We made them wait until they were teenagers before we bit the bullet, hopped a cheap (compared to current airfares) flight to California and made our way to the Happiest Place on Earth: Disneyland, USA.

Outside the pandemic shutdown years, we have gone to Disneyland a couple times a year since 2014, which is my only credential for offering advice on how to navigate this enormous and privileged parental rite of passage. 

Not rich, just lucky

I don’t think I need to state this, but I will for the record: Our family is not the norm. We happen to reside both in Southern California and Washington and for years were eligible for Disneyland’s SoCal resident annual pass which made going regularly to the theme park uber affordable. We have not bought into the company’s newer, more expensive Magic Key pass system so, who knows, our recent visit may be our last.

Things have changed over those years – attractions have come and gone, the system for beating the lines has changed, crowds have grown, nowadays you’ll spend as much time looking at Disney phone apps as you do the rides. Still, a visit to the original theme park in the Disney collection can be a magical adventure. These tips may help.

NOTE: These tips are about visiting one park: Disneyland. Many families “park hop” between Disneyland and its neighbor Disney California Adventure Park, located across the Disney entrance esplanade. Needless to say, park hopping takes a lot of coordination, the level of which my family and I have yet to master.

One happy teenager at Disneyland. Author photo.

#1 Wait for it

In fact, I’ve already given you my first tip: Wait ’til your kids are old enough to appreciate or at least handle (physically and emotionally) the plane trek, the long wait times for rides, the crowds, the weather and the walking that are all part and parcel of a day at Disneyland. There is no consensus on the exact perfect age for a first visit, but an informal survey of 20 Disneyland tourism and navigation websites suggests waiting until at least age 4. 

On a trip last fall, I found myself in the ice cream line behind a young mom madly bouncing up and down to quiet the crying baby Ergoed to her chest, while simultaneously trying to wrangle a mid-meltdown preschooler into a stroller the size of a Cadillac (although it must have met the park’s stroller size limits). 

I smiled at her encouragingly. She rolled her eyes in that way of exasperated moms and mouthed above her toddler’s head: “Nightmare.” 

My kids were 16 and 13 on our first trip and I have to say watching them shed their teenage bravado for tiaras, mouse ears and younger-kid enthusiasm made a true pixie-dust believer out of me. They would have had just as much fun and been just as pleasant between the ages of 5 and 12. I’m just saying, waiting was the best Disney decision my family ever made. 

Photo by Tejaswi Kasturi

#2 Time it right 

June, July, first half of August . . . all warm and beautiful months in Seattle. Months when you should stay in Seattle, rather than heading to Disneyland for some of the hottest, most packed park days of the year. 

Seriously, we tried a Thursday in July once. All we remember from that visit is the backs of a thousand heads everywhere we turned and it being so hot our Mickey-shaped ice cream melted without a single lick. 

Of course, you have to go when the opportunity arises and a visit to the parks can be wonderful whatever window you choose. But if you can swing it, choose low-crowd days. There are numerous blogs that offer crowd counters and crowd calendars to help you plan for days with the lowest census possible. My favorite calendars can be found online at Undercover Tourist.

Avoid weekends, they are the busiest days in most theme parks, especially Disneyland.

Avoid school breaks and vacation weeks.

If possible, plan a mid-week visit to take advantage of lower census on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

Here are a few of the expected moderate-to-low-crowd days in 2024 from the experienced folks at Undercover Tourist: 

• Weekdays in May (except for graduations nights and Memorial Day)
• June 1-15
• Most of August
• Tuesday through Thursday in September, except Sept. 5

Be sure to check that tickets are available for the dates you choose and purchase them online as far in advance as humanly possible. Or, in Disney terms, up to 120 days before you go. 

Note: Multi-day tickets are less expensive per day than single day tickets – and they don’t need to be used consecutively. Close friends from Seattle came to visit us in our Venice home a couple years ago and took their kids ages 5 and 8 to Disneyland on a Tuesday, to Venice Beach on Wednesday and back to Disneyland on Thursday. Their kids had a blast, had time to digest each day and didn’t get overwhelmed.  

#3 Touch down at John Wayne

Yes, it is generally a few dollars cheaper to fly into the Los Angeles International Airport from Seattle. However, LAX is a crazy beehive of activity and getting in and out of the airport is a time-consuming drag. Not to mention it’s about 33 miles from Disneyland and in LA freeway terms that means a 45-minute to two-hour drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic, amid motorcyclists who love to race up the dividing line between cars. Save the thrill rides for the theme park. Fly into much smaller John Wayne Airport. It’s easier to navigate and just 11 miles from the park. The $20 extra per plane ticket it will cost you will be well worth the decision. 

Plane tickets increase as you move closer to the window of a trip. Secure your plane seats well in advance of your trip for best rates. It’s hard to find the $49 one-way fares we enjoyed on our first Disney trip from Seattle, but if you plan ahead you can find one-way tickets for under $100 per passenger (Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines are your best bets).

Resting in a teacup at Disneyland Hotel.

#4 Stay at a Disney resort

I hate giving this advice because for the price of a night at one of the three Disney hotels located in and around Disneyland, I could feed my family for two months. A room sleeps up to five adults and runs between $500 and $700 (or way more) per night. But, if you are only going to make the trek once or if you want the full-meal deal, staying at a park resort is the way to go. There are a few benefits (discounts, great restaurants on the premises where characters come to visit), but two stand out. 

First, Disney hotel guests get into parks 30 minutes before everyone else. If you plan it right, you can do a lot in those 30 minutes.

Second, you can easily get a midday nap, rest, change of clothes, shower, and so on without having to find your car. If you ignore tip #1 and bring very young children, staying at an attached hotel can be a sanity saver – and help prevent afternoon meltdowns.

#5 Or, don’t

We stayed at a Disney hotel on our first trip and are glad we did. We got a kick out of the character breakfast held in one of the hotel eateries – my daughter hugged Goofy and we all got high fives from Mickey and Minnie. But it must be said that there are wonderful and far cheaper hotel options within easy walking distance of Disneyland – some of which include breakfast. And frankly, we felt way more at home in the less swanky accommodations. Our favorite is Anaheim Camelot Inn where those same five adults can sleep and eat breakfast for aroun $240.

If you stay at a hotel not within walking distance and need to use Disneyland parking lots, be sure to snap a phone photo of your car’s location. Lots are HUGE and finding your car in that sea of metal and fiberglass can be painful after a long day.

#6 Download Disneyland Mobile App BEFORE you go

Not only download it, wander around in it. Get to know it. Make it your best friend. Of all the changes that my family has seen at Disneyland in the last eight years, use of an app to navigate everything from ride waiting times to paid reservations on the busiest rides to food purchases and restaurant reservations is the biggest. Your entrance barcode will also be in the app. 

I will admit I was a little disconcerted during our most recent trip to see so many heads looking down at phones rather than up at the colorful attractions all around – or the other people on the packed paths. But I imagine parents who grew up on technology and their tech-savvy kids will be nonplussed by all the palm gazing and far more adept at using this tool. 

Once you’ve purchased your Disneyland tickets, you can start using the app to plan your park itinerary, look at menus and plan meals, and tick off a lot of other boxes before you even leave Seattle. You’ll need the app to order food at many food venues in the park. You can shop with it. It practically does your laundry. So don’t fight it, the new Disneyland is a digital Disneyland. 

HINT: Save yourself time, upload your credit card into the Disney app before you go to the park.

Waiting for line drop. Photo by flickr.com/photos/jdhilger/

#7 Get in the park entry line early. We mean it. EARLY

In case you missed that: E.A.R.L.Y. 

In general, security starts letting visitors into the park about 30 minutes before the official park opening. You are able to walk into the park and down to the end of Main Street until you hit a rope that is laid across the path. Getting to that rope gives you a big leg up on other visitors in terms of the time it takes to get to your most coveted rides. When Disneyland staff (called cast members) drop the rope, you and yours should make a beeline to your top ride choices. Being at the front of the pack at “Rope Drop” doesn’t assure you’ll be the first on the uber popular new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride, but you’ll be darn close. That same ride will have a line out and around the park by noon so good on you! Get there by 7 a.m. – even if you stay at a resort and have early access, get there 30 minutes to an hour before your entry time.

HINT: Rumor has it that the high-tech Resistance breaks downs more than your average ride. Stay in line. It will get fixed. And since a lot of other people will jump out of line when it briefly closes for a fix, you’ll move quickly up the line.

HINT: Make it swifty through security check by carrying a backpack without a lot of pockets and zippers and holding only the essentials. Snacks, water, money, sunscreen, and so on. If you arrive early enough, I suggest renting a storage locker just outside the gate. They are available first come, first served. It’s a great way to store extras – including a fuller lunch or extra gear – until you want or need them.

#8 Bring your own food

You’re parents. I don’t really need to tell you this. So, consider this just affirming what you know. Kids need snacks, lots of snacks, no matter their size. The more they move, the more they need. We all do. You will be moving a lot around Disneyland. 

There are lots of snacks at Disneyland. Very expensive, largely unhealthy snacks that will hop your kids up and then drop them down into a sugar coma without the balance of healthy foods. So go ahead and book your meals at the very expensive restaurants sprinkled around the park through the app you downloaded and befriended in advance. (In fact, be sure to make your restaurant reservations via the app as soon as you book your park tickets. Seats at the Blue Bijou restaurants in the Pirates ride sell out literally months in advance.) But carry a backpack full of healthy snacks that will stave off hunger, boost energy throughout the day, and save you from hangry family breakdowns. Think non-refrigerated energy foods:

• high protein bars
• chopped fruit and veggies
• peanut butter crackers
• nuts
• sandwiches
• string cheese in cooler months
• cans of chocolate Ensure

And then, once or twice during your day in the park, get them to that character-shaped treat, that full turkey leg (protein!), that crazy big sundae or cloud of cotton candy. The sugar high won’t be so high, nor the low so low, thanks to your good planning and doling.

HINT: You cannot take glass bottles and containers into the park.

#9 Bring the Kraken (or Seahawks or Storm . . .)

Show your team spirit in the form of brightly colored matching T-shirts or jackets so that you can easily see kids and they can see you in a sea of other families (many of whom will be wearing matching shirts from their home teams). When I was a child, my parents took us to a different theme park and forced us to wear bright blue windbreakers with the slogan “Morey’s Mortuary: You stab ‘em, we slab ‘em” on the back. Believe me, my parents couldn’t have lost us if they tried. My kids had it easier: bright orange shirts. Whatever your color or slogan, make it a pack event. 

Most older kids carry phones these days, so texts help keep you connected. But consider installing phone locators on each family member’s phone. And for younger children, consider purchasing a child tracking bracelet (like the Washington-state developed Littlebird tracker) or other wearable device like an Apple Airtag.

While we are on the topic of getting lost, it happens. Thankfully, Disneyland cast members are great at locating lost kids or parents. Literally, go up to any person on the Disney staff and say “My princess is lost” and a whole team of elves and princes will fan out until she’s found safe and sound. If your child gets lost, encourage them to go to Disney staffers (all of whom wear name tags).

#10 Have thought-out plan for the whole day(s)

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel here. People, many people, have dedicated their lives and businesses to doing Disney theme parks as efficiently as humanly possible, hitting all the major rides and attractions by mapping out the best routes, stops, et al. You can use the Disney app to make your own plan, but why waste all the work and experience that groups like Undercovertourist.com or Touringplans.com have put into creating ride itineraries that will meet your needs.

Photo by Shelley Rodrigo

#11 How to beat the looooong lines

There have been books written on how to avoid waiting for rides at Disney parks. Google it and you’ll find hundreds of ideas. But I’ll boil it down to just three: 

1. Use the single rider line. Disney staff use the single rider line to fill in seats on rides and you’ll be in your seat in no time. Yes, that means members of your family may not be in the same car or carriage. But really? Who cares? If your kids are tall enough to ride, try this option with the agreement that everyone will wait at the ride exit before moving on. On our first trip we used single riders a lot and our teens were in heaven as theywhizzed by tired, cranky kids in long lines.
2. For very popular rides, use the Lightning Lane option in your app to purchase a spot close to the front of the line. You can only purchase Lightning Lane spots two times in a single day. Or, pay $25 per person to use the app’s Genie+ service, which allows visitors to Lightning Lane entrance times on select attractions, one at a time, all day long. Keep in mind that these options are available only on certain rides (several high-demand attractions are not on it).
3. Go early, stay late. The shortest lines are first thing in the morning (because you heeded tip #7) and the last few hours before the park closes, when the youngest wrung-out visitors and their parents have thrown in the towel. Tackle the non-Genie+ rides first thing in the morning and save those front-of-the-line cards for later.

HINT: Some rides and attractions close down earlier than others, including that crazy popular Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Be sure you know closing times for your top ride picks. 

HINT: Kids not into parades? Lines shorten up when the evening parade is rolling down Main Street. 

#12 Rider switch

Another reason for waiting for kindergarten before heading to Disneyland is that many rides have height restrictions. But if you couldn’t wait and you’ve entered the adventure with younger, shorter kids, take advantage of the rider switch option offered at rides with restrictions. One parent waits at the exit with the child while the other takes the ride, then using a rider switch pass, the second parent moves to the front of the line to take their turn. Have a sweet snack or special something for the kiddo, to ease their sadness at being left out!

When little princesses meet their favorite princesses, happiness happens. Photo from disneyland.disney.go.com.

#13 How to meet your favorite characters

Let’s face it, we’re all here because we fell in love with a Disney movie character or two or 10. Meeting beloved characters in the park is part of the magic, but doing so may take a little planning. Look for your favorite princesses at Fantasy Fair and other characters at major squares in Disneyland – Town Square, New Orleans Square or ToonTown, for example. The Disney app provides some character locations, but mostly you have to keep your eyes peeled. If your kids really, really have their hearts set on seeing a specific character, consider a character breakfast or meal event.

#14 Take photos of photos or . . .

At the end of many rides you’ll find a kiosk with screens showing photos of riders on the ride. You know these photos – the ones with your hands in the air, hair raging like Medusa’s snakes, screaming like banshees on the roller coaster? Disney would love for you to buy these photos (which you can do using the Disney PhotoPass). But honestly, those ride shots aren’t terribly clear even in print and we found that if we take a phone photo of the screen at the end of the ride, the images are just as good as printouts. And we are more likely to look at them now and then if they are on the phone.

Or, if you go all in and purchase Genie+ on the Disney app (or Disney PhotoPass+) you can download ride shots as well as professional photos taken throughout the day by roving Disney photographers. 

#15 Save souvenirs for last (or first)

I know, I know, it’s just different if you get your Disneyland souvenirs in Disneyland. It’s emotional. But, the truth is, Disney tees, hats, gidgets and gadgets are all the same whether you get them online, purchase them through the Disney app, or buy them in one of the many, many shops in the park. The difference? They are a lot cheaper online. 

Still, if you must buy your remembrance items in the park, wait ’til the very end of the day so you don’t have to lug them around. Not to mention, avoiding stores for as long as possible means avoiding excessive “I want” whining.

HINT: Shops on Main Street are open for an hour after park closing time.

The last thing I want to offer about navigating Disneyland is about heading home. You might be tempted to race home the next morning after your whirlwind day or days in the park. Consider a later flight – say in the evening or at night. Ask for a late check-out from your hotel. Spend the morning in the pool, going through photos, enjoying breakfast. A little downtime before the airport rush is a helpful way to transition from the Happiest Place on Earth back to real life in Seattle.

Author photo.

More at Seattle’s Child:

“Parent Review: VIP tours of Disney and Legoland”

“10 family friendly things to do in Monterey CA”

The post Seattle to Disneyland and back: 15 tips to navigate by appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Yes, play. It’s the building block of childhood friendships. And friendship, as it turns out, is about more than just fun. 

“We know from research that children who have close friendships are less likely to experience depression and anxiety, and are better able to cope with stressful life events,” says Dr. Karen Thierry, a developmental psychologist for Committee for Children (CFC), a not-for-profit headquartered in Seattle. She oversees research for CFC’s Second Step programs, which teach socio-emotional learning in the classroom. 

In fact, Thierry says research has shown that friendships are also associated with improved physical health: 

“Lower blood pressure! Stronger immune systems! Stronger cardio-vascular health! Friendships are critical in so many ways.”

The good news, according to Thierry and Bunda, is that like math or reading, the skills to be a great friend can be learned, both at school and at home. Here are their expert tips:

Help kids identify their emotions

Helping kids learn this skill can be as simple as verbalizing what you observe, notes Bunda. Try “Hmm, you look upset” or “You look happy” to open a conversation about how they feel.

Validate their emotions

Additionally, Bunda suggests acknowledging emotions by saying something like, “Yeah, I would feel really upset, too, if someone pushed me.” “Validating feelings helps you form a connection with your child,” says Bunda. “It helps them feel felt and heard.”

Practice Empathy

Understanding their own emotions prepares kids for understanding others’ emotions. 

“Those who can empathize with others are the ones who can maintain strong friendships,” notes Bunda. 

Most important, says Thierry, is to be a model. 

“When parents are showing others empathy and kindness, kids are watching. They will imitate, they will internalize,” she says.

Empathy includes skills such as understanding social cues and body language. Try reading books or watching a show together to practice emotional recognition. 

“You could ask, ‘What do you think this character is feeling?’” suggests Thierry. “‘What are the clues to what they are feeling?’”

Prioritize In-Person Play

“Playdates, extracurriculars. These are opportunities to practice interactions with other children,” says Thierry. She notes that hanging out in person is critical, because while technology can provide some benefits, “socializing on a screen is not the same as socializing in person.” 

So much non-verbal information can only be seen when you’re face-to-face with someone. 

“They can have a smile on their face, but if you look at the rest of their body, they might be fidgeting,” notes Thierry. “It might mean that they’re uncomfortable. You don’t see that on a screen.”

Also, in-person hangouts provide opportunities to coach kids on specific skills, like initiating play. In his Room of Alternative Recess, Bunda says that sometimes when kids pick up a game, “they have wide eyes and look frozen.” 

He might encourage them to ask, “Does anyone want to play this game with me?”

Get curious about conflict

Kids benefit from learning how to deal with conflict. So if your child reports getting pushed on the playground, Bunda encourages caregivers to respond with curiosity by asking, “Tell me more. What happened before? What did you do after?” These questions provide context for what happened and give kids a chance to reflect on whether they played a role in the conflict as well. It’s also a prime time to check in on their feelings. 

Bunda suggests asking, “When that happened, did you feel like you: Wanted to push back? Wanted to cry? Get help?”

Once a kid can identify how they feel (angry? upset?), offer tools to help them “get to a place of calm,” counsels Thierry. This might mean taking a break from a friend or doing some deep breathing. 

“This helps them get back into the thinking part of their brain,” she says, adding that it sets them up to be more effective in finding a solution to the conflict.

Practice Problem-Solving

For younger children, offer suggestions. If two preschoolers both want to use a toy, ask if they want to take turns or play with it together, says Thierry. 

For older kids, she encourages parents to let them practice figuring things out on their own. Thierry tries to be a sounding board when her own teen wants to chat. 

“I’m just so excited when she tells me anything these days!” she chuckles, “But I’ll listen. I don’t offer advice at first. I want to hear her ideas about how she’s thinking about solving a problem she’s having with a friend. Fortunately, she’ll often come up with some really good ones on her own. Kids might make mistakes along the way, but that’s all part of the learning process.”

More at Seattle’s Child:

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It’s about him: How we are helping our son make friends

The post 6 expert tips for growing friendship skills appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Why do we keep picking up that plastic spoon no matter how many times it gets hurled onto the floor? Why do we get down on our hands and knees and do the voices for Mommy and Daddy bunny until our brains congeal into cottage cheese? Why do we keep buying Legos no matter how many times we step on them in our stocking feet? Why do we stand in the freezing rain, next to a muddy field in the middle of November, while a hoard of 7-year-olds swarm pointlessly around a soccer ball like killer bees? Why do we sit through a half-dozen middle school “Welcome Prospective Families” presentations, eating stale sugar cookies in dingy cafeterias? Why do we listen patiently to accusations of unfairness and selfishness from teenagers who can’t even take a shower without leaving a trail of hair products and wet towels across the bathroom floor?

Why?

I’m guessing that, for most of us, the answer is easy. We want our kids to be happy. We think that somehow, the sacrifices we make, the crosses we bear, and the tedium we endure will bring them one step closer to a healthier, happier existence. 

But will it?

I hate to break it to you, but the answer is in, and it has been for a long time. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has followed more than a thousand people for 84 years over several generations, has created a treasure trove of data on what conditions are associated with long-term happiness over a lifetime. Spoiler alert: it’s not which middle school you get into.

By far the greatest predictor of happiness is our closeness to our family, friends and social circles. Not only does it increase our chance of subjective well being, it correlates strongly with better mental health, physical health, career success and longevity. It’s the magical ring to rule them all.

So, that means we’re done here, right? All we have to do is make sure our kids have tons of loving, intimate relationships with the people around them, and their lives will be peachy. Just like ours . . .

Oh-oh.

But don’t lose heart. As complicated and elusive as intimacy seems, you’re in a better position to affect your kids’ future relationships than anyone else in the world. That’s because the way they go about forming attachments will be modeled on the first and most important one they experience–their attachment to you. 

What we attract

The mysterious thing we call “attraction,” which draws us to particular people more than others, is heavily influenced by the family crucible in which our relationship style is forged. The writer and parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy says we are often drawn to someone because we recognize that we have the corresponding puzzle piece that fits with theirs. If we learned, as children, that love meant pursuing an emotionally distant parent, that’s the kind of person we try to love. If we first experienced connection by rescuing and soothing an anxious, histrionic parent, we look for that same connection with someone else. On the other hand, if we experienced parents who loved us warmly and unconditionally, but with consistent boundaries and respect, that’s what we seek in our lovers and friends. 

The rich get richer

There’s an inherent unfairness to this. If, through no fault of your own, you were born to parents with a dysfunctional attachment style, you may find yourself recreating that style in your own life, and passing it on to your kids. On the other hand, if you won the lottery and ended up securely and intimately connected to your parents, you’ll probably buy even more winning tickets when you choose your romantic partners and friends. The rich get richer, and so do their children. It’s like capitalism, only with a reverse estate tax. 

Hard work

Luckily, history is not destiny. Even if your own relationship with your parents leaves something to be desired, you can still forge a healthier one with your kids. It’s hard work, though. It takes guts, and self-knowledge, and a willingness to change. It can be more painful than a Lego piece in the tenderest part of your instep. But it’s almost guaranteed to improve your children’s happiness–and your own as well. 

That leads me to one last little piece of free advice. Someday, when your kid has outgrown their knee-jerk impulse to completely disregard anything you say, they just might ask you how anyone can know if they should spend the rest of their life with someone. 

A good question

Tell them to find out what that person’s relationship with their parents is like. History may not be destiny, but it’s a force to be reckoned with. They should know what they’re getting into. 

More at Seattle’s Child:

“Dad Next Door: It’s not about the bathrooms”

The post Dad Next Door: The rich get richer appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Audiobooks, podcasts and audio guides give kids and parents a chance to experience stories and scenery at the same time. Not to mention, listening to stories, rather than reading them, is an excellent way for kids to hear fluency and richness of language, while at the same time increasing their vocabulary. Since book-length works often translate to eight or more hours of listening time, they may reduce the number of comments like “I’m bored!” or “When will we get there?” you need to deflect along the way.

Audiobooks

Seattle Public, Pierce County, and King County libraries have thousands of audiobooks available on CD to check out or download. Consider bringing required school reading along for the ride – and then have conversations with your kids about them. Audiobooks can also be purchased at local booksellers, Amazon, and Scholastic’s website. Phone apps like Audible expand the list of available choices exponentially.

Travel guide apps

The last few years has also seen the rise of road-tripping audio guide apps. Such apps will let you know what’s ahead of you so you can pull over or at least look. Just Ahead:Audio Travel Guides is one of the best out there, bringing scenery to life with notes on wildlife, geology, flora, and history as you move along the road. 

Podcasts

Don’t forget podcasts on your next road trip. “Stories Podcast: A bedtime show for kids of all ages” is a popular choice. For young kids, especially boys, the “Growing Boy Stories”podcast is a fun ride. It was created by Steven Dunham, an English instructor at Bellevue College.

Click here e to hear the latest Growing Boy Stories episode.

More at Seattle’s Child:

“How to plan (and survive) a road trip.”

The post Traveling companions: podcasts, audiobooks & travel guides appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Who wouldn’t stop at the Rabbit Ears Motel? Photo courtesy Jenn Vandenberg

Stay at motels, not hotels

At a hotel, getting from your car to your room involves traipsing past an office, down a hallway, and riding up an elevator. Because you’ll have a kid strapped to your chest, it’ll take three trips just to get your suitcase, cooler and portable crib into the room. And you’ll probably leave something important in the car, which you’ll realize after the baby falls asleep. I once had to wake up my sleeping child because I’d left the bag with my contact solution and toothbrush in the car and was too paranoid to leave her alone in the room. At a motel, your car is right outside your door so you can deposit the baby in the room and then bring in the suitcase, cooler, diaper stash, crib, grocery bags and toiletries. 

Hitting up botanical gardens on the road. Photo courtesy Jenna Vandenberg.

Pack all your overnight essentials in one bag

This eliminates the need to slink out to your car at night to retrieve your toothbrush. I have to admit that while this is excellent advice, I’ve never been able to do it myself. After two hours on the road, my car descends into a collection of bags, each carrying disparate essential items. You’ll be glad you did if you can pull it off.  

Don’t book lodging ahead of time

If you are afraid places will book up, or are positive you’ll make it to your destination, then book ahead. But if you’re traveling through a string of towns, flexibility is key. Suppose the baby falls asleep right before reaching your planned destination. Keep your foot on the accelerator and make it to the next town. On the other hand, if that screaming from the backseat isn’t going to end, waiting allows you to stop sooner than expected. When my daughter and I drove from Denver to San Francisco to Seattle, we hit our planned destinations about half the time. When she started her “I’m bored” scream an hour outside of Salt Lake City, I was glad I hadn’t booked a place in Utah’s capital. Instead, I spotted a camping sign, made a quick left turn, and pitched a tent on Strawberry Reservoir. She was happily crawling through the dirt moments later. 

Bring a tent

I hadn’t planned on camping between Denver and California, but luckily had thrown a tent in the car just in case. My daughter and I watched the sun set over the lake and ate snacks for dinner. The next morning I stopped in Salt Lake City to treat myself to a Starbucks with the money I’d saved by foregoing a motel. 

Eat picnics, not at restaurants

The last thing your baby will want to do after being strapped in a car seat is spend time in a high chair at a restaurant. Pack a cooler and find parks for meal stops.

Have food to last a day, and keep that fuel tank above the halfway point

You won’t want to wake the baby to get gas, and sometimes you won’t want to leave your motel (or campsite) for dinner. 

Join a nationwide fitness club where child care is included 

Without my jogging stroller, the best way for me to stay in shape while traveling is to stop at 24 Hour Fitness clubs along the way. There is a glorious rush of freedom when you hand off your kid mid-roadtrip. Or, consider planning a child-free afternoon for yourself mid-trip by Googling for daycares or nanny services in the area and asking about a daily rate. Or, set up a sitter for a day through services like Helpr, Care.com and Sittercity. 

Follow other parents posts

To figure out what to do with kids along the way, follow the Instragrams of families who live in places you are traveling. 

Never drive exhausted

Ever. Even if your baby is asleep and you are desperate to make up some miles. It’s not worth it. While we’re talking safety, consider these purchases: 

• A well stocked first aid kit and plenty of extra water to keep in the car.
• A roadside assistance plan like AAA.
• Consider a satellite communicator like Garmin’s inReach. This device (once you purchase a monthly subscription) will allow you to text, email or even send out an SOS in non-cell areas. 
• Consider using an app like Find My that will allow you to share your location with a friend or family member.

Enjoy the ride! 

Traveling with an infant gives you an excuse to stop every couple of hours at weird places you normally wouldn’t explore. I never would have discovered Dinosaur National Monument or picnicked near tiny Trout Lake or tasted pickle upside-down pie in Pie Town, New Mexico if it hadn’t been for my daughter.  

More at Seattle’s Child:

“How to plan (and survive!) a summer family road trip”

The newbie’s guide to a family RV adventure

The post Have baby, will travel! appeared first on Seattle's Child.

A restaurant that serves only one entree (in two versions)  and one dessert (in two versions).

Oh, an it also happens to be in the shape of a boat. The restaurant building, that is, not the dishes.

That’s the story at The Boat, located at 1314 S. Jackson Street in Seattle. This pink, boat-shaped hole-in-the-wall is where Theresa Cat Vu and Augustine Nien Pham opened Seattle’s first pho shop nearly 40 years ago. Their children now run the family business recently re-opened their flagship building with a new approach.

The Boat new serves one thing: Cơm gà mắm tỏ  is a chicken and rice dish beloved in Vietnam. It’s a fried garlic-encrusted cornish hen with rice cooked in chicken broth that appeals to taste buds of all ages. Our 6-year-old friend raved about the chicken; despite it being covered in garlic, he said, it “tasted like garlic candy” instead of being overwhelming to his young tastebuds.

I have to say there is something very simple and satifying about going out to eat and looking around the table to see the same meal at every spot around the table. Our family mostly goes out so that everyone can have what they want and generally everyone gets a different dish. But my meal with a young friend in tow at The Boat felt a bit like sitting around a family table. Given that Cơm gà mắm tỏ  is popular dish in Vietnam, I felt our little crew had a more genuine cultural dinner experience not in spite of but because of The Boat’s  limited fare.

Of course, the real winner kids will be desert. Like the main dish, the restaurant offers only one desert, a Vietnamese dessert waffle, called bánh kẹp. You can order it in either banana pandan or caramelized pineapple. Pinapple was the clear winner at our table.

The meal isn’t fast food cheap, but it’s on the lower side of dine outs. The entree, which includes the chicken, rice, soup and greens costs $11-18 depending on the size of the chicken. Waffles are $8 a pop and are served with a delicious dipping cream. The Boat is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

More at Seattle’s Child:

“Reclaiming First Foods”

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Not only is stair climbing a great way to build strength and put kid energy to good use, it’s a wonderful way to reward effort with a different view of the world. High above the street, 67 steps higher than the top of a hill, or nearly in the clouds at the top of Seattle landmark buildings, these climbs are worth the effort. And a good snack at the top.

Heybrook Lookout

Once used by fire watchers, this lookout offers a view of Bridal Veil Falls worth the steep 2-mile round-trip trail and stairs that take you the 67 additional feet to the tower top. U.S. Route 2, Gold Bar

Volunteer Park Water Tower

The 1906 brick water tower reservoir is the highest point on Capitol Hill and includes a 107-step climb to breathtaking views of Seattle surrounds. 1247 15th Ave. E, Seattle

Pinnacle Peak Tower

The crown at the top of Pinnacle Peak Park (a climb of 1,000 feet in one mile) is a 22-foot fire tower replica with stunning views from the deck. 26838 SE 481st St., Enumclaw

The Big Climb

We mean it. March 26 is your family’s chance to climb the Columbia Tower’s 1,311 steps to raise funds to fight blood cancer. Well-trained age 8 and older. Registration fee and fundraising requirements apply. 

Base to Space

Climb the Space Needle? The Base to Space climb in support of the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center happens each fall, so start training! Age 8 and older. Registration fee and fundraising requirements apply. 

New more places to climb? Check out West Seattle writer Laura Murray’s “5 Seattle stair walks that are fun (and worth the work) with kids.”

More at Seattle’s Child:

“Bridle Trails State Park: Kid-friendly trails on the Eastside”

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The journal is a colorful, interactive followup to Cohen’s 2017 “Curious Kids Nature Guide” and yet again affirms the Pacific Northwest as a world of wonder and wondrous detail when it comes to the great outdoors.

A perfect place  

Between these pages, Cohen and illustrator Marni Fylling have created the perfect place for kids ages 6-11 to document what they see and learn in nature, whether at a park near home, in a forest, or along a beach.

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Join Fiona Cohen in conversation with Seatte’s Child Things to Do editor Jasmin Thankachen on March 15 at Seattle’s Third Place Books Ravenna starting at 7 p.m. Or join them at Redmond’s Brick and Mortar Books, Redmond, on April 23 at 2 p.m.

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Curious Kids Nature Journal is published by Seattle-based Sasquatch Books and goes on sale March 7.

Illustration by Marni Fylling

An invitation to observe and ponder

In it Cohen delivers fascinating facts and descriptions of animals, plants and sea life common in the region At the same time, she invites young people to look for, observe and record what they see by writing or drawing in the 176-page journal. She asks questions. Spot a black-tailed deer? When? What time? Where? What was the deer doing? Were there any fawns nearby? Get the details!

The author also encourages kids to be “citizen scientists” by sharing their observations with science groups like the Bumble Bee Watch project.

Beautiful, accurate illustrations

Fylling’s more than 100 gorgeous, scientifically accurate illustrations make identifying species easy. Together with Cohen’s writing and activity prompts, they promise to keep kids looking and discovering. This journal includes plenty of room for observations and a child’s own illustrations  — plus tips for doing making observations and drawing what the see. About the book itself, Cohen writes: “Don’t worry about getting it dirty. It’s supposed to be dirty. You should be proud of every smear.”

The journal is divided into four sections: Forest and Meadows, Beach, Freshwater, and Backyards and Neighborhoods. Each page gives a bit of information. For example: “On warm, dry days in the spring you can sometimes see brown patches near cracks in the pavement. Look closely, and these brown patches are swarms of pavement ants.”

An excerpt from the early pages of “Curious Kids Nature Journal”:

Illustration by Marni Fylling

Why have a journal? To keep a record of what you observe in the world. Observing means more than just looking at something. It means using a combination of senses to take in what’s in front of you. It means making measurements and asking questions about what you find. Questions like: How many? How big? Where was it going? What was it doing?

When you make a careful note of what you find with your senses and your measurements, you are using one of the most powerful tools ever invented for figuring out what is going on in the world: science. Scientists observe and they make sure to record what they actually find, even if it’s not what they expected to find.

How you record your observations and what you choose to keep in this book is entirely up to you. You can write or draw your observations — or both! Or you can take pictures and glue them on the pages. You can use tape to attach leaves you find. Maybe there’s a grown-up who can help you write things down. Or you might use a phone or a computer to take dictation for you, and then print out and glue your words here.

It’s fun to express yourself, and when you record your experiences, you think about them more and understand them more. If you struggle with writing as I did when I was a kid, don’t let it stop you from recording what you find.

Rules to follow

As you go out and explore nature, you need to follow some rules:

• Be safe and obey the rules of the trail.
• Be careful with the living things you are looking at. Don’t pick flowers. When you pick up a log or a rock, always put it back carefully when you are done. When you pick up an animal to look at it closely, be gentle and always put it back.
• Take some time to stop and be quiet while you explore. When you do that you’ll notice a lot more.
• Don’t worry about getting your hands dirty. There are a few living things that might sting you, but it’s safe to touch most things you find in the wild. Just be sure to wash your hands before you eat.

“Curious Kids Nature Journal” will be available in bookstores March 7.

Illustrations by Marni Fylling

Don’t miss author Fiona Cohen in conversation with Seatte’s Child Things to Do editor Jasmin Thankachen on March 15 at Seattle’s Third Place Books Ravenna starting at 7 p.m. Or join them at Redmond’s Brick and Mortar Books, Redmond, on April 23 at 2 p.m.

More book picks for kids (and other book news):

“I’ll Take Care of You,” a beautiful, comforting tale for kids

Meet Nina Laden, children’s author/illustrator from Lummi Island

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Hope on the rise

A movement to reclaim the traditional Northwest Native diet, rebuild community health and educate all people, not just tribal members, about First Foods and traditional foodways aims to change that. The revolution seeks to re-establish environmentally sound Native harvesting practices and dietary reliance on berries, nettles, shellfish, salmon and camas – the First Foods.

Valerie Segrest, a member of the Muckleshoot Tribe and a Native foods nutritionist, has worked with most tribes in Washington to help rebuild First Foods foundations. She says it’s been an honor watching the gradual return to her people’s traditional foodways over time. 

“Every tribe has some initiative dedicated to strengthening our food traditions and is making an effort to prioritize intergenerational teachings along the way,” says Segrest, owner of Tahoma Peak Solutions.

A healing work

“For us, it is about healing,” she says. “For over a century, tribal communities have experienced intentional severing from our ancestral foodways through federal, state and local policies that work to create obstacles for us to access our foods and medicines. Prioritizing our ancestral food teachings is about healing from that severing.”

The return to a First Foods diet, she says, has a multitudinous impact: “It is about prioritizing the treatment of these preventable diseases, and it is also about addressing the colonial impacts on our people.”

First Foods impact everyone

Segrest believes that also educating non-Native people about the First Foods can sustain humans in the region. She says it will take all of us — Indigenous and non-Indigenous families — working together to revitalize the health of the land, water and other elements needed to supply an abundance of these staples. 

“Increasing the visibility of our work to return to our ancestral foodways is part of addressing impacts; it is part of our healing story,” she says. “It is also important for others to recognize that we carry valuable ecological knowledge that will address issues of climate justice and food equality so rampant in our country writ large.”

Connecting kids to First Foods

Mariana Harvey of the Yakama Nation is the Wild Foods and Medicines Tribal Relations Lead of GRuB. As the mother of a 4-year-old and 7-month-old, Harvey says she has been very intentional about connecting her kids to their ancestors’ traditional diet and developing their palate for such foods early on. An Indigenous diet helped nourish her children in utero, Harvey says, stressing that she considers her childrens’ very first foods – the milk from her body – “the best first medicine.” 

Harvey is also a co-creator of the Tend, Gather & Grow Curriculum, a set of five toolkits developed by about a dozen Native and non-Native people to help others families explore native and naturalized plants and foods of the Pacific Northwest region. The toolkits include Indigenous knowledge, stories, and plant and food medicine traditions. 

Passing ancestral knowledge to a new generation

Harvey has frequently heard her elders say that eating Native foods helps youngsters acclimate to their own land. She is passing that knowledge down to her children. 

Involving her oldest child in foraging and other gathering processes – for example hunting for salmonberries around their house – builds interest in testing and “cherishing” those foods. At 3 months old, they were already out in the mountain huckleberry meadows together. Now Harvey’s looking forward to this year’s nettle season as yet another chance to show her children the importance of First Foods and “the superpowers they bring.”

A child’s first food

There is another Native tradition that Harvey honors: The gathering of foods by family members. The first solid food consumed by Harvey’s 4-year-old was elk hunted by an uncle. For her 7-month-old, it was salmon caught by a cousin. The family also incorporates traditional foods from the ancestors of Harvey’s partner, who is Mexica (or Aztec). 

“Food is our identity,” she says. “Both cultures really uplift that.”

Learn more

• To find out more about traditional foodways and culture, check out the hands-on activities and curricula offered by the Washington State Farm to School Network’s resource of Farm to ECE in Tribal programs. 
• Visit ʔálʔal Café located Pioneer Square. Owned and operated by Chief Seattle Club, this modern-day cafe (“ʔálʔal” is Lushootseed for “home”) reclaims and reintroduces traditional Indigenous foods, while showcasing Native-owned suppliers. While the food they serve is undoubtedly delicious, many will argue the overall experience is even richer. 

More at Seattle’s Child:

“Inspired by a racist voicemail, TV anchor writes kids’ guide to Korean food“

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