(Photo Courtesy of Heritage Oak) Orange County educators discuss how the pandemic has affected their students’ mental health and what they’re doing about it. The pandemic has left its mark on pretty much every field, including, of course, the school system. Being confined to the home without much social interaction...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) We love Halloween, but are still concerned about COVID-19 exposure and things like monkeypox. How can I keep my kids safe while letting them have fun? All ages Halloween is a favorite holiday for many children and adults alike. From the decor to the costumes, the...
(Photo Courtesy of Jessica Rockowitz/Unsplash) Helping children cope with the effects of living through a pandemic with mindfulness tips and tools. With a phenomenon as wide-reaching as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is nearly impossible to know the full extent to which communities across the globe have been disrupted. The loss...
(Photo Courtesy of Larry Crayton/Unsplash) We hope this summer will be full of water and fun. But are there any precautions we should take as a family? All ages The CDC has advised that pools and beaches are relatively COVID-safe — but is your family water safe enough to hit...
(Lona Cooking/Photo Courtesy of April Swerdfeger) The pandemic has had a real impact on special needs families and programs. Here’s how they adapted and what they’ve learned. Chinh Tuong Nguyen’s son, Patrick, was born on July 5. He rarely cried during his first 8 months, even when he had the...
What should I keep in mind about sending my kids to a summer sports camp? All ages Enrolling a child in a sports camp positively focused around their interests ensures their vacation time and your money is well spent. When choosing a camp it’s important to consider the following: Safety...
The Rise of Alternative Learning However, not all students returned to school. Some districts brought students back in phases, or chose to bring back elementary school students, but not middle and high school students. And if families were not sending their students back to school, they were seeking out learning...
With a new year comes hope for a better tomorrow. This has never been more true. Here, we reflect on 2020 and anticipate the year ahead in education. In mid-March, Orange County students were sent home for what many parents and teachers assumed would be a two-week period, just until...
Stress-reduction is the key to a healthy pregnancy as moms-to-be adapt to pandemic life. As beautiful and transformative as pregnancy can be, it often comes with its own unique set of anxieties. Layer the grim realities of a global pandemic on top of the normal stressors of pregnancy, and the...
I’m a little nervous about the new vaccines. Are they safe? All ages Many of my patients ask me if I think there are any risks to taking a COVID-19 vaccine that has been developed so quickly? And my response to them is that I will be the first in...
Find out how these OC mompreneurs have adjusted and adapted throughout 2020. Jasmine Roth Age: 36 Family: Husband, Brett; daughter, Hazel, 5.5 months City: Huntington Beach Star of: HGTV’s “Help! I Wrecked My House”; previously on “Hidden Potential” How did your passion for home construction and design begin? “By accident!...
Local nurse becomes a patient and a mother in the midst of COVID-19. Becoming a working mom is hard enough. Being a nurse is hard enough. Life during the pandemic has been hard enough. Melissa Leite pulled off something like the modern mom hat trick, giving birth to twins at...
In a COVID-19 world parents are now forming ‘pandemic pods’ for their kids. When her 7-year-old twins’ Los Alamitos school shut down in March — along with the rest of the state — Eunice Shin started thinking about alternatives. “I've been talking to two other families that are from my...
Gone Virtual: Orange County distance learning experts share advice for helping students thrive. Gov. Gavin Newsom had not yet finished his July 17 briefing when Corinne Mosqueda, a teacher in the Fullerton School District, got the first text message. Newsom’s announcement that counties on California’s COVID-19 watch list — including...
How can I talk to my young child about the pandemic so she understands the importance of measures such as social distancing, and not being able to see her friends? Ages 4-10 With OC public schools continuing distance learning this fall, I’ve had plenty of discussions with fellow parents lately...
I have “maskne” and dry hands from regular mask wearing and handwashing. How can I care for my skin while staying safe? All ages You are doing all the right things: washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask when out in public, getting the requisite sunlight needed to reduce stress...
How grandparents and grandkids can stay close from afar during the pandemic. One of the most painful aspects of the pandemic lockdown has been the separation of grandparents from their children and grandchildren. We’ve all seen the photos of families on either side of a window, touching their hands to...
Q: My child is having dental issues, but I don't feel comfortable taking them to a dental office. What is telehealth and how can my family use this while we are all trying to social distance? All ages Dental decay does not stop progressing because of a pandemic. More than...
Q: How do I know if COVID-19 is impacting my child’s mental health? All ages During the past several months of the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures, changes in routine, and loss of regular social connections have impacted the overall well-being of many of our kids. In stressful situations, our bodies...
Q: What should I know about estate planning during COVID-19? Adults Get started. Estate planning is an act of love. It is the process of planning for not only your affairs during incapacity but for the people you care about most at your death. For many, this is a task...
Music at Casa Romantica Enjoy cool acoustic tunes and hot java at the Casa’s latest “Coffee & Music” session, occurring August 1 between 10 am-12 pm. On August 20, you can get funky with the Backwater Blues band, while sisters Kalina & Kiana perform on August 27. Tickets must be...
SAFETY Babyganics Hand Sanitizer Hand sanitizer is a hot topic these days, but not all of them are suitable for children. Babyganics offers an alcohol-free hand sanitizer made specifically for little ones. It is offered in a mandarin scent and also comes fragrance-free for sensitive children. Besides this hand sanitizer’s...
Stratford School Unveils its Plan for Fall 2020 Stratford School is excited to welcome students back for the upcoming school year with safety in mind and plans for a flexible learning environment. We have established priorities aligned with our school’s mission and goals for students, created a return-to-school plan, and...
(Photo by Deleece Cook/Unsplash) District officials, educators and families navigate their way back to school for fall on a road paved with uncertainty. It’s normal to be nervous about the first day of school, but back-to-school jitters are amplified this year, as an unparalleled pandemic creates uncertainty surrounding the 2020/21...
Get some fresh air and exercise with the family this summer at these local scenic hikes. Planning for school is always nerve-wracking, for sure. And by now, many parents feel as though they have pulled out all the stops on finding creative activities in the home and backyard. Maybe there...
Q: [Adults] I’m pregnant and I’ve heard a lot about postpartum depression. Is the pandemic impacting this issue for new moms? Maternal depression is the most common complication of pregnancy in the nation. An estimated one in five new or expectant mothers will experience a mental health disorder during pregnancy...
Left to right, Ivy Marshall, Everett Lewis, Ellie Marshall, Eliza Lewis, Emma Lewis Though the pandemic, distance learning, and summer break may all contribute to more brain drain for students this year, there are simple things parents can do to help. The summer struggle is real. While summer vacation is...
(Photo Courtesy of Annie Spratt on Unsplash) The recent disruption to our daily routines has created an opportunity for parents of children with special learning needs. The COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place has been hard on all of us, there is no doubt about that. Yet, there is a silver lining...
Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash With re-openings underway, how do we mentally cope with a normal that is in transition? COVID-19 and recent societal stressors have created a deep uncertainty about our future. As a psychiatrist, I never hospitalized as many patients or seen this level of anxiety and...
Photo by Meghan Holmes on Unsplash Develop new fun activities to spend quality time together as a family this summer. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed much about the way we live and relate to others. Social distancing is necessary. A lot of conventional summer family activities, like visiting the local...
COVID-19 and stay-home orders have impacted all people and industries — including baseball. In time for Father’s Day, we spoke with Los Angeles Angels baseball outfielder Justin Upton to get a glimpse of a professional athlete and father living life in the age of coronavirus. Justin Upton Los Angeles Angels...
The fall school year will be like no other. What can families expect from OC public schools for the 2020-21 school year? Back to school is typically a time of preparing and planning. This academic year was unexpectedly interrupted when COVID-19 pushed Southern California schools into distance learning indefinitely. Now...
A Ladera Ranch Girl Scout troop made kits for frontline workers with wellness in mind. Making the world a better place is a challenge on a normal day. How do you make it better during a global pandemic? Troop 3743 has an answer. The Ladera Ranch Girl Scout troop would...
Your stay-in guide for virtual activities while sheltering-in-place. ENTERTAINMENT Virtual Shakespeare Aloud http://carpenterarts.org/artsforlife/shakespeare.htmlThe Carpenter Center transports its popular free Shakespeare Aloud series to the Internet. Play readings will be done 1 pm-2:30 pm on designated Thursdays. Richard III will be read June 4 & 11, while the second play is...
Even pet therapy groups are changing the way they do things in the COVID-19 world. We are all adapting to our new world of sheltering-in-place and social distancing in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. That includes therapy dog teams like those with Orange County Animal Allies, formerly...
The COVID-19 pandemic has created some big changes for the American education system. Here are how some OC private schools have adapted. The coronavirus pandemic has transformed California's classrooms in an unprecedented way. Kids are home. Parents are moving into a much more active role in education. Living rooms...
The new school year brings many unknowns. Here’s how you can emotionally prepare. As the days in quarantine continue on, millions of stressed parents and kids continue to try and navigate home schooling and life in close quarters in this COVID-19 “new normal.” The new school year may bring a...
Q: [All Ages] With the shelter-in-place, my kids are online all the time. How do I balance their distance learning needs with the usual concerns of too much screen time? Yes, it is a reality — school is out for the rest of the academic year due to COVID-19. It’s...
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,...
A Tesoro High School student turns 3D printing into a lifesaving resource for frontline workers. The effects of the pandemic took hold quickly. But as the disease sickened and killed people, shut down businesses and closed schools, the frontline workers stayed on. Even with parts of his junior year in...
Five steadfast and courageous Orange County moms, serving the community amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Paramedic Stephanie Maynard Job: Orange County Fire Authority firefighter/paramedic Residence: Central Orange County Family: “I’m a single mother of one boy who is 7 years old and is in first grade.” What inspired you...
Is your hair getting out of control? Check out these tips from a local stylist. There are a lot of big things going on right now. But many times, the little things can make a difference. Little things — like going to the hair salon — aren’t happening right now...
Staying home can provide some new avenues to bond and play with pets. We’re all home. Stress is high and a version of cabin fever may have started to set in. Our pets may be getting a little antsy too. But just because we’re at home doesn’t mean we can’t...
Q: [Adults] I’m pregnant and my due date is in a month. Should I be concerned about delivering in a hospital during this pandemic? Travel plans can wait. Parties can wait. But your baby’s birth is not going to wait until COVID-19 passes. While it is natural to feel anxious...
Take this time at home to create these educational and fun science projects with the kids. With schools closed, the kids have been home for weeks now and you’re running out of ideas for them. Remote learning might be going well but in any case, children are antsy and looking...
While sheltering-in-place, parents can plan ahead for the best ways to re-socialize their kids. Family life has changed dramatically in the wake of the worldwide spread of COVID-19. Without the outlet of school, work, parks and other community activities, local families are experiencing more time together than ever before. Melyssa...
Your stay-in guide for virtual activities while sheltering-in-place. Aquarium of the Pacific’s Online Academy aquariumofpacific.org/news/aquariumacademy The Aquarium’s wide array of online courses cover a multitude of marine life topics, with different educational “playlists” aimed for pre-K to second-graders, third- to fifth-graders, sixth- to eighth-graders and ninth- to 12th-graders. They also...
These meditation tips can help soothe our nerves during this challenging time. These times are challenging, there is no doubt. Focusing on one’s mind in the moment can bring great insight, as it allows one to think clearly about the subject matter at hand. Mindful parenting is simply an ongoing...
How to keep your routine while staying home. We’re all in it together. We’re facing a pandemic and need to do our part by staying home and staying healthy. It’s a new world for all of us. But with a highly developed digital landscape at our disposal, this doesn’t mean...
How are OC families spending their stay-at-home time? Parent: Jennifer Cohen Child: Caden, 2 ½ City: Orange “Caden loves painting and is currently learning about Easter. He loves to goof around to pass the time during quarantine.” Parent: Jimena Olmedo Child: Adrian, 20 months City: Irvine “Adrian Olmedo enjoys reading...
Why it matters. April 1 marks Census Day. People in California and across the country can now fill out the Census in order to provide an accurate count of all people in the United States. The California Census happens once every 10 years and is the only official population count...
Balancing work, kids and stress amid the coronavirus pandemic. As days pass, the novel coronavirus continues to account for the disruption of the lives of a significant portion of the global population. This has triggered feelings of anxiety, depression and fear among people regardless of their cultures, genders or ages....
Q: [All Ages] I’m super stressed out with everything that’s going on right now. How do I overcome this anxiety? A: To say these are unprecedented times is an understatement. Our parents did not talk to us about that time in their lives when the entire world was brought to...
Q: [All Ages] This pandemic is like nothing we’ve ever had to deal with as a society. How do I address it with my kids? A: One of the most important things I do as a physician is listen to my patients’ concerns and offer them support and guidance as they...
The pandemic is causing anxiety about the safety of all members of the family. There is a lot of anxiety about Coronavirus Disease 2019, aka COVID-19. For pet owners, that anxiety has undoubtedly extended to the safety of their companion animals. Can pets get sick from coronavirus? Though more information...
It all starts with clean hands and cool heads. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Cough into a tissue that you immediately discard. Stay home. By now, we’ve all heard the advice from government and health officials regarding COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, but when it comes to...