“With flashing, plastic toys, kids are passive observers, not active participants,” says Suba Jagannathan, mother, toymaker and the owner of Mirus Toys in Vancouver. 

Conversely, simple wooden toys, Suba believes, tap a child’s imagination the way plastic, electronic toys often don’t: “Their imaginations are really awesome. If we give them the stories, they can repeat them, but if we give them the opportunity, they will make up stories, and surprise us over and over again.” 

[ Related: Duck Runner, a classic-toy trip down memory lane ]

A study out of Eastern Connecticut State University supports Suba’s belief: When it comes to encouraging problem-solving, creativity and positive social interactions, simpler toys are better. 

According to the authors of the 10-year Toys that Inspire Mindful Play and Nurture Imagination (TIMPANI) study, “A simple wooden cash register in our study inspired children to engage in lots of conversations related to buying and selling — but a plastic cash register that produced sounds when buttons were pushed mostly inspired children to just push the buttons repeatedly.” 

Suba, a former computational biologist, bought a used scroll saw while expecting her first child, wanting to create toys that were safe, creative and STEM-focused. She believes beautifully made wooden toys preserve the magic of childhood.

Redmond toymaker Dale Thompson agrees: 

“If you’re going to make a wooden toy work, you’ve got to turn on your imagination,” he says. Thompson is a founding member of Wooden Toys for Charity, a group of retired craftspeople who build wooden trucks, doll beds and block sets for nonprofit organizations.

“My father made a box of wooden blocks,” he recalls. “No fancy paint, just cut out on the saw and sanded a little on the corners. By the time they came to my kids, those blocks were worn, scratched and smooth from small hands rubbing them around on the floor.” 

Dale adds: “When I ask my kids what they remember about being little, they all remember that box of blocks.”

Wooden toys: safe, sustainable

In addition to being more durable than plastic toys, well-made wooden toys are often safer and more sustainable than plastic. Numerous studies have found that children can absorb harmful chemicals like phthalates, which disrupt normal hormone development, from exposure to plastics. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, “The toy industry is the most plastic-intensive industry in the world.” 

Suba recommends high-quality hardwood over plywood or reclaimed wood. 

“Some wood is heavily treated for outside use with pesticides and other chemicals,” Suba says.

Also, paint on toys that may enter a child’s mouth should be in compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act. Mirus Toys sources their wood from American-grown maple and hickory, and tests all paints to be well within the safety guidelines for toys.

Washington makers of wooden toys

Tom’s Woodshop, Silverdale: Produces sturdy, long-lasting trucks, ferry boats and rocking horses.

Northwest Alpine Woodworks, Marysville: Known for tow trucks, cranes and train sets.

Manzanita Kids, Seattle: Custom name puzzles, teethers, and other imaginative-play toys from American hardwoods.

Mirus Toys, Vancouver: A team of women woodworkers builds Montessori-style toys. Bestsellers include a beehive puzzle and a beautiful perpetual calendar.

Autumn Creek Custom Toy, Clear Lake: Heirloom-quality pretend-play toys from tool sets to kitchen items.

Originally published December 2021

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Dr. Kendi will speak at 7:30 p.m. on June 23, at Town Hall Seattle. (Seattle’s Child is the media sponsor of this event.)

Part memoir, all parenting guide, Kendi’s newest book takes many thoughts and approaches outlined in the author’s bestselling 2019 book “How to be an Antiracist’’ as well as new insights gained from his own parenting journey and lays them out as a set of tools for parents and caregivers determined to end racism in the next generation. The book offers an antiracist action plan for raising kids who understand and refuse to perpetuate the institutions, systems and policies that preserve and advance racism. 

Kendi will speak at Town Hall Seattle in June.

One of the key tools? Talking to kids about race. 

Far more than undoing racism, Kendi stresses that teaching kids to be “colorblind” leads to their denying it exists. As he has said in other forums, Kendi believes denial is the heartbeat of racism. He advises caregivers to listen to children’s feelings about race without judgment or hostility — and to use questions that engage critical thinking in frequent discussions about race. For example, a caregiver might ask “Why do you think there are so few people of color in this neighborhood?” Such discussions, Kendi suggests, should start in early childhood.

In each chapter Kendi tackles a different aspect of racism, offering his own experiences from childhood to parenthood as illustration. He goes on to reframe those experiences to support a groundwork for change laid out in previous works:

“Racism is a powerful collection of racist policies that lead to racial inequity and are substantiated by racist ideas,” Kendi has written. “Antiracism is a powerful collection of antiracist policies that lead to racial equity and are substantiated by antiracist ideas.”

Dr. Kendi teaches at Boston University and is the founding director of the university’s Center for Antiracist Research. He’s the author of several highly acclaimed books including the National Book Award-winning “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” “How to Be an Antiracist,” “Antiracist Baby” (a board book), and “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You,” co-authored by Jason Reynolds. 

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi: “How to Raise an Antiracist”

June 23, 7:30 pm in the Great Hall at Town Hall Seattle.

Tickets go on sale on April 28

Sponsored by Seattle’s Child

Full event details here.

Published May 5, 2022

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“I soon realized just how much people love a good pot pie,” she says.

These days, Pot Pie Factory delights busy families with goods (available via delivery or West Seattle pickup) that are fully cooked and flash frozen, making them easy to reheat. Youngsters cherish making individual selections — “that special feeling you get when you know it’s just for you — this golden little pie.”

Niles’ favorite is the Thai Curry Seafood, but the Classic Chicken is the clear winner among both kids and adults. The newer breakfast pot pies are a hit, too.

“We truly have become a yummy melting pot here in the United States,” Niles says. “Pot pies are a delicious way to express that vast diversity. We have so much in common and food is such a beautiful, loving way to realize that while discovering new flavors and cultures.”

Published May 10, 2022

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I found Pippa, who was 5 at the time, and told her we needed to talk.

I led her away from the rest of our group to have our conversation. My intent was to keep from shaming her in public, but I think the walk only made her more apprehensive. I’m not sure if she knew what I wanted to talk about, but she could tell it wasn’t good.

I showed her the pieces of cord. “What do you know about these?”

It took a few seconds for her to recognize them, then her gaze dropped to her feet. “Nothing,” she said, nearly inaudible.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “It’s a rope we use to tie down the tent and keep it safe in a storm. Someone cut it to pieces. Did you do that?” 

She shook her head. At this point, I let the silence hang over us for a while, figuring she’d fess up if I gave her some time, but she just stood there. After a minute, I tried a different approach.

“You know, I’m not mad. Whoever cut it up probably didn’t know what it was for. I just want to solve the mystery. And I want to make sure they know not to do anything else to our camping gear unless they ask first.”

By now, the weight of her guilt was pressing down on her shoulders — you could see her getting smaller. Tears welled up in her eyes and she started to sniffle and tremble, but still, she said nothing. I had started this convinced that I was about to teach her an important life lesson about accepting responsibility and telling the truth, but now we were stuck. She was backed into a corner, trapped between her guilt and her pride. In the end, I cracked first.

“OK,” I said. “If you figure out who did it, let them know they made a mistake, and tell them to ask first, next time. Would you do that for me?”

She nodded, and the tears started to flow in earnest. I gave her a big hug, and we walked back to our campsite together.

As often happens in parenting, I ended up with more questions than answers. Did I let her get away with telling a lie? I guess so. But did she really get away with it? She certainly felt bad about what she did. Did I want her to feel bad? Was I making too big a deal about a spare piece of string? Or was there some kind of principle at stake? Did I manage to make my point without shaming her, or did I shame her anyway? Did I really make my point at all? What was my point, anyway?

Lies of convenience

I learned with my two older kids that none of this gets easier with time. As they get older, they don’t stop fibbing, they just get good at it. The smarter they are, athe better they are at lying, and the less likely they are to admit it, even if they’re caught red-handed.

Sometimes, when I need a little perspective, I remember all the times I lied to my own parents. Of course, I never thought of it as lying, exactly. I was stretching the truth. I was failing to mention things. I was protecting my privacy. I was gaming the system. Or maybe I just didn’t want to hear their lecture.

And what about now? In anonymous surveys, adults admit to lying an average of once or twice a day. I’d say I’m right in that range. Sure, they’re mostly lies of convenience, or politeness, or to spare someone’s feelings. Harmless … at least if you ask me. 

I don’t want to be a moral nihilist here. Honesty is a real virtue, and lies come in all shapes and sizes — some big enough to do a lot of harm. But before I get too high and mighty with my kids about their complicated dance with the truth, I should probably take a good, hard look at my own.

Published May 8, 2022

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1. Zip over to Vashon Island or to West Seattle aboard the King County Water Taxi at Pier 50 on the Seattle Waterfront. At $5.75 per ride (free for kids 5 and under), it’s an inexpensive way to sail away.

2. Want to wow the young boat lover in your family? Visit the massive cruise ships that dock at Smith Cove and Pier 66 at Bell Harbor throughout the summer. Challenge: How many windows can you count?

3. Cool off with ice cream and other treats on the Seattle Water Tours Ice Cream Sail. You’re certain to feel the breeze on this 45-minute trip around Lake Union. Bonus: Pups are welcome aboard and frozen treats are available for them too!

4. Row, row, row your … peapod? The Center for Wooden Boats offers families the opportunity to cruise around in a wooden boat (called a peapod) on Lake Union for an hour, at no cost. Spots fill fast. Great for beginners. (We tried it, and here’s how it went!)

5. Get ready for some swashbuckling adventure aboard the Emerald City Pirates Family Treasure Cruise. Arrrr matey!

More family boat trips:

11 ways to get out on the water around Seattle

Published May 5, 2022

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Built in 1926 and located in the Olympic National Forest, the resort is equipped with comfortable rooms and the area is rife with family-friendly hiking and activities. It’s about a three-hour drive from Seattle.

Step outside for an easy walk around the lake, play horseshoes on the large lawn or rent a boat to sail the lake. End your day with a dip in an indoor heated pool. Don’t miss local attractions like nearby waterfalls, historic homesteads and the world’s largest Spruce tree.

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In so many ways, my family was secure throughout the pandemic. My husband and I both kept our jobs, our kids were good students without special needs. We had housing and internet connection. We were able to follow the instructions to implement remote schooling. 

And yet, it was hard — very, very, very hard. Our lives had an underlying tone of suspended animation. One thousand small frustrations took so much joy from our everyday life. Comforting sad and exhausted children who couldn’t handle one more asynchronous lesson. Countless schedule consults. Working early in the morning and very late at night to advance projects that were paused during school hours. The isolation and burnout and, eventually, the loss of hope that school would ever return to in-person. 

Because for many months, it didn’t feel like we were going back. The school board showed no sense of urgency. The teachers union opposed returning to classrooms, even after vaccines were available. The district seemed only to focus on improving virtual school. No local government official was pushing to return kids to classrooms. Meanwhile, private schools were in-person or soon returning to it. The Seattle Seahawks played to packed stadiums and bars and gyms were open. I could take my kids to an arcade, but not to a classroom. It quickly felt like a case of the haves versus the have-nots, and I was angry. 

District data shows I was not alone in that anger. Families with financial means were enrolling in private schools. Those unable to spend $25,000+ per child per year on private school were moving to places with re-opened schools and more affordable living. Families with the privilege of time were independently homeschooling. I contemplated each of these options at great length. 

Ultimately, my family decided to stay with public schools. After many family discussions, we realized we simply didn’t want to give up on our beloved public elementary school and school community. We cherished our teachers, who had gone above and beyond in making virtual school as positive as possible. Leaving those relationships would be another loss in a time that was full of losses for children. 

And, above all else, we believed in the importance and power of public education. 

Fighting educational inequity

My own parents moved to the U.S. just a few years before I was born. They learned English alongside my older siblings through their local elementary school, and today my siblings and I all have advanced degrees. This is what public education can do – transform lives. 

But if families with the ability to volunteer, resources to donate and language skills to advocate all left our school system, what would happen? After months of critical conversations about equity, our local public school system was taking part in the largest educational inequity of our time – requiring public school students to remain in the subpar virtual learning environment, while students who could afford private school were going back to in-person learning. If we truly believed that all kids deserve the same opportunities, could we just leave a system that was specifically designed to help level the playing field and provide a great education for all kids, regardless of their background? 

So, instead of leaving, we spoke up. 

It was a hard thing to do at the time as parents in public forums were quick to judge others who vocalized the need to return to in-person learning. Still, parents across the city used their voices to advocate for a return to classrooms. It was a joyous day to see our kids in the classrooms after so many months at home. Hearing my kids excitedly share their school stories made the advocacy emails and phone calls and Seattle Public Schools board meetings worth it.  

Today, more than 24 months after the first COVID-19 lockdown, it is clear that kids did not fare well in the virtual environment. It will take time to make up for learning loss and negative impacts to youth mental health. Public school enrollment losses will mean budget cuts and reduction in service. No one knows how that translates to next school year. We need to continue advocating at both state and local levels to ensure that all kids get the education they deserve. That is now more important than ever.  

In the months ahead, my family and the broader education arena in our region will continue to see how this plays out. But today, as we walk to school and join the school community that cares about us, we are very glad we stayed. 

Linda Rabadi Fair is a nonprofit professional and lives with her family in Seattle.

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The city’s Trees for Seattle program helps educate and engage the community in tree stewardship and appreciation by offering a series of self-guided “tree walks” all over the city. Many are family-friendly, including a stroll in Ravenna that’s all about trees and birds. Other tree walks offered by the program include a scavenger hunt for trees at Woodland Park Zoo and a pairing of trees with art at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Other walks highlight the history of unique trees and some integrate play areas along the way.

Trees for Seattle offers easy-to-follow directions with maps on both their app and website. We used the app to enjoy the colorful and stroller-friendly Ravenna Tree Walk with Birds. Here’s where we went and what we found along the way:

Seattle tree walks: firs, feathers and fun

Within a few flat blocks in this North Seattle neighborhood it became clear how the variety of spectacular trees growing here support abundant bird life. The trees provide everything from refuge and nesting to food for the finely feathered.

The Giant Sequoia (stop 1 on the app tour) is indeed giant at 50 feet and is a favorite of chickadees, sparrows and finches. It’s also one of seven trees on the tour that produces what amounts to a buffet for birds: that is, seed-filled cones. 

More wildlife to be found

Continuing on the tour, we came to the Strawberry Tree (located at stop 4). During the fall it bears bright red and orange fruits that the app tells us taste like figs. Later on the walk we passed by a Black Locust (stop 7), Pacific Madrone (stop 18) and Mountain Ash (stop 21), each of which offers berry-like fruits at different times of the year for jays, robins and cedar waxwings.

We strolled past a Northern Red Oak (stop 14), a favorite of the red-breasted nuthatch, and a row of Shumard Oaks (stop 15). These oaks provide not only meaty acorns but a perfect place for birds to roost. In addition, many of these trees attract a bounty of insects such as wood-boring beetle larvae and tree-dwelling caterpillars. Insects are, in turn, a primary food for birds.

Throughout the tour, we discovered numerous other interesting tree varieties. We stopped at a Mimosa “Silk Tree” (stop 3) and a Northern Catalpa (stop 11) whose vibrant summer flowers entice hummingbirds, the only bird in the world that can fly backwards. We also learned about a Weeping Birch (stop 9), a Paper Birch (stop 10), a Pacific Madrone (stop 18) and a Paperbark Maple (stop 22) with their mesmerizing peeling barks.

Legends in these leaves

Trees mean different things to different cultures. When we arrived at the Western Red Cedar (stop 5), the app offered a fascinating Salish story about this mighty evergreen. Known as the “tree of life” due to its many uses to Indigenous people. The legend proffered by the app states that the Great Spirit would turn a generous man into a Western Red Cedar to honor him for all he had done. Another Indigenous legend, while not stated in the app, is well-known about the Douglas Fir (stop 13). This one tells the tale of the fir’s fire-resistant trunk offering refuge to mice escaping a forest fire. By looking closely, you can spot tiny “mouse tails” peeking out of the tree’s cones.

Our walk ended at a Katsura Tree (stop 23), marked by beautiful heart-shaped leaves. While birds only use this tree for perching, it does attract pollinators and can smell like cotton candy in the fall.

The walk also ends near Ravenna Park playground – the perfect end for kids who didn’t get all their wiggles out along this amazing walk.

Heritage trees

Throughout Seattle, the city recognizes certain trees for their unique qualities, including size, age and cultural or historical significance. Several Trees for Seattle walks include such “heritage trees.” Check out the Heritage Tree Tour on the Trees for Seattle app. Curious to see if there’s a heritage tree near you? Explore the city’s Seattle Tree Inventory map.

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Tukwila’s Spice Bridge, a food hall operated by nonprofit Global to Local, allows diners to connect with a tapestry of tastes in a light-filled space. The hall is colored by the poetry display “Stories of Arrival” created by refugee students from Foster High School. As part of the Food Innovation Network, this food business incubator helps south King County women of color and immigrants launch and develop their businesses.

Currently four vendors are serving up African tastes at this location: 

Beef stew and chicken mayo are top kid hits at Taste of Congo, as are deep-fried beignets (mikate in Congolese) for dessert. Afella Jollof Catering focuses on Senegambian food — dishes from Senegal and Gambia that enjoy a shared culture and cuisine. 

Blackstar Kebab offers authentic Ghanaian food on-the-go; think kebabs (chicken, beef, lamb) and vegetarian options served from a roving food truck. Kids Combo includes smaller, spiceless portions of chicken kebab with jollof rice and sweet red plantains.

More African restaurants

Further north in Seattle’s Central District, Cafe Selam (“Cafe Peace” in Amharic) prepares Ethiopian cuisine with a Middle Eastern twist in a family-friendly environment. Kids will especially love getting their hands on the housemade injera (spongy bread).

Whereas these smaller eateries offer simple decor, others create a robust visual escape, too. At Marrakesh in downtown Seattle, diners are instantly whisked away to a Moroccan-style tent.

Billowy fabric hanging from the ceiling helps create the worlds-away ambiance, as do the low-lit walls covered in red, blue and gray Moroccan rugs, goatskin poufs and lounging couches, plus short tables with intricate wood inlay. Then there are the table rituals — like the invitation to eat your five-course meal with fingers versus utensils. The belly dancer adds even more allure.

Seattle dad Curt Small found Marrakesh to be a unique parent-teen date spot, during a recent special outing with 16-year-old daughter Olivia.

“It was like a short trip away from the mundanity of the weekend, a magic door leading away from the gray streets of Seattle,” Small says. It proved a great way to introduce his daughter to another world culture, too. 

“The food was amazing,” Olivia says. “The waiter poured water into our hands and had us wash them before dinner and (that) made me curious about the customs in Morocco and if that is something they do [during dinner].” A Stadium High School (Tacoma) student, Olivia says that the dramatic after-dinner tea pour and belly dancer added to the evening’s “genuine and authentic” feel. She thought it was a wonderful introduction to this north African country.

Both dad and daughter were impressed by the dinnertime dancer, but realized they have homework to do before visiting again.

“I kind of didn’t know how to show her the support for her dance,’’ says Olivia. “I wasn’t sure if it was rude to clap or to stand up while she was dancing.”

Added Curt Small, “I realized I know nothing about that tradition — something to look up later!”

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Years later, my own kids loved Duckie just as too, almost as much as our pet cat. Such a simple toy brought decades of joy. 

Imagine my delight in finding Duck Runner at Seattle’s Pacific Northwest Shop. Handmade by Fall City-based Deep Forest Woodworks, the Duck Runner push toy is a throwback — and an invitation — to simple memories and simpler times.

• Ages 2 and older
• $39
• Duckrunner.com
• Available in Seattle at Pacificnorthwestshop.com

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