When their daughter Mya, now age 13, was born, they decided to start a tradition of collecting and distributing blankets as their family’s way of caring for those in need during the winter holiday season. 

14th Annual Blanket Drive

The annual project, which they started 14 years ago, rolls into action just before Thanksgiving, “has expanded more and more each year,” says Sayeh.

Part of that growth comes from the family’s efforts to make giving simple. They are happy to pick up blankets from donors or collect money and shop for the blankets themselves. They have even created an Amazon wish list so donors can simply click and send, which has become a very popular option for the drive.

People want to help but need a way

“Our family’s blanket drive allows us to support people in our community who are in need,” says Sayeh. “Something as simple as a warm blanket can make someone feel seen, cared for, and safe. Being part of this effort reminds us that small acts of kindness add up and that we can all have a role in supporting each other.”

Make a blanket donation to Mya, Jordan, Sayeh and Tony’s Blanket Drive. 

What started in 2012 with a donation of  20 blankets reached nearly 100 blankets last year — along with winter socks, underwear, and other needed items. Friends and family have jumped enthusiastically onto the family’s kindness train: “So many people around us want to help but may not know where to donate or have the time to purchase and drop off a donation,’’ Sayeh says.  “We try to make it as easy as possible.”

A gift that grows with a family

And, just as the annual collection has grown, so have Maya’s and Jordan’s voices in important decisions about this family tradition. The kids get to help decide where the blankets are delivered. Mya was the one who initiated giving blankets to Seattle Children’s Hospital in the early years of the drive. 

“We were visiting Seattle Children’s for an appointment and learned the hospital needed new blankets to give to kids and their parents who had to stay at the hospital.

“The patients got to take the blankets home with them as comfort items after their stays, which Mya thought was super cool,” says Sayeh. “We ended up donating to Seattle Children’s for several years after that.” She adds that the family has also led drives specific to a child’s interests; for example, they collected new basketballs for kids and families in need. 

This year, donated blankets will go to Mary’s Place, a Seattle nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter, housing services, and support for families experiencing homelessness. Founded in 1999 as a day center for women, it has grown into a network of 24/7 family shelters and outreach programs that offer beds, meals, healthcare connections, employment and housing assistance, and specialized support for medically fragile children.

A fall tradition

As each November approaches, excitement about the drive build for Mya and Jordan, their mom says, “They tell all their friends, teachers and coaches to help spread the word.”

Mya and Jordan write a traditional, personal, handwritten thank-you note to every donor. Says Sayeh, “Having the kids acknowledge each donor is a super important part of our drive each year, teaching them to show gratitude for what others have done.”

Want to share a blanket with a person or organization in need? Consider making one using the Doing Good Together No-Sew Fleece Blanket guide.

Read more at Seattle’s Child:

“Doing good together: December volunteering as a family”

The post Holiday Blanket Drive: A family tradition for 14 years appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Holiday markets are great places to discover locally made gifts that support Washington artisans and businesses. Consider collecting gifts at a market that gives back — several holiday markets in the Seattle area support local organizations and communities.

2025 Seattle Holiday Markets & Craft Fairs Opening in November

The post 2025 Guide to Seattle Holiday Markets & Craft Fairs appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Always the undies

There were usually some cheap, plastic toys from Chinatown that smelled suspiciously like my grandparents’ apartment. There were always chocolates (the kind of milk chocolate that has that odd, powdery residue on it when you take off the wrapper) covered in colored tin foil, in the shape of angels, Christmas trees and silver bells. There were also candy canes, left in their clear plastic wrappers to maintain their shape despite being broken in several places. And for reasons lost in the annals of family tradition and time, there was always a fresh supply of underwear. Somehow, it never occurred to us that gifts of underpants from a strange old man might be a little worrisome. It was Santa, after all–his ways were mysterious, but unquestionably benign. 

Stockings first 

The mediocre quality of Santa’s offerings was offset by the fact that we were allowed to get into our stockings even if our parents were still asleep. The tree presents were off limits until they woke up, but Santa’s gifts were fair game as soon as we tumbled out of bed. 

On Christmas morning, my brothers and I woke each other the moment any one of us gained consciousness, and we scrambled down the stairs together long before dawn. The living room was bathed in the tacky multicolored lights of our Christmas tree, and our stockings were lined up on the floor in front of the fireplace. It was magic!

We had these cheap felt appliqué stockings, and the straps were too flimsy to support all that chocolate and plastic crap, much less a package of Fruit-of-the-Looms. Still, we dug into them with great excitement. They were a satisfying teaser for the festivities to come, and by the time my parents came down to join us, we had broken at least half of the toys, and eaten most of the candy.

THE inevitable question

Maybe it was Santa’s low profile in our household that allowed us to smoothly negotiate that thorny question that every family must eventually address: “Is Santa real?” My parents came up with a workable response, based on plausible deniability.

“Dad, is Santa real?”

“How should I know? He didn’t come to China.”

“Mom, is Santa real?”

“I guess he must be. Someone’s bringing those presents.”

“But you guys do that . . . right?”

“Really? Does that sound like something we’d do?”

She had a point.

Pretty soon, we just gave up. In the end, our policy was strictly Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. We all agreed to act as if Santa was real, without really discussing it. On Christmas Eve, even when we were teenagers and staying up much later than my parents, my mother would shoo us up to our rooms as soon as she got sleepy.  

“Go to bed or Santa’s going to skip our house this year.”

Another approach

I know other families that had a much harder time with the Santa question. A friend of mine was cornered one day after his son heard some disturbing conspiracy theories at school.

“Dad, is Santa real — or have you guys been lying to me all these years? You have to tell me!” 

Eventually, he confessed. His son, left reeling from the betrayal and duplicity, didn’t speak to him for a week.

Sticking with the story

With my own kids, I decided that consistency, opaqueness and absolute certainty were the best approaches.

“Dad, is Santa Claus real?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know?”

“I don’t know — I believe.”

“What does that even mean?”

“It means we don’t need proof — we can just have faith.”

“But why do you have faith?”

“Because Santa is real.”

And just like when I was a kid, they eventually stopped asking–but Santa kept coming. 

Don’t get me wrong — I’m not saying that we should routinely lie to our children. I’m just saying that, in the world we live in, where reality assaults the protective walls of childhood with a sledge hammer every day, maybe a little magic and a little suspension of disbelief are not such terrible things. For them, but also for us. 

More at Seattle’s Child:

“The Christmas tree is the most magical part of the holiday”

“Christmas cards from the edge”

“Merry Festivus!”

The post Dad Next Door: Is Santa Real? appeared first on Seattle's Child.

“Our breath comes in a rhythm, each day includes rhythms and patterns — sleeping, waking, eating, times of quiet interwoven with active times,” says Payne, who credits Waldorf education for her family’s appreciation of life’s cadences and designs. “We are drawn to and look for patterns and rhythms and cycles in nature and to create them in our lives, because they help us understand our world and our connections within it.” 

The why of traditions

And that, says Payne, is why children are drawn to traditions. 

Whether it’s weekly Sunday doughnuts, the creation of a nature table at the turn of each season, the annual lighting of Hanukkah, Advent or Kwanzaa candles, or Winter Solstice and New Year’s Eve bonfires, traditions recognize the rhythms and patterns of ordinary life and family connection in extraordinary ways. 

They also reinforce family values and belief systems and strengthen family bonds. They provide children with a sense of security —— that is, the idea that some things can be relied on. Traditions leave what researchers call an “emotional imprint” on children, helping them build lasting memories — especially if they are positive. And, perhaps most importantly, they help children form a strong sense of identity.

Showing who we are

A review of 50 years of research published by the American Psychological Society found that traditions “convey ‘this is who we are’ as a group, and provide continuity in meaning across generations.”

Payne points out that family traditions and rituals needn’t be religious to achieve these benefits or to fuel the spiritual development of children. In fact, rituals expand a child’s innate interest in and understanding of “sacred things.” 

“For example, I told my almost 5-year-old grandson about a party at my house, mentioned that our family and friends would be there, and said it was on the Sunday coming up,” Payne recalls. “He looked concerned and said ‘What time is it?’ I told him it would be late afternoon. His response was ‘Oh Good! Because if it was Sunday morning, I couldn’t come because we go out for doughnuts on Sunday morning.”

Discovering the sacred 

Through his family’s Sunday doughnut tradition, Payne’s grandson is learning not only the cycle of a week, but also gaining understanding of sacred space and time.

“The word sacred comes from the word sacrifice, and is related to sacrosanct. It’s important to create traditions or rituals in our lives or in our family that we decide are important and return to again and again,” Payne says. “My grandson is learning that to enjoy Sunday doughnuts he may have to sacrifice other things.” 

Payne’s grandson enjoys several traditions and rituals in his family. Along with Doughnut Day, there’s Ice Cream Day, Baking Day, and the seasonal changes of the family nature table.

Inviting a conversation

“In the most obvious way, the nature table invites conversation about the change of seasons, but more importantly it helps us pay attention,” says mom Meghan DeSpain. This month, as the fall holidays near, the family will collect leaves and other objects from nature, noticing the patterns and changes from summer. 

“We typically change the base of the nature table each season, and then adjust and add décor over the three months,” says DeSpain. “Sometimes it looks like a wonderful little scene in nature, with toy animals and bits of plants from our walks, and sometimes it’s chaos.” 

Creating new traditions

As for winter holiday traditions, the young family is starting anew, having moved to Seattle last year. As they always have, they’ll put up white fairy lights in early December to bring in light when the dark comes early. A trip to see “The Nutcracker” may be becoming an annual tradition.

Traditions are one way of teaching children “there may be more than the here and now and more than our stresses and challenges on a week-to-week basis,” says Payne.

Binding families together

“There is something about rituals and traditions that bind us to each other,” she adds. “When you do something and then practice it by doing it again and again together, you’re solidifying a sense of belonging. That belonging or being securely connected to others feeds a child’s spiritual development. Traditions are a glue holding us together until the tradition comes around again.”

Taking part in family traditions can also lead to greater feelings of happiness year-round for all members of a family, according to a series of studies published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. 

It’s the numbers that count

“Most surprising, the types of rituals [study participants] described — family dinners with special foods, religious ceremonies, watching the ball drop in Times Square — did not have a direct bearing on enjoyment,” study authors wrote. “But the number of rituals did. Apparently having family rituals makes the holidays better and the more the merrier.”

The best traditions are ones that the majority of the family enjoy. That’s why parenting coach Sarina Natkin, MSW, LICSW advises parents to check in with their own inner child:

First rule of traditions: know thyself

“It’s important to explore our own childhood experiences,” she says. “What rituals and traditions brought you joy and which did you avoid? How did you feel connected to your cultural identity as a child? When we have explored these questions ourselves, it becomes much easier to pass along those traditions and values to our children.”

In the same vein, Payne encourages parents to recognize that inviolable does not need to mean inflexible when it comes to traditions. Families, especially grandparents, should be open to new ways of celebrating old traditions as a new generation takes root. And, they should watch for signs that might indicate the magic or meaning of a tradition has evaporated. 

Balance: Staying the same vs. flexibility

“It’s a paradox, because the word tradition assumes doing the same thing,” Payne says. “But it’s important to consider the question of how your traditions can also be flexible.”

Payne notes that many holiday traditions in November and December share foundations in  nature, both seasonal and human. 

Some whys of winter traditions

“They come at the darkest, coldest time of the year, and many developed over millennia because with the arrival of winter cold and dark came hard questions,” Payne explains. “In those times, people might be asking ‘When will the sun come back? Will we have shelter? Will we make it through the winter, when we can’t work or forage for food?’”

“It’s human nature to want to balance our fear and anxiety around these dark months with symbols, rituals or traditions that give us hope that light (literal, metaphorical or spiritual) will return. 

“There are,” Payne adds, “a lot of reasons to buoy ourselves November through January.”

More at Seattle’s Child:

Seattle’s Child Novemeber/December 2022 issue: A Decade of Traditions

The post Why we love traditions — and why they're extra-special to kids appeared first on Seattle's Child.

And then things changed. A divorce, a bad relationship, the death of her parents and no one she could turn to . . . it just kept coming. Paula says she now knows it really can happen to anyone.

Suddenly alone

She and her daughter Alayla moved into a hotel for a few days. When they ran out of money, Paula was scared. Searching the internet, she found a number for Mary’s Place, and she reached out. 

“When you’re in a hotel, no one cares,” the north Seattle mother says. “No one knows that you’re there. No one cares for you. You’re alone. I’m so grateful for Mary’s Place, not only the roof over our heads, but all the resources and staff that care that we’re here, asking what they can do to help.”

After months of COVID-related government closures, Paula and Alayla finally were able to use a Veterans Administration voucher to find a home. They are starting over together.

A return to holiday traditions 

Paula is excited to continue a holiday tradition from her childhood in their new home. They’ll spend Christmas Eve baking cookies for Santa, then prepare and share a dinner of their favorite foods. Having set cookies out for Santa, they’ll go for a walk in the neighborhood to look at the holiday lights. While they’re out, Santa will come eat the cookies, drink the milk, and leave presents under the tree – including a special family ornament that’s symbolic of the year they’ve had together.

Alayla loves her new home and is excited for the holidays – At the end of October she already had a spot in the living room where the Christmas tree will go picked out and knows just how she wants to decorate it.

Truly our place

“Sometimes I sit on my couch, and I look around at this place and see how happy Alayla is, and I want to pinch myself,” Paula says, “It’s like a dream. This is truly our place. We did it, we’re home.”

More on Seattle Child:

“Holidays 2022: Lights, lights, lights”

“Holidays 2022: Festivals and more”

The post Holidays 2022: “We’re home” appeared first on Seattle's Child.

The days are getting shorter, leaves are changing, and it seems like it should be easier to fall asleep. Sleep is a hot topic and for some children it is just not easy. We have seen more children with difficulty falling and staying asleep since the pandemic and families are increasingly turning to melatonin, widely available as an over-the-counter sleep aid.

Melatonin use is up, but is it a good choice? Let’s talk about kids and melatonin and sleep.

First: Establish good sleep habits

Sleep difficulties are quite common. Approximately 15-25% of children and adolescents have difficulty falling and staying asleep.

The first step to helping your child with sleep is to establish good sleep habits that help your child relax and fall asleep naturally.

• Establish a sleep routine. Specific routines may vary depending on your child’s age and development but having a consistent sleep routine helps signal that it is time to wind down.
• Turn off the screens. The blue light from screens fools the brain into thinking it is daytime, making it hard to fall asleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting screens away at least one hour before bedtime.
• Exercise. Children who exercise or play hard are usually better sleepers.
• Make the sleep space comfortable. Limit ambient light, noise, etc.
• Limit stress.

What if it’s still hard to sleep? How about melatonin?

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced in the pineal gland, which is located in the brain. Naturally occurring melatonin is released at night in response to changes in light as a trigger for sleep. While melatonin promotes falling asleep, it does not help people stay asleep.

Melatonin is also available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. It has dramatically increased in popularity and is commonly used as a “sleep aid” for adults and children. It is available in several forms ― liquids, gummies, chewable, capsules and tablets ― all with varying dosages. There are no clear guidelines about appropriate dosages.

Risks and side effects of melatonin

Short-term melatonin use is associated with daytime drowsiness and increased nighttime urination. There is little data about the effects of long-term melatonin use. Pediatricians and sleep experts agree that more research is needed to understand the effects of melatonin use on growth and development.

Is melatonin safe?

Melatonin is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. Because it is viewed as a dietary supplement there is little oversight. Unfortunately, the actual melatonin content in a supplement often varies significantly from what is stated on the label. A recent study found the amount of melatonin ranged from half to four times that stated on labels. The greatest variability in melatonin content was found in chewable tablets and gummies, which are often used for children.

Some melatonin is certified by third-party groups such as ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, UL and U.S. Pharmacopeia. There groups test the product to confirm it has the ingredients listed and is not contaminated. It is a good idea to check the label and confirm third-party certification.

Who benefits from melatonin?

Melatonin may be useful for short-term sleep corrections, such as jet lag or schedule changes. There is little evidence that melatonin is effective in treating insomnia in otherwise healthy children. Children with certain conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism may benefit from melatonin use, but this is an important conversation to have with their medical provider.

Melatonin poisoning

Melatonin use has recently increased significantly, and this has led to an increase in melatonin overdoses. During 2012–2021 , there have been 260,000 reports of melatonin child poisoning, 4,000 hospital visits and 287 required intensive care, according to the CDC.

Always remember to manage melatonin as a medication and be sure to keep it out of reach.

What’s the proper kids’ melatonin dose?

There are no clear guidelines about melatonin dosage. Dosages between 0.5mg and 3mg are common.

• Always start with the lowest effective dose.
• It is most effective if taken 30 to 90 minutes before bedtime.
• If you are worried about your child’s ability to sleep, reach out to your medical provider. They can help you create a sleep plan and make sure there are no medical reasons for sleep problems.

Published Oct. 22, 2022

Have a question for Dr. Block? Send it to jhanson@seattleschild.com.

More from Dr. Block and Kaiser Permanente in Seattle’s Child:

• How to know if your child’s backpack is too heavy
• What to know about monkeypox and polio
• Q&A: COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5

The post Kids and melatonin: new guidance and warnings | Ask the Pediatrician appeared first on Seattle's Child.