Anxiety or Bliss?

By Shirin Yadegar
The anxiety of traveling without the kids for a week is overwhelmingly stressful and all consuming. A mother’s first instinct is to stay home and plan to get away when it’s more convenient, but it’s never convenient. One of your kids will undoubtably have a game, performance or life altering crisis while you’re gone. There is no “perfect” time to travel without the kids except for now. Now is the time to do everything we want to do because tomorrow will be filled with even more responsibility. (more…)

By Sarah Bowman
The American Academy of Pediatrics has just updated their recommendations around screen time (again), easing slightly their caution around use of screens for children younger than eighteen months as a way of keeping up with the reality of parenting in the digital age — reiterating their focus on the importance of quality content and parent supervision. (more…)

By Shirin Yadegar
In an era when EQ is just as important as a person’s IQ, we must weave it into our children’s lives. Everything from school admissions interviews to standardized tests are starting to question a candidate’s emotional intelligence.

So how do we make sure we are raising emotional intelligent children? The Q Wunder app is a great place to start. The app is the world’s most comprehensive parent and kid-friendly emotional intelligence curriculum. (more…)

By Nathalie Kunin
Applying to an independent school in Los Angeles often tops the list of parents’ most stressful tasks. It can feel like facing a towering wave, about to topple you. Although it all seems overwhelming, the tips below will help make gearing up for the school application process more manageable. Embrace the journey toward a new school! The application process really can be both exciting and empowering, especially for students who are ready to make a change. With the right tools and attitude, parents can avoid anxiety and better focus on what’s best for their son or daughter. (more…)

Students can take the test multiple times, but what do admissions directors advise?

By Valerie Lev
For the first time since the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) was administered, in 1989, the ISEE Board is now allowing students to take the test more than once. For students planning to take the test this fall, the following two times will be offered:

One time in either August, September, October, or November and one time in either December, January, February, or March. The February and March options are mute points because most schools require that an applicant’s file be completed by mid to late January. More information, including specific test dates and locations will be posted on the official ISEE website:http://www.iseetest.org in early August. (more…)

In an ideal world this would be pragmatic, however we’re dealing with reality, emotions and emotions are energy in motion. If we can remember this one notion, “emotions are energy in motion,” then you’re setting yourself up for success. Divorce/Separations are messy and hurtful, throw in the mix kids, and you’ve got fireworks. This is when some parents start to use their own children as leverage instead of doing what’s in the best interest of their child.

One of the things you’ve got to remember is when you’re dealing with your ex spouse who’s angry, has pent up hostility and bitter, this is actually a good thing! Yes, you read that correctly, this emotion has a root, that root is love. Hear me out, when a person is angry to a point of hatred the nucleus is love. They feel betrayed, the promise, vow, it’s broken and now they’re hurting, they channel their emotion through anger. (more…)

By Sophia Parsa
1. Plan educational field trips
You live in Los Angeles – a hotspot of amazing and often free museums, parks, and monuments that have so much educational value. What are you doing to take advantage of it? For example, did you know that in addition to their exhibitions, LACMA provides art classes for children and teens throughout the summer including watercolor, printmaking, and street photography? If your child isn’t a huge art critic but the star of the science fair, be sure to check out the La Brea Tar Pits or the Natural History Museum where they learn fascinating things about science and nature. Although these are great resources, it’s up to you to decide where the educational value will come from. There’s a difference between a fun trip to the museum and an opportunity to engage your child and challenge them to think critically about the world around them in a fun way! (more…)

By Yasmin Mossanen, Psy.D.
Let’s face it; we all are guilty of using psychological language to label our children’s’ behaviors. It is not meant to be harmful or malicious, however, the sudden increase in mental health diagnosis in children is forcing us to take a hard look at what options we take as parents. Research has shown that ADHD is diagnosed in 1/10 children, Autism Spectrum Disorder is diagnosed in 1 out of 54 school-aged-boys, and mood disorders have increased by 40% in the last decade. Why the sudden surge?

Educators, administrators, and parents have become casual about incorporating mental health language in everyday life. Over-diagnosis in our school systems has paved the way to medicate and abnormalize children’s normal behavior. It is common for parents to categorize their child’s behavior in order to control it. Consequently, it is easy to forget that a mental diagnosis will follow children into adulthood. The label and the experience that comes with the disorder are irreversible. Mental health diagnoses are important and can be very helpful, and you want your child to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder if he/she really has one. (more…)

By Nathalie Kunin
Spring break is a time to unwind and enjoy a relaxing week or two off school. It can also be an opportunity to sharpen academic skills and learn new skills to bring back to the classroom with you. The 5 activities listed below will make Spring Break fly by whether you are away on vacation or having a “stay-cation”. (more…)

By Janis Adams

What does it take to secure a place in a top Los Angeles private school?

Let’s talk to some people in the know.

After months of researching, preparing, testing, and interviewing, there is nothing left to do but wait. We want to give families some behind-the-scenes insight about what is going on as final decisions are being made. Despite this being crunch time for the independent schools admissions directors, several top ADs and experts took the time to talk with us about the admissions process.

Laurel Baker Tew, Director of Admissions at Viewpoint School, reminds us that “the student isn’t the only part of the admissions decision. The family as well has to fit into the school community.” (more…)