Month: August 2015

Lifestyle

How to Eat Healthy While Traveling

By Shirin Yadegar
Shirin YadegarTraveling with four kids for a month in Israel and Italy equates to a lot of leftover shwarma, pasta and pizza on the little one’s plates that’s hard to resist.

My family loves fine dining so our travels are always focused around our next meal. We search for the best chefs, local organic fare and a fun atmosphere.

We recently returned from what was truly the best vacation of our lives. We spent two weeks in Israel celebrating my eldest daughter’s bat mitzvah and then flew to Italy where we spent another two weeks devouring the best tuscan cuisine.

So how did we manage to stay gluten free, organic and still enjoy all that these fabulous countries had to offer? (more…)

Education

Parents as Partners in Education

By Kami Laura
Kami LauraBoth parents and teachers play a significant role in preparing children to become knowledgeable, caring and responsible adults. Whether your child is returning to school or a new kindergartener, there are ways that parents can clearly send a message to their children that school is important and education matters.

When parents create routines at home for homework, free time, meals and bedtime, they set the stage for school success. Some techniques that teachers use in the classroom can easily be adapted at home. Many teachers display visuals in the classroom, such as, schedules, to establish transitions throughout the school day. Parents, too, can prepare their child for events and post daily calendars of those events. (more…)

Health

Staying Healthy During the School Year

Are your children prepared to return to school?

By Peter S. Waldstein, M.D., F.A.A.P and Julia A. White, M.D., F.A.A.P
Julia WhiteBack to school time is upon us, which is a great opportunity to make sure your child is ready from a health perspective. It is also a great time to refresh on illness prevention while being at school.

Staying Healthy
Maintaining proper health begins at home. Back to school time is a good excuse to refamiliarize your children on the importance of hand washing at home and school. Most illness is spread through contact, and hand washing has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent your child from becoming ill while at school. Washing before eating, after playtime, and anytime before touching the face, mouth, or eyes is key. If you are not able to wash, you may use hand sanitizer instead. You can consider packing a small travel-sized Purell bottle in your child’s bag to encourage proper hygeine. Also remind your child to cover coughs with the arm. Should your child become ill, he or she should stay home to prevent others from becoming ill. Check with your pediatrician if you are unsure if they should stay home. (more…)