The rapid shift from classroom learning to distance learning has put schools and families to the test. Together, we have learned and accomplished a lot, and we continue to learn and improve as we go. As a mom and an educator, I also realize that parenting is a balancing act under normal circumstances, and that this new normal of teaching our children at home can be overwhelming.

As the situation persists — through the remainder of the school year, in many areas — you might be wondering how to keep everything on track in the weeks and months to come. These strategies will help you find balance between distance learning and life.

Partner closely with your child’s teacher.

Maintaining a strong home-to-school relationship can provide you and your child with the confidence, security and support you need during this challenging time. Communicate often and openly with your child’s teachers. Share your concerns, observations and suggestions. If your child or you are struggling, reach out to your child’s teacher to garner her or his expertise. Like you, educators want your children to progress in their learning and development and to be socially and emotionally cared for.

Forge family agreements.

At school, teachers and students discuss and set up expectations for behavior in the classroom. You can do the same thing at home. For example, my husband and I sat down with our children to talk about specific things we could do to make learning a positive experience in our home. We wrote down our family agreements, using positive language — We will try to solve the problem before asking for help and We will be kind and respectful to one another — and posted our agreement in a prominent location.

Make daily schedules.

Children look for the familiar in unfamiliar situations. Creating a daily schedule gives clear direction to the entire family. Allot time for each learning module, snack/meal time, and play breaks. Break assignments into digestible chunks and include creativity, movement and free-choice activities to give the schedule balance and flexibility. If you have more than one school-age child, you can schedule individual learning and group learning times. This can be especially helpful when you have younger and older children or one or more children with learning differences.

Make communication and downtime family priorities.

Family dynamics have changed now that we’re together almost all the time while trying to balance distance learning, work, responsibilities at home and all the other aspects of our lives. Now, more than ever, it’s important for everyone in the family to express their thoughts, feelings and needs to one another. It is equally important to take time to unwind and recharge, to give yourselves healthy doses of family time, playtime and personal space.

Team up with your partner or a remote teaching assistant.

Although one parent often takes the lead in distance learning, many couples work as a team. Co-teaching, like co-parenting, can have great benefits, with each parent bringing their unique talents to the table in support of their child’s learning. One parent might focus on STEM and physical activities and the other on literacy, history and creative expression. Single parents and their children can benefit from learning teleconferences (i.e., Zoom, FaceTime) with a grandparent, aunt, uncle or tutor or from an interactive online learning platform.

Change hats with grace.

The three keys to smoothly switching gears from parent to teacher to worker to homemaker are organization, communication and flexibility. Plan your work, share your plan, work your plan and adjust your plan as needed. Schedule an activity that requires no distractions (such as a video conference with your coworkers or clients) for a time when your child can be engaged independently or supervised by your partner. If something comes up, go with the flow or reschedule. Keep your family and coworkers in the loop and be gentle with your loved ones and yourself.

Aim for progress, not perfection.

We’ve only been at this new way of learning for a few weeks, and creating a new routine takes time and practice. The goal of distance learning is to move your child’s development and knowledge forward. Your job is to facilitate, not to perfect, that learning process. One helpful strategy is to prioritize learning activities into two categories: must complete and additional practice. Another is to find ways to incorporate learning into everyday life. Finally, try to practice the three P’s: patience, persistence and positivity. I often say to my children, “When things get hard, we can stay on the ground like a beanbag or we can spring back like a bouncy ball. Which one should we be?”

Connect first. Teach second.

All the research around effective learning indicates that meeting children’s social and emotional needs promotes their overall development and their capacity to learn. Make a personal connection with your child and check in on her or his wellbeing first, and then focus on schoolwork. Provide learning activities that align with your child’s personal interests and that allow interpersonal interaction with you, other family members and teachers. Model the behavior you wish your child to exhibit, encourage and support your child’s learning, and acknowledge your child’s efforts and progress. When all else fails, cuddle up together and read, read, read!

In distance learning at home, as in the classroom at school, there will be high points and low points. There will be times when your children are engaged in their schoolwork and you are rocking your conference call. There will also be times when your child repeatedly interrupts your conference call to ask for a glass of milk, and your conference chat reads, “Get that boy his milk, already!” and 15 people remotely laugh – you don’t feel so distant.

Trust that you are doing your best and that your children are doing just fine.

Allison Wilson, mother of two and Senior Director of Curriculum and Innovation at Stratford School, has been in early childhood education for more than 15 years, formerly as a teacher and teacher trainer.

1. Create a good workspace. If you work at a desk or cubicle, you already understand the importance of having a workspace that suits you. You need a workspace with minimal distractions, a comfortable chair, plenty of supplies and inspirational photos or artwork. Your child can benefit from that kind of workspace, too!

Find a spot in your home that’s quiet and cozy, preferably away from TVs, gadgets and toys. Keep their school books and supplies nearby. Take advantage of organizational office gear like in-out trays, paper sorters and utensil holders. Make it a team effort by letting your child help choose their special workspace gear to make this space their own!

2. Let your child in 25-minute blocks. When you have hours of studying to do, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. To get over that mental block, set a timer for your child to study in 25-minute chunks. Once that 25 minutes is over, it’s time for a 5-minute break to grab a snack, stand up and stretch or run around outside and let off some steam. TomatoTimer is a handy timer website, but you can use a kitchen timer or a timer on your phone, too.

3. Make it a game. For many children, sitting at a desk and studying alone isn’t the most exciting way to learn something. Why not turn it into a game? You might turn their actual homework assignment into a game – for instance, using flashcards or matching to learn vocabulary or math. Trivia games can help children study for subjects such as history and geography, while brain teasers and riddles can boost your child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

4. Sing along. Can you remember songs and rhymes that you learned when you were in school? There are many educational songs and rhymes that help children remember the planets in the solar system, names of countries, the elements in the periodic table and much more. You can find a lot of songs on YouTube, or have your child make up their own!

5. Draw pictures. When you’re stuck on a concept that you can’t seem to figure out, sometimes it helps to put it down on paper. Drawing pictures to work through and remember a concept is a fun and creative way to study. It’s a great tool for visualizing a process, such as photosynthesis or the scientific method. Make sure your child has plenty of scrap paper, pencils, crayons, a paint set or markers to help inspire creative learning.

6. Read out loud. Just as drawing can help a child learn visually, reading out loud can help children who learn by speaking and listening to something. Encourage them to read assignments or passages from textbooks out loud, either by themselves or with you.

7. Work side by side. Doing homework while your parents and siblings are watching TV or having fun can be a bummer. To make your child feel less isolated, why not work alongside each other? Use their study time to pay bills, work on your budget, catch up on your emails, make appointments or tackle any other lingering items on your to-do list. Not only are you keeping your child company, but you’re also being a good role model and making study/work time a good habit.

8. Use practice tests. Taking practice tests at home isn’t quite as fun as the other tips on our list, but it has a lot of benefits for your child. If your child is a nervous test-taker, doing practice tests at home can help them get used to the testing environment at school. Try to simulate how the test will actually go with a timer, a quiet environment and the test material, if possible.

9. Study outdoors. Sometimes, even the best workspace and creative study activities can’t beat a mental block. When that happens, change your child’s study environment and take everything outside. After all, they spend most of their day indoors at school! Let them complete reading or homework assignments in your backyard, or make it a family trip and head to a nearby park. You can even run around and play games during break time, and enjoy some fresh air.

Creativity and innovation are essential to Stratford School. At Stratford School, we’re always searching for new and better ways to help children learn. Rather than use traditional teaching methods that focus on finding the right answer, we aim to get students to ask questions, think critically, consider the context and work together. Learn more about the Stratford School philosophy today!

Autumn is here! It’s time to enjoy the crisp fall weather, delicious seasonal treats like apple cider and pumpkin pie, and, of course, Halloween. However, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the autumn season while getting your child interested and engaged with STEM, too! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite autumn activities for kids that will get them learning and having fun at the same time.

Go on a fall scavenger hunt

When the seasons change, so do the plants and wildlife outside. One of our favorite fun fall activities to do is a seasonal scavenger hunt. With just a little preparation, the whole family can enjoy the fresh air and the autumn scenery together.

First, find a nearby park or easy hiking trail to explore. Depending on where you live, some parks may close in case of inclement weather when summer ends, so make sure the area you choose is still open to visitors. Check that the terrain will be easy to navigate for your kids, too.

Once you’ve picked a place, create a scavenger hunt list! Here are some ideas for fall items to include.

• Yellow leaf
• Red leaf
• Green leaf
• Orange leaf
• Evergreen tree
• Pinecone
• Acorn
• Seed
• Twig
• Rock
• Moss
• Bark
• Flower
• Mushroom
• Spider
• Butterfly
• Snail
• Bird
• Bee
• Spiderweb
• Bird’s nest
• Pumpkin

Feel free to make this list your own. Maybe you can add leaves of different sizes or shapes, like a leaf with jagged edges, a round leaf, a long skinny leaf, and so on. Remember to bring a bag or bin so your child can collect all of their findings!

Explore math with a messy pumpkin activity

Pumpkin carving is a quintessential autumn activity. But it can also serve as the backdrop for different STEM activities for kids. If you have a pumpkin you’re preparing to bake or carve, use this as an opportunity to teach your little one about estimating and counting.

Materials You’ll Need

• One or more pumpkins
• Knife
• Spoon
• Bowl
• Newspaper or butcher paper
• Pencil and paper

How to play: Get ready to get messy! If you’re hollowing out your pumpkin inside, lay down some newspaper or butcher paper on your floor or kitchen counter to contain the mess. Then, set your pumpkin or pumpkins on top. Have your child guess how many seeds are in their pumpkin and write it down on their piece of paper. If you have multiple pumpkins of varying sizes, ask your child how many seeds each of them has.

Then, carefully cut the top of your pumpkin off with your knife. Have your child scoop out the pulp and seeds with the spoon. Carefully separate the seeds and collect them in a bowl. Before you begin counting them, have your child guess again at the number of seeds by eyeballing the bowl. Then, count the seeds. How close were their estimates? If you have multiple pumpkins, did the bigger pumpkins have more seeds than the smaller ones? How many more?

As a bonus, you can clean and roast the pumpkin seeds when you’re all done for a healthy and nutritious snack!

Try to keep apples fresh with this science experiment

Why do apples and other fruits turn brown when you cut into them? Why don’t they turn brown after they’re cooked? How can you stop them from turning brown? This easy observational experiment teaches kids about oxidation, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving.

Materials You’ll Need

• An apple
• Lemon juice
• Orange juice
• Ginger ale
• Salt
• Knife and cutting board
• 6 small bowls or cups
• Post-it notes and pen

How to play: First, have your child think of ways to keep the apples from turning brown. You can help out with this step, too, of course. Maybe you already have a method you use, like lemon juice, that you can add to the mix. Using their ideas, gather the materials you need. For our example, we suggest trying five different treatments: lemon juice, orange juice, ginger ale, saltwater and plain water. You’ll also have one control with no treatment.

Then, cut up your apple into six equal slices. Place one slice into its own bowl or cup. Create the following solutions to put into each bowl with an apple slice:

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice mixed with 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon orange juice mixed with 1 cup water
• 1 cup ginger ale
• ½ teaspoon salt mixed with 1 cup water
• 1 cup plain water

Label each bowl with a post-it note describing the solution you used. Remember to label the control, which will be in its own bowl with no solution or water.

Now it’s time to wait and observe. Take photos of the apple slices after different periods of time, if you like. How brown is each apple slice turning, and how quickly? When you’re ready, empty each bowl or cup of its solution and observe each apple slice. Have your child write down its color, texture and feel. Taste each apple and write down those observations, too.

Which apple slice looked the best? Which tasted the best? Remember to talk to your child about the oxidation process. Apples are rich in iron. After an apple is cut and exposed to oxygen in the air, it reacts with the iron in apples, causing iron oxide (or “rust”) to form. Oxidation can be slowed down by cooking the apples, reducing their exposure to oxygen, or treating them with a solution like the ones you just tried.

Find more autumn activities for your student

When autumn begins, that means it’s back-to-school time, too! If you’re looking for a new STEM program for your child, see what Stratford School has to offer. Our preschool through grade 8 programs help kids develop academically, socially and emotionally to ensure success at school and beyond.

Scene: 10:40 p.m. on any given night, in a clinical exam room near you. Markedly well appearing child, playful and active. Clearly getting the proverbial “second wind.” Parents exhausted.

Parent: “This is the best she’s looked all day. I swear, she wasn’t doing anything like this before we came in.”

Well, this is a daily and legitimate scenario, friends. I fondly call it “the therapeutic ride to the doctor.” The dose of this treatment is unknown, and the mechanism of action is not clear, but it has an incredible success rate and minimal side effects. Within a matter of minutes, even the sickest of children sometimes seem to make miraculous recoveries with one simple dose of this incredible medicine: a car ride to after-hours care. Can you believe it?

I’ve joked about this with many a parent along the way, who I can see retracing steps in their mind to determine if the child they see in front of them is the same kid they were caring for merely an hour previous. I don’t have any great answers to explain concisely why this happens so often, but I have a few ideas.

My serious disclaimer here is that parents should absolutely, definitely, always bring their child in for evaluation or call their child’s pediatrician if they have an acute health concern. I’d rather see many false alarms and merely need to dispense reassurance than one single delay in care due to parental worry that their concern isn’t legitimate. I’m all about many fire drills; no fires. So, let’s think through the chain of events that leads up to the therapeutic ride to the doctor.

First, by the end of the day, everyone’s tired – parents and kids included. Being sick is exhausting, as we all know, but so is caring for an ill or injured child. So, all the people in the equation have reached their limits and there’s no reserve left. Additionally, everything is scary at night, right? That’s why horror movies usually are set after dark and not first thing in the morning. So, anxiety and fear are factors, too. Put this together and the sense of urgency is heightened, whether or not the clinical situation actually is reflective of it.

The second wind

The trigger then gets pulled. The decision is made to seek medical care. Often around bedtime or an hour or two later, after there’s been a struggle to get comfortably to sleep, there’s resignation to the fact that sleep isn’t coming for whatever reason, anxiety sets in, and now there needs to be mobilization to get whatever is needed for the car trip to acute care. Sometimes, this is a bucket to catch any in-transit vomit; other times, it’s the one specific stuffed animal that will make the trip manageable. Regardless, it’s a change up from the normal routine, more late-night activity than usual, and that can be quite stimulating for kids, even if they’re quite tired initially.

Breath of fresh air … literally

Whether it’s on the way in or out of the car, there’s usually a little exposure to fresh air. This seems to have a brisk, wakening effect on kids, and you know what that means: second wind. A little burst of energy boosts everyone’s mood, right? Combine that with the bright lights and energy in an urgent care office or emergency department and suddenly there’s a lot of action. It’s distracting for everyone. As a result, many kids perk up, and when they do they often engage in wellness-oriented activities such as:

• Drinking some fluids (especially if slightly dehydrated) and
• Effective coughing once mobile and positioned, so respiratory status improves.

I think we can all agree that appropriate hydration and comfortable breathing do a lot to enhance anyone’s appearance, so kids who move the ball forward in this way either on the way to medical care or in the waiting room or during the visit tend to look a lot better than they did on the flip side. This is obviously great, but can be confounding for parents given how sick their child looked just a bit ago.

A totally different kid

Then, I walk into the room to meet the patient and family. I see an active and playful child, thoroughly enjoying the sticker they picked up on the way in or working their way through their second ice pop. I speak with the parents and hear about what’s been going on, and they make their case that their child looked like a completely different kid an hour ago. I’m never surprised by this because I’ve seen it so often, and I make it my business to make it clear to the parents that I believe them, that their concerns are valid, and what my findings are. No one ever wants to bring their child in for a medical assessment late at night, so I know that decision isn’t taken lightly. I talk about the diagnosis or lack of one, and we get a game plan for the night. Typically, truly sick children are not miraculously cured by this therapeutic trip. This is important to know.

Does it always go like this? Of course not. There are many instances when a late-night pivot in care needs to happen due to a change in condition, but I see so many scenarios like the one I describe above that I want to tell you about it so that you won’t feel alone should you find yourself in this predicament. If you find that your child had, like so many others, a therapeutic trip to the doctor, know that it happens, and I’m delighted when it does.

Christina Johns, MD, MEd is the Senior Medical Advisor at PM Pediatrics and author of the blog, Dear Dr. Christina. As a parent, pediatrician and pediatric emergency physician with a master’s in education, she shares her own expertise, plus the wealth of knowledge from our highly skilled staff, with patients and families everywhere.

Follow Dr. Christina online for everyday health tips, insightful articles and more.

Blog: https://www.pmpediatrics.com/dear-dr-christina/

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PM Pediatrics, now open in L.A. at 8731 W. Pico Blvd., is the specialized urgent care just for kids from cradle through college. Open every day until 11 p.m., the practice’s kid-friendly themed offices are staffed by Pediatric Emergency Specialists and feature on-site digital X-ray and lab. PM Pediatrics treats a broad array of illnesses and injuries – from earaches, fevers, infections and abdominal pain to dehydration, asthma, fractures and wounds requiring stitches. The result is the highest quality after-hours pediatric care, delivered with comfort and convenience to both patients and their parents. To learn more about PM Pediatrics’ services visit pmpediatrics.com.

For most young children, the occasional cough, cold and even the odd ear infection might be passed off as an unpleasant rite of passage. Some people might even go as far as describing these illnesses as necessary for growing immune systems. But for a small number of babies, a repeated cycle of common childhood illness can point to Hunter syndrome (also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type II; MPS II), a rare genetic disease that affects one in every 162,000 new born children, almost exclusively males.

Because of the way it first presents, Hunter syndrome can be difficult for doctors to diagnose. Symptoms differ in each child and frequently overlap with common childhood health issues. But Hunter syndrome is a progressive disease with effects that can be life-changing for the child and the family. Early awareness is key.

As a mother of two boys with Hunter syndrome, Toni Ann describes their journey so far.

‘Aiden was born a beautiful, healthy baby boy, but he had frequent ear infections that we were told were typical. He had two sets of tubes put in his ears, and then his adenoids removed when he was a year and a half old. He got colds a lot.’

These symptoms alone would not normally be ‘red flags’ that could indicate Hunter syndrome. But sometimes when ear, nose and throat conditions occur in combination with other symptoms, such as a hernia, or problems with movement and developmental delays, then you might suspect something needs to be investigated further. Some boys start growing at a normal rate but begin to fall behind in height, they have big bellies and their hands and fingers might appear bent – or ‘clawed’.

Speaking of this, Toni Ann says, ‘When he was about 2 years old, I noticed Aiden had a speech delay, but we thought he would catch up. He had occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy for a year. Then his pediatrician suggested we see a geneticist because of Aiden’s facial features (broad nose, large head); he wanted to have him evaluated.’

As a genetic disease, Hunter syndrome, can run in families. This means that Aiden’s brother, AJ, had a 50% chance of being born with Hunter syndrome, and it turns out that he did have it. Their mother describes further;

‘With AJ, I didn’t notice any symptoms at all. But when Aiden was diagnosed and the geneticist pointed out some things about AJ, that’s when I noticed all of these things. AJ was 18 months and not walking yet. He also had speech delay, and just like his brother, had ear infections as a baby so he had tubes put in and his adenoids removed.

When we got the diagnosis of Hunter syndrome, my reaction was definitely denial, it was anger – a lot of emotions including shock. The worst part is that it hits you all at once. It was rough. I had to catch my breath. But by the next morning my husband and I thought, alright, this is the hand we’re dealt and what are we going to do about it? We came in contact with a lot of people who gave us hope.

The boys require a lot of attention and time. I always have to keep my eyes on them because they get into things, they get outside, they wander out of my front door. A week doesn’t go by where we don’t have a doctor’s appointment, or specialist appointment, or a follow up, or a school meeting, but Aiden and AJ do it all with a smile. Their strength gives me strength.

We like to do anything that makes the boys happy. Whatever they want to do, we all do as a family.  We like to be outside, we are very outdoorsy people, and the boys like it too. We’ll play with them and go to the beach.

The support has been amazing to say the least. Our whole community knows the boys. We’re all just very positive all the time. No negativity. It’s just all positive, happy, hope, that’s all we’ve got.

I love every moment with them. I don’t take anything for granted. Every little milestone is huge for us. Every morning that my boys wake up, it’s a great day. And we look at everything in a completely different way. It’s changed us for the better. My boys have taught us a lot. You know, they may not be able to speak much but they’ve changed us as people for sure.’

A long list of childhood illnesses and repeat visits to your pediatrician can be worrying. If you notice a combination of the symptoms mentioned in this story, talk to your doctor.

Hunter syndrome affects people in different ways. Not everyone has the same symptoms or the same severity of symptoms.

Self-doubt can be a powerful blockade to any girl’s (or adult’s) success. The trick is to develop resiliency early on. Trying something and failing does not actually mean “failure.” Rather, it’s an exciting opportunity to learn, grow and do something even better!

Easier said than done, though, right? At Girl Scouts, we’ve spent over 107 years helping girls in grades K-12 thrive by granting them access to key confidence-building experiences and a consistent support network. Here are some ways you can help your girl turn her ideas into action and her questions into adventure:

Stop solving her problems

Start small in helping her learn how to resolve problems on her own. If she loses a favorite toy or book, use this as a chance to teach her responsibility. Rather than simply calming her down and ordering a replacement, talk to her about developing a plan to use her allowance to purchase a new one. Another way to foster proactive problem-solving is to share your own stories. Tell her about challenges you’ve faced, how you felt and how you got through them. Although she might not immediately relate, she will see that everyone struggles.

Switch up the compliments

If she’s consistently complimented on one facet – say, her swimming or her dancing skills – be sure to let her know how great she is at other things, too. Her identity does not have to defined by just one of her talents. She has many! And, when she’s showing an effort to try something new, let her know how proud you are of her. Emphasize that trying and facing challenges is a huge accomplishment – whether or not she is the best at something.

Help her see her power

When noticing your girls’ skills – however big or small – give her a chance to flex those leadership muscles by asking her to teach you. Maybe she scored a goal during a soccer game (or practice). Get the ball out and ask her for some pointers. Maybe she drew a realistic picture of a horse. Get out the paper and ask her to show you how it’s done. As you let her know you’re curious about her own passions and talents, she’ll build confidence in those areas.

In a world of boys’ clubs, give her a place of her own

Girls are stronger together. Research shows that girls learn best in an all-girl, girl-led and girl-friendly environment. Girl Scouts is a place where she’ll practice different skills, explore her potential, take on leadership positions – and even feel allowed to fail, dust herself off, get up and try again. All-girl experiences require that a girl (or girls) step up and be the leader. In doing so, the girls realize that they are able to have a seat at the table, or even at the head of the table and are thereby more confident, self-assured and ready to compete in the world.

Through programs in STEM, outdoor, entrepreneurship, and life skills, Girl Scouts unleashes the go-getter, innovator, risk-taker and leader in every girl. But it’s not just what girls do in Girl Scouts that helps them develop resiliency, it’s how they do it. Guided by caring adult volunteers, girls take the lead as they work together to plan activities and outings that improve our communities.

Today, girls are dreamers, makers and innovators. Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles’ new campaign #YesIAm is a message to the world that girls possess the power and the skills to make the world a better place. Yes, We Are the Future, Leaders, and Problem Solvers…Yes, We Are Girl Scouts! Join us at girlscoutsla.org.

Whether your child is just starting kindergarten or beginning to apply to colleges, he or she has likely already thought about a future dream job. If he or she has shown interest in science, technology, engineering, or math at school, your child would likely excel in a STEM/STEAM role.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 8.6 million jobs were STEM-based in the year 2015, with seven out of ten of those focused on computer technology. Additionally, it is projected that STEM-based careers will grow by as much as 28.2% by 2024.

Clearly, students who choose a major in a STEM/STEAM field will likely find a rewarding, lucrative career upon graduation. Below, we compiled a guide to some of the top majors chosen by STEM and STEAM students.

Information Technology (IT)

Information technology is currently one of the top in-demand positions in the STEM field. Successful IT professionals need to demonstrate a firm grasp on a range of skills, including computer programming, network management, database fundamentals, systems analysis, and web design processes. A STEM education, with its focus on technology, mathematics, and engineering, easily sets students up for success in an IT role in the future.

Information Systems Security

With hacking and data breaches dominating the news, it’s no surprise that the demand for security engineers is drastically rising. A computer information systems security major focuses on access control, network security, mobile device security, cyber security, database security, and e-commerce security that keep both businesses and individuals safe when they use the internet. A STEM/STEAM curriculum ensures students are comfortable with advanced coding principles, making them great candidates for a role in computer security after graduation.

Computer Engineering

Computer engineering is one of the highest-earning jobs in the workplace. Industries who need computer engineers include medical science, transportation, energy, aerospace, telecommunications, government, and education. From day one, a STEM education begins to prepare students to take on roles in computer engineering. Curriculums including robotics, machine learning, and coding all provide students with the necessary skills to excel in computer engineering positions.

Computer Programming

Not just about binary code and mainframes, graduates with a computer programming degree know advanced coding and app creation. A modern computer programmer handles user-centered designs, enterprise and mobile application programming, data structures, graphical interface development, and database systems. With a strong focus on coding principles throughout the curriculum, a STEM/STEAM student will easily find themselves ahead of the pack when they start their computer programming degree in college.

Civil Engineering

A civil engineer is responsible for designing, planning, and researching the construction of resource and transportation infrastructure. Civil engineers need to have advanced knowledge of mathematics and engineering to design bridges, roads, airports, dams, and other structures. STEM/STEAM curriculums integrate projects that closely mimic real-life civil engineering feats, readily preparing students to tackle the role in college.

Petroleum Engineering

Over the past decade, the field of petroleum engineering has vastly diversified. One of the highest-earning careers in the STEM and STEAM educational track, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the demand for petroleum engineers to grow exponentially over the next ten years. Like other engineering positions, students who complete STEM educations are uniquely set up for success in the role.

For students interested in a job in a science, engineering, or technology field, enrolling them in a STEM/STEAM school starting as early as pre-kindergarten can give them an academic edge. To learn more about how Stratford School’s unique STEAM curriculum can prepare your child for success in the major and job of his or her choice, schedule a tour of your local Stratford School today.

High schooler chooses virtual education to balance surfing, singing and acting passions

18-year-old Charlotte Sabina from Manhattan Beach wakes up every day at 5 a.m. She responds to emails from her music producer in Nashville, completes assignments for her online school and then skates to surfing practice with the local Mira Costa Surf Team.

After surf practice, she might attend a meeting for one of the three nonprofits she works with, organizing programs that encourage young women to surf competitively, or she might volunteer at Camp Pendleton teaching veterans how to surf. There’s also a chance she’s traveling to or from Nashville to write and record music with her producer.

With so many incredible activities on her plate, you may wonder how Charlotte has time to balance completing her senior year of high school.

Her answer is California Connections Academy @ Capistrano, a tuition-free, virtual public school serving K-12 students in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The school offers a fully accredited, rigorous education for students who need a learning environment with more flexibility and independence.

Charlotte first enrolled in the school two years ago. As a sophomore in high school, she landed the leading role in a major motion picture, “Age of Summer,” without any previous acting experience. Charlotte was eager to take on the new opportunity, but her school informed her she couldn’t miss eight weeks to film a movie. She knew that she didn’t want to sacrifice her education or this great new opportunity, so Charlotte and her parents started looking for a way to balance both priorities. That’s when the family discovered California Connections Academy.

“California Connections Academy allows me to focus on quality,” said Charlotte. “I can tailor the amount of time spent studying each subject. I love history, so I typically spend extra time reviewing and researching each lesson. At the same time, if I need extra help on a subject, my teachers work with me outside of class time to ensure I’m up to speed.”

In addition to her academics, singing and acting, one of Charlotte’s other biggest passions is surfing. And not just surfing for her personal gain but using the sport to help those in need. Every other week, Charlotte will spend time on a local military base helping wounded warriors learn how to surf. She is also on the board of several nonprofits that aim to empower young girls through surfing.

Charlotte recently finished submitting her applications to several Southern California-based universities for the 2019-2020 school year and is planning to major in history. Like the ocean, music and education, she believes history is a beautiful subject that could use more understanding in today’s world. Outside of school, Charlotte is also in the process of completing an album and continues to audition for acting roles that peak her interest.

“I cannot imagine my life without education, surfing and singing,” said Charlotte. “Thanks to California Connections Academy, I can pursue my extracurricular passions without sacrificing my education. I want other kids to have the same opportunity.”

For more information, visit CaliforniaConnectionsAcademy.com.

Parents who want to provide a quality education for their children are caught between a rock and a hard place. Many public schools are simply failing their students. Even those that aren’t are still inculcating your children with philosophies and worldviews that you may not be comfortable with. Magnet or charter schools may do some things better, but they bring their own baggage. Private schools are cost-prohibitive for the majority of American families.

What’s a parent to do?!

There is another option that many parents may not have even considered: homeschooling.

More than 2 million children are homeschooled in the U.S., and those students on average outperform their public-school peers by more than 20 points on a variety of standardized tests. They are better equipped to think critically, write eloquently and persuasively, and participate more fully in leadership opportunities in the corporate culture as well as our own communities.

“But what about socialization? What about extracurriculars like sports or music?”

Homeschooling doesn’t appear to have stifled the success of NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, five-time NBA all-star, power forward Blake Griffin, the greatest women’s tennis player of all time, Serena Williams, and Olympic Gold medalists Michelle Kwan, Bode Miller, and Carly Patterson. Pop stars like the Jonas Brothers, Hanson, and LeeAnn Rimes don’t seem to have suffered any lack of socialization—or success—from having been homeschooled. Homeschooling actually gives parents far more flexibility to allow their children to focus on the things they enjoy, whether it is figure skating or physics, playing the guitar or writing poetry.

Classical Conversations

Classical Conversations is one of the largest homeschooling organizations in the world with 50,000 families and 125,000 students enrolled in its programs in all 50 states and 25 countries. The classical model of education, which Classical Conversations embraces, is ideally suited to children’s natural learning development and has been proven over more than a thousand years. Founded in 1997, CC provides a comprehensive, classical curriculum, resources, training and a support community for homeschooling families.

Here are four areas where Classical Conversations can help you during your homeschooling journey.

Curriculum

“I couldn’t possibly teach my own children! I don’t know how to teach! I’m not a certified teacher!” All of those objections are without foundation. Your children will never have a teacher that understands them better, is more committed to teaching them, nor more vested in their success than you are. Classical Conversations has a comprehensive homeschool curriculum that has been tested over more than 20 years.

Community

John Donne wrote that “No man is an island,” and no one can identify with that statement more than the homeschooling parent trying to go it alone. Children simply learn better in community—they get to learn by watching their peers do it and listening to their peers explain it. Parents teach better in community—they are being equipped to teach by trained tutors, they learn from veteran homeschool parents, and gain insight and emotional support from their peers.

Geography

It’s no secret that American students know far less about world geography than their peers around the globe. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. eighth-graders tested below proficient in geography on the Nation’s Report Card. A recent National Geographic/Roper Poll found that half of 18- 24-year-old Americans surveyed could not locate New York on a map of the United States, and nearly 6 in 10 could not locate Ohio. Ten percent couldn’t find the U.S. on a world map. By contrast, every student that completes Classical Conversations’ Foundations program will not only be able to locate every country around the world but will also be able to draw and label a map of the entire world from memory.

Communication

Fear of public speaking is the most common phobia in the world, both among children and adults. According to a GMAC survey of more than a thousand U.S. corporations, communication skills top the list of skills and abilities that these employers will look for in hiring college graduates this year.

Classical Conversations’ students begin making oral presentations in front of their peers at age 4. They are writing persuasive essays at 12 and engaged in mock trial and debate at 13. By their senior year they are writing research papers that are more scholarly than any college freshman paper.

Click here to learn more about Classical Conversations.

The middle school years are not easy. It’s a turbulent time of transition and growth in every way – physically, emotionally and academically. But it’s also a wonderful time of discovery and curiosity.

For Limor Dankner, Middle School Principal at Milken Community Schools, these years are golden. Students are so eager to learn. What they need most is an environment where they are encouraged to think critically, explore their growing interests and most importantly not be afraid to ask questions.

“Identities are formed at this time based on the connections students make or fail to make,” says Dankner, whose career has focused on gifted education. “We want our students to emerge as leaders and explorers.”

Milken’s main mission is to create “empowered learners.” What this means is giving students a voice. “We want our students to have control of their learning,” says Dankner, who is adamant about making schoolwork relevant to a generation of students who are tech savvy, digital-natives, growing up with social media, virtual gaming and have instant access to information.

“Our incoming 7th graders are different thinkers and they are looking for different experiences,” says Dankner. “As educators we need to engage them differently.”

To better nurture students’ curiosity, Milken offers a robust selection of electives ranging from investment banking and software programming to film making and creative writing. The school also incorporates its unique “X-Learning” educational philosophy in every aspect of its curriculum, shaping school culture and attitudes about teaching and learning.

The X-Learning pedagogy takes students on a journey of discovery in every single class. Whether it’s math, history, language, environmental sciences or visual arts, students are moving beyond rote memorization of facts and standard test taking and becoming truly engaged with their fellow students and teachers in connecting their interests, real world problems and what they are learning in the classroom.

In addition to their daily classroom experience, students also participate in a “passion project” of their choosing. They spend the year working with teachers, mentors and other students to gather data, conduct experiments or design prototypes of a product or program. Milken’s Innovator’s Xpo is a celebration of the students’ creative explorations at the end of each year.

Milken’s focus is simple – Ignite curiosity in every student, every day. Then step back and allow them the freedom to create by providing the tools and resources to build what they imagined.

“It’s incredible what the kids come up with,” says Dankner. “We have had students who had their short stories published and others who created bacteria-repellent door handles and running shoes that can charge your phone. This is what happens when students see themselves as problem-solvers and innovators.”

Milken, is an academically rigorous 7-12 independent college-prep school infused with Jewish values. Community giving is at the core of its culture.

“More than anything, we want our students to know that they belong to something greater than themselves and that they can make positive changes to the world starting right now,” says Dankner, who has two children who graduated from Milken and one graduating this year. “Social justice, ethics and helping humanity is ingrained in our culture. We are a community and empathy is at our core.”

For more information, visit milkenschools.org.

Through most of her routine physical exam, the teenage girl chatted amiably with Sunanda Vadapalli, MD, a Valencia pediatrician. Then, at the doctor’s request, the girl’s mother stepped out of the exam room. That was when the patient, with tears in her eyes, admitted the truth: She felt such relentless pressure from her parents that she was living with constant anxiety.

Scenes like these have become more common in recent years as pediatricians see marked increases in mental health challenges among teenagers—in particular, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

“We’re getting better at identifying kids with these issues,” says Vadapalli, one of more than 150 pediatricians in Los Angeles and surrounding communities who make up the CHLA Health Network. “The earlier we do it, the more we can make a difference.”

No one knows why rates of youth anxiety and depression have risen so sharply. The number of U.S. children hospitalized for considering or attempting suicide doubled between 2008 and 2015, according to a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics. Certainly teenagers are experiencing more academic pressure than ever, and they typically juggle multiple extracurricular activities, leaving little time to decompress. Some blame social media and the omnipresence of smartphones for making adolescents lonelier and more likely to feel anxious about missing out on what others are doing.

Whatever the causes, we simply don’t have enough pediatric psychiatrists and psychologists to meet the need. So the CHLA Health Network is working to help pediatricians better serve patients and families coping with mental health challenges.

Every CHLA Health Network pediatrician screens patients with a questionnaire to help detect signs of depression and anxiety. And a program called Making Behavioral Health Matter is educating pediatricians to triage and treat anxiety, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The program also helps pediatricians identify qualified mental health specialists in their local area. And the Network offers a “warmline” pediatricians can call to get expert help with treating mental health issues.

Of course, parents play a central role too. “Parents can help by paying close attention to their kids and maintaining good communication within the family,” says Vadapalli.

While it’s not unusual for adolescents to appear aloof or moody or to choose time with friends over family, some behavior changes could signal more serious challenges. If a teen loses interest in something that used to bring pleasure—such as a sport or hobby—or if the child spends excessive time alone, has no appetite or simply can’t handle situations, it’s worth seeking intervention.

There’s no foolproof checklist of danger signs, but if parents have any concern about their child’s mental health, they should set up a visit to the pediatrician. While mental health specialists obviously bring a wealth of experience, many teens are more comfortable sharing with a doctor who’s already a familiar face. And a physician who has known the patient and family for many years is often in the best position to assess and treat mental health challenges.

As much as most parents want to help their teens cope with serious issues such as anxiety and depression, many worry about the stigmas that come with these challenges. “Parents need to realize that depression and anxiety are chemical conditions in the brain, a physiological condition, just like diabetes or high blood pressure,” says Vadapalli. “Rather than judge their kids, parents should be there to listen and talk.”

To find a CHLA Health Network pediatrician in your community, go to CHLA.org/HealthNetwork

Our CHLA Health Network pediatricians practice in Agoura Hills, Bakersfield, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Camarillo, Carson, Encino, Glendale, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Rolling Hills Estates, San Dimas, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Monica, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Valencia, West Covina, West Hills and Westlake Village.

To find a CHLA Health Network pediatrician in your community, go to CHLA.org/HealthNetwork

Our CHLA Health Network pedi­atricians practice in Agoura Hills, Bakersfield, Beverly Hills, Bur­bank, Camarillo, Carson, Encino, Glendale, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Rolling Hills Estates, San Dimas, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Monica, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Valencia, West Covina, West Hills and Westlake Village.

CHLA TIPS: Help detect depression or anxiety by paying close attention to your child and maintaining good communication within the family.

Whether parent teacher conferences left you stressed, the first progress report needs improvement, or your child simply needs to be challenged, Sylvan is the BEST way to turn the school year around, we guarantee it!

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Have you ever found yourself serving your child multiple meals and snacks, yet the child still won’t eat anything? Does your child resist new foods and demand only a limited number of favorite items? If so, your child might be a picky eater. Picky eaters respond to a limited range of foods, refuse nutritional foods like vegetables, and sometimes won’t eat at all. This can make mealtime stressful and cause parents anxiety about their child’s health and nutritional well-being.

Neville Anderson, MD, a CHLA Health Network pediatrician, estimates that at least one checkup in each of her patient’s lives will center around parents’ concern for their child’s weight gain, nutritional intake and ability to develop a healthy relationship with food. One panicked mom actually carried bowls of strawberries and blueberries into Anderson’s Larchmont Pediatrics practice to prove that her 2-year-old wouldn’t eat. But despite the fact that it worries parents, picky eating rarely results in significant weight loss or a serious medical condition.

Another CHLA Health Network pediatrician, Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, FAAP, of Calabasas Pediatric Wellness Center and best-selling author of “What to Feed Your Baby,” says the picky-eating stage is actually a normal part of development for children as they assert their independence, usually around preschool age.

Both doctors suggest parents avoid power struggles around food. Instead, they recommend making healthy foods available to your kids and allowing them to choose what they want to eat. “While you can’t force a child to eat, just like you can’t force them to go to sleep or use the potty, you can continue to serve them those same healthy food options,” which is better than giving in to the less healthy options, Altmann says.

If your child shuns healthy eating from the start, try not to panic. With repetition and creativity, it’s possible to solve the problem. While it may take a 3-year-old longer to embrace nutritional foods than it does an 8-month-old, both Altmann and Anderson encourage parents not to give up. “Continue to offer veggies whether they eat them or not. It may not register for them until later, but you’re instilling healthy eating habits,” says Altmann.

I suggest parents hide pureed veggies in foods their child enjoys, like mac ‘n’ cheese or spaghetti, while simultaneously serving the actual vegetable, cauliflower or broccoli. This way the child’s palate is exposed to the vegetable’s taste (and gets the nutritional value) while exploring it with their other senses, too.

Other recommendations:

• Plan weekly meals to ensure you’re making focused decisions about your child’s diet. Offer veggie options consistently and serve healthy foods for snacks.
• Keep a log of what your children will eat and serve them similar foods. Make nutritious substitutions, like whole-wheat bread for white bread, or almond butter in place of peanut butter.
• Take your kids grocery shopping and discuss the foods they select—the colors, the textures, the smells. At home, allow them to help with safe and age-appropriate food preparation.
• Turn off the screens and turn mealtime into a fun, family activity with games (“I Spy”) and conversation.
• When your children are old enough, teach them how to understand food labels and ingredients.

If you have concerns about your child’s eating habits, don’t hesitate to contact your CHLA Health Network pediatrician to discuss and rule out the possibility of a potential disorder or illness. Remember, we’re here to help with your child’s overall care, which includes the big role nutrition plays.

CHLA Health Network Tips for Post-Halloween Candy Consumption:

Out of sight, out of mind: Put candy away in a spot accessible to you, but not to your kids.

Be flexible: After the big night, regulate the candy, allowing for one or two pieces a day, or just on weekends.

Read the ingredients: Remind them why less is always best.

To find a CHLA Health Network pediatrician in your community, go to CHLA.org/HealthNetwork

Pediatricians in the CHLA Health Network are Helping Children with Asthma – and Their Parents – Breathe Easy

For one Los Angeles mom, going on a business trip had always meant coming home to find her son’s asthma out of control.

But not anymore. Thanks to the new Asthma Ac­tion Plan provided by her CHLA Health Network affiliate pediatrician, her husband can confidently manage their child’s asthma in her absence. When she returned home from her latest trip, their son was breathing easy.

The family’s experience is one of many patient success stories from the CHLA Health Network, a premier network of pediatricians affiliated with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Launched in 2016, the network has quickly grown to include more than 140 independent physicians caring for 260,000 patients across Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.

Selected for their outstanding reputations, affiliate physicians enjoy close access to the world-class specialists in the CHLA Medical Group and work to deliver innovative, seamless care aligned with the latest treatment protocols and research devel­oped at CHLA.

“Our affiliate pediatricians are committed to providing the highest-quality integrated care for their patients,” says Bhavana Arora, MD, medical director for the CHLA Health Network. “The goal is to continually raise the level of care for children in the communities where they live.”

Empowering Families

One area where the network is already making a difference is asthma care. Asthma affects more than 1 million children in California, nearly 60 percent of whom had an asthma flare-up in the last year—a situation that often sends kids to the emergency room.

“Many parents don’t have enough knowledge about this condition,” Arora notes. “They may not understand the importance of their child’s medi­cines and how they work, or how to manage their child’s asthma at home.”

Participating pediatricians receive a wealth of re­sources to empower their patients—including ma­terials to help parents and kids better understand asthma and its treatments and a simple, one-page Asthma Action Plan outlining how parents should respond to specific symptoms at home.

Affiliate pediatricians also share best prac­tices with each other and learn the latest evi­dence-based treatment protocols from CHLA specialists. In addition, CHLA Health Network staff provide training and support to help practices implement new asthma tools, including patient questionnaires, action plans and hands-on instruc­tions for using inhalers.

“This education can make a world of difference for patients,” says Cindy Loth-Wiggins, quality improvement coordinator for the CHLA Health Network. “Pediatricians are telling us that parents love it.”

“The goal is to keep kids out of the hospital—and we are making progress toward that goal,” says Arora.

CHLA Tips on Managing Your Child’s Asthma:

Tips from Ronald Ferdman, MD, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles allergist-immunologist

• Know your child’s asthma triggers; avoid them and respond to them.
• Let your kids play. Proper medication allows for physical activities.
• Coughing, not wheezing, can be the first sign of an asthma flare-up.
• Use the controller daily even if your child appears healthy.
• Start quick-relief medicine at the first sign of a cold.

For more information, go to www.CHLA.org/AsthmaTips

To find a CHLA Health Network pediatrician in your community, go to www.CHLA.org/HealthNetwork

Our CHLA Health Network pediatricians practice in Agoura Hills, Bakersfield, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Camarillo, Carson, Encino, Glendale, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Rolling Hills Estates, San Dimas, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Monica, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Valencia, West Covina, West Hills and Westlake Village.

At Stratford School, high expectations yield extraordinary results. Our advanced yet intentionally balanced curriculum starts as early as Preschool to inspire and nurture the minds and hearts of every student. From the outset, we simplify challenging concepts, and then accelerate learning to enable our students to study ahead of grade level, develop a love of learning, and prepare for the future.  Our curriculum is created in thoughtful and meaningful ways to ignite curiosity, nurture exploration, and encourage inquiry.

From Preschool through 8th grade, Stratford’s curriculum is infused with sequential instruction in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics — “STEAM” — to help students develop a diverse set of problem-solving skills and talents they’ll need in today’s world. We accomplish this through a unique cross-disciplinary approach that enhances critical thinking, integrates ideas from multiple subjects, and ultimately expands student learning.

Beginning in Preschool, Stratford’s curriculum is designed to develop the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical building blocks. Hands-on, multi-sensory activities, including our Imaginative STEAM Play, encourage preschoolers to play and share with others, while developing their self-confidence, so each child discovers the joy and excitement of learning.

In Elementary, our accelerated core curriculum exceeds the National Standardized ERB Results and motivates students to become critical thinkers, innovative problem-solvers, and proficient writers. This balanced approach imparts students with not only a well-rounded education; it fosters the development of strong friendships, effective study skills, and blossoming self-confidence.

Middle School continues the Stratford tradition of excellence. We prepare and mentor students for placement in honors and advanced courses at top-tier private and public high schools. Stratford’s intentional approach to educating the whole child results in young adults who are gifted communicators, skilled and generous collaborators, and inventive problem-solvers.

At Stratford, we combine traditional teaching styles with 21st century learning principles, intentionally integrate technology in engaging ways, and encourage confident thinking. Beyond the classroom, we help students discover and define their passions through a variety of extracurricular pursuits, personal enrichment activities, physical education, and time for free play.

Our caring and passionate teachers cultivate a fun and nurturing classroom environment, where high expectations encourage students to try new things with confidence and enthusiasm. They present a broad spectrum of learning opportunities. They engage students. They invite questions. They encourage students to collaborate. Consequently, students laugh a lot, and learn even more.

By harnessing the collective power of students, teachers, and administrators, this carefully designed approach, along with our commitment as educational leaders, helps students to excel. Stratford School prepares students to become the future generation of creative problem-solvers, imaginative innovators, and confident, insightful leaders.

Traditionally, when speaking of a STEAM education, many people only discuss the main pillars of the curriculum: science, technology, engineering, and math. However, there has been a push in recent years to transition STEM to STEAM – adding to the acronym an “A” to represent the arts.

While STEM education has always incorporated arts into the curriculum, the push to change the acronym highlights the importance that arts education has on a child’s personal and academic development. Research has increasingly emphasized the benefits of an arts education – below, we summarize some of the primary benefits that art instruction has on students in STEM/STEAM schools.

Why are the arts important?

When arts education is mentioned, most people think of painting, drawing, or playing an instrument, but arts instruction is about much more than just expressive arts. It also includes subjects like history, social studies, and language arts, all of which are essential facets of a STEM/STEAM education. Together, a comprehensive arts education program develops critical skills of communication, innovation, and creativity.

Expressive arts, which can come in many forms including sculpture, painting, and music, are also an important component to academic success and achievement of higher learning skills.

The importance of the arts to a STEM/STEAM education

Art classes aren’t just a way for children to be creative – they are also integral to developing students’ higher learning skills. A program that incorporates the arts into the curriculum has been proven to increase creativity, improve academic performance, increase motor skills, enhance visual learning, and boost higher decision-making skills.

Increase creativity

By allowing children to explore their expressive side through the arts, they are able to expand their creative thinking skills, which are necessary to solve complex engineering, science, and math problems. These creative thinking skills teach your child to think outside of the box and to explore different, non-traditional paths to a solution.

Improve academic performance

According to a report by Americans for the Arts, children who engage in arts, as defined by being immersed in art activity three hours per day for a minimum of three days a week, are four times more likely to excel in academic achievement when compared to those children who don’t.

Increase motor skills

When engaging in expressive and creative arts, children develop better hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. What physical exercise does for large motor skills, art activities can do for the more intricate and fine motor skills necessary in all aspects of life, from handwriting to wiring robotics.

Enhance visual learning

Children who are introduced to different art mediums, such as sculpture and three-dimensional exploration, are better able to make sense of visual information. According to the Head of Art and Design Education at Northern Illinois University, visual learning is just as important as auditory, and is a skill that not all children develop without expressive art instruction.

Boost higher decision-making skills

Being allowed to explore the creative side of the brain through the arts enables children to make decisions for themselves about how to interpret and communicate their ideas. The arts are an essential component to enhance a child’s ability to make decisions and express them articulately

The arts at Stratford School

We believe that arts are a necessary addition to a child’s education. From preschool through high school, aspects of social studies, language arts, and creative arts are incorporated into our STEAM curriculum Students at Stratford School will reap the many benefits of including arts education in daily instruction. To learn more about Stratford School’s innovative STEAM curriculum, schedule a tour of your local school today, simple go to www.stratfordschools.com/tours.

About Stratford School

At Stratford, high expectations lead to extraordinary results. Our advanced, innovative, and intentionally balanced curriculum inspires, challenges, and nurtures the minds and hearts of every student. We infuse our liberal arts curriculum with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics—or STEAM—to help students develop the diverse set of problem-solving skills and talents they’ll need in today’s world. Our passionate teachers cultivate a physically and emotionally secure classroom environment where children feel safe and eager to try new things and fail forward. This carefully designed approach prepares students to become tomorrow’s creative problem-solvers, innovators, and creative, confident leaders.

Kellie’s son, Luke, 14, a youth baseball catcher, had been complaining for months about pain in his shoulder. But the Woodland Hills mom didn’t give it much thought until last fall, when Lucas had his annual sports physical with his pediatrician, Christopher Tolcher, MD, an affiliate of the CHLA Health Network.

The teenager told the doctor that the pain had first emerged during a tournament at which his team played multiple games daily.

Dr. Tolcher referred him to Curtis VandenBerg, MD, a Children’s Hospital Los Angeles sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon, whose CHLA – Tarzana office was a quick drive from Luke’s school. After an exam, a set of X-rays and an MRI, Dr. VandenBerg identified the source of Luke’s discomfort—an overuse injury common in throwers—and suggested a recovery plan.

“A sports physical enables us to evaluate the patient’s general health, to counsel them on any health-related issues, and to detect conditions that might pose a risk during sports activities,” says Dr. Tolcher, whose practices in West Hills and Agoura typically schedule preparticipation performance evaluations (PPEs) to coincide with annual physicals.

Most schools and leagues require medical clearance forms for participation, and some offer referrals to clinics for athletes to obtain assessments. But there are great advantages to having your child’s primary care physician perform the exam: The doctor usually is familiar with your child’s history and any medications he or she might be taking; the exams are more thorough; and the physician can follow up on any issues that arise.

While a routine annual physical examines general health, a PPE focuses more specifically on heart, lung and musculoskeletal issues. The medical-history questionnaire, for instance, asks detailed questions about the family history of heart disease as well as about the patient’s bone and joint issues and general medical conditions that might affect participation in sports—such as seizures, diabetes or eating disorders.

If the sports physical reveals a condition such as asthma, the physician will make sure it’s well-controlled before recommending sports participation. If the patient reports experiencing dizziness, chest pains or fainting during exercise, the physician typically orders an electrocardiogram (EKG) or refers the patient to a cardiologist for a more thorough exam to ensure participation is safe.

It’s important for parents to know that if a child has an injury, continued participation risks further injury. Better to catch it early. If there’s a significant musculoskeletal injury that hasn’t improved, the physician might refer the patient to a sports medicine specialist for a more detailed assessment and a treatment plan.

That’s what happened to Luke, the baseball player. After he visited Dr. VandenBerg, the orthopaedist diagnosed that the injury caused changes in Luke’s throwing motion, resulting in shoulder impingement. He first suggested that Luke ease off playing if he felt pain. When a long break didn’t help, the doctor prescribed physical therapy to strengthen shoulder muscles and improve Luke’s range of motion.

Now on the mend, Luke is working toward trying out this fall for his high school baseball team.

As for his mom, Kellie, she’s grateful her CHLA Health Network pediatrician caught Luke’s injury before the condition worsened. “You want someone who really knows your kid to evaluate them as an athlete,” she says. “Because we did that, we’re hopeful that my son will be back on the field before you know it.”

To find a CHLA Health Network pediatrician in your community, go to www.CHLA.org/HealthNetwork

Lisa Stern, MD, a Santa Monica pediatrician, is used to hearing her patients in late summer express apprehension about the upcoming start of school. What’s sometimes surprising is the source of the stress: their parents.

“A mother will inadvertently say, ‘Oh, I see you got the strict teacher,’ or ‘You’ve got all the smart kids in your class this year—it’s going to be a tough year!’” says Dr. Stern, whose practice is part of the CHLA Health Network. “Think about what that sounds like from a child’s perspective.”

We all experience anxiety when we go into a new situation. As families prepare to send their kids and teens back to school, it’s normal for the excitement to come with some degree of worry. Instead of adding to it, parents should find ways to help their children make a successful transition back to the classroom.

After the freedom and flexibility of summer vacation, making the adjustment to the structure of the classroom schedule can be challenging. Some younger children worry about separating from their parents, and teens can feel stress about social pressures or the daunting task of balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities.

It’s important for parents to acknowledge and address their children’s anxiety rather than brushing it off. What might seem inconsequential to you might be weighing heavily on your child.

However good your intentions, sharing your own anxiety (“I’m going to cry when you go to school,” or “I’m going to miss you when you’re in kindergarten.”) can make the transition more difficult rather than easier for young children.

Instead, try to ease the transition with a few simple steps. If your child is starting at a new school, paying a visit to the campus and even meeting the new teacher can help your child to know what to expect. And arranging playdates with children who will be in your son or daughter’s class can help assure your child will have at least one familiar face on the first day.

It’s also helpful to use the last two weeks before school starts to transition to a school-appropriate sleep schedule, going to bed earlier and waking up at the time your child will have to wake during the school year.

When children express anxiety about school, many parents have the instinct to solve the child’s problems. Instead, see the transition to school as a safe opportunity to help your child learn to negotiate new situations and challenges so that they will be better equipped to solve their own problems later in life.

Dr. Stern recommends avoiding the tendency to micromanage your child’s life. “Instead of saying ‘Why don’t you sit at lunch with Johnny from across the street?”, say, ‘I know you’ll be able to find someone you’ll want to sit with.’” Parents should also trust teachers to help students to handle these moments.

While nearly every child experiences some degree of nervousness about returning to school, parents should pay closer attention if anxiety is interfering with normal life activities. If a child refuses to go to school at all, cries excessively, or is losing sleep it can be helpful to discuss these concerns with your pediatrician.

With appropriate support through the transition, your child will wake up that first day of school, rested, excited and ready for the year ahead.

And if not? “It’s also important for children to learn that they’re not always going to have easy days, and that’s okay,” says Dr. Stern. “Because you learn something from every day, whether it’s easy or tough.”

To find a CHLA Health Network pediatrician in your community, go to CHLA.org/HealthNetwork

Jorge, a Conejo Valley father, remembers first noticing the sign in the office of his family’s pediatrician announcing that her practice was part of the CHLA Health Network.

“We already liked our doctor, Kathryn Stiles,” he said, “but knowing that she was connected to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles gave me an even better feeling about her practice.”

As it turned out, Jorge and his wife Jamie would benefit directly from the CHLA Health Network, a group of 140 pediatricians representing 37 medical practices across the Los Angeles region. The Network is the only physician-led network of its kind in Los Angeles, providing care for more than 150,000 patients. It brings together community-based pediatricians committed to a continuum of care that spans from the pediatrician’s office to CHLA’s partner hospitals and outpatient centers as well as to its main hospital in the heart of Los Angeles — California’s top-ranked pediatric facility.

Jorge and Jamie came to fully appreciate the Network’s benefits after their second child, Clayton, was born one month premature, spending his first week in a neonatal intensive care unit. When Clayton was healthy enough to be discharged, a specialist advised the parents to have their pediatrician follow up on a blood test that indicated a potential concern.

That wasn’t difficult since Dr. Stiles is a CHLA Health Network provider. After Clayton’s first well-baby visit, Dr. Stiles ordered blood work. No problem: the parents took him to the CHLA Encino Outpatient Center for the laboratory work.

“Not only was the location convenient, but we also felt comfortable knowing that the lab was part of CHLA, so they had plenty of experience handling infants,” said Jorge.

When the results revealed Clayton was anemic — possibly an indication of a serious condition — Dr. Stiles referred the parents to Jacquelyn Baskin, MD, a nationally known hematologist at CHLA. Within two days Dr. Baskin saw Clayton, ordering follow-up lab work the family was able to again take care of at the Encino center.

“Again, it was so convenient to do the lab work in Encino, and have access to a top specialist,” Jorge said. The parents accessed the lab results online on the CHLA secure patient portal, and Drs. Baskin and Stiles continued monitoring Clayton for two months until his blood levels settled into a normal range, alleviating concerns.

“I was very pleased with how everything transpired,” said Dr. Stiles. “Having the child checked out by a CHLA specialist was reassuring to the parents—and to me, too.”

Such positive experiences start with top-quality community pediatricians, said Dr. Bhavana Arora, MD, medical director of the CHLA Health Network. “We look for pediatricians who are well known in the community for the care they provide—who are patient-centered and family-centered,” she said. The Network gives families like Clayton’s the advantage of ready access to top-quality care at every turn: from primary care to specialist to hospital.

Fortunately, Clayton’s condition resolved itself without need for intervention, but all along, the parents felt assured their son was in excellent hands. “When you have concerns about your child’s health, it feels good to know that your pediatrician is talking to specialists who are training the next generation of top pediatricians in the world,” said Jorge.

Now enjoying their healthy toddler, the parents are thankful they’re part of the CHLA Health Network. “We’re grateful for the doctors’ great bedside manner, their attention to detail, and their quick follow-up,” Jorge said. “All of that made what could have been a difficult experience so much better.”

To find a CHLA Health Network pediatrician in your community, go to CHLA.org/HealthNetwork

Thanks May Gray and bye-bye June Gloom. July brings the sweltering heat we all know and sometimes love during summer in Southern California. With that comes beach fun and, for adventurers, waterpark season. I took my two water-loving kids (my third, who is water-averse, opted for the pajama party at summer camp). It was our first time at Raging Waters Los Angeles in San Dimas and we enjoyed a sunny 85-degree day during the fun. My 6-year-old girl was ready to get wet and my 4-year-old boy, who is just learning to swim, had a great introduction to waterparks – or the “water playground,” as he says. Raging Waters was a big splash.

Getting Started at Raging Waters

As an Encino-dwelling L.A. mom, the easy drive from the San Fernando Valley took about an hour or so, almost entirely on highways. We went on a Friday morning just after breakfast and the kids enjoyed car games such as I Spy and Yellow Car along the way. When we arrived, we paid the $15 parking fee (cash only) and got a pretty good parking spot, despite arriving an hour after opening. We checked in at the front gate, received our H2Go wristbands ($25-$40) and secured our cabana near Amazon Adventure. We opted to eat lunch first in our Grand Vista Cabana, which has an assigned server to bring food. The pizza, salads and drinks were just what we needed to fuel up on before getting in on the fun.

Base Camp: Amazon Adventure

After renting a locker for our valuables, ($12-$20) and buying a Seawag waterproof cell phone holder from Turtle’s Trading Post ($24.99), we headed to Amazon Adventure, a quarter-mile-long, 18-foot-wide and three-foot deep river experience that has a gentle current. Perfect for children of all ages, Amazon Adventure took over an hour of our time. While my son opted to drift on one of the available innertubes the whole time, my daughter back-floated her way around so many times, I just let her go it alone. Once my son moved to the splash area for younger kids that sits in the middle, I opted to watch along the perimeter. The ride is the closest to the entrance and seems to be the most popular.

 

Four Times the Fun for Little Ones

Our cabana sat near the Amazon Adventure, but I wished I had another cabana at Kids’ Kingdom, the 30,000-square-foot water oasis that got a “wow” out of my 4-year-old. I had to pry him away from the platform that’s most like a traditional play structure. The other three play areas just for kids include Volcano Fantasea, Little Dipper and Splash Island Adventure. With the exception of Splash Island Adventure, all kids’ areas require guests be under 48 inches tall to ride the slides.

The variety of kiddie attractions and accommodation of knee-deep water for even the smallest kids was a big surprise. I wasn’t expecting 2-year-olds to be able to go down slides, but between these kiddie areas, there are plenty of things for even the tiniest water lovers to enjoy. After exploring these, we doubled back so my little boy could go down the slides and pull on the water-bucket-spilling cords in the playground area at Kids’ Kingdom. In terms of thrill rides, I was afraid the Aqua Rocket, a four-person rocket-style raft propelled by hydromagnetic technology, would be too much for my just-over 42-inch boy, but I was wrong. After sending my adventurous 6-year-old ahead as a single rider, we hopped on and it really was like a little roller coaster. We finished that ride and headed over to Thunder Rapids, a five-person raft ride that meanders down an open flume-propelled tube that’s 550 feet long. After that, the Amazon Adventure beckoned us once more before our appetites took over again, which meant we didn’t make it to Neptune’s Fury, the other family-friendly ride for kids 36 inches and up.

Familiar Food

One of the perks of Raging Waters, is that it – unlike many other theme parks – has familiar food options. There’s a Carl’s Jr., Jamba Juice, Pink’s Hot Dogs and Yogurtland. There are also funnel cakes, Breyer’s Ice Cream and ICEE products for your sweet tooth. They have their own pizza parlor in Pipeline Pizza, and Sharkey’s, which serves up burgers, chicken tenders, fries, nachos and salads. There’s ample shaded seating, so feel out the best place to share a meal after you order. There’s a souvenir cup that allows for unlimited refills, so if you know you love an ICEE and plan on going more than once to the park, you may want to spring for the cup and bring it every time you visit.

Lessons Learned: Know Before You Go

Here’s a checklist of things to purchase before for your visit to Raging Waters Los Angeles. These tips will save you time and money.

• Waterproof Cell Phone Holder: Remember to store your credit card in this pouch as well, so you can pay for food and other items.
• Towels
• Water shoes (not flip-flops!): Flip-flops have to continually be taken on and off, but water shoes will allow for you to enjoy all areas without leaving shoes unattended at every ride.
• Sunscreen (Lots of it!): Remember to reapply throughout the day.
• Cash: Unless you get a parking pass for the year ($74.99), you’ll need $15 cash to park.
• Sunglasses with string holders for parents, goggles for kids: While Raging Waters is well shaded during wait times, keeping sunglasses in place can become a hassle. While some rides won’t allow sunglasses (I tucked mine in my swimsuit), the water playground areas aren’t shaded and sunglasses that won’t slide off are a must.
• Cooler: Outside food and beverages are not allowed in the park, however there is cooler storage just outside the park ($15-$20).
• Bug spray
• Phone charger
• Hair products: Trial-size shampoo/conditioner and soap along with hair ties and brush will come in handy.

Family Admission

Another nice touch with Raging Waters is its family pricing. A family four-pack that includes pizza costs $149.96. There are also AAA member savings available. Military, teachers and first responders also get discounts. General admission is $45.99, but L.A. Parent readers can use promo code LAPARENT at www.ragingwaters.com to get $16 off daily tickets, and $5 off season passes. Raging Waters Los Angeles is located at 111 Raging Waters Drive, San Dimas. For more information or to plan your visit, go to www.ragingwaters.com or call 909-802-2200 daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brandon Cohen began his career as a commercial pilot after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, but there was something inside him yearning for more meaning and community. After 9/11, the grandson of Holocaust survivors says he “started to really reflect” on his life and purpose.

His quest to make a difference led him to teaching. Being a 7^th grade English teacher at Audubon Middle School in Leimert Park became what he calls a “transformative experience.”

“Auubon was a different environment for me and it wasn’t easy being the new teacher,” says Cohen, who grew up in Studio City and attended what is now Harvard-Westlake School. “But I fell in love with the school and I learned so much.”

Cohen worked at various high schools in LAUSD and eventually became the principal of Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood and helped start the Downtown Magnets High School.

He joined Brawerman Elementary School of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in 2013 as the Director of Teaching and Learning and was named the Head of School in June 2016.

At Brawerman, Cohen’s focus is continuing the school’s academic excellence and the unique sense of community that is woven into the culture of both campuses.

“We focus on the social and emotional learning of every student,” says Cohen. “We want our students to be able to resolve conflicts, to care about the world around them, to be inspired and curious and love learning. We also want them to find their Jewish identity and truly find joy in that identity.”

Individualized learning is a distinct part of both campuses’ educational philosophy. “I have two boys and they are very different from each other,” says Cohen. “I know as a dad and an educator that we have to challenge each student where they are. Our writing and math programs are individualized for each student. We have specialists who work one-on-one with students. Our teachers truly know every child here. “

“A result of our approach is that Brawerman students leave here to become leaders at the most selective and academically rigorous schools in the city,” he says.

Brawerman East, which is located on the Erica J. Glazer Campus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple (Wilshire and Hobart Boulevards), and Brawerman West, located on the Audrey and Sydney Irmas Campus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple (Olympic Boulevard and Barrington Avenue), both feature newly renovated school facilities with spacious classrooms, modern science labs, cutting-edge, ergonomically designed technology centers, production and editing centers, sports and recreational facilities, music rooms, performance spaces, and libraries.

There’s a true sense of community at each location as well with a strong parent volunteer base and programs to inspire students to use their skills to solve problems on a global level and do good outside of their classroom. Through weekly Shabbat services and traditional music and songs, students also connect with their Jewish heritage in a meaningful way.

“I wish my grandparents could see us now,” says Cohen. “I wish they could see the joy of our students at Brawerman. They would be so proud.”

For more information on both campuses, visit brawerman.org

Growing up in L.A. is not easy. The academic and social landscape can feel like a pressure cooker. Kids compete in school, in sports and the arts. What our kids need to weather this storm is an inner strength – a sense of grit, optimism and confidence.

One of the best ways to build this critical inner compass is by providing your child with a solid support system and the necessary tools to navigate the challenges they face.

At Sylvan Learning, L.A.’s largest tutoring service, the guiding principal is building grit and confidence in all students by providing them with the academic skills needed to reach their full potential. Rand Bleimeister, executive director of Sylvan Learning Los Angeles, explains the benefits of the Sylvan program.

What type of student would benefit most from Sylvan Learning?

Every student can benefit from academic tutoring.

We have every type of student – from those who are doing well in school to those who are working to get ahead and those who have fallen behind. In every case, our educators create a personalized learning plan that is unique for each student and is designed to enable each student to achieve their academic goals quickly. Each student works with a fully trained and certified teacher, and parents can track their child’s progress using our website.

A lot of our students are highly motivated and want to continue to push to the next level. For example, in math, our team enables these students to get ahead of their class so they can learn algebra and calculus earlier. This enables them to finish high school taking advanced calculus. And this helps them stand out when they apply to college.

Tell us about Sylvan’s teaching philosophy.

Kids do best when they feel good about their abilities. That’s a fact. Our goal is to make sure our students feel successful and confident. Having that personal time with an educator who is completely focused on your child’s goals and needs is at the core of our centers.

What are some of the programs you offer?

We offer personalized tutoring in math, reading, writing, algebra, geometry, homework help, AP classes and SAT/ACT prep. We also offer STEM classes in science, engineering, robotics and coding for kids in elementary school.

With every new student, we start with a diagnostic assessment test. The results of this test enable our team of educators to create each student’s personalized learning program. These programs are taught by our certified teachers using iPads as a teaching tool (instead of old-fashioned workbooks) to deliver our interactive common-core aligned curriculum.

What makes Sylvan Learning unique?

We are the only educational tutoring program to offer an improvement guarantee. That’s how confident we are in our program.

We carefully screen and train only certified teachers to work with our students. Every child learns differently. We find students learn more material faster if they work with certified teachers who have education degrees.

A few years ago, we transitioned our curriculum to iPads, making our curriculum more accessible, engaging and trackable. Though we offer homework help, for many of our students the best thing we do is re-teach foundational math and reading skills so that students really get it and so homework becomes easier for them to do.

Every parent has access to our online lesson-tracking website, so they can view their child’s progress at any time. In addition, we schedule meetings with parents every four to six weeks so we can give them updates on their child’s progress.

As a dad, do you find yourself relating to the families you serve?

Absolutely. My daughter will graduate college this year. As parents, we always want what’s best for our kids. Making an investment in a tutoring program can make a huge difference to a child’s experience inside and outside the classroom.

Click here to learn more about Sylvan Learning in Los Angeles.

Brought to you by Sylvan Learning Los Angeles

As a parent, you never stop worrying about the wellbeing of your children. You want them to be healthy, loved, well nourished, accomplished, and so much more – but what about their feelings? How many of us truly know what to do when our child is feeling “off” or “unsettled” emotionally?

Native Angeleno and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Alison Fussell speaks to the importance of normalizing feelings in children. Fussell states, “It is crucial that parents listen to what their child is sharing, and not only listen, but ask follow up questions as well. It is extremely effective to demonstrate that you are trying to understand what they are struggling with, so that you can determine how to best support them.”

Fussell is the Co-Founder of a new mental health start-up, Advekit, which is currently exclusive to the Los Angeles area. Advekit is a platform that connects people with therapist referrals best suited to their needs. Advekit is specifically designed to make the process of finding a mental health professional easier and more convenient for anyone seeking support.

Fussell acknowledges that it is a common trait within parents to want to resolve every issue within their child and alleviate any pain. However, she shares that sometimes children are struggling with issues beyond the parent’s scope. Sometimes, she explains, a child can benefit from speaking to a professional: “If a child is struggling, it is not always going to be an issue that the parents can fix themselves. It is OK to ask for the support of a mental health professional.” She expands, “It is always a bit disheartening to me when parents are resistant to this sentiment, but they do not flinch when their child needs stitches from a bad fall.  Why is it that we have been taught not to value and nurture emotional wellbeing in the way that we have been taught to value physical wellbeing?”

In an effort to de-stigmatize mental health treatment and make it more accessible to all, Alison and her co-founder Arielle Garellek created Advekit as a modernized solution to finding a therapist. Check out their website here, and receive therapist referrals suited to you or your child’s needs. It is both cost-free and anonymous to find a therapist referral via Advekit. So far, more than 500 referrals have been made via the platform in only a few short months of the company’s launch in mid 2017.

DISCLOSURE: The following post is in partnership with California Milk Processor Board. All opinions and experiences are authentic.

Nothing says “family holiday” like red wine, hot cocoa and spicy warm milk… right? Stick with me – I’ve got two fabulous and sneaky-nutritious drinks that my family is loving this season.

Holiday tradition is big in my family: Hunting for Christmas trees, decorating cookies to de-stress, living it up with the kids on New Year’s Eve with wild parties that fizzle before the big stroke of midnight. I’m also finding that creating new traditions each year keeps my kids happy, too. (Because, who else has heard way too much of “we’re bored!” during winter break?)

This year, I’ve found some easy, cozy drink recipes to keep my daughters and me busy in the kitchen. They get mocktails, I get cocktails… and we all dunk our holiday cookies together. (We also all get calcium, Vitamin D and protein. A healthy dose of nutrients balances all that icing, right? And, yes, the protein keeps my brain working a bit better through the inevitable “holidaze,” too.)

First up?

Snickerdoodle Milk.

(This seems too simple and good to be true. I promise it’s the real deal.)

(Makes enough for 2-3 kids.)

Ingredients:

2½ cups milk (whole, low-fat, nonfat or lactose free)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Combine milk, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Whisk together until blended.

Heat in microwave for about 1 minute. Whisk again.

Pour into mugs and serve immediately.

This clever “cookie-flavored” drink even won over my picky eater – you know, the one who screams “I don’t want anything right now!” (I may or may not be serving this to her every single day to boost her protein intake, by the way.) Milk’s also a great, wholesome afternoon snack. We tend to forget it’s one of our most natural foods (with one ingredient) from right here in California. Usually, my kids drink it up with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, crunchy nuts and granola bars… but this Snickerdoodle twist is now a new favorite snack all on its own.

Next up? A little somethin’ somethin’ for us parents.

Red Wine Hot Cocoa.

(Yes, you read that right, moms and dads…)

(Makes enough for 2 adults… or one very overstressed wine-loving mom.)

Ingredients:

1½ cups milk (whole, low-fat, nonfat or lactose free)

1/3 cup dark mini chocolate chips

1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon (Merlot works, too, if you have it handy)

Combine milk and chocolate chips in a saucepan over medium heat.

Keep stirring constantly until everything melts! (It might look a bit clumpy at one point, but it’ll melt together nicely if you keep stirring.)

Once milk is smooth and chocolaty, dump your wine right into the saucepan. Don’t panic! It will look clumpy again at first…

Keep stirring until it melts together and smells like a gourmet truffle infused with vino….

Pour into mug (load up with marshmallows if you want!) and serve immediately. Delicious. (Beyond delicious, actually. Who knew that red wine’s antioxidants and milk’s protein made such a nice match?) I should also confess: This velvety treat helps me sleep a bit better, too.

Cheers to a spiked and spicy winter season … and new nutritious traditions with family!

Find more recipes like this on GotMilk.com, on Twitter, Facebook and share your favorite recipes on Instagram. Connect with Jill Simonian at TheFABMom.com.

The Original Farmers Market

This time of year, it’s natural to think of holiday breaks and family vacations. Why not consider a “staycation” at The Original Farmers Market? Since 1934, this historic L.A. landmark has welcomed generations to its international flavors, surprising sights and holiday delights. Open daily at the corner of Third & Fairfax.

(323) 933-9211 | www.FarmersMarketLA.com

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood creates immersive attractions and rides based on today’s most iconic movies and television shows. Attractions include the behind-the-scenes Studio Tour of the Universal backlot, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ™,” “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem,” and “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family and “The Simpsons Ride™.”

(800) 864-8377 | www.universalstudioshollywood.com

Celebrate the season in Solvang

Solvang sparkles with holiday cheer during its annual Julefest celebration, making it one of TIME Magazine’s “9 Most Christmassy Towns in America.” Beginning with the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 1, the village celebrates the season with events throughout December.

For a full calendar, visit www.SolvangUSA.com

Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort

A secluded jewel tucked into the Santa Ynez Valley, we have 52 miles of riding trails, a 100-acre spring-fed lake, two 18-hole championship golf courses, tennis courts, pool, spa, fine dining and endless ways for you to unplug and unwind. We’re just minutes from the renowned vineyards and wineries in Solvang.

(800) 425-4725 | www.alisal.com

Mandalay Beach Resort

The Embassy Suites by Hilton Mandalay Beach hotel is the only all-suite beachfront resort in Southern California and the only AAA Four-Diamond hotel in Ventura County. With our complimentary offerings, we offer stunning sunsets, views of Channel Islands National Park and 250 suites with a minimum size of 625 square feet – all with a sofa bed and a second full bathroom.

(805) 984-2500 | www.mandalayembassysuites.com

Oxnard

Just 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles, oceanfront recreation, fabulous festivals, sweet strawberries, exceptional weather and miles of uncrowded beaches await your discovery. Home to the California Straw­berry Festival and neighbor to the breathtaking Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Oxnard is a welcome retreat any time of year.

(800) 2-OXNARD | www.visitoxnard.com

Waldorf Astoria

Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills opened in June and features 170 luxury rooms and suites. In addition to housing L.A.’s highly anticipated new fine-dining restaurant by world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the property features a 5,000-square-foot La Prairie Spa and more than 6,300 square feet of event space.

(310) 860-6666 | www.waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com

 

When asked about her personal philosophy on education, Peggy Procter, the new Head of School at Echo Horizon in Culver City, tears up. “I believe in valuing and honoring the voices of children of all ages,” she says. “We need to create an environment where children are included and supported, where they can have trust in adults and in their own strengths.”

Procter is not only an experienced educator, she is also a mom who brings with her a focus on character development and community building. She wants to celebrate the uniqueness of every child at Echo Horizon.

Echo Horizon is an independent pre-kindergarten-sixth grade school founded in 1983 with a unique focus on educating deaf and hard of hearing children alongside their hearing peers. Ten percent of its 180 students are DHH, and many of them continue on to mainstream and highly ranked middle and high schools.

The school, tucked in a tree-lined street, is housed in a charming former public school building that gives it a neighborhood-school feel, but with special touches throughout such as a sun-filled library, innovative science and technology labs and a maker space complete with sewing machines and hand tools.

Diversity and inclusion are woven into the culture of Echo Horizon. “Character development is at the core of our mission,” says Procter. “We want our students to be kind people who care about each other and the world around them. We focus on the whole child, not just the academics.”

The innovative curriculum is based on Stanford University’s Design Thinking method, which is focused on children learning through discovery, interpretation and experimentation. Students cook with faculty in the school kitchen, learn about the Harlem Renaissance through music and dance, sew costumes, make hand puppets and wind tunnels, code video games and create websites. “We want our students to speak up, make decisions, take risks, build, fail, problem solve and try again,” says Procter.

Hands-on projects focusing on the arts, science and technology are woven into the curriculum, homework begins in second grade and no letter grades are given. “We want learning to be safe, fun and meaningful,” says Procter. “Our students receive comprehensive evaluations from their teachers and go on to top middle and high schools. They do extremely well without the anxiety and pressure of the traditional grading system.”

Procter grew up in the suburbs of New England and attended her local public school until middle school, where she felt unchallenged and unheard. Her parents agreed to her switching schools to attend Phillips Exeter Academy. “The mentorship and the social and emotional support I received at that school changed my life,” she says. “My voice was heard and for the first time I was in an environment where reading and intellectualism was the norm.”

Procter went on to Dartmouth College for her undergraduate work and Middlebury College in Madrid, Spain for her master’s degree. She was the upper school director at Windward School before coming to Echo Horizon. The competitive tennis player describes herself as a chocoholic, an avid reader and a “nature girl” who loves to hike, bike and rock climb. She also loves to play board games and visit national parks with her 9-year-old daughter.

“Being a mom reminds me every day that there is no one way to learn,” Procter says. “Every child is different and unique. It is our job as educators to hear them and give them what they need to thrive.”

As parents we know how confusing it can be to stand in front of aisles and aisles of baby products. We recently chatted with David Mays, Senior Director of Global Scientific Engagement at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., a pharmacist, and dad to two daughters, about how to be a consumer in the know, especially when buying baby care products. Mays is a former associate professor of pharmacy at the University of Maryland and has been with Johnson & Johnson for the past 11 years.

Why can’t parents just use their favorite hair and skin products for their baby?

It’s critical for parents to remember that a baby’s skin is very different than adult skin. The skin of an infant is developing and changing over the first few years of life. A baby’s skin is also 30% thinner than adult skin. Our recommendation to new parents is if you can only buy one type of product for the whole household, then everyone in the household should use the baby product. Think about a shampoo designed to remove residue from an adult’s hair – this would never be a first choice for a baby. Products designed specifically for babies are the safest to use.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the word “natural” used on products. Tell us about that.

A lot of companies like to use the word “natural” because to a consumer it feels familiar and positive. For example, when you read “orange oil” as an ingredient in a product, you automatically think about oranges, which are so good for you. But in reality orange oil consists of 27 different ingredients, and three of the most common allergens are part of this combination of ingredients. We don’t use orange oil in baby products for this reason. “Natural” is not a free pass to a safe product, especially for babies.

We’ve been hearing a lot about fragrance in baby products. Are they all bad?

This is another area where there is a lot of misconception. Fragrances can have many benefits. At JOHNSON’S®, we follow the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) recommendations. This organization conducts extensive research on the wide variety of fragrances. They are the world leaders in this field. We then take it one step further and do our own clinical testing and studies as well, working with healthcare professionals and consumers around the world. We are constantly monitoring potential allergens.

How does JOHNSON’S® test its products?

Not only do we conduct extensive testing in our clinical labs, but we also have more than 76,000 consumers around the world who use our products and give us feedback. We work closely with pediatricians, dermatologists, nurses, midwives and pediatric ophthalmologists to make sure our products meet their standards. Our collaboration with healthcare experts and scientists, as well as with consumers, is how we continue to make safe products for babies.

What are some of the benefits of baby lotions?

There is a lot of research being done on the benefits of moisturizing infant skin. A good lotion, specially designed for baby’s skin, is important. Beyond nourishing the skin, there are tremendous bonding and emotional benefits to giving your baby a soothing massage after a bath. It’s a time when you can put your phone away and just focus on your baby –sing, talk, and enjoy this very special time together.

Did you use JOHNSON’S® products for your own kids?

Absolutely. When my daughters were younger, that’s all we used. They were both bald babies, so we used the HEAD-TO-TOE® baby wash until they had hair. I still use the products myself because I have sensitive skin and it keeps my skin healthy. To me, JOHNSON’S® is all about high quality and safe baby products. That’s what the company’s mission has always been. I know there are lots of products on the market and it can be confusing for new parents trying to find the right product for their baby. With JOHNSON’S®, you can be assured that we have done the research for you. It’s one less thing for you to worry about. We want parents to spend their time having fun with their kids and enjoying this wonderful time together. My girls are already teenagers. And I miss our time just playing together, and their funny sayings. I come to work every day with one focus—making safe products that are created specifically for baby’s unique needs—products that I would want my own family to use.

For more information on JOHNSON’S® baby products, visit https://www.johnsonsbaby.com

Our favorite characters are back and we are so excited! My daughters and I have enjoyed the loveable Minions and their amusing adventures for many years and are so excited for the latest movie, Despicable Me 3. As a fun prequel to the movie, we decided to have a mother-daughter baking day – something we have done together since Erin and Emily were toddlers. Moms and dads out there – this is a great tradition to start with your kids. Cooking and baking together is one our family’s all-time favorite activities. The kitchen becomes a mess, but we always have so much fun.

To help with our setup and cleanup of some blue-and-yellow Minion cupcakes, we added something extra fun and whimsical – Bounty’s new limited-edition Despicable Me 3 paper towels. How cute are these! Kids of all ages, even my teenage kids, love these adorable Minion-themed paper towels.

We decided to make our favorite and super-easy vanilla cupcakes. (We found the recipe on Food.com.)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Limited edition Bounty with Despicable Me 3 prints are available at stores now, they also have napkins!

And, don’t miss Despicable Me 3, rated PG, in theaters nowLimited-edition Despicable Me 3 Bounty Paper towels available at stores now.