A Day at Childhaven

What happens in a typical day at Childhaven? Every month, I share a story or other information to illustrate why this organization, which helps young kids who need extra love and support, is so important to me. I do this because I want everyone to know why we donate part of the proceeds from every home we sell to them. 

If you’ve been reading these stories for a while, have you wondered what happens there on a typical day? Here’s a general rundown of what the under-5 kids at Childhaven experience.

First, they arrive while music plays and eat breakfast. Then, they begin the hard work of playing in a directed activity. They might try out a new puzzle, or play with play slime, also known as ‘Gak.’ Sometimes the kids make the play slime themselves, and then get to play with it. 

Each child often gets individual attention during this time, because they have particular needs the staff is trying to address. For example, one girl who came to Childhaven couldn’t hold anything in her hands at first. She started playing with Gak, and loved it! It wasn’t long before she was able to hold her own cup. 

As one Childhaven staff worker said, “This is what’s most rewarding – when you get a new child and see their limitations, and then they overcome them.”

Check out more about Childhaven:

childhaven.org

Next, kids work on some sort of coloring activity, such as drawing apple trees. After that, they get some free choice time. Here’s when conflicts sometimes occur, and you’ll hear kids saying things like, “He’s not sharing.” These are opportunities to help kids work through disagreements or frustrations, and learn some social skills. 

Later, the kids will sit in a circle and tell the group what they did during their free play time. This is called “Plan, do, review,” and it’s important because it gives them a sense of control over their lives. For some of these kids, that’s a new experience. 

After that, weather permitting, the kids go outside to play. And then you have lunch followed by more individual and group activities.

Childhaven’s activities are therapeutically designed to address areas of development that have been damaged or missed due to abuse or neglect, and one of the biggest tools they use is a consistent daily routine. That, combined with healthcare, nutrition, and the devoted care and attention from their experienced staff, every child has the chance to become happy and hopeful for the future.

Considering Selling Your Home? Hold Off for Now!

I understand that what I'm about to share might be unexpected advice, especially coming from someone in the business of selling homes. After all, my livelihood depends on facilitating real estate transactions, right?

But bear with me...

If you're a regular reader of my newsletter, you've likely come across variations of the graph I'm presenting this month. I've extended the data back to 2018 to enhance the visual impact, but the patterns I'm about to discuss have been unfolding for well over a decade.

The graph illustrates the market activity cycle for single-family homes (SFH) in King County, with Closed Sale data represented in orange. The annual pattern is unmistakable — a surge in activity at the beginning of the year, peaking around spring or early summer, followed by a decline. Some years, we've even observed a smaller second surge in the fall.

It's worth noting that these patterns in King County are reflective of trends in other counties in our area and extend to the cities, towns, and the broader Greater Seattle region.

Superimposed on this graph are the Median Sale Prices (represented in blue) for SFH in King County, revealing another annual pattern. If you focus on the areas that I highlighted in yellow, what demands your attention is the consistent pattern of price increases at the start of each year, with some years experiencing almost astonishing appreciation. Notably, this trend persisted even in the aftermath of years marked by declines in both market activity and prices, at times, even significant downturns.

As for whether this pattern will repeat in the first part of 2024, well, that's something I can't predict with certainty.

The driving force behind robust price appreciation is the significant influx of new buyers precisely when the number of listings is at its lowest. This creates the widest gap between supply and demand. Considering the downward trend in mortgage interest rates over the past few weeks, once they dip below the 7% mark, I anticipate the return of previous buyers who may have stepped back, thereby further boosting demand.

As in many aspects of life, timing plays a crucial role in determining outcomes. So, when it comes to selling your home, strategic timing could make a substantial difference in your overall result.

So if you, or someone you know, is seriously considering selling a home in the coming year, please share this information with them, as it can make the difference in their decision and timing. If you, or they, need a personal analysis, my team and I offer it with absolutely no obligation. And remember that as we contribute a substantial portion of our income to the amazing Childhaven, your business and referrals go to help the kids in need.