How about some lesser-known spots around town that are not usually overrun by large crowds? These gardens are some of Seattle’s best-kept secrets, full of history and opulence. With their year-round blooms and foliage from native trees and exotic plants, these garden parks soothe, educate, and amaze. 

Dunn Gardens

• Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday
• Admission: Non-members: $10/person
• Address: 13533 Northshire Rd NW, Seattle, WA 98177
• Parking: Park on Northshire Road and enter white gates
• Note: This garden is not stroller-friendly. Dogs are not allowed.

Nestled in a north Seattle neighborhood, this private garden offers both self-guided and docent-led tours. Designed by the famous Olmsted Brothers (they’re work included Central Park in New York City as well as  34 parks and playgrounds in Seattle), the garden paths meander through collections of rhododendrons, dogwoods, azaleas, hostas and other perennial plants. A hidden path leads to a Woodland Garden nestled beneath a canopy of lush green trees and a tangle of tree trunks winding their way into the ground. Catch a glimpse of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains on a clear day. Find a quiet space on the great lawn or in the courtyard. Children will love the open spaces and beautiful colors, and learn that the Dunn Family helped make the rhododendron Washington’s state flower. This hidden Seattle garden offers a wonderful location for children and families, and there is even a playground in the garden.

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Highline Seatac Botanical Garden

• Hours: Open daily, dawn to dusk. Closed on Federal Holidays.
• Admission: Free
• Address: 13735 24th Avenue South, SeaTac 98168
• Parking: Onsite and free.
• Note: Dogs on leash allowed. Bring a book to exchange at the little free library.

Hop, skip and jump across the bridge at the Japanese Garden, then follow the sounds of the stream to an open pond – a great place to read or explore. Play peek-a-boo around the Greek columns on the lawn. Highline Seatac Botanical Garden is a great place to learn about plants as well as do some plane spotting: manmade “birds” fly over the park that’s near Sea-Tac Airport. Maintained by volunteers, the botanical garden is home to thousands of plants. Many plants were donated from homes demolished by Sea-Tac’s third runway project. Every display garden has an interesting story you won’t want to miss.  

 

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Kruckeberg Botanic Garden

• Hours: Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (March – October), 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (November – February)
• Admission: Free with a suggested donation of $5/person
• Address: 20312 15th Avenue Northwest, Shoreline, 98177
• Parking: Onsite and free
• Note: Hosts the Concert in the Garden event during the summer. Dogs on leash allowed.

Is there a garden perfect for nature play? Yes, indeed! Look for the Woodwave sculpture in Kruckeberg Botanic Garden — it’s a tangle of branches that interweave together — and get ready to climb! Build gnome and fairy houses in the wooded area of the garden. An awesome destination, Kruckeberg contains a mixture of native and exotic plants and trees. Bring your binoculars to spot more than 40 species of birds! Make your final stop at the nursery and grab a few native plants for your own yard. One of the Seattle area’s most charming hidden gardens!

 

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Seattle Japanese Garden

• Hours: Seasonal hours; see website for details
• Admission: Adults, $10; youth 6-17, $6; kids 5 and under, free
• Address: 1075 E Lk Washington Blvd, Seattle, WA 98112
• Parking: Onsite and free
• Note: Check out the large maple tree by the entrance: It has been there for more than 60 years! Dogs are not allowed.

Journey through the landscapes of Japan at the Seattle Japanese Garden. where cobblestoned gravel paths encircle a central pond. Here, the koi fish surface with mouths gaping and ready for a treat. Sit at a bench and talk about the maple trees and their ever-changing colors. Be on the lookout for blue herons and other birds that visit the park. Located within the Washington Park Arboretum, this garden is a slice of heaven. They offer Family Saturday from March through September, with fun activities for the whole family and free admission for youth 12 and under from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The garden is closed December – February.

 

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Woodland Park Rose Garden

• Hours: 7:30 a.m. – dusk daily
• Admission: Free
• Address: 750 North 50th Street, Seattle, WA 98103
• Parking: Pay to park while the zoo is open, free when zoo is closed. Dogs allowed on leash.
• Note: The pesticide-free garden makes the roses a lovely treat for zoo animals, especially the gorillas.

Roses are red, violets are blue, don’t miss Seattle’s hidden little garden right by the zoo! The Woodland Park Rose Garden is home to more than 3,000 roses of 200 different varieties. Follow butterflies along the maze of paths in this 2.5-acre groomed plot. It’s time to stop to smell the roses! Or, sit by the fountain, look for fish in the lily pad pond, and have a picnic on the concrete benches. Don’t miss the sensory garden, tucked away in the back corners of the park. Listen for wind chimes and explore the trail to find new plants and flowers of every season.

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The eyes of these co-parents — and many others served by my doula practice during these “pandemic years” — were the only part of their faces visible to their laboring partners and their newborns as they rode the emotional roller coaster of labor, birth and the early postpartum hours. 

Masks required at birth

Requiring parents to mask up in the non-surgical birthing room is just one of the adjustments predicated by COVID-19. And make no mistake: The majority of my clients (and the CDC) feel masks are an important protection for everyone in the room — especially their babies — given the tenacity of the virus. Most don’t resent the requirement, even at this most pivotal and intimate of moments. 

Still, parents in my care continue to express a certain sadness about having to cover up. And some have wondered aloud whether masked parents affect newborns in negative ways.

Research is sparse

Research on such concerns comes down to one to two studies at this time. And although some studies are in progress, the pandemic will likely be endemic before we have actual answers on the subject. In the meantime it is very likely masks will remain a part of all births for the remainder of this viral threat and certainly any in the future.

So here’s what I and many of my doctor, midwife, doula and lactation colleagues remind families when they ask about mask impact on newborns and developing babies (and they do ask us): 

What new parents need to hear

First, newborns don’t see very far or focus well. Most important at birth is their sense of smell. So get close, even with your mask. Your baby will know you.

I remind them we humans have senses for a reason. And babies are incredibly resilient in their use of them. They adapt. 

I remind them that nearly one-third of babies are born by surgery. That’s a sad statistic, but the fact is the vast majority develop just fine. I remind them that blind and deaf babies and those who spend time in heavily masked neonatal intensive care units bond successfully with their parents. I remind them that babies are brilliant: They use whatever sense or synapse is at their disposal to get to know their parents and caregivers and get what they need to grow and thrive..

What I need to remember

I like to remind myself of a few things as well. 

I tell myself parents, too, are resilient. Such worries are new but normal. Concern is part of becoming the great protector of a tiny new human.

I remind myself and parents that providers in all birth settings continue to find ways to flex in support of parent-baby connection despite the need for increased caution. Most Puget Sound-area hospitals and birthing centers all both parents to unmask when providers are out of the room. And many try to take their leave before the golden hour  — the critical window after birth when skin-to-skin contact with a parent (usually the mother) helps a baby to regulate temperature, control respiration and reduce the chance of low blood sugar — has passed.

A few colleagues recently reminded me that more important than what masks do cover is what they don’t cover: the eyes.

“I’m meeting lots of smiling babies on my exam table who are clearly responding to my smiling voice and my smiling eyes,” lactation consultant Dana Hall, IBCLC said. I’m meeting those babies, too. 

Our resilient kids may surprise us

I like to believe that our COVID babies will inform and surprise us. Perhaps those studies just now getting underway will find they have stronger facial interpretation and recognition skills as a result of adapting to masks. 

In my heart of hearts – and from what I’ve seen of the bevy of healthy, well-developing babies born into my practice since 2020 – I’m confident our newest Washingtonians will do just fine despite masking.

Still, that same heart breaks a little at each new birth as the elastic bands snap behind parent ears. It aches most not for the babies, but for the mothers and fathers whose dreams of this life-changing moment probably didn’t include a piece of paper or cloth covering their fear, excitement and joy.

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Carkeek Park

Cross the bridge over the train tracks and head to the beach! The wind picks up by the water and will send your kite flying high on a blustery day. Stop to explore the beach, have a snack, skip a few rocks. Blow off some steam in the children’s playground, equipped with a salmon-shaped slide, swings, and play structures.

Location: 950 N.W. Carkeek Park Road, Seattle

Magnuson Park

Find the perfect treeless spot or walk your flyer up Kite Hill, a perfectly named 35-foot-tall kite run. It’s near the swimming beach, so be sure to pack some extra clothes for an after-flight dip.

Location: 7400 Sand Point Way N.E. Seattle

Gas Works Park

On the shores of Lake Union and opposite downtown Seattle, Gas Works Park was made for kite lovers. Drag your air rider to the top of the Great Earth Mound Summit, a great spot to watch it climb into the skies.

Location: 2101 N. Northlake Way, Seattle  

Mukilteo Lighthouse Park

When wind kicks up at this rocky beach area, your glider may just touch the clouds. Take a break to count the ferries coming into the dock, and don’t miss the lighthouse museum. Ivar’s fish and chips and soft-serve ice cream are a good way to round out a perfect fly day.

Location: 609 Front St., Mukilteo

Marymoor Park

Grassy meadows make for easy kite-flying at this 640-acre Eastside park. For the best winds, look for paragliders in the sky and follow their path. Consider bringing scooters or bikes to enjoy the dozens of trails at the park and launch your kite at different locations.

Location: 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E., Redmond

Read more:

More outdoor fun in Seattle’s Child

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Spring is a great time to pack out to alpacas a Cascade Rose Alpaca Farm and catch glimpses of the herd’s newest members. Feed, pet and learn all about these gentle, doe-eyed creatures as well as participate in other farm activities. It even has a glamp-site for overnight adventurers. 

For an alpaca experience further afield, head to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands, home of The Farm at Krystal Acres.

Can you find Oreo, Grumpy, Pip-Squeak and Truffles? They are just some of the animals wandering this 40-acre farm.

Don’t skip the self-guided tour to learn how Krystal Acres is contributing to alpaca wool and fiber sustainability or the farm store and its unique gifts made from the softest wool. For reservations and more information go to cascaderosefarm.com and krystalacres.com.

Read more:

Visit real live kangaroos near Seattle area 

Best family farms and petting zoos in the Seattle area

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“Rapid changes are really hard and always have been,” says Adana Protonentis, a South Seattle mother of two. That’s not true just for neurodiverse kids like hers; it’s true for most kids, parents, teachers and caregivers. Transitions are often incredibly anxiety-provoking.

And here we are again.

On Feb. 17, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that starting March 21, masks would not be required in most places, including K-12 schools and childcare facilities.  Then, on Feb. 28, Inslee and King County health officials moved up the date to March 12. School districts were allowed to choose whether or not to implement a face mask requirement.  Seattle Public Schools along with many other school districts in the state chose to make masks optional as of March 14th. 

Once again parents are facing difficult decisions.

Some local families worry about the possibility of masks coming off too early. They may be in support of continued masking because Covid still very much in the community. They want to follow the science. Others don’t want a repeat of 2021’s short-lived mask mandate reversal. They say unmasking schools fills them — and their kids — with anxiety. 

“It’s like last summer when we ended the mask mandate before the delta wave, basically declaring victory too soon,” says Seattle mother of two Heather Ketchpaw.

Still, some, like Jen, an Issaquah mother of three who preferred her last name not be used, are eager to see face coverings go. “Covid will be here forever, and we need to learn to live with it,” she says.

Whereas Jen and other parents we spoke to who have been pressing for an end to mask mandates say masks have caused too much social, emotional and developmental harm to kids, other parents say they believe unmasking now will exacerbate an already alarming children’s mental health crisis in Washington.

And, they add, dropping masks too soon could prove physically or emotionally harmful for kids with certain medical concerns, those with disabilities, kids who have family members at home who cannot be vaccinated, or children who experienced “no-mask anxiety.” That’s the term coined by some news outlets in 2021 to describe distress and fear around removing masks, which for many families have been a symbol of safety in an uncertain world. [See Busting myths about kids and masks]. 

“I can’t wait to see my daughter walking to school without a mask,” says Lola Onjolio, whose 7-year-old daughter attends school in Renton Highlands. “But she’s already telling me she wants to keep wearing one because ‘What if it’s not safe?’ We’re working on her fears –  at least she’s not wearing one to bed anymore – but I mean we’ve been here before and then came omicron, right?”

In her family, Protonentis says. “We’ve spent all this time telling our kids this is something we do to keep you and other people safe. To suddenly say ‘That thing that keeps you safe? We’re going to take that away now,’ that freaks them out.”

Recommendations from the CDC do not weigh the potential social-emotional impact of masking, and simply advise that vaccinated individuals should wear masks “indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.” 

The World Health Organization encourages a similar guideline to mask in areas of high transmission, but also highlights “Potential impact of wearing a mask on learning and psychosocial development,” as an important factor in deciding to mask children.

“The mask issue has unfortunately turned into an all in or out,” says Adam,* a Woodinville father of two. Adam, who works in a medical field but preferred his real name not be used, doubts that many kids are properly wearing masks, and he argues face covering does have a negative impact. 

“Unfortunately I have seen and treated more kids recently dealing with extreme anxiety, depression, anger, drugs, suicide and domestic violence than I thought possible,” Adam says. “Children not being able to see a friend smile at them, a teacher come up and give a soft smile of encouragement, or just another person’s face in general has caused more damage than I think we are willing to realize. The anxiety of kids going out and constantly thinking about, ‘Do I have my mask?’ is not a way to live. The ‘distance’ the masks have created is so unnatural.”

Many parents who want to follow science struggle to weigh seemingly conflicting data about the benefits, or harm, of masking. Separating fact from rumor is difficult and time-consuming. [See Myths about Masks.]

Devon Atchison, a Queen Anne mother of two, echoes Ketchpaw’s concerns about her kids spending six hours a day sans mask filtration.

“I feel nervous about mandates lifting. The CDC has said that we’re not ready to lift it. If science says it’s not time yet, it’s not time yet,” says Atchison. 

Ketchpaw says the conversation leads to more questions: “How will kids react to some parents requiring them versus other parents sending kids without masks? Will there be questions? Teasing? Pressure to take it off? Will teachers be asked by parents to enforce individual preferences? I’m stressed out just thinking about it.” 

She points to the added tension in homes like hers, when a child wants to take off her mask in school and a parent wants it to stay on. Of her and her daughter’s perspective, Ketchpaw says: “We really differ on the topic.”

Numerous repeated, vetted studies have substantiated the efficacy of properly worn masks in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Several people we talked to say they will send their kids to school masked whether or not it’s mandated.

“I’m really worried about my youngest, who’s not eligible [for vaccination] because of his age,” says Katie Skorupa, mother of two in Snoqualmie. “We will continue to mask as a family until he’s fully vaccinated, regardless of a mask mandate being lifted.”

Still, rapid transitions, pandemic uncertainty, and cycling guidelines like yes-no mask mandates can fill the whole family with agitation. 

According to the CDC and the Washington Chapter of The American Academy of Pediatrics,  rates of anxiety and depression among school-age children have skyrocketed since March 2020. In the same time period, mental health–related emergency department visits have increased upwards of 24% for children ages 5 to 11 and 31% for those ages 12 to 17, according to the CDC.

In addition to their concerns about whether kids should stay masked or not, many parents wonder about the impacts of long-term masking on children’s mental health and overall development. 

We talked with clinical experts and learning specialists regarding several areas of parent concern.

Does Wearing a Mask Affect Speech Development?

Although research has yet to confirm it, some teachers, parents, and child development experts believe masks may temporarily impede language development among young children. 

Speech pathologist Mona Best recognizes that masks bring unique challenges to speech development and therapy. Best works with children from kindergarten through grade 5 in the Tahoma School District and with issues ranging from articulation to complex communication for preverbal kids.

When mask mandates are in place, Best wears a face shield so students can see her whole face clearly. Her students have worn masks with clear panels during sessions. The clear panel workaround has been helpful, but Best says masks have limitations, since progress relies on dynamic feedback during therapy. As therapists peer through a foggy window on a masked child, that feedback can be hard to both give and receive.

But Best has found students to be resilient, even when they are required to wear a mask. Katie Skorupa’s son makes Best’s point: “My youngest, L, had a speech delay before the pandemic and was able to graduate out of required services while wearing a mask and shield.”

“Communication is so much more than just the words you’re hearing,” speech pathologist Best says. “Many of the students I (have seen) rely on their visual system to problem solve.”  Body language, gestures, visual cues in the upper half of the face, tone and pace of speech all contribute to effective communication. 

Gretchen Rohrbaugh’s third-grade son is a case in point. He has relied on visual cues like lip-reading and body language to communicate, which made virtual school, “impossible,” Rohrbaugh recalls. Still, Rohrbaugh, a Fall City resident, says masks make understanding her son more difficult, and “it takes so much more effort to communicate, learn, and make friends.” 

Best stressed that “spaciousness, presence and an unhurried way of being” are the best tools for supporting kids with communication challenges whether they are masked or not.

Disability and Neurodiversity Issues Impact Mask Decisions

Protonentis highlights a key concern: When it comes to the question of lifting mask mandates, “We might see ableism rear its ugly head.”

“Disabled folks have been traumatized so much throughout this pandemic. We’ve had rhetoric about how COVID ‘only’ hurts people with underlying health conditions, as if those lives are less precious. 

“We’ve seen resentment and hostility from folks who aren’t willing to follow COVID suppression protocols to make things safer for folks with increased risks. In the context of school, I would have questions about how [teachers] plan to keep an eye on bullying or judgment coming from kids who decide to go mask-free versus kids who decide to keep masks on. How do we support the kids in navigating the social and emotional components of that transition?” 

She adds that medically fragile or disabled kids may need to transition away from masking at a different pace from other children.

“I hope we’re thinking about how to make sure that these kids feel affirmed and supported as they navigate this uncertain time,” Protonentis says.

Masking uncertainty has been particularly challenging for parents of neurodiverse children (there are as many as 48,000 autistic children in Washington), children with sensory challenges, and disabled children. Along with sensory disorientation, parents say that their kids have expressed confusion around inconsistent social norms.

“We used to refer to flexibility as the f-word,” Adana Protonentis says of her two neurodivergent children, who both have anxiety disorders. “They’re feeling really depleted in terms of their ability to be flexible.”

When Protonentis asked her children how they would feel about unmasking, her son said, “I would think I’m being tricked. That doesn’t sound real.”

“He said he’d feel uncomfortable and unsafe and would want to know he could do school from home until he felt comfortable,” she says.

Impact of Mask Wearing on Infant Social and Emotional Development

Since 2020, parents have expressed concern about how babies’ emotional development may be impacted by parents being masked at birth, as well as the ongoing masking of caregivers.

Psychotherapist Emily Anderson assures parents that they should feel confident their little ones will thrive with a masked caregiver.

“You may have to work harder to develop their sense of safety,” Anderson says. But, “babies’ brains are incredibly plastic and attachment is not as fragile as we think it is,” she says. “If something like masking could knock attachment off the rails, we wouldn’t have survived as a species. We are much more adaptable than that.” 

Cultural Inclusion and COVID Disproportion in Mask Wearing

Anderson points out that many concerns about masking and children represent a Western perspective. 

“There are cultures that have worn face coverings in public for millennia,” she stresses. In those cultures, babies are developmentally and emotionally on track.

At the same time, unmasking in the midst of a school year may increase anxiety in populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Mom Adana Protonentis wholeheartedly agrees. A child’s sense of safety is shaped by their identity.

“Context matters,’’ Protonentis says. “Some of us have experienced more grief and loss during COVID and the stakes around masking feel different. Pacific Islander, Black, Indigenous and disabled communities have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. 

“The level of risk I feel as a Black, disabled person is different from the level of risk my white in-laws might feel,” she adds. “For kids who have lost loved ones to COVID, or who have loved ones who are experiencing long-term effects of COVID, the decision to stop wearing a mask may feel fraught. And we have to understand that the kids in that position are most likely to be from marginalized communities, because systemic oppression created conditions for marginalized communities to be more exposed to and particularly vulnerable to COVID.”

Mask Wearing and Anxiety Among School-age Kids

And what about the dramatic increase in anxiety among children and adolescents during these COVID-19 years? Is masking to blame? Could removing masks be the solution for anxious kids and families?

There is no evidence that masking alone is the culprit in the current child mental health crisis in Washington and across the U.S. 

More likely parent and child anxiety is born of a combination of COVID-related stressors —instability at work or home, fear of the disease, loss of loved ones, stress over finances, being isolated or distanced from friends. 

Seattle mom Erin MacDougall has three children, one too young to be vaccinated, and says parents are already mentally overtaxed. 

“The mental health burden on students and their families during the pandemic are immense,” she says. “Adding another anxiety-driving decision and potential peer pressure around masking or not masking while at school is irresponsible.” 

“What is affecting kids the most is how parents are holding up,” says Emily Anderson. When parents are stressed, kids’ anxiety increases, and vice versa but there are effective ways to manage anxiety in both ourselves and our kids. 

Anderson adds, “It’s important that we hold our kids’ anxiety in a context, and be careful not to send our kids the signal that there’s nothing to worry about.” Children are always aware of large-scale upsets. Anderson says parents need to validate kids’ emotions while also focusing on the steps being taken to stay safe and emphasizing to kids what they can control. 

Mental health experts remind parents they too need to focus on what they can control. Readiness for change, for example, can reduce anxiety. When and if mandates are ended, families should openly discuss the possibility of their return. Readiness can help reduce anxiety. 

Parents should remind kids that the need for masks may come and go, like the need for warm jackets in winter. Such simple comparisons can help normalize the on-again, off-again aspect of this particular disease-fighting tool. Adding occasional “mask practice” to earthquake practice at home might help as well. 

No matter what, hold on to faith in the buoyancy of youth, these experts stress. In times of challenge, children may have to adopt new tools and cut new paths to developing the skills they need to thrive. But human adaptation theory assures kids raised during the pandemic will make their way.

Research will continue to emerge on long-term masking within epidemic environments, and increased anxiety among children in times of great unknown. With it will come better information on how to best mitigate negatives and nurture children’s physical and mental health. 

In the meantime, if you feel caught in the middle of wanting to keep your kids safe while at the same time wishing for them the fuller freedom of an unmasked childhood, you are not alone.

“Masks feel like a hard Band-Aid for us to peel… they have provided so much safety to our family,” says Sarah Orza, West Seattle mother of two. “When I think about getting to see children’s sweet smiles directed fully again at each other, I get excited.” 

Katie Anthony, boy mom and jumpsuit savant, writes about feminism, family, and other f-words at KatyKatiKate.com. Seattle’s Child staff reporters contributed to this article.

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Seattle moms Chef Michaela Skloven and Erin Metzger are tackling that problem with The Speedy Dish meal delivery service. The company provides “almost ready” meals that come with ingredients prepared in advance and portioned to family size. That means healthy, home-cooked meals on the table in 20 minutes or less.

Skloven and Metzger, both veterans of sustainable restauranteering, have four sons between their two households ranging in ages from 2 to 10. Their kids, they say, definitely influence the menu.

“Michaela and I have very different eaters in our families and we’ve used that as a jumping off point to try to understand the full range of ways families enjoy meals together,” says Metgzer. They’ve also been studying the different ways families approach meals.

“We’ve seen that for some families, eating the same meal together is very important,” says Metzger. Skloven’s family fits in this category.

“She has been focused on exposing her boys to a variety of foods from a young age and seeks to have everyone eat the same meal,” Metzger explains. “Her boys certainly won’t eat everything, but they are some of the most adventurous preschool eaters I’ve seen.  As she’s experimenting with new recipes for The Speedy Dish, she always lets her boys be extremely honest judges.” 

Other families want to offer a main dish to everyone, but offer other options that are more familiar or approachable to kids. Metzger’s family falls into this camp.

“My boys are very selective eaters,” she says.  “For our family dinners, we serve a main meal, along with a rotation of more familiar options.” 

To meet that family’s needs, The Speedy Dish offers prepared proteins and sides, like grilled, diced, free-range chicken breast or cubed white cheddar ready to serve straight from the container so it’s easy for kids to have choices on the table. Still other families, she adds, simply want a fast way to put a healthy dinner on the table.

“We seek to cater to all of these scenarios,” she says. 

Skloven and Metzger met while leading menu development and supply chain management for the sustainability-minded fast-casual Seattle sandwich shop Homegrown. A Ballard resident, Skloven is an accomplished chef who honed her skills in the trenches of top restaurants in New York City, including Per Se, Gramercy Tavern, and Franny’s. Metzger, Queen Anne mom, brings to the business a background in marketing and product development at Starbucks and Microsoft.

They both bring long personal and professional commitments to sustainability to the table as well. For example, The Speedy Dish meal delivery service collects back reusable delivery bags and ice packs and uses advance ordering to reduce food waste. Local and thoughtful sourcing drive the menu.

Did we mention the kid appeal in the names on the menu?  Cheesy Chicken Parm Pasta?

Go to thespeedydish.com.

Try Dumplings – delivered or make-your-own for another family meal.

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If you think your child may be suffering from heightened or high anxiety, ask yourself these questions: 

1) Do their feelings or behaviors interfere in daily life? 

2) Do emotional storms continue over long periods of time? Does the storm blow over in 5 minutes, or does it take an hour?  

3) Do upset periods interfere with sleep and eating?  

If the answer to any or all of these questions is ‘Yes!’ seek support from a doctor, therapist or other person trained to diagnose childhood mental health concerns, visit https://wyomentalhealth.org/klonopin-clonazepam/.

Remember, anxiety can look different in children and adults. Knowing the signs of high anxiety in kids is useful. They include, but are not limited to:

Rigidity

Your child insists on doing things a certain way and has meltdowns, tantrums, aggression if that “certain way” is disrupted. This behavior may be your child trying to get more predictability, because predictability mitigates anxiety.

Motor agitation

Your child is subject to big wiggles, standing up/sitting down, and an inability to to keep their hands to themself. This may mean your child is processing the physical experience of anxiety.

Unexpected emotional reactions

Your child laughs when someone gets hurt, pretends not to care about being in trouble, and exhibits big anger over small issues. Such disproportionate feelings are often a mask for feelings or worries that a child finds it difficult to articulate.

For tips on managing anxiety in children, check out pediatrician Sarah Bergman Lewis’ article “When anxiety moves into your house.”

The post Know the signs of anxiety in young kids appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Aaron Collins, aka the Mask Nerd, is a mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science. He is also a father. Since 2020, Collins has been sharing his evaluations of masks in terms of filtration and fit on his Twitter page @masknerd.

Dr. Katrine Wallace, also known as Dr. Kat, is an epidemiologist and mother who uses her Instagram page @epidemiologistkat to debunk misinformation, answer COVID questions and make complex data accessible to parents.

MYTH: Wearing a mask will make it harder for my child to breathe.

Dr. Kat (and the American Lung Association) say masks are designed to be breathed through, and there’s no evidence that low oxygen levels occur.

MYTH: Wearing a mask will trigger my child’s asthma or allergies.

Nope.

 “According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) there is no evidence that wearing a mask worsens asthma,” says Dr. Kat.

Collins adds that masks actually filter common allergens like pollen, dust and mites.

MYTH: Masks trap the carbon dioxide that we normally breathe out.

Dr. Kat says, “CO2 molecules are much smaller than viruses and can easily pass through any cloth mask material. There has never been any evidence of ‘CO2 poisoning’ occurring from masks.” 

Collins adds that multiple studies show that masking doesn’t impact blood oxygen levels. 

MYTH: Masks lead to a weaker immune system because we’re not getting exposed to regular germs.

False. 

“Your immune system isn’t going to forget pathogens it’s come into contact with before,” says Dr. Kat. “Also, respiratory droplets are not the only way we come into contact with microbes and viruses.”

MYTH: We should all wear the mask with the highest number printed on it.

Collins and Dr. Kat agree: The best mask for kids in terms of COVID and potentially future viral threats is the KF94 or KN95. (Collins says that N95 masks don’t come in child sizes, so it can be difficult to get a good fit on a child.)

MYTH: If a mask fogs up my kid’s glasses, it’s not protecting them from COVID.

That fog could be from a poor fit, or you could be seeing air that’s already passed through the mask. Collins explains that since warm air rises, a warm, humid exhale that’s passed through a well-fitting mask can still fog glasses. To check, use your fingers to seal the mask against the face and see if your child still fogs up. 

MYTH: I bought a mask on Amazon and it says KN95. We’re good, right?

Collins recently tested masks purchased from the Amazon marketplace and discovered that 25% of the masks did not meet the standard they were labeled to. He recommends purchasing directly from vetted suppliers like Project N95, 3M, or Kollecte.

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