Pathways to Progress
Join the movement: Pathways to Progress, launched in 2025 by Washington Families Thrive, is a free monthly professional-development series that supports child care educators with resources, training, and advocacy. Shaped by local provider input, the series serves those who are new, expanding, or maintaining best practices. Most sessions are online Thursdays, 6:30–7:30 PM — all early‑childhood professionals and community members are welcome.
Your Imaginary Friend - January 8th, 6pm to 7pm, Online
Your Imaginary Friend teaches specific open-ended imaginative play ideas, tips and prompts to parents, teachers and caregivers. The ideas are almost all free and they are meant to be tailored to any child. I have used them successfully for years in preschool classrooms and they also helped me raise my own children. They help strengthen the bonds between child and parent or caregiver, make care easier and help make the adults' day to day lives more fun as well! My trainings are also designed to inspire caregivers to share their own imaginative ideas so everyone will walk away inspired and equipped with things they can try the very next day.
Stephanie Olson is Your Imaginary Friend. She is a preschool teacher, imaginative play expert, speaker, freelance writer specialized in parenting and mother of two nearly grown humans. She still works as a substitute preschool teacher and started Your Imaginary Friend in order to help make parenting and caregiving easier and more fun. She lives in Seattle, dreams of Paris and believes there is nothing in life a little Tater Tot hot dish couldn't fix.
STEM Learning for Every Child, February 12th, 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Online
​In this online session, you will discover the importance of helping every child build their STEM identity through early exposure to science and numeracy skills. Even if you don't consider yourself a "science person," you can help your children develop a lifelong love of science. We will share ideas on how to follow children's natural curiosity about the world and how to pursue STEM learning in any classroom environment and with any budget. We will also share ways that Imagine Children's Museum can support you as you integrate more STEM opportunities into your curriculum.
Session leader: Nick Spicher, Imagine Children's Museum
Nick Spicher has designed and implemented fun and engaging STEM experiences for all ages throughout his career. He has been at Imagine Children's Museum since 2017, where he launched STEM summer camps for preschool and elementary students, developed new public programs, and created classroom experiences on topics such as robotics, engineering, electric circuits, and chemistry. He currently serves as Program Innovation & Evaluation Strategist, a role which allows him to continue developing and evaluating new programming that is aligned with Imagine's educational priorities.
Mental Health and Early Learning Interventionist panel, March 19th, 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Online
Early intervention is critical for child care providers—especially when supporting neurodiverse children. Understanding early identification and evidence‑based strategies lets providers create inclusive, individualized environments that promote each child’s development and learning. With timely intervention, educators can spot concerns sooner, collaborate effectively with families and specialists, and adapt routines and classroom supports to reduce barriers and build confidence. These practices improve outcomes for neurodiverse children and strengthen the learning community for everyone.
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Join Dr. Jill McDaniel, Clinical Director at Providence Boyden Family Autism Center, Anna Gibson, Director of Early Intervention Services at Sherwood Community Services, and
Felisa Garcia Castellanos (Hablo Español)
Community Health & Wellness Support Specialist, LETI, as they share practical insights, and classroom‑ready resources for child care educators.
Building Blocks: City Solutions to Child Care Growth, April 30th, 6:30pm, online
Join Washington Families Thrive for the "Pathways to Progress" series—an opportunity for city council leaders to discuss practical regulatory reforms. We will cover topics such as zoning and land-use policy, as well as streamlined permitting processes, all aimed at removing barriers and creating opportunities for child care providers to expand and establish new facilities. Together, we will explore how local policy changes can foster affordable, high-quality child care and contribute to stronger communities.
Mayor George Hurst of Lynnwood, Deputy Mayor of Bothell Jenne Alderks, and City Councilmember Susan Paine of Edmonds will speak about what cities are doing for child care growth. Join us for a conversation and a chance to speak to a city councilmember!
To register click here
Market Better with Confidence, Stilly Valley Chamber of Commerce, May 11th 6:00pm, online
Join Washington Families Thrive, who is partnering with Stilly Valley Chamber of Commerce as part of our "Pathways to Progress" series,
Thank you to a grant from the WA State Microenterprise Association - we are presenting a series of classes to help grow our businesses. These classes will be hand-in-hand with our Arlington Business Classes that occur once a month.
This month's topic is: Market Better with Confidence with Portia Smith