Articles
The perfect picnic snack, side, sandwich or dessert
One of the few fun, safe outings for families this summer is to picnic – and Anne Kirk, pastry chef at Little Dom’s in Los Feliz, has the perfect picnic recipe. “I love focaccia as picnic food because of its versatility,” she says. “You can really top it with anything – salt and herbs, grated […]
This Children’s Book Embraces the Struggle and the Light
Breegan Jane, the popular L.A.-based lifestyle entrepreneur, has written “Carbie,” a children’s book that features a gender-neutral character whose journey is meant to encourage children to view struggle in a different way. Inspired by her travels to Kenya and her understanding of the trying circumstances many children face in the country, Breegan Jane wrote “Carbie” […]
What Families Can do About the COVID Slide
Responsible parents don’t let summer go to waste. That, for a long time, has been the thinking among parenting experts. And so, instead of the carefree summers of our own childhoods, we parents squeeze little more than a “free” day or two in between sports practices, well-curated family vacations, “meaningful” camps designed to advance our […]
Fighting for Educational Justice for Black Children
As I wander through this constant maze of eight minutes and 46 seconds murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all of the other members of my Black family and friends and culture, I think about my six children, the three sons and three daughters that left my womb and are becoming Black […]
L.A. Parents Weigh in on Racism
It was Jan. 20, 1992, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but the civil rights icon was far from my mind. I was home on maternity leave, having given birth to a baby girl just two weeks before. In a maternal fog, I wandered out to the curb in front of the house – baby in […]
How Families Can Safely Make Outdoor Play a Priority this Summer
As these first weeks of summer unfold, the American Academy of Pediatrics reminds parents of the benefits for young children of outdoor play. “Getting outside to play is good for children’s health on so many levels,” says AAP President Sally Goza, MD, FAAP. “Children play harder outdoors, and so getting them outside can help with […]
Parents: Stay Focused on Your Goals
In times of uncertainty, it is sometimes difficult to stay focused on your personal and career goals. As parents, we might even feel guilty for pushing forward to achieve success. When areas of our lives at home or at work add to our daily stress, it is important not to ignore the chaos. But it […]
Spider Bite Prevention Tips From California Poison Control
The California Poison Control System (CPCS) suggests being on the lookout for spiders, which are increasingly active when temperatures rise. With more people sheltering at home or just starting to hike in the hills, the risk of bites is more likely. Spider bites can result in small puncture wounds, pain, redness, itching and swelling that can last […]
Top 5 Tips for Making the Toddler Years Terrific
Toddlers are fascinating little beings. They can go from laughing to crying in a split second, and so can their parents. The technical definition of a toddler is a child between the ages of 1 and 3, though some would consider this stage to extend to age 4. Toddlers’ brains develop at a rapid pace. […]
Report Says Black and Brown Babies are Born at a Disadvantage
Studies have long shown that where in the U.S. a baby is born can have a major impact on that baby’s health and wellbeing going forward. But a new report out this month notes that Black and brown babies, which make up more than half of all U.S. infants, start life at a disadvantage no […]
Virtual Birthday Party Tips to Put Your Celebration on Top
They come around once a year – global pandemic or not – and kids look forward to them more than most adults. I’m talking birthdays and, specifically, birthday parties. When safer-at-home guidelines closed down traditional party options, parents replaced backyard petting zoos and princess visits, mini golf and trampoline park field trips with Zoom get-togethers […]
Kids’ Mental Health During the Pandemic
As we move from spring to summer and fewer things seem to be getting back to “normal,” many kids are struggling. Clinical psychologist Bridgid Mariko Conn, Ph.D., of the division of adolescent and young medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, offers some insight. What are the major sources of anxiety for kids right now? What […]
In ‘The Ocean in Your Bathtub,’ Each Page Makes a Splash
In his last children’s book, “A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars,” Seth Fishman brought us the wonders of the universe. With his most recent, “The Ocean in Your Bathtub,” he’s back to reveal the science of our oceans, teaching kids that our five oceans “cover 71% of the planet and contain 97% of our water.” With […]
Tune in to ‘Dads’ This Father’s Day
Just in time for Father’s Day, a new documentary called “Dads” will premiere on June 19. An official selection of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, “Dads” is a heartfelt and humorous film that celebrates the joys and challenges of parenting in today’s world. Featuring six fathers from across the globe, this film offers a […]
Father’s Day Wisdom from a Dozen L.A. Dads
A million questions run through your head when you become a father – most of them driven by panic because you and your partner are now responsible for another person. Yikes. But as things settle down and life takes on more meaning as you realize that you’re a parent, you start looking ahead. You wonder […]
Virtual Camp Programs Spring up for Summer
“All indicators point to the fact that this is not going to be a normal summer.” That’s how Korey Kalman, founder and CEO of Got Game Sports, sums up the uncertainty that the coronavirus pandemic has brought to our family routines. Got Game runs after-school, physical education and summer camp programs at a host of […]
A Scientist Shares Her No-churn Ice Cream Recipe
Maya Warren has a job title that would get most kids’ attention. She’s an ice cream scientist. Translation: Warren is senior director of international research and development/tastemaster at Cold Stone Creamery, and has a doctorate in food science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in frozen desserts. After being introduced to food science through the […]
Planting Early Learning at Home with Child360
The emotional, social and educational development of young children has always been at the core of Child360’s mission. Now that more young children are at home, the early-education nonprofit has launched a digital series to help parents innovate learning with their children. Home Grown with Child360 incorporates tips and activities from Child360’s child development experts […]
Bring Those Cool Summer Vibes Home
“School’s out for summer!” Yes, Alice Cooper! Could there be a better feeling than the last day of school? One of the things I savor about my kids’ childhood is the gift of experiencing summer vacation and summer fun again, but – as we are reminded over and over – the end of the school […]
Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Keeps Us Looking Up
I have a special place in my heart for Los Angeles Dodgers team manager Dave Roberts. As the first person of color to lead the MLB team, he’s broken barriers while unifying players and fans in new ways. On top of that, he’s a genuinely good guy – hardworking and full of grit, sure, but […]
Kristen Bell Colors Her New Children’s Book With Hope for the Future
Purple is the color of royalty, and there’s also something soothing about it. Something promising and fertile. For Kristen Bell, it is the seed color for a better future, and you and your kids will get all the purple feels when you read her new children’s book, “The World Needs More Purple People.” Bell, an […]
Simple Steps to Changing Unwanted Behavior
With everyone stuck at home right now, I’m hearing from many parents that behaviors are escalating. When that happens, so many times frustration takes over. It feels like everything is going wrong and there is no way to deal with it. Here are some simple steps to help you pinpoint the behaviors you dislike and […]
Make a Cool Amazebowls Smoothie Bowl
Bryan Leong and Stephanie Wang met as undergrads at USC. Like many college students, they were hungry. Unhappy with the dining options at hand, in 2013, they took matters into their own hands. “We just wanted to eat something more healthy, and it was really difficult for us to find something healthy that was affordable,” […]
How to Properly Care for Your Face Mask
As California and other states begin loosening stay-at-home orders and reopening businesses, it’s likely that everyone will be encouraged to wear a mask in public for months to come. But to be effective in slowing the speed of COVID-19 infection, a mask must be used correctly “Properly using a mask is just as important as actually wearing […]
10 Ways to Practice Social Skills at Home
Let’s not kid ourselves, the past two-plus months of distance learning with our children have been a challenge. After all, most of us have no professional teacher training. And working with our own children can bring back some less-than-pleasant memories – like the time that Mom decided that she was going to teach you how […]
Partnering to Close the Digital Divide
The Weingart Foundation has granted $100,000 to Brotherhood Crusade, Community Coalition and InnerCity Struggle to tackle the food and technology inequities, also known as the digital divide, in Los Angeles and surrounding communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and families in underserved communities are primarily concerned with three major issues: the continuation of education through access to […]
Make Casa Vega Guacamole at Home!
The 64-year-old Sherman Oaks Mexican restaurant Casa Vega has been in current owner Christy Vega’s family throughout its history. Now, the mother of four has adapted its menu for a first: to-go service. Classic dishes, margaritas and pantry staples and essentials (paper towels, toilet paper) are now available for curbside pickup. Can’t wait for their homemade […]
Lyf App Offers Virtual Support Group
You’ve likely seen the sentiment “physical distancing, not social distancing” floating through your social media platforms. As we are all under quarantine, it’s a powerful reminder that people still need people. Lyf, a new free iOS and Android app, has launched to offer what it calls the “world’s largest virtual support group.” For people struggling […]
Touch-Screen Generation Still Good at Face Time
Are today’s children, who grew up with mobile technology from birth, worse at reading emotions and picking up cues from people’s faces than children who didn’t grow up with tablets and smartphones? A new UCLA psychology study suggests today’s kids are alright. Infancy and early childhood are critical developmental phases during which children learn to […]
Simona Grace, founder of Moms in Office, is California Mother of the Year
Simona Grace’s quest to help shape the world started at a young age. Growing up in Hungary during the decline of the communist regime, Grace saw the consequences of a lack of democracy firsthand. Searching for a better life, she left her home and family in Hungary and moved to the United States to attend […]
Make a Tasty Turkey Bolognese
Brook Williamson, Top Chef winner and co-ownerof Playa Provisions says Bolognese is one of her go-to recipes. “It’s great for an individual, a couple, or a crowd, easy to assemble, and is healthy and filling all at the same time,” she says. “In addition to tomatoes and your meat of choice (ground beef, turkey, or chicken), it’s […]
14 Fun Things to Do With Your Toddler at Home
After baking another batch of cookies together and playing hide-and-seek with your preschooler again, it’s discouraging to look at your watch to discover that it is only 9:30 a.m. With everything on pause, keeping little ones busy is more challenging than ever. Don’t despair! Here are a few ideas that are fun and include an […]
Reading Roundup: Books That Will Transport Your Child Outside
With so much indoor time, it’s no wonder that many parents and caregivers may find themselves running out of ideas on how to keep their children engaged and electronics-free. So how about taking your kids outside, without actually leaving the house? Here are a few outdoor-themed books sure to provide your child with a breath […]
Actress Alyshia Ochse Embraces Slowing Down with Her Family
We are all in this together, so let’s be honest: being a parent during this time is really hard. Cue the Rolling Stones’ song that has been on repeat in my mind as I try to juggle being a conscious parent while working from home: No, you can’t always get what you want But if […]
Make a Crisp with Your Favorite Fresh Fruit
Under normal circumstances, Phil Kastel would be busy cooking at The Milky Way, the Mid-Wilshire restaurant opened by Leah Adler (Steven Spielberg’s mom) in 1977. Kastel, who took the helm as executive chef last year, says that though Adler died in 2017, her spirit still infuses the eatery she ran for more than 30 years. […]
Fave Mommy Podcasts from Mama Said
This month, we’re celebrating moms all month long, so were delighted to get some favorite parenting and family podcasts from actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler and musician Jenna Parris, co-hosts of the Mama Said podcast on PodcastOne. They say these podcasts are helping them get through the quarantine. We’ll start the recs off with their own podcast. […]
Graduation Dreaming: The Heartbreak and Hope of the Class of 2020
The senior year of high school is the toughest academic year in a student’s life, but the rewards – prom, senior trips, class rings, the signing of yearbooks, college acceptances, scholarship wins and the act of walking across that stage to receive that rolled-up scroll – add up to a rite of passage that forms […]
Pregnancy and Childbirth During the COVID Pandemic
My daughter and her husband are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, and they’ll be doing it under coronavirus quarantine. They’ve also been talking about starting a family. They’re both healthy, but I wondered whether getting pregnant right now is wise, so I decided to chat with Dr. John Ozimek, medical director of the […]
Talking First-time Motherhood With Daniella Monet
We first met new mom Daniella Monet for our cover shoot and interview a couple of months before COVID-19 hit our shores. We soaked in the warm rays of sunlight pouring through the windows of Monet’s Sherman Oaks home as she and baby Gio gazed at each other in the middle of her big fluffy […]
Pancakes Dad can Make for Mom
Zoe Nathan, part of the team behind the Rustic Canyon family of restaurants and author of “Huckleberry: Stories, Secrets, and Recipes From our Kitchen,” got this recipe from her dad. “My father used to make these almost every weekend when I was growing up, and then he proudly made them every weekend for Saturday Morning […]
An Easier Cheesecake with Thai Tea Flavor
This Basque-style cheesecake recipe is the opposite of the fussier New York version, which must be baked carefully (often in a water bath) to produce an unscorched, uncracked top. This version is cooked at high heat so that it cracks and browns deeply – making it almost impossible to mess up. This particular Basque-style recipe […]
Grammy Museum’s Songwriting Workshop for High Schoolers Now Online – and Free!
Though they’re filled with challenges and setbacks, the times we are living through are certain to inspire artists of all sorts. The coronavirus pandemic also presents a particular silver lining this year for aspiring California songwriters in grades 9-12. Summer Session, the Grammy Museum’s popular five-day songwriting workshop for teens, will be offered online for […]
A Versatile Way to Make Veggies Appeal to Kids
Elvis Prado, owner of Bad Son Tacos in Little Tokyo, says his mother would prepare this recipe for him and his siblings when they were kids. “She wanted us to eat more vegetables and she found just the way,” he says. “At first, we didn’t want to eat them. Then she’d put a dollop of […]
It’s a Great Time to Garden
Spring has sprung and we’re all at home, which makes it the perfect time to start your own home garden – in your yard or in containers. “We have a really great climate for growing vegetables in Southern California,” says Brie Wakeland, a master gardener and garden educator at The Garden School Foundation. The organization […]
Lunch is Served with this Easy Grilled Cheese
All kids love grilled cheese, right? This easy and classic flavor combo of turkey and swiss is wonderful on La Brea Bakery’s fan-favorite Three Cheese Semolina Loaf – but feel free to sub in whatever you have on hand. La Brea Bakery Pesto Turkey and Swiss Melt 8 thick slices Swiss cheese 4 tablespoons pesto 8 thin slices turkey 2 tablespoons […]
A Quick Family Breakfast with Your Leftover Bread
One fun side-effect of being at home is that everyone has lots more time to make – and eat – breakfast. This French toast recipe from La Brea Bakery makes use of their wonderful baguette (in case you didn’t finish it off with dinner) and doesn’t require any special equipment or technique. You can put […]
Check out Joy Cho’s New Children’s Books
After bringing us home décor, furniture collections and even personalized planners, Joy Cho, mother of two and founder of Oh Joy!, has entered the world of children’s books. Available for purchase now, Cho’s vibrant board book “Be Curious!” takes readers on an adventure with a curious cat that uses its sensory nervous system to further […]
Any Easy New Way to Make Rice a Meal
Who else is eating an awful lot of rice right now? The pantry staple is easy and comforting, but most of us have quickly run through our repertoire of rice dishes. Fortunately, Chef Margarita Manzke – owner with her husband, Chef Walter Manzke, of that gem of South La Brea dining République – offers us […]
A Simple Berry Crumble Recipe Using Frozen Fruit
Most families are trying to shop less often these days, which means there might not always be fresh fruit in the house. Berries, which are coming into season, are particularly delicate. That’s part of what makes this crumble recipe from lifestyle maven and restaurateur Yunnie Kim Morena particularly handy right now. With some frozen berries, […]
A Healthy Granola Recipe to Make at Home
Here’s a recipe that will help you clean out the various packages of nuts and dried fruits in your pantry and turn them into a healthy snack. It comes from the cookbook “Huckleberry: Stories, Secrets & Recipes From Our Kitchen ” by Zoe Nathan, proprietor (with husband Josh Loeb) of the local Rustic Canyon family […]
Separating Home and Office During the Quarantine
Juggling your professional and parenting roles might be a challenge as you’re working from home and your students are distance learning. Like much of the world, our team of mentors at Command Education has shifted from office life to working remotely. Though we’ve always supported our students over video calls, the change has been a […]
From FURgotten to Top Dog
Three years ago, a shepherd mix named Sugar and her three week-old puppies were dumped at a “high-kill” shelter in Riverside. The dog family was just hours away from joining the approximately 670,000 dogs euthanized in shelters each year in the U.S. when The Furgotten, an L.A.-based nonprofit dedicated to saving dogs, stepped in and […]
Keeping it Clean During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Parents are no strangers to cleanup duty. From the time we change our baby’s first diaper it seems there is a never-ending chain of messes of one kind or another: mud pies, sticky handprints on walls and doorknobs, food spilled anywhere and everywhere, toys in various states of filth. But this is different. With cases […]
If Your Child’s Early-Intervention Language Services were Interrupted Due to COVID-19
With restrictions in place due to COVID-19, parents and caregivers of children ages 3 and younger who were receiving early-intervention services by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) may be concerned about their child’s progress during this time. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers this advice to families whose services have been interrupted: Communicate with your service coordinator. Check in […]
Autism’s Lessons on Adjusting to Change During COVID-19
As we settle into the new reality that the novel coronavirus has gifted us, two things have become abundantly clear: the situation is constantly changing and there is no one “right” way to do this as a parent. Whether you are one of the essential workers risking it in groups every day, working remotely with […]
Miracle Project Tips for Easing Coronavirus Anxiety
As the anxiety over the challenging news these days is spreading faster than the coronavirus itself, it’s important that we ask what can we do as parents, coaches, colleagues and friends to help calm the mind, ease emotional tensions and promote overall wellbeing? Recently I decided to ask our resident experts from The Miracle Project Company […]
This Father and Daughter Confronted Pain and Healed Together
They say it never rains in Southern California, but on a recent day rain clouds hovered over the hotel lobby where I sat in a corner booth sipping hot chocolate and eating breakfast sandwiches with Peter Harris and Adenike Harris, the father-daughter team behind Pops’nAde, a project they started in 2016 to help others heal […]
Why Play is More Powerful Than Ever Right Now
You and your family have been cooped up together for what seems like a year (but has really only been a couple of weeks). You’re trying to work and learn from home, and a simple trip to the grocery store – practically the only place you’re now allowed to go – has become a gloved […]
New Ways of Working Out During the Quarantine
Virtual workouts might just be the salvation of gym rats and others forced away from their in-person classes. Your kids will love them, too.
#SupportingFamilies: Working from Home is a Work in Progress
Working from home is suddenly reality for many parents. Use these tips to balance getting things done with homeschooling for your kids.
#SupportingFamilies: Library Resources You Can Use From Home
Libraries are closed, but library resources are often as close as your nearest laptop, smartphone or e-reader. Check out these options!
#SupportingFamilies: Breathing Tips to Steady You in Unsteady Times
These breathing tips from Sandy Abrams, the C.E.Om, can help frazzled parents and kids steady themselves and feel more empowered.
#SupportingFamilies: Remote learning during Coronavirus
Remote learning can be a challenge for families new to the practice. But local companies and nonprofits are stepping up to help!
#SupportingFamilies: Funny Picture Books to Lift Your Spirits
These picture books, all favorites of Pasadena children’s librarian AnnMarie Kolakowski, will give your family a much-needed laugh.
#SupportingFamilies: Home-Learning Tips During Coronavirus Closures
These home learning tips are especially for families navigating remote schooling for the first time during the coronavirus crisis.
#SupportingFamilies: How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
As novel coronavirus, called COVID-19, continues to spread to multiple countries, including the U.S., it’s important for adults to communicate calmly with children. Karen Rogers, PhD, Clinical Psychologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, provides some guidelines for how to talk to kids about the virus. Kids pay close attention to how adults talk about coronavirus. “One […]
Largest Study to Date links 102 Genes With Autism
The symbol for autism spectrum disorder has long been a puzzle piece, and a global team of researchers has come a little closer to understanding the shape of this puzzel, according to research published online in January in the journal Cell. In the largest genetic autism study to date, they identified 102 genes that appear […]
This Nonprofit Takes Travelers with Disabilities in a New Direction
In the late 1970s, Dee Duncan worked at a Santa Barbara facility for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program gave its residents plenty of chances to get out into the world, offering vacation trips three times a year, and Duncan helped arrange many of them. Still, when Thanksgiving and Christmas came around, some […]
Unconventional Career Journeys: Beyond Nine-to-Five
Self-Employed Parents in Los Angeles have some creative ways to provide for their households and ensure their children thrive.
Kid Patches that are ‘See Worthy’
As a mom, Paige Brattin knows one thing for certain: Pirate play aside, wearing an eye patch is no fun. She learned this about five years ago after her daughter Eddy was diagnosed with multiple vision problems, including amblyopia. Also called lazy eye, amblyopia can happen when the vision in one of a child’s eyes […]
Brella’s Mom Entrepreneurs Help Fellow Moms at Work
Being a wife, mom and entrepreneur is no easy task. Each individual role demands so much, and trying to manage all three often leaves little time for other interests. I’ve often found myself doing really well in one area and feeling like I was failing miserably in others. Looking for inspiration, I am drawn to […]
The Benefits of Outdoor Camp for All Kids
It used to be that summer camp meant a few things – singing around a campfire, bunking in cabins and exploring the outdoors in hiking boots, canoes and swimsuits. Today, the quintessential summertime experience can also include learning to code a ninja robot, practicing a new language or forming a rock band. While these are […]
YA Novel Addresses Homelessness
Award-winning San Gabriel Valley author Catherine Linka’s compelling new contemporary fiction, “What I Want You to See,” is the first YA novel to put a face on homelessness among college students. The protagonist, Sabine Reyes, is determined to keep her past homelessness a secret during her freshman year at a competitive art institute. Flashbacks convey how she became […]
A Casserole that’s 4 Recipes in One
Gentle reader, please don’t let the lengthy list of ingredients for this family recipe scare you away. This sneaky casserole, from chef Rich Mead of Farmhouse at Rogers Gardens in Corona del Mar, is like a Russian nesting doll. It actually contains four mini recipes, all of which can be made ahead – and even […]
Graphic Novel ‘Diana’ Reminds Tweens to Embrace Themselves
As a tween, it can be hard to grasp a sense of your own identity, let alone your future – despite well-meaning adults who tell you you’re something special. This theme is what makes a new graphic novel about Wonder Woman as a girl so relatable for tweens. “Diana: Princess of the Amazons,” written by […]
Los Angeles Coronavirus Update and Tips for Families
The virus now known as COVID-19, first reported in December, continues to spread, and as of mid-February had infected more than 72,000 people in China, more than 800 in other countries and around 15 in the U.S., including 10 in California. On March 4, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Department of […]
4 Keys to Managing Family Conflict
For many, the greatest family and parenting challenges lie in navigating conflict. It’s especially exhausting because most people are conflict adverse. But what if we embraced conflict as a healthy part of family life? We tend to think about family conflict as a negative but, frankly, conflict has many positive side effects. It is natural […]
On Grief, Public Memorials and Our Children
To be a parent is to want to give our children the world. We hope to protect their innocence as long as we can, to shield them from bullies and bad news, even though we know that “the world” holds as much pain as it does joy, and that our arms are not long enough, […]
For This Teacher, Tennis and Autism are a Winning Combination
Two things have been consistent throughout much of Emily Werman’s life: autism spectrum disorder and tennis. “I was born into a tennis-playing family, so I was introduced to the sport at an early age,” says the 25-year-old from Chicago, who was diagnosed with autism at age 12. “By that time, I was already playing competitive […]
An Easy Hands-On Tomato Sauce Recipe
Phillip Martin’s mother is Mexican, his grandfather is from the South, and his childhood home in East L.A. was definitely hands-on when it came to cooking. “I remember waking up, and my grandmother making tortillas by hand every single morning,” says Martin. “It’s a really awesome thing to wake up to.” Today, he’s chef at Ray’s […]
Must-Know Tips on Caring For Your Child’s Teeth
Smile. Now think about your kid’s smile. One of your major responsibilities as a parent is to make sure that smile stays healthy. That means being consistent with everyone’s daily brushing and flossing routine. “That’s the biggest gift you can give to your child,” says Jill Lasky, DDS, of Lasky Pediatric Dental Group in Studio […]
Building a Healthy Heart for Your Child
February is a month where paper hearts abound, but making sure our children’s actual hearts are strong and healthy is a year-round responsibility that begins during pregnancy. Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect, and your child’s risk is connected to your family’s health history. According to Paul Kantor, chief of the Division of Cardiology […]
For the Love of Family, Dance and L.A.
If you’re someone who is never satisfied with your progress, who is always, as singer Ciara puts it, trying to “level up,” you have a trait in common with “Dancing With the Stars” performer Gleb Savchenko. Born in Moscow, Savchenko has been dancing since his legs could hold his weight. Over the years, from Russia to Hong Kong and […]
This Tiny Alpaca Could Make a Big Difference
When alpaca Princess Pumpkin was born, she weighed 5½ pounds and should have been too small to survive. However, Michael James and Amber Cavalier Splier adopted and raised her as a “princess” in their “castle,” eventually letting her venture out in search of friendship with bigger alpacas. They’ve now turned this special alpaca’s story into a children’s […]
6 Essential L.A. Kid Reads
The first time I felt truly connected to L.A. was through the young adult novels of Francesca Lia Block. I first learned of her from a panel she was on at the first Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in 1996. I was in the fifth grade. That day, I bought, and she signed for […]
Choosing a Camp Your Kids Will Love
Believe it or not, it’s time to plan where to send your kids for summer camp. With so many options out there – from traditional and specialty camps to day camps and sleepaway options – it can feel overwhelming trying to choose just the right one. Have no fear, L.A. Parent is here to help […]
This Dog Gives Kids a ‘Sense’ of Safety
In 2014, Bunni and Rick Benaron founded The Hero In You Foundation as a way to honor first responders, but the project has morphed into a campaign that teaches kids to use their common sense and their senses to stay safe and be ready for emergencies. Six years ago, the Benarons were erecting 6-foot Dalmatian […]
The Builder Bees Hive Offers Fun and Friendship for Girls
Orley Garber’s daughter had a problem that’s pretty typical for those on the autism spectrum: she had trouble making friends. “From preschool, I felt like she didn’t have a place,” Garber says, “because she was really overwhelmed in mainstream settings and she just felt annoyed by ‘the boys who don’t listen’ in special-needs settings.” Around […]
8 Hacks for Grocery Shopping With Kids
Running errands or grocery shopping with your little one is probably going to take longer than one on your own. Accepting this will help you be more tolerant and flexible. Young children’s concept of time and their ability to control their emotions aren’t fully developed; there will be times when their feelings overwhelm them. Do […]
5 Spots Where L.A. Kids can Run, Flip and Fly
Back in the day, children who enjoyed tumbling and monkey bars might take up gymnastics – and, of course, they still do. A classic never goes out of style. But in the never- ending game of “what’s next?” parkour and freerunning are the trendy new kids on the block. First created by a French physical educator in the […]
5 Reasons You Should Go to Camp Fair
Happy New Year – and happy summer-camp season. While you might not be ready to leap that far into the future, you should at least consider thinking ahead to February (and March and April), when summer camp fairs pop up all over the L.A. area to help with your camp shopping. “Somebody asked why we have it […]
Homemade Dumplings for a Taste of Home
Husband and wife Leo and Lydia Lee grew up in their families’ Chinese restaurants (Lydia in Hong Kong and Leo in Mexico). Now, every day, they work to bring a bit of their childhoods to L.A. through their RiceBox Cantonese barbecue restaurant in Downtown L.A. “RiceBox evokes feelings we had as a kid,” says Leo. “It is us […]
Should Kids Eat Artificially Sweetened Foods?
January is a time when many of us are trying to curb our sugar intake, but are zero-calorie or non-nutritive sweeteners a good way to do this? A November report from the American Academy of Pediatrics noted that the number of foods containing these sweeteners has quadrupled in recent years, but that their impact on […]
5 Life-Hack Mindsets for Moms
It took a hip-hop class to make Amber Trueblood realize she had lost track of herself. The L.A. mom had brought two of her four young sons to the class and filmed them through the classroom window with her phone. Later, she showed the video to her husband. “In it, you could see my reflection, […]
Check Out This Messy Read for Tweens
Middle graders reading “The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid,” written and illustrated by L.A. local Kirk Scroggs, will get an insider’s look at the private journal of the character Russell Weinwright. Not your ordinary middle schooler, Russell describes himself as a “half-swamp monster/half-human student at Houma Bayou Middle School.” He’s got face tendrils, a tree trunk arm, […]
Meet a Mom who Means Business About Cookies
Kelley Hart truly loves what she does. When she was growing up, her parents encouraged her to pursue whatever interested her, and she credits their support with influencing her decision to become a world-traveling saxophone player. After she became a mom, she eventually gave up her musician life to spend more time with her son, […]
This MLK Day: Share ‘A Place to Land’
When children first learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they are mesmerized by his resonant, booming voice espousing ideals on equality, compassion and freedom. But how many of them learn about the grueling behind-the-scenes work it took to craft those famous speeches? This MLK Day, consider introducing the children in your life to “A […]
Helping Puppies Become Guide Dogs of America
During the holidays, Guide Dogs of America (GDA) launched a hearty campaign to solicit donations and volunteers for the organization, one of the nation’s leading training and learning centers for guide dogs. And while the holidays are over, GDA officials hope you’ll keep its mission top of mind. Through the work of GDA volunteers, staff […]
Tips for Managing Kids’ Cell Phone Use
Many children across the Southland received their first cell phone this holiday season, and if your kid is one of them, you may be wondering how best to monitor their usage. But getting your child a phone doesn’t need to be complicated and stressful, says Andrew Moore-Crispin, director of content at Ting Mobile — a mobile […]
Youth Cycling Association: Paving a Road to Cycling for All
Royce Felten is an endurance cyclist. That makes sense for so many reasons. At age 14, he has already battled and beaten Hodgkins lymphoma. He has also faced the many challenges that go along with being a person with autism. So, what’s a 100-mile bike ride? “I just like being on the bike for long […]