(Photo Courtesy of Speech and Language Development Center) From comic books to virtual reality, therapists and teachers look forward at innovations in special needs programs. Parents of special needs kids know the particulars of a home life designed to suit their child. It often involves helping their child navigate the...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) Summer camp offers the chance for new friends and experiences, and lifelong positive memories for all kids. Here are some tips on how to prep your special needs child for a great time at camp. Summer camp can be an enriching, memorable experience for our youth....
(Photo Courtesy of YMCA OC Camp) Matchmaking your child with the right camp may lead to a more rewarding summer experience. Let’s face it — living in the 21st century, our lives can feel jam-packed with the never-ending list of meetings, play dates, homework, snacks, snacks and more snacks —...
(Ethan with Anneliese Schools miniature horse/ Photo Courtesy of Anneliese Schools) Anneliese Schools Animal Care Coordinator Janet O’Faolain talks about the important role animals can play in child development. Stefanie Speed A New York native, Janet O’Faolain found it therapeutic being around the horses in Central Park. She...
(Photo Courtesy of YMCA of Orange County) This year, families can change up their New Year’s resolutions by focusing on consistency. It’s a new year, and with 2022 freshly on the calendar, the challenges of 2020 are looking further away in the rearview mirror. Many of us have weathered the...
(Photo Courtesy of Any Lane/Pexels) Learn about three common mistakes parents make with adolescent mental health and how to fix them. Missing Warning Signs The saying kids will be kids is problematic. I mean, I get it: Sometimes kids will be kids. But unfortunately, where adolescent mental health is concerned,...
(Photo Courtesy of Robo Wunderkind/Unsplash) A local child sleep expert offers some helpful tips for getting families onto a healthy sleep program in time for returning to school. Back to school is almost here! It might sound shocking or unreal, especially after learning how to home school, but it’s time...
(Photo Courtesy of The Mommy Center) New moms coming out of the pandemic may be feeling a strong sense of isolation. Here’s how moms can meet. Postpartum education and support are seldom discussed and frequently neglected. After going through labor, new mothers begin their journeys confused, overwhelmed, and most importantly,...
The end of 2020 offers a chance to reflect and reset for the new year. As the year comes to a close, we will inevitably reflect on how this year has impacted us and our families. On a broader scale, our country experienced the threat from a global pandemic, political...
Spending more time outdoors on bikes, scooters and skateboards? Don’t forget to wear a helmet. One of the really positive things to come out of this COVID-19 era is a surge in the number of children and families who are regularly active — riding bikes, scooters and skateboards. Even roller...
A family therapist shares some simple steps for handling kids acting out during stay-home orders. Raise your hand if you have been feeling challenged by your children lately. I raised my hand. Did you? Under optimal circumstances parenting is a demanding, albeit rewarding, balancing act of meeting needs, setting limits,...
Help make visits to the dentist a breeze for your kids with these expert tips. Dr. Azi Ardakani knows that fear of the dentist can become a significant challenge for children and their families. “I have a now 9-year-old girl that two years ago wouldn’t even sit in our dental...
OC is home to some of the greatest science, tech and robotics teams in the country. Troy High School in Fullerton has created a monster. A bunch of whip-smart students has carefully and methodically built up a towering behemoth so fierce, it has dominated a nation for more than two...
Parents of kids with autism may face added challenges around celebrations. The holiday season is my favorite time of year. The tasty, homemade food, warm embraces from visiting relatives and lots of laughter, expand my heart. But as much as I now look forward to this time of year, I...
Warmer weather means more trips to the beach or the pool. Children and adults of all ages will flock to the nearest body of water for vacation, parties and celebrations of all kinds. While it’s important to get out, soak up some vitamin D and get wet, it is also...
Project Wipeout Program Coordinator William Koon offers families tips for staying safe in the pool and ocean. Saying hello to summer means sun, sand, warm weather and time in the water. Fun in the sun—and water—also means some potential dangers for kids heading into summer vacation ready to let loose....
Playing in dirt isn’t just loads of fun — it’s healthy, too! There’s no question, playing in the dirt tops the list of fun for young children despite the protests of many well-intended parents. If you’re one of those parents, you can put your fears aside. It turns out dirt...
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Here’s what you need to know about starting your kids off for a lifetime of good dental hygiene. For many of us, brushing our teeth is a habit that would be hard to break. But once we start having kids, good dental hygiene...
Q: [Toddler ] I’m having anxiety about potty training my little one. I don’t want to do the wrong thing. How should I start? A: The first rule of potty training is to not fear potty training. It will likely be messy. It probably won’t be easy. There will be...