re free to explore both the struggle and potential solutions in a safe and anonymous way.”

The value of shared stories For many fiction fans, diving into a novel is a solo pursuit, an escape from everyday life. As the picture books of early childhood give way to graphic novels and contemporary fiction for teens and young adults, reading for pleasure can become an individual hobby instead of something parents and kids share. But Hart wants to make the case for sustaining a shared reading habit through kids’ teen years.

“Kids need stories for escape, and even more for information on how to navigate an increasingly

Authors Kathya Alexander and Georgia S. McDade and independent bookshop owners Tom Nissley, Laurie Raisys and Linda Berentsen share book recommendations, listed by age, for building empathy, insight and compassion:

3–5: “This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids From Around the World”

by Matt Lamothe “Julián Is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love “The Wonky Donkey” by Craig Smith (author) and Katz Cowley (illustrator) “Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry (author) and Vashti Harrison (illustrator) “Coco LaSwish: A Fish From a Different Rainbow” by Reagan E. J. Jackson

6–11: “The Great Brain” series by John D. Fitzgerald (author) and Mercer Mayer (illustrator) “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers” by Fred Rogers (author) and Luke Flowers (illustrator) “Be Prepared” by Vera Brosgol “Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls’ Rights” by Malala Yousafzai (author) and Sarah J. Robbins (adapter)

12–18: “March: Book One” by John Lewis (author), Andrew Aydin (author) and Nate Powell (illustrator) “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption”

by Bryan Stevenson “Internment” by Samira Ahmed “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak

complicated and fast-paced world,” she explains.

“In addition, I’d say that parents and other adults need the middle-grade and young adult literature being published today. Much of it is extraordinarily well-written, and so many novels give readers — regardless of age — a vivid sense of the concerns of kids today.”

Reading together encourages kids and parents to talk about these concerns by giving them the words and insight needed for meaningful conversations, says Hart. By equipping families with the tools to talk about complex issues like race, equity, privilege or body image, shared reading helps bridge a barrier that can otherwise prevent kids and parents from talking about things that matter to them.

Visit the Award-Winning

What about other types of reading?

When it comes to social and emotional growth, fictional narratives tend to steal the spotlight, with good reason. According to a study documented in the journal PLOS One, narratives that draw the reader into a story (a process called “emotional transportation”) builds empathy for the experiences of others.

Yet don’t discount the learning value of other written works, such as memoir, poetry or any written form a child is passionate about. “Poetry packs a punch — it’s short but intense, and it gets the message across with fewer words, which can work well for younger kids with short attention spans,” says Linda Berentsen, owner of Olympia’s Orca Books (orcabooks.com), an independent bookshop in the process of converting to a cooperative membership model.

Young children don’t need to understand the mechanics of poetry to appreciate its rhythm, says McDade, who often uses poetry when she’s invited to read to 5and 6-year-olds in Seattle classrooms. “You don’t have to tell them about rhyme schemes and iambic pentameter — they can pick it up.”

With a structure that’s more narrative than most nonfiction, memoir offers an immersive experience that can build young readers’ empathy and expand their worldview, says Hart. “I included several memoirs in ‘Better With Books’ — among them Steve Pemberton’s ‘A Chance in the World,’ [which is] about growing up in foster care, and Sara Saedi’s ‘Americanized,’ about realizing at 13 years old that she was an undocumented Iranian immigrant. An author’s story told in memoir form can be incredibly effective at offering insight and increasing readers’ compassion.”

Kids can become immersed in a story without even cracking a book, at live readings like Auntmama’s StoryTable with Seattle storytellers Mary Anne Moorman (maryannemoorman.com) and Kathya Alexander (seattlestoryteller.com). “Because my stories are generally told from the perspective of a child, I can tell stories from the Civil Rights movement, a time in history that was kind of horrific, and kids aren’t horrified,” says Alexander, author of “Angel in the Outhouse,” a collection of short stories centered around a black family living in the Civil Rights era. “It’s kind of like ‘The Diary of Anne Frank,’ where you hear about the horrors of the Holocaust from a child’s perspective, so you can understand it and empathize in a different way.”

The precise form a story takes might be less important than simply carving out time for reading and reflection, says Laurie Raisys, owner of Mercer Island independent bookshop Island Books (mercerislandbooks.com). “A book takes time. So maybe what kids need is to be given time to appreciate the power of their imaginations and a chance to learn about themselves and others.”

In my book, that’s worth a whole shelf full of trophies. ■ Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three.

BeyondTolerance

INSPIRED LEARNING

Children’s Museum

Make Summer Memories!

NEW Megan D Schooner Exhibit Coming!

150 Exhibits & Unique Outdoor Discovery Center Art Studio, MakeSpace & Outdoor Tinkering Explore the East Bay Plaza & LOTT WET Center

June - August Themed Adventures • Guests & Activities

Fire Rescue Spectacular! • June 22 Olympia Fire Department

Make a Mega Mess • July - all month!

Fantastic Foam Party

Mermaids & Pirates • August - all month!

Meet Mermaid Linden!

Summer Splash! Gala • August 23

In 2019, ParentMap is dedicating consistent thoughtful coverage to cultivating tolerance. We will rally partners and experts to help us deliver practical and powerful tools, perspectives and tips to parents and educators for teaching empathy, equity, acceptance, respect and inclusion to our children. Read more at parentmap.com/beyond-tolerance.

On Olympia’s East Bay • hocm.org Facebook “f ” Logo

414 Jefferson St. NE • Olympia, WA 98501 • (360) 956-0818

CMYK / .eps

Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

Social icon

Rounded square Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

parentmap.com • June 2019 • 9

all about baby

ALLI ARNOLD

From Recent Research to Gaga Gear

Sunday, June 9, 9:30am

10 Books to Read Aloud to Your Unborn Baby

A great way for individuals and families to show support and solidarity with the growing, grassroots movement to make our communities and schools safer.

By Wendy Lawrence

R

eady to curl up on the couch with your pickles, ice cream and a good book? It’s time to let your unborn baby enjoy the sound of mama’s voice and some beautiful examples of language. This may be the easiest time to read to your child — after all, they can’t run away or try to eat the book!

washingtonceasefire.org Since 1983, Washington CeaseFire, a nonprofit organization, has been working towards implementing reasonable solutions to reduce the toll of gun violence in Washington State.

Try a new language or an old favorite “The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh” by A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard I absolutely love the language and Milne’s brilliant narration in the “Winnie-the-Pooh” books. The stories are so wonderful, you will enjoy reading them as much as your baby will enjoy hearing the sounds.

BASEBALL • SOCCER • TENNIS • CAMPING • WATER SPORTS • BIKING • HIKING • FISHING

BASEBALL • SOCCER • TENNIS • CAMPING • WATER SPORTS • BIKING • HIKING • FISHING

To register, search for “Ceasefire 5K” on www.Eventbrite.com

SUMMERTIME5/16/19 FUN

_wash_ceasefire_1-8v.indd 1

Trade-ins Welcome

QUALITY USED

SPORTING GOODS

Great Summer Gear for Kids, Moms, Dads, and Grandparents

Buy • Sell • Trade 1001 NE Boat Street, Seattle Next to Recycled Cycles

206.325. BASE 2ndbaseseattle.com ALL SPORTS INVENTORY

Being a new parent can be really isolating, but baby, we’ve got your back.

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

Notes

Join us in beautiful Magnuson Park for the Washington CeaseFire 5k Run/Walk

ALL SPORTS INVENTORY

Find Your Village

10:22 AM

10 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

“The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred” by Samantha R. Vamos, illustrated by Rafael López This bilingual book will introduce the sounds of both English and Spanish as you read wonderful prose about a community of farmworkers and animals who gather the ingredients to make a rice pudding. The rhythm and sounds in this book are perfectly executed. As a bonus, you can make the recipe at the end and enjoy a wholesome dessert!

“Si le das una galletita a un ratón” by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond This delightful translation of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” is easy to read with even minimal high school Spanish to your credit — what a fun way to introduce your child to the sounds of a different language.

Rhyme time “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) This is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books. It has the advantage of making sense (trust me, not all of them do). The rhythm is wonderful; it’s fun to read and listen to. Plus, you’re going to want to practice your Dr. Seuss tongue twisters for later.

“Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney The rhythm and rhymes in Anna Dewdney’s books are so satisfying that I could read them again and again, even to my navel! Which is good, because that’s what you’ll be doing with a baby in utero. This title is a must-have when your child is

older, so you might as well get it in rotation now.

Sing-along “The Peter Yarrow Songbook: Songs for Little Folks” by Peter Yarrow, illustrated by Terry Widener As a kid, I used to listen to Peter, Paul and Mary on tape (yes, I said tape) in the car. Here, Peter brings us a beautifully illustrated collection of folk songs to read or sing. Consider it training for all the 3 a.m. wake-ups to come, when your child needs to be sung back to sleep. The book comes with a CD for when the mamas and the papas are too tired to read or sing.

“Sylvia Long’s Mother Goose” by Sylvia Long There are a lot of Mother Goose books, but this is one of my favorites. The illustrations are wonderful; even adults will enjoy them. Not only will this introduce your baby to some delightful and everlasting rhymes, but it will remind you of stories you thought you had forgotten and some you never knew.

Classic reads “The Odyssey” by Homer Okay, hear me out on this one. “The Odyssey” is a beautiful book.

It’s from oral tradition, so it’s meant to be read aloud. It’s in verse.

It will introduce your baby to beautiful sounds and it will give you a chance to revisit one of the most important works of literature. The Robert Fagles translation is a good one for this.

Shakespeare wrote beautifully. His poems, as we all learned in high school, are written in iambic pentameter, da – DUM da – DUM da – DUM da – DUM da – DUM. The rhythm perfectly mirrors a heartbeat, a sound familiar and soothing to your baby.

How great would it be to introduce literature that she is already, on some level, familiar with? Try “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to get you in the mood for magic.

“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert While not classic in the “hundreds of years old” sense of the word, this is a great read, and I won’t say that about just any board book. It goes quickly, especially if there’s not a toddler trying to squirm off your lap. ■ Wendy Lawrence is a nationally published freelance writer and a lifelong educator.

NATURAL & ORGANIC MATTRESSES, BEDDING, RUGS, AND FURNITURE FOR YOUR FAMILY.

300 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105 bedroomsandmore.com | (206) 633-4494

Learn on.

INFANTS • TODDLERS • PRESCHOOL • PRE-K • SUMMER CAMP

When dinosaurs roamed her mind Children take in information in great, big, giant strides.

That learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. It’s reinforced and amplified with every observation and interaction. At Kiddie Academy®, we recognize it’s never too early to nurture every learning opportunity.

Kiddie Academy of Kirkland (425) 242-0075 info@KAkirkland.com

Kiddie Academy of Mill Creek (425) 338-7101 info@KAmillcreek.com

Kiddie Academy of Bothell (425) 485-7200 info@KAbothell.com

Kiddie Academy of Seattle at Queen Anne (206) 886-3999 info@KAseattle.com

Kiddie Academy of Kenmore (425) 780-4149 info@KAkenmore.com

Kiddie Academy of Bellevue (425) 800-4242 info@KAbellevue.com

To learn more, schedule a tour and enroll visit kiddieacademy.com/greaterseattle parentmap.com • June 2019 • 11

0619_kiddie_academy_1-2h.indd 1

5/16/19 10:43 AM

it starts with you(th)

Meet LaShaiah Dickerson This Edmonds youth shares the secret to change: Learn to listen

By Patty Lindley

L

aShaiah Dickerson is a senior at Edmonds-Woodway High School, where she has affected transformational change in her community through her involvement on the leadership council of the school’s Black Student Union.

But Dickerson’s BSU participation came about due to an unpleasant experience she had early on, after transferring from the diverse Kent-Meridian High School to the predominantly white Edmonds school. “I was walking through the hallway and this kid came up to me and said, ‘Hey, what’s up, my N word?’ I had this huge emotional breakdown — I couldn’t believe it,” she says. She noticed that the use of the N word was normalized at the school — and nobody was saying or doing anything about it. “So, I asked staff members I had met before I even started, ‘How can I get involved, because I’m tired of hearing it. It’s annoying and it’s disrespectful.’”

The previous leaders of the Black Student Union had graduated, and two currently enrolled students, Adiam Woldu and Segen Berhane, had been identified to lead the group. Dickerson made contact with them and they got to work, convening meetings for fellow students to reactivate and organize the membership, participating in teacher trainings on equity and diversity, and speaking at a staff-wide meeting and other events about their experiences in the school.

Some two years later, Dickerson provides an anecdote that illustrates how the climate has changed in the school: “There’s a student who came up to me recently and told me that because of the stuff that [the BSU has] done around the school, he is now more comfortable calling out his friends and he’s learned so much about black culture and history. So, definitely I’ve seen a shift in the way people act since then.”

“Stuff” may sound like an inconsequential word, but the work Dickerson and her fellow BSU members have undertaken to raise awareness is anything but. The group hosts and stages an interactive, performance-based black culture presentation at the end of each school year that allows them to “talk about everything that the teachers won’t talk about in class” through acting, singing and dancing. They are also in charge of organizing the annual assembly to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “We always have multiple messages for people to take away from the assembly, and we also do events with other groups, such as our Rainbow Warriors, our GSA and our Latino Student Union. We always have a huge turnout, which is amazing,” she says.

In March, Dickerson represented the BSU at the Teen Action Fair, which was held at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center. “A big topic for us these last two years has been the decolonization of the classroom, and that’s what we were there promoting and talking about. We had handouts we made that talk about steps and tips to bring [the subject] up to your teacher as a student. And as a teacher, how can you implement it in your classroom. Then we also talked about some of the ways that we’re trying to decolonize the classroom,” says Dickerson.

One success story in this effort to decolonize the classroom at EdmondsWoodway? The BSU led a successful petition process to get an ethnic studies course added for this year. “I’m taking it right now and it’s an amazing class,” enthuses Dickerson. She is quick to credit the dedication and collective action of her fellow BSU members and also expresses gratitude for the support of key staff, including American Sign Language teacher Amy Emond, who “has been the biggest advocate for any social-justice-focused group you can think of,” and the group’s adviser,

12 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

Allison Keresi, “who is the exact same way.”

Closer to home, Dickerson aligns her motivation to work for social change with her family’s history of political activism — and to her grandfather, Robert Wray, specifically. He grew up in segregated Mississippi and moved here as a young man.

“Basically, his big thing was that the treatment was the same but there just weren’t as many [overt signs of racism] here in Seattle. There weren’t the ‘colored’ signs, but the treatment was the same,” says Dickerson.

What words of wisdom does Dickerson have for youth who might be trying to figure out how they can make a difference, and for parents who wish to encourage their kids to become involved in the issues that matter to them? It’s a common theme: Learn to really listen. “If you want to be an ally, go to these clubs and listen. Then ask questions and just involve yourself as much as possible — when you’re there and you’re learning, you can take that knowledge with you. So, if one of your friends says something that’s racist or offensive to somebody, you can be that person to say, ‘Chill — that is not okay.’”

Mom and Dad, take the same cue: “Support your kid. Listen to them. When they say, ‘Mom, I’m experiencing this’ or ‘I was in class and this happened to me,’ don’t just say, ‘Oh, you’re fine,’ and brush it off. Listen to them. Hear their side and get involved. Call the school.”

After graduation, Dickerson plans to attend Western Washington University and study sociology. I ask her if she has a vision for how she’s going to blaze a trail there. She replies: “A big mistake that I made when I got into high school was that I waited until I felt comfortable enough before I got involved. But I feel like once you dive in, when you’re the most uncomfortable, that’s when you can start navigating your way through. And of course, I have to find their BSU. I have to.

It’s kind of ingrained in me.”n

ARRIVE LEAVE CURIOUS. INSPIRED.

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

At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we believe all lives have equal value. We are impatient optimists working to reduce inequity.

Explore interactive exhibits and find ways you can take action at the Gates Foundation Discovery Center, discovergates.org

ALWAYS FREE

NEXT TO SEATTLE CENTER 440 5TH AVE N. discovergates.org | discovergates Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm parentmap.com • June 2019 • 13

wellness

Up Your Safety Game This Summer Accidents and injuries spike at this time of year. Here’s help.

By Malia Jacobson

P

acific Northwest locals live for our short but spectacular summers. But when temperatures rise, so do safety risks for kids. According to the National Safety Council, preventable accidental deaths peak during summer, caused by drowning, car accidents, fires and other dangers. It’s also a time when nonfatal injuries from things such as barbecue grills, fireworks and sunburn are more likely. Here’s how to prioritize simple safeguards that keep kids safer all summer long.

DROWNING No parent wants to think about it, but drowning dangers consistently top the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of unintentional injury deaths for children. It’s the most common cause of accidental death for children ages 1–4 and is in the top five for older children and teens.

According to research, regular swimming lessons can offer a boost to kids’ physical and even cognitive development and offer parents some peace of mind, but even strong swimmers aren’t safe from drowning. Although a small study found that formal swimming lessons can reduce drowning risk in children ages 1–4, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns that preschool-age children don’t

have the motor skills needed for true independent swimming and should never be considered safe in the water.

WHEELS Steer clear of the summer spike in auto-related dangers to kids by following the rules of the road that safeguard against potentially deadly heatstroke. Check out your local car seat laws (kingcounty.gov) and keep children in recommended seats as long as possible; never mix alcohol and driving; and keep your phone in a place where it won’t distract you during car trips.

The ACT campaign from Safe Kids Worldwide (safekids.org) encourages parents to Avoid heatstroke by never leaving a child in a car unattended even for a minute; Create reminders, such as placing something you’ll need — like your work bag or phone — near a child’s car seat; and Take action by calling 911 if you see a child left unattended in a car.

BURNS Our longer summer days mean more sunlight and a higher risk of sunburn. Kids

CASH F

OR KIDS’

STUFF Dr. Roger Lucas

HOW IT WORKS

BRING IN GENTLY USED KIDS’ STUFF LAID FLAT IN A BASKET OR BIN.

BROWSE THE STORE WHILE WE APPRAISE YOUR ITEMS.

CHOOSE STORE CREDIT OR CASH FOR PAYOUT ON YOUR KIDS’ STUFF.

12928 SE KENT KANGLEY ROAD in KENT | 253-236-4269 14 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

can sunburn in as little as 15 minutes, and a blistering burn is a serious condition requiring emergency medical care, says Amit Joshi, M.D., an internal medicine physician with Overlake Clinics – Issaquah.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying a water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on all exposed skin (even lips) 15 minutes before going outside, and reapplying every two hours or after sweating or swimming. The Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t recommend sunscreen for babies younger than 6 months, so keep little ones in the shade and choose sun-protective (UPF) hats and clothing instead.

The sun isn’t our only source of heat — don’t forget about burns from barbecue grills and campfires. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends designating a 3-foot safety zone around grills and open flames. When burns happen, run them under cool water for three to five minutes, and seek medical help for any burn larger than the palm of your hand. (Before lighting an open flame, remember to check the status of statewide burn bans at waburnbans.net.)

Award-winning healthcare

with a network of primary and urgent care clinics located throughout the greater Eastside.

BITES Parents can protect kids from insect bites by removing standing water around their home (e.g., buckets, birdbaths and baby pools) and dressing kids in long sleeves and pants for hikes, says Dr. Joshi. “Even if children don’t have known allergies to bites, parents should be able to recognize the signs of anaphylactic reaction, such as swelling of lips, face, eyes, hands and feet — any facial swelling or wheezing means kids should get medical care.”

Don’t forget bites from four-legged friends, either — each year, over half of the country’s 4.7 million reported dog bites happen to kids younger than the age of 14. Teach kids to never approach an unfamiliar dog, to always ask a dog’s owner if petting is okay (and allow the dog to sniff their hand first), and to never run toward or away from a dog. Instruct kids that if they are ever attacked or knocked down by a dog, they should roll into a ball, cover their face and lie still.

AIR Last summer, Seattle’s air quality was some of the worst in the country, and the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” 2019 report listed the SeattleTacoma area as the country’s ninth most polluted. That’s bad news for us all, but especially for children, whose developing lungs are at risk when smoke and smog linger, says Joshi. “Our poor air quality has definitely impacted the pediatric population. When air quality is poor, there’s a buildup of abnormal gases and pollutants that can trigger asthma or allergies in children.”

During summer’s smoky season, follow Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s air quality recommendations (pscleanair.org) for “sensitive groups,” avoid vigorous exercise outdoors, and plan outings for beaches and waterways, where winds may help keep some smoke away.

As soon as the air clears, head back outside to enjoy our fleeting summer, safely. n Malia Jacobson is an award-winning journalist and mom of three.

Sponsored by:

Overlake Medical Center and Clinics are committed to offering the highest quality, compassionate medical care for you and your family.

Learn more about your healthcare options at overlakehospital.org.

overlakehospital.org

BELLEVUE ISSAQUAH KIRKLAND NEWCASTLE REDMOND SAMMAMISH parentmap.com • June 2019 • 15

feature WILL AUSTIN

I

t’s 4 p.m. on a spring Sunday, and the King County Library System’s downtown Bellevue Library shows no signs of taking a rest. Outside, cars circle the parking lot, jockeying for a spot. Inside the building’s three soaring stories, patrons of all ages browse, read, type, chat and even snack — there is a small café area with vending machines.

At the back of the first floor, a large, glassed-in “creativity lab” called the ideaX Makerspace (kcls.org/makerspace) is even more abuzz. Sitting at long worktables, about 25 people — mostly pairs of kids and parents, but also a few lone adults — are on a mission of discovery and creativity as they participate in an upcycling workshop. Under the careful facilitation of engineer and educator Jen Fox (foxbotindustries.com), they work together to take apart donated electronic parts and turn them into something new.

Questions and exclamations fly: “I wonder what this is?” “I’ve never seen wires like this!” “I found a capacitor!”

As one of the solo adults in that workshop, I took the better part of two hours (with help from Jen and the kind techie guy seated next to me) to dissemble an old remote-control device and reconfigure its coolest elements — the switches — into a mini art piece intended as a gift for my son.

Although I did glean micro bits of information about circuit boards and recycling, my biggest takeaway was gratitude — at the opportunity to be part of a multigenerational community of learning that libraries are so adept at creating.

I’ve been thinking about public libraries a lot

16 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

Let’s Go to the Library!

How the humble public library is evolving into the ultimate community learning space

By Elisa Murray

lately. About how they show up at just the right time, ready to help you with whatever your family needs: to hunt for a job, learn a skill, make a craft, entertain your kids, connect with other parents, listen to stories in your native language, outsource the homework struggle, connect to services or simply get a list of fresh reads for your graphic-novel-obsessed 9-year-old.

And I’ve also been contemplating how, in an era when our country seems more divided than ever, the basic mission of libraries to be a learning refuge that is free, accessible and welcoming to all seems almost revolutionary. Libraries are an everyday miracle, one that’s easy to take for granted. But let’s not: Over the past 30 years, the public library has reshaped itself in ways that few could have predicted at the dawn of the internet, and in many ways, it has become more vital than ever.

“Libraries have really evolved with the way that society has evolved,” says Julie Acteson, director of community relations and marketing for the King County Library System (KCLS). “In doing so, we’ve become even more relevant than we were 20, 30 or 40 years ago, when maybe you just thought of going to a library to check out a book.”

KCLS’s ideaX Makerspace — outfitted with a 3-D printing machine, laser cutter and sewing machine, as well as arts and crafts supplies — is just one example of library innovation. There are dozens — hundreds? — of others, often developed in partnership with other organizations. (See related story, “Just ‘Dewey’ It.”) And though the Puget Sound area doesn’t yet have a library with a kids’ climbing wall (Calgary

JIAYING GRYGIEL

High-tech, high-touch When the Pierce County Library System’s Susan Anderson-Newham was attending library school in the 1990s, one of her professors said he believed that libraries would be put out of the information business by the advent of the internet.

“He thought they’d disappear,” remembers Anderson-Newham, who oversees the Pierce County Library System’s early-learning services.

Instead, in a now well-known story line, public library systems evolved to lead the way in providing access to technology, from digitizing their own services (remember the days before you could reserve books online?) to adding Wi-Fi, computer labs, and access to digital books and media through services such as OverDrive (overdrive.com). New kinds of tech education are introduced all the time (my favorite new find is KCLS’s Tech Tutor program).

JIAYING GRYGIEL

JIAYING GRYGIEL

Public Library) or seed exchange (Nashville), our library systems are keeping up just fine — which maybe shouldn’t be surprising for a corner of the country that invented the Nancy Pearl librarian action figure.

Although circulation of physical materials is down (a national trend), circulation of electronic materials is soaring — by 250 percent among Seattle Public Library (SPL) materials since 2012. KCLS, which just opened its 50th library in a former casino in Kent, leads the country in digital downloads of library materials.

Even more interesting is that libraries are more focused than ever on listening — and responding — to what their communities need.

But even as they’ve embraced technology advances, libraries somehow feel more personal than ever.

Parents I polled about their connection to their branch libraries praised the convenience of online services, but also spoke movingly about the difference that library visits have made in their kids’ lives, often through one-on-one exchanges with librarians or spending time in a children’s section stocked with toys and books.

“I see our library as an extension of the community,” says Seattle resident Leah Gotz, who is the admissions and marketing manager for Seattle Jewish Community

School. Gotz’s 3-and-a-halfyear-old daughter recently got her first library card. “It seems a lot more tuned in to the kid experience than it used to be.”

The decidedly non-tech but incredibly diverse array of story times, which are offered in many languages in our region’s libraries (KCLS has story times in 15 languages), is often the library gateway for parents with young kids.

There are baby story times, family story times, pajama and holiday story times, STEAM story times, firefighter story times, yoga story times and maybe even a drag queen story time in June.

Story times and other early-learning events can help children whose families can’t afford preschool gain exposure to pre-K learning — through not just stories, but movement, song and performance — and serve as an anchor for more library exploration.

They also provide a sense of community that can be critical for new parents.

Shin Yu Pai, a Seattle poet who works as the head of the Obscura Society, wrote me that when she was a new mother, finding a baby story time at SPL’s Ballard branch “saved my life.” Although she didn’t always talk to other parents, the action of getting out of the house and having a welcoming place to go where her son was engaged made a huge difference in her well-being.

“It’s that sense of being out in the community and feeling like other people are in the struggle with you,” she says.

At my own newly remodeled Lake City branch of SPL, this sense of community is manifested everywhere. Teen services librarian Nancy Garrett runs the busiest Homework Help program in the city, with anywhere from 10 to 40 children showing up on weeknights for tutoring during the school year. ► parentmap.com • June 2019 • 17

feature Me

Add tabletop games to your family traditions!

20 an

nti

on

thi

%o

yg

am

e!

sa

df or

ff

Games to play in-house, games to take home, great food, beverages and fun for all ages

Let’s Go to the Library! continued from page 17 Beloved Lake City children’s librarian Nancy Pew (or Nancy P., as she’s known) greets young patrons by name, helps them choose books and oversees a range of creative events, from family story times to craft extravaganzas.

She’s also just as likely to be visiting a community event, daycare program or running a library stand at the weekly farmers market — always making connections with families to help make the library their own. “I hope that [community members] have a sense that this is their library,” says Pew. “I want people to express themselves.

I’m here to fill in the gaps.”

Originally from Mexico, Lake City community member Peggy Hernandez (disclosure: she’s a friend) has attended branch events with her husband and three children for years. She now works with Pew on creating culturally relevant events at the library, and is co-organizer of a community group called Lake City Collective, which uses library spaces to conduct its meetings.

Just ‘Dewey’ It: 12 Amazing Library Services to Check Out This Summer 3727 California Ave SW #2B • West Seattle • 206.535.7896 www.meeplesgames.com

Where can you learn a language, experiment with science, watch a movie, listen to an audiobook, watch an opera preview, snag an aquarium ticket, learn to use a 3-D printer and borrow a pass to go hiking in a state park?

If you’ve been studying up, you know the answer: your local library, of course!

Here are 12 services that will make your family’s summer even more fun. Find out more at parentmap.com/librarycool.

FR E E

READING PROGRAMS. The variety of summer programs offered by libraries — ranging from reading challenges to concerts to Minecraft classes to STEM fun — seems to increase every year. This year, while planned summer programs at a number of Puget Sound-area libraries have a space theme (“A Universe of Stories”) in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Seattle Public Library is pioneering a nature-focused summer reading theme of “Explore Your World,” in partnership with Woodland Park Zoo. Check your library’s website for details on its summer programs.

Be part of Summer Reading at Pierce County Library System

June 1 - Aug. 31

All AAges ges

BOOKS ON BIKES. You’ve heard about a bookmobile, but what about a bikemobile? This summer, three Seattle Public Library “Books on Bikes” trailers will offer a range of library services at outdoor locations.

AUDIOBOOKS. Cancel that Audible account and start using your library to stock your audiobook collection — every road-tripping family’s best friend.

The Libby app (libbyapp.com) makes accessing OverDrive’s huge library of audiobooks (overdrive.com) super simple.

ENTERTAINMENT. By using your library card to access services such as Hoopla (hoopladigital.com), Kanopy (kanopy.com) and OverDrive, you and your family can stream hundreds of movies, TV shows, documentaries, newsreels, e-books, comics and much more.

Pierce County Library System

18 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

piercecountylibrary.org 253-548-3300

FRESH BOOK PICKS. Want to help your kid push beyond “Captain Underpants” this summer? Fill out a Seattle Public Library “Your Next 5 Books” form (spl.org/programs-and-services) in five minutes and staff will send you a personalized list back. The King County Library System (KCLS) has a similar program called BookMatch (kcls.org/bookmatch). Or just ask a librarian! ►

She speaks eloquently about how important libraries are for immigrant and refugee families: “When you come from a different country, [the library] is your second home.”

Summer learning and co-creation In 1919, an enterprising children’s librarian in Seattle started the city’s first Vacation Reading Club. More than 400 children participated in the program, which involved reading 10 books from the reading club collections and giving an oral report on each to the children’s librarian — sometimes “with fear and trembling,” according to one account.

One hundred years later, the concept of the Vacation Reading Club has evolved right along with public libraries. In 2019, for example, SPL’s Summer of Learning will feature a theme called “Explore Your World!” Developed in partnership with continued on page 22 JOBS FOR TEENS. In addition to all kinds of cool teen programming, from book clubs to game nights, local libraries have volunteer opportunities for teens that can earn them work experience, community service hours and actual skills. Through the Seattle Public Library, for example, teens can sign up to be Learning Buddies or participate in service-learning projects; KCLS allows teens ages 15 and older to volunteer.

LANGUAGES. Why not learn another language this summer? Your library website can connect your family to Mango classes (mangolanguages.com), a personalized language learning platform called Pronunciator (pronunciator.com) and other resources. Multilingual story times also abound.

MUSEUMS. It’s easier than you think to reserve a museum pass at the library.

The Seattle Public Library offers passes to 16 venues (including the Seattle Aquarium and Woodland Park Zoo); through KCLS, you can check out tickets to eight attractions; and the Pierce County Library System offers passes to six South Sound attractions.

STEAM. Have a budding coder, comics artist, 3-D crafter or superhero fanatic at home? Libraries have been seriously upping their STEAM game in recent years. Ground zero is KCLS’s downtown Bellevue Library’s ideaX Makerspace; ideaX programs also rotate to other branch libraries.

The Digital Media Lab at the main branch of the Tacoma Public Library (tacomalibrary.org/digital-media-labs) has drop-in hours every afternoon.

The Pierce County Library System lets kids check out a Science to Go backpack; the system also owns 3-D printers that rotate between branches.

TRAILS. As part of a pilot program, Pierce County Library patrons can now check out a state park Discover Pass; you’ll also get a backpack bursting with natureexploration tools, such as binocs and field guides (piercecountylibrary.org).

WEB. Beyond using branch library computers for internet access (filtered for kids’ usage), you can use your Seattle Public Library card to “check out” a mobile hot spot.

ADULT EDUCATION. Who says that kids get all the fun? Check out your library’s schedule for opportunities to gain a new job skill, learn Chinese, track your genealogy or simply explore a new hobby.

parentmap.com • June 2019 • 19

june

SUNDAY

160511 Crossroads ParentMap Calendar ad f.pdf

1 5/12/16 3:46 PM MONDAY

TUESDAY

PICKS

COURTESY OF NORTHWEST TREK WILDLIFE PARK

Pride Parade and PrideFest, June 30

Slug Fest, June 22–23

Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival, June 8–9

Festival Sundiata, June 15–16

Fenders on Front Street, June 16

2

3

4

Pagdiriwang Festival. Celebrate Filipino culture, traditions and history through food, music and more. Saturday–Sunday, June 1–2. FREE. Seattle Center Armory. festalpagdiriwang.com Maritime Gig Festival. Grand parade, family fun run, music, classic yachts, car show, kids’ activities and more seaside fun.

Saturday–Sunday, June 1–2. FREE. Skansie Brothers Park, Gig Harbor. gigharborchamber.net

Ducklings and Downdogs. Family yoga and nature walk promote caring for ourselves and our community. 9:30 a.m. $0–$10; sliding scale. Ages 3–6 with families. Adriana Hess Wetland Park, University Place. beyogawild.com Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist Program. Explore tidal life at area beaches on low-tide days. Today’s program 10 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. FREE. Multiple Puget Sound beaches; check website for locations and dates. seattleaquarium.org/beach-naturalist

Toddler Weekdays at Remlinger Farms.

Perfect time to visit with the littles to enjoy the smaller rides and visit the farm animals.

Weekdays through June 19, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. $10. Carnation. remlingerfarms.com Green Lake Summer Bat Walk. Take a hike at night (bring your own head lamp or flashlight) and learn all about Seattle’s resident bats. 8 p.m. FREE. Green Lake Park, Seattle. batsnorthwest.org

9

10

11

Free Fishing Weekend. Reel them in with no fishing license required in Washington this weekend. Saturday–Sunday, June 8–9; other rules apply. wdfw.wa.gov Maple Valley Days. Enjoy this community festival with food trucks, carnival rides, live entertainment, arts and crafts activities, a parade (Saturday) and more. Friday–Sunday, June 7–9. FREE entry; some activities have fee. Lake Wilderness Park, Maple Valley. maplevalleydays.com

Magic Monday. Local magicians perform in the cozy quarters of the bookstore. 7–8 p.m. FREE. Third Place Books – Ravenna, Seattle. thirdplacebooks.com Marysville Strawberry Festival. The carnival opens today for this community fest that includes a talent show (Thursday), parades (Saturday) and a shortcake-eating contest (Saturday). Through June 16. FREE. Marysville. maryfest.org

Reading With Rover. Young readers gain confidence reading aloud to gentle therapy dogs. 6–7 p.m. FREE. Ages 5–10 with adult.

King County Library, Renton Branch. readingwithrover.org Community Carnival and Fundraiser.

Turn up for carnival games for the preschool crowd, a bake sale, a circus sensory table and more. 10 a.m.–noon. FREE entry; items for purchase. Eastgate Cooperative Preschool, Bellevue. eastgatecooperativepreschool.org

16

17

18

Fenders on Front Street. Lots of dads are car guys — bring yours to admire vintage cars, listen to music and enjoy family activities. 8 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE. Issaquah. fendersonfrontstreet.com Free Train Rides for Dads. Treat your dad to a scenic train excursion. Saturday–Sunday, June 15–16. $10–$20; ages 2 and under and dads free with paying child. Northwest Railway Museum, Snoqualmie. trainmuseum.org

Shake, Rattle & Roar. Bring your tot to this wild dance party with music and shakers of all kinds. 11:30 a.m. daily through summer. Included with admission.

Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle. zoo.org Knight Skies Show. Learn about science in medieval times. 7–8 p.m. FREE. Ages 5 and up. King County Library, Shoreline Branch. kcls.org

Tacoma Spraygrounds Open. Kids won’t care if it’s a June-uary day; they want to play in the water! Daily through Sept. 5, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Multiple Tacoma locations.

FREE. metroparkstacoma.org Pokémon League Night. Learn and practice your battle and playing skills; all skill levels welcome. Tuesdays, 5–7 p.m. through June 25. FREE. Top Ten Toys, Seattle. toptentoys.com

23

24

25

Fairyfest. Enjoy Celtic music, dancing and the search for 60 fairy houses. Friday– Sunday, June 21–23. $7–$9; ages 11 and under free. Lakewold Gardens, Lakewood. lakewoldgardens.org

30 Pride Parade and PrideFest. Celebrate LGBTQ families with a joyous parade and Seattle Center festival. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. FREE. Parade starts at Fourth Ave. and Union Street, Seattle. seattlepridefest.org

20 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

Colman Pool Public Swim. Take a dip in Seattle’s most scenic outdoor pool; corkscrew slide open. Daily June 22–Sept.

2, 1:45–4:45 p.m. $4–$6 ($1 extra for slide); under age 1 free. Colman Pool, West Seattle. seattle.gov/parks/aquatics Hoppy Hour. Escape the heat and enjoy bounce time for energetic kids at a discounted rate. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. $7–$12. Elevated Sportz Trampoline Park, Bothell. elevatedsportz.com

Kids Day! Kick off summer with a day of kid-focused fun: obstacle course, inflatables, face painting, instrument petting zoo, mini golf and more. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE; some activities have fee. Les Gove Park, Auburn. auburnwa.gov Summer Sounds at Skansie. Enjoy free live music in the park on the first night of this summer series. Tuesdays through Aug. 13, 6:30–8 p.m. FREE. Skansie Brothers Park, Gig Harbor. cityofgigharbor.net

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY Power of Produce Club, June 6, 13, 20 and 27

Loads more family fun activities at parentmap.com/ calendar

SATURDAY 1 State Parks FREE Day. Explore a scenic state park with no Discover Pass required to park. June 1, 8, 9. discoverpass.wa.gov Duvall Days. Parade and fun fest includes bouncy houses, dinosaurs, live music and more. Saturday–Sunday, June 1–2. FREE. Main St., Duvall. duvalldays.org Go, Dog, Go! Last weekend to experience this beloved story on stage! Through Sunday, June 2. $15–$20. Olympia Family Theater. olyft.org

Olympic Air Show, June 15–16

7

8

Let’s Play: Aesop’s Fables. Live theater designed just for the preschool crowd. June 5–9, 10 a.m. $5. Ages 0–5 with caregiver.

Olympia Family Theater. olyft.org Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America. Family-friendly interactive exhibit for sports fans of all ages and types.

Through June 16. Included with admission.

White River Valley Museum, Auburn. wrvm.org

Nordic Stories. Listen to a story from a Nordic country and dig into a craft. 10 a.m. FREE. Ages 2–6 with caregiver. Nordic Museum, Seattle. nordicmuseum.org Vashon Sheepdog Classic. Watch skilled, focused pups working hard to direct sheep traffic. Thursday–Sunday, June 6–9. $15; ages 10 and under free. Misty Isle Farms, Vashon. vashonsheepdogclassic.com

Peter Pan. Who says we have to grow up?

Catch this classic fairy tale brought to life on stage. Through June 16. $15–$17. Ages 5 and up. Studio East Mainstage Theater, Kirkland. studio-east.org First Friday Night at HOCM. This month’s theme is Safety First; learn about first aid and become an emergency preparedness expert. 5–9 p.m. First two family members FREE; $2 for each additional. Ages 0–10 with families. Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia. hocm.org

Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival.

Pedal heads and newbies alike will enjoy bike shows, demos, skill clinics and more at Duthie Hill Park. Saturday–Sunday, June 8–9. $40; ages 10 and under free. Issaquah. evergreenmtb.org Lake to Lake Bike Ride. Explore Bellevue’s beautiful scenery on a short or long family ride. 9 a.m. Special kids’ ride for ages 8 and under starts at 12:15 p.m. $20; ages 8 and under free. Robinswood Community Park, Bellevue. parks.bellevuewa.gov

12

13

14

15

Baby- and Sensory-Friendly Movie Screenings. Current movies presented in a sensory-friendly environment. Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. $8. The Grand Cinema, Tacoma. grandcinema.com Drop-In Play Group. Meet other families while kiddos play, read, sing and have snacks (bring some to share if you like).

Wednesdays, Fridays; 10:30 a.m.–noon.

FREE. Ages 0–5 with adult. FamilyWorks Resource Center, Seattle. familyworksseattle.org

Live Animal Show. “Sheruff” Bones entertains and educates about environmental sustainability with a cast of animal and human co-stars. Weekdays at noon; weekends at noon and 3:30 p.m. Included with admission. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma. pdza.org Tugboat Story Time. Climb aboard a historic tug for exciting stories of the sea. 11 a.m.–noon. FREE. Ages 2–5 with caregiver.

Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle. cwb.org

Garden Tots. Drop in for themed nature arts, crafts and activities. Fridays through August, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. $10 per family. Ages 3–7 with adult. Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, Shoreline. kruckeberg.org Mamma Mia! Auburn Community Players presents this hilarious show told through ABBA’s hits. Fridays–Sundays, May 31–June 16. $14–$22. Auburn Ave Theater. auburnwa.gov

Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest. Live music and dance, activities, workshops, food and more showcase African-American culture and its roots.

Saturday–Sunday, June 15–16. FREE. Seattle Center. festivalsundiata.org Olympic Air Show. Tons of excitement in the skies, including a UH-1H Huey helicopter and the West Coast Ravens demo team.

Saturday–Sunday, June 15–16. $15–$20; ages 6 and under free. Olympia Regional Airport, Tumwater. facebook.com/olympicairshow

19

20

21

22

Museum Fun Days: Summer Kickoff! Enjoy outdoor arts, crafts and activities while kicking off the summer season! Wednesday–Monday, June 19–25. Pay-as-you-will admission. Children’s Museum of Tacoma. playtacoma.org Kitty Literature. Call ahead for your child to practice reading with shelter cats; 20-minute sessions. Monday–Friday. FREE. Ages 5–10. Seattle Humane, Bellevue. seattlehumane.org

Summer Cruise-In. Car show, music, food and more to kick off summer family fun.

4–7:30 p.m. FREE. Les Gove Park, Auburn. auburnwa.gov Music at the Marina. Soul artist DoctorfunK kicks off this free summer series; get food truck fare for a picnic. Thursdays, through Aug. 29, 6:30–8:30 p.m. FREE. Port Gardner Landing, Everett. everettwa.gov

Make Music Day. It’s an all-comers jam session with live performances at many spots around Seattle and the Eastside.

Check website for times and locations.

FREE. makemusicday.org/seattle Taste of Tacoma. Bring your appetite for tasty creations and live music, plus a family fun zone and carnival rides. Friday–Sunday, June 21–23. Free entry; food and activities for purchase. Point Defiance Park, Tacoma. tasteoftacoma.com

Slug Fest. Celebrate our slimy, silly, slowmoving Northwest co-habitants with games and crafts. Saturday–Sunday, June 22–23, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Included with admission. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Eatonville. nwtrek.org Fremont Fair. Anything goes at this centerof-the-universe party featuring live music, kids’ activities, a dog parade (Sunday, 2:30 p.m.) and the memorable Solstice Parade (Saturday, 1 p.m.) Saturday–Sunday, June 22–23. FREE. Fremont neighborhood, Seattle. fremontfair.com

26

27

28

29

Family Fun Fridays at ‘Pop’ Mounger Pool.

Every Friday during summer bring the entire fam for a special night of games, fun and prizes. This week’s theme is Stars and Stripes.

Through Sept. 6, 5:30–7:30 p.m. $4–6; under 1 free. Mounger Pool, Seattle. seattle.gov Summer Story Time at the Cabin. Starting today, meet up at this historic cabin site for pioneer-themed stories and crafts.

Fridays, 11 a.m.–noon through Aug. 30. Payas-you-will. Ages 3–9 with families. Job Carr Cabin Museum, Tacoma. jobcarrmuseum.org

Burien’s Great Day of Play. Fun activities, games and demos for the whole family; free bike helmets for children ages 1–18 (must be present). 10 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE. Moshier Community Art Center, Burien. burienwa.gov Arts in Nature Festival. Head to an in-city nature oasis for this interactive music and arts fest for families, newly free this year.

Saturday–Sunday, June 29–30. FREE. Camp Long, Seattle. dnda.org/festival

5

Conservatory Story Hour. Cozy up among the plants for stories and crafts.

11 a.m.–noon. $3 suggested donation. Ages 3–8 with adult. W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, Tacoma. seymourconservatory.org LEGO Club. They provide the blocks, you bring the creativity! Wednesdays, 1:30–3 p.m. FREE. King County Library, Bellevue Branch. kcls.org

6

MaST Center Discovery Days. Get up close and personal with fascinating marine critters. Thursdays, 4–7 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE. MaST Center, Des Moines. mast.highline.edu Power of Produce Club. Kids, take your adults to the Bellevue Farmers Market and try new foods. Earn market credit competing in health challenges. Thursdays, 3–7 p.m. FREE. Ages 3–12. Bellevue Presbyterian Church. bellevuefarmersmarket.org

parentmap.com • June 2019 • 21

feature

Let’s Go to the Library! continued from page 19 To strengthen the fathers’ role in raising children with behavioral health needs through education, peer support and advocacy.

FD15_careworks_1-16.indd 1

6/1/15

Woodland Park Zoo, the program will offer a variety of events and hands-on activities all over the city, from fossil-sorting programs to interactive music events to opportunities for older kids to participate in actual citizen science.

And though there will still be a “reading action guide” with challenges, this year, Seattle kids don’t need to do anything to “earn” a free book. Seattle children’s librarians, explains the Northgate branch library’s Claire Scott, are focused on getting free books in the hands of kids who most need them, as early as possible.

“This way we can make sure that as many kids as possible have a book of their choice to read over the summer months — something that has been proven to 10:14 PM decrease ‘summer slide’ and create positive academic and literacy outcomes for

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

6 Super Kids’ Books That Star a Library Kid lit is rich with stories in which public libraries play a central role. Here are a few reads suggested by KCLS’s BookMatch and the Seattle Public Library’s Your Next 5 Books programs.

dadsmove.org

A Bainbridge Island Experience marshallsuites.com

BE CURIOUS.

9_dadsmove_1-8v.indd 1

5/16/19 0619_marshall_suites_1-16.indd 9:08 AM 1

5/18/19 1:24 PM

LOOK UP.

Curiosity expands at PacSci’s planetarium. Six interactive shows every day. pacsci.org/planetarium

“Lola at the Library” by Anna McQuinn Are you just starting to make library visits a part of your family routine? Try this sweet and nostalgic picture book about Lola’s weekly library visit with her mother, which covers story time, checking out books and more.

“Ron’s Big Mission” by Rose Blue and Corinne Naden Libraries weren’t always at the front lines of equity. This book chronicles the true story of 9-year-old Ron McNair, whose insistence on being able to check out books at his South Carolina library helped drive desegregation of the system. Cool postscript: He grew up to become an astronaut.

“Matilda” by Roald Dahl Dahl’s sweetly subversive story of the girl who defies her TV-addicted parents and overthrows a tyrannical school headmistress is also a love letter to libraries, where Matilda finds the ultimate escape in reading.

“Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” by Chris Grabenstein In this thrilling tale for middle-grade readers, a billionaire game maker invites a dozen 12-year-olds to a lock-in at a super-cool library. How will they get out? Let’s just say the Dewey Decimal System plays a role.

“Library on Wheels” by Sharlee Mullins Glenn Peer into the history of public libraries with this engaging account of a Maryland librarian who came up with the idea of a horse-drawn book wagon to bring reading material to her county’s rural residents.

“The Story Collector” by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb The New York Public Library is the setting of a mystery novel about an 11-year-old girl named Vivian, who’s determined to find out if the library is haunted.

“The Library Book” by Susan Orlean This one is a bonus pick for grown-ups: New Yorker writer Orlean takes a fascinating deep dive into the history of the Los Angeles Public Library (and of libraries in general) and the mystery of the devastating fire that almost destroyed it in 1986.

Mark Your Calendars!

Rocket Launch Day: July 16 – part of the Global Rocket Launch Look for more Summer of Space events and activities soon!

22 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

WILL AUSTIN

AMY TWITO

students,” she wrote in an email.

In Scott’s case, this means that in addition to her work in the library building itself, she’ll be handing out books at parks, Northgate Mall and other places where Northgate-area kids hang out. “When we think about our library patrons, well, the library belongs to everybody in a community, right? Not just to the people who can make it to the library during our open hours.”

This concept of universal access to literacy and related services through public libraries can also mean inviting community members to help create culturally relevant programs and materials. Scott cites an example of a group of Somali families that worked with SPL staff (and other organizations) to write and publish the group’s own alphabet book and bilingual counting book.

The books are now published and “available not just for our families, but also for families all over the United States,” says Scott.

This process of “co-creation,” as she calls it, engendered a sense of ownership among the Somali families that was invaluable. “It’s a really huge part of the conversation about equity.”

Back at the Bellevue Library’s ideaX Makerspace, staff librarian Ian Chapman echoes a theme of co-creation.

At regular Makerspace events, such as a Friday creativity lab, robotics sessions or an upcycling workshop like the one I attended, kids and adults are always learning from each other.

“There’s almost an exponential learning curve from getting a different person’s viewpoint,” he says.

And Chapman is always learning, too. “We try to be a space where the community provides information,” he says. “In this world, there’s no way we have all the answers.” ■ Elisa Murray is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor of the guidebook “52 Seattle Adventures With Kids” (parentmap.com/52adventures).

parentmap.com • June 2019 • 23

C A M P S , A RT S + A C T I V I T I E S ®

Type Faster, Fast.

www.KEYTIME.com Since 1987

匀唀 䴀

Touch-typing Classes

䴀 䘀漀 䔀刀 䌀䄀 爀 䄀 䴀 ㈀⸀㔀 最攀猀 倀匀 ⴀ㠀

All ages and abilities Individuals • Groups • Private

Innovative, quick and easy Qwerty • Dvorak • Single-handed Vital for effective keyboarding!

一漀眀 䔀渀爀漀샶椀渀最 昀漀爀 䘀愀샶 倀爀攀猀挀栀栀氀 ☀ 倀爀攀ⴀ䬀 倀爀漀最爀愀洀猀 眀眀眀⸀爀漀愀爀椀渀最洀漀甀猀攀⸀漀爀最

9_roaring_mouse_1-16.indd 1

Summer Classes

Nurturing Baby • Hip Hop • Ballet Creative Dance • Parent-Child • Modern

Multi-Arts Summer Camps • Global Dance • Art in Motion • Ballet Stories • EnviroDance • Stories in Motion

creativedance.org

Summer Music Day Camp

5/13/19 11:38 PM

0619_creative_dance_1-16.indd 1

5/13/19 9:50 PM

with

SEATTLE GIRLS CHOIR Full Day Camp • July 22-26 for girls entering grade 2-5

Musical Morning • July 15-19 or July 22-26 Enrolling for Summer Session classes (ages 2+) & Summer Circus Camps (ages 6+)

www.sancaseattle.org 206-652-4433

5#0%# KU C E PQPRTQƒV

Spend your summer at Online Registration Available!

SAMENA!

Summer Camps •• Summer Camps ForAge Ages3-15 3-15 For

Swim Lessons •• Swim Lessons • Preschool www.samena.com (425) 746-1160

•• Before After Care Fitness&Classes •• Fitness 3 PoolsClasses for hours

family fun • 3ofPools for hours of family fun

15231 Lake Hills Blvd. Bellevue 98007 24 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

Join today!

for girls and boys ages 4-6

sea attlegirlschoir.o org

ages+ +about stages out

TEAM READ, DUNLAP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL / PHOTO BY LISA MERRILL

TEAM READ, LESCHI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL / PHOTO BY LISA BONTJE

9 Destination Libraries for a Summer Day Trip Central Library, Seattle Public Library

By JiaYing Grygiel and Elisa Murray

N

o money for travel this summer? Turn your library card into a passport and take your little bookworms for a day trip to one of our region’s destination libraries instead. Find the one that’s shaped like a boat, the one with a working fireplace and the one with a view of Puget Sound. Browse books and artwork, stop in for a story time or summer reading event, and then explore the neighborhood.

Renovated and open for book business: Lake City Branch, Seattle Public Library Remodeled in the fall of 2018, Seattle’s beloved Lake City branch reopened in January to community acclaim: The renovated space is larger, lighter and brighter, with flexible meeting spaces to house events such as its popular Homework Help sessions and story times. A playtime plus: Magna-Tiles in the kids’ area.

PLAY BONUS: After hitting the farmers market (Thursdays, 3–7 p.m.; look for the library’s craft stand), either picnic at the park on the premises or hoof it a half-mile to Virgil Flaim Park, with its new skate spot and playground.

Boat-inspired book paradise: Beacon Hill Branch, Seattle Public Library This branch is known for welcoming everyone,

especially the immigrants and refugees who live in the diverse Beacon Hill neighborhood, and the architecture of the building echoes that warmth. The library is shaped like a giant ship, and stepping inside is like walking into the belly of an overturned boat. Wood and stone materials keep the vibe cozy, and big windows flood the interior with light.

PLAY BONUS: Arrive at the library by Link light rail; there’s a stop just across the street from the branch. Refuel with sweet snacks at Despi Delite Bakery (despidelitebakery.com); also, there are epic play structures at Jefferson Park, less than a mile south of the library.

Showstopping icon: Central Library, Seattle Public Library The Central Library, which opened in 2004 to a collective gasp from the architecture community, is the iconic heart of the Seattle library system. The hot-pink children’s section is so vast, it’s practically like its own branch. But don’t stop there: Take the elevator up to the 10th floor to find a dizzying lookout point; from there, you can peer all the way down to the lobby. On the fourth floor, the walls, ceilings and floors are all painted in trippy shades of deep pink and red.

PLAY BONUS: Two blocks from the library is

Columbia Center, where you can get a 360-degree view of the city from the Sky View Observatory (skyviewobservatory.com) on the 73rd floor. Or get off at the 40th floor and enjoy the (free) view from Starbucks.

Maker Mecca: Downtown Bellevue Library, King County Library System The biggest library in the King County Library System, the Bellevue branch is a modern, three-story building with a grand staircase, skylights and big windows. The children’s section is located in its own large space on the third floor; look for the giant sign and fun murals.

The biggest news at this branch, though, is the ideaX Makerspace (kcls.org/makerspace), a 1-year-old, stateof-the-art creative lab outfitted with a 3-D printer, a laser cutter, art kits, sewing machines, a Cricut cutting machine, sound-recording equipment and more. This summer, the Makerspace will have expanded drop-in hours and cool events ranging from a global rocket challenge to a cardboard creation extravaganza. Check the library schedule.

PLAY BONUS: It’s easy to pair a visit to the Bellevue Library with playtime at KidsQuest Children’s Museum (kidsquestmuseum.org), located next door.

But be warned that the library’s large parking lot is for patrons only. ► parentmap.com • June 2019 • 25

CAMPS, ARTS + ACTIVITIES NOW ENROLLING!

DUSTY STRINGS

YOUNG MUSICIANS

WORKSHOP

ONE WEEK SUMMER CAMPS

Seattle Rhythmic Gymnastics

GUITAR,UKULELE, FIDDLE, BLUEGRASS

Programs for 2 years old and up

JUNE 24 - JULY 19

info@seattlerhythmic.com 206-251-1779 www.seattlerhythmic.com

All levels, ages 7-14 $295 per camp. Register by June 1st and save $50!

Dusty Strings Music School 3406 Fremont Ave N, Seattle (206) 634-1662 • dustystrings.com

Lesson site : 12351 8th Ave NE Seattle WA

9_seattle_rhythmic_1-16.indd 1

Get our go-to guide to 3/6/19 0619_dusty_strings_1-16.indd 3:25 PM 1

Seattle family fun!

5/1/19

Get your copy! ParentMap.com/52adventures

Outdoor Painting Projects That Amp the Art in STEAM STEAM activities are a great way to keep in the habit of thinking, creating and exploring during summer break. Now that warmer weather is finally here, you can take your projects outside, where the kids can make big(ger) messes, and clean-up is as simple as turning on your garden hose.

Here are three messy-fun art projects to help stimulate summer learning: Get into the swing of things with pendulum painting. If you’ve got a large patch of bare driveway, this is the perfect project. With a basic setup that even the most clueless parent can copy, your kids will create mesmerizing swirls, loops and splatters of color while exploring the physics of pendulums. The how-to includes a simple recipe for washable sidewalk paint.

Drop a gravity bomb. Kids love learning about that mysterious thing called gravity, and what better way to teach them than by letting them see it in action? Have the kids stand on a small step ladder or stool for splat art, dropping paint-soaked pom poms down onto a roll of butcher paper, or deposit paint at the top of a mounted canvas with pipettes or spoons and watch it drip down.

Make like a volcano and erupt art. Introduce your kids to this vibrant spin on the old “Mentos and soda” explosion trick to create an eruption of color on canvas. Part of what’s cool about this activity is its unpredictability — you don’t know how your eruptions are going to spread out on the canvas, and the possibilities of what you could do with the resulting abstract shapes after they dry are endless.

Find tips to get started and discover five more messy en plein air art projects that will keep their mental wheels greased all summer long at parentmap.com/messyart.

—Sarah Bradley

26 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

out + about

Destination Libraries continued from page 25

A river runs through it: Renton Library, King County Library System The most distinctive feature of the King County Library System’s Renton branch is that it’s built over the Cedar River. The library rests on 12 giant columns on an 80-foot bridge.

You can sit by the floor-to-ceiling windows with a book and watch the mallards paddling in the river. Stop by the library during Renton River Days (rentonriverdays.org) in July to watch rubber ducks float downstream, and in early fall to see salmon making their annual migration. Popular events include a Spanish story time (“¡Hora de cuentos!”) every Tuesday from 10:30–11 a.m., led by Xiomara Melgar.

PLAY BONUS: The library sits on the edge of Liberty Park, which has a playground, 2:51 PM baseball field and skate park. Or bring your bikes for a spin along the Cedar River Trail.

A lodge of a library: Sammamish Library, King County Library System Find a book and settle into a comfy seat by the fireplace. You might feel like you are at a fancy lodge — one that happens to be stuffed with books. The Sammamish Library is modern, light and bright, with walls of windows and, yes, a glass-enclosed gas fireplace.

The children’s area is partially corralled by a row of bookcases — helpful if your children tend to be escape artists.

PLAY BONUS: Pack your swim stuff. Next door to the library is a YMCA with a family swimming pool that boasts a two-story waterslide, lazy river and a shallow wading area. The library also abuts a 25-acre, two-level park called Sammamish Commons, which includes a skate park, playground, swings, sand pit and spray park.

Read by the sea: Richmond Beach Library, King County Library System Set in a Shoreline park with views of Puget Sound, not far from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, this cozy library can be the first stop in a day of exploring this lovely beach community. Browse the shelves at the library, lunch in the park with a view and then head down to the beach to climb on the driftwood or explore the ship-themed playground in the upper area of the park.

PLAY BONUS: On the weekends, stop by Kruckeberg Botanic Garden (kruckeberg.org) to shop for plants, explore the trails and let the kids climb a unique wooden sculpture.

Berry good reading: Tacoma Public Library, Fern Hill Branch While Tacoma Public Library’s downtown flagship library — which earned a flurry of press earlier this year when Michelle Obama stopped by to chat with a local book club — is worth a visit if you happen to be downtown, this branch library has its own appeal.

Located on Tacoma’s east side in the charming Fern Hill neighborhood, the branch boasts a robust and colorful children’s section, with wooden toys and a dollhouse.

PLAY BONUS: Eat lunch at nearby farm-to-table restaurant Tibbitts@FernHill (tibbittsatfernhill.com) or explore Charlotte’s Blueberry Park, slated to get a new playground this summer.

Go green: University Place Branch, Pierce County Library System Opened in 2011, this LEED Silver-certified library is spacious and modern, with large windows to allow in natural light. In addition to the kids’ play area, there’s a teen zone, a video-editing station, and a job and business center, where parents can brush up their résumés while the kids are exploring.

PLAY BONUS: Head to nearby Chambers Creek Regional Park. It has 2 miles of shoreline, winding trails and the exceptional Playground by the Sound, with sweeping views of the water and mountains. ■ JiaYing Grygiel and Elisa Murray are frequent contributors to ParentMap.

C A M P S , A RT S + A C T I V I T I E S CAMPS

MOre VALUE Y moRE VariET MOrE FUN

Boys and girls grades 4-8, beginner to intermediate players • April 8-12 at Ballard Boys & Girls Club, SPRING BREAK • July 1-3 at Ballard Boys & Girls Club • July 12-15 at Lynnwood Academy Sports Center • July 22-25 at Assumption St Bridget • August 26-30 at Ballard Boys & Girls Club

Camps 9am-3pm • Register: hoopaholics.com

TIME

GO

9_ballard_girls_basketball_1-16.indd 1

GO TIME ATHLETICS 5/16/19 SUMMER CAMPS

3/13/19 0619_ulearn_edmonds_1-16.indd 3:13 PM 1

12:05 PM

Multi-sport Camp from 9am-3pm (after care available!)

Nature based programs in the Edmonds area for ages 4 to 18

QuietHeart.org

Specific Training Camp Sessions for Baseball, Softball, and Soccer coached by Go Time’s Elite Coaches REGISTER NOW!

gotimeathletics.com/camps Go Time Athletics | 661 Orcas Street Seattle, WA 98108 info@gotimeathletics.com | 206-767-4483

SNAP Go Time Ad.indd 1

9_quiet_heart_1-16.indd 1

5/16/19 5:43 PM

5/13/19 0619_go_time_athletics_1-16.indd 10:10 PM 1

5/16/19 6:10 PM

Summer Camps Science | Nature | Art | Play

Half days of learning & fun for ages 6-10

July 8 - August 23 in Kenmore

SUMmeR

DAY CaMPS

ReGIstEr nOW!

Registration for Bellevue Parks & Community Services’ summer day camps is now underway!

Don’t miss out on a summer packed with fun, adventure, variety, and value.

Visit Parks.BellevueWA.gov/Camps to find your fun this summer!

summer 2019 camps & classes

425-452-6885 |

Parks.BellevueWA.gov

grades K - 12

Register Today!

eastsidecatholic.org/summer parentmap.com • June 2019 • 27

C A M P S , A RT S + A C T I V I T I E S Red Gate Farm

Traditional Summer Camp

An Equestrian Training Center in the heart of Sammamish, Washington.

Summer Day Camp AGES 6-12

Camps for ages 3 – 11

June 17 – August 23

• Excellent Leadership • Small Living Groups •13, 19 & 21 Day Sessions • ACA Accredited • Riding • Arts & Crafts • Sailing • Swimming • More!

(425) 330-2974 • hvc-wa.com hiddenvalleycamp@earthlink.net

3 – 14 years old Learning & Enrichment Outdoor Education Performing Arts Fine Arts Sports Day Camps m

)DUP DQG )RUHVW .LQGHUJDUWHQQ GD\V ZHHN IR $JHV12/3/18 GD\V ZHHN IRU $JHV

0119_hidden_valley_1-16.indd 1

Jump into dancing this summer!

SUMMER CAMPS 2019

Counselors 12 and over

Weekly Summer Horse Camp Sessions June, July and August

June 24-29 Summer Dance Party July 8-12 Fairytale Wonderland July 22-26 Mystery at Dance Camp July 29-August 2 Dance Extreme August 5-9 Dancing Through the Decades

www.gttadance.com • 425-861-5454

SM19_gotta_dance_1-16.indd 4:16 PM 1

Register today for a $25 Discount!

redgatefarmdaycamp.com Training

Lessons

Leasing

Sales

Jamie Smith - Trainer/Owner (425) 392-0111

1/18/19 4:06 PM

Summer Camp Central The best Seattle-area camps and activities.

6XPPHU &DPSV WRR

Find registration information online: www.evergreenschool.org

ZZZ WKHDVKODUZD\ FRP

ParentMap.com/camps

Are you a girl, or parent of a girl, age 10-14?

Frog Prints e! in partnership with The Center for Wooden Boats is oering a Summer camp for girls.

In our camp, girls learn about oceanography, sailing, and how the forces of wind & water aect the design, and steering of a sailboat or an underwater robot. Most of all, they have fun doing hands-on experiments while recording their robot’s adventures underwater!

ProjectFUN Summer Workshops are filling fast!

Let your K-12 student explore video game development, fine arts and animation, engineering, and music and sound design with DigiPen’s ProjectFUN youth programs in Redmond, WA.

SUMMER CAMP

August 12 – 23

Visit us at www.frogprintse.org to ďŹ nd out more information about the camp and to register!

Summer Camp is $970 • Financial aid is available

Register today at: projectfun.digipen.edu/summer-programs 28 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

Additional camp information can also be found at: cwb.org/classes/stem-for-girls and virginiav.org/camps-and-classes

ages + stages

Reading Off the Page!

3–18

An age-by-age guide to summer reading adventures

By Gemma Alexander

W

orried about the summer slide? Bring summer reading to adventurous life beyond the page with ideas and activities that will keep the kids engaged all through the dog days. Chances are good that you’ve already got plans for some of these iconic summer adventures anyway, so get your kids psyched for fun and keep them reading at the same time with these summertime stories.

Escape the city to hike and camp The Pacific Northwest is nature’s playground, and in the summer we all want to get out among the trees. Our styles vary from gentle walks at Carkeek Park or Schmitz Preserve Park (both within latte range) to primitive hike-in

S C H O O L S

+

camping at a natural hot spring, like Goldmyer. Either way, a little fantasizing (with a good book) about living closer to the land is in order. “The Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss is a classic example, but if the dated grammar and morality lessons are too much of a hard sell for your kids, try these contemporary stories instead.

PICTURE BOOKS “Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?” by Carmela LaVigna Coyle is the first in a series of beloved books that reassure even the most precious princess that hiking, camping and rowdy outdoor activities are perfectly in keeping with a refined young lady’s decorum. In author Anne Rockwell’s “Hiking Day,”

P R E S C H O O L S Unique outdoor spaces Music Program Before and Aftercare

Experienced Teachers Play-based 12-month program DSHS accepted

Now Enrolling for Fall Ages 3-5 9450 22nd Ave SW Seattle, WA 98106

ph: 206-763-2081 www.cswsplay.org

parentmap.com • June 2019 • 29

S C H O O L S

+

P R E S C H O O L S Learn.

Grow.

Become.

Woodinville Montessori School

The only Bilingual Catholic School in the Greater Seattle area

Schedule a Campus Tour Today!

• Year round full day Preschool and PreK • Spanish Language immersion • PE, music, art and science • Affordable tuition

TourSCS.org

ENROLLING NOW

EL | MS | HS COLLEGE PREP

TODDLER-HIGH SCHOOL

BOTHELL & WOODINVILLE

Now Enrolling Apply Today Everyone is Welcome!

206.364.7777 | office@shorelinechristian.org

holyfamilybilingual.org

Easy access to I-5 and Lake City Way, no matter where you commute!

0619_holy_family_bilingual_1-16.indd 1

www.woodinvillemontessori.org

5/16/19 0619_woodinville_montessori_1-16.indd 4:54 PM 1

5/13/19 11:54 PM

Daily Support Card

PRESCHOOL — ELEMENTARY — MIDDLE SCHOOL — HIGH SCHOOL

901 Lenora Street, Seattle

The must-have adventure guide for Puget Sound families!

0619_shoreline_christian_1-4.indd 1

5/16/19 11:56 AM 0615_morningside_academy_1-8h.indd 1

Get your copy! ParentMap.com/52adventures 30 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

4/20/15 8:47 PM

ages + stages Reading Off the Page!

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

continued from page 29 a young girl goes on her first family hiking trip up a nearby mountain and makes wonderful discoveries, such as toads and berries. “Backpack Explorer” (by the editors of Storey Publishing) is a take-along field guide that encourages young explorers to look and listen wherever they roam.

MIDDLE GRADE Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s middle-grade books are powerful at any age. After their family disintegrates through death and divorce in “Halfway to the Sky,” 12-year-old Dani and her mother hike the Appalachian Trail together. Jean Craighead George has written a genre’s worth of books about youth living off the land alone. Try “Tree Castle Island,” about a boy’s solo summer in the Okefenokee Swamp, or if the heat gets to be too much, escape to the Arctic with “Julie of the Wolves.” Gary Paulsen also specializes in middle-grade wilderness survival stories.

The best of them is Newbery honoree “Hatchet,” the first of five books about a 13-year-old’s adventures surviving in the Canadian wilderness. For a dose of practical naturalism, the “Curious Kids Nature Guide”

by Fiona Cohen is full of facts about the Pacific Northwest environment, organized by habitat — forest, beach, backyards and others.

YOUNG ADULT Convincing teens to break their Snapchat streaks and go off-grid with the fam can be a challenge. In “The Other Side of Lost” by Jessi Kirby, social media influencer Mari realizes her whole life is for show. She sets out on the John Muir Trail to learn how to live for real. Your teen may not listen to you when you say that time in the wilderness builds character, but they might listen to a best-selling author whose memoir was adapted into a hit movie. Cheryl Strayed was 26 when she hiked 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone, but make no mistake, “Wild” is her coming-of-age story. The “Distance From Me to You” by Marina Gessner ups the drama with romance on the trail, animal encounters and the terror of getting lost. Finally, if you can’t make mountaineering fun, you can at least make it funny: “The Ascent of Rum Doodle” by W.E. Bowman is both a parody of and a classic within the mountaineering genre.

Learning Academy PRESCHOOL Low Ratios & Small Classes Highly Qualified Teachers Integrated Technology Nutrition & Active Lifestyle Education OPEN TO EVERYONE. NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED.

Enjoy nature’s bounty with berry picking and gardening The bounty of a Pacific Northwest summer makes up for the many months of rain. A small backyard garden can yield a lot of produce, and studies have shown that kids are more likely to try vegetables they’ve had a hand in growing. Even if you have a black thumb, our region is blessed with U-pick farms offering every berry you’ve ever craved and a few you might not have

Learn more at proclub.com or call (425) 861-6247 | Bellevue, WA parentmap.com • June 2019 • 31

ages + stages Reading Off the Page! continued from page 31 heard of. Arlington’s Biringer Farm (biringerfarm.com) is a longtime family favorite, but don’t overlook the other options. Remlinger Farms (remlingerfarms.com), in Carnation, pairs berry picking with a family fun park, while Henna Blueberry Farm (hennablueberryfarm.com), in Fall City, is a likely place for spotting wildlife. Whether you just want an afternoon in the berry fields or you’re trying to grow a gardener this summer, consider these books your green allies.

PICTURE BOOKS For berry-picking adventures, you can’t do better than Robert McCloskey’s classic “Blueberries for Sal.” This simple story of mothers and children — both human and ursine — harvesting berries in preparation for winter is delightful no matter how old you are.

“Wild Berries,” by Vancouver-based indigenous author Julie Flett, tells the story of a young Cree boy who picks wild berries in the forest with his grandmother.

S C H INFLUENCE O O L S

+

Along the way, they observe wildlife and learn the Cree names for things.

Kids will be excited to try the accompanying wild blueberry jam recipe. In author Paul Fleischman’s “Seedfolks,” a Vietnamese girl plants six lima beans in a vacant lot in Cleveland. Along with her beans, she grows a community, as diverse neighbors become friends and an empty lot becomes a garden.

MIDDLE GRADE School-age kids probably won’t need any prompting to pick berries, but Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic “The Secret Garden” established a century ago that forbidden gardens are more appealing than the ones your parents put you to work in. Northwest author Sandra Smith updates the concept in “Seed Savers: Treasure,” the first book in a dystopian series about a world in which growing your own food is illegal. In Holly Goldberg Sloan’s “Counting by 7s,” biracial genius Willow is obsessed with numbers and her garden, but when she enters the foster-care system, she needs to learn how to connect with people.

P R E S C H O O L S

Seattle Christian S CHO O L

Enrolling NOW for fall!

Discover Your Path Grow in Grace & Knowledge Influence Your World for Christ Schedule Your Campus Tour!

206.438.5401

Grades K-12Pre-K • Located just off12I-5 in SeaTac through Grade

seattlechristian.org seattlechristian.org

32 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

SCHOOLS + PRESCHOOLS Sign up for fun!

Get our weekly picks for the top local outings and activities, delivered to your inbox.

ParentMap.com/eNews

“Black Gold” by another local author, Sara Cassidy, is the third in a series about Rudy and Cyrus. The boys previously resisted moving to a farm, but in this installment, they graduate from fruit-stand managers to worm moguls when a neighbor drops off a bin full of composting worms. Looking for a more direct connection between reading and action? “Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden” by Renata Brown contains just what it states on the cover.

YOUNG ADULT In Gary Paulsen’s “Notes From the Dog,” which skews to the younger side of YA, lonely 15-year-old Finn and his dog befriend a woman battling cancer. While Finn’s attempts to take care of her garden don’t always work, he does learn how to care for people. For a nonfiction approach, Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: Young Readers Edition” encourages kids to consider the personal and global health implications of their food choices, and might encourage your teen to grow their own.

If neither reason nor drama can pique your teen’s interest in growing things, they will probably enjoy author Stella Gibbons’ 1932 classic satire “Cold Comfort Farm,” in which an urbane young woman descends upon her hapless and depressing farmer relatives and proves she really does know better than her elders.

The Sammamish Montessori School In Redmond

Call 425-883-3271 for a tour. ͻ Child-centered, joyful atmosphere with strong academic focus ͻ džƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ͕ DŽŶƚĞƐƐŽƌŝͲĐĞƌƟĮĞĚ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐ ͻ Preschool, kindergarten, and STEAM Enrichment ͻ Family owned and operated since 1977 ͻ ^ƵŵŵĞƌ͕ ďĞĨŽƌĞ Θ ĂŌĞƌ ƐĐŚŽŽů ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ ͻ WƌĞƉ WƌŽŐƌĂŵ͕ ;ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ ĂŐĞƐ Ϯ ПШЖͲϯͿ

in g N o w E n r o ll

www.sammamishmontessori.com 425-883-3271

Splash around on beaches and in boats The Pacific Northwest is all about water. It falls on us all winter, and when the sun finally peeks out from behind the clouds, we seek it out at the beaches, lakes and rivers that are never very far away. You could take the ferry over to Everett’s Jetty Island to get out of the heat, explore the tidepools at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park in West Seattle or relax at one of the area’s other terrific beaches. Refreshed by the cool air over the water, your family might take a more active approach, say, stand-up paddleboarding on Green Lake, kayaking the Sammamish River, canoeing out of the Enatai Beach boathouse or sailing from the Center for Wooden Boats. Whatever your pleasure, we’ve got a book for that.

PICTURE BOOKS Gary Paulsen is better known for middle-grade adventures, but “Canoe Days” is a gentle picture book that illustrates the joys of a day spent on the water. In Tom Booth’s “Day at the Beach,” big brother Gideon parentmap.com • June 2019 • 33

SCHOOLS + PRESCHOOLS Discovering passions through a breadth of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

ages + stages Reading Off the Page! continued from page 33 learns that building sand castles is more fun with a friend — or even a little sister. Huy Voun Lee’s “At the Beach” is quietly educational, as Xiao Ming’s mother draws in the sand to teach him Chinese characters related to the sights near the sea.

cwa.is/foryourchild (253) 620-8373

A Coeducational Independent Day School in Tacoma Preschool - Grade 12 // Bus Service

Library Cards 101 Summer is the perfect time for the classic milestone of getting your kids their first library card, an experience on which libraries are giving a more playful spin these days. At the Seattle Public Library, for example, children can choose from a variety of designs, including colorful new cards celebrating different neighborhood libraries, and they also get a cute bag for toting books. At the King County Library System, kids can also choose from custom designs, including limitededition Russell or Ciara Wilson cards (only available through June).

Other gee-whiz facts about local library cards: • Seattle residents can get a KCLS card (with robust benefits), and local library systems, including SPL, KCLS, Sno-Isle Libraries and the Pierce County Library System, also have reciprocal borrowing agreements.

• At library systems, including KCLS, you can apply for an eCard online.

• You don’t need a library card to access many services, such as attending events or classes, using meeting rooms, accessing Wi-Fi and getting homework help.

• Overdue fines may someday be history. SPL already offers teens a onetime Fresh Start, and residents will soon vote on a library levy that would eliminate overdue fines as part of its mission to ensure equitable access to the library.

• Snohomish County’s Sno-Isle Libraries hasn’t fined patrons in more than 30 years.

—Elisa Murray

34 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

MIDDLE GRADE Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” series, about a group of children messing about on and near the water in England’s Lake District, is nearly 100 years old, but it evokes the world of childish adventures as effectively as ever. For kids who want their adventures on an epic scale, consider H.M. Bouwman’s “A Crack in the Sea,” the first Raftworld historical fantasy, in which children from different periods in Earth’s history are connected to the events on the high seas of the Second World. Or try Chris Grabenstein’s “The Island of Dr. Libris,” in which books come to life at a lakeside cabin. Looking for something more educational?

“Pacific Intertidal Life,” coauthored by Ron Russo and Pam Olhausen, is an illustrated, pocket-size guide to Pacific coast tidepools.

YOUNG ADULT From Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick” to Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea,” and more recently, Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi,” there’s something about the ocean that inspires metaphors for life. “Moby Dick” is a doorstop, but the others are great choices for teens, who may feel the power of the metaphor more than they understand it. For something more direct, try the graphic novel “This One Summer,” a coming-of-age story by Mariko Tamaki that is set at a beach house. And if your teen wants to read a real surviving-at-sea tale, give them “Sailing the Dream,” the autobiography of Mike Perham, who turned 17 during his solo sail around the world.

Sleepaway Camp Few summer traditions generate as much anticipation and anxiety as sleepaway camp. Parents worry about whether their kids are ready (or whether they are), and kids worry about being away from home and lonely. But whether they attend a big traditional camp like Camp Fire’s Camp Sealth (campfireseattle.org), a smaller one like Hidden Valley Camp in Granite Falls (hvc-wa.com) or a themed camp like the one at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts (icicle.org), sleepaway camp creates memories for a lifetime. It’s no surprise that summer camp stories are almost a genre unto themselves.

PICTURE BOOKS Preschoolers probably won’t be going to sleepaway camp, but they will still be curious about it, especially if older siblings are going. Natasha Wing’s “The Night Before Summer Camp” is a picture book written in the same meter as the classic Christmas poem. It tells the story of a little camper who doesn’t know what to expect from camp. For the little ones left behind, James and Eamon’s free-time adventures in Marla Frazee’s “A Couple 0619_everett_aquasox_1-8h.indd 1 For the Comfort You Deserve of Boys Have the Best Week Ever” overshadow the activities at nature camp. Older Bras  Underwear siblings might seem different when they get back from camp, but at least they aren’t Clothing likely to exhibit Maddie’s feral changes from “Wolf Camp” (by Katie McKy).

MIDDLE GRADE Nobody needs to be reminded that the wildly popular Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan take place in part at a summer camp for demigods (check out Camp HalfBlood in Leavenworth if you have a Percy fan in your house; digivations.com), but there are plenty of other middle-grade summer camp stories to choose from.

Elissa Brent Weissman’s “Nerd Camp” celebrates kids who love their calculators as much as camping. In Lisa Jenn Bigelow’s “Drum Roll, Please,” two weeks at Camp Rockaway are just what shy 13-year-old Melly needs to help her navigate her parents’ divorce, her best friend’s sudden abandonment and a crush on another girl. The “Lumberjanes” graphic novels by Noelle Stevenson take place at a summer camp for “Hardcore Lady Types.” Beginning with “Beware the Kitten Holy,” five spunky, lovable characters challenge gender stereotypes as they explore events both supernatural and surreal.

YOUNG ADULT Despite dealing with race, faith and sexuality, Melanie Gillman’s graphic novel “As the Crow Flies” skews toward the younger side of YA. Charlie is excited to attend Camp Three Peaks for feminist Christians until she discovers she is the only queer black girl at camp. Will God help her learn to speak up to her well-meaning camp mates who aren’t aware of their own biases? Rachel Mann’s “On Blackberry Hill” follows Reena to the same Jewish summer camp that her late mother attended decades earlier. Gabe Durham’s light-hearted “Fun Camp” uses many different voices and formats — including letters home, lists and monologues from very different characters — to illustrate the full camp experience.

Need more adventures?

If you are looking for more adventures, pick up a copy of ParentMap’s “52 Seattle Adventures With Kids” (parentmap.com/52adventures), a local’s guide to the most affordable and awesome family outings in the Puget Sound region, with a new seasonal adventure for every week of the year. n

5/16/19 11:35 A

100% organic cotton Latex-Free Over 200 sizes and 20 colors Made to order and customized to fit Made in Seattle, WA

decentexposures.com



FREE CATALOG

800-524-4949

Our year-round Kids In Sports program teaches children the fundamentals of sports!

Children learn sportsmanship, teamwork, respect and communication in a fun, safe, supportive environment!

Join Our Summer All-Day

ADVENTURE CAMP!

July 1- August 30, 2019 Ages 4-9 and 10-12

• Intensive multi-sport games and activities • Local field trips to parks, museums + more • Brain Gain to prevent loss of learning • Social Emotional Learning

Visit Lynnwood.KidsInSports.com to Learn More Located inside TOCA Training Center

Gemma Alexander is a Seattle-based freelance writer with two daughters. She blogs about the arts and spends too much time on Twitter (@gemmadeetweet).



18021 Alderwood Mall Pkwy.

Lynnwood, WA 98037

206.308.8939 ctaylor@kidsinsports.com

parentmap.com • June 2019 • 35

B

I

R

T

H

D

A

Y

S

Celebrate under the arches! ࡟ Hands-on activities ࡟ Liquid nitrogen ice cream demo ࡟ Decorated party room Learn more at pacsci.org/birthdays

BIRTH DAY PARTIES Celebrate your child’s birthday at the Historic Carousel!

unt 10% disco for zoo members

www.zoo.org/birthdays

Host a Less Wasteful Birthday Party With These Tips

If birthday bashes conjure up images of popped balloons and garbage bags full of landfill-destined plastic partyware and cheap favors, consider going green and throwing an eco-friendlier birthday party for your little one.

To start, consider using online invitations like Evite (evite.com) or Paperless Post (paperlesspost.com). Or consider using recyclable or sustainable items, such as homemade paper, packets of seeds with a message or invitations crafted from scrap paper to invite people to the party.

When decorating, include materials like felt, cardboard, Mason jars and string lights. Twine and sheet music or colored fabric make for charming bunting, while Chinese lanterns add ambiance.

Skip the juice boxes and individual snack packs and opt for seasonal fruits, veggies and healthy snacks instead. Fill a beverage dispenser with lemonade and stock a few platters with local market goodies and homemade fare.

When it comes to games, ditch the disposable duds and go classic with the tried and true: duck, duck, goose; hopscotch; musical chairs; and freeze tag, to name a few (find more at parentmap.com/cheapfun).

Replace wasteful and expensive goody bags with a craft activity, a tree to plant or a decorated cupcake.

253.779.8490 Tacoma, WA | Open 7 days a week | 10 am - 5 pm americascarmuseum.org 36 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

As for gifts, consider asking guests to bring diapers and baby goods for little ones in need, or to make a donation to a charity of your child’s choice.

Another idea: Get in on the trend of a “fiver” birthday party and bring the birthday boy or girl a homemade card with a $5 bill tucked inside, to save or to spend on whatever they want.

Need more birthday-bash ideas? Visit parentmap.com/birthdays.

—Allison Holm

B

I

R

T

H

D

A

Y

S

BEST KIDS INDOOR PLAYGROUND IN TOWN

YOUR FAMILY IS OUR SPECIALTY

Enjoy over 25 Rides & Attractions, All-inclusive Birthday Parties Corporate Events, and U-Pick Fields too!

Opens Mother’s Day Weekend in May - October remlingerfarms.com

17_remlinger_1-8h.indd 1

Get our go-to guide to

Seattle family fun!

5/10/17 12:30 PM

SUMMERbRATE BIG SAVE NOW !

2222 152nd Ave NE REDMOND 98052 Get your copy! ParentMap.com/52adventures

www.jumpingbeans.us

2 0 1 9

S E A T T L E

M A R I N E R S

OUeRtoSthe next level.

T K R A P T-MOTBakILe Eyour experienc BALLPARK TOURS

Year-round tours are available at T-Mobile Park, the spectacular home of the Seattle Mariners. The 19.59 acre outdoor ballpark features real grass, a retractable roof and state-of-the-art amenities. Bring your camera and take a “behind the seams” tour including areas normally restricted to the public such as the Press Box, Owners Suite, Field, Dugouts, Visitors Clubhouse, All-Star Club, and more. (All areas of the ballpark are subject to availability based on ballpark activities.)

BIRTHDAY PARTIES Parents should enjoy their child’s birthday party as much as the kids…and you can…when you host it at T-Mobile Park! The lineup includes a ballpark tour with stops on the field and at the playground, food and festivities in a group suite, and a final surprise with your child’s name on the Out-of-Town Scoreboard. For extra fun, add a Mariner Moose appearance or test your skills at the batting cage.

The only thing to worry about with this party is how you will top it next year.

Mariners.com/Tours parentmap.com • June 2019 • 37

parent day jobs

Meet Laura Tisserand

This PNB principal dancer and mom just opened a new ballet school

By JiaYing Grygiel • Photos by Will Austin

H

er studio is immaculate: walls painted pale pink and purple, a glittery chandelier hanging from the ceiling and pointe shoes framed as art. Step onto the “Bonjour!” welcome mat, and a woman dressed in a leotard and tights introduces herself as Miss Laura.

She’s Laura Tisserand, a principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) and owner of a new ballet school located on the north side of Queen Anne. This jewel of a studio, Tutu School (tutuschool.com), is open to students ages 18 months to 8 years.

Tisserand leads her toddler class through dancing like butterflies, blasting off like rocket ships and stomping like dinosaurs.

They practice bending their knees (plié) and jumping into a ring (jeté). Tisserand knows her audience well — she’s mom to a toddler, daughter Amélie. She’s gentle and encouraging, and the kids (and their mamas) are a little awestruck to be in the same room as a real ballerina.

As a ballerina, how was your pregnancy?

Being pregnant is a crazy thing to begin with. I was a little sick in the beginning — it’s always the worst time, when you don’t want to tell people. Just super tired. I got pregnant in October and danced through December on stage; that got me through “The Nutcracker.”

I knew I wanted to continue to take dance classes all through my pregnancy. I felt like that helped me come back quicker. I also swam twice a week. I definitely took advantage of having rest time, because you don’t get that as a dancer.

The morning I [delivered], I took my class, I did my stretches and then I went into labor. As a dancer, your pain tolerance is pretty high — I’m pretty sure I labored at home a little longer than I should have.

She came, and it was just the most amazing thing possible. I was so lucky.

You and your husband, Jerome, are both principal dancers. Do you want your daughter to go into ballet?

She’s inevitably going to be exposed to it. She’s surrounded by music and movement, and if she decides that’s the

38 • June 2019 • parentmap.com

Tisserand started dancing at age 2, tagging along to her big sister’s creative movement classes. “I honestly never remember a time when I didn’t want to be a ballerina and dance,” she says. They lived in a small town in Louisiana, and her mother drove the girls to New Orleans every day, one hour each way, for their dance lessons.

Tisserand moved to New York City at 15 — by herself — to train at the School of American Ballet. At 17, she joined PNB as an apprentice and worked her way up to the highest rank for a ballerina, principal dancer. Tisserand, now 34, teaches at Tutu School four days a week, while continuing her other full-time job at PNB. She’s danced as Queen Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” as Odette/Odile in “Swan Lake” and as Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty.” You can see her on stage at PNB performing in “Themes & Variations” through June 9.

path she wants, that’s great.

I do know that being a ballet dancer is hard. You’re kind of fighting your whole career for everything. When you’re young, you’re fighting for the next part and constantly trying to prove yourself.

It’s exhausting.

As wonderful as it is, I also want to spare her the hardships my mom hated to see. It’s a double-edged sword.

What led you to open Tutu School?

Tutu School is a franchise. I saw that my friend Genevieve Custer Weeks had

opened a Tutu School 11 years ago. I loved the idea of blending creative movement with proper ballet technique. And it was magical, this beautiful studio space where kids could go and feel like they were transported to a fairy land.

What do you want kids to get out of dance?

Not only do I want the children to get ballet training, I want them to hear a piece of classical music that brings a smile to their face and move in a way that is very free. I want them to learn all about how ballet can teach you discipline and kindness and patience. I want them to have fun and be in a safe space where they can move however they want and not feel judgment.

A full-time job, a new business and a toddler — talk about a juggling act!

It’s like anything else — if you have the dream and the will, you just find a way to make it work.

JiaYing Grygiel is a freelance photographer and writer who blogs at photoj.net.

B

I

R

WILD PUPPETS!

T

H

Interactive Interactive Birthday Birthday Shows Show

Celebrate!

Susy the Storyteller and her playful band of puppets 206-784-0704 www.havestorywilltravel.com

BOOK NOW!

(206) 524-3388 www.thistletheatre.org

Discover family fitness and fun at

SAMENA!

0916_thistle_theatre_1-16.indd 1

D

A

Y

S

BIRTHDAY PA R T I E S yo u r d e s t i n at i o n f o r e p i c c e l e b r at i o n s

8/9/16 10:01 AM

Swimming parties and pool rentals

book your birthday party today!

SPORTS • NINJA WARRIOR • INFLATABLES • NERF WARS • PRINCESS • SWIMMING • AND MORE!

www.samena.com (425) 746-1160

15231 Lake Hills Blvd. Bellevue 98007

Find the perfect gift!

Throw the best party!

Great selection Expert advice Free gift wrapping The DoodleZone in Kenmore & the Top Spot in Greenwood are great spaces for kid's birthday parties!

Open to everyone.

No membership required.

Learn more at proclub.com or call (425) 861-6247 | Bellevue, WA parentmap.com • June 2019 • 39

SUMMER CAMPS THE BEST FACILITY

THE BEST CAMPS

THE BEST KIDS

=

THE BEST SUMMER EVER!

NINJA WARRIOR • BASKETBALL • SOCCER ALL SPORT • THEATER • DANCE • TENNIS RACQUET SPORTS • S.T.E.M. & ROBOTICS

LEADERSHIP • COOKING • OUTDOOR ADVENTURES SWIMMING • MERMAID & SHARK • CHEERLEADING LIFEGUARDING • SUPER SAFE SITTER TEEN X-TREME • BUDDING ARTISTS • AND MORE...

RENT MA PA N T P

D

E

Y

IN NE

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

No membership required

proclub.com | (425) 885-5566

R

W

E

DD

G OL

AGES 3–18. EXTENDED CARE AVAILABLE. LUNCH INCLUDED WITH MOST DAY CAMPS.