By Jill Levin
Are you looking to send your child to an overnight camp this summer but concerned about Covid? If so, you’re not alone. I think most parents are evaluating whether sending their children away during these times is a good idea.

You should know that the camps that I work with have learned what they need to do to keep campers and staff safe – and have done a great job accomplishing that! Some camps took on this responsibility in the summer of 2020. They followed CDC and state guidelines. For 2021, they shared these best practices with other camps and they remained aware of changes as they occurred. The result was a very successful 2021 camp season. I have every confidence that summer 2022 will be the same. (more…)

Dr. Nazarian promises public safety, economic development and improved quality of life.

Q: Why are you running for council?
A: I am running for Beverly Hills City Council because I have dedicated my career to public service and I have a deep commitment to giving back to the community that has given me so many opportunities. I am a proud immigrant, active in the community and a philanthropic advocate. I am a 30-year Beverly Hills resident with strong community ties and currently a Beverly Hills Public Works Commissioner and LA County Commissioner for Alcohol and Other Drugs. I have been actively involved in Beverly Hills for decades. I am a public servant, and our community means everything to me. I love living here with my family, and over the last few months, I realize that we need some fresh and innovative thinking. It is time to bring new energy and ideas to the city council, and together we can do this so our community has more of a voice. (more…)

By Shirin Yadegar

2021 was a year grounded in deep gratitude for having survived a pandemic both physically and emotionally. We locked ourselves in our homes, homeschooled our children and reevaluated our lives.

My family was lucky to have an abundance of food, emotional support and love. We had time to reflect on friendships and family dynamics. We made a pledge to get rid of what doesn’t serve us and fill our buckets with love, compassion and good energy.

Heading into 2022, I have set my intentions based on my discoveries the past year, meditation, and an abundance for readings and podcasts. Here’s what I think will be helpful if you’re willing to open your mind and your heart.

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By Dr. Gail Dines

Teens are watching more porn than ever before, and it looks nothing like your father’s Playboy! One of the most oft-quoted studies found that nearly 90 percent of the most watched porn videos had some form of violence against women in them. While this may be a surprise to many parents who perhaps imagine porn as merely a naked centerfold, it wasn’t to researchers like me who immerse ourselves in the world of mainstream porn. We know how widespread violent, degrading, and misogynist pornography has become, as well as the implications for the emotional, physical and mental health of young people.

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Subhead: How to Help Your Children Survive and Thrive.

By Cindy Chanin

It is no surprise that parents and students are anxious about the beginning of in-person school as the 2021-2022 academic year commences. While many harbor concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic such as breakthrough transmission, controversy and inconsistency about messaging around mask wearing, and personal safety at school and events, there’s also concern about whether students are academically prepared for the upcoming year. Most importantly, social and emotional readiness are in question for families and educators. Despite the uncertainty, you and your students can do plenty to get ready for this imminent milestone. Some of the advice circulating is familiar, while some is brand new.

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By Nathalie Kunin

Back to School 2021 has a completely new meaning for students and parents alike. Once again, we will be pivoting to the new normal. Since we do not know exactly what school will look like, it is natural to feel a little unsettled. However, there are some things about Back to School which never change – its time to return to the routine, even though the routine might require some flexibility.

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By Janis Adams
Summer Projects

It’s been a tough year and online learning may have taken its toll. Your children may be numb, zoomed out, and possibly dulled to learning. Now the summer stretches before us and we plan to fill the time with summer school, camps, maybe dance lessons. All great ideas. But the question remains: What will rekindle your child’s love of learning?

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By Chen Zang

Keyi Tech, one of the leading robotics companies is launching its latest STEM robot, ClicBot, in the US. Bringing their industry expertise in building robots, Keyitech created ClicBot with an aim to provide hands-on learning for kids between the age groups 5-10 and 10-15.

The ClicBot has been designed to provide kids with an easy-to-use robot that educates them while letting them use their creativity. This robot lets your kids’ education run wild thanks to its modular design that will allow your kids to build their own robots by rearranging the pieces out of the package per their liking.

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By Nathan Sen, DVM, Wildlife Rescue Unit Manager and Chief Veterinarian

As Malaysians were in total lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic, a sweet-natured baby elephant named Sahabat was found wandering near an oil palm plantation. In Malaysia’s Sabah state, our Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) answered an emergency call and swooped in to rescue her.

Veterinarians discovered that the Sahabat was nearly blind from severe eye infections in both eyes. This is likely why she was separated from her family. Field medical treatment was given to the infected eyes and preparations were made to transport her to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park for proper medical treatment. A special holding crate was made overnight by workers to make a quick transport possible.

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By Cyndi Buckley

Gone are the days where high school students have Home Ec, the in-school class that teaches how to cook, sew on a button, tie a tie, prep a budget, and other necessary life skills taught by people other than your parents. Today, young adults are grinding their lives with hectic schedules, including school demands, after-school activities, and test prep, with the added pressure to do well in all of these areas. This lifestyle has created fried and fragile people as they head out into the world independently for the first time. They find themselves in an environment where making a small decision becomes impossible. (more…)