Does My Child Need Glasses

How to know when your child needs glasses.

Dr. SuperQ: When is the right age for children to have a proper eye exam?

A: Dr. Super has examined children as young as newborns however we typically recommend that children come in for their first comprehensive eye exam around the time they’re starting school – say 4 or 5 years old.

Please note that a comprehensive eye exam is very different than the basic vision test your pediatrician might do. An optometrist like Dr. Super uses state of the art equipment to scan eyes for medical health in addition to being able to detect some learning disabilities, and to provide more accurate vision assessments.

Q: How long does the initial exam take?

A: An initial comprehensive eye exam typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour. (more…)

What Every Parent Needs to Know in Case of an Emergency

Keep this number on speed dial on your phone.

By Dr. Danielpour and Dr. Layke
Nancy MacnamaraWe’ve all been there: a great night out on the town, a few too many cocktails, and an accidental trip. The result? A cut on the face, a split lip, or a black eye. What is our first, knee-jerk response? Head to the Emergency Room, where long wait times, costly bills and a scar that looks like it was sewn up in the back garage await.

Or another common scenario: your small child running around the house like they’re Usain Bolt, only the finish line becomes the corner of a coffee table or a spill down the stairs. Again, the first response? Head to the ER. Isn’t it even MORE important in this scenario to have a well-hidden scar that won’t haunt them into their teen years? (more…)

Avoiding the Homework Battle

By Alexis White
Alexis WhiteWe’ve spent the summer enjoying long days and late bedtimes, but as we move into the school year, we have to face a dreaded routine change. Getting our kids down earlier and making sure they’re up and at ‘em, fed, dressed and ready to conquer the day is plenty. On top of that, we have to fit in afterschool activities and of course…ugh…homework. While there are myriad views on the effectiveness and necessity of homework (particularly for young students), a stress-free nightly routine can help our kids understand how they learn best, which is a tool that they will use for the rest of their lives.

In fifteen years of working privately with students, I’ve realized that every child (like every adult) works differently. Some kids come home, sit right down, and finish their work—before they’ve had a snack or even “vegged” out. Others have to eat dinner before they can even look at a worksheet. The best way to avoid the homework “fight” is to: (more…)

Staycations Are Better Than Therapists

By Shirin Yadegar

Shirin YadegarStaycations in Los Angeles are awesome. Sometimes all you need is a night away from your house and your kids. A night on the town with your partner is magical for a marriage and less expensive than a therapist!

We recently stayed at the newly renovated Viceroy L’Ermitage in Beverly Hills for 24 hours of awesomeness! Complimentary champagne was served upon our arrival, which set the mood for a relaxing afternoon. The rooms are spacious, clean and super comfortable. (more…)

How to Prepare Your Kids for Going Back to School

By Nancy Macnamara, M.Ed.
Nancy MacnamaraGetting back to the routine and rigor of school after a summer break that’s been filled with relaxation and fun-in-the-sun activities can be quite an adjustment, even for those kids who love school. Change can be difficult, no matter how exciting and happy we are to be going through it. You can help ease some of the anxiety that comes with this change by taking steps to anticipate what will trigger uneasiness in your child as the first day of school approaches. (more…)

Guidelines for Internet Safety

LA MOM MAGAZINE interviews Sam Pemberton on keeping our kids safe online

By Sam Pemberton
Sam PembertonQ: What are some of the best ways for parents to keep their kids safe online at home?
A: Talking to young people often and openly is the best way to help keep them safe online. Engage with them about what they do online and how they use digital resources – are they active on online forums, social media, or gaming sites? Take an interest in what sites and applications they enjoy using, and explore these sites and apps together. It’s important to be positive about this process and try not to overreact about any concerns you have so that you can open up a dialog with them. (more…)

Travel with Intent

By Shirin Yadegar

Shirin YadegarSummer travel always lends itself to family bonding, adventures and relaxation. We spend countless hours preparing for the “perfect” family vacation with the right balance of sun, culture and excitement.

Blessed to be able to visit incredible destinations with plush accommodations and immaculate service is a major plus. We work hard all year to splurge and enjoy our summer vacations, but what about those who can’t. Where are the families who are struggling and don’t have the ability to bond and relax together? (more…)

A Plastic Ocean

By Tanya Streeter
Tanya StreeterI can’t protect my children. It’s as simple as that. In fact, it’s worse than that. I have unwittingly poisoned them….BEFORE THEY WERE BORN. That’s the reality of the human health impact of plastic pollution.

This stark fact turned my stomach and made my head spin. I was already a mother of one very lovely redheaded daughter, and wading through yet another round of IVF in my journey to conceive our sweet son when, whilst shooting scenes for “A Plastic Ocean” (available on iTunes), I learned there is one way it’s thought that we are able to reduce toxins already accumulated in our bodies: by reducing our exposure to plastics…really. I suppose that’s a little piece of good news: the possibility that we can reduce our levels of those toxins, right? Well, when I say “we”, I mean us women. You see, men can’t. Want to know why? Because they can’t have babies. (more…)