Notes for Families
Practical guides to eating out, indoor play, birthdays and days out with small children — written by the family that built Two Sisters Play Cafe.
Why Messy Play Matters More Than It Looks
Paint, water, dough and sand look like chaos and are doing serious developmental work. What messy play builds, how to contain it, and what to do…
Planning a First Birthday Party That Actually Works
A first birthday is a party for the adults, held in front of a one-year-old. Planning it around nap times, short attention spans and parallel play…
Eating Out With a Child Who Has Food Allergies
Calling ahead, what to say when you sit down, how cross-contact actually happens, and how to tell a kitchen that has thought about allergies from one…
Days Out With a Baby and a Toddler
How to plan an outing that works for two children at completely different stages, without either of them having a miserable morning.
Leaving Without a Meltdown: Transitions With Toddlers
Why leaving is the hardest part of any outing with a toddler, and the small routines that make it go considerably better.
Indoor Play Safety: What to Check on Arrival
A two-minute scan to run when you walk into any indoor play space, and the hazards that are easiest to miss.
Planning a Calmer Birthday Party
How to plan a party for a child who finds busy rooms difficult: fewer guests, a quieter slot, a place to retreat to, and a gentler…
Getting Around Milwaukie With Young Children Without Driving
Using the MAX Orange Line, the Trolley Trail and downtown Milwaukie with a pushchair, a toddler and no car.
Eating Out With a Gluten-Free Child
How to ask about gluten free options, what a good kitchen answer actually sounds like, and how to make eating out workable rather than stressful.