Parenting Archives | Seattle's Child https://www.seattleschild.com/category/parenting/ Activities and Resources for Parents and Kids in greater Seattle Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:50:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.4 https://images.seattleschild.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/seattle-icon-32x32.jpg Parenting Archives | Seattle's Child https://www.seattleschild.com/category/parenting/ 32 32 This Hits Home: News of impact to Washington families https://www.seattleschild.com/washington-political-news-for-families-key-updates-this-week-march-1-2026/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:30:54 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=108987 The Hope Festival, censoring signs in national parks, two surveys of kids and teens, and a great listen

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Being a parent is nonstop hard work, making it challenging to stay on top of news that impacts families in Washington state. This Hits Home is your weekly hit of news, commentary, and, occasionally, opinion. Want to have a say? Look for the ‘Take action’ prompts. Here’s the update for the week of Feb. 23-March 1.

From The Hope Festival’s 2025 gathering (Image: The Hope Festival)

First a big hit of hope

Last April at the Seattle Convention Center, 350 Bellevue teens came together to offer care and service to 1,575 people — including kids — experiencing poverty and homelessness.

The teens and their community partners provided tangible supplies such as clothing, hygiene packs, and toys, as well as personal services, including foot care, haircuts, health screenings, and more. Organizers of The Hope Festival made kids and families feel welcome by providing free face painting, games, music, and a raffle — winners walked away with a brand-new laptop, bicycle, or gift basket.

But the most important thing the festival offered visitors was a glimmer of hope during difficult times.

The festival will return for its 12th year on April 25, this time at Bellevue Highland Center, with hundreds of teen volunteers serving the community. The event is expected to draw more than 1,000 visitors (the festival refers to them as “guests”) in need of free groceries, clothing, hygiene items, toys, books, haircuts, dental care, vaccinations, health screenings, and other services.

The festival was launched in 2014 by Eastlake High School freshman Tyler Zangaglia and friends. Students at the school have spearheaded the festival ever since, and many say they get as much as they give.

“I have been a director with Hopefest since my freshman year, and I am now a senior,” says Grace Musser, Hopefest director. “While each year is filled with planning and logistics, it’s always the final hours of the event where I feel the true meaning of this work.”

“One woman stood out to me specifically from the first event,” Musser said. “She hadn’t had a haircut in years. I remember her face as she wiped away tears of joy after looking in the mirror and seeing herself in a new light — as someone ‘renewed.’ That moment reminded me that dignity can come from something simple, and that service is as much about emotional healing as it is about physical needs.”

TAKE ACTION: Have something to contribute to The Hope Festival? Reach out to directors on Facebook or via email at thehopefestival@outlook.com.

A single dose of the MMR vaccine. (Image: Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

WA moves to issue its own guidance for vaccines insurers must cover

Washington joined several Western states when they broke last fall from federal vaccine guidance following U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reshaping of the nation’s long-standing advisory panel on immunizations.

Now state lawmakers are moving to make that shift permanent.

On Thursday, the Washington Legislature approved a bill changing state law so that insurance coverage for vaccines will be tied to recommendations issued by Washington health officials — not to guidance from a federal advisory committee that has undergone significant changes under Kennedy’s leadership.

The newly passed legislation directs insurers operating in Washington to follow vaccine recommendations issued at the state level. Supporters say the move ensures stability and science-based continuity for families, particularly as national vaccine policy undergoes changes.

The move reflects a broader effort by Washington leaders to retain local control over public health decisions affecting children and families, rather than tying coverage mandates to shifting federal policies.

It now goes to Gov. Bob Ferguson’s desk for signature. Read the full Washington State Standard article.

TAKE ACTION: Should HB 2242 become state law? Make your voice heard by reaching out to Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office.

Gun found at an Eastside School last year. (Photo: Bellevue Police Department)

Governor Ferguson’s budget proposed would cut firearm safety and violence prevention funding in half

Last year, 24 children were shot in King County, according to the county’s 2025 Year-End Shots Fired Review. Between 2020  and 2024, data from the Washington Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention (OFSVP) Injury Dashboard shows over 1,000 firearm-related injuries among children ages 0–17 across the state. OFSVP is the state’s arm for implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce gun violence across the state.

It’s also an office whose $8.6 million budget will be cut by more than half if lawmakers approve the 2025-27 supplemental biennial budget proposed by Gov. Bob Ferguson before the current legislative session ends March 12.

Such a reduction could have a devastating impact for Washington’s children, say the more than 26 organizations that signed on to a letter last week urging lawmakers to nix the proposed cut.

“Washington State’s Safe Storage and Suicide Prevention programs are poised to be entirely eliminated under this budget,” says Gregory Joseph, Alliance for Gun Responisibity communications director. “We know that states with strong storage practices report a 13% reduction in youth firearm suicide and a 17% decrease in firearm homicides committed by youth.” 

OFSVP also supports community-based intervention suicide prevention and violence prevention programs with grant funding, training, and gun violence data tracking. The office has partnered with Seattle Children’s Hospital and other organizations to distribute more than 5,600 safe storage devices across Washington.

“We demand our leaders in Washington protect all funding approaches that increase access to these life-saving devices,” Joseph said.

Cutting OFSVP funds to balance the budget will cost Washington families far more, in both personal pain and money, in the long-run. According to research by Everytown USA, gun violence costs $11.9 billion each year in Washington state—$171.7 million of it paid by taxpayers.

TAKE ACTION: Should lawmakers reduce the budget deficit by cutting the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention (OFSVP) budget? Make your voice heard by reaching out to your representatives in the state House and Senate. 

Kids prefer nstructured play (image: iStock.com)

As kids adapt to boredom, unstructured fun rises again

Here’s important information parents who spend a lot of time planning organized activities for their kids: 

At least 45% of children surveyed say they’d take unstructured time (like playing outside with friends or joining pick-up games) over organized or adult-led activities like team sports. The Harris Poll, which surveyed 500 U.S. children between the ages of 8 and 12, also found:

  • Almost three-quarters (72%) of 8 to 12-year-olds say they would rather spend most of their time together doing things in person, without screens (rather than spend most of their time together on screens and devices).
  • 30% said they would participate in an organized activity or class, like soccer, dance, or karate
  • 25% said they would participate in an online activity with their friends, such as playing video games
  • 61% want to play with friends in person without adults
  • 87% wish they could spend more time with their friends in person outside of school

The bottom line? Kids want freedom to play and to connect live with their peers. 

But the survey is old news, released in 2025, what gives?

I bring it to you now after reading an article last week in The Seattle Times that explains the science behind and benefits of free play for kids, noting a January 2026 clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics that confirms unstructured play helps kids develop executive function skills. The article brings the “old news” poll story up to date: Turns out parents. communities and schools are all on board with kids having more unstructured time.  Read full story in The Seattle Times.

Measles blisters (Image: iStock.com)

Essay Review: “This is How a Child Dies of Measles”

What could happen when two unvaccinated children in one family are exposed to the measles virus? I say “could,” because the worst outcomes from this preventable disease will not befall every infected child. According to National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, about 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children who get measles will die from it, even with medical care, because of severe complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. As a recnt essay in The Atlantic makes clear, if that child is your child, there is no number or percentage to measure the pain.  

The piece, written by Elizabeth Berg, is not about a specific parent or children. It is a heavily researched, fictionalized, hypothetical about a family experience based on extensive interviews with physicians who have cared directly for patients with measles. 

It left me gasping for breath. If you’ve followed this column, it’s likely not news that I personally believe in vaccination and in the recommendations by public health departments in King County and Washington that children get a first dose of the MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age. 

But it doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what parents know and understand about the scientific evidence behind the vaccine and the disease. Hypothetical thought it may be, “This is How a Child Dies of Measles” offers a hard look at a parent’s worst nightmare: a child dying of a preventable disease.

If there were ever a must read for an actively spreading disease, this is it.’

The Great Listen: What happens when a school rumor ends in a teacher’s suicide?

Remember the first gripping story in the Peabody Award-winning investigative journalism podcast Seriel hosted by Sarah Koenig? It felt like everybody was tuned in. 

It’s got competition in a new series that launched on KUOW’s immersive audio documentary channel, Focus. Last week, the station introduced the first episode of “Adults in the Room,” a series about events, including the suicide of a beloved teacher, that  happened during the1999-2000 school year Seattle’s Garfield High School. KUOW’s managing editor Isolde Raftery reports the story, one in which she was a primary player. 

That year, Raftery and a fellow student heard a rumor about Hudson and when police didn’t respond, they decided to investigate it themselves. The story is a lesson in what happens when adults work to protect an educator and fellow students turn on their peers. In the podcast, Raftery returns to the investigation that was sidelined and vilified after the suicide. In the words of the podcast set up: “What really happened that year? Was a whole school community groomed by a charismatic predator? Or was [Raftery] part of a whisper campaign that cost the life of a great teacher?” If episode one is any indication, this series is likely to keep parents and teens riveted. Listen to KUOW’s “Adults in the Room.’

While your at KUOW.org….

Transgender pride flag (Image: Alxey Pnferov)

How will trans youth navigate a state with less gender-affirming medical care? 

The first inklings that Rebecca might be trans surfaced when she was in the sixth grade. They evolved to certainly for now 15-year-old who lives with her family in Tacoma, according to Eilís O’Neill’s report last week on KUOW.com. Over the next several years, with the support of her family and medical providers at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Rebecca began taking puberty blockers and then estrogen injections . 

Then, last month, Mary Bridge closed its Gender Health Clinic. How is the Trump administration’s attack on gender-affirming medical care for tweens and teens impacting the kids who need it align their inside with their outside? O’Neill’s report puts a real face on the declining availability of such care in Puget Sound. Read it online at KUOW.

(Image: Thai Liang Lim)

New study finds majority of teens us AI for schoolwork

Some interesting numbers from recent surveys and research:

  • A study of 3,000 responses by AI chatbots released in the fall by  the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC found that about 45 % contained at least one significant error.
  • Another even broader evaluation by Statisca found that around 48 % of responses were inaccurate with around 17 % containing significant errors. 
  • Research conducted in India shows some specialized tasks show error rates 70 % or higher.

Despite those disturbing numbers, more than half  U.S. teens ages 13-17 surveyed for a new study out of the Pew Research Center said they use A.I. chatbots for schoolwork. One-in-ten teens admitted to using chatbot help on all or most of that work. The study included 1,458 teenagers and at least one parent per teen. 

Exactly how do they use bots?

  • Approximately four-in-10 turn to a bot to summarize articles, books or videos or create or edit images or videos. 
  • Approximately one-in-five say they AI to get news
  • Approximately four-in-10 durig to AI for topic research or math help.
  • 35% of teens surveyed used AI to help edit something they wrote. 
  • 59% of participants believe cheating with AI in school happens regularly.
  • Teens are slightly more likely to believe AI will have a positive impact on them than on society (36% vs. 31% thinking the impact will be negative).
  • About 25% of teens feel  “extremely” or “very” confident about how they navigate AI. 

The findings are more evidence of  the need for  policymakers and technology companies to design, regulate, and oversee AI and social media to not only protect kids from addictive platforms and to provide accurate information.

Washington House Bill 1834, a proposal that would have barred social media companies from serving so-called “addictive feeds” to minors and  restricted platforms from sending push notifications to kids overnight or during school hours without a parent’s consent has failed in the current session..

Signs with information about climate change and Indigenous history removed from Acadia National Park (Image: Jay Elhard / NPS)

Why are we erasing history and science at our National Parks | Op-Ed

Here’s an important part of how history was made real to me as a child — and how I, along with my kids’ dad, helped it come alive for our children:

Whenever we traveled — especially in national parks and at roadside historic markers — we stopped and read the signs. We read about geological changes, the impact of American industry on nature, increasing scientific understanding of climate change, and — on many signs and displays — how the country’s roads, rails, parks, and other landmarks were shaped by devastating, racist treatment of Native Americans, enslaved Africans, Black Americans, immigrants, prisoners, and other marginalized communities.

When our family stopped, we moved around the signs, trying to feel their truth beneath our feet and imagine that history. Then we talked about it together. These signs and displays taught us — especially our children — a deeper respect for the land and for the backs upon which this country was industrialized. They sparked interest in science and empathy — both essential if we hope not to repeat the country’s worst moments.

And yet, nearly a year ago, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” decrying what Trump called “the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology.” The order directs federal agencies overseeing museums, parks, monuments, and landmarks to ensure public spaces do not “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”

Critics argue that the order has led to the review, removal, or revision of interpretive signage and exhibits addressing slavery, Indigenous displacement, civil rights history, and climate change at national park sites across the country.

According to the democracy and civil liberties organization Democracy Forward, the National Park Service began flagging and removing interpretive signs in early 2025. Public reporting and legal filings state that signs referencing slavery, climate change, and Native American history have been removed from at least 17 national park sites nationwide, with additional exhibits flagged for review. There have been no confirmed reports, to date, of signage removals at Washington State national park sites.

Last week, several organizations filed a lawsuit seeking to halt further removals, arguing that the administration’s actions threaten the National Park Service’s mission to preserve and interpret the full history and scientific record of the United States.

In an article published by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), Alan Spears, Senior Director of Cultural Resources for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), summed up concerns about signage removal or censoring this way:

“National parks serve as living classrooms for our country, where science and history come to life for visitors. As Americans, we deserve national parks that tell stories of our country’s triumphs and heartbreaks alike. We can handle the truth.” The NPCA is among the litigants challenging the policy.

What more can I say than “HEAR, HEAR!” 

Not only can we and our children handle the truth, it is critical to our freedom and democracy that we — especially our children — do.

The recent lawsuit speaks to the right of all of us to learn about the many communities, people, histories, and scientific realities — good and bad — that brought us to today and help guide tomorrow.

TAKE ACTION: Do you have an opinion about censoring signage in national parks, museums, monuments and other sites? Reach out to your lawmakers in Congress at Congress.gov. Contact the Pacific West National Parks Service. Share your position by reaching out to the U.S. President.

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]]> Why WA child care program could bear brunt of budget cuts https://www.seattleschild.com/why-wa-child-care-program-could-bear-brunt-of-budget-cuts/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:11:40 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=109022 'A people many believe destabilizes the child care workforce'

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]]> The heftiest budget cuts Washington Democratic lawmakers are proposing this year focus on day care subsidies for low-income families.

In the initial House and Senate budget plans, this paring of Working Connections Child Care totals more than a half-billion dollars over the coming years. The largest portion of proposed spending reductions for the program deal with how child care providers are reimbursed by the state and federal governments based on when children attend day care.

The aid is available to working Washington families earning below 60% of the state median income. As of last February, the program had an active caseload of over 33,000 families.

Currently, providers can receive a full month of subsidies even when a child who qualifies for the subsidies only attends one day that month. The budgets would make this policy more restrictive.

In total, the Senate calls for $168 million in reductions for the program in the current biennium that started last July, and $857 million over the next two budget cycles. The House proposes roughly $112 million in the current budget and $601 million over the next four years.

The competing plans would make changes to the two-year budget lawmakers passed last year.

Grappling with another shortfall, Democrats in both chambers of the Legislature are proposing a range of cuts to deal with rising caseloads in state-funded social services and mandatory spending due to federal changes to Medicaid and food stamps.

Lawmakers have two weeks to hatch compromises to pass a supplemental budget before the legislative session adjourns March 12. Overall spending in the plans they’ve proposed is around $79 billion over two years.

Under the Senate plan for Working Connections Child Care, providers would be able to claim reimbursement worth 15 days if a child attends at least one day per month, and further payments for each day beyond 15.

The House handles this a bit differently. Under its framework, families are eligible for a full-month subsidy if their child is absent up to 10 days, while 11 days or more of absences qualifies for half a month of reimbursement. Under the current practice, a month of attendance is 21-23 days, according to the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

“This is a cut to child care providers, because child care providers who have a child in a classroom for 10 days or fewer out of the month will get half of the payment they would have otherwise gotten,” said House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Seattle. “That’s a challenge for providers, because they’re not necessarily able to enroll more kids just because they know that some of them aren’t there every day.”

The Senate proposal is outlined in Senate Bill 6353, sponsored by lead budget writer Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett. The reimbursement changes would take effect Oct. 1 for child care centers, and July 1 for family home providers who care for up to a dozen children in their homes. The legislation also changes the scope of collective bargaining for family home providers with the state.

Budget writers are also assuming $45 million in savings in this budget from a federal rule axed by the Trump administration requiring states pay child care centers prospectively based on enrollment and not specifically how many days the child attended. There’s also $15 million in reductions in both budgets from eliminating longstanding enhanced subsidy rates in a few counties.

Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson also floated cutting from Working Connections to help balance the budget. He took a different approach, proposing to cap enrollment to save an estimated $217 million in this biennium.

Neither the House nor Senate budget frameworks use the governor’s idea.

“We heard from many people, people who use Working Connections Child Care, people who provide those services, advocates in the larger community, that that is a policy that many people believe really destabilizes the child care workforce,” Robinson said.

Robinson added that her proposal “should have less of an impact on families” than the governor’s plan.

“There’s certainly a conversation that we’ll have in the remaining days of session about the impact on providers and trying to mitigate that impact,” Robinson said. “We want to keep a robust provider network.”

Republicans could support the proposed attendance policy changes on their own, said state Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn. But alongside other cuts and without reforms to improve accountability with state child care spending, he said Republicans aren’t on board.

“We have to look at everything at once and how that affects our communities and the things that they’ve put together are devastating,” said Couture, the leading budget voice for House Republicans.

Robinson wasn’t sure why lawmakers hadn’t made the proposed changes sooner to the attendance policy. “The Legislature is slow to react sometimes,” she said.

This would be the second year in a row that state lawmakers have scaled back child care and early learning funding to make ends meet.

Last year, they delayed expansions to the 2021 Fair Start for Kids Act and Working Connections that would have opened programs to more families. Robinson’s legislation eliminates entirely expansions for Working Connections, set for 2029 and 2031.

This year, both the House and Senate are also proposing reductions to the Transition to Kindergarten program.

This article has been reposted with permission from the Washington State Standard, part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization and committed to shining “a light on policy and politics in all 50 states.” Click here to support nonprofit, freely distributed, independent local journalism. Read this article and others online at Washington State Standard.

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]]> Seattle Parks Swim Lessons: What one parent learned the hard way https://www.seattleschild.com/seattle-parks-swim-lessons-registration-tips/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:03:24 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=108686 Real-world advice for first-time swim lesson families

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]]> Registration for Seattle Parks and Recreation spring swim lessons opens at 12:00 noon on March 3, 2026, for the general public; scholarship-eligible participants can register one week prior, on February 24.

Our First Seattle Parks Swim Lesson: What Happened

It was a Tuesday. My 3-year-old son and I arrived 15 minutes early to Rainier Beach Pool and Community Center for our first swim lesson. A month earlier, we’d been lucky enough to secure a spot in the “Three-Year-Old Aquatics” class. Slots for Parks and Rec swim classes go fast. The weekday, 12 p.m. online registration favors the flexible. The experience brought me back to my early college days, competing with 32,000 other undergrads for spots in the same popular classes. I just prayed my Wi-Fi signal was strong.

My son was excited but had some trepidation about getting in the pool without me. In the mad scramble to sign up quickly, I’d decided against the “Parent and Child Aquatics 2” class, mostly because I didn’t know what I was doing. If I’m being honest, the assumed burden of getting in and out of the pool each week, in lieu of sitting on the side with a book, factored in as well. Boy, was I wrong. My son does best when expectations are clearly outlined. I had told him emphatically beforehand that I’d be there the whole time, and he wouldn’t be forced to do anything he wasn’t comfortable with. Whoops, wrong again.

Heading to swim (aka Dada Class). (Image: Casey Funke / Seattle’s Child)

Choosing the Wrong Class (and Realizing it Fast)

The first sign that something was amiss was the lack of a formal introduction to start the class, let alone the session. This was our first time in a swim class. I was expecting the instructor to lay out goals for the session; we didn’t even get a “Hi, my name is _______” and “I’ll be your swim instructor.” Frankly, I wasn’t even sure who our instructor was. There were numerous groups of adults and kids in various forms of swim exercises across different areas of the pool.

If it wasn’t for a friendly lifeguard with a clipboard, I don’t think we would have been noticed. He pointed us over to a set of stairs descending into the pool where a handful of kids and two adults were playing in the water. You would have thought we were 10 minutes late to the fourth class of the session, not 15 minutes early to the first. I asked if this was the 3–5-year-old swim class, and the woman in the pool said it was. She introduced herself and another man as the instructors and coaxed my son into the pool with a little rubber duck.

I encouraged him, but could tell he was already feeling more anxious than when we’d arrived. I was told I could stay close by, but that it’s usually better for everyone if the parents watch from a distance. I hesitantly wandered over to the chairs on the far side of the pool, knowing my son wasn’t in the right headspace for this. In what proved to be the decisive incident, the teacher, not maliciously nor unsafely, pulled my son into the pool.

That was it. What little trust he might have had was vanquished. He burst into tears while the instructor bobbed him around the lazy river, trying to coax him back to calm. I watched from the side, frustrated.

See that? That’s a face under the water folks!(Image: Casey Funke / Seattle’s Child)

Finding the Right Fit Changed Everything

This is where the story shifts. We left that class determined to return. Ok, I was determined to return. My son was happy to designate the experience as a failure and not look back. “Did you have fun?” Mom asked upon our returning home. “I cried,” he told her.

I wasn’t mad. To some extent, I understood. They are running a highly coveted service and trying to cram as much in as possible. I just wanted to make sure they knew how disorderly it was (they did) and wondered if there might be any other options for us if this class didn’t work out (there was). I composed an email detailing our experience and sent it to the Aquatics Center Coordinator.

Within minutes, I got a call from Ann Busch, the coordinator at Rainier Beach Pool. She was attentive and empathetic as she listened to our story. She recommended the “Parent and Child Aquatics 2” class, which, as it turned out, was happening in a few minutes. “We’ll figure out the details later,” she promised, and urged us to go try it out. We hustled to the pool.Now, my son calls it the “Dada class,” and in a few short weeks, he’s confidently jumping into the pool. He’s “blasting off” the wall using his feet, putting his face in the water without concern, floating on his back with only a slight hand of support, practicing swim maneuvers like kicking and crawling, and most importantly, keeping his composure in the pool. It’s far more fun than reading a book on the side.

I am writing to share our experience, hoping it might make someone else’s a little easier.

This one’s called The Washing Machine. (Image: Casey Funke / Seattle’s Child)

My Top Recommendations

  • Log on at 12:00 noon on the day registration opens to secure your spot
  • If your child has never done a swim lesson, even if they seem comfortable in the pool, start with the Parent/Child class
  • Recognize that Seattle Parks and Rec pools are serving a broad population while operating within a tight budget. They deserve some grace. At the same time, if something doesn’t feel right, say something. The staff were friendly, accommodating, and facilitated getting us into the right class.
  • Most of all, have fun and be safe!

More Swim Resources for Seattle Families

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]]> Why teens act the way they do — it’s brain science https://www.seattleschild.com/teen-brain-development-explained/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:29:17 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=108866 Understanding your teen’s brain development can help you support their health

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]]> Parenting a teen can be, well, let’s call it exciting! Teen drama, intense crushes, or shifting moods are some of the behaviors you might be navigating with your teen. It can feel hard to track, but these truly are all aspects of normal development. When you wonder what’s going on in their head, remember that sometimes it is literally about what’s going on in their brain, biologically speaking. A better understanding of your teen’s brain development can help you support their healthy development.

The dramatic development in a teen’s brain helps explain why parenting teens can be equal parts joy and exasperation. You might admire their creativity, fast learning, and adaptability, but you might still see them struggle with impulse control, decision-making, and evaluating consequences. Both the dizzy excitement and door slamming we see from teens can, in part, be explained by changes in the brain.

What is going on with my emotional teen’s brain?

A teen’s brain relies more on the emotional, reactive center, the amygdala, than an adult’s does. The area of the brain that controls reasoning and helps us think before we act, the prefrontal cortex, is still changing and maturing well into our 20s.

Compared to adults, the teen brain has a harder time thinking before acting or stopping action once it’s started. Their judgment can be overwhelmed by impulses, making it harder to choose between safer and riskier choices.

This doesn’t mean teens can’t show self-restraint or don’t know right from wrong, but they are partly driven by a brain that is currently relying heavily on emotional and reward-driven centers. That can lead to positives, such as strong social connections, and to challenges, such as reckless behavior.

Why is my teen obsessed with K-pop or video games?

There is increased activity in the part of the brain that heightens sensitivity to rewards in teens. The midbrain reward system is the area at the root of romantic love, habit formation, and the reward for being part of the pack. That system is still mostly in charge at this stage. 

Teens will be seeking social approval and exciting experiences. They’ll get immersed in listening to their favorite song (over and over) or want to try every new game. This reward-focused part of the brain can influence things like forming habits and addictions, but it can also lead to positive outcomes, such as joining peers in peaceful activism or volunteering.

Why is my teen so stressed out?

There are plenty of stress triggers at this age. Combine that with stronger emotional reactivity and still-developing coping systems, means that stressful situations can feel overwhelming. Teens may react more to stress more intensely than adults and also may be more susceptible to stress-related problems like anxiety and depression. There are hormonal changes at play that affect the limbic system and the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is important in mood regulation.

Why is my teen still asleep at noon?

This has biological roots too (they are also flexing their independence muscles). Teens are experiencing a shift in their circadian clocks, including changes in the sleep hormone melatonin, causing them to feel awake later at night and struggle with early mornings. Not getting enough sleep can further disrupt hormones and increase impulsivity and emotional volatility.

What helps teens, and their brains, thrive?

Amid all this change, adolescent brains are learning rapidly and have a great capacity for adaptation, called neuroplasticity. You’ll likely see them develop new skills and strengths, make social connections, and think in different ways. Even better, engaging in healthy, challenging activities can help strengthen those brain circuits and promote development.

Here are some things you can do to support your teen and their growing brain power:

Practice patience. What might seem like willful defiance, oversized emotions or thoughtless risk-taking can actually be about how their brains are wired at this age. You’ll still need to parent around those behaviors, but you can acknowledge the biological side while maintaining consistent expectations.

Prioritize good sleep habits. Sleep is essential for all of us. When possible, aim for a balanced schedule that aligns with their adolescent biology.

Be a coach. They are at an age where they are asserting their independence but still reliant on their caring families. Help them reflect on choices and consequences and coach them on different behaviors rather than criticize.

Help them cope with stress. It’s a good time to practice coping skills with your teen because, on the flip side of the brain changes associated with this age, teens also have a lot of cognitive flexibility, which allows them to adapt and shift their perspective more easily.

Seek support if needed. That applies to both you and your teen. Considering how dynamic the adolescent brain is during this period, it’s not a coincidence that major mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, often appear during this time. If you’re worried about your teen or you need support yourself, talk to your provider, who can also refer you to mental health care. 

Links between the prefrontal cortex and the midbrain reward system develop over time and at different rates in different kids. While a teen’s brain reaches its largest physical size early in adolescence, it still has a lot of changes and development to do, well into their mid-20s. Have some patience and enjoy the ride. It’s an amazing thing to see your child become a teen, make new cognitive connections, become more emotionally aware, and find their own path.

 

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]]> This Hits Home: News that impacts Washington families https://www.seattleschild.com/washington-political-news-for-families-key-updates-this-week-feb-22-2026/ Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:30:26 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=108832 A mayor's address, a community conversation, a stamped Bruce Lee, a White Center HUB, a legislative race

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]]> Being a parent is nonstop hard work, making it challenging to stay on top of news that impacts families in Washington state. This Hits Home is your weekly hit of news, commentary, and, occasionally, opinion. Want to have a say? Look for the ‘Take action’ prompts. Here’s the update for the week of Feb. 16-22.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson (Image: Seattle Mayor’s Office)

Family needs are a focus of Seattle Mayor’s first ‘State of the City’ address

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson gave her first “state of the city” speech last week at the Hughes Performing Arts Institute, laying out her plan for addressing the City’s affordability, child care, food cost, safety, and other parent concerns.  

Addressing gun violence: Following the recent shooting deaths of two teens, Wilson said her office will convene a panel of local and national experts to develop a strategy to address Seattle  gun violence that “is tailored to the needs of our neighborhoods and communities.”

Child care: Wilson said “It’s time we started treating child care and early education as public goods, accessible and affordable to all — just like our parks, schools and utilities. My administration will be pursuing this vision.”

Rising food costs: “The rising cost of food in particular has been a challenge for families that are already struggling,” Wilson said. “We have to start treating food access as core community infrastructure.” She added that, among other ideas, the City is exploring the idea of a public grocery store. 

On history and hope: Wilson noted the importance of Black History Month and that Ramadan is also celebrated in February this year: “In this season of reflection and new beginnings, I am so hopeful about what we can accomplish together. But that doesn’t mean I look at the city through rose-colored glasses,” Wilson said. 

“The hope I feel comes from history. From looking at an institution like this one here – how it’s evolved over time and overcome challenges to become what it is today. And from recognizing how that history lets us better imagine what is possible.” Read the full story at Seattleschild.com.

​​https://www.seattleschild.com/seattle-mayor-state-of-city-family-priorities/

TAKE ACTION: Have ideas for how Mayor Wilson’s administration can address your family’s and community’s housing, child care, food cost or other needs? Contact Wilson and let her know.

Class at Jose Mari Child Development Center in Seattle (Image: Joshua Huston)

Join the ‘Community Conversation’ about Seattle’s child care, K-12 student safety

Wondering what the City of Seattle has in store for improving child care and preschool access, keeping school-age kids safe and mentally healthy, and ensuring every kid gets a chance to go to college? Make a list of your questions and get ready to talk with city leaders on Tuesday.

Join the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) for family-friendly “Community Conversation” about how it plans to spend income from the $1.3 billion Families, Education, Preschool & Promise Levy (FEPP), the property tax approved by voters in November.  The “Community Conversation” is a kid-friendly event and includes free dinner, activities for kids, and interpretation services. Details: Feb. 24, 5:3˛ 0-7:30 p.m. at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S, Seattle. 

TAKE ACTION: Registration is required due to limited space. Sign up now. 

(Image: Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs)

 WA lawmakers advance bill restricting ICE access to schools

Legislation to force federal immigration agents to get court orders before entering schools and health care facilities cleared the Washington Senate on Thursday.

Senate Bill 5906 covers “nonpublic areas,” including preschools, K-12 schools, and health facilities. It also prohibits early learning providers and school district employees from collecting information about the immigration status of students and their families. It echoes Seattle Public Schools policies already in place and which were clarified earlier this month following a southend school lockdown. After that incident, district leaders also updated guidance for school principals and other leaders on how to handle unverified reports of ICE at or near schools. Read the SPS policies here.

TAKE ACTION: Do you have an opinion or stance on SB 5906? Make your voice heard by reaching out to your representatives in the state House and Senate. 

Baby receiving Vitamin K shot soon after birth (Image: iStock.com)

More parents are rejecting Vit K for their newborn, despite the risks

A new study published in the January issue of JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, found that the number of parents declining to give their newborns a vitamin K shot or eye drops at birth has increased. In 2017, less than three percent of parents declined Vitamin K. In 2024 more than five percent said no.

Vitamin K supports normal blood clotting and newborns are born with decient and breast milk is not an adequate source of it. Dosing a baby in the hours after birth protects them from potentially life-threatening hemorrhage. Not dosing at birth could have catastrophic results, which is why the single injection at birth has been recommended for six decades. 

If you are pregnant, or know of a pregnant person, consider this: 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both recommend that all newborns receive a single intramuscular (IM) vitamin K injection shortly after birth to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). Currently in the U.S., there is no FDA-approved standard oral vitamin K regimen for newborns, but the most common international oral regimen is two milligrams at birth, followed by two milligrams at 4-7 days, followed by 2 milligrams at 4–6 weeks. Consult with your pediatrician regarding oral vitamin K.

The most common side effects are minor and include temporary pain or redness at the shot site (usually the thigh), mild swelling or bruising, or short-term fussiness. Allergic reactions or infection are rare. 

The risks of not giving your newborn the shot are also rare, but could be catastrophic. The risk of late VKDB is 1 in 14,000-25,000 births. Between 30% and 60% of infants with VKDB brain hemorrhage. Read more about what doctors are seeing in The New York Times.

Seattle University (Image: Another Believer CC BY-SA 4.0)

Bill to boost financial aid for students at WA’s private colleges moves out of Senate

Washington students attending private colleges could soon receive more help covering tuition, after the state Senate voted Tuesday to restore scholarship funding that was scaled back last year.

Washington Senate Bill 5828, sponsored by T’wina Nobles, D-Fircrest, would boost funding levels within the Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship for students enrolled at private institutions. The move effectively rolls back part of Washington Senate Bill 5785, which reduced the state’s contribution for private college tuition support while leaving public college funding unchanged.

The proposal does not expand eligibility or add new recipients. Instead, Nobles said, it restores balance after earlier cuts — reinforcing “fairness and stability” for families and encouraging students to pursue the college option that best fits their goals, whether public or private.

TAKE ACTION: Reach out to your representatives in the state House and Senate. 

(Image: Alexander Castro at Rhode Island Current)

More bills to protect kids bite the dust, won’t go further this year

While other bills sailed on, yet another cut-off day to move bills forward came and went last week, leaving many bills to protect kids on the cutting room floor. Among the proposals that won’t go forward: 

House Bill 1834 would have barred social media companies from serving so-called “addictive feeds” to minors. It also would have restricted platforms from sending push notifications to kids overnight or during school hours without a parent’s consent.

In a statement, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown chided lawmakers for failing to pass “a commonsense proposal” to protect children online. “We will not stop pursuing policies that can save young people’s lives,” Brown said.

Senate Bill 6308, Senate Bill 6319, and  House Bill 1544 sought to address the child safety crisis at Washington’s Child Protective Services (CPS) by, among other things, requiring stronger court monitoring of CPS cases involving children under 5 who remain at home with their parents and by creating a community-based referral system connecting families to services in cases involving children under 4 and exposure to high-potency synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

House Bill 1152, would have established requirements for safe storage of firearms in vehicles and residences. In the meantime, a bill to ban guns in parks and other locations kids frequent (SB 5098) and another to ban use of 3D printers to create firearms (HB 2320) are still in the running.

House Bill 2389 sought to address overloaded juvenile detention facilities by, among other things, easing criminal sentencing for youth.

TAKE ACTION: Are the lost bills ones you care about and want to see brought to the 2027 session of the state legislature? Reach out to your representatives in the state House and Senate. 

(Image: iStock.com)

In the meantime, millionaires’ tax bill keeps on moving, approved by state Senate

As other bills were gleaned and left behind, Senate Bill 6346 — dubbed the “millionaires’ tax” by supporters because it would impose a 9.9% levy on personal income above $1 million annually —took another big step forward last week. It was approved by the full Senate on a 27–22 vote after hours of debate over whether the policy would make the state’s tax code fairer or risk an exodus of wealthy residents. 

The proposal now heads to the House. If approved there and signed by Gov. Ferguson, the tax, estimated to add $3 billion a year to state coffers, would apply to household income, meaning married couples and registered domestic partners with combined earnings over that threshold would be subject to the surcharge. Would passage help kids in Washington? Child welfare and education advocates think so. 

TAKE ACTION: Make your voice heard on the “millionaire’s” tax,” SB 6346. Reach out to your representatives in the state House and Senate. 

The Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1983. (Image: Warren K. Leffler)

Black History Month: Teach your children about the Rev. Jesse Jackson

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a leader of the The Civil Rights Movement in America, a mentee of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and an unofficial diplomat and champion of Black History Month, died last week. 

The passing of a Black leader who spent his life advocating for the poor and underrepresented is a teachable moment: an opportunity to sit down with your kids, no matter their age, and discuss his example of peaceful protest as a way to move a nation forward toward good for all. Read more about the Rev. Jesse Jackson in The Seattle Times.

Most important, Jackson popularized the empowering phrase, ‘I am Somebody,” from the poem of the same title by civil rights activist Rev. William Holmes Borders, Sr. Jackson integrated those words into many speeches to encourage Black pride and uplift the poor, young, BIPOC and other marginalized communities. Here’s that poem—and its critical sentiments— in full.

I am Somebody

By Rev. William Holmes Borders, Sr.

I am Somebody!
I am Somebody!
I may be poor,
But I am Somebody.
I may be young,
But I am Somebody.
I may be on welfare,
But I am Somebody.
I may be small,
But I am Somebody.
I may have made mistakes,
But I am Somebody.
My clothes are different,
My face is different,
My hair is different,
But I am Somebody.
I am Black,
Brown,or white.
I speak a different language
But I must be respected,
Protected,
Never rejected.
I am God’s child!

(Image: Courtesy White Center HUB)

White Center ‘HUB’ is community space designed for families and gathering 

White Center families have a new place to gather — and, for many, a new place to call home. On Jan. 24, the long-anticipated White Center HUB (Hope, Unity and Belonging) community center opened its doors beside the new Canopy Apartments, marking years of organizing and advocacy by neighbors.

The HUB is built to serve daily life: a health clinic, coffee shop, recording studio and maker space, all woven around outdoor play areas and space to simply sit and connect. The design is intentional: housing and services, creativity and stability, all in one place, built for the families. Read all about it in the South Seattle Emerald.

Kids deserve federal and state pot regulations | Op-Ed

Have children in the house? Lock up edibles or other cannabis, add this symbol and teach your kids what it means danger. (Graphic: Washington Poison Control)

Last week I read an opinion by the New York Times editorial board that gave me pause, and left me shaking my head in agreement. 

The editors pointed out that daily marijuana use in the U.S. has climbed from about six million in 2012 to nearly 18 million today—as has the number of people (youth and adults) with pot-related illness and marijuana-linked paranoia and chronic psychotic disorders. 

And another number has also risen. According to a 2023 study published in the journal Pediatrics, the number of edible cannabis exposures among children under age 6 increased by about 1,375 % from 2017 (207)  to 2021 (3,054). According to Washington Poison Center, “One of the most common calls we receive about cannabis is little kids mistaking an edible for candy.” 

The bottom line for the NYT editors? They still support legalization. But there position has evolved and they now say the feds need to step in—with a federal tax on pot, by restricting high THC and other harmful types of marijuana and and by “cracking down” on spurious and unproven health claims about weed. 

Thankfully, Washington has been been forerunner in two of those three areas. In this state, pot is subject to a 37 % cannabis excise tax along with regular sales tax (state + local), making Washington one of the heavier taxing states for legal cannabis. And while the state does not limit THC concentration in marijuana flowers and concentrates, it does limit each edible “serving” to no more than 10 milligrams of THC. In fact, Oregon lawmakers are considering mirror legislation right now to prohibit the sale of individual edibles that have more than 10 milligrams of THC. According to a report in the Washington State Standard last week, in 2023, children ages newborn to 5 made up one-third of all cannabis-related cases reported to the Oregon Poison Center. 

There’s good news when it comes to cannabis. Over the last decade teen use rates have not risen in King County or Washington state. They have gone down by most measures.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports declines in current cannabis use among King County students (grades 8/10/12) from 2008–2021; the Washington Department of Health’s 2023 Healthy Youth Survey notes youth substance use stayed mostly stable post-pandemic, with current cannabis use around 8% among 10th graders. 

President Donald Trump supports states’ rights to legalize pot. For once, I agree with him. If alcohol—despite its well-documented health and social harms—is legal and regulated, then marijuana should be treated the same way.  I believe that added federal regulation of THC levels (my vote would be for lowering it to 5% in individual edibles), is an important next step and would go miles to discourage weed companies from creating new, stronger strains. Cannabis has gotten significantly stronger over the last 20 years—cannabis growing is a business and it’s bottom line is money, not addiction control. And yet, research shows the newer strains of pot are addictive—and that most addiction begins with teen use.

Cannabis companies don’t care if a new strain is strong or addictive. They care about making money. 

For now, if you have cannabis at home, heed the poison center’s warning, no matter how old your kids are: “Keep your kiddos safe by always storing your stash up high, out of their reach, and locked up.”

TAKE ACTION: Do  you have an opinion about whether the federal government should legalize but regulate and tax cannabis? Make your voice heard. Contact your members of Congress.

The Good Reads: For the karate-chopping kid in all of us

Washington Political News for Families Bruce

New Bruce Lee Forever stamp (Image: USPS)

A generation before Hollywood routinely cast Asian American leads, Bruce Lee lit up movie screens with his fast, fierce mastery of martial arts. Not only did Lee prove non-white actors could carry a film, he encouraged millions of kids to jump up on the couch and karate chop their way to dinner. 

Fifty years later, kids are still chopping air as Lee’s choreography and camera work emphasizing speed, fluidity, and realism remain a mainstay of action films today.

This week, the United States Postal Service made Lee’s legacy official. During a festive event in  Seattle’s Chinatown International District, the agency unveiled the new Bruce Lee stamp, part of the postal service’s Forever stamp series. Lee, a one-time Seattleite, is buried at Lake View Cemetery on Capitol Hill, a spot that lures tens of thousands of fans of all ages every year. 

A win for writing? Perhaps the new Bruce Lee stamp will inspire your karate kids to write more letters to their grandparents!

 

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]]> Come learn about Seattle’s child care and education investment plan https://www.seattleschild.com/seattle-fepp-levy-child-care-education-plan/ Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:03:44 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=108784 Join the Feb. 26 family dinner and community discussion

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]]> Wondering what the City of Seattle has in store for improving child care access and preschool access, keeping school-age kids safe and mentally healthy, and ensuring that every kid gets a chance to go to college? Make a list of your questions and bring them to a community meeting presented by the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) at the Magnuson Community Center this Thursday, Feb 26th, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The informational event is designed for families, and participants will be invited to share their thoughts on plans. DEEL will provide free dinner, interpretation services, and children’s activities during the gathering.

The event is free, however, space is limited, so registration is required.

The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is hosting the two community conversations on Feb. 24 and Feb. 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to outline its plans to invest income from the recently re-approved Families, Education, Preschool & Promise Levy (FEPP) in childcare and education. The $1.3 billion property tax  was passed by voters last November and will provide:

  • $658.2 million for the city’s early learning programs, doubling the city-funded childcare slots from 600 to 1,400 and adding 600 more slots to the nationally recognized Seattle Preschool Program, bringing the total seats to 3,100 annually.
  • $235 million for K-12 health and safety efforts, including building five more School-based Health Centers, providing students with greater access to physical and mental health care in person and via telehealth. It would also fund violence prevention efforts and school safety services.
  • $82.5 million to fund universal access to a free two-year college degree and expand pathways to the trades through the Seattle Promise scholarship program.

Details on two upcoming Community Conversations

  • Tuesday, Feb. 24 | Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Where: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
  • Thursday, Feb. 26 | Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Where: Magnuson Community Center, 7110 62nd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Both events are free, however space is limited, so registration is required.

Learn more about Seattle’s child care struggle

The most recent issue of Seattle’s Child is dedicated to exploring Seattle’s child care crisis—too few slots to cover the need and too high costs for many families to afford. Check out these articles on Seatttleschild.com

To read all these stories in one place, check out the digital issue of Seattle’s Child magazine or pick up an issue at a library near you.

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]]> Curious about your family’s ancestry? https://www.seattleschild.com/curious-about-your-family-ancestry/ Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:01:18 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=104188 Free monthly genealogy help at Seattle libraries

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]]> Oh, the dreaded family history project your child brings home from school. All the head-scratching and calls to grandparents trying to remember who was married to whom when that eventually led to your child’s birth. And what about that family legend about your great-great-great-great-grandmother having been born practically on the battlefield of the Second Boer War (despite your great-great-great-grandmother having never left Washington State?)

Learning your family history can be a fun and fascinating adventure, just watch any episode of Finding Your Roots on PBS. Seattle Public Library (SPL) hopes to make your first steps into genealogy easier. The library recently announced that it’s partnering with the Seattle Genealogical Society to help families get started by offering free monthly drop-in sessions at the Ballard, Magnolia, and Northeast branches. 

“Whether you want to research a grandparent’s ethnic heritage, investigate whether a certain family story is true, or find an ancestor’s obituary, genealogy research is an act of discovery that can be really exciting,” said genealogy librarian Mahina Oshie. “Researching our past humanizes history and can show us how interconnected we actually are.”

During the sessions, trained volunteers with the Seattle Genealogical Society will work with you one-on-one to identify the best resources for your family’s research and explore specific questions. No reservation needed. You also do not need genealogy experience to get a lot from a session. Just arrive in discovery mode and bring any of your kids who have an itch to know more about their ancestry.

Upcoming Genealogy Drop-In Sessions

Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.

  • March 31, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • April 28, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • May 26, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W.

  • March 21, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • April 4, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • May 16, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Northeast Branch Meeting Room, 6801 35th Ave. N.E.

  • March 12, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • April 9, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • May 14, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

When to Head to the Genealogy Librarian

SPL’s Genealogy Collection, located on Level 9 of the Central Library, is the largest and primary genealogy resource in Washington state, with more than 40,000 bound volumes, periodicals, pamphlets, and microfilm.

Some ancestry questions are best answered through the Library’s Genealogy Collection or in conversation with a genealogical librarian. Volunteers from the genealogical society will be able to help you discern which questions are best answered where. SPL offers free 30-minute appointments with a genealogy librarian at the Central Library in downtown Seattle. Go online to make an appointment.  Families can explore historical and census records, immigration lists, military records, genealogy guidebooks on various topics, and more during open hours. Collection materials must remain in the library, but circulating genealogy handbooks are available to borrow.

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]]> Dad Next Door: Just wait ’til spring https://www.seattleschild.com/dad-next-door-kids-sports-disappointment-hope/ Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:04:32 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=107228 A reminder to fans little and big: There is hope after disappointment

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]]> In October, the Seattle Mariners’ quest for their first-ever appearance in the World Series came up a couple of runs short. As I watched, I was transported back through time to my little attic bedroom in Amherst, Massachusetts: October 12, 1967.

That was the “Impossible Dream” season for the Red Sox. The year before, they had finished last, and no one had expected them to do much better the following season. But against all odds, they stayed in it ‘til the end, then stormed from behind to win the last two games of the season and clinch the American League title. They headed to the World Series for the first time in 21 years.

Carl “Yaz” Yastrzemski was their big star. He led the league in batting average, home runs and RBIs that year, and was named the American League MVP — but their ace starting pitcher, Jim Lonborg, was my hero. His poster was taped to the ceiling above my bed, where I could look at him as I fell asleep and imagine myself in his place on the mound.

In the World Series, the Sox dropped three of the first four games to the St. Louis Cardinals. But just when it looked like it might be over, they came back to win the next two and even the series at three games apiece. It all came down to game seven at Fenway Park — winner take all.

It was a day game, but I went up to my room and shut the door so no one could break my concentration – which was essential if the Sox were going to win. I lay in bed with my little transistor radio pressed against my ear, clutching my Rico Petricelli autographed mitt. I had half a package of M&Ms and a plastic army canteen full of water in case I got hungry or thirsty. I was ready.

My idol Jim Lonborg was going up against the Cardinals’ ace, fireballer Bob Gibson. Lonborg was pitching on just two days’ rest, and Gibson had three, but I wasn’t worried. The Sox were the Impossible Dream team — a team of destiny. There was no way they could lose.

The game started out tense and close. Both teams put up zeros in the first two innings. By then, my M&Ms were eaten, more out of nerves than hunger. In the top of the third, the Cardinals broke through with two runs, and then two more in the fifth. The Sox got one back in the bottom of the fifth, though, and I wasn’t about to give up hope. The game was still within reach.

By the sixth inning, Lonborg was gassed, but they left him in. He hung a slider up in the zone, and Julian Javier hit a three-run homer over the Green Monster. They pulled him after that, but it was too late.

Since that fateful day, I’ve watched my favorite teams lose many times. I’ve also watched the Seahawks win the Superbowl, and I was in Key Arena with my daughter when the Storm won their first WNBA title. Win or lose, I always come back for more.

Some of my friends make fun of spectator sports. I can’t really blame them. Overweight dudes sprawled on sofas, watching pumped-up kids in silly uniforms give each other traumatic brain injuries. It’s pretty pointless. But to me, that’s kind of the point.

The fact that these players train and practice and push themselves to the very limits of what human beings can do, for no practical reason whatsoever, is a strangely beautiful thing. They strive for greatness for its own sake, as only we crazy, unreasonable, irrepressible humans do.

You may have a little person in your home right now who’s feeling lost since their team of destiny stumbled at the finish line. They’ve tossed their J-Rod autograph glove in the closet, and their lucky Big Dumper jersey has finally made its way to the laundry basket. Disappointment hangs in the air like a thick, dark cloud. But a few months from now, when the crocuses are just barely peeking up from the sodden Seattle ground, a bunch of young men will stroll out onto a field in Peoria, Arizona, with crisp new chalk lines and freshly mown grass, and set out in search of greatness one more time.

Spring will always bring spring training — and with it, a new season of hope.

Just wait ’til spring.

Read more from the Dad Next Door:

“Dad Next Door: He Ain’t Heavy”: Coming to understand the true gift of my brother

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]]> 6 must-read books celebrating Black stories https://www.seattleschild.com/kids-book-picks-for-black-history-month/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:03:37 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=35235 Powerful stories of Black history and imagination

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]]> These six beautifully illustrated children’s books highlight powerful Black stories, offering young readers meaningful journeys through history, resilience, and self-discovery. From personal triumphs to cultural celebrations, each of these titles brings a unique perspective through the eyes of talented authors and illustrators.

With recommendations from Rene Holderman at Third Place Books, these must-read children’s books celebrating Black stories are perfect for sparking important conversations and inspiring young minds.

“Big”

By Vashti Harrison

The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

“How Do You Spell Unfair”

 By Carole Boston Weatherford

In 1936, eighth grader MacNolia Cox became the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio, spelling bee. And with that win, she was asked to compete at the prestigious National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC, where she and a girl from New Jersey were the first African Americans invited since its founding. She left her home state a celebrity — right up there with Ohio’s own Joe Louis and Jesse Owens — with a military band and a crowd of thousands to see her off at the station. But celebration turned to chill when the train crossed the state line into Maryland, where segregation was the law of the land. Prejudice and discrimination ruled — on the train, in the hotel, and, sadly, at the spelling bee itself.

“An American Story”

By Kwame Alexander; illustrated by Dare Coulter

From the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable passage across the Atlantic, to the backbreaking work in the fields of the South, this is a story of a people’s struggle and strength, horror and hope. This is the story of American slavery, a story that needs to be told and understood by all of us. A testament to the resilience of the African American community, this book honors what has been and envisions what is to be.

“Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes”

By Traci N. Todd; illustrated by Shannon Wright

Jackie Ormes made history. She was the first Black woman cartoonist nationally syndicated in the United States. She was also a journalist, fashionista, philanthropist, and activist, and she used her incredible talent and artistry to bring joy and hope to people everywhere. But in post-World War II America, Black people were still being denied their civil rights, and Jackie found herself in a dilemma: How could her art stay true to her signature “Jackie joy” while remaining honest about the inequalities Black people had been fighting?

“There Was a Party for Langston”

By Jason Reynolds; illustrated by Jerome Pumphery and Jarrett Pumphrey

Back in the day, there was a heckuva party, a jam, for a word-making man. The King of Letters. Langston Hughes. His ABCs became drums, bumping jumping thumping like a heart the size of the whole country. They sent some people yelling and others, his word-children, to write their own glory.

“The Last Stand”

by Antwan Eady; illustrated by Jerome Pumphery and Jarrett Pumphrey

Saturday is for harvesting. One little boy is excited to work alongside his Papa as they collect eggs, plums, peppers, and pumpkins to sell at their stand in the farmer’s market. Of course, it’s more than a farmer’s market. Papa knows each customer’s order, from Ms. Rosa’s pumpkins to Mr. Johnny’s peppers. And when Papa can’t make it to the stand, his community gathers around him with dishes made of his produce.

Read more:

Celebrate Black History Month around the Puget Sound

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]]> ‘Arco’ and the case for watching sad movies with your kids https://www.seattleschild.com/movies-that-teach-kids-empathy/ Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:06:28 +0000 https://www.seattleschild.com/?p=108129 A family movie night becomes a lesson in empathy

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]]> Fridays in my childhood were reserved for trips to Blockbuster, the long-gone video store chain romanticized by generations raised to be kind and rewind. Movies were portals – some to familiar places, others to new frontiers – through which us offline, suburban kittens frequently jumped.

Last week, for my own family’s Friday movie night, I put on something, as my kids say, “for work.” Given my job as a film writer, my two daughters have seen almost every age-appropriate flick released in the last five years.

“Arco,” coming to theaters this week, is a time- and space-traveling odyssey with a tender vision of the impending environmental crisis and humanity’s machine-reliant future. It’s also undeniably higher brow than the last work movie they saw with me, “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.” All three of us went into “Arco” blind, and I was reassured of the choice by its PG rating and recent Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

(Image courtesy of Neon)

On- and Off-Screen Heartache

“Arco” follows a young boy living in a distant future. He inadvertently travels hundreds of years in the past, where Earth is struggling with climate change and a society disassociating under the growing weight of advanced technology. Written and directed by French filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu, the film emulates 80s Japanese anime, taking inspiration from Miyazaki and spinning a story that feels far more urgent than Studio Ghibli’s pastoral perspective.

At the film’s climax, a young girl named Iris has an emotional, tear-filled goodbye with Mikki, her robot nanny. An artificial stand-in for her parents who live and work outside of the family home, Mikki offers the only form of physical love that Iris experiences in her daily life, and its “death” is a tearjerker.

(Image courtesy of Neon)

“I’m sad,” my six-year-old said at no one in particular, tears welling to her throat and then her eyes. She nuzzled into me harder.

This admission, coupled with the waterworks, were not enough to force me to my feet. Hardly a day goes by that someone in our house doesn’t cry. This is the age of big feelings and high emotions, the usual culprits being hunger, fatigue, minor injury, or the savage tit-for-tat of sibling rivalry.

But her swell of sorrow wasn’t due to any of those reasons. This was a moment of empathy for fictional characters, a phenomenon that she’s experienced before, though perhaps not as frequently as I might assume. Sure, she’s seen a fair number of movies in her six years of life, but she has also been shielded from the incessant emotional whiplash that older generations endured.

(Image courtesy of Neon)

The Sad Movies We Grew Up With

For much of its existence, Disney has made unavoidably sad movies. The studio’s Golden Age (1937 to 1942) released films geared as much to adults as to children, a function of economic necessity and public demand. Films like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Dumbo,” “Pinocchio,” and “Bambi” featured scenes of death, or near-death, and unending human suffering or animal anguish.

In the late 20th century, the Disney Renaissance (1989 to 1999) and the advent of VHS home theater revitalized the market for children’s animated features. Films like “The Lion King” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” pushed the envelope of what young viewers could expect from a “kid’s movie.”

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” pushed the envelope of what to expect for a kids movie. (Image courtesy Walt Disney Pictures & Walt Disney Animation Studios)

Scanning the Blockbuster aisles in my mind’s eye, I revisit the movies that once brought me the same feelings of sadness my daughter was experiencing, snuggled up next to me on the couch. I see Shadow stuck in the pit at the end of “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,” Littlefoot’s mother sacrificing herself in “The Land Before Time,” and Charlie saying goodbye to Anne-Marie in “All Dogs Go to Heaven.”

As an adult, I don’t particularly seek out movies likely to make me cry, but the gut-punch never stopped me in my youth. Oftentimes, it was the opposite: feeling something by film’s end was more gratifying than not. Feeling something was far better than feeling nothing.

A recent study in Media Psychology found that children can be moved by “moral beauty” in film, and the ensuing emotion they experience opens their heart and mind to greater empathy in real life. The study, which placed the 2015 Pixar film “Inside Out” at the center of its investigation, concludes that movies can fuel a child’s social intelligence, offering them a new awareness of their own feelings, as well as the emotions of those around them.

Who doesn’t remember this moment from “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” (Image courtesy Walt Disney Pictures & Touchwood Pacific Partners 1)

What Movies Teach Kids About Empathy

As my daughter sniffled and pursed her lips, my initial reaction was to “make it better,” to reassure her or to distract her from the sentiments bubbling over at the sight of the dying robot. As an adult viewer with a critical eye and a college degree in film studies, I didn’t find Mikki a particularly endearing character (“The Wild Robot” and “WALL-E” are just two android-centric films that make for a more captivating watch).

But my daughter was not crying about the red-eyed bot. She was not connecting or commiserating with Mikki. She was empathizing with Iris, whose sorrowful goodbye was big, loud, and wholly human. She had put herself in Iris’ place, reacting the way she might if her own pet robot decombusted before her eyes.

(Image courtesy of Neon)

Like “Inside Out,” “Arco” employs a traditional blueprint known as the “Hero’s Journey,” a classical narrative that follows a hero who goes on an adventure, encounters challenges and overcomes them, returning changed by the journey. The act of following their journey, parsing through the story’s themes and messages, is an early test of cognition that helps kids make sense of complex ideas and situations that they will likely encounter in their own lives. That same study found that films can provide young viewers with insights about life. Stories can introduce topics like death, loss, separation, and any number of traumatic life events in a
controlled setting, allowing the young viewer time and distance from the event to process it.

I don’t enjoy seeing my children upset, but I was touched by my youngest daughter’s expression of compassion and by her ability to connect, at just six, with a fictional character and a situation that has no resemblance to her own life. Films are meant to broaden our perspective, and “Arco” did just that.

Despite the brief tears, my daughter said she liked the movie. My other daughter asked to watch it again; she was smitten with the hand-drawn aesthetic and the plot that did not dumb itself down for them, even the ending’s twist that had me in a chokehold. They had questions about some of the nuances of the plot, and I answered them as best I could. Our family movie night has never felt as meaningful as it did that night. We all need a good cry once in a while.

“Arco” is in theaters now.

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