NEW YEAR, NEW HABITS One family’s 30-day outdoor challenge
Finding time for fitness
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WHAT PARENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT
Our state’s new paid family leave program, explained A trio of young astronauts take a test flight at Outer Space Seattle
EXPLORE OUTER SPACE SEATTLE chomp
PIZZA AND PUPPETS IN BALLARD shop
COOL KICKS FOR ALL KIDS FROM BILLY FOOTWEAR
NEW WEST SE INDOOR PLAY ATTLE S BLASTS OFF!PACE
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>>Contents
GREAT SUMMERS
START HERE
Seattle’sChild
January/February 2020 // Issue 480
WHAT PARENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT....... 3 DAD NEXT DOOR................ 5 ROMP........................................... 7 CHOMP....................................... 9 SHOP........................................... 11 FEATURE NEW YEAR, NEW HABITS.........................14 CALENDAR.............................19
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REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 1, 2020
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Winter fun Family guide to skiing and more
Great Wolf Lodge Parents’ survival guide and pro tips
Get outside! Free days for 2020 at our state parks
»What Parents
„ Find more local news for families on seattleschild.com
Are Talking About Education, health, development and more
Trisha McClanahan, with her husband, son and two-day-old daughter, will benefit from paid family leave.
Paid family leave, explained Here’s what you need to know about Washington’s new paid family and medical leave policy by K A T I E A N T H O N Y / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N
It’s happening! It’s finally happening! Blessed mercy! Glorious relief! No, I’m not about to take an uninterrupted shower. That sweet day remains just out of reach.
I’m talking about paid family and medical leave, which takes effect in Washington in 2020. Do you need to pause and read that last sentence again? Go ahead. It is happening. Can I get a “Heck yeah?” (This is a family magazine, or I’d be using a different four-letter word). Trisha McClanahan knows what a game-changer paid leave can be. McClanahan, who lives in Seward Park with her husband, 2-year-old son and new-
born daughter, was able to take 16 weeks of paid leave through her employer. “It’s huge,” she says. “Those first four months, he needed me so much. And the sleep! It meant a lot to have that time, to get paid, and to know my career was waiting for me.” Now that precious time and support will be available to most of Washington’s workers. If you’ve worked at least 820 hours in the state of Washington in 2019 (about 16 hours a CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
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Seattle’sChild January/February 2020 // Issue 480 “Seattle is my town. I know this city inside and out… or so I thought until I had kids.” Seattle’s Child is your guide to getting to know your city all over again. Finding things to do, places to eat, and how to get around — it’s a whole new ballgame with kids in tow. We’re interested in how parents make homes in a space-challenged urban environment, how families create community, and what parents are really talking about. Seattle’s Child reflects real Washington families and their broad range of parenting experiences. ANN BERGMAN Publisher, Founder abergman@seattleschild.com BOO DAVIS Art Director bdavis@seattleschild.com SYDNEY PARKER Managing Editor sparker@seattleschild.com JULIE HANSON Website Editor jhanson@seattleschild.com LEAH WINTERS Calendar Editor calendar@seattleschild.com MIKE MAHONEY Copy Editor JEFF LEE, MD Columnist KATIE ANTHONY, ERIKA LEE BIGELOW, HALLIE GOLDEN, KATE HAGAN, BRETT HAMIL, DANIELLE HAYDEN, MAGGIE HOMER, SARAH BERGMAN LEWIS, JENNIFER MORTENSEN, ALYSSA ROYSE Contributing Writers JASMIN THANKACHEN Admin Coordinator/Project Manager ADVERTISING KIM LOVE Ad Production Manager klove@seattleschild.com ROB WHITE Advertising Sales Manager rob@seattleschild.com 253-732-0429 RACHEL NEVARIL Sales Account Manager rnevaril@seattleschild.com 206-226-7844
Seattle’sChild Seattle’s Child has provided useful information to parents since 1979. In addition to our monthly magazine, look for our special themed publications — Explore, FamilyPages, School and SummerTime — distributed free throughout the Puget Sound area. Seattle’s Child is published monthly with combined issues in January/February and July/August.
ONLINE seattleschild.com Facebook facebook.com/seattleschild Twitter @SeaChildMag Instagram @seattleschildmag MAIL c/o Postal Plus 1211 E. Denny Way, Seattle, WA 98112 VOICE 206-441-0191 TO ADVERTISE advertise@seattleschild.com MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION distribution@seattleschild.com STORY IDEAS editor@seattleschild.com CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS calendar@seattleschild.com Deadline is first of the month, one month prior to publication (Feb. 1 for March publication). Include date, time, cost, appropriate ages, address, contact information and description.
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week), and you aren’t a federal employee, or employed by a company that already offers voluntary paid family and medical leave, and you’ve experienced a qualifying family or medical event, then you’re eligible to apply for paid leave. What is a qualifying event? Let me introduce you to some totally real, not at all conveniently hypothetical friends of mine: • Louis and James are adopting in 2020. At least 12 weeks of family leave is available for them, and for any parents expecting a birth, welcoming a foster child, or adopting in 2020. Giving birth may qualify you for 16 weeks, and complications in the pregnancy may get you 18 weeks. You can take all your leave at once, or you can space it out in any way that works for you. • Danielle had a baby on Halloween night 2019. Trick or treat, am I right? Danielle can still apply for paid family leave in 2020, as can any family who welcomed a foster or adopted child in 2019. She just needs to use her paid leave by one year from the child’s arrival date. • Rick struggles to manage his chronic clinical depression, and our 3 pm sunsets aren’t helping. He can take leave to receive inpatient treatment for mental health or an addiction. Rick’s partner Elena has epilepsy, and can take leave to receive treatment for a chronic health condition. • Moira’s wife Rebecca is undergoing a hysterectomy. Rebeccca can take paid leave for her surgery and recovery, and
since Rebecca won’t be putting on her own pants for a few weeks, Moira can take leave to care for a family member. • Sara’s husband serves in the military. She can request paid family leave to spend time with him while he’s home on R&R. To apply for leave, inform your employer as soon as possible. “As soon as you know, the better,” says People Generalist Katie Russell at digital advertising startup New Engen. “The only thing I can guarantee about rolling out a new program is that there will be some bumps,” she adds. “So remember we’re all in this together, and we’ll learn along the way.” Then, starting on January 2, apply for leave at paidleave.wa.gov. “Educate yourself on your responsibilities and be as prepared as you can be,” Russell advises. You’ll need to provide paperwork: a birth certificate, court documents for foster/adoption placements, active duty orders, a letter from a doctor. Once your leave is approved, you’ll file weekly requests for pay in the same way you’d submit a timecard. While on leave, you’ll receive up to $1,000 a week, an amount proportionate to your income; paidleave.wa.gov will provide a benefit calculator so you can estimate your likely income. If you’re self-employed or employed by a federally recognized tribe, you have to opt into the paid family and medical leave program, which you can do through paidleave.wa.gov. When I had my kids, the idea of paid leave was as outlandish as winning the lottery. Today, we can stop dreaming of a time when our families don’t have to choose between work, family and health. As Russell says, “This is a step in the right direction, towards thinking about each person as a whole.” Can I get a “Heck yeah?”
„ Read all of Jeff Lee’s columns on seattleschild.com
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A little encouragement from across the fence
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Everybody stumbles, everybody falls Let’s strive to live and love every day as if it’s the last — for us, for our kids, and for all our loved ones I have a friend who’s known for her sunny disposition. While the rest of us are reeling from the day’s headlines and the state of the world, she somehow sees a light at the end of that dark tunnel. When she was pregnant, she was no different. She had serious complications, but she never lost faith, and in the end, she gave birth to a beautiful, healthy daughter. At first, she seemed to parent with the same optimism that she brought to everything. But one day, when her baby was just a few weeks old, she called me. She needed to talk about something — urgently, and in private. We met the next day and went for a walk. She told me she’d been having nightmares about her baby dying. In some, she would hold her daughter in her arms, breastfeeding or rocking her peacefully, and suddenly the baby’s head would fall off. In others, she’d drop the baby on the floor, or out the window, or off a cliff. Worst of all, she was beginning to have these visions even when she was awake. The day she called me, she had been standing at the kitchen counter slicing a tomato, and suddenly had an image of the knife slicing through her baby’s arm. I tried my best to reassure her. I told her these kinds of thoughts were common, and that I’d had two other patients who also dreamt that their
babies’ heads fell off. Still, she was terrified. I told her to get some sleep, to ask for plenty of help from the people she loved, and to call me whenever she needed. For the next few weeks, we checked in regularly, and then the dreams and visions went away, as suddenly and mysteriously as they had appeared. So where do these strange, intrusive thoughts come from? I’m not a psychiatrist, but I think they’re a manifestation of the vulnerability we feel when the center of our universe shifts to a tiny, helpless baby who’s completely dependent on us for protection. We’re pretty good at denying our own mortality, but once we have children, that’s no longer enough. Their fragility is undeniable, and it fills us with a sense of mortality by proxy that’s impossible to ignore. Of course, sleep deprivation, hormonal surges and mood swings make it worse for mothers, but fathers experience it, too. I remember the first time my daughter really hurt herself. She had just learned to walk up the stairs, and when she reached the third step, she turned part way around to make sure I was watching. Suddenly she lurched backwards, just beyond my reach, and landed headfirst on the hardwood floor with a sound so loud, I was sure her skull had cracked like an egg. Forgetting all my training, I grabbed CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
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«DadNextDoor her immediately and swept her up into my arms. She saw the look of unadulterated terror on my face (parenting tip: don’t make that face at a frightened child) and immediately began to wail. I started crying too, which only freaked her out more, but I was just relieved she was alive. She ended up with a good-sized goose egg on the back of her head, but she calmed down fairly quickly. I, on the other hand, kept shaking for 30 minutes. I had seen a life pass before my eyes — and it was hers. Our children are the small, delicate baskets in which we keep all our eggs. Our futures, our memories, our names are theirs to protect and carry forward — or to lose. When they’re small, they’re our greatest hope and our greatest weakness. No wonder so many new parents are overcome with anxiety. But that sense of vulnerability never really goes away. Once we have kids, our own mortality is always entangled with theirs. Once one of my patients, who was well into her seventies, lost her middle-aged son in a car accident. She said to me: “No parent should ever have to outlive their child — we aren’t built for it.” And yet, some of us will do just that. How can we live with that knowledge and not curl up into little, quivering balls of fear? The answer, I think, is to face our children’s mortality in the same way we should face our own. Here’s a resolution for the New Year: Let’s strive to live and love every day as if it’s the last — for us, for our kids, and for all our loved ones, young and old. We won’t be able to, of course. Our denial will keep us from staring into that beautiful, horrible place for very long. Still, wouldn’t we be better for trying? ABOUT OUR COLUMNIST
Jeff Lee makes and breaks his New Year’s resolutions in Seattle.
Note: Many new moms experience anxious and intrusive thoughts. If they persist, they can indicate more severe postpartum conditions like depression, obsessivecompulsive disorder or psychosis. Though serious, they’re treatable, so if there’s any doubt, please consult a mental health or medical care provider.
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5 things to do
„ Find more things to do on seattleschild.com
Valentine’s Day activities
Right under your nose!
Celebrating MLK in their own way Show up to hear youth express what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and work means to them through song, dance and spoken-word performances. This family-friendly, youth-organized event held the Sunday before MLK Day features food, videos, and a panel discussion. — Sydney Parker Sun., Jan 19, at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute from noon to 5 pm. FREE.
»Romp Things to do with kids
1 Baby’s first valentine Bring the babes (ages 0-2) to paint valentine keepsakes at Seattle ReCreative. The baby-made artworks make perfect gifts for grandparents and friends. Sat., Jan. 25, 12:30-2 pm. 8408 Greenwood Ave. N., $30.
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Octopus romance
Learn about the surprisingly complex love lives of the Seattle Aquarium’s local marine species and watch them dine on Valentine’s Day-themed treats. Fri., Feb. 14, 9:30 am-5 pm. 1483 Alaskan Way. Free with admission.
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Get your heart racing
Celebrate your love for the outdoors with a Valentine’s Day Kids Dash and Tike Trot at Green Lake! The race is open to kids ages 10 and under. Sat., Feb. 8. Race begins 9:10 am. Register at valentinesdaydash.com.
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Love at the Zoo
Outer Space’s 1,667 square feet takes kids’ playtime vertical.
Explore Outer Space New indoor play space blasts off in West Seattle, inviting young explorers of all abilities by D A N I E L L E H A Y D E N / photos by J O S H U A H U S T O N
When Caitlin Huertas searched for a fun place to take her two children in her West Seattle neighborhood, she had a tough time finding an inclusive play space designed with both kids’
and parents’ needs in mind. She decided to build her own. Outer Space, Huertas’ dream made manifest, is now open — but it took years to get to this point. From finding the right location and affordable rent, to challenges
with prospective landlords, the journey hasn’t been easy. But her hard work paid off: she finally found the ideal location right off of Alki Beach, one of Seattle’s most beloved destinations. The 1,677-square-foot space isn’t massive, but Huertas took advantage of the high ceiling with a three-level vertical play structure placed atop a soft, padded floor. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
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Feel the love as animals at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium dine on Valentine’s Daythemed treats. Feb. 15 and 16, 9:30 am-4 pm, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. Free with admission.
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Date night
Splurge on a Parent’s Night Out! Drop the kids off at the Pacific Science Center, where they’ll learn about local bird species and do hands-on activities while you enjoy a little alone time. Kids age K-5, 5:30-11 pm. 200 2nd Ave. N. $45; $35 for members.
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She chose a space theme to foster an early interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), something many parents can appreciate here in tech hub Seattle. Outer space is something “timeless and versatile that would interest everyone,” says Huertas, reasoning that the galactic theme would be universally appreciated by kids of all backgrounds and identities. Inclusion is important to Huertas, who made it her mission to include elements for young people on the autism spectrum or who might otherwise benefit from a low-sensory environment. Every day, the space will have sensory backpacks available for checkout that contain noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, fidgets, a stress ball, and putty. They also have a Sensory Room featuring a rotating selection of items and activities for kids, including a movement chair and weighted blanket. Monthly
dates for low-noise, low-light mornings will be announced on the Outer Space website. Seven days a week (Monday-Saturday is available for open play; on Sundays, the space can be rented for parties) Outer Space can accommodate 49 people. This may seem like a small number, but Huertas stressed the importance of comfort during play, instead of kids being tightly packed into a chaotic atmosphere. A lower head count makes it easier to keep an eye on the kids from the sidelines, freeing parents to relax and chat while their children play. Fewer kids doesn’t eliminate germs, however, and Huertas is mindful of the need to keep the equipment clean. The space will be cleaned throughout the day, with more thorough cleanings every night and deep cleanings monthly. Huertas takes safety seriously. There is a gate at the reception desk, and no one is allowed to come or go without checking in with the desk greeters. The facility is also nut-free, easing the worries of parents who have kids with peanut allergies. Kids of all ages are welcome at Outer Space, and there’s an area especially for ages 5 and under. Huertas hopes Outer Space creates an experience for everyone that’s truly out of this world. “This space isn’t just for our kids, it’s for our whole community,” she says. “That is the driving force behind this.” q Outer Space, 2820 Alki Ave SW, #2;
outerspaceseattle.com
Escape from Seattle!
Theater fun in Edmonds Catch two back-to-back shows of Polka Dots, a multisensory, inclusive theatrical experience led by the Parachute Players, at this year’s Edmonds Center for the Arts Kidstock. Other Kidstock highlights include performances by Recess Monkey, Northwest Tap Connection, and Bailadores de Bronce. Feb. 1, 10 am-12:10 pm. FREE. 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds.
— Sydney Parker
SEATTLE • BELLEVUE • MEDINA BOTHELL • BURIEN • KIRKLAND
Grades K–8. Registration opens February 11.
View our camp guide at pacsci.org/camps.
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M L K YOU TH C EL E BR ATI ON : SU SA N FRI E D, P OL KA DOTS AT TH E E DW I N PR AT T EA RLY L EAR NING CENTER : STEVE MAHLER
«Romp
„ More on feeding your family at seattleschild.com
Cheap eats
$3 food walk Eat your way through Seattle’s Chinatown-International District at the Lunar New Year Celebration! Ring in the Year of the Rat with $3 bites from up to 40 participating businesses throughout Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon. Kids can collect stamps for a chance to enter to win a curated C-ID gift basket. — Sydney Parker
n the „ Joi er Club Supp Kids on the app
hild /app C s ’ e l tt a Se .com child
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Sat., Feb. 8 from 11 am to 4 pm, Hing Hay Park. cidbia.org/lunar-new-year
»Chomp Eating with kids
The Innes family enjoys finger-puppet play and no-nonsense Italian cooking.
Pinsa and puppets Valentinetti’s serves up family-friendly Italian food and puppet shows in Ballard by S A R A H B E R G M A N L E W I S / photos by J O S H U A H U S T O N
On a chilly November weeknight, my family of four ducked into the cozy atmosphere of Valentinetti’s, a new Italian restaurant in the historic, 1911-built Ballard firehouse. The restaurant is
named for Aurora Valentinetti, a 99-year-old former University of Washington professor of puppetry with a gift for no-nonsense Italian home cooking. Restaurant owner Peter Levy and his wife Betty (Aurora’s god-
daughter) plan to host periodic puppet shows in Valentinetti’s honor. On the night we were there, the only puppet spotted was the finger puppet that came with my daughter’s Italian soda, much to the relief of my puppet-averse kids. Although the décor is new, the Hi-Life, the firehouse’s previous incarnation for 15 years, was still CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
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Don’t miss it!
It’s the frosting on top The second annual Seattle Cake Con & Dessert Showcase brings together home bakers, professional pastry chefs, Food Network stars and dessert enthusiasts for two days of demonstrations and tastings over Presidents’ Day weekend. Don’t miss the live kids’ cake decorating competition on the mainstage, Sunday, Feb. 16, at 1:30 pm, and all the sweet photo opportunities throughout the venue. A percentage of ticket sales benefit Para Los Niños, a grassroots organization in South King County serving Latino families. Sun., Feb. 16 and Mon., Feb. 17. Adults $25. Kids under 12 FREE. seattlecakecon.com — Sydney Parker
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front of mind for our little diners. Both kids fondly remembered the slab of cookie dough with sprinkles provided there, the baked result delivered at the end of the meal. My son Noah, 7, asked about the DIY cookie the moment he sat down. According to Anthony Hubbard, co-owner and executive chef of Valentinetti’s, many kids come in with this nostalgic request. The staff are pondering an Italian twist on the make-your-own cookie to meet the demand, and welcome suggestions. When evaluating a restaurant for child-friendliness, there are three non-negotiables: A welcoming space for any unsavory behavior your child may manifest at mealtime; affordable, kid-friendly menu items that stretch beyond chicken nuggets and mac and cheese; and a quick turnaround. Valentinetti’s delivered big on the first two criteria, but unfortunately fell short on the last. Noah arrived with his meltdown clock ticking and ordered right away, but his food arrived with the rest of ours, about 45 minutes later. In hindsight, we should have clarified with our friendly server that we wanted his food first. Given the benefit of the doubt (the restaurant had just opened),
Pinsa is Valentinetti’s take on pizza.
one can assume that by now the kitchen is running like a well-rehearsed puppet show. Although the food’s overall quality was
high, the younger members of our crew missed aspects of the (Americanized) Italian classics. Noah passed on the garlic bread because the fresh garlic spread on top looked “too garlicky” (heaven forbid!). He also contended that the spaghetti sauce was a “little spicy” (questionable), but then proceeded to eat the whole thing. Anya, 9, enjoyed her Margherita pizza, but found the mozzarella patches to be a bit sparse. Both kids loved the roasted broccoli side dish. My husband and I enjoyed what we ate and drank (thumbs up for the Manhattan). I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive gluten-free pasta and pizza options offered at no additional price. The centerpiece of the menu is pinsa, a Roman-style oval pizza cooked in a 700-degree brick oven. The dough, which undergoes cold fermentation, is made from imported wheat, rice and soy, and therefore is a promising option for those with food restrictions related to celiac disease. It’s no easy task to create an inventive menu that still appeals to kids’ habituated taste buds. Overall, Valentinetti’s is a great addition to the Ballard food scene: a bit of the Old Spaghetti Factory with a trendy, healthy twist. q Valentinetti’s, 5425 Russell Ave. NW, chowfoods.com/valentinettis
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LOBSTE R TA I L : CH I N ATOWN - I N TE RN ATI ON A L DI STR IC T BU S I N E SS I M P ROVE M E N T AR EA , CA K E CON : SE ATTL E C AK E CON & DE SS ERT S HOWCAS E
«Chomp
Things we love
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Q&A
Where do you get the most bang for your buck in the city? Seth Hughes, Morning Host Warm 106.9
Giant robot vs. flying saucers!
My family shops for our 7-year-old at Play It Again Sports in Lynnwood. The little dude grows so fast, so it’s the perfect way to shop for a mix of new and pre-loved gear he won’t be spilling out of right away. #HockeyFamily!
Forget fridge art; now your kids can color and cut out a massive 3 1/2-x-4foot poster of giant robots battling
»Shop Lively + locally made
flying saucers. As creator Matt K. Matsuoka describes it, the Coloring Posterbook is “small enough to fit on your wall, but big enough to freak out your family members!” 3 amazon.com
Cutline here Billy Price’s cutline here cool footwear cutline here designs appeal here. to cutline all ages.
Cool kicks for every kid BILLY Footwear designs adaptive shoes, as functional as they are fashionable by H A L L I E G O L D E N / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N
In 1996, Billy Price was a freshman in college when he fell headfirst out the window of a three-story building and became paralyzed from the chest down. After the accident, he learned new ways to
accomplish daily tasks independently. But shoes were elusive. Price wasn’t able to step his feet into shoes to get them on, and his limited hand dexterity made tying laces impossible. His only option was a pair of oversized,
unattractive medical shoes. After years of depending on other people to help him put on his shoes, he teamed up with his longtime friend Darin Donaldson to find a solution. In 2011, they set out to create a shoe stylish enough that anyone would want to wear, but was functional for people with a variety of special needs. The result was a simple, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
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Frozen gear to cheer The stage adaptation of Disney’s Frozen is playing at the Paramount Theatre from Feb. 7-March 1. Hooray! But what to wear? For the little Elsa fanatic in your life, local designer ChloeStudio handmakes a bedazzled crown available in a comfortable plastic or elastic headband. 3 etsy.com/shop/ ChloeStudio
— Sydney Parker
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MONTESSORI SCHOOLS
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The Sammamish Montessori School In Redmond
in g N o w E n r o ll
Call 425-883-3271 for a tour. P H OTO CO U RT ESY OF B I L LY FOOTW E A R
cool-looking shoe with a single zipper that runs down the side and across the toes. The first time Price tried on a prototype was an extremely meaningful moment. “Literally half a lifetime later, I was able to gain this independence that I had lost for many, many years,” says Price, now 42. Today, Price and Donaldson are co-founders of BILLY Footwear. Headquartered in Kent, the company offers high-tops, low-tops and cozy boots with adaptive zippers in more than a hundred unique styles to customers around the world. Their shoes, sold in stores including Nordstrom, Zappos, Kids Foot Locker and Macy’s, run from toddler sizes all the way to adult women’s and men’s sizes. Next year, they plan to add a selection of widths. Over the past few years, the company has seen a dramatic increase in sales. After selling 5,000 pairs in 2017 and 30,000 in 2018, they expect to finish 2019 with 65,000 pairs sold. Although they’re designed for everyone to enjoy, the shoes are most popular with children who have autism and cerebral palsy, as well as adults who have survived a stroke or suffered a spinal-cord injury. A recent customer was thrilled to see her daughter, who wears braces on her feet, put on boots from BILLY Footwear all by herself for the very first time. Price emphasizes that shoes with a universal design can make an extraordinary difference in the life of a person with limited mobility: “Just being able to take back that little independence, in my case, that was really kind of an earth-shattering deal in a very positive way.” q billyfootwear.com
• Child-centered, joyful atmosphere with strong academic focus • Experienced, Montessori-certified teachers • Preschool and kindergarten • Family owned and operated since 1977 • Summer, before & after school programs • Prep Program, (starting ages 2 1/2-3)
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An infertility journey in graphic novel form Local writer tells a personal story that’s encouraging, informative and funny by J E N N I F E R M O R T E N S E N
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Register for tours of all levels through January or set up a visit. www.woodinvillemontessori.org
Authentic Montessori Holistic | Global | Enriched
“I’m infertile, how are you?” Seattle mom Barrie Arliss greets the readers of her true story What IF: An Infertile Graphic Novel with a line that invites honesty, solidarity and a bit of humor into what can be a depressing topic. One in eight couples are currently dealing with infertility. If you haven’t personally struggled with infertility, someone you know has. Despite the more open conversations happening about infertility, those of us experiencing it firsthand often feel like there’s no one else who understands what we’re going through. “Because when you’re in the stirrups for the third time in a week before the rest of your co-workers wake up and you’re just hoping for good news that day, you feel terribly alone,” says Arliss. She hopes her book will change that. Arliss partnered with Seattle artist Dan Louis Lane to illustrate her personal infertility journey in a way that’s altogether encouraging, informative and funny. The graphic novel takes readers through the ups and downs of fertility treatments, from awkward moments in the exam room to conversations with well-meaning friends who always say the wrong things, and so much more. While no two people have the same infertility journey, Arliss explains many of the stops along the way: She talks about trying weird naturopathic tinctures that “taste like death and diarrhea”; she describes the shots that caused face-melting fevers; she lays out her battle over coverage with the “motherf---ing insurance company.” Now a mother to one son via intrauterine insemination, Arliss talks about the miraculous joy when fertility treatments work and the crushing trauma when they don’t.
Whether you find yourself in the stirrups for the first time, celebrating or grieving the end of your infertility journey, or wondering how to support a friend through the process, read What IF for the encouragement, comic relief, and the handholding you’ll need. What IF is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Arliss is hoping for a grant to make her novel available to libraries, Planned Parenthood and Seattle fertility clinics at no cost.
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NEW YEAR, NEW HABITS Welcome to 2020, the year when you finally become the perfect parent, eat right, save the world, and look fantastic doing it! Or not. The new year fills us with monumental expectations of our future selves. But rather than reinvent the wheel, let’s start small. Here’s how you can get outside and move more with your family while agonizing less about the outcome.
The 30-day outdoor challenge
We played outside for three hours every day for 30 days; here’s what happened by M A G G I E H O M E R / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N
Woodinville parent Maggie Homer spent three hours per day outdoors for 30 days with her two kids, Evie, 4, and Duke 1 1/2.
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The idea for the outdoor challenge emerged from a place of desperation. It was fall, and I was anxiously anticipating the arrival of the rain and cold. Our children, ages 2 and 4, were fighting, agitated, and seemingly always frustrated. I felt stuck. Our family needed a new rhythm, a new focus. Inspired by the philosophy of Angela Hanscom, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook, a nature-centered program for children, I set a goal to get the kids and myself outdoors for at least three total hours every day for 30 days, and observe the results. Fitting in the three hours daily wasn’t always easy. To make it work
between school, extracurricular activities, nap times and play dates, I had to intentionally schedule outdoor time. On a typical day, we did one hour after breakfast, one hour after nap, and one hour after dinner. The balancing act paid off. After 30 days, we felt a renewed sense of wonder in the world around us. There was a new sensory depth to our daily experiences that simply did not exist before. Instead of hearing sirens and honking horns, our ears tuned in to the birds twittering. Our eyes searched for pill bugs under rocks instead of watching television screens. Our feet wandered around muddy trails and grassy fields in place of flat concrete and carpet. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
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We now notice the tiny winter buds on the trees. We throw away stray pieces of trash. We move earthworms from the concrete to the dirt. We feel more connected to nature, to each other, and to our community because of the quality time we spend investing in each. I plan to continue this journey through the Seattle winter, and invite you to join me. I find that even the simplest of plans improves the likelihood of success, so I prepared for winter with a few ideas that encourage outdoor exploration. It’s important to realize that each family rhythm is different, and I challenge you to play around until you find one that fits.
we’ll go inside. Each time we go outside, I add length to the time, until eventually they forget they’re waiting for a timer to go off. Breaking it down into smaller increments helps our children slowly acclimate to larger chunks of unstructured outdoor play. Our bedtime routine is no longer a battleground, but is now a welcome end to the day. The fighting has lessened, and I feel more calm, controlled, patient and healthy.
Farrel-McWhirter Park that give our beautiful state its nickname. We breathe in the signature smell of the pine trees at Coal Creek Park in Bellevue; we even bite into evergreen needles. Whenever we go on these walks, we pack a warm thermos of hot chocolate to sip on as we explore St. Edward State Park on the eastern shore of Lake Washington, Kirkland’s O.O. Denny Park, our neighborhood, or wherever we end up.
Bundle up This year we invested in proper outdoor gear for the whole family. We set up a bin of handwarmers, readily available whenever someone’s fingers or toes start to get too cold. On particularly chilly days, we play in our yard
Cook up warmth Happiness to me is entering my front door to the smells of good food and the warmth of a crackling fire. Using whole foods and cooking homemade meals with your children brings nature into your kitchen, while also creating time for outdoor exploration while it cooks. This winter, we’re exploring Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple Food cookbook. Nothing reminds children that inside is warm like a long stretch of time spent outdoors in the cold. The hope of a warm meal and a glowing fire gets me through the coldest of days outside.
Unstructured outdoor play has benefits for every member of the family.
10 parentfriendly workouts in Seattle Barre: Build your core, strength and grace. Onsite child care is available. Locations across Seattle. (503) 206-8396. barre3.com Belly dancing: This musical, low-impact workout is one of many offerings in this larger facility that includes a Kids Korner. 5301 Leary Ave. NW; (206) 7895010. olympicathleticclub.com
Join in What would happen if we raised a generation of children who never experienced the beauty of sleeping beneath the stars, or digging deep down into the earth with their hands? Environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy reflects: “We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection with ourselves.” Children need ample outdoor play experiences to understand who they are and what their place is in the world. They need a space to run free, climb, dig, and build without restriction. I challenge you to join me in a winter 30-day outdoor challenge and to observe what happens in your own family. I’d be thrilled to connect with you on Instagram @graciouslygrown. See you outside soon!
Fielding complaints There are days our children don’t want to go outside, so we get creative. Maybe we race to see who can run around the outside of the house the fastest. Maybe I need help finding pine cones for table decorations. And if all else fails, I set the timer for five minutes and promise that when it goes off,
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so we have the option to pop back in the house for a quick thaw. And at the end of the day, we cuddle up and read books with a strong nature presence. We love The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, The Other Way to Listen by Byrd Baylor, and The Mitten by Jan Brett. Light the darkness The long-awaited morning sun and the early afternoon darkness are barriers to getting outdoors. To combat this, each member of our family has a handheld flashlight, and we leave them by the front door as an open invitation to play under the dark sky. Together we strung up outdoor lights, and it adds magic to our yard. There is excitement in venturing out when it seems like the whole world is sleeping. Winter wandering We enjoy weekly winter tree-bud walks. The small intention of noticing tree buds focuses the children, and they observe more intently the changes in the trees as the season shifts. We slowly wander through the evergreen trees at Redmond’s
Fitness feelings Don’t even call it “exercise”; just make it a thing you do together, as normal and essential as eating and sleeping by A L Y S S A R O Y S E / pho to by J O S H U A H U S T O N
Childhood is when we learn the habits and thought patterns that we will carry with us all our lives. Yes, that means all the life skills and academics that we typically focus on, but it also means teaching our children how to care for, and about, their bodies. It means helping them develop fitness habits that bring them joy and keep them strong for life, without filling them with body-image baggage and injury. As a mother and fitness coach, that last part can be really hard, especially this time of year. The new year tends to bring with it loads of media messages about what our bodies should look like. Those messages do more harm than good. Let’s resolve to make some positive resolutions, and then find some fun ways to work fitness into the coming year. Give these a try:
Required reading
For more inspiration for your 30-day outdoor challenge, Maggie Homer recommends the following books on exploring nature with kids: The Curious Nature Guide: Explore the Natural Wonders All Around You by Clare Walker Leslie Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature by Jon Young, Ellen Haas and Evan McGown The Rhythm of Family: Discovering a Sense of Wonder through the Seasons by Amanda Blake Soule and Stephen Soule How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott Sampson Curious Kids Nature Guide: Explore the Amazing Outdoors of the Pacific Northwest by Fiona Cohen Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv
S H U TTE RSTOC K
Communicate purpose Quality time outdoors is one of our family values. We work to communicate this value to our children through our words and actions. Our words usually go something like this: “We’re going outside because outdoor play is important to our family. It helps us grow strong and healthy. Plus we get to spend time exploring with each other!” Our actions reflect our goal, because we go outside even with bad weather, complaints or a busy schedule. Nothing deters us from getting fresh air. Communicating our purpose allows our children to understand the change in our family rhythm, and it helps connect us to work together toward our family goal.
Alyssa Royse says it’s not how you look, but how you feel.
1. No negative self-talk about our bodies. It can be hard to turn off the inner dialogue about needing to lose weight, or be better in some way, but try not to say any of that out loud. 2. Remind kids (and yourself) that every single body is different. Some are tall, some are short. Our eyes, hair and skin come in all
varieties. We are all different, it’s that simple. You can’t exercise yourself into being something that you’re not. 3. Help them focus on what bodies can do, not what they look like. (Or as I like to say, “verbs not adjectives!”) “It’s so cool that you can jump like that!” “Look how fast you are!” 4. Work physical activity into your family life. It can be hiking, dancing, biking, skiing, swimming… just normalize activity. Don’t even call it “exercise”; just make it a thing that you do together, as normal and essential as eating and sleeping. With those basics established, how can we help our kids discover joy in fitness? 1. Expose them to as many things as possible, so that they can discover what makes them happy. It could be circus, dance, CrossFit, capoeira, gymnastics or anything else. Let them pick their own activities so they feel like they’re in charge. I like the idea of always having one structured activity that they do, but they’re in control of picking what it is. Most kids will
BodyPump: A barbell class to strengthen your entire body with squats, presses, lifts and curls. 7751 63rd Ave. NE; (206) 4521500. macseattle.com Bouldering: Climb together with a variety of bouldering routes, both kid and adult-friendly. 900 Poplar Pl. S.; (206) 299-2300. seattleboulderingproject.com Family yoga: Practice breath awareness, yoga postures, and creative play with parent and child. 7901 35th Ave. SW, 2nd floor; (206) 963-8973. limberyoga.com HIIT: High-intensity intervals pack a huge workout into a small amount of time while your child enjoys playcare. 6323 35th Ave. SW; (206) 935-2034. hiitlab.com Muay Thai: Thailand’s kickboxing sport, this aerobic workout is available to both beginners and advanced, with on-site child care. 11552 15th Ave. NE; (206) 789-2411. mkgseattle.com Parkour: Run alongside your little one or jump along your own path as you play in the park. 2101 N. Northlake Way; (206) 227-7192. kongacademy.org Swim lessons: Parents pair with children younger than 4 for songs, games, and water fun. Locations across Seattle. (206) 684-4075. seattle.gov/parks Stroller Strides: Total body conditioning; try strength training and cardio with kids in tow. Locations across Seattle. (866) FIT-4MOM. fit4mom.com
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— Kate Hagan
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bounce around for a while until they find something that they like, which is great. Their body, their choice. There’s no reason to specialize. 2. Ask them how they feel. Sports are a great way for kids to learn how to identify and handle their own feelings. Ask them questions, rather than resorting to “I’m proud of you,” which is about you, not them. Questions like “What was the hardest part?” “What was your favorite part?” “What surprised you?” and “What did you learn?” offer your child a way to explore their feelings. They also offer you a way to connect with your kids and form communication patterns that you’ll really want when they’re older. Yes, sometimes it’s like trying to put socks on a rooster, but keep asking anyway. Even if they don’t answer you, they’re learning to expand the way they think about things beyond just “good and bad” or “win and lose.” 3. Unstructured physical activity is equally important. Whether it’s playing on the playground, kicking a ball around with a friend or anything else, it’s important to keep your kids connected to physical activity without the rules and expectations of sports. As fun as organized sports are for some kids, it’s more important to instill a habit of general activity. Being active “for no reason” is often the best way to stay active for a lifetime. 4. Focus on fun. Especially when they’re young, it doesn’t matter if they’re learning concrete athletic skills, it just matters that they’re having fun. If you’re able, expose them to lots of things; let them figure out what they enjoy doing. Why? Because humans are fun-seekers; this is how you form the habit of fitness as a lifestyle. Besides, our bodies don’t care if we’re “winning,” our bodies just want to move. Our joints and muscles want to be stressed in order to stay strong and agile. Your lower back doesn’t care if you’re the best at anything; it just cares that you keep all your muscles strong to protect it as you age.
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I think our society overthinks fitness. I think we’ve become obsessed with achievement and competition. Sometimes when I drive past a playground, and I see all the children running and jumping and swinging and throwing, I wonder when they’ll lose that. That’s so sad. At some point, almost every adult I work with has lost the ability to swing from the monkey bars, do a cartwheel, or run breathlessly in pursuit of nothing at all. More than that, they seem to have lost the unbridled joy that children have when they play. That’s why when I think about fitness, I think about it as a lifelong daily habit that enables us to do everything we want to do in life, for as long as possible. No rules, no winners, no losers. Fitness is about two things: joy and longevity. When you look at it that way, fitness is both a physical and a psychological foundation for a happy, healthy life. So as we’re making New Year’s resolutions, let’s resolve to reframe how we think about fitness with our families. Alyssa Royse and her husband own Rocket CrossFit in South Seattle. She spends most of her time consulting on the intersection of fitness and inclusivity.
Our picks for January & February
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A Messy Winter Afternoon Make seed feeders and pamper your furry and feathered friends. Spend the afternoon at the Kent Library, get your hands sticky with glue and bird seed while you create fun winter crafts.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Based on the timeless C.S. Lewis tale and brought to life on stage by Redmond’s SecondStory Repertory, four siblings go on an exciting adventure through a wardrobe to the magical land of Narnia.
MLK Youth March Join a youth-led march from Garfield High School and help create tangible change in the community. The theme is “What is Your 20/20 Vision?” Events include an opportunity fair, workshops, and pre-march rally.
GroundFrog Day Head north to Snohomish where “Frognosticator” Snohomish Slew will predict if we’re in for spring weather or six more weeks of winter. Then stick around and enjoy other fun activities.
Wintergrass This annual bluegrass music festival in Bellevue features four days of toetappin’ concerts, dances, jams and workshops for adults and kids. Free for ages 11 and younger.
»Calendar
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What’s happening around town
Jan/ Feb 2020 by L E A H W I N T E R S
Wednesday, January 1 New Year’s Day S E AT T L E A R E A
Free State Parks. Start the year off with a free hike through a beautiful state park. FREE. Parks throughout Washington. www.parks.state.wa.us
P H OTO BY E RI N N J. H A L E
Happy “Noon” Year Party. Ring in the “Noon Year” with a unique ball drop and learn about holiday traditions around the world at this musical celebration. 11 am to noon. FREE. Kent Library. www.kcls.org Polar Bear Plunge. Start the New Year off by jumping into Lake Washington and enjoying games, a photo booth, music and entertainment. Warm refreshments provided. Noon. FREE. Matthews Beach Park, Seattle (Sand Point). www.seattle.gov/parks Resolution Run and Polar Bear Dive. 5K run/walk, kids’ dash (ages 10 and younger, FREE), optional
Northwest Folklife presents Movin’ Around the World: Winter at Seattle Center Armory.
Polar Bear Dive includes a dip in Lake Washington. 9 am registration, 10:30 am run/walk, 11:30 am kids’ dash. $$$. Magnuson Park, Seattle (Sand Point). www.clubnorthwest.org/resolution-run Winter Fishtival. Hands-on activities, special talks and opportunities to learn more about the aquarium’s fish, birds, tidepool animals and marine mammals. Each day highlights different animals and activities. 9:30 am to 5 pm through Jan. 5. Included with admission. $$ to
$$$, free ages 3 and younger. Seattle Aquarium, Downtown Seattle. www.seattleaquarium.org Snowzone at PacSci. Visit a magical light installation by Lusio Lights with falling snow and twinkling lights. And watch out for the Abominable Snowman! Snowball fights three times a day (11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm). 10 am to 5 pm through Jan. 5. $$-$$$ (ages 2 and younger free). Pacific Science Center, Seattle. www.pacificsciencecenter.org
EVENT S ARE SUBJE CT TO C H A NG E Please call ahead or check the venue’s website before you go.
EASTSIDE
Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink. Glide around the region’s largest open-air holiday ice skating experience. 10 am to 11 pm today; various times through Jan. 20. $$. Bellevue Downtown Park. www.bellevueicerink.com Polar Bear Plunge. Greet the New Year with a dip into the refreshing, but cold, lake. 1 pm. FREE. Marina Park, Kirkland. www.chumpchange.org/ polar-bear-plunge
E VE N T P R I C I N G $: Under $10 / $$: $10–$20 / $$$: $20 and over
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Polar Bear Cub Plunge. Cub Plunge (ages 9 and younger) at 11:30 am, adult and family plunge at noon. Life jackets available and lifeguards will be on duty. Heaters and hot drinks available afterward. $. Point Defiance Boat Launch, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org Polar Bear Plunge. Hot cocoa, coffee, a fire and music at noon, then jump into chilly Long Lake at 1 pm. FREE. Long Lake Park, Lacey. www.ci.lacey.wa.us
Thursday, January 2 S E AT T L E A R E A
FREE Museum Visits on First Thursdays. Explore a new exhibit or enjoy a favorite gallery. Participating museums around Seattle have free admission today. Various times and locations; check museum websites. FREE. www.freemuseumday.org Pop-Up Burke Museum. Get an up-close look at artifacts from the Burke Museum, and experience hands-on displays. Today’s theme is Insects. 1 to 3 pm. FREE. South Park Branch Library, Seattle. www.spl.org
Friday, January 3 S E AT T L E A R E A
Legally Blonde The Musical, Jr. Young actors with the Hi-Liners present a tale of self-empowerment and humor, based on the hit film.
7 pm tonight; various times through Jan. 12. $$. The Burien Annex, Burien. www.hi-liners.org Small Frye: Storytelling + Art. Preschoolers and their caregivers can enjoy dramatic storytelling by Seattle Children’s Theatre in the galleries, followed by art-making. 10:30 to 11:45 am on first Fridays. FREE. Frye Art Museum, Seattle (First Hill). www.fryemuseum.org EASTSIDE
FREE Bellevue Arts Museum. Admission is waived on the first Friday of each month. 11 am to 8 pm. FREE. Downtown Bellevue. www.bellevuearts.org
Saturday, January 4 S E AT T L E A R E A
Jack and the Beanstalk. The Fremont Players present their unique take on this classic tale in a panto play for all ages. 4 and 7:30 pm today, 1 and 4 pm Sun. $ to $$. Hale’s Palladium, Seattle (Fremont). www.fremontplayers.com Merry It Is! Family Concert. Discover instruments and songs of the 13th-15th centuries in this family-friendly discovery concert. 1:30 to 2:30 pm. $$. Good Shepherd Chapel (Wallingford), Seattle. www. historicalarts.org EASTSIDE
Ranger-Led Hike. Explore the natural and cultural history of Lewis
Creek Park. Look for signs of wildlife and learn what to do when encountering animals in the wild. 10:30 am. FREE. Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue. www.parks.bellevuewa.gov SOUTH SOUND
Family Nature Walk: Winter Wonderland. Take a naturalist-led walk through the parks while learning about plants and animals and how they adapt to the winter. 10 am. FREE. Swan Creek Park, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org NORTH SOUND
Worst Day of the Year Run. Costumes encouraged at this fun run that isn’t likely to have great weather. 9 am registration, 10 am 10K, 10:15 am 5K. $$ to $$$. Space is limited, pre-register. McMenamins Anderson School, Bothell. www.worstdayrun.com
Sunday, January 5 S E AT T L E A R E A
A Messy Winter Afternoon. Get your hands sticky and covered with glue and bird seed as you make winter crafts at the library. 2 to 4 pm. FREE. Kent Library. www.kcls.org EASTSIDE
Family-Friendly Ranger Hike. Join a park ranger on a guided hike and learn about the birds and animals that call the park home. Pre-register. 2 to 3:30 pm. FREE. Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, Bellevue. www.bellevuewa.gov Juanita Bay Park Interpretative Tour. Take a guided hike through wetlands filled with birds, amphibians, turtles and beavers. Bring binoculars. Ages 6 and older. 1 to 2 pm. FREE. Juanita Bay Park, Kirkland. www.eastsideaudubon.org
Wednesday, January 8
FA R T H E R A F I E L D
Mochi Tsuki Festival. Try your hand at the traditional art of making mochi by pounding sticky rice into a sweet treat. 11 am to 3 pm. FREE. Woodward Middle School, Bainbridge Island. www.bijacevents.org Eagle Festival. Learn all about eagles, plus watch a raptor show ($) or take a wildlife hayride (free). FREE; small fee for some activities. Various times and locations in Concrete, eastern Skagit County. www.concrete-wa.com/ skagit-eagle-festival/
EASTSIDE
Student Wednesdays at BAM. Explore the Bellevue Arts Museum after school on the second Wednesday of every month. 11 am to 6 pm. FREE for students with downloadable coupon. www.bellevuearts.org/visit BIG KID PICK
NORTH SOUND
Reading with Rover. Build reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog.
SUMMER TIME CAMPS AND CLASSES
SUMMER AT SCT
T H E W O R KS H O P S E R I E S
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3 to 4 pm. FREE. Woodinville Library. www.readingwithrover.org
Friday, January 10 S E AT T L E A R E A
Aladdin the Musical, Jr. Aladdin and his three friends discover a magic lamp and the Genie who grants three wishes. A good introduction to musical theater, this features performers from Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre. Ages 4 and older. 7 pm tonight; various times through Jan. 26. $$-$$$. Rainier Arts Center, Seattle (Columbia City). www.broadwaybound.org SOUTH SOUND
Monster Jam. Watch monster trucks compete against each other in speed runs and stunts. 7 pm tonight and Sat., 1 pm Sat. and Sun., 6:30 pm Sun. $$ to $$$. Tacoma Dome. www.tacomadome.org
Saturday, January 11 S E AT T L E A R E A
Kindiependent Concert Series: Recess Monkey. Jump around to great music on most Saturday mornings through February. Buy your tickets in advance to guarantee entry. 10:30 am. $. Mount Baker Community Club, Seattle. www.mountbaker.org EASTSIDE
Wetland Waddlers: Ice is Nice. Preschoolers and their caregivers
are invited to explore the Mercer Slough with art, play and story time. Today, get creative with ice — build with it, melt it and create art. 9:30 to 11:30 am. $$$. Pre-register. Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, Bellevue. www.pacificsciencecenter.org
Sunday, January 12 S E AT T L E A R E A
Toddler Time at the Aquarium. A myriad of developmentally age-appropriate, hands-on activities await for tots to explore. For ages 5 and younger. Today through Tues. 9:30 am to noon. $$$. Seattle Aquarium, Downtown Seattle. www.seattleaquarium.org SOUTH SOUND
Mini Maestros: Fiddler on the Hoof. Listen to an informal Western-themed concert designed especially for children ages 2 through 8. Instrument “petting zoo” begins at 1:30 pm. 2:30 to 3:30 pm. $-$$. University of Puget Sound’s Schneebeck Concert Hall, Tacoma. www.tacomaartslive.org
Saturday, January 18 S E AT T L E A R E A
Têt Festival: Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Experience Vietnam through live performances, handson activities, foods, crafts, games, martial arts and more. Today and tomorrow. FREE. Seattle Center
Armory, Seattle (Lower Queen Anne). www.tetinseattle.org Hawaii Weekend. Take a break from winter, dress up in Aloha wear and explore a little of the tropics. Featuring Hawaiian entertainment, hands-on activities and special diver shows. 9:30 am to 5 pm through Mon. Included with admission. $$$, free ages 3 and younger. Seattle Aquarium, Downtown Seattle. www.seattleaquarium.org Living Voices: Northwest Passages. Hear about Northwest industry at the turn of the century through the experiences of a young Swedish immigrant and her community, told through live theater and archival film. Recommended for ages 10 and older. 1 and 2 pm. Included with admission. $$-$$$, free ages 14 and younger. MOHAI, Seattle (South Lake Union). www.mohai.org BIG KID PICK
MLK Weekend Run. Magnuson Series fun runs including 5K, 10K, 15K and kids dash. Kids dash at 9:45 am, 5K, 10K and 15K at 10 am. $ to $$$. Magnuson Park, Seattle (Sand Point). www.magnusonseries.org Womxn’s March. Join the women’s march for a day of peaceful activism. Rally, march and activism workshops today. 11 am to 2 pm. FREE. Cal Anderson Park, Seattle (Capitol Hill). www.seattlewomxn marchingforward.org First Concerts: Meet the Trombone. Seattle Symphony’s Principal Trom-
bonist plays short pieces for curious tykes, and children can try out the instruments. Two shows today at 9:30 and 11 am, arrive 30 minutes early for pre-concert activities. $$. Benaroya Hall, Seattle. www.seattlesymphony.org EASTSIDE
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Based on the C.S. Lewis tale, four siblings go on an adventure through to the land of Narnia. 1 and 3 pm weekends through Feb. 9 (except Feb. 2). Recommended for grade school-aged children. All-ages shows held on Sundays. $ to $$. SecondStory Repertory, Redmond. www.secondstoryrep.org SOUTH SOUND
Family Nature Walk: Winter Wonderland. Take a naturalist-led walk through the parks while learning about plants and animals and how they adapt to the winter. 10 am. FREE. Wapato Park, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org Great Train Show. See hundreds of trains, accessories, scale models and collectible toys. Also, enjoy kids activities and special exhibits. 10 am to 4 pm, today and Sun. $$, free ages 11 and younger. Western Washington Fairgrounds, Puyallup. www.trainshow.com No Sun Fun Run. Rain or shine 5K takes place along the Nathan Chapman Trail, or a 1-mile course. 10 am.
SUMMER TIME CAMPS AND CLASSES
JUL 6 – 24 Asian Art Museum Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–3 pm Extended Care 3:30–5:30 pm SAM Camp is back at the Seattle Asian Art Museum and has expanded to offer more opportunities for budding artists entering grades 1–6. Each week includes a field trip to the Seattle Art Museum. Led by local art educators and inspired by work on view at SAM, each week is a new adventure. Week One: July 6–10 Grades 1–3: Global Voyagers Grades 3–6: Let’s Paint Week Two: July 13–17 Grades 1–3: Earth Guardians Grades 3–6: Sculpt Away
Week Three: July 20–24 Grades 1–3: Inventive Builders Grades 3–6: Printmaking & Posters
Photo: Robert Wade
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$$$. Heritage Recreation Center, Puyallup. www.co.pierce.wa.us
Monday, January 20 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day S E AT T L E A R E A
Free State and National Parks. In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, explore state and national parks. FREE. Parks throughout Washington. www.parks.state.wa.us BIG KID PICK
MLK Youth March. Join a youth-led march to create tangible change in the
community. This year’s theme is “What is Your 20/20 Vision?” 8:30 am opportunity fair, 9:30 am workshops, 11 am rally, 12:30 pm march. FREE. Garfield High School, Seattle (Central District). www.seattlemlkcoalition.org NORTH SOUND
A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join the community in a tribute through song, spoken word and dance. 7:30 to 9 pm. $-$$. Edmonds Center for the Arts. www.edmondscenterforthearts.org
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. Music, dance, poetry, guest speakers and a community service award ceremony. 11 am to 1 pm. FREE. Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Tacoma. www.cityoftacoma.org/mlk FA R T H E R A F I E L D
March for Peace and Kindness. Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for peace by writing letters to political leaders, asking them or thanking them for acts of kindness in their work. Bring posters or
banners from home. 10:30 am. FREE. Kitsap Regional Library, Bainbridge Island. www.krl.org
Wednesday, January 22 SOUTH SOUND
Washington Sportsmen’s Show. Sport fishing and boating enthusiasts can enjoy exhibits, speakers, seminars and demos. Plus, a grilling competition, survival training, and the kids’ trout fishing pond. Today through Fri. noon to 8 pm, Sat. 10 am to 8 pm, Sun. 10 am to 4 pm. $$, ages 5 and younger FREE. Washington State Fair Events Center, Puyallup. www.thesportshows.com
Thursday, January 23 S E AT T L E A R E A
SUMMER TIME CAMPS AND CLASSES
Seattle Symphony Community Concert. Seattle Symphony performs a live concert for the public to enjoy. 7 pm. FREE. Foster Performing Arts Center, Tukwila. www.seattlesymphony.org
Saturday, January 25 S E AT T L E A R E A
Horrible Art Show. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” All are encouraged to display their artwork at this casual gallery, and get creative at the art stations. 6:30 to 8:30 pm. FREE. Lake City Community Center, Seattle. www. seattle.gov/parks NORTH SOUND
Ursulmas Medieval Faire. Combat tournaments, kids’ activities and a village marketplace. 9 am to 6 pm today, 9 am to 5 pm Sun. $$, free ages 17 and younger. Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe. www.ursulmas.org BIG KID PICK
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Family Snow Play Day. Meet other families and play in the snow at the mountains. Transportation provided; bring your own snow toys. 8 am to 2 pm. $$$. Pre-register. Meet at the Eastside Community Center, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org
Wednesday, January 29 S E AT T L E A R E A
Pajamas & Puppets. Toddlers and preschools can enjoy an evening puppet show complete with stories, rhymes, singing, and dancing. 7 to 7:30 pm. FREE. Northeast Branch Library, Seattle. www.spl.org
Friday, January 31 S E AT T L E A R E A
Cinderella. Watch the beloved fairy tale come to life on stage as a ballet. 7:30 pm tonight; various times through Feb. 9. $$$. McCaw Hall, Seattle (Lower Queen Anne). www.pnb.org SOUTH SOUND
Number the Stars. Set in Copenhagen in 1943, a young girl and her family try to help a friend escape the Nazis. Recommended for ages 6 and older. 7 pm tonight; various times through Feb. 16. $$. Olympia Family Theater, Olympia. www.olyft.org
Saturday, February 1 S E AT T L E A R E A
Little Red. StoryBook Theater presents a charming retelling of the familiar tale in which friendship triumphs over our own immediate needs. 11 am today;
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various times and locations through Mar. 21. $$. Renton Carco Theater, Renton. www.storybooktheater.org SOUTH SOUND
Wild Child Weekends at Northwest Trek. Visit the park on weekends through February and up to two kids 12 and younger are free with each paying adult. 9:30 am to 3 pm, weekends (plus Presidents Day) through Feb. 29. $$$ for adult tickets. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Eatonville. www.nwtrek.org NORTH SOUND
Arlington-Stillaguamish Eagle Festival. Guided eagle tours, demonstrations, exhibits, an animal show, music, wagon rides, hands-on arts and crafts, and more. 9 am to 5 pm. FREE, fee for some activities. Various locations in and around Arlington, see online for schedule. www.arlingtonwa.gov/eaglefest GroundFrog Day. “Frognosticator” Snohomish Slew will predict if we’re in for spring weather or six more weeks of winter, plus enjoy other fun activities. 12:30 to 2 pm. FREE. Event Gazebo, Downtown Snohomish. www.snohomishcoc. com/groundfrog Kidstock! Family arts celebration features musical performances, theatre, arts workshops and activities for kids. 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. FREE. Edmonds Center for the Arts. www.edmondscenterforthearts.org
renovation, Seattle’s Asian Art Museum is free to the public this weekend. Visit the expanded gallery and educational space. 9 am to 9 pm today and Sun. FREE (pre-register). Asian Art Museum, Seattle. www.seattleartmuseum.org Kindiependent Concert Series: Caspar Babypants. Jump around to great music and fun on Saturday morning. Buy your tickets in advance to guarantee entry. 10:30 am. $. Mount Baker Community Club, Seattle (Mount Baker). www.mountbaker.org Love ’em or Leave ’em Valentine’s Day Dash. 5K, 10K or Half Marathon run/walk with a “tunnel of love” fence for leaving notes to participants. 9:10 am kids’ dash (ages 10 and younger), 9:30 am run/walk. $$$, free kids dash. Green Lake Park, Seattle (Green Lake). www.valentinesdaydash.com Neighborhood Day. A fun day with neighbors enjoying face painting, arts & crafts, fun demonstrations, and snacks. Noon to 2 pm. FREE. High Point Community Center, Seattle. www.seattle.gov/parks Hands-On Skills Fair. Learn real-life skills like how to preserve and prepare food, gardening, carpentry, basic plumbing, and more. For ages 12 and older. 9 am to 5 pm. FREE. Meadowbrook Community Center, Seattle. www.seattle.gov/parks BIG KID PICK
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Dental Health Month. Kids can get a free dental health screening every Sat. in February. The museum also offers a variety of tooth-related art and science activities all month long. Saturdays 1 to 3 pm. Included with admission. $$. Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia. www.hocm.org
Thursday, February 6 S E AT T L E A R E A
Snow White. Two actors play a multitude of characters including the evil queen, the magic mirror, the seven dwarfs and of course Snow White. 7 pm tonight; various times through March 15. $$$. Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle (Lower Queen Anne). www.sct.org CulturalFest International Expo. Arts and crafts, games, and handson activities with international students and volunteers representing a variety of cultures. 10:30 am to 3 pm. FREE. Husky Union Building at University of Washington, Seattle (U District). www.fiuts.org
Friday, February 7 S E AT T L E A R E A
The Woodwinds: Peter and the Wolf. Sing and dance to animal songs, and meet the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn. Part of the Tiny Tots concert series for kids ages 5 and younger. 10:30 am today and Sat., 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 am. $$. Benaroya Hall, Downtown Seattle. www.seattlesymphony.org
Saturday, February 8 S E AT T L E A R E A
Asian Art Museum Grand Reopening Weekend. After a two-year
Asia Pacific New Year Celebration. Food, crafts, live entertainment and more, from a variety of Asian and Pacific Island countries. This year’s featured country is Vietnam. 11 am to 6 pm. FREE. Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall. www.tacomadome.org NORTH SOUND
Cascade Symphony Orchestra: Paddington Bear’s First Concert. A percussion ensemble plays a musical performance suitable for children. 3 pm. $-$$. Edmonds Center for the Arts. www.edmondscenterforthearts.org
Tuesday, February 11 S E AT T L E A R E A
Seattle Symphony & Cascade Youth Orchestra Community Concert. In partnership with Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony performs a live concert for the public. 7 pm. FREE. Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, Shoreline. www.seattlesymphony.org
Friday, February 14 NORTH SOUND
The Great Northwest Glass Quest. Pick up a guide book for tips on where to find a clue ball, which will be hidden in Stanwood and Camano Island parks and businesses through Feb. 23. Find one and y ou win a piece of glass art. FREE. Stanwood and Camano Island. www.thegreatnwglassquest.com
Saturday, February 15 S E AT T L E A R E A
First Concerts: Meet the Violin. A Seattle Symphony musician plays short pieces for curious tykes, and children can try out the instru-
ments. Two shows today at 9:30 and 11 am, arrive 30 minutes early for preconcert activities. $$. Benaroya Hall, Seattle. www.seattlesymphony.org
minutes early for pre-performance activities in the lobby. $$-$$$. Benaroya Hall, Seattle. www.seattlesymphony.org
Presidents Day Run. Magnuson Series fun runs including 5K (with two-person team option), 10K, 15K and kids dash. Kids dash at 9:45 am, 5K, 10K and 15K at 10 am. $ to $$$. Magnuson Park, Seattle (Sand Point). www.magnusonseries.org
Pancake Breakfast. Bring the family and meet some new friends at this fundraiser for Community Center programs and equipment, where you can eat delicious hotcakes and sausages. 10 am to 1 pm. $. Rainier Community Center, Seattle. www.seattle.gov/parks
Movin’ Around the World: Winter. Northwest Folklife presents a festival that explores culture through music, dancing, arts and crafts, workshops and more. Daily through Feb. 21 from 11 am to 2:30 pm. $. Seattle Center Armory (Lower Queen Anne). www.nwfolklife.org NORTH SOUND
The Fly Fishing Show. Two days of fly fishing fun, including casting demos, a learning center for kids, scout merit badges and a film festival. 9 am to 5:30 pm today, 9 am to 4:30 pm Sun. $-$$, ages 5 & younger FREE. Lynnwood Convention Center. www.flyfishingshow.com SOUTH SOUND
AveKids: The Magic of Jeff Evans. One-man sideshow mixes comedy and magic. 2 pm. $$. Auburn Avenue Theater. www.auburnwa.gov Point Defiance Beach Cleanup. A great opportunity to make a difference in the health of our beaches. Bags, pick-up sticks, gloves, and refreshments provided. Kids welcome with adult supervision. Meet at the marina at 9 am. FREE. Point Defiance Marina, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org BIG KID PICK
Love at the Zoo. Watch as animals receive Valentine-themed enrichment treats. 9:30 am to 4 pm through Sun. Included with admission. $ to $$, free ages 2 and younger. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma. www.pdza.org Pier Peer: Fabulous Fish. Explore marine life below the docks, after hours, and learn about many fish that live in the marina. Afterward, warm up with hot chocolate. Ages 8 and older. Pre-register. 7:30 pm. $$. Point Defiance Marina, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org
Thursday, February 20 EASTSIDE
Wintergrass. Bluegrass music festival includes concerts, dances, music jams, workshops, and kids’ workshops. Various hours through Sun. (see schedule online). $$ to $$$, free ages 11 and younger. Hyatt Regency, Bellevue. www.wintergrass.com
Saturday, February 22 S E AT T L E A R E A
I Love Forests Story Time. Learn how taking a walk through nature can help us calm down, and play with puzzles and blocks. 10:30 to 11:15 am. FREE. Miller Library, UW Botanic Gardens, Seattle (U District). www.depts.washington.edu/hortlib/ events/story-time/ Family Concert: Wonder Woman. Seattle Symphony puts on a performance filled with girl power! Celebrate female composers including Boulanger, Beach and Price. Designed for ages 6-12. 11 am, arrive 30
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Mystery Weekend. Someone has committed a terrible crime in Langley and it’s up to you to figure out who-dun-it. Sleuths of all ages are invited to participate in the longest running mystery weekend in the U.S. 10 am to 5 pm today, 10 am to 4 pm Sun. $$. Langley Chamber of Commerce www.visitlangley.com
Tuesday, February 25 S E AT T L E A R E A
Seattle Symphony Community Concert. In partnership with the community, Seattle Symphony performs a live concert for the public to enjoy. 7 pm. FREE. IKEA Performing Arts Center, Renton. www.seattlesymphony.org
Wednesday, February 26 S E AT T L E A R E A
Community Concert at City Hall. In partnership with the community, Seattle Symphony performs a live concert for the public to enjoy. 7 pm. FREE. Seattle City Hall, Seattle. www.seattlesymphony.org Northwest Flower & Garden Show. Preview spring with display gardens, vendor marketplace, seminars, and a treasure hunt for kids. 9 am to 8 pm through Sat., 9 am to 6 pm Sun. $ to $$$, free ages 12 and younger. Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Downtown Seattle. www.gardenshow.com
Thursday, February 27 S E AT T L E A R E A
Children’s Film Festival Seattle. The largest children’s film festival on the West Coast, with nearly 150 films from countries around the world. Premieres tonight, various times through March 8. $ to $$. Northwest Film Forum, Seattle (Capitol Hill). www.childrensfilm festivalseattle.org
Friday, February 28 S E AT T L E A R E A
Black History Month Program. Celebrate the art, music, poetry, inventions and political contributions of African Americans. 6 pm. FREE (donations welcome). Van Asselt Community Center, Seattle. www.seattle.gov/parks
Saturday, February 29 S E AT T L E A R E A
Maker Day. Tinker, experiment, and create alongside some of Seattle’s most innovative makers. From art to crafts to technology, kids can explore maker culture’s endless possibilities. 10 am to 5 pm. $$, free ages 14 and younger with an adult. MOHAI, Seattle (South Lake Union). www.mohai.org
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