Boy, do I ever dislike having to write this, the safety threat which caused the Los Angeles Unified School District wide school closure today, December 15, 2015 But to help you and all our children, may I remind you of a few things. 1. No one knows all the facts yet. Do not say what you suspect or do not know. 2. Turn off your radios, TV’s, computers. Kids who have NOT be exposed to this breaking news, need not know about any of it…until they need to know. Kids who have heard some news … [Read more...] about Talking to Your Children About the LAUSD School Closure
Talking to Your Child About the Paris Attacks
Sadly and not surprisingly, I have received a rash of emails from parents wondering how to explain to their children the heinous, violent terrorism that happened in Paris. These were parents of children of all ages. How I wish one could actually explain something that is so monstrous and actually unthinkable. None of us can comprehend what went on; we are stick to our stomachs. As little as we understand, how can we expect a child to get it? For all these years your child has been taught to … [Read more...] about Talking to Your Child About the Paris Attacks
What is the Right Age to….
Knowing when is the “right age” to give permissions and allow age related activities challenges all parents, especially with that first born child. After all, it is often the parent’s first experience not only with a child of that age, but certainly with YOUR child of that age. In addition, it may not be something with which the parent hasn't had any experience, and she is traveling blindly. As is the case with most of parenting, there is not one clear cut answer to any question; there is not … [Read more...] about What is the Right Age to….
Get Ready for the New School Year!
It's mid-August... that means summer vacation is creeping to an end, depending upon your child's first day of school. For some it even starts next week. Summer time and the livin' was easy! Just thinking about the start of school can be stressful for kids. New teachers, new classrooms, new friends, new expectations, new routines. On top of that, just getting back into the swing of things--the school day routines--is not only stress producing but it can be a real challenge after the lazy, … [Read more...] about Get Ready for the New School Year!
Beyond the Birds and the Bees
It is always with great relief that moms and dads report back that explaining the birds and the bees to their elementary school age child wasn’t that bad. And despite their six year old's exclamation of "Eewww, gross!" at the mention of the man putting his penis the woman's vagina, Mom could breathe again. That was the beginning. As kids' bodies grow, so do their feelings— physical and emotional—their cognition, and their exposure to a world that includes sex. And there is much more than the … [Read more...] about Beyond the Birds and the Bees
Unplugging
Mindfulness is the rage in Los Angeles. Mindful eating, mindful interactions, mindful relationships, mindful communication, mindful parenting. There is mindfulness for kids: Teaching kids to become mindful; mindfulness as an antidote to bullying; mindful learning in school; using mindfulness to enhance peer relationships, and on and on. Mindfulness through meditation is the new antidote to stress. A few weeks ago a store front meditation center, Unplug, had a front page write up in the … [Read more...] about Unplugging