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E-Newsletter: ChildStrive Chronicle
Summer is a season of growth, discovery, and new beginnings! Every day, we have the privilege of watching children and families thrive. In this issue, we’re sharing stories of resilience, practical resources, and simple ways to find joy in the everyday moments that help children learn and grow. Thank you for being part of the ChildStrive community and for helping build stronger families and brighter futures, one relationship at a time.
Community Bites!
Bring your friends, family, and neighbors together for a delicious way to give back! Join us at one—or all—of these special dining events where a portion of your meal supports ChildStrive’s work with local families.
Friday, August 7 – MOD Pizza
Wednesday, August 19 – Habit Burger
Shoreline
Thursday, September 10 – MOD Pizza
Mill Creek location
Check Back for More Dates to Come!
New Family Resource: Financial Wellness Hub
At ChildStrive, we know that supporting young children also means supporting the adults who care for them. That’s why we’re excited to share a new free resource for our families and community.
In partnership with Coastal Community Bank and Banzai, we’ve launched the ChildStrive Financial Wellness Hub, an easy-to-use online library filled with practical tools, interactive calculators, articles, and guided lessons on the financial topics that matter most.
Whether you’re creating a budget, building savings, improving your credit, preparing for a major life change, or simply looking to feel more confident with your finances, you’ll find resources designed to meet you where you are.
The Financial Wellness Hub is available in more than 20 languages, free to use, and accessible anytime.
Because when families feel financially secure, they have more room to focus on what matters most, helping children thrive.
"Let's Read Together" Was a Wonderful Success!
The first “Let’s Read Together” event was a wonderful success!
Families gathered during the Latino Expo on Saturday, July 25, to celebrate the joy of reading with local authors, storytellers, music, crafts, and, of course, books. It was inspiring to see children, parents, and grandparents sharing stories and creating new memories together.
Thank you to our incredible partners, My Neighborhood News Network, LETI, Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds College, and everyone who joined us to make this inaugural event so special.
We can’t wait to continue the celebration of literacy and community at our next Let’s Read Together event on Saturday, October 10 at the Lynnwood Library. We hope to see you there!
Growing Together: Lessons That Last a Lifetime
When Sarah and Michael’s son, Ethan, was a toddler, mealtimes felt anything but simple.
Every bite was a struggle. Ethan had difficulty chewing and swallowing certain foods, and communicating his needs often led to frustration for everyone. They worried constantly: Will he ever eat like other children? Will he be able to tell us what he needs?
That’s when they found ChildStrive’s Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT). Their team worked alongside the family in the place Ethan was most comfortable, at home. A specialist helped Ethan build communication skills while introducing new strategies to make mealtimes less stressful and more successful. Just as importantly, Sarah and Michael learned techniques they could use every day, turning ordinary routines into opportunities for learning and growth.
“It wasn’t just about helping Ethan,” Sarah recalls. “They helped us become more confident as parents. They showed us how to slow down, celebrate small victories, and trust that progress would come.”
Today, Ethan is preparing for an entirely different milestone: middle school.
Like many families, the transition brings a mix of excitement and nerves. New teachers. New expectations. A much bigger building. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, Sarah and Michael find themselves returning to the lessons they first learned more than a decade ago.
“We still break big challenges into smaller steps,” Sarah says. “We give Ethan time to find his words when he’s working through something difficult. We remember that growth doesn’t happen all at once, and that’s okay.”
Those early years taught their family that progress often comes one conversation, one meal, and one small success at a time.
Looking back, they realize the greatest gift ChildStrive gave them wasn’t simply support through feeding and speech challenges. It was the confidence to believe in their son’s abilities and the tools to help him navigate whatever comes next.
As Ethan gets ready to walk through the doors of middle school this fall, his parents know there will be new challenges ahead. But they also know they don’t have to have all the answers. They’ve learned to trust the process, celebrate growth, and meet each new stage with patience and hope.
Because while Early Supports ends when children turn three, the confidence, resilience, and relationships built during those early years continue to shape families for a lifetime.
Magic in the Mundane: Finding Comfort in New Routines
As summer fades into fall, life begins to change. School starts, schedules shift, and familiar rhythms give way to new ones. While these transitions can sometimes feel overwhelming for young children (and grown-ups!), they also offer wonderful opportunities to build connection, confidence, and security.
One of the best ways to help children navigate change is through simple, predictable routines. A special goodbye ritual, reading the same bedtime book, or taking a walk after dinner can become comforting anchors in an otherwise changing season.
Try this together:
Choose one small routine to start this week. It could be:
- Sharing one favorite part of the day at dinner.
- Taking a five-minute walk to look for signs of seasonal changes.
- Reading a favorite book before bed.
- Singing the same song on the way to school.
- Looking out the window each morning and talking about the weather.
Remember, routines don’t have to be complicated, they just have to happen consistently.
Why it Matters:
Predictable routines help children feel safe and secure, especially during times of transition. When children know what to expect, they can spend less energy worrying about what’s coming next and more energy learning, exploring, and connecting with the people around them.
Simple daily rituals also build language skills, strengthen relationships, encourage emotional regulation, and help children develop independence. The routine itself may seem ordinary, but the trust, confidence, and resilience it builds can last a lifetime.
Sometimes the greatest magic isn’t found in extraordinary moments, it’s found in the everyday routines that remind children they are safe, loved, and ready for whatever comes next,
