Dealing with Your Daughter’s Body Image

What to do when your tween or teen girl doesn’t like what she sees in the mirror.

By Rachel Bernstein
NathalieOur girls are up against some fearsome foes. Images of beauty are everywhere, and the brainwashing begins at a very young age. Media, fashion trends, culture, heritage, friends, family and even religious beliefs set and reset our and our daughters’ standards of beauty.

Psychological associations are tied to beauty. Nice characters are represented as “pretty” characters in most Disney movies and picture books. The Princess is most often kind, loved, beautiful, thin, usually fair skinned, has manageable hair, doesn’t have braces, and gets the Prince. The Wicked Witch/Wicked Step-Mother is ugly, feared and hated, has bumpy skin and a large nose, and deserves the punishment she gets. (more…)

Dealing with Mommy Stress

Stress is a natural human energy that we all take on every moment of every day. The sippy cup full of bright red juice just spilled all over your daughter and your car, your husband lost his job, or your family won an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii. There are different degrees of stress and different types of stress, but stress is stress. How you deal with it makes all the difference for you, your body, and your family’s well-being. (more…)

I Want Botox, but I’m Afraid

Q & A with Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Payman Danielpour and Dr. John Layke about the pros and cons of botox.

Q: When do I know I’m ready for botox?
A: You should do botox before the formation of frown lines, crows feet or forehead wrinkles.

Q: I don’t want people to know I have botox. How can you make it look natural?
A: At Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group, we believe helping our patients bring out their natural beauty by enhancing and refining not changing their appearance. We are known for putting less botox than most surgeons. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away. (more…)

Preventing Childhood Obesity

By Scott Myers
Scott MyersObesity is the most prevalent nutritional disease of 威而鋼
children and adolescents in the U. S.

A child’s potential to develop strength, endurance and physical skill increases at an exponential rate the first two years of life.
The more you encourage your children to be physically active during this period, the stronger and more energetic you can expect them to become; and the more quickly they will develop skills in using their muscles. (more…)

Benefits of Reading Aloud

By Nathalie Kunin
NathalieReading aloud is one of the most enjoyable activities that a parent and child do together. It is also one of the most important. Snuggling up to read bedtime stories is an important bonding time at the end of the day which sets the stage for a good night of sleep. You can share in your child’s excitement as their imagination is sparked by the story transporting them to a different place and time. The benefits of reading aloud go well beyond the simple pleasure of time spent together. Even as your child begins to grow up, and there is less time in the day to read aloud, it is important to make time for it, even just 30 minutes a day. The educational benefits of reading aloud will pay off in many ways. (more…)

Valentine’s Day Expectations

By Samara Fabrick
nellyFor many of us, Valentine’s Day is a chance to sit down with our kids to make cards for their classmates, think of fun ways to surprise our partner or have an excuse to eat that box of chocolates. However, for many Valentine’s Day is another opportunity to have a million expectations that are so often dashed by our clueless spouses and our inability to express our wants. Here are a few suggestions to make sure that your Valentine’s Day is a happy one filled with whatever your heart desires. (more…)

Valentine’s Day Recipes

By Catherine McCord
Valentine’s Day may be all about the love, but for kids it’s all about the food! And while it’s easy to pick up a bag of candy hearts, why not make something special to really show how much you love someone. These recipes are not only naturally sweet they’re a perfect way to get in the kitchen with your kids making something simply delicious.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Tarts (Makes 10-11 Heart Tarts)
heart tarts

  • 1/2 Cup Raspberries
  • 1/4 Cup Whipped Cream Cheese
  • 1 Tbsp Honey
  • 1 Double Pie Crust Recipe or 1 14 oz Pre-Made Pie Crust*
  • Water
  • 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 10 Raspberries for Icing or 2 Tbsp Juiced Raspberries
  • 1 Tbsp Milk or Water

(more…)

Preventing the Flu

Tips on how to stay healthy during the flu season.

By Peter S. Waldstein, M.D. and Julia A. White, M.D.
This is the worst flu season we have seen in over a decade. For those of you who have not had the flu shot, it’s not too late. In addition to the flu shot, here are some tips to share with your family in preventing the flu from coming to your household.

Prevention of Influenza
Knowing how to protect yourself from illness this winter will be the most important way to keep your family healthy. People who have influenza are thought to be shedding the virus from around 1-2 days before symptoms appear to about 5-7 days after symptoms start. This can vary, however, especially in children. The H1N1 and seasonal influenza viruses spread through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Someone then comes into contact with these and touches his/her mouth, eyes, or nose before washing the hands and becomes infected. The influenza viruses are thought to be able to live on environmental objects for several hours after being deposited. (more…)

Healthy Skin in 2013

Tips on healthy skin for the New Year.

By Rebecca Casper
Rebecca CasperQ: How do I take care of my skin in dry, cold weather?
A: More exfoliation and more hydration. Enzymes and Hydroxy acids are the best. Stay away from harsh polishing beads that can actually make dehydration more intense and contribute to aging skin. Indoor heating systems literally suck the hydration out of our skin, so we need to remember drink more water as well. If you don’t already, now is a good time to start taking a blend of Essential Fatty Acids, like Omegas, to help keep your skin vibrant from the inside out.

Q: What is the best way to get quick results?
A: STICK TO A PROGRAM. Consistency is key–just like going to the gym. To get quick results and lasting results seek professional guidance and then stay with it. (more…)

Is your child getting a good education?

Five Easy Ways to Ensure Your Child Gets a Quality Education

By Kevin Chaveous
By Kevin ChaveousAmong many school leaders, the ‘crazy parents’ are the bane of their existence. Crazy parents are the ones who are always at the school, questioning the staff about things and sometimes stretching the limits by obnoxiously fighting for their child. As young parents consider how to best provide a quality education for their children, they need to adopt many of the ‘crazy parent’ approaches, minus the obnoxiousness.

All parents want their child to receive a quality education, and in today’s ever-changing educational landscape there is no shortage of options. From public schools and private schools to charter and parochial schools, parents have lots of choices. But no matter the type of school, how do you really ensure that your child is getting a good education? (more…)