Washington Parent began with a simple idea: local families needed reliable information, expert insight and a community to turn to.
Before it became Washington Parent, the publication grew out of The Parenting Education Center, founded in 1982. What started as a small, typed-and-stapled newsletter with articles, a calendar and parent education classes grew in size and circulation. In 1987, it was renamed Washington Parent. By 1997, it was the monthly magazine that families across the region relied on.
A lot has changed since then. The internet arrived, social media reshaped how families find information, and smartphones put calendars, school searches and parenting advice in every parent’s pocket.
What hasn’t changed in 42 years is the reason the magazine exists. Parents in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia still want a smarter, more local guide to raising kids in this region than the alternatives offer. They want to know which schools are worth the application, which camps are the best fit, how to talk to a kid going through a hard time and what’s actually worth doing on a Saturday afternoon.
The original mission was simple: family enrichment through education and support.
That idea still guides us today.
Washington Parent, formerly a print magazine, is now a free digital resource with a monthly online magazine, weekly newsletter, daily social media and website updates, calendars, guides, awards and events.
Our writers include pediatricians, educators, licensed therapists and experienced contributors. We use AI tools the way many modern newsrooms do, to support research and copy workflows, but every editorial decision on this site is made by a person who understands this community and this work.
Washington Parent has won 53 Parenting Media Association Awards in the past decade alone, with a track record of recognition going back decades. The PMA is the industry organization that recognizes excellence in family publishing across North America.
What we cover
Parents in this region are usually looking for the same four things: what to do with the kids, how to make smart school decisions, where to find the right summer camp and how to handle the harder parenting questions. Our coverage follows the same rhythm. Things to do every week. Schools, camps and parenting through the year.
WHAT TO KNOW
Schools, camps and parenting questions without easy answers
Our recurring coverage includes school choice across DCPS, MCPS, FCPS and private programs; camp topics throughout the year, including camp fairs and seasonal camp guides; pediatric health advice from DMV-area doctors and specialists; parenting columns by credentialed therapists and educators; and reported features on the issues facing local kids and families.
- School selection across DCPS, MCPS, FCPS and private programs
- Camps coverage including sleep-away, day, sports, STEM and special-needs programs
- Pediatric and family health tips from named DMV doctors and specialists
- Parenting articles by credentialed therapists and educators
- Reported features on local children and parents
WHAT TO DO
Things to do, year-round
Our Top Things to Do guide is updated every Monday. The DC Kids Calendar is refreshed daily. Each spring, Washington Parent Picks celebrates the local businesses families trust most.
We also keep families connected to family-friendly restaurants, free activities, seasonal events and trips worth taking across DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.
- Top Things to Do, updated weekly
- The DC Kids Calendar, refreshed daily
- Washington Parent Picks community awards each spring
- Family-friendly restaurants, free activities and seasonal events
Where to find us
Washington Parent reaches families through a free monthly digital magazine, a weekly newsletter, the Top Things to Do guide, the DC Kids Calendar, in-person camp fairs and the annual Washington Parent Picks community awards.
- The Monthly Digital Magazine. A new issue every month, free to read online. Read the latest →
- The Weekly Newsletter. Curated stories and the best events for the coming weekend, delivered to your inbox each Thursday. Subscribe free →
- Top Things to Do. Updated every Monday. The weekend planner families across the region rely on. See this week →
- DC Kids Calendar. A listing of family events across the DMV, refreshed daily. Browse the calendar →
- Camp Fairs. In-person events held throughout the year, connecting families with the region’s top summer programs in partnership with Kojam. Camp fairs →
- Washington Parent Picks, our annual readers’ choice awards, celebrates the DMV businesses families trust most. See this year’s picks →
THE TEAM
The people behind the magazine
Washington Parent is created by a small team of editors, writers, designers and marketing advisors with decades of combined experience in family publishing.
Get to know them on the team page.
“I’m a big advocate of Washington Parent from the parent perspective. I literally plan my weekend based on what you recommend.”
Malanda Worrell, WeAquatics
Want to advertise with us? Let’s get started!
Marketing Solutions Support
- Monthly Digital Magazine
- Website
- Digital Ads
- Weekly E-Newsletters
- Targeted E-Blasts
- Contests & Promotions
- Sponsored Content
- Community Events
- Popular Camp Fairs
- Online Parenting Community Group
Join Our Team
Find out about job opportunities HERE.
