As we all navigate closures and quarantines due to the coronavirus outbreak, L.A. Parent is #SupportingFamilies with this helpful series of articles. To receive daily updates via email, sign up for our newsletter!
#SupportingFamilies
Volunteers Pitch in to Create Now
Create Now is using Fridays to create free fun programming for families on its Facebook and Instagram livestreams. Every Friday, the local nonprofit hosts “Volunteer Takeover Fridays,” offering a variety of arts programming, including fashion design, cooking, music and even TikTok dances. Create Now’s mission is to empower at-risk and high-risk youth and young adults […]
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 […]
L.A. Drive-ins Reopen for Family Fun
On May 26, L.A. County officials announced further progress in reopening local businesses and easing restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. This reopening opened up the possibility of a fun family outing you might not have considered lately: L.A. Drive-ins. There are a few new rules. All will require you to practice social distancing of […]
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 […]
Hybrid Battery Recycling Company Pivots to Assist Medical Field
Eric Lundgren is a masked superhero of a different sort. As founder and CEO of BigBattery Inc., the largest hybrid battery recycling company in the country, Lundgren is importing millions of KN95 masks, COVID-19 test kits and medical supplies, and is donating mobile emergency power trailers at no cost to Los Angeles-area hospitals to power […]
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 […]
L.A. County Opens Beach Bike Paths, Mall Curbside Service and Car Parades
L.A. County has announced three new openings as part of phase two of its Roadmap to Recovery. Beach bike paths are now open, indoor malls can open for curbside service and car parades will be allowed for celebrations of birthdays, graduations and other special events. Beach Bike Paths and Parking Lots The opening of bike […]
Red Cross, LAUSD Serve 10 Million Meals in a Month
After one month of partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District, the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region reported in April that more than 10 million meals had been provided to students and families at the more than 60 Grab & Go Food Centers across the district. The organization praised the more than than […]
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 […]
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 […]
Parenting A Growing Toddler In a Shrinking World During the COVID-19 Crisis
Yellow “caution” tape cordoned off playgrounds. All the basketball hoop rims were gone, leaving bare backboards and empty courts. Locked gates blocked entry to the baseball diamond and skate park. On March 20, five days after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti delivered his “safer from home” recommendation related to the COVID-19 crisis, I visited Verdugo […]
Adventuring at Home with Hotel Kids Clubs
With schools closed for the remainder of the year, many summer camps following suit and parents needing to continue working from home, we’ve enlisted the help of kids club directors and education coordinators from notable resorts and destinations around the globe to provide fun and imaginative ideas to help keep your children entertained. Whether you […]
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 […]
From the Teacher Toolbox: Meaningful Praise
With the schools shuttered, many parents are asking for a little help having our children cooperate while the family is holed up at home. They know that their kids cooperate better at school … but why? Why do our children act differently at school? First of all, this is normal. It is good when your […]
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 […]
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 […]
Need a Break? Your Kids Will Love These Solo Play Resources
Since many of us have just one kid, or kids with huge age gaps between them, this guest post from Dadventures explores ways your kids can enjoy playing alone. Since 2018, Dadventures has been a resource for parents looking to discover family events and ways to engage with their kids. This group of dads got […]
Parents can Form Community Circles to Help Their Kids Cope
These are uncharted, and often traumatic, times for children. Their life routine has been disrupted. They aren’t attending school as usual. They can’t interact with their friends. In many cases, milestones such as graduation have been postponed. People in their home might have lost their jobs. Let’s not overlook the impact this experience has on […]
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 […]
Reflections on a Mother’s Day Like No Other
The paradox of being a mom is that you can feel deeply loved and appreciated in one moment and just as deeply misunderstood and undervalued in another. We live in a culture that puts motherhood on a pedestal every Mother’s Day, but as moms we know that the real work of motherhood – the daily […]
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 […]
How You can Enjoy L.A. County Parks – From Home
We Angelenos are used to being out and about, making safer-at-home restrictions especially tough for us. We’re no longer able to take to the trails, the beaches and our local parks and public gardens – most of which are now closed. To help keep cooped-up families sane while we’re staying safe, the Los Angeles County […]
Are Your Quarantined Kids Crowding the Kitchen?
During the quarantine, most of our grocery bills have increased as we shop for today and an uncertain future, packing our pantries with canned goods while also buying the usual fresh foods and snacks to keep our kitchens feeling normal. If your kids are anything like ours, now that they’re home around the clock, they […]
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 […]
Tips for Better COVID-19 co-parenting
When it comes to parenting in the COVID-19 era, the onslaught of “new normal” practices is, frankly, exhausting. But parents everywhere are rising to the occasion and finding ways to adjust. In the realm of co-parenting – the term used most for parents who are divorced, separated or not in a relationship with each other […]
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, […]
Reading at Home: Your Pets are All Ears!
You’ve heard that reading to pets is good for kids. That it’s encouraging for them to have a non-judgmental furry, finned or scaled friend as an audience. Maybe you’ve even taken your children to a read-to-a-dog event at your local library. But libraries are closed at the moment, and everyone is learning (and doing everything […]
A Quarantine Date with L.A. at Home
We Angelenos love to explore. A hunger for adventure courses through our blood. And with so much to do and see right here in our city, every weekend is a holiday. Just about every nook and cranny of L.A. is packed with great restaurants, unassuming holes-in-the-wall serving up mouthwatering food, cool bars, bookstores and record […]
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 […]
Lure the Kids Away from their Video Games with Music!
Since receiving the order in March that we families in L.A. are “safer at home,” many parents have feared that their children will spend more time than ever playing video games on Xbox or PlayStation. Their concerns are valid, but this is also an opportunity to explore music. I believe that nothing replaces quality, comprehensive […]
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 […]
Parenting on Demand (vs. Appointment Parenting) During the Pandemic
In the age of quarantine, parenting on demand takes on a whole new level of dedication, time and patience. My partner, though, practices “parenting by appointment.” We are not co-parenting compatibly in this pandemic, and it’s a real problem. By no means is this the gravest of issues in a time of global crisis, but […]
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 […]
School Psychologists have 10 Tips to Help Your Family Survive and Thrive During COVID-19
School psychologists Natalya Bogopolskaya, PsyD, Jennifer Lisa Ganz, MA/CAS, and Kendrea Hart, PhD., created this wonderfully uplifting and informative video with COVID-19 tips for L.A. Parent families as we all cope with this crisis. In February, they gave a presentation to school psychologists on how to cultivate resilience and post-traumatic growth in the school setting via […]
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 […]
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 […]
Family Movie Night – At Home
Family movie time can be anytime while everyone is staying safer at home. Happily, you can find family movies on a wide variety of online platforms. Because it can be confusing when it comes to finding what film is playing where, we’re breaking it down for you (with age recommendations from Common Sense Media). Hulu […]
Bring the Outdoors Home, No Matter What Space You’ve Got!
We know time outdoors is good for kids’ wellbeing. It increases physical activity, reduces kids’ anxiety and improves sleep. Outdoor settings are also both stimulating and calming at the same time – perfect for learning. At times like these, we want our kids to reap the physical, mental, emotional and educational benefits of time outside […]
Dreaming of Future Travel Plans While Homebound
Despite being in the thick of a global pandemic, many people are still thinking about travel. In fact, as we nostalgically look back on a time when a lazy beach vacation or summer trip to Europe was easy, I would argue that society is thinking about future travel plans more than ever. Some of the […]
Why Pets are Great When You’re Stuck at Home
Having a family pet can be wonderful any time, but especially for families stuck at home. Here are some great activities for fun with your furry friends.
Bringing Joy and Finding Rhythm When Kids are Home from School
While kids are home from school, parents have an opportunity to teach their families how to weather adversity with love and civility.
What to Do When Coronavirus Confinement Means Too Much Togetherness
Coronavirus confinement can be especially tough for kids and families, who find a bit too much togetherness. Use these tips to smooth things out.
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.
Musical Activities to do with Your Kids during Coronavirus Shutdown
Musical activities have so many benefits for kids and families. Music therapis John Mews suggests 11 great ones to try at home.
#SupportingFamilies: Nature Activities to Do at Home
Nature activities need not require a trip far from home. There are plenty of fun ways to connect kids to the natural world in your backyard.
#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: Games to Ground and Connect Parents and Kids
Family games are a way to connect and bond with your kids during this difficult time. Step away from the news and schoolwork with our award-winning picks.
#SupportingFamilies: Stuck at Home? Take the Kids to a (Virtual) Museum!
Virtual museum tours won’t exactly get your kids out of the house, but they are a fun and safe way to explore and learn. Many L.A. venues offer them.
#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: Kid Crafts to Keep You Busy at Home
These great crafts from our friends at Lakeshore learning will help you keep the whole family busy while you are stuck at home.
#SupportingFamilies: Tunes to Enjoy Together
Family music can be a real mood booster, offering peace and calm or an impromptu dance party to uplift everyone’s spirits.
#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 […]