(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....
(SCFTA Studio D Summer Camps/Courtesy of Segerstrom Center for the Arts) How Special Needs Camps Adapted to a Pandemic Two years of pandemic transformed everyday normal moments in life into the annoyingly and sometimes comically difficult. We often complained. We grumbled. We worried how we would do things. Then somehow...
(Photo Courtesy of Endless Surf Sun School) Orange County summer camps reflect and learn from 2021, and look forward to a new summer. For many Orange County summer camps, 2021 was “more normal.” And while the early part of 2022 has proved challenging due to the highly contagious Omicron variant,...
(Kid's Soccer/Courtesy of YMCA) After-school sports and activities are changing, but kids can still reap their many benefits. In a typical week, an Orange County family can spend a significant amount of time participating in after-school sports — going to soccer practice, attending a basketball game, Little League tryouts or...
Q: [Adolescents and teens] How should I prepare my athlete for returning to sports? After spending time away from organized activities, there will be an understood eagerness to quickly return to previous levels of practice and competition. That being said, it is best to protect young athletes and performers by...
Q: [All Ages] My kids are both athletes and now they’re at home without team sports. How can we make good use of this time? Now that essential social distancing/home isolation needs have replaced all the practices, games, rehearsals, performances, tournaments and competitions, what can young athletes do? First of...
How to listen to our kids when they lose their icon. When a child’s hero passes away, a part of their innocence is gone forever. When we lost Kobe Bryant, it was a striking reminder that life isn’t just a game. It sometimes is tragically and inexplicably taken away, never...
Start a new tradition with an old classic and let the serenity of fishing bring you together. The most restful adult day I ever spent was on a sport fishing boat out of Dana Point Harbor. (The second most restful day was rock climbing out at Lake Perris.) In both...
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....
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...
Goofy tried to bowl, but goofed up and instead, opened the newest place for families to have fun and eat at the same time at the Disneyland Resort. Splitsville Luxury Lanes, the newest addition to the Downtown Disney area, offers bowling as well as dining and drinks for the entire...
Q: [All Ages] I’ve noticed that while watching games, our daughter seems to be lagging during the second half. She seems to perk up shortly after the team takes water breaks, though. We also observed this at home after practices, but figured she was just tired. Could she be dehydrated?...
Is Sport Camp Right for My Child? The ides of a camp that pairs summer fun with skill building in a sport seems like a no brainer. But what if your child isn’t a lifelong gymnast or soccer player? Will they fit in and be happy at a sports camp?...
Sometimes life can seem overwhelming, even in the idyllic environs we enjoy in Orange County. As reflections about the past and new year kick in, we wanted to share the inspiring stories of a few OC families. The Brown Family 100 Miles and Counting Last December, Kelly and Allen Brown...
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....
Brady Gardner, 13, of Huntington Beach goes to bat for kids with challenges. When Brady Gardner, 13, of Huntington Beach steps up to the plate, he’s already batting a thousand in the eyes of the players and parents affiliated with the Little League Challenger Division. The league is designed to...