6+ hour, 44+ min ago   (947+ words) Updated September 13, 2026 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…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago   (639+ words) Updated September 2, 2026 “It’s all about surrounding kids in a literacy-rich environment,” Martin says. “Children have to be exposed to a thousand books to be ready for the work of learning to read.” Literacy rates among children have declined alarmingly in…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago   (537+ words) The Parent to Parent program will not be canceled after a month of speculation (iStock) By Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard Updated August 31, 2026 Washington state officials are keeping a longstanding program seen as vital to parents of children with developmental…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago   (1334+ words) (Illustration by Brett Hamil) Updated August 26, 2026 A month after Seattle’s ban kicked in, Governor Bob Ferguson, together with state Superintendent for Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, announced a legislative goal 2027: to ban smartphones bell-to-bell in all Washington public schools. Both efforts…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago   (508+ words) By Dr. Jennifer Rubin Updated August 26, 2026 Parents today are navigating an increasingly polarized conversation about social media. Schools are restricting phones, policymakers are proposing platform bans, and many families are questioning when young people should gain access to social media....