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Imagine U to Increase Child Care in the SeaTac Area

August 25, 2023

Every child in the SeaTac area deserves high-quality child care. The city’s partnership with the Imagine Institute’s Imagine U program will help train new licensed family child care providers and prepare them to start their own businesses serving SeaTac families. Imagine U is one of The Imagine Institute’s signature programs, pairing experienced and talented licensed child care providers with those interested in becoming licensed. Imagine U graduates have opened 562 new child care businesses statewide since the program started in 2017. Beginning

Read More

Program Spotlight: Shared Services Brings Child Care Providers Together

August 23, 2023

Child care providers across Washington build friendships and find support through the Shared Services Hub! Shared Services is a partnership between The Imagine Institute and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It connects licensed family child care providers and child care center directors to resources and services to help grow their businesses, build bonds with fellow providers, and access free training and expert advice. All licensed family child care providers and independent child care center directors in Washington State

Read More

Finding a Staycation: Western Washington

August 11, 2023

There are a lot of places to visit in Western Washington, and if you’re looking for some good vacation ideas, you might consider something in your own area. There are so many places to choose from, but we thought we would mention a few you may not have thought of to take your family for the day. Take a ferry across Puget Sound: There are many options to choose from when taking a ferry across Puget Sound, but the best one may

Read More

Easy, Inexpensive Outdoor Activities for Kids

July 22, 2023

Summer is a great time for kids and families to get outside and play. With the warm weather and long days, there are many activities you can plan to make sure kids have a fun time, without spending too much money. At the Imagine Institute, we wanted to share just a few outdoor activities you can plan for. Backyard Obstacle Course – These can be easy to set up, without spending a lot of money. You can set up an obstacle course

Read More

Picture Books to Inspire Summer Fun

July 20, 2023

The heat has hit the Pacific Northwest and pretty much everywhere else. Stay inside and read a great summer picture book — or use these books as inspiration for fun activities. Blackout, by John Rocco When the lights go out in the city, a family finds ways to enjoy a summer night without power. Activity: Go out and stargaze! If the lights are too bright, see what else you can observe in your neighborhood at night. Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey

Read More

A Closer Look at Washington State’s National Parks

July 20, 2023

With Summer here, many families are headed outside to get in some outdoor activities and take advantage of the nice weather. In Washington state, there are just three national parks, but each have unique features that make them a popular spot for people around the world. In this post, we’ll take a look at each park and what they offer. Olympic National Park – This area located in the western half of Washington, officially became a national park in 1938 by order

Read More
A graphic with the words "Fun ways to make ice cream for National Ice Cream month" and multicolored scoops of ice cream in cones

Fun Ways to Make Ice Cream for National Ice Cream Month

July 12, 2023

July just might be the sweetest time of year. July 16 is National Ice Cream Day — but the whole month is a celebration of delicious frozen desserts, too! In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July to be National Ice Cream Month, and the third Sunday in the month National Ice Cream Day.  You could honor the holiday by going to the store and getting a big tub of vanilla or your favorite pint of caramel brownie fudge chunk. But why not

Read More

History of Independence Day

July 4, 2023

As we gather together this holiday weekend, many of us will be celebrating the U.S. Independence Day. It’s a day that has been celebrated for more than two centuries, but the origins of July 4th started small and grew into a federal holiday. Independence Day is celebrated each 4th of July to mark the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress adopted the final version of the Declaration of Independence, which would form the United States as we know it today. One

Read More
THe cover of the picture book Pink Blue and You, which features cartoons of diverse children and a dinosaur

Pride Picture Books for Kids of All Ages

June 30, 2023

Pride Month is a great time to celebrate the beauty and diversity of humanity with a good book. Here are some LGBTQIA+-friendly picks for kids of all ages. BOARD BOOKS Federico y Sus Familias / Federico and All His Families, by Mili Hernández, illustrated by Gómez A neighborhood cat has many families, and all his families are different! The original text is in Spanish, and an English version is available, too. Love Makes a Family, by Sophie BeerThis sweet book celebrates many kinds of

Read More

Pride Month: Recognizing James Baldwin

June 20, 2023

As we continue to celebrate Pride Month, we wanted to take some time to recognize some of the trailblazers who were instrumental in making the pride movement a key part of society. James Baldwin was an author and activist who spent his career talking about sexuality and race relations, to help people understand what pride was all about. Baldwin was born in Harlem and spent most of his childhood in New York. He never knew his biological father, but he was the

Read More

Imagine U to Increase Child Care in the SeaTac Area

August 25, 2023

Every child in the SeaTac area deserves high-quality child care. The city’s partnership with the Imagine Institute’s Imagine U program will help train new licensed family child care providers and prepare them to start their own businesses serving SeaTac families. Imagine U is one of The Imagine Institute’s signature programs, pairing experienced and talented licensed child care providers with those interested in becoming licensed. Imagine U graduates have opened 562 new child care businesses statewide since the program started in 2017. Beginning

Read More

Program Spotlight: Shared Services Brings Child Care Providers Together

August 23, 2023

Child care providers across Washington build friendships and find support through the Shared Services Hub! Shared Services is a partnership between The Imagine Institute and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It connects licensed family child care providers and child care center directors to resources and services to help grow their businesses, build bonds with fellow providers, and access free training and expert advice. All licensed family child care providers and independent child care center directors in Washington State

Read More

Finding a Staycation: Western Washington

August 11, 2023

There are a lot of places to visit in Western Washington, and if you’re looking for some good vacation ideas, you might consider something in your own area. There are so many places to choose from, but we thought we would mention a few you may not have thought of to take your family for the day. Take a ferry across Puget Sound: There are many options to choose from when taking a ferry across Puget Sound, but the best one may

Read More

Easy, Inexpensive Outdoor Activities for Kids

July 22, 2023

Summer is a great time for kids and families to get outside and play. With the warm weather and long days, there are many activities you can plan to make sure kids have a fun time, without spending too much money. At the Imagine Institute, we wanted to share just a few outdoor activities you can plan for. Backyard Obstacle Course – These can be easy to set up, without spending a lot of money. You can set up an obstacle course

Read More

Picture Books to Inspire Summer Fun

July 20, 2023

The heat has hit the Pacific Northwest and pretty much everywhere else. Stay inside and read a great summer picture book — or use these books as inspiration for fun activities. Blackout, by John Rocco When the lights go out in the city, a family finds ways to enjoy a summer night without power. Activity: Go out and stargaze! If the lights are too bright, see what else you can observe in your neighborhood at night. Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey

Read More

A Closer Look at Washington State’s National Parks

July 20, 2023

With Summer here, many families are headed outside to get in some outdoor activities and take advantage of the nice weather. In Washington state, there are just three national parks, but each have unique features that make them a popular spot for people around the world. In this post, we’ll take a look at each park and what they offer. Olympic National Park – This area located in the western half of Washington, officially became a national park in 1938 by order

Read More
A graphic with the words "Fun ways to make ice cream for National Ice Cream month" and multicolored scoops of ice cream in cones

Fun Ways to Make Ice Cream for National Ice Cream Month

July 12, 2023

July just might be the sweetest time of year. July 16 is National Ice Cream Day — but the whole month is a celebration of delicious frozen desserts, too! In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July to be National Ice Cream Month, and the third Sunday in the month National Ice Cream Day.  You could honor the holiday by going to the store and getting a big tub of vanilla or your favorite pint of caramel brownie fudge chunk. But why not

Read More

History of Independence Day

July 4, 2023

As we gather together this holiday weekend, many of us will be celebrating the U.S. Independence Day. It’s a day that has been celebrated for more than two centuries, but the origins of July 4th started small and grew into a federal holiday. Independence Day is celebrated each 4th of July to mark the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress adopted the final version of the Declaration of Independence, which would form the United States as we know it today. One

Read More
THe cover of the picture book Pink Blue and You, which features cartoons of diverse children and a dinosaur

Pride Picture Books for Kids of All Ages

June 30, 2023

Pride Month is a great time to celebrate the beauty and diversity of humanity with a good book. Here are some LGBTQIA+-friendly picks for kids of all ages. BOARD BOOKS Federico y Sus Familias / Federico and All His Families, by Mili Hernández, illustrated by Gómez A neighborhood cat has many families, and all his families are different! The original text is in Spanish, and an English version is available, too. Love Makes a Family, by Sophie BeerThis sweet book celebrates many kinds of

Read More

Pride Month: Recognizing James Baldwin

June 20, 2023

As we continue to celebrate Pride Month, we wanted to take some time to recognize some of the trailblazers who were instrumental in making the pride movement a key part of society. James Baldwin was an author and activist who spent his career talking about sexuality and race relations, to help people understand what pride was all about. Baldwin was born in Harlem and spent most of his childhood in New York. He never knew his biological father, but he was the

Read More

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