Seattle's Child "The Apart Together Issue" April 2020 by seattleschild

Backyard boredom busters for all

CHOMP

KJ’s Cakery Bakery and Sweet Shop

SHOP

Bags by U helps you make reusable wraps

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t r a p a ther togeISSUE

Building community in a time of social distancing

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YO UR GUI D E TO A KI D - FR I END LY CI T Y

CONTAINER GARDENING WITH KIDS

Keeping kids learning while away from school

BUS SCHOOL ES A BECOM OME COZY H

Painted ‘kindness rocks’: A sign of optimism in these difficult months

Staying active close to home

Ideas and support for parents in these challenging times

R S E AT T L E S C H I L D.C O M

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„ Find us online at seattleschild.com

»Publisher’sNote

SKILLS FOR THEATRE SKILLS FOR LIFE

Taking one step at a time

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SUMMER S AGE CAMR P EVERY FUN FO

L! AND LEVE

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✸ ✸ REGISTER TODAY!

VILLAGEKIDSTAGE.ORG

Dear Reader, We decided to go digital-only with our April issue because we had few ways to get the print edition into your hands without risk. The magazine will be back out there as soon as possible, and in the meantime, we’re here for you with all the support and information we can muster everywhere digital from seattleschild.com to Instagram and Facebook Live. We all sure had the rug pulled out from under us, didn’t we? As parents, protecting our families from harm has always been our biggest worry, but until now that might take the form of keeping the toddler out of the street, coaching our kid on handling a bully, or getting the teen to stick to curfew (none of which has ever been easy). Now we face keeping away an invisible, terrifying menace with our only weapons being “Happy Birthday” hand washing and staying away from friends and extended family. We feel the cold grip of fear take hold on a regular basis, and the sense of vulnerability that usually stays tucked far away has become a constant companion. While getting out the door in the morning on time used to be the day’s big challenge, our new most daunting task is maintaining one’s equilibrium while

establishing new routines to give our kids the structure they need. That former life we had before “it” turned everything upside down feels dreamy and very, very far away. I find great comfort these days in the advice my dad gave me when I was in a tough stretch: “Just take one step at a time.” Now that we’re not running past each other all the time in a rush to get someplace else, you may find yourself getting plenty of practice in “being present” from the little meditation teachers in your house, nudging you over and over to focus only on what’s in front of you right now and asking you to really look at and listen to them. With bouquets and birdsongs of encouragement, spring carries us forward to better times. When we do finally emerge from our homes, I imagine we’ll bring stronger emotional muscles built up by the daily heavy workouts we’re getting, and a greater appreciation for our profound dependence on one another. What do you hope to bring with you when this oddest and scariest of times is finally over? Ann Bergman

>>Contents Petite auCM2 CM2 Petite section section au École tousniveaux niveaux Écolehomologuée homologuée tous Petite section Programmes françaisau et américains Programmes français etCM2 américains École homologuée tous niveaux Communauté accueillante Communauté accueillante Programmes français et américains Communauté accueillante

Excellence in Bilingual Education Preschool – 5th grade Excellence in Bilingual Education Excellence in Bilingual Education French and American Curricula th grade Preschool Preschool –– 55th grade French American Curricula Frenchand and American 425 653 3970Curricula admissions@fisw.org 425 653 653 3970 425 3970 www.fisw.org admissions@fisw.org 4211admissions@fisw.org W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE www.fisw.org Bellevue, WA 98008 www.fisw.org 4211 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy SE

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Seattle’sChild April 2020 / Issue 482

WHAT PARENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT....... 3 DAD NEXT DOOR................ 7 ROMP........................................... 9 CHOMP......................................13 SHOP..........................................15 FEATURE CONTAINER GARDENING WITH KIDS...............................17 MAKING HOME.....................21

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Because many Seattle-area events have been canceled or rescheduled amid concern over the coronavirus pandemic, there’s no Calendar in this issue. „ For up-to-the-minute calendar listings, including virtual events, visit us at seattleschild.com/ main-calendar

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Cover photo by JOSHUA HUSTON

Don’t miss these stories on seattleschild.com

Event calendar Online activities you can do at home

Gardening guide The perfect family project for spring

Like riding a bike Teaching your kids? Try this approach

»What Parents

„ Find more local news for families on seattleschild.com

Are Talking About Education, health, development and more

A neighborhood Shamrock Hunt in Broadview engages families and helps a community feel connected.

How to connect while apart Distance makes the heart grow stronger; several good ways to stay connected by E R I K A A L A M A N Z A B R O W N / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N

When I learned that 60 children at Compass Broadview, an affordable housing community for low-income residents in my neighborhood who depend

on free school, would have a gap in services due to coronavirus closure, I wanted to help. Less than 24 hours after posting a call to action on Facebook community groups, we delivered 65 meals to Compass. I was amazed by how many people were willing to show up (at a safe social distance) and rally for our community when given the opportunity. “We need ‘social distancing approved’ community activities and events to remind us that we are all still together during this

time of separation. We’re not alone, but it sure feels that way at times,” writes Stacey Koutlas, a local real estate agent and Broadview mother of two young boys. For St. Patrick’s Day last month, Koutlas and other Seattleites organized Shamrock Scavenger Hunts in their neighborhoods. Homebound seniors and other participants trying to stay safe posted green clovers on their windows, chairs and even cars for kids CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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Seattle’sChild April 2020 // Issue 482 “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 BILLSTEIN Art Director boo@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 DR. SUSANNA BLOCK, ERIKA ALMANZA BROWN, FIONA COHEN, JIAYING GRIEGEL, BRETT HAMIL, DANIELLE HAYDEN, REBECCA MONGRAIN, AMY PENNINGTON, KELLY ROGERS FLYNT, JASMIN THANKACHEN, LEAH WINTERS Contributing Writers JASMIN THANKACHEN Admin Coordinator/Project Manager ADVERTISING KIM LOVE Ad Production Manager klove@seattleschild.com 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 (May 1 for June publication). Include date, time, cost, appropriate ages, address, contact information and description.

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«What Parents Are Talking About CONTINUED

to spot. This simple, impromptu community effort raised the spirits of families out on walks and the seniors who waved from behind windows or screened doors. While practicing social distancing can result in the feeling of complete isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, we can still strive to build community safely and effectively. Here are some more ideas to get you started: Launch a food or supplies drive for neighbors in need. Contact low-income housing developments, schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations to identify a specific need and begin a food or supplies drive. You can then initiate a call to action to your neighbors via email or posted signs, via your Buy Nothing Project Facebook Group, or on Facebook groups like the Seattle Help for Parents & Caregivers During the COVID-19 Outbreak, to collect essential items from neighbors’ front doorsteps, or set out a bin for people to drop off donations on your porch. Hold a community event. Like the Shamrock Scavenger Hunt, ask neighbors to post pictures of rainbows on their street-facing windows or cars on National Find a Rainbow Day, April 3. Do the same on National High Five Day, April 16, by inviting neighbors to trace their handprints on a sheet of paper to post. Another idea is to invite your block or building to step outside or in the hallway at a particular date and time to enjoy a communal toast. Embrace snail mail. Invite your children to practice the craft of writing informal letters to a classmate, relative or elderly neighbor at a senior living facility

which has recently restricted visitors. Typing letters promotes keyboard skills, while handwritten ones encourage handwriting skills. It’s a win-win! Coordinate a fairy, dinosaur, edible or flower garden tour. Celebrate National Gardening Day on Tuesday, April 14, by informing your neighbors via social media and posted signs around your neighborhood about holding a community garden tour. Encourage participants to email you their addresses, then create a custom map specific to your neighborhood using Google My Maps, with the locations of the different types of gardens, or choose to focus on one theme. Then share the maps electronically or post printed copies throughout your neighborhood, stored inside page protectors, for people to retrieve. Hold a neighborhood art walk. Similar to the garden tour described above, hold a neighborhood art walk. Ask participants of all ages to display their own artwork, from clay sculptures to paintings outside on their front yards, or on mailboxes for others to enjoy. You can also create an outdoor gallery by using painter’s tape to hang artwork inside a page protector onto a neighbor’s long fence or wall (with their permission, of course). Schedule a virtual hangout. Virtual meetups are commonplace, and these days essential, on various platforms like Google Hangouts, Facebook Live or Zoom. Take questions from out-of-state loved ones about current life in Seattle, or ask someone experienced to lead a yoga, tai chi, or mindfulness session through video conferencing. Kindness rocks. Paint kindness rocks with encouraging messages and leave them along walking paths throughout your neighborhood for neighbors to seek and find. Include cheerful notes using permanent markers, like “We’ve got this, Seattle” because together, we do.

»ToolBox

What every parent needs to have on hand

Help for families coping with coronavirus anxiety Parents have questions: We have answers from a local pediatrician

Discover the history and culture of the Tulalip Tribes

by D R . S U S A N N A B L O C K OF KAISER PERMANENTE

The coronavirus pandemic has arrived in our region, but there’s no need to panic. Thanks for reaching out with your questions, so that we can share our best information to keep our families safe as we learn more about this virus, and how it’s spreading within our community. How can we keep our kids from getting coronavirus? This goes back to the community guidance we’ve all heard of — social distancing. We know that COVID-19 can spread easily by droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is important to stay home unless doing essential tasks (at the pharmacy, grocery, etc.) It is extremely important to stay home when we’re sick. Helping kids remember to cover coughs, wash hands, and avoid face-touching is key. These steps will go a long way toward keeping us feeling well. As parents, we can set the tone for our kids by balancing important health messaging (wash your hands!) with some fun. Since we are washing our hands a million times per day, consider using fun scented or sparkly soaps, sing a song with your kids while they wash, and give out stickers or rewards for frequent hand washing.

S H U TTE RSTOCK

Does hand sanitizer help? Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds is the best thing that you can do, but if you’re in a place where that isn’t an option or have recently coughed or sneezed into your hand, hand sanitizer is always a good option until you can get to soap and water. Remember to cough or sneeze into your elbow and disinfect surfaces that you frequently come into contact with. My child has a doctor visit scheduled in the next few weeks. What should I do?

You can spread the coronavirus without displaying these symptoms: Fever, a persistent dry cough, and shortness of breath.

If you can, convert the visit to a virtual or phone visit. It’s safest to stay in your home, plus you’d be making sure in-person visits are saved for those who need them most. What are some things we should keep in mind in these times when all of our lives are upended? Kids thrive on routine. Try to make sure they still have a routine, even if it’s a little different. Think about their regular personal hygiene habits, their bedtimes, their diets and their play. The more you can set a weekday schedule and stick to it, the better. Give kids a chance to make some decisions about activities they would like to do, and mix in periods of structured activity with free time. At the same time, make sure you’re taking care of yourself. Get enough sleep, get outside and keep your body moving, and keep your healthy habits. Make a point of reaching out to those you love to keep your relationships strong, even as we keep our physical distance. My child is very afraid of coronavirus. What can I do? Acknowledge their questions and fears — their feelings are perfectly normal. Take a moment to talk to them about what is going on. Provide them with an age-appropriate overview of the situation, emphasizing steps you are taking to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy. Relay information in short, brief conversations, and find a time each day to check in and ask them what they’re hearing, and if they have any questions. Checking in

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CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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Challenging K-12 students in an intellectual community through early entrance, outreach and online programs.

»ToolBox Keep them learning online A former K-8 teacher and mom to three boys shares her favorite remote learning tools by L E A H W I N T E R S

Transition School • Early Entrance Program UW Academy • Online Courses Saturday Enrichment • Online Program Summer Programs • Professional Development

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As parents, we’re all trying our best to maintain a sense of calm amid the coronavirus chaos, but when schools close and “homeschool” is thrown into the equation, things can feel daunting. We’re here to help you out. Khan Academy. If you don’t know about this one yet, you should. Originally a math education go-to, Khan now offers support for learners, teachers, districts and parents, and lessons ranging from science to grammar to history and much more. q khanacademy.org Storyline Online. Created to instill a love of reading in young people, this website has a collection of children’s stories read aloud by actors and actresses from the Screen Actors Guild. q storylineonline.net Biblionasium. A great (safe!) space for online reading for kids, and a way for kids to discover books and share reviews and recommendations with each other. q biblionasium.com ReadWorks. Thousands of fiction and nonfiction reading passages under a wide range of topics, including Arts & Culture, Earth & Space Science, Geography & Societies, and many more. Use the audio book function, answer questions after a reading, and do vocabulary activities to test knowledge. q readworks.org

Quill. This is a great writing practice tool, helping kids to develop well-structured sentences, respond to writing prompts, develop strong editing skills, and many other skills. q quill.org Scratch. An introductory programming website, where kids can learn to create interactive stories, games and animations through coding, and then share them with others. q scratch.mit.edu Tinkercad. This is an awesome website for 3D design, electronics, and coding. Minecraft fans will get a kick out of the Minecraft Modeler! There’s something here for every aspiring engineer/designer. q Tinkercad.com SciStarter. It’s not a traditional learning practice tool, but this website offers “citizen science” projects that kids and families can contribute to from home. q Scistarter.com PhET. University of Colorado Boulder offers interactive simulations for investigating physics, chemistry, math, earth science and biology. q phet.colorado.edu NASA Kids’ Club. There’s so much science to discover here, it’ll keep kids busy for hours! Try the Space Place, where kids can play games, do online crafts, and more, all relating to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. q nasa.gov/kidsclub; spaceplace.nasa.gov BrainPOP. Designed with fun, kid-friendly animation, this favorite offers learning within traditional academic subjects, and provides endless tools within just a few clicks. Watch a video to learn about body systems, take a quiz on the Agricultural Revolution, and more. q brainpop.com

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questions CONTINUED

with them again the next day allows your child to determine the information they need without becoming overwhelmed. It also helps to limit children’s exposure to the news. To a child, it can sound scary and alarming. Be thoughtful about what news, and how much they could be hearing.

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What should a parent do if they suspect they or their child has COVID-19? The first thing you should do is call your doctor or consulting nurse. They can assess your symptoms and direct the best course of action. For many individuals, coronavirus may be a mild illness that

doesn’t require additional treatment. If you are experiencing greater respiratory symptoms, your doctor can advise next steps including evaluation and treatment. What about playdates and playgrounds? Because we’re all doing our best on social distancing, now isn’t a great time for playdates. Going outdoors is fantastic, though, and necessary — head on outside and play. It’s best if they maintain contact only with immediate family members. Dr. Susanna Block is a board-certified pediatrician in Seattle with more than two decades of professional experience. She is affiliated with Kaiser Permanente’s Capitol Hill Campus.

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

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We’ll get through the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 somehow — apart, but together I’m scared. We all are. I’d love to be the calming, Marcus Welby voice of medical reason, but everything I know about this pandemic tells me that our fears are completely justified. I don’t know what the world will look like on the other side of this, but it will change — and so will we. Some of that change is beyond our control. Some of it is not. I took a walk yesterday in my neighborhood. It was a gorgeous spring day. The sky was clear and blue, the magnolias and dogwoods were blooming, the air smelled of clematis and sun-warmed earth — and the streets were empty. The usual distant roar of traffic on the I-90 bridge was replaced by birdsong. A few people walked in pairs or alone, crossing the street and waving politely as we passed, speeding up a little to re-establish our safety zones. I paused outside a house where street-hockey equipment and a soccer ball lay unused in the yard, and the sound of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” played haltingly on piano filtered through the closed windows. That’s when I realized that I’m not just scared — I’m sad. Right now, I’m separated from Jess and Pippa. They’re down in Berkeley, both healthy (thank goodness), and sheltering at home. Our nightly video chats and dinners are lovely, but when they’re over, my house feels twice as empty as before. Most of you have the opposite problem. You’re sheltering at home with a household stuffed to the rafters with

people, pets, noise, boredom, anxiety and uncertainty. So much uncertainty. People can bear almost anything when they can see its end. We don’t have that luxury right now. Here are a few thoughts on how we all might get through this, not only intact, but maybe even a little better than before. • Reconnect. Remember all those times you thought about making family dinners more of a ritual? Or having family meetings? Or starting a regular game night? Somebody’s work or soccer game or school project always got in the way. Guess what? You now have a captive audience. Sit down with everyone and brainstorm some ideas. And if no one is all that enthusiastic, go for it anyway. If it’s the only game in town, they just might give it a try. • Recharge. At the same time that you’re fostering togetherness, make some room for apartness. Particularly if there are introverts in your family, people need some time and space to themselves that may be hard to come by. Institute an official quiet hour. Order some headphones and some good books. Encourage people to go for a walk. • Go outside. Nature lowers our blood pressure, reduces our stress hormones, alleviates our anxiety and strengthens our immune systems. Raise your hand if you’re interested in that. While you’re out there, exercise — so your body doesn’t turn into a giant jelly donut. Exercise strengthens all the positive effects of nature. Just do it. Doctor’s orders. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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• Make some rules. When people are overly crowded, the social fabric begins to fray at the seams. Structure keeps us from unraveling. Sit down with everyone and solve conflicts before they occur. TV and screen rules. Personal space rules. Noise rules. Food rules. Household chores. Communication norms. Run it like the Tokyo subways, not the Lord of the Flies. • Reach out. If the walls of your home start to close in on you, dig a tunnel into someone else’s. Or just use the tunnel that’s already there — the internet. We have to stop thinking of Zoom meetings and Skype and Google Hangouts as things you can only do with your colleague in Chicago or your great-aunt in New Zealand. It works just as well with your friends down the block and across town. Use them for dinner parties, movie night, AA meetings and “Stitch ’n’ Bitch” sessions. Use it just to say “Hi — I miss you.” If there’s one silver lining about this whole crisis, it’s that we may end up appreciating each other in ways we never have before. • Be curious. A funny thing happens when you spend a lot of time around people — you learn about them. You see new things and share new thoughts. Not necessarily big, important ones (though those happen, too), but small, unexpected ones. Sit back, be patient, and be observant. Listen really well. Pay attention to your own reactions, and how you affect those around you. Think of yourself as an anthropologist in a strange, new land. • Forgive. When people are scared and nerves are raw, we do and say things that we later regret. Let’s cut each other some slack. Forgive the people around you. Forgive yourself. Be thankful that in these terrifying times, we have such imperfect, annoying, precious, miraculous people to love us and to receive our love. Stay safe, stay home, be kind. We’ll get through this somehow — apart, but together.

2020-03-10 1:01 PM

Jeff Lee still remembers Marcus Welby, in Seattle.

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5 things to do

Fresh ideas for fun at home

Right under your nose!

Support remote learning Read aloud to a favorite stuffed animal. Write a “how-to” book (for example, “How to make a sandwich”). Choose an act of kindness for a family member. Write a poem or a song. Use recyclables to make something that moves. Or make a magic wand! What would it be able to do? — Leah Winters

1 Cloudy ways Make a cloud in a jar with a few simple items from around the house. All you need is a glass jar with a lid, matches, hot water and ice to make clouds.

»Romp

3 playdoughtoplato.com

2 DIY light tunnel Grab a large cardboard box and poke holes in one or both sides, while opening the ends up to create a tunnel. Once you have all the holes poked, push Christmas lights into each one.

Things to do with kids

3 Magic plant absorption Take four jars of water, add a few drops of food coloring. Next, take four cabbage leaves or flowers and put them in the water, stem first. The colored water will travel up the leaves for a color transformation.

4 Epic art session Roll out some butcher paper on the floor and have the kids go to town. Give them crayons, pencils and markers, and watch their artistic sensibilities open up with a giant canvas.

Camping in the backyard can feel like a wilderness adventure.

Backyard blah busters Now that spring is here, help kids beat boredom with these fun and close-to-home outside activities by L E A H W I N T E R S / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N

The days are getting just a little bit longer, warmer and brighter, so take a break from the indoors and get outside to play. We’ve even snuck some learning into these activities, too. Everybody wins!

Age 4 and under Bubbles dance party. Put on some fun tunes, break out the bubbles and wands, and let everyone’s worries melt away! This is a great activity when moods are on edge or people are feeling extra

cooped up and need a break. While you’re blowing bubbles, please find a place in your yard or driveway where they won’t float onto the neighbors. Pom-pom water play. Fill an old tub with water and a few handfuls of colorful pom-poms. Let the pom-poms soak up the water (if you don’t have pom-poms, use

5 Sensory treasure hunt Sensory bins can be a great quiet activity. Fill a bin with small toys from around the house. Then cover them with dried beans, rice or oatmeal. Kids love hunting for items, and this activity will provide hours of play.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

— Rebecca Mongrain

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actual sponges). Kids can squeeze the water out, squish them together, and try other calming sensory activities. Chalk letters. This outdoor game only requires chalk and a spray bottle filled with water. Write out the letters of the alphabet on the sidewalk and have your toddler “erase” each letter as you say it by spraying it with water! Backyard bug hunt. Or dinos! Or any plastic animal set you have. Ask an older sibling to do the hiding and let the fun begin! Play “hot or cold” to give hints about the creatures’ locations, and collect them in a basket. Ages 5 to 9 Outdoor scavenger hunt. Depending on their age, you can have kids create their own list of items to find, or younger kids can simply point out interesting things that they see in the backyard and draw them.

Rock spelling. Have fun collecting small, smooth rocks that fit into the palm of kids’ hands. Write one letter on each rock (paint pens are awesome and great for many projects) and spell out different words. Or use pebbles and arrange them to create bigger letters.

Ages 10 and older Backyard Olympics. Set up a bean-bag toss station, a water bucket relay, or a balance beam, using 2x4s in the garage. Break out the balloons for a balloon-popping event, team up for wheelbarrow races, and finish with a game of dodgeball.

Erupting volcano. Create a small “mountain” in the dirt, then place a plastic cup inside so the rim is level with the top of the mountain. Add a few tablespoons of baking soda. In a separate container, mix about a half-cup of vinegar with some food coloring, and pour it into the cup for some “explosive” fun!

Have a picnic. Have older kids make lunch for the whole family, and set up a blanket outside. Ask about something that each person learned today, or something new they tried.

Paint with nature. Use leaves, branches, and blades of grass as paint brushes, and water as paint! Kids will have a blast painting on lawn furniture, the patio, even the side of the house! Depending on the surface, the water will be easy or more challenging to see. Have a conversation about why that might be.

Pitch a tent. Break out the tent and have bigger kids try to figure out how to set it up! Then bring out pillows and blankets, and you’ve got backyard camping.

q Find our Virtual Events Calendar on the Seattle’s Child mobile app » seattleschild.com/app

BE CURIOUS. GET GROWING.

Escape from Seattle!

Once in a blue moon

Escape to the islands… Orcas Island! Enjoy a couple of days away from city life, tending to sheep, goats, geese and ducks at Once in a Blue Moon Farm. At this multigenerational working farm, children will love doing farm chores. Parents will love the fresh air, the delicious farm-fresh eggs, flower picking and the fruit harvest. — Jasmin Thankachen

Book your stay at onceinabluemoonfarm.com

This spring, explore the wild in the heart of Bellevue. Early learners can get hands-on with nature, stomp around the wetlands, and get up close with critters.

Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center is a collaboration between the City of Bellevue and Pacific Science Center.

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P H OTOS: S H U TTE RSTOCK , O N CE I N A B LU E M OO N FA RM

Book your visit today at pacsci.org/mercer-slough.

Walk this way! Transform your family walks into mini-adventures by K E L L Y R O G E R S F L Y N T

Going out for family walks is one of the few recreation options permitted for families during the current stay-at-home order. Here are a few ideas to make the most of your time outside: Pick up leaves and flowers, and identify them at home. Kids love to pick up treasures along the way, so make a challenge to see how many different types of leaves you can find on a walk. Later, if your child is interested, you can try to match the leaves on the U.S. Forest Service website. Include motor-skill challenges to keep little ones interested. Can you hop this whole block, or

to that sign? Can you not step on any cracks, do the chicken walk, gallop like a horse, etc.? The kids can make up their own challenges that will give them extra exercise while having fun, too. Conduct a bird count. Ask your children how many birds they think they will see on the walk. Count and compare the results from different walks. Crafty mathematicians can even make a bar graph to color in the results from each walk. To make it a more focused target, just look for one type of bird that kids can easily identify, such as crows. Play the “wave” game. How many waves can you get? See how many people you can get to wave back to you on your walk. This challenge is especially good for shaking off the blues or a bad mood, and for giving your neighbors a little boost as they cope with social distancing.

Mix up family walks to keep kids engaged and even sneak in more exercise.

Who are the people in your neighborhood? Use the classic Sesame Street song as a base and make up verses about your neighbors. Making up silly songs is a great way to practice rhyming. Play “Simon Says” as you walk. It’s a great game for concentration, silliness and taking turns being the boss, which kids usually enjoy. Play “I Spy” as you walk. This game is much better on walks than in a car; there are no

worries about having already passed what was spied. Learn some simple dances. The Bunny Hop and the Conga Line are great to include on your walk. They provide practice for coordination, as well as a chance to help children learn right from left. Walking is a great form of family exercise that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. So even if it requires social distance, get out there and walk together.

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Recess at home Have the kids run around the kitchen island, jump over trucks or dolls, maneuver around a Lego tower — the options are plentiful, and the movement is abundant!

by L E A H W I N T E R S

Paint Footprints. Wrap feet in bubble or plastic wrap, and lay out a long piece of butcher paper, or even flattened, cut-out paper grocery bags, and break out the paint! Obviously, do this in a space you don’t mind getting messy, like the garage.

Kids stuck in the house and spending hours on screens? Remote learning is definitely our friend at the moment, don’t get us wrong, but brain breaks are especially important when these young minds don’t have as much social stimulation throughout the day. Here are some super fun ways you can get recess in without even going outside! Uno Movement Game. Got a deck of Uno cards? Who doesn’t, right? Give each color a movement, like red = hop or blue = twirl, and each time someone draws a card they should do that movement. Draw a blue 2, do two twirls! Draw a red 10? You guessed it; 10 hops! Obstacle Course. Use things you have around the house, like pillows, toys, masking tape, and whatever else, to build the course.

Build a Fort. Have bigger kids build a living-room fort for their younger siblings, cousins, etc. The younger kiddos get to be the “client”; the older ones are the “designers.” Would the clients like a cozy reading nook? A secret passageway? A skylight? Practice teamwork to get the job done, then crawl around and play all day. The Floor is Lava. Really for any age, this one will get them moving. Jump around the house on furniture, pillows, blankets, whatever you want to lay out. Any time someone touches the floor, they’ve hit lava and they’re out.

Build a fort!

Crab Soccer. This one can be played indoors or outdoors, and is sure to get a laugh. Divide kids into two teams and create goals in the playing space. Everyone must play in the “crab position” (knees and hips up, hands and feet for walking) for the whole game, and only use feet to kick the ball. The team to score the most goals wins!

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A few activities to get the wiggles out if you’re quarantined inside with your children

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„ More on feeding your family at seattleschild.com

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Meal support

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Sack lunches don’t stop

Seattle Public Schools is providing sack lunches for all students in need, Monday through Friday from 11 am to 1 pm, while schools are closed. Any family member can pick up the meal at one of 26 locations. Food bank volunteers are preparing nonperishable food items for weekend pickup. Visit seattleschools. org for the location of a meal support site near you.

»Chomp Eating with kids

Tasty to-go

Support a local restaurant Restaurants are offering curbside pickup, takeout and delivery to stay afloat; take a night off from cooking and support a local business. Jerk Shack. The Belltown Caribbean restaurant is delivering kid-friendly microwaveable meals.

jerkshackseattle.com

Pickup Meal. Order from Asian-owned restaurants in the Seattle area with no service or delivery fee. Pickup on Tuesdays and Fridays at the location nearest you. pickupmeal.com

Kathy Jo Miller’s delicious dream has come true in Kent.

Order in or cake-out Satisfy your sweet tooth at this new shop in Kent that offers a scrumptious variety of goodies 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 Kathy Jo Miller was growing up in the South, she and her relatives would get together every Sunday after church for fellowship and food. These big family meals, which always included

decadent desserts baked by her grandmothers and aunts, remain a fondly remembered part of her upbringing, and inspired her to begin baking for others in turn. Miller’s very first order — 600 cake pops from a customer here

Birthdays Don’t Stop. Hot Cakes is delivering a selection of their famous desserts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A delicious way to keep birthdays special!

in Seattle — was just the beginning of her success as more and more people started to request her offerings. An engineering background and entrepreneurial mind eventually led her to open her own business. KJ’s Cakery Bakery and Sweet Shop in Kent is a charming, cozy place that opened this past October. Since then, the

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Be Intentional. Intentionalist, an online guide to supporting diverse local business owners, has created a Takeout and Delivery Directory.

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intentionalist.com — Sydney Parker

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Don’t forget about the candy at KJ’s.

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establishment has offered treats such as cupcakes (including some vegan options), the bestselling “sammies” (cookie sandwiches with different flavors of buttercream frosting in the middle) and the cake pops that started it all. The fun doesn’t stop at baked goods. The business also sells an assortment of candy like Miller used to find at the penny store of her youth, as well as a panoply of popcorn flavors and several varieties of cotton candy. Miller says that she wanted to create an “old-fashioned sweet shop where people would want to come with their kids.” As an added crowd pleaser, the treats are set against a backdrop made to look like multicolored sprinkles. You can order items individually or put a collection of items in your own sweet box to take home. For birthday parties and other events, the shop takes custom orders as well. They’ve done everything from unicorn cupcakes to a Nerf cake to Marvel-themed creations. A cake pillow with a crown on it that Miller made was a particularly touching experience. The recipient was a young lady who had never had a birthday cake before, and she was so

excited to receive it. “The joy on that little girl’s face …[things like that are] the most rewarding aspect.” The shop has hosted a class for kids and their parents to learn the craft of decorating, and Miller intends to add more classes in the near future for those little chefs in the making. Starting in June, the shop plans to add ice cream to its menu just in time for the summer. Planning some time away from the kids? Stay tuned for Miller’s grownups-only Cupcakes & Cocktails. q KJ’s Cakery Bakery and Sweet Shop, 204 Central Ave. N., #102, Kent; (253) 277-2516 kjscakerybakery.com

Custom cakes and cupcakes are the Cakery Bakery’s specialty.

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„ More shopping local on seattleschild.com

Q&A

Where do you love to shop in the city? Kelsey Alford Pediatric nurse practitioner, mother of two and founder of Nested Sleep

Things we love

My favorite shop for all things related to mama and baby sleep is Village Maternity in University Village. They carry the best pajamas for the middle-of-the-night nursing sessions, and they stock my favorite portable sound machines. An added perk: they also have new-mama classes such as yoga, infant massage and baby sleep workshops.

»Shop

Suds for good Every kid loves splashing in a sudsy tub, and parents love Alaffia’s bubble bath because it smells nice and is gentle on skin. A portion of each purchase goes to help improve living conditions in West Africa. The Olympiabased company was founded by a couple who met in Togo. Shea Butter Lemon Lavender bubble bath, $14.99.

Lively + locally made

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Sophia Morris (center) and her friends are doing well by doing good.

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That’s a (reusable) wrap! Kid makers behind Bags by U raise money, reduce plastic with sustainable bags and wraps by J I A Y I N G G R Y G I E L / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N

Here’s an unusual business model: Encourage customers to copy your product and make more. Bags by U is a youth group that sells fabric grocery bags and beeswax wraps — and helps

people make their own. Its goal is to keep single-use plastics out of the ocean, and all of iits proceeds go to environmental education and charity. “The public should use them for reducing our single-use

Adding cuteness

plastic and trash to reduce climate change and global warming,” says Sophia Morris, 14, who started Bags by U last year. “The true reason why I do it is because there are so many animals dying every year from water pollution, air pollution — all the pollution you can think of. It’s really sad.” You can buy the produce bags

Seattle artist Kela Wong draws her inspiration from her Asian-American heritage and her love of corgis; both themes run through her hand-illustrated cards and stickers. Her style is pretty and happy, and her mooncake stickers might even make you hungry! Sheet of stickers, $1.99.

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«Shop CONTINUED

SEATTLEʼS PREMIER NANNY AGENCY “Your child deserves the best, and so do you”

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www.sammamishmontessori.com • 425-883-3271 16

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and wax wraps online at rycyclebags.com or at The Recology Store, which has locations in Shoreline, Burien, Issaquah and Bothell. Beeswax wraps are $5 each, and bags are $8 each or 4 for $24. Bags by U also holds events where the kids bring sewing machines and people can make everything for free. Or go to BagsbyU. weebly.com for YouTube tutorials on how to make your own. “It only turns out that we sell them because demand is high and not everyone wants to make them,” says RyAnn Morris, Sophia’s mom. After coming up with the idea of making bags, Sophia and her mom took sewing classes and her grandmother bought her a sewing machine. Now Bags by U has two groups: the Burien group meets at her house, and there’s another group that meets at Queen Anne’s Cascade Parent Partnership, where she takes classes with other homeschooled kids. “We started making them because I was inspired to try to get our family to be zero-waste and produce less trash in general,” Sophia says. “It was a step in stopping plastic pollution and getting a more healthy environment.” The kids are using the money they raise to go on a Salish Sea expedition, and donating the remainder to The Ocean Cleanup. Another big part of Bags by U is education. The kids make presentations about why environmental sustainability is important and teach people how to recycle properly. “We’ll play a game,” Sophia says. “We’ll say, ‘Where do you think this goes?’ ” Start with a big pile of trash, and sort it into four piles: compost, recycling, TerraCycle and landfill. The Bags by U kids also took a field trip to PCC Community Markets to see how they could shop zero-waste. They walked through all the departments of the grocery store with their own jars and bags to refill, and explored eco-friendlier alternatives like bar shampoo. RyAnn and Sophia went through their whole house to figure out how to reduce their waste. They only use vinegar and baking soda to clean. When they’re out and about, they bring their own water bottles, coffee cups, bamboo silverware, and of course, their own bags.

Like children, plants need room to stretch their roots. While we may be confined to small spaces during the “stay home, stay healthy” order, the blooming spring buds remind us that nature finds a way. Brighten your family’s days through the joys of gardening.

SEEDS OF WONDER ALL YOU NEED? SOIL, SUN, WATER Container gardening introduces children to the pleasure of growing food Story and photos by AMY PENNINGTON

If I were a betting kind of gal (and I am), I’d wager that your kids bring home a Styrofoam cup packed full of soil and a bean seed from school at some point during the year. But what to do with that seed once it’s home? Growing food in pots is a small enough project to knock out in an afternoon and a long enough project to produce delicious results. It’s also a great way to introduce children of all ages to the pleasure of growing food. Getting kids interested in gardening is pretty easy to do — they love sticking seeds in the soil. And, as my 5-year old niece, Nathalie, so elementally stated: “You stick the seeds in, and then it needs water and sun” — pretty simple stuff. But it’s helpful to know from the onset that not all vegetables grow well in containers. By planting in a contained environment, you are inhibiting the plant’s growth to some extent. Think about it: Plants can

Getting kids interested in gardening is easy to do.

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send out roots and root hairs only as far as the walls of the pot allow. Restricted by the pot, not all plants will come to full maturity and produce food. This presents the biggest challenge of growing food in small spaces. The most important thing to remember,

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as with any project, is to have fun. Here, we cover a few tips on getting started and ensuring success for your little urban farmers. Getting started To start a garden in containers, you must use potting soil in your containers. These soil mixes are formulated to maintain a certain level of lightness so that plants are

able to breathe, drain well, and still hold in some moisture. (Air is right up there with sun and water in importance to healthy, thriving plants!) Look for organic potting soil mixes from smaller regional companies rather than the national brands you’ll find in big-box stores. Choose a potting soil that has no added fertilizer or nutrients — seeds

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Deciding what to grow The ultimate goal is for your garden to be productive, though it’s helpful to choose something kids can harvest independently and appreciate eating. Snap peas are an excellent choice, as are herbs, both of which can be planted in the first few weeks of April. Herbs

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Materials Plastic pots are the least expensive container option. Although they are usually the least attractive option, they hold their moisture longer than clay or ceramic pots and are lighter and easier to move around. Encouraging children to paint artwork on their own containers will spruce them up, and will inspire them to take ownership of the plant as it grows. Clay pots, the next most inexpensive options, are porous, so air moves easily through their walls. This is helpful in that it allows roots to breathe and keeps them out of direct water, but it’s not helpful in that the soil tends to dry out quickly. If you choose clay pots, be sure to purchase a saucer or plate to sit under the pot. This works both to keep moisture off the surface of your deck or patio and to hold in moisture for the plant.

SUMMER TIME CAMPS AND CLASSES

do not need this to germinate, and it’s better to add some on your own later, as needed, by way of a few handfuls of compost. Most plants need a little legroom to stretch their roots. Choose a pot that’s a bit bigger than the plant will actually need. It is better to leave a little wiggle room than to have plant roots mashing up against the container walls. If you allow for some growth, you increase the odds of your plant growing to full maturity. With seeds, water the surface of the pots daily — they only need a full soak once the plant is established. Aim to keep the soil perpetually damp, never wet and definitely don’t let it dry between waterings.

Find registration information online: Woodinville | 21acres.org

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SUMMER TIME CAMPS AND CLASSES

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Watching a pea plant emerge and uncurl itself to bring forth its first leaves is an experience every child (and adult) should have! < Container

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will single-handedly change the flavor of most recipes and most are of cut-andcome again variety, allowing for long term production. Lettuces, too, are wonderful to grow at home. They take up little space, germinate and produce (and reproduce!) quickly, and offer fresh greens for salads, or for a nice leafy garnish. Seeing greens poking out of the soil will encourage watering and plant care — a great daily chore for little ones. Outside of immediate kitchen uses, you can satisfy the green thumb of seriously picky eaters by considering a plant’s use beyond the kitchen. Lavender makes a subtle herb rub for roast chicken and can also be used as herbal stuffing for a small, cozy pillow. Scented geranium leaves can be chopped and used in sweet recipes or steeped to make teas. Whatever you grow, enjoy the fun and wonder of gardening: Watching a pea plant emerge and uncurl itself to bring forth its first leaves is an experience every child (and adult) should have! Amy Pennington is a Seattle cook, author, urban farmer, teacher and TV host. Learn more about cooking and gardening locally at amy-pennington.com

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»MakingHome

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Living large in small and unique spaces

Melanie, Sarah and Baylor love their 240-squarefoot home.

Home is where you park it Meet a family of three (plus their dog) living in a converted school bus by J I A Y I N G G R Y G I E L / photos by J O S H U A H U S T O N

Two mamas, a toddler and their border collie live on a school bus converted into a tiny house on wheels.

Home sweet dream home for the Storey Tumlin family is 34 feet long by 8 feet wide. “It’s really nice to have everything you need in one space — and nothing you don’t,” says Melanie Tumlin. “We’re very intentional about every square foot of this space.” Their skoolie (the term for a school busturned-home) is a 1993 Thomas Saf-T-Liner, chosen specifically for its interior headroom (Tumlin is 5-foot-11). Tumlin and her partner,

Sarah Storey, bought the bus on Craigslist last July and started the renovation in September. They gutted the inside, put in flooring, built walls, cabinets, and finishes. Construction wrapped up at the end of January, and they’ve been living full-time in the bus ever since. Storey spent a month’s worth of naptimes CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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fiddling with the configuration of their 240 square feet on graph paper. The couple chose not to do an open layout, so everyone would have their own space. There’s a queen bed (with room to stash 97 gallons of water underneath), separated by a wall, and 21-month-old Baylor Storey Tumlin has baskets for his toys under his twin bed. “It gives him the space to lay on his bed and read books. And nine times out of 10, he and the dog end up sleeping on the bed together,” Storey says. “We were both pretty minimalist already. When we found out we were having a kid, we knew we didn’t want to change that. The biggest learning curve has been keeping the grandparents at bay. Buying things and sending things. Christmas was difficult.” Tumlin lived on a school bus in graduate school and has built tiny homes before, so she brought her expertise to designing and building their bus. The skoolie has water and electric hook-ups, solar panels and a

The family’s 1993 Thomas Saf-T-Liner has plenty of headroom.

composting toilet. It’s currently parked in Langley, on Whidbey Island, as the family figures out their next move. Tumlin works on Capitol Hill, so they are looking for a location within a reasonable commute that also has outdoor space. The best perk of living in a tiny home on wheels? “For me, it would be mobility,” Storey says. “The ability to take just take our home anywhere, really.” The family moved to the Seattle area from Atlanta, where Tumlin worked at a nonprofit and Storey worked in retail management. Both of them regularly logged 70- and 80-hour weeks, including holidays and weekends. “At some point, we just decided our lives were better served if we could have more adventures and more family time,” Tumlin says. “I didn’t want to wake up one day and he was 5 or 20 and think, ‘What was I doing?’ ”

Take the

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The sun is out! How to pick the right sunscreen You probably already know how important it is to use sunscreen to protect your kids’ skin from sunburns and skin cancer. But how do you know which type of sunscreen offers the best protection? There are 2 types of sunscreens and they both block the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. “UV rays damage skin and increase the risk of skin cancer,” says Tanisha Morton, MD, a Spokane pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente. • Physical sunscreens (also called mineral or natural sunscreens) use ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to filter and bounce the light off the skin. • Chemical sunscreens use active ingredients to absorb UV radiation and prevent it from penetrating the skin cells and causing damage. Both types work, but if your child has sensitive skin, a physical sunscreen that is also fragranceand dye-free may be better since it doesn’t get absorbed into the skin. If breakouts are a concern, choose an oil-free formula that doesn’t block pores.

Here are more tips for choosing and using sunscreen: • Look for a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and use it even on cloudy days (clouds only block a small percentage of UV rays). • Make sure your sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB rays since both cause damage. • Apply enough to cover the entire body — usually about 1 ounce or 5 to 6 teaspoons. • Reapply every 2 hours. • Toss sunscreen that’s beyond the expiration date. • Don’t worry about whether your sunscreen comes as a lotion, cream, or foam — most work equally well.

“The most important thing about sunscreen is to use it on yourself and your child, and to reapply it every couple of hours.” – Dr. Morton