How can mentoring help kids with anxiety or social challenges?
Anxiety and social challenges are increasingly common among children and teens. From academic pressure and social media to the lasting effects of the pandemic…
Engine Ear Toys
A popular Fashion Island toy store has a new home within the mall. Engine Ear Toys made a move in order to expand its inventory and provide higher quality products for customers, says Fashion Island spokeswoman Meredith Foye. “As part of the move, they have introduced the ability to demo products, (allowing) customers… to test games and toys before purchasing them,” she says. “Additionally, they offer a wider variety of games reaching a broader audience, more brain games and STEM products.” Newport Beach | shopfashionisland.com The Game Chest You might call it a treasure trove chock-full of gaming goodness. The...
Importance of Taking Care of Yourself
Explore the benefits of focusing on your own happiness. Life is busy —with families to raise, jobs to work and dishes to wash—we often forget to make time for ourselves. Yet, not taking time for ourselves can undermine our efforts to be the best we can be. “It is important to find things you can do that can help you de-stress. If that means finding time to go for a walk, getting up an hour before everyone else in the house to have some alone time or engaging in a hobby for a few hours a week, then you should...
Locks of Love
When teacher Heather Lopez decided to cut 12 inches of her hair to donate to Locks of Love, a company that creates wigs for children suffering the effects of chemo, she decided to take her act of generosity one step further. After connecting with her principal at Fairmont School in Anaheim Hills, she rallied students and fellow teachers to join her. Their first ponytail-cutting assembly had 19 participants. After the inspiring event, many vowed to participate the following year, those with shorter hair being inspired to grow their hair in order to have enough length to donate. The ponytails are...
MOhM
MOhM = Mom + Ohm…or at least it will after a few classes at this center of education, community, and support for moms and families. Parenting courses like “Surviving the Toddler Years” join pre-and-postnatal yoga, Mommy and Mini-Me and Sensory or Music classes geared toward babies and toddlers — all taught by doctors or parenting experts in their field. Other classes help expecting parents prep for baby, while moms wanting to breastfeed can benefit from tips by a lactation expert. Mission Viejo | www.mymohm.com Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids Costa Mesa Whether they’re in for a trim or a proper makeover,...
Family Resiliency, Supporting Autism and ND Disorders
Raising a child with a disability brings a unique set of joys and challenges for a family — increased struggles with daily routines, finances, and navigating the maze of doctors and support services. This can be complicated by decreases in the amount of time parents spend engaged in the community, with friends or as a couple. However, research demonstrates that many families who have a child with a disability are able to balance these demands and believe their family is closer, stronger and happier because of their challenges. Resilience is the ability to withstand hardship and rebound from adversity, becoming...
Girl Power
Celebrating Women’s History Month in OC In the field of women’s history, Orange County is a goldmine. It is home to the fastest woman on record, a former First Lady, world-famous actresses and singers, Olympic medalists and more. And so, with March’s National Women’s History Month before us, parents needn’t look far when seeking ways to teach and inspire children. Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Anaheim, www.nixonlibrary.gov Beside every man stands a strong woman – and that’s especially true when he happens to be president of the United States. Learn more about one former president’s right-hand woman at the...
Teething Terrors
Q: [Infants/Toddlers] We love, love, love our baby…but do NOT love the terrible pain our normally chipper little sweetie is apparently suffering through as her first teeth are coming in! We are only dealing with her very first tooth and are both out of our minds trying to soothe her sore gums. And this is just the beginning! Nothing seems to work. She is fussy and miserable and we feel like crying right along with her. Help? A: A baby’s smile can light up a room, but it can be painful watching a baby go through the stage that makes...
Whole Foods for the Whole Family
When it comes to what makes the meal for Christmas, many might argue it is the classic turkey, others might vote for ham — but what truly matters is having the family gather around and spend quality time…while feasting till their buttons pop! A rather unwanted side dish that often makes an appearance, especially for the host/hostess, is a heaping help of stress. Managing dietary restrictions, timing so as not to miss Santa’s arrival, kitchens made to cook normal-sized family meals rather than army-level attendees, stores that deservedly give their employees a break by closing, making those last minute dashes...
Max Page
San Clemente Joy Maker Here come the holidays, and the glittering, vibrant cheer they bring. But the holidays are not just about families feeling joyful and exchanging gifts. They’re about sharing and caring for others, who are less fortunate, too. Because while many lucky children and their relatives think of the holidays as a warm, happy time, countless others all around are instead struggling to cope with illness, hospitalization, loneliness, poverty, homelessness, hunger or other serious difficulties. The generationOn Joy Maker Challenge (joymaker.generationon.org) is an effort aimed at engaging youth in volunteer service. To empower kids to feel twice as...
Subscribe & Get Free Zoo Tickets!
Sign up for Parenting OC’s bi-monthly newsletter and get a family 4-pack of tickets to the Santa Ana Zoo, home of the 50 monkeys!
White House Interns
We elect Sir Bruno Serato one of the best guys in OC. Not only does his Anaheim White House come in tops for a great Italian menu and charming ambiance, he does an abundance of charity work helping out the families of our local communities. Knighted by the nation of Italy and named a CNN Hero, he is best known for feeding 1,600 SoCal “motel kids” nightly, making copious amounts of pasta and salads for kids who might otherwise go to bed hungry or without a hot meal due to the lack of kitchen in their temporary homes. His newest...
Kids and Competition
Pros and Cons of Competition Competition and athletics are pervasive in our cultural values especially when it comes to young people. We strongly encourage kids to play sports at every level to help them learn leadership, discipline, respect, determination, responsibility and many other important life skills. We teach that sports resembles “real life” and that it is a microcosm of being a productive member of society. From the outside, it appears that by being immersed in this culture kids are learning how to better handle adversity and the challenges that life sometimes brings. Athletics can also bring families together to...
Seaside Brunches for Moms with Great Taste
Let mom relax, and not worrying about little hands dumping the fresh, ahem, squashed orange juice into the duvet, by taking her out for a hearty meal in a memorable setting. Don’t disappoint, call ahead at all of these picturesque options for reservations. The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar Newport Beach | 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Special 3-Course Brunch Menu courtesy of Executive Chef Yvon Goetz with dishes that are sure to transport Mom to a relaxing Napa or Sonoma getaway Waterman’s Harbor Dana Point | Regular Hours Chef Michael J. Doctulero has an incredible buffet planned featuring fresh...
Izzy Paskowitz
Riding Waves with Autistic Children How do you turn hopelessness into triumph? For Izzy and Danielle Paskowitz it happened by chance on a surfboard in the middle of the ocean. Now, by sharing, thousands have been given a special gift. When his first son Isaiah was born, Israel “Izzy” Paskowitz had the dream of any professional athlete, that his son would follow his career path and become a professional surfer. After all, Paskowitz is a member of the “First Family of Surfing.” (As one of eight brothers and a surfing sister, his childhood was spent traveling fulltime around the United...
Screening What Your Tween Reads
Q: [Tween] I am thrilled with my tween wanting to read… but a little concerned about the maturity of some of her choices. As a parent, how much guidance or control should I have over her books — and how would I even know what was what? I don’t have time to read all of the books she is, and certain graphic scenes aren’t always something that pops up in a skim. A: Congratulations on raising a reader! Reading can do wonders for the mind and soul. I don’t say that just because I’m a huge bookworm and an author...
The Inner Leader
Camp can allow children the chance to take charge. Camp offers the camaraderie of building friendships, problem-solving tasks from campfire-starting to color-war-strategizing and freedom from the responsibilities of daily family life. But one benefit that doesn’t always spring to mind is its fertile environment for growing leadership skills. Some children seem to effortlessly fall into the role of leader, no matter what the situation. However, there are those children who are late bloomers. These are the ones who blend in early on, but blossom with maturity and become presidents of their high school class or captains of a varsity team....
Solstice Restaurant, Tenaya Stone Spa, & More
Solstice Restaurant, Tenaya Stone Spa, Sanrio Boutique, Zankou Chicken, and The Sweet Hand…
Gifts for Dad
West Coast Style IPA Beer Brewing Kit Dads with a taste for beer will be delighted by this kit that can turn any kitchen into a craft brewery ready to serve only the best IPA. This homemade beer contains 100 percent malt extract, specialty grains, high-quality yeast and aromatic Summit and Cascade hops sourced from Yakima Valley in Washington state. The kit includes simple equipment along with step-by-step instructions to ensure that within just two weeks the finished ale has a perfectly curated complex profile with citrus, floral and spicy notes. Now, dad can take his passion for beer to...
Marine Life and Coastal Adventures in Orange County
[caption id="attachment_34890" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo by Mike Johnson/Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari[/caption] We don’t have to go far to experience marine life and coastal adventures in Orange County. This might not be the time of year to take a cooling swim in the ocean waves. But it’s definitely the right season to appreciate living along the coast in ways that are just as fun. February and the next couple of months are prime whale-watching season as the California gray whales work their way north back to Alaska. There’s a good chance you’ll see a lot more, too. Whales...
Items for the Outdoors
Kijaro Kubie Streamline your next outdoor adventure with the Kijaro Kubie. The Kubie can be used as an insulated blanket or sleeping bag, folded into a pillow, used as a ground cover, turned into a shade canopy, be strung up as a hammock then folded into its compact carrying case for easy portability. Perfect for picnics, soccer games, backyard barbecues, hiking or just a breezy afternoon reading a book in the park. Outdoor adventures just got a whole lot better with the Kubie. $80, www.kijaro.com SPI LED Accessories This is for the night owls. Whether you love overnight camping trips...
Create a DIY Summer Camp for Your Kids at Home
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash With a little research, you can design a fun, enriching and free summer camp experience for your kids this summer. Now that social distancing has moved from spring to summer, parents have shifted, too, from their school-year roles as academic tutors during a time of remote learning, to summer camp counselors. That wasn’t an easy end to the school year, was it? It also wasn’t the same kind of instructional experience — many students didn’t learn as much as they would have in the classroom. Then there’s the phenomenon of summer learning loss, in...
Special Camps for Every Child
Summer is short, but the experiences made and friendships forged during the school break can be everlasting. Children with special needs can get in on the fun, too, thanks to a wealth of programs serving them throughout Orange County. They’ll have a chance to ride the waves, dance the months away, and soak up the summer like every kid should. Surfer’s Healing – Dana Point www.paskowitz.com Autistic children can find a little summer sizzle by hitting the waves through a program that helps teach special needs kids how to surf. Surfer’s Healing is offering a free, one-day camp for autistic...
Metta Love
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) Metta meditation offers a boost of love for you, the kids and the world. Loving-kindness meditation, or Metta meditation, is an ultimate form of generosity, selflessness and love toward ourselves and others. In fact, Metta is a Pali word for benevolence, friendship, affection and kindness. The Dhammapada says, “Hatred cannot co-exist with love and kindness. It dissipates when supplanted with thoughts of love and compassion.” Try a Metta meditation. May I be happy, may you be happy, and may all our family members be happy. May I be safe, may you be safe, and may all...
A Growth Mindset
LiMai Montessori Academy is setting the bar for expansion of the famous method…
‘Beauty and the Beast’ Live in Concert at Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University
[caption id="attachment_26776" align="alignnone" width="1024"] "Beauty and the Beast" Live in Concert[/caption] Some stories have the ability to bring generations together. “I saw this movie in theaters when I was your age,” said a mother to her daughter, who was dressed in Belle’s iconic yellow gown as they filed into the Musco Center at Chapman University. The venue was alive with Disney fans young and old Sept. 29 for the first-ever “Beauty and the Beast” Live in Concert event that paired the Chapman Orchestra with professionals from the American Federation of Musicians. The tale as old as time, with music from...
Cute Kid Cover Contest
Cute Kid Voting Has Begun! Photos have been taken, and the time to vote for this year's Cute Kids has begun! Use the voting form below to case your vote who you think deserves to be this year's Cute Kid, and who will be on one of our upcoming covers! Voting ends November 30, 2020, so tell your family and friends to vote! Voting is limited to 1 vote per household for each category (so you can vote for a baby, toddler, tot and a kid). Cute Kid Cover Contest Photographer
Q&A with a Lifeguard
City of Newport Beach Lifeguard Department Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda answers important questions about beach safety in time for the summer season.
Have a Mindful Summer
Try one or more of these practical ways to help your family mindfully ease into summer. Mindfulness is a healthy coping skill that can help you regain focus
Mindful Practice
Learn how practicing mindfulness helps children with anxiety. Mindfulness is focusing on the present moment while allowing yourself to experience emotions.
Hot New Spooky Items for Halloween
DIY Halloween Costume Kits Calling all creators: Inspire budding innovators this season with these STEAM-focused Halloween Costume Kits from KiwiCo. Kids can choose to be a Glowing Horn Unicorn, a Chomping Mechanical Dinosaur, a Light-Up Alien Spaceship and so much more. Kits include everything your child needs to build a unique costume along with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions. We can’t all be Pinterest parents who design custom-costumes, but with these kits, it can be our little secret, wink-wink. $9.95-$44.95, kiwico.com Mini Maker Tube Unleash your creepy creativity and let your imagination run wild with this Mini Maker Halloween Tube that includes...
Vision Mission
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo/Dr. Arian Fartash and her daughter Isabella) A local optometrist helps educate parents and protect their children’s eyes with OC-based GlamBaby. When Dr. Arian Fartash became a new mom, one of her favorite pastimes became shopping for her baby girl. But the local optometrist soon found out there was one accessory that was severely lacking for young children — eyewear. “It was a surprise, given my passion and commitment to eye care, that there wasn’t a company committed to protective, stylish and quality frames that were also reasonably priced,” said Fartash. “I knew that if I...
Post-Injury — Now What?
My son recently wrecked his knee in a skateboarding trick gone wrong. How do I get him through surgery and recovery? Adolescents When you crash and burn and immediately have a burst of pain or when your medical provider examines you and has that look on their face, you know something is seriously wrong. So if you are facing surgery and/or several months of recovery, here are some key things that might ease the recovery process. School Missing school or attending in a fair amount of pain or discomfort, is no fun and it isn’t surprising that studies have shown...
A Special Kind of Stress
(Photo Courtesy of Jan Kopřiva/Unsplash) Calming techniques for the chaos and anxiety of special needs life. Raising a child with special needs is a challenging task that can drain parents, especially when effective coping methods are absent. Brain development in children is a complex process that depends on several factors, including nutrition, social interaction and engaging in numerous activities. This multifactorial process is primarily reliant on the parents' commitment. Parents can make a big difference in raising their child, and consequently, how well their cognitive abilities develop. The Role of Mindfulness Over the past few years, researchers have inspected hundreds...
Talking About the Birds and the Bees
Sex can be an uncomfortable topic of conversation for parents of teens—but experts say it shouldn’t be. Instead, local pediatricians and sex educators say parents should work to nourish an open and transparent environment where families are comfortable discussing the birds and the bees. “I’m always an advocate for [children] having open communication with their parents,” says Dr. Lisa Hoang, a pediatrician with St. Joseph’s Heritage Medical Group. “If you don’t make it safe for them to ask the questions, then they’re not going to ask you. And then they’ll turn to other places that may or may not have...
Halloween Costume Ideas
At a loss for ideas for this year’s costume? Below are 26 DIY options, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each one is just an outline, fashion yours with whatever you have on hand. Have fun! Angel Use an oversized white dress, robe or shirt. Belt with thick gold ribbon. If desired add a chenille stick to the headband in form of a halo. Wings can be made by unbending and reshaping wire hangers, cover with netting or ribbon. Bunch of Grapes Dress child in green tights and leotard. Blow up blue, green or purple balloons and tie with...
Getting Crafty and Spooky
With the spooky season upon us, it’s time for some family craft time, utilizing items you probably already have lying around the house and making them your own
Eye for Education
Jimmy Bui melds’s photography with teaching to develop something new at Vibrant Minds Charter School. Jimmy Bui has always been passionate about teaching.
Top Teacher & Employee Awards 2024 – Winners Announed
We celebrate our 11th Annual School Heroes — Top Teachers, Top Employees and Top Leaders — of Orange County Awards and Issue. With more than 200 nominations, we were impressed as we are year after year with the caliber of teachers, employees and administrators that are clearly making the lives of our students and families so much better. This year we expanded our criteria to include all kinds of education — from private and public to alternative and online schools — and the response was truly overwhelming. All of the finalists and winners are featured in our March Issue. Also,...
Readers’ Choice Awards — 2024
See who won! Winners will be featured in our September magazine.
Summer Trips and Tips to Help Relax and Reconnect with Your Family
Summer trips can serve to refuel the family unit by keeping actively mindful. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Trips are an ideal time to reset, reconnect and refocus the family. Cultivate joy with mindfulness on your summer vacation. Traveling provides opportunities for your child to learn patience and responsibility. Children thrive on routine but travel can interrupt their schedule. If you remain optimistic and patient when flights are delayed, luggage lost or itineraries go off track, your child will learn to model this behavior. Children tend to struggle with transitions so keeping meal times and bedtime consistent is...
‘Mommy & Me’ Time
Learning and fun abound at these local programs for moms and young kids. Whether you’re pregnant, taking care of a newborn or adding a sibling to your family
Mindful Beach and Pool Games
Create bonding moments and inner peace as a family for your next beach or pool outing. Gathering with your loved ones at the beach or pool offers great memories
Freedom in Play
Why Children Should Participate in Extracurricular Activities. The old adage “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” still holds true even today.
Building Dreams
The Orange County In-Home Licensed Childcare Program helps meet childcare needs one small business at a time.
Blanca Acevedo runs Estela’s Playhouse Daycare
Thanksgiving Recipes
A beloved staple, the pot pie. A comforting dish, wrapped in tasty nostalgia, with a vegan twist that will keep bellies full during the holiday eating season.
Editor’s Picks: February 2019
PICK OF THE MONTH:Jamboree Summer Opportunities at the CubeMarch 2, 2019Parenting OC returns to the Discovery Cube for its 13th anniversary of the Free Kids’ Summer Opportunities Jamboree event. The event will take place on March 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the fourth year the iconic Orange County family destination has partnered with Parenting OC to host the summer-fun planning extravaganza. And it gets even better. Make sure to enter your cute kid in Parenting OC’s Cute Kid Cover Contest. The contest will be taking place at the Jamboree event. Everyone who enters will receive a free...
Climate Crusader
UC Irvine PhD graduate, NASA scientist and dad, JT Reager imparts his knowledge of water science…
Lightings and Sightings
Find your tree lighting or Santa event for the holiday season here!
School Hero Goals
We asked last year’s School Heroes: What are your 2025 goals? Elizabeth Ellison This year: teaches eighth grade language arts and comprehensive English, an…
Boysenberries, Food and Wine
OC theme park food festivals are underway this spring.
Knott’s Berry Farm was just a farm and roadside restaurant for hungry travelers between L.A. and San…
The Ranch at Laguna Beach
[caption id="attachment_31889" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Photo by Randall Tierney[/caption] A uniquely serene setting and a world-class 9-hole course make this staycation a gem. Whether you’re ready to hit the open road with the family this summer and explore life outside of OC, or you want to chill closer to home and enjoy a bit of what this local paradise has to offer, we will be presenting family-focused destinations over the next three months, tried and tested by Parenting OC’s intrepid travel crew. [caption id="attachment_31890" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo by Randall Tierney[/caption] Canyon seclusion meets sandy shores at The Ranch at Laguna Beach...
Memorable Mini-Getaways
School may be out for the summer, but schedules can still be difficult to get away too far and for too long. Fortunately, there are numerous attractions and mini vacation spots up, down, and around Orange County to have a fun and unique family vacation for the scrapbooks. Palm Springs About a 2-hour drive Soak up the desert sun at one of the many family-oriented hotels in Palm Springs, which offer large swimming pools, waterslides, and family-friendly dining options. The area is also filled with sightseeing and attractions, including the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert in Rancho Mirage, which...
Fourth of July Celebrations
Celebrate Independence Day with your loved ones! Discover top family-friendly 4th of July events in Orange County—fireworks, parades, and more fun…
Food
Discover Orange County’s best in food, family fun, classes & more with our Readers’ Choice Awards. Celebrate community favorites chosen by locals.
Theme Park Halloween
Before you go trick-or-treating, there is plenty of fun still to be had at Southern California amusement parks this fall…
New year, old tale
SPONSORED
Explore a beloved folktale retold in a vibrant cultural display for the whole family! Celebrate Chinese New Year at Segerstrom Center for the arts with…
Discover Hands-On Skills This Summer at Urban Workshop!
This summer, give your child more than just something to do, give them something to build. Less screen time and more hands-on skills. Urban Workshop Summer Camp…
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