Education

Returning to the Routine: A Back to School Quick Study

By Nathalie Kunin
nathlie It’s September, which means that it’s time for you and your children to shake off the lazy days of summer and return to that trusted routine of the school year.

Decluttering the Desk
For the last three months, your child’s workspace has been the docking station for everything other than work, so it’s important to take some time before classes resume to “redefine the desk.” Organize all school materials (pencils, erasers, a dictionary, accordion files, etc.) into a clutter-free work area with plenty of elbowroom.

As you help tidy up, remind your child that music and snacks do not belong in the workspace. Explain why these rules are enforced – snacks are distracting, and music is counterproductive. Promote workspace independence. After all, this is their domain. Suggest hanging a bulletin board and a calendar beside the desk for posting exam reminders, keeping track of extracurricular activities and organizing long term assignments.

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Directory

Back to School Party Ideas

By Shirin Yadegar
Back to school get togethers are a great way to get to know our childrens’ peers and their families.
Here are a few easy, affordable ways to bring your child’s class together. Mention LA MOM MAGAZINE for a discount.

Big Swirl Truck
One of a kind self-serve Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet and Gelato truck!
This event truck has already garnered much interest amongst industry professionals and LA’s elite party planners.
With 10 unique flavors to choose from and 6 toppings to compliment you’re treat.
Call the Big Swirl Truck at (310) 280-2830 or email info@bigswirltruck.com
http://www.bigswirltruck.com

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Health

Take A Bite Out Of Summer With Healthy Teeth

Dr. Alan Barbakow, DDS
DR Barbakow Summertime is no reason for kids to take a vacation from maintaining healthy teeth. It is important for them to continue their routine of brushing and flossing regularly. Parents should also continue to reinforce daily dental discipline in addition to seeing their dentist and orthodontist during the summer.

Besides playing video games, hanging out at the mall and playing Marco Polo in the swimming pool, snacking plays a major part in children’s summer activities. Oftentimes, they tend to eat foods such as candy, potato chips and ice cream that are delicious and fun, but are traditionally bad for their teeth. These kinds of foods heavily laced with sugar (sucrose) and corn sweeteners (fructose) attack the hard enamel of the teeth resulting in cavities.
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Directory

Places to Play in L.A.

The month of August is a great time to spend quality time with your children. Most kids are not in camp full time so here are some fun things recommended by other L.A. Parents.

Book Stores and Story times:
Americana 11-1 Tuesdays
Barnes and Noble Book Stores
Borders
Children’s Book World
Diesel Book Stores
Every Picture Tells A Story
The Grove, 11-1 Thursdays by the fountain (either puppet show, story time or concert)
Public Libraries (Beverly Hills requires advance sign-up)
Spanish Story time, Ocean Park Public Library
Storyopolis
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Education

The Giant Invisible Scoreboard

By Samara Fabrick, LCSW
samaraDo you find yourself fighting with your husband about who changed the last poopy diaper? Are you
battling over who’s going to the farmers market to get the organic produce for your homemade baby
food? Are you feeling like you are carrying the lion’s share of the responsibilities in your family? You are
not alone.
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Lifestyle

Easy Ways To Help You Cope With The BP Oil Spill

By Jen Pleasants
emma Do you get a pit in your stomach when anyone mentions the oil spill in the Gulf? That’s eco-anxiety and it isn’t good for you or the planet.

If I let myself, I would ball up in a fetal position just thinking about those sea turtles on fire as BP tries to burn off the oil. I am angry at BP for their carelessness, angry at myself for our dependence on oil, worried about the sea life, concerned for the livelihoods of the gulf residents and frustrated with how to change the situation. What is a girl to do with these toxic emotions? As the author of a book on how to turn eco-anxiety into constructive energy, I can share with you what I am doing to feel better to keep my own anxiety from increasing as oil gushes, glaciers melt and plastic soups swirl.
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Directory

Planning a Perfect Luncheon

By Shirin Yadegar

I love entertaining. It’s what I do best. Inviting friends over for barbeques, cocktails and large family dinners are weekly events at my home. For the first time in several years, I was stumped over a luncheon I hosted for a close friend’s birthday last month.
Forty beautiful, sophisticated women were coming over at noon for lunch. How was I going to knock their socks off, impress the guest of honor and not spend a fortune?

The first thing I did was call my party coordinator. Eddie told me he would take care of the waiters, bartender and all of my rentals. He said to keep everything white and bring in color with the flowers.
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Education

Tips on Managing Your Toddler’s Meltdowns

By Dr. Judith Bin-Nun Ph.D., MFT
judy How many times have parents heard the “4 W’s” coming from their preschoolers? The 4 W’s: the Wail, the Whine, the Wall and the Wanna– all hallmarks of a child’s internal needs and reactions when those needs are denied.
The expression, ‘frustration tolerance’, a desired attainment for people of all ages, is the ability to wait, to think through, to set aside anxieties, desires or needs and to COPE with not having immediate gratification.
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Lifestyle

Cultivating Physical Strength and Mental Toughness

By Joe Praino
prainoWhile physical fitness for children is imperative, a good balance of mental and physical exertion is of the utmost importance.
Just as a child who would prefer to spend entire days camped out in front of the TV playing video games is ignoring their physical health, an athletic child who spends all of his/her time running around mindlessly on the playing field is ignoring their mental development.
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Health

Struggling with Secondary Infertility

By Marc Kalan, M.D.
kalan “It was pretty easy to get pregnant with our first child, so we figured the next one should be easy too.”

Unfortunately, I hear this statement all too often. It usually comes from a nice couple in their late 30’s or early 40’s who adore their first child, and after a few years, are ready for a second. Sometimes, however, being ready for your second child is simply not enough.
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