In searching for the right after-school activities for your kids, here are five questions to ask. After-school activities offer great opportunities for children to explore new interests, develop social and emotional skills, navigate conflict, make new friends, learn to manage time effectively and so much more. The first decision seems...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) Learn how practicing mindfulness helps children with anxiety. Mindfulness is the ability to focus on the present moment while allowing yourself to experience emotions, thoughts and sensations as they develop. It's important not to try to control your experience when practicing mindfulness. Instead, allowing thoughts and...
(Photo Courtesy of AdobeStock) I’m going to be a new parent soon. What should I ask the pediatrician? Adults Congratulations, you are having a baby soon! You are excited, nervous and probably aren’t sure exactly what to expect when you turn from expecting to parenting. Should first-time expectant parents meet...
(Photo Courtesy of Adam Yacenda) City of Newport Beach Lifeguard Department Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda answers important questions about beach safety in time for the summer season. Parenting OC: What are the top beach safety issues you see as a lifeguard? Adam Yacenda: The Newport Beach Lifeguard Department is celebrating...
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo) How to support your child’s sensory needs this summer. For many kids, summer is a time for fun, play, rest and discovery. But summer can be difficult for kids with sensory-processing challenges. Children who experience difficulties with sensory processing may find it challenging to enjoy...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) What are some warning signs of a mental health crisis in kids and what should I do if I see these signs? All ages In the last few years, I have responded to mental health crises in children as young as 5 years old. I recently...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) A pediatric and sports medicine expert offers tips on getting the most out of summer camp for your child. Going to summer camp for a child can be an amazing experience with memories that can last for a lifetime. However, a bad experience at camp may...
(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...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) Why mindfulness is an essential skill of the new year. Navigating the modern world is not easy — our culture places excessive demands on our time and attention, often pulling our focus away from those nearest to us and even away from our personal health and...
(Photo Courtesy of Leo Rivas on Unsplash) Learn how catching some Zzzs can help you and your kids have a productive new year. There is no doubt that getting enough quality sleep is essential for overall physical and mental health. We could come up with a slogan-based sleep recommendation: “Eight...
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) What do I need to know about RSV to protect my kids? 0 to 2 Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is common, and one of the many viruses that cause respiratory illness — illnesses of the nose, throat and lungs. For healthy children, RSV symptoms resemble a...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) With the holiday rush here, how do I keep my family healthy, fit and safe? All ages With the upcoming holidays, there’s a lot of focus on meals, preparing for family gatherings, and for families with little ones, creating safe and enjoyable celebrations. The holidays are...
(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 Xavier Mouton Photographie) How do I help guide my kids through the trauma of school shootings? All ages Earthquake drills. Fire drills. These types of emergency preparations have long been part of student life in Orange County schools. These days, unfortunately, many children have something else built...
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) This Father’s Day, we’re reflecting on the life lessons that fathers can pass on to their children — particularly boundaries. Father’s Day is just around the corner. There are so many essential life lessons that dads pass on to their children. Father’s Day is a reminder...
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) Learn how to create a mindful household for your child for parenting in unprecedented times. Is mindfulness possible in the chaos? It's the question that every parent asks. Life comes at us fast when we're helping our kids navigate the stress of school, socializing, family dynamics...
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) What should I know about the COVID-19 vaccine for younger kids? Ages 5 to 11 As a pediatrician, I see firsthand the rollercoaster of emotions parents go through regarding the recent emergency use approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. While some...
(Photo Courtesy of Paige Cody/Unsplash) Learn ways to support your children in building upon their passions. Have your children been stuck with their heads in their computers, tablets and phones for the last 18 months? Children have had limited opportunities to build upon and explore their passions outside of the...
(Photo Courtesy of Allen Taylor/Unsplash) How can my family keep fit and healthy over the holidays? All ages Holiday meals are commonly associated with an excessive intake of food and drink. Here are some sensible recommendations for more health-conscious holiday choices, especially when it comes to athletes in your family....
(Photo Courtesy of Kampus Productions/Pexels) How mindfulness can become a useful part of your child’s mental-health toolkit. Parents shouldn't be intimidated by conversations about how to manage childhood anxiety. It's very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that anxiety is a problem that needs to be fixed. In...
(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 Jeremy McKnight/Unsplash) What are some ways to help keep my kids safe this Halloween? All ages As a cancer physician caring for immunocompromised patients and a mom of young children, I’m grappling with this question myself. Last year, big Halloween festivals, parades and parties were a no-go...
(Molly Ringwald) Eighties icon Molly Ringwald partners with campaign urging parents to vaccinate their teens, and it’s not for COVID-19. It was 2005 and Jonathan DeGuzman was just a regular college student. “The thing I remember is I was turning in my psychology paper for our final exam. And at...
(Photo Courtesy of Note Thanun/Unsplash) How do I talk to my young child about active shooters? Elementary age The world is seemingly becoming a more dangerous and violent place post-pandemic. We can’t seem to turn on the news without a story of an active shooter or violent event somewhere in...
(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 Canva) Are we having a worse allergy season in 2021? All ages The answer can be complicated. Yes … and no. No: Face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially reduced not only the number of communicable viral illnesses but also allergy symptoms. A recent study (by...
(Photo Courtesy of YMCA of OC) This summer is key to continue children’s learning. Summertime in Southern California means beach trips, road trips, swimming pools and shaved ice. And after more than a year of enduring the challenges of a pandemic, many students and teachers are counting down the days...
(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...
(Photo Courtesy of Stillness InMotion/Unsplash) How do we balance gaming and screen time with off-screen activities? All Ages Let me be clear. I’m not a gamer. But I do spend many hours looking at screens. What are the pros and cons of gaming and screen time from the viewpoints of...
How can I keep my child healthy and on the field? All ages Outdoor sports have officially returned to Orange County. With all of the time away from their sport, what is the best way to keep your athlete healthy and on the field? Although many young athletes have been...
(Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Cosens Photography/Unsplash) A teen mental health expert offers parents advice on avoiding the pitfalls of bad habits. The early months of the year are usually a time for reflection, resolutions and starting anew. But with the pandemic clearly seeping into 2021, it can be more difficult...
(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,...
With money being tight these days, is there some kind of financial aid we can apply to for our college-bound teen? Teens and adults To maximize financial aid (free money), students need to file the FAFSA and the CSS Profile annually to qualify for grants/gifts and scholarships. The FAFSA can...
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...
How educators and parents can help students — and themselves — emotionally cope with pandemic and socio-political stress. A pandemic. Political divisiveness. A storming of the United States Capitol. It sounds like the makings of a political thriller, but it’s the reality Americans have been living for the past year....
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...
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...
I’m pregnant and having a lot of anxiety about breastfeeding. How should I prepare? Adults A lot of people think breastfeeding is natural. But in reality, those first three weeks are rough. Breastfeeding is like a dance between mother and baby. The mom has to learn the steps, and each...
What is the normal timing and types of motor development in the first years of life? Newborns through kindergartners Motor development in the first years of life is fascinating. Physical activity in kids starts with a usual progression of skills that allow a child to roll, pick things up, sit,...
The pandemic has made me want to be more prepared. What should I include in my family’s emergency kit? All ages As we begin the new school year (from a classroom or the living room), it’s the perfect opportunity to teach kids about the importance of being prepared. While the...
I’m a manager at a large company and a mom. Do you have advice on how I can manage my team from home while also managing my kids’ distance learning? All ages I can certainly relate with many parents in this situation that balancing work and home life is often...
I think my son has grown a lot recently. Is this normal considering he has been much less active? Adolescents Have you noticed that your teenage athlete had a big growth spurt over the last few months? I’ve seen several young athletes recently for annual physicals and found that many...
The key to learning is first learning how. When we talk about education — whether our own, our children’s or other people’s — we talk a lot about the importance of learning. We talk surprisingly little, though, about how to learn. We fail to address the reasons why learning is...
In a time when parents are exploring educational options for their kids, a tutoring expert offers tips on how to find the right service and tutor. With the majority of Orange County schools still teetering between distance learning and hybrid in-school programs, many children have been left with large developmental...
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...
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: [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...
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,...
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....
Mental health challenges in kids can sometimes hide in plain sight. Special needs are often associated with physical disabilities. While not as visible, special needs also includes learning, emotional and behavioral challenges. Common mental health challenges are anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and (obsessive-compulsive disorder) OCD....
Good health and wellness practices for children with autism are important to overall well-being. There’s a lot for parents to process when a child receives a diagnosis of autism. And there are some important needs to tend to beyond behavioral symptoms. Oftentimes, health and wellness practices can be compromised by...
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...
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...
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...
Q: [All Ages] "Between sports and music lessons, we are a busy family. Should I be encouraging more unscheduled playtime?" A: “Play is the work of the child,” said famed educator Maria Montessori more than 100 years ago. Her words are as true now as ever — and maybe have...
Q: [Toddler] My toddler just asked me an embarrassing question. What should I do? A: Whether the question was, “Where did I come from?” or “Why does Daddy pee different from Mommy?” a parent’s worst fear is that they’ll be caught off guard and totally tongue-tied when their toddler asks...
Apps can be a priceless tool. Imagine your child having a coping skill in their pocket that can bring harmony and presence at home or in the classroom. Meditation apps are fostering great results, they can help young ones calm down and help improve focus and concentration. Many environments can...
Packing a healthy and tasty school lunch can seem like an overwhelming task. If you are like most parents, you spend a fair amount of time and energy on preparing something healthy for your kids. And it can be discouraging to open the lunchbox at the end of the day...
Q: [All Ages] Does your two-month-old baby smile at the sound of your voice? Can your five-month-old grab and hold a rattle? Does your one-year-old clap his hands? Does your two-year-old engage in pretend play? A: These are just a few of the questions that developmental screenings explore. Even if...
Q: [All Ages] All my kids want to do lately is to play video games or watch TV. How can I get them to exercise? A: In a day and age when technology is king, screen time is everywhere, and families keep busy schedules—sometimes we forget one of the most...
A new clinical report stresses the importance of play for children. If your pediatrician is up on the latest prescriptions for children, you’ll be told about whatever vaccines might be needed at this age and counseled about the importance of nutritious instead of junk food. And then you’ll be asked:...
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]...
Supporting child with autism spectrum disorder through the transition of childhood to adulthood. The transition to adulthood for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be challenging, and requires planning and special considerations. As adolescents graduate from high school or receive their certificate of completion, the structured supports they may...
Q: As a mother of a child with autism, I am often given eye rolls or useless parenting advice from others when she is acting up in public. What is some encouragement advice for others to be kind to the parents of special needs children and their parents? A: Maybe...
Q: [School Ages] What can I do to effectively approach my child’s anger or emotional outbursts? A: It’s common for children to have occasional tantrums and outbursts, but when their anger seems to flare up repeatedly or turn into aggression, it can be distressing for parents and often they feel...
Q [Tweens and Teens]: It is such a treat to have the whole family around the table for the holidays, I wish it could be this way all year. Is it worth the battle to force the issue when my teen is so busy? A: While the holidays find many...
Between an increased sweat factor clogging pores, sport and day camp schedules disrupting morning routines and the need to slather sunscreen lotions onto already sensitive and breakout-prone skin, summer can seem like a minefield for tweens and teens struggling to keep a clear complexion. We had a chat with Dr....
Within every child we can find such unique beauty, characteristics and talents that comprise their individuality. The way they smile, what makes them laugh, whether they are left or right handed or even left or right-brain thinkers, all make them who they are – our precious little gifts. So it...
Parents take their newborns to the pediatrician six times during the first year of life. But the baby isn’t the only one receiving a checkup during these visits. Before medical school I double-majored in biology and psychology, and it’s that second major that I find myself leaning on most during...
Q: [Maternity/Newborn] We must have been good this year, because Santa is bringing us our first bundle of joy. But we need to score a great pediatrician, STAT. It’s so confusing and stressful to choose, would it be greedy to ask him to toss one of those in his bag,...
September is National Food Safety Education Month and STOP Foodborne Illness (stopfoodborneillness.org), the leading national advocate for safe food, is shining the spotlight on ways to keep school lunches safe. Keep your kids healthy with these tips. Keep in mind the bacteria danger zone. Bacteria grow rapidly in the temperature...
Q: [School-Aged] My little one has heard her older brother complain about ‘how hard’ science was for him and now as second grade looms, is worried she won’t be able to cut it. How can I build her confidence? A: The misconception that science is difficult to learn – or...
It happens to the best of us, we suddenly look up from blowing up inflatable dolphins and flipping burgers on the backyard grill and summer has come to a shocking halt. We know it’s coming, but every year it sneaks up on us. Here’s a PreK-through-12 cheat sheet on how...
Learning advice for the lazy days While a carefree summer of “whatever” might seem like an idyllic plan for childhood, not all students are built the same. For some, a stretch of months without routine can bring anxiety, frustration and even a sense of loss. For others, a summer without...
Q: [Whole Family] It seems like every other newstory these days is about norovirus, from cruise ships to burrito chain joints. How do I keep my kids safe? They aren’t even in school yet and there are germs everywhere! A: Bacteria and germs are unavoidable, and you shouldn’t have an...