(Photo Courtesy of iStock) How can I protect my kids during summer outdoor activities? All ages Summertime means more outdoor time with sun, water and bugs. So, what are the best ways to keep your family safe during warm summer days? Sun Protection Barriers are the best forms of protection...
(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 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) 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 Ben Hershey/Unsplash) My son wants to join the football team at school but I’m worried about concussions. If I let him join, how can I keep him safe? Adolescents and teens There has been a growing amount of concern regarding traumatic head injuries in high school football....
(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 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...
Let the Spooky Festivities Begin. Even with a pandemic, local Halloween events are popping up throughout the county. Businesses and individuals are rising to the challenge and are finding innovative ways to celebrate Halloween while social distancing and adhering to health and safety guidelines. Here are just a few examples:...
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...
Armenta Learning Academy is now offering virtual education to meet the needs of special kids through the COVID-19 pandemic. For the foreseeable future, the requirement of social distancing will undoubtedly create an increased demand for virtual learning options to meet this important need. Meeting this demand locally for the special...
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...
Start the year off with some emergency preparedness and planning. The new year is a time for learning from the past and looking forward toward the future. Considering the recent fires and power outages that hit Southern California, it’s a good time to think about preparedness. “Orange County has multiple...
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....
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...
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As busy as our lives can be, a refresher course on the risk factors and symptoms is a good reminder to make sure we are taking care of ourselves as well as our family’s needs. Sadly, according to BreastCancer.org, twelve percent of women today...
Tut, tut — it looks like you’re stuck in the gym? With Cali on track for its wettest year in history, use these wet-dry goodies so your al fresco workouts aren’t left high and dry. FITS Socks Aptly named, these super fine merino wool socks hug your foot in a...
Whether it's a pool, lake or ocean, summer is the time to make a splash. But before you cannonball into the water, plan ahead and keep in mind important safety tips. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 10 people die of accidental drownings a day....
Kick Tobacco to the Curb & Protect Your Unborn Baby's Heart Did you know that unborn babies exposed to tobacco are at higher risk of a-fib and stroke? One in every 4,000 newborn babies will suffer from a stroke, and that risk increases drastically with smokers. It's no news that...
We hardly need summer to come around to start getting serious about sun protection in OC, but there is never a bad time to freshen up your SPF game. In the soaring temps of July and August, even high-end makeup skin options can get runny or separate when accidentally left...
A large number of Orange County’s young and old are sniffling, sneezing or wheezing their way through spring’s allergy triggers. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with a cost of $18 billion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With increasing...
Everyone loves a good massage, but sometimes it is more necessity than luxury. It is hard to juggle home, relationships, work and motherhood when you can’t even juggle a couple of foam balls without wincing. Getting away to a spa doesn’t always fit into our busy schedules, so here are...