Parenting
4 COVID-Protecting Actions to Remember During Pregnancy
Being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic brings new and unexpected concerns for the health of expectant moms and their babies. As research and experience add to the knowledge about COVID-19 and pregnancy, physicians and patients can use that information to better protect themselves. Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released information […]
How to Prepare Your Preschooler for Coding
The use of coding is all around us – from online payments to photo-editing apps and food-ordering services. And there’s the field robotics, the backbone of manufacturing and our healthcare system. This era of COVID-19 has only illuminated our reliance on technology. Whether we’re fully on board or not, technology is the wave of the […]
5 Ways to Pick Toys that Support Development
When you walk down the aisle at Target or scroll through pages of toys on Amazon looking for the perfect toy for your kids, it is hard to know what to pick. I am passionate about toys and how they contribute to a child’s development. Do you remember being a child and playing with dolls, […]
4 Self-Care Tips for a More Joyous Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving promises, for sure, to be unusual. Many of us will be missing family and friends due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local officials are recommending that no more than three households gather together. And, to keep things safe, many of us will be carving the turkey outdoors. Some challenges, however, remain the same from […]
Q&A: Practicing Liberated Parenting
Freedom is such a precious concept that a piece of its etymological makeup means to “hold dear.” While it is not a tangible commodity, the desire to obtain it is universal. But shackles come in all forms – mental, emotional, financial, political – so none of us is truly free. And even though human slavery […]
Read About – And Help – Mountain Lion P22
To help ring in this year’s P22 Day, a children’s book based on the famous mountain lion was published on that day, Oct. 22. “The Cat That Changed America” is based on the true story of the cat who was born in the Santa Monica Mountains, but author Tony Lee Moral uses imagination to bring […]
Teach Your Kids to Plan with These 4 Great Tips
It’s the fall of 2020, and your kids are back in school. The day’s learning may be happening in the classroom, in a small group or at your kitchen table. Wherever it is, the fact remains that many children (and parents) are overwhelmed and anxious during this time of the year. All the juggling of […]
5 Tips to Help Your Family Escape Through Reading
As the stressors of 2020 continue to increase – COVID-19, distance learning, an election and a brutal fire season – filling our children’s and our own need for a daily space of respite is vital. In my September L.A. Parent article, I discussed how critical it is that children read during this time of educational […]
5 Ways to Boost Your Gratitude Practice this Thanksgiving
Are we grateful to have made it to November? Thankful that 2020 is almost over? Before it is, we have the holiday season to get through and next up is Thanksgiving. This is a time of year when we focus on gathering together, connecting with family and friends, sharing a meal and expressing gratitude. Does […]
Teaching Kids About Voting
Election day is almost here. If you’re still looking for ways to get the kids involved, here’s a challenge: Turn your stay-at-home doldrums into an interactive civics lesson and lively debates that will inspire your children to become active, engaged citizens. Why is this important? According to a just-released study by the Knight Foundation, more than […]
The Art of Making Something from Nothing
I remember when my youngest son was 6 years old and we were in the car. It was a quiet moment – rare, as we all know – and suddenly he says, “Mommy, if everything has to be invented or made, is everything art?” Hmmmm… I was taken aback by such a thoughtful question and […]
Why Your Child Needs Sensory Play
Young children are hardwired to explore the world through their senses. This means that they create an understanding of what is around them largely through touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing. This is also why your sweet child can’t resist splashing in puddles, digging in sand and finger-painting up to the elbows. As messy as […]
9 Children’s Books to Help Your Kids Understand Elections
With the Presidential Election around the corner, you might be struggling with how to talk to your young children about it all on a relatable level. Reading Partners, an early literacy nonprofit, has curated a book list for parents to start an engaging and entertaining democracy dialogue with their children. As part of their #RiseUpForReading2020 […]
Colorblindness is a Myth: Talk to Your Children About Race
As a psychotherapist, I regularly talk about the “isms” (racism, classism, ableism, ageism, sexism) and have learned to sit with the discomfort of recognizing how much I don’t know, while acknowledging that learning about the lived experiences of those different from me will be a lifelong journey. As a parent, my goal has been to […]
6 Tricks to Help You Accept Compliments
Do you struggle to accept compliments? When someone says something nice to you, do you wince, blurt out an awkward reply or swat the compliment away like it’s a fly that’s trying to land on you? You’re not alone. Many people have trouble receiving compliments. Even though we, as humans, really desire praise and positive […]
Quality Child Care is a Pandemic Essential
A low point for me during the pandemic – OK, admittedly, one of a few – was when I had to miss a late afternoon Zoom meeting, at the last minute, because of a more pressing concern. At least, it was a much louder one: my kids’ complaining that, “Mom, we’re staaaarving.” And so rather […]
Kamala Harris Captured in New Children’s Book
As history unfolds, our poets and artists have always been at the ready, portraying such moments through lyricism and imagery. On Aug. 11, Sen. Kamala Harris became the first woman of color on a major party’s presidential ticket, joining Joe Biden in the race for the presidency. And children’s book author Nikki Grimes’ new picture […]
Calling All (Teen) Sci-Fi Writers
With Octavia Butler’s prescient novel “The Parable of the Sower” hitting the New York Times Best Seller List last month, it’s no secret that many of us are turning to works of science fiction to get us through these strange days of 2020. Two local organizations, Sci-Fest L.A. and the Light Bringer Project, are calling […]
USC Seeks Kids to Participate in Brain and Language Study
The USC Brain & Creativity Institute is starting a new study investigating extracurricular activities, language and brain development in children. We are looking for participants! We are specifically looking for children ages 9 to 11 who are native English speakers and do not speak a second language. This study is funded by the National Institutes […]
Building Toddler Vocabulary with Forks and Familiarity
My youngest child usually likes peaches. I say usually because she’s a toddler and so it’s her prerogative to change her preferences 174 times a minute. The other day, her big sister and dad were sleeping, and I had the luxury of cooking breakfast with a quiet(er) house. I decided to switch things up a […]
Video: How are Your Teen’s Executive Function Skills?
Executive function is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. According to the experts at Understood.org, we use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things. School psychologists […]
Can Kids’ Videogame Play be Healthy?
Amidst historic wildfires and a global pandemic, virtual worlds hold an understandable appeal. Yet, many parents fear that videogames pose risks of their own – that these all-too enticing digital ecosystems may interfere with children’s healthy emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Indeed, parents have struggled to manage their kid’s videogame play, even before COVID-19 relegated […]
Free Digital Tool Helps Families Identify Early Signs of Learning Differences and ADHD
With many families spending more time together during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents and caregivers might notice things about their children’s behavior that they don’t fully understand. Some of these things could be signs of learning differences. A survey by Understood, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals with learning and thinking differences, found parents are more […]
Why Reading to Your Child Matters Now More than Ever
Whether your child has returned to school remotely or via a hybrid model this fall, their education is more digitized than ever. I learned new online platforms through several professional development classes myself this summer, and I couldn’t help but think about how little actual reading students will need to do to complete their schoolwork. […]
‘Summer of L.U.C.K’ Takes on Tween Communication
Few challenges are as disheartening as not being able to communicate effectively, and when a child doesn’t feel heard or understood by her parents, it can be downright debilitating, setting the stage for a lifetime of self-doubt. In local author Laura Stegman’s debut middle-grade novel “Summer of L.U.C.K.,” we meet three preteens fighting to find […]
Dr. Deepika Chopra, the Optimism Doctor, Keeps it Real
Dr. Deepika Chopra calls herself the “Optimism Doctor” but admits that she is far from the most optimistic person you’ll meet. Still, her understanding of the deep range of human emotions and challenges drew her to the study of optimism more than a decade ago. Today, individual clients, boutique brands and Fortune 500 companies seek […]
How to Talk to Children About Online Meanness
With many schools starting the year online, kids of all ages are spending more time than ever on their devices. While this shift is designed to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, it’s also fueling the rise of another worry for parents: online meanness. Bullying is nothing new, of course, but it takes a […]
10 Baby Dangers You Might Not Have Considered
Nerves are a natural state for new parents. Hazards seem to lurk everywhere and having responsibility for protecting your little one can feel overwhelming. In honor of Baby Safety Month in September, the California Poison Control System offers a quick guide to dangers you might not have noticed – right in your own home. “Babies […]
Why Happy Parents Apologize
As parents, we all have challenging days – and moments. One of the most difficult things for us to do during those times is to summon the ability and the courage to recognize our own faults. We know how patience and empathy work. When we are calm, quiet and relaxed, we respond to our little […]
Dealing with Uncertainty During the Pandemic
When Laura Yocum’s 12-year-old son is feeling anxious, they’ll sometimes sing a doomsday song together. Yocum is a licensed psychotherapist and the clinical director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, and this is her humorous way of helping him cope with the uncertainty we’re all facing during the coronavirus pandemic. With cases of COVID-19 […]
6 Tips for Healthier Time Online During the Pandemic
When the coronavirus pandemic arrived and health officials urged us all to stay “safer at home,” no one chained us to our computers, televisions or phone screens – but they might as well have. We’ve worked and learned online, celebrated birthdays and graduations at our computers, visited grandparents and sat in on virtual camps, play […]
8 Things to Learn with Your Kids
You’ve baked muffins, walked the neighborhood, had Zoom parties and play dates, soaked in the kiddie pool, started virtual summer camp and driven around to every outdoor spot where you could keep your social distance. Somehow, there are still hours left in the day – and maybe a few days left until school starts – […]
Quarantine, YouTube and Puppy Talk with London and Sedona Fuller
To all you parents who can’t stand to hear your safer-at-home kids say “I’m bored” one more time: Meet London and Sedona Fuller. They’ve been quarantined just like the rest of us but have found some fun ways to keep busy. True, the 8-year-old twins say it’s tough having their busy acting careers on hold. […]
‘Happy’ Children’s Book Based on Positive Psychology
In her fifth children’s book, author Joanne Jeffers Veeck leaned on her decades of research and training in positive psychology to create a book aimed at teaching grade-school kids how to nurture a sense of curiosity, happiness and well-being. “Happy – Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are,” illustrated by Jenalyn B. Ewart, features a […]
Scream of Consciousness
One Black woman’s prayer, lament and battle cry for the safety of her baby grandson echoes over 400 years of collective hope and heartache for our youth James Baldwin wrote, “people are trapped in history and history is trapped in them,” and if this is so, I look at those people, particularly some white Americans […]
5 Fun Writing Prompts for Kids
We’re all looking for ways to lure our kids away from their screens for a couple of hours. Why not ignite their imaginations through the wonderful world of stories? No, I don’t mean stories in the form of movies or video games. I’m talking about the old-fashioned written word. These five writing exercises, or “prompts” […]
5 Tips to Help Your Kids Make the Most of Video Chats
Video chat using apps such as FaceTime and Skype is a great way for young children to stay in touch with long-distance family and friends. Through video chat, children have an opportunity to to build a relationship, communicate with, and learn from a loved one on the screen. Here are five ways to help your […]
5 Ways to Help Children Find the Path to Positivity
No question about it, we are living in challenging times. Several months into a quarantine version of family life, it is not just the adults who are feeling a little “off.” Staying positive when things are perfect is easy. Staying positive when things are challenging takes a lot of intention and practice, something the kids […]
JPL’s Pauline Hwang Has Her Sight on Mars
Pauline Hwang is a working parent here on Earth, but she spends her days looking to the heavens. Hwang works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena as the mission operations system manager for the Mars 2020 mission, which will land the Perseverance rover on the planet to study the possibilities for life on Mars. The rover is set to launch on July 20 from Cape Canaveral, […]
Free Comic Book Summer Comes to SoCal
Free Comic Book Day usually takes place the first Saturday in May. This year, because of COVID-19, it’s going to happen throughout July and early September, effectively making it Free Comic Book Summer! Between July 15 and Sept. 9, comic shops will receive five to six free titles. The shops may release one free title […]
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” […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
10 Ways to Practice Social Skills at Home
Let’s not kid ourselves, starting another school year distance learning with our children is 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 to drive, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
#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: 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.
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
Declutter During the Holidays
It seems that even before the Christmas songs start on the radio, the hourly emails come pouring in about the steals and deals for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Ads appear on TV for the must-wants and the kids start writing their lists for the must-haves. The messaging this time of year […]
A Dreidel in Time – A New Spin on an Old Tale
Fans of “Magic Tree House” will love “A Dreidel in Time” by Marcia Berneger with illustrations by Beatriz Castro (ages 7+), which transports readers via a magical dreidel to when Hanukkah began. When the grandparents of 9-year-old Benjamin and his 12-yearold sister, Devorah, visit on Hanukkah, the siblings hope to receive gifts. Instead, they’re offered a large, […]
Ryan’s World: Making Toy Reviews and Dental Hygiene Fun
While Ryan Kaji, the kid behind Ryan ToysReview, has 2.5 million more YouTube subscribers than Beyoncé, he tries to keep a low profile. The L.A.-based Kaji family posts Ryan’s toy review videos (www.youtube.com/ryantoysreview) daily, but screen time ends by homework time, which allows the YouTube sensation to make room for music lessons, coding, soccer and tae kwon do. Still, his life […]
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree
On a recent Friday, as scores of people across Los Angeles prepared to go out drinking or stayed in to binge-watch their favorite TV shows, a small group of writers at The Last Bookstore explored the impact our parents’ lives, traits and behaviors have on us – for better or worse. The event was a […]
Of Frogs and Mindfulness
If Instagram were a mindfulness exercise, most tweens and teens I know would be completely grounded and centered. If yours isn’t, convince her or him to put down the screen for 10 minutes and have the new book “Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day: Exercises to Feel Calm, Stay Focused & Be Your […]
The Invisible Leash: Teaching Kids about Loss through Story
Patrice Karst, author of the best- selling picture book, “The Invisible String,” introduces her newest creation, “The Invisible Leash,” to teach kids how to cope with the loss of a beloved pet. Complemented with touching illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, this story will help parents open up conversations about death, loneliness and the joy that animals […]
Natasha Case: Coolhaus Owner Combines Design and Ice Cream
An architect with good taste, Natasha Case designs cool edible “houses.” She’s the CEO and co-founder of Coolhaus, the ice cream brand she operates with her wife and business partner, Freya Estreller, a realtor and entrepreneur. Combining their design and real estate skills, they started baking cookies and making creative ice cream sandwiches in 2008. […]
Easy Family Traditions
Family traditions bring the generations together and give us the chance to build lasting memories – and they don’t need to exhaust you, your family or your budget to be worthwhile. The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and with it the expectation of family celebrations stamped with the Martha Stewart seal of approval. But manifesting […]
Self-Care at Boot Camp
For moms, self-care can be tricky. It’s easier when you learn that taking care of yourself doesn’t have to happen by yourself. Working out is a great example. “When you’re at home or you’re at the gym, it’s very easy to lose motivation and stop when you start to feel tired,” says Crystal Ferris, owner […]
Good Lessons on a Bad Day
We’ve all had bad days. As parents, we’ve watched our kids have bad days, too. A new picture book from L.A.-based author-illustrator Ruby Roth, called “Bad Day,” aims to help children cope with whatever comes their way. The book’s hero is Hennie, a boy who has just arrived home at the end of a day […]
Bridgid Coulter: Creating Diverse Spaces with Blackbird House
The moment you enter the new 12,000-square-foot Blackbird House in Culver City, your spirit shifts. With everything from soothing music and wellness and fitness classes to inspired interior designs and chef-curated cuisine, it feels like a retreat. I recently spoke with Bridgid Coulter, the woman behind this innovative co-working space launched by women of color […]
Sparking a Passion for Travel and Foreign Language in Young Readers
“Do you want to play with me?” the boy asked. “My name is Ethan.” This invitation begins the tender friendship between “Travel, Learn and See” characters Ethan and Dean in a charming children’s book, written in English and Mandarin, that celebrates cultural and racial diversity and the power of friendship. After Dean finds out he […]