Nicole Noar has spent years with new moms as a nurse in maternal and infant care. As a SoCal mom herself, she’s well-versed in the overwhelming number of things new moms worry about. She wanted to ease some of that worry, especially when traveling. As the founder of Snuggle Shield, a patented infant cover with built-in air-filtering system, she’s committed to providing a sense of wellness and peace to parents.

I met Nicole at the All Baby & Child ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas this year and had the pleasure to chat with her recently about motherhood and starting a business. 

Tell us a little about your career before launching Snuggle Shield.

I spent more than 16 years as a registered nurse, including 13 years in Labor & Delivery at UC San Diego Health. During that time, I became a Certified Inpatient Obstetric Nurse (RNC-OB) and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), caring for thousands of mothers and babies during some of the most important moments of their lives. Today, I work as a fertility nurse in Reproductive Endocrinology at UC San Diego, helping individuals and families navigate their journey to parenthood. My nursing career gave me a firsthand understanding of the concerns new parents face, and becoming a mom inspired me to create the product I wished I had for my own family. My clinical background continues to guide every decision we make at Snuggle Shield.

What was the inspiration for Snuggle Shield?

My inspiration came from my first son, Deklan. When he was just six weeks old, I took him with me to a nail salon. As soon as I walked in, I was hit with the strong chemical fumes and noticed everyone around us was wearing masks. I immediately felt mom guilt because I realized the cover over his infant car seat wasn’t actually protecting him—it was giving me a false sense of security. When I got home, I searched everywhere for a product that could help filter the air around babies in public places, but nothing like it existed. As a nurse, my first thought was to use medical mask material because we know it works and we know it breathes well. That simple idea became the foundation for Snuggle Shield.

How would you describe the mission of your company?

Our mission is to give parents the confidence to safely explore the world with their babies from day one. We want families to feel comfortable getting out of the house, traveling and making memories together instead of feeling anxious about every outing. Our products provide added peace of mind while also serving multiple everyday purposes—from breastfeeding to infant car seat, stroller, shopping cart and highchair coverage. We believe parents deserve products that make everyday life easier while helping them enjoy these precious years with their little ones.

You are also a mom. Tell us how you balance family life with work and launching a business.

Balancing family life, nursing and building a business has definitely been one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. I still work three days a week as a fertility nurse at UC San Diego Health, so I build Snuggle Shield around my family’s schedule—before work, after bedtime, and whenever I can find extra time. When I first started the company, my boys were babies, so I often worked during nap time. Now that they’re older, I try to be intentional about being present with them. They are the reason I started Snuggle Shield, and while balance isn’t always perfect, family will always come first.

What does a typical day look like for you?

There really isn’t a typical day—every day is a little bit crazy! Most mornings start with my husband, our two boys, our four chickens and our two rescue dogs before everyone heads off to school and work. On clinic days, I work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After work it’s dinner, homework, bedtime stories and family time. Once the kids are asleep, I usually switch over to Snuggle Shield for a few more hours of emails, meetings, product development or retailer projects. On my days off, I try to balance growing the business with making memories with my family, giving my husband some attention, and, if I’m lucky, squeezing in a Pilates class.

Do you have a mentor?

I don’t have one specific mentor, but I really admire Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. I love her authenticity, her sense of humor and the fact that she built her company from the ground up while staying true to herself. As a nurse, mom and entrepreneur, her journey reminds me that believing in your idea and persevering through setbacks can truly make a difference.

What’s the best life advice you’ve ever received?

‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ has always stayed with me. I lost my dad when I was nine years old and my mom when I was twenty. Those experiences were incredibly difficult, but they taught me resilience, perseverance and determination. I’ve never wanted my circumstances to define me or become an excuse. Instead, they’ve helped shape me into the strong, independent woman I am today and inspire me to help others through both nursing and Snuggle Shield.

What’s the best parenting advice you’ve ever received?

‘The days are long, but the years are short.’ As a mom of two boys, now five and seven, that saying resonates with me more every year. Some days can feel never-ending, but then you look back and realize just how quickly childhood goes by. It reminds me to slow down, be present, give myself grace, and cherish every stage because these years pass so much faster than we ever expect.

When you’re not working, where can we find you?

In a perfect world, you’ll find me traveling with my family—especially in Hawaii, where my husband and I got married. At home, we love beach days, bike rides, lounging by the pool while the boys swim and play, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. We also make it a priority to sneak away for date nights and little getaways whenever we can because those moments together are just as important.

What are some of your favorite places in San Diego and Los Angeles?

Our family loves making memories together. In San Diego, you’ll usually find us at LEGOLAND, Ponto Beach, or relaxing by the pool while the boys swim. When we head to Los Angeles, Crossroads Kitchen is my favorite restaurant for brunch or dinner since I’m vegetarian. My husband is a chef, so we never miss a stop at Gjelina in Venice. We also love taking our boys to Disneyland and Universal Studios. Whether we’re traveling, trying a new restaurant, or simply spending the day together, those are the moments I treasure most.

The post Meet Nicole Noar, RN, IBCLC, Founder and CEO of Snuggle Shield appeared first on L.A. Parent.

More than 80 young people took to the field recently  for “Goals for Good,” a community youth soccer event hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles (BGCMLA) in partnership with Herbalife at the organization’s Challengers Club in South Los Angeles. 

The afternoon brought together local youth ages 7 to 14 for soccer drills, skill-building activities and mentorship, capping the club’s spring soccer programming as it heads into a new summer season. 

During the event, the Herbalife Family Foundation presented BGCMLA with a $45,000 grant to support youth nutrition and wellness programming and expand access to safe, structured summer activities for young people and families across the community. 

The grant reflects the broader mission of the Herbalife Family Foundation, which works to improve the lives of children and families through better nutrition and wellness. Each year, the Foundation reaches approximately 200,000 children across 62 countries. 

Participants ran drills and games led by USC student athletes and community volunteers. LA Galaxy midfielder Troy Elgersma made a special appearance alongside team mascot Cozmo and members of the LA Galaxy Star Squad, joining the youth for activities and photos. 

“At Herbalife and the Herbalife Family Foundation, we believe that helping young people build healthy habits today can create stronger communities tomorrow,” said Ibi Montesino, managing director of Herbalife’s North America region. “We’re proud to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles and invest in programs that help young people thrive.”

The event was part of Herbalife’s Fuel Like Ronaldo campaign, which is rooted in the company’s longtime partnership with soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo and encourages young people and families to build everyday habits around nutrition, hydration and movement, inspired by the routines of elite athletes. 

The post Youth Soccer Event Supports Kids in South Los Angeles appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Becoming a dad changes everything, especially your social life. As father of two sons, I absolutely love being a dad, yet having a kid or two flips your life upside down. Your friendships change, plans fall through, conversation topics shift and your community diminishes. But here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to.

When my older son was born in 2023, my wife joined a mommy-and-me group and loved the opportunity to chat with other moms going through the trenches just like she was. It made a huge difference for her. Naturally, I looked for something similar; however, there was nothing like it out there for dads.

This is crazy in a time where new dads are more involved than ever before. Something needed to be done, so I launched Dad’s Little Sidekick — a relaxed monthly hangout where dads and their kids under 4 can just show up, spend time together and meet other dads in the same stage of life. 

There is no pressure and no over-planning. Kids run around and play, snacks are shared and dads get a chance to actually talk about parenting, life, music — or whatever comes up.

I originally modeled the program after weekly meetings with an agenda, but soon realized that while dads want to meet other dads, a little less structure is OK. Bonding for dads is showing up, being silly, playing around and just making sure that they get some quality time with their kid. This generation of men wants to partake in the day-to-day activity of our kids growing up and want to be present to build strong relationships with our mini-me’s. 

As a full-time working dad who wants to divide the housework and parental responsibilities, taking time to spend with friends can be difficult and produces a constant underlying dad guilt.  Dad life is constantly busy, but making friends shouldn’t be hard. That’s what makes having a built-in community so valuable. 

When my friends had kids before me, they stopped reaching out and seemed too busy with their lives to maintain friendships. When it was my turn to have a little one, I made every effort to not let this happen. Kids come with different schedules and varied routines, but when you’re surrounded by dads with kids in similar stages, there’s an instant understanding. No need to explain why you’re late, distracted or tired — it’s just part of the deal. This group is priceless and offers the opportunity to make new friends feel possible!

Between work, naps, meals and potty training, hanging out shouldn’t feel like another chore.  We meet in a safe enclosed space, because when you get together in the park, kids are running around all over the place and connection never happens. What is better than having a fun, easy environment for the kids to play and a laid-back atmosphere for the guys to talk and swap stories?  

Dad’s Little Sidekick is something to look forward to, and while we meet monthly, the conversations continue in between. We are all willing to help each other, offer different services or just ask a quick question to the group. Real friendships are forming between the kids and the dads. 

This is also dedicated time for a dad to hang with their kid and for their spouse to have some self-care time. When dads have strong community support, everyone benefits. Your kids see you prioritizing relationships, your partner sees you as more fulfilled and less stressed and you become a better version of yourself in every role you play.

It is time for dads to also be taken care of. It takes a village to raise a kid and to raise a happy, competent dad. Being a dad is one of the best jobs in the world, and it can be even greater with Dad’s Little Sidekick. 

We’re all about feeling less isolated and more connected. Dads show up for their kids every day, and it’s time we show up for each other, too. Follow us @dadslittlesidekick for more info and to join our next hangout! 

Jared Podos is a father and founder of Dad’s Little Sidekick. 

Editor’s note: For great family-friendly events you can share with fellow dads, visit our events roundup. If your kids are a bit older, you’ll enjoy this father-daugther story on how they explore L.A. like tourists.

The post How Dad’s Little Sidekick Is Building Community for Los Angeles Fathers appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Giselle Carrillo and her nonprofit Los Courage Camps have been transforming the summer experience of children from underrepresented communities in Los Angeles and Orange counties since 2017. Los Courage Camps’ mission is to teach the diverse children of Los Angeles who have not experienced the ocean how to surf and, consequently, connect them to their courage, potential, inner strength and leadership.

With grant funding from Go Campaign, the camp is expanding access to include surfing opportunities throughout the year.

Carrillo blends her background in education with a passion for community by using the ocean as a classroom where kids build confidence, resilience and real-world skills. Designed for children of all ages, the camps encourage young participants to step outside their comfort zones, try new activities and develop confidence in a supportive environment.

Carrillo is a first-generation East L.A. native who learned to surf at 25 when she embarked on a quest to conquer her fears. In the process, she found her courage.

 For more information, visit loscouragecamps.org.

The post How Los Courage Camps Helps Kids Build Confidence Through Surfing appeared first on L.A. Parent.

They’re fast, fun and everywhere. E-bikes have become the must-have ride for many tweens and teens, but before parents commit to buying, they should understand the real safety risks of these vehicles that have speeds much faster than traditional bikes. We spoke with a Cedars-Sinai trauma surgeon about what families need to know before that first ride.

Galinos Barmparas, M.D., FACS, is a father of two boys and the medical director of trauma in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai. 

Sneak peek: What age is safe for an e-bike? Barmparas recommends waiting until the later teen years, depending on maturity, judgment and road awareness.

Have you noticed a growth in the popularity of e-bikes among tweens and young teens?

Yes, absolutely. A few years ago, these were still relatively niche products — expensive, somewhat limited and not nearly as common among kids and teenagers. Now, they are more affordable, the battery life is better, and they have become part of everyday life for many middle and high school students. Kids use them to get to school, sports and social activities. And frankly, it is not hard to understand the appeal. At that age, kids want independence, freedom and mobility, and e-bikes offer all of that in a very immediate way. If I were that age, I would probably want one, too. 

Have you noticed a surge in e-bike-related accidents? 

We are undoubtedly seeing this trend both nationally and here locally, in both adults and children. Several Southern California centers have reported a sharp rise over a very short period. These numbers, which are probably underreported, reflect the growing popularity of these vehicles, but they also highlight the very real safety concerns that come with them. These are not simple bicycle falls. E-bikes can reach speeds of almost 30 mph, and many young riders are not prepared for how quickly they accelerate or how differently they handle at those speeds, especially when braking or turning.

What are you seeing as a trauma surgeon?

What we are seeing as trauma surgeons is often much more serious than what parents picture when they think of a typical bicycle fall. The injury patterns are often closer to what we see in higher-energy crashes: significant road rash, fractures of the wrist, forearm and clavicle and, most concerning, brain and facial injuries. A child who goes over the handlebars at 20 to 25 mph without a properly fitted helmet can be in a genuinely dangerous situation. We are also seeing crashes involving cars, pedestrians and fixed objects. And this is because the speed of these bikes can outpace a young rider’s judgment, reaction time and ability to control the bike, especially when braking or turning.

We have heard from parents who feel that they can’t say “no” to an e-bike because all of their child’s friends have one. How can parents better navigate this difficult situation?

As a parent, I understand how difficult this can be. Many families feel torn between legitimate safety concerns and the worry that their child will feel left out socially. But this is exactly when parents need to shift the conversation away from popularity and toward safety. An e-bike is not a toy; it is a motorized vehicle that can travel fast enough to cause a serious, even life-changing injury. Parents should feel comfortable saying no if they are not confident their child is ready. It is also worth talking with other parents in the friend group, because many may share the same concerns, and a shared approach is often much easier and more effective than one parent trying to hold the line alone. For some families, a reasonable middle ground may be a lower-speed model under close supervision, with clear rules and formal safety training.

What age do you think is safe for an e-bike?

Practically speaking, I would not recommend e-bikes for most tweens. A more reasonable threshold is for older teens, and even then, only if the rider is mature, follows rules consistently and is using an age-appropriate bike. In California, riders must be at least 16 to operate a Class 3 e-bike, which is the faster category that can reach speeds of up to 28 mph, and Class 3 riders are required to wear a helmet. More important than age alone, though, is readiness. Parents should ask whether their child can reliably handle speed, traffic, distraction and split-second decision-making. If the child is impulsive, easily distracted, ignores rules or has limited road awareness, then the answer should be no — or at least, not yet.

Safety rules for every rider

Several are non-negotiable in my view:

• Helmet for every single ride, no exceptions. And it needs to be the right helmet. A standard bicycle helmet is not designed for the speeds an e-bike can reach. A multisport or motorcycle-certified helmet appropriate for the speed class of the bike is recommended.
• Wrist guards and knee/elbow pads, particularly for younger or less experienced riders. The natural instinct when falling is to put your hands out, so protecting those structures matters.
• Bright, visible clothing and lights, day and night. E-bikes are faster than cars expect cyclists to be, and visibility is a true safety issue.Absolutely no earbuds or phone use while riding.A conversation about traffic law. Many kids don’t know that e-bikes are subject to the same rules of the road as bicycles. In California, there are specific regulations about which class of e-bike a minor can operate without a license.
• Also: Establish a defined, agreed-upon riding area and routes that are reviewed by the parents first.

Practice e-bike riding first

Beyond the safety equipment, I would emphasize two things:

• First, the child should practice in a safe, controlled environment, such as an empty parking lot or other quiet area, before ever riding on a public road. They need to learn how the bike accelerates, how long it takes to stop and how it handles when turning. 
• Second, if a formal riding lesson or safety course is available, I think that is a very good idea. The League of American Bicyclists and some local organizations offer these.

Any other thoughts you would like to share?

It is very important to understand that the injury severity we see with e-bikes isn’t primarily about recklessness, but rather about speed and physics. A well-meaning, careful kid who misjudges a curb or gets surprised by a car door can sustain a very serious injury at e-bike speeds that they would have walked away from on a conventional bike. The margin for error is smaller, and that is worth taking seriously — regardless of how responsible your child generally is. 

E-bikes are here to stay. Trying to ban them makes no sense and, frankly, isn’t the point. The goal is not to eliminate them, but to make sure we are raising kids who are prepared to ride them safely. That means the right age, the right training, the right equipment and parents who are paying attention.

The post Is Your Child Ready for an E-Bike? Safety Tips for Parents appeared first on L.A. Parent.

During a recent self-care retreat in a West Athens garden in Los Angeles, the evening sun slipped through an umbrella of trees, lighting up a corner of the garden where guests had been instructed to choose plants that spoke to them.

Once the women returned to their tables, Barbara Lawson, owner of Redondo Beach-based Meet Me in the Dirt, guided them through a plant meditation that included ripping their beautiful plants from their pots and using their fingers to rake away clinging dirt. “Hold your plant up high and examine the roots,” Lawson told them. After gazing at the vulnerable roots, they sunk their hands into mounds of loose, loamy black soil, using it to replant their greenery into brand-new pots.

 Throughout the meditation, Lawson encouraged the women to reflect on what in their lives they were ready to release and where they were willing to start anew. This intentional approach of engaging with plants, nature and gardening to promote stress relief and encourage healing falls under the realm of horticultural therapy. As spring approaches, rediscovering the healing power of tending to plants feels especially resonant. 

This year’s spring equinox falls on March 20, and if the new year didn’t provide the fresh start you’d hoped for, do not fret. Some cultures celebrate spring as the beginning of the year (Nowruz is the Persian New Year, for example) — and many uphold it as a symbol of rebirth and triumph over struggle, a fitting metaphor for plant life and what we learn from it.

The mental health benefits of nature

In his book “With People in Mind: Design and Management for Everyday Nature,” psychology professor Stephen Kaplan discusses how nature can counteract prolonged directed attention fatigue, a temporary mental exhaustion from overusing your brain’s ability to focus and filter distractions, which leads to increased irritability, impulsivity, difficulty concentrating and poor decision-making. 

There are inherent healing properties in the soil beneath our feet, research shows. Mycobacterium vaccae is a soil-borne microorganism that, when inhaled or in contact with our skin, stimulates serotonin production in the brain, contributing to mood and cognitive regulation. 

Sometimes, we don’t even need to touch nature to benefit from it.

Roger S. Ulrich studied the impact on patients whose hospital room windows overlooked the outdoors. Ulrich discovered that patients who were able to view nature from their hospital rooms experienced fewer post-surgery complications and required less pain medication than those with no nature exposure. 

How horticultural therapy works

For Lawson, the practice of blending gardening with stress relief and emotional processing began in her home garden. She was overcome with grief after the loss of her mother. She turned to therapy, and then nature, for help. One seed at a time, her garden became a place of healing. And it is a symbiotic relationship: As she excavates old weeds and hydrates new roots with a sprinkling of water, she soaks in the vitamin D and begins to shift her emotional state.

Feeling compelled to share the power of her healing practice with others, Lawson created Meet Me in the Dirt, a dedicated green space in Redondo Beach. 

As she did that evening in the West Athens garden, Lawson guides her guests through their vulnerabilities and hardships through plant care. When supporting children through their experiences with change, uncertainty or a blend of different emotions, Lawson encourages parents to have open conversations. It’s understandably difficult to see those we love in pain, but it is far more painful to bury it beneath the surface. Encouraging families to meet each other, and themselves, in the dirt, Lawson says, “You don’t need a yard. You need a pot, and you need a seed. You need what the plant needs, too.” 

From the backyard to the schoolyard

While Lawson’s work reflects the deeply personal side of horticultural therapy, across Los Angeles, similar principles are being woven into schoolyards, where gardening programs are nurturing both learning and emotional well-being.

In an effort to challenge negative perceptions of public middle schools, Tomas O’Grady, a dad of four, pitched an idea to his eldest child’s middle school principal: A community garden connected to an environmental-science curriculum. With the collaboration of his wife Justine and a determined team, EnrichLA was born — and more than 200 school gardens have taken root. 

Through its Garden Ranger Program, children craft and taste organically grown vegetables from the solar-powered kitchens and learn about ecosystem interactions. Beyond academic enrichment, the program supports the emotional well-being of students through mental health awareness training and by providing a safe space for students to retreat to in the middle of busy, stimulating school days. Fueled by EnrichLA’s mission to make growth in harmony with nature a possibility for every student in L.A., O’Grady never turns down a new opportunity to create the next school garden. If you are interested in bringing an organic, regenerative garden to a school, visit enrichla.org/contact.  

Serving K-5^th grade students at Title 1 schools across L.A., the Garden School Foundation connects its curriculum to Next Generation Science Standards. Through its Seed to Table program, students create culturally inspired dishes with fresh ingredients in accordance with the seasonal patterns of Southern California. Teachers and parents rejoice in witnessing their students’ heightened interest in trying unique herbs and vegetables says Ann Dang, the community partnerships manager and master gardener.

Students also experience the power of tending to the soil through the Cafeteria to Compost program, which has redistributed more than 23,000 pounds of lunchtime food waste from the landfills. 

Whether it’s a school program, backyard garden, windowsill herb or even an idea, take some time this spring to plant something new with your children, reminding them that it takes time for the seeds we plant — in the soil and in our lives — to blossom. Consider keeping a plant journal to capture the unexpected lessons you and your family discover as your seeds grow.

From Their Gardens to Yours

If you are inspired by the therapeutic benefits and mission behind Meet Me in the Dirt, EnrichLA, and the Garden School Foundation, here are a few simple ways you can incorporate horticultural therapy into your family’s daily lives. Each of these ideas is adaptable for varying ranges of accessibility, from your own home and garden to public parks and outdoor spaces.

1. Start an herb garden. This can be as simple as purchasing a few pots of herbs you enjoy cooking with, placing them on your windowsill and showering them with care and a little water each evening.
2. Go for an outdoor scavenger hunt. Forage and run around while embracing your child’s curiosity for the little things we often overlook, such as ladybugs and flower buds.
3. Practice composting. Encourage the habit of sorting food scraps and compostable materials into the green bin to enrich the soil that surrounds us.
4. Embrace your child’s natural interests. If they don’t enjoy digging their hands into dirt, try some nature-based art activities, or change up your scenery and pack a picnic.

Emily Ip, a former editorial intern for L.A. Parent, is now a third-year student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. 

The post How Gardening Helps Kids Build Confidence, Reduce Stress and Grow appeared first on L.A. Parent.

The first time a child refuses to go to school, it can feel confusing — maybe even a little annoying. But when this pattern goes on for days, weeks or months, it can disrupt entire family systems and impact the mental health of the whole family unit. Advice such as “just be firmer,” or “maybe they just need more time,” is often well-intentioned, but it rarely addresses the heart of the issue.

Anxiety-based school refusal is one of the fastest-growing attendance challenges schools are facing today. And despite a strong research base for effective treatment, it remains widely misunderstood.

What school refusal really is

School refusal is more than a child not wanting to go to school. Rather, it is part of a predictable anxiety cycle. A child experiences significant emotional distress related to school — social fears, worries about academic demands or separation anxiety. To escape distress, they begin to avoid school. Staying home or leaving early provides immediate relief, and that relief reinforces their avoidance. Over time, anxiety and avoidance grow, and returning to school feels increasingly impossible.

This pattern doesn’t just affect the school day; it spills into family life, too, impacting work schedules, sibling routines and parents’ emotional well-being. Many parents describe feeling hopeless, isolated and as though they are walking on eggshells around their child.

Why understanding the “why” matters

Effective support begins with understanding why a child is avoiding school. Research by psychologist Christopher Kearney, director of the UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic, has identified common reasons children refuse school. They may be trying to:

• Escape general distress at school.
• Avoid social or performance situations, such as social conflict or stressful tests.
• Maintain close contact with a parent or caregiver — particularly common with separation anxiety.
• Access preferred activities outside of school, such as video games or social media.
• Or some combination of these.

Without clarity about the underlying function, well-intentioned efforts can, at best, be ineffective, and, at worst, accidentally reinforce the anxiety cycle that needs to be disrupted.

The importance of parental support

When a child is distressed, parents naturally want to help and often engage in family accommodation — well-intentioned behaviors that relieve a child’s anxiety in the short term, but reinforce it over time.  Some examples include: 

• Allowing late arrivals.
• Offering repeated reassurance.
• Picking up early.
• Letting them stay home “just for today.”

Schools may also provide well-intentioned accommodations, such as extended time out of class, excusing anxiety-provoking assignments or allowing frequent phone contact with parents.

While these responses reduce anxiety in the moment, they can strengthen avoidance over time if they are not paired with opportunities for skill-building. The short-term relief teaches the brain “Avoidance works,” and reinforces the message “I can’t handle it.”

Why alignment matters

School refusal is not just a home issue or a school issue. It is a pattern maintained across both environments.

Parent-training models such as Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), developed at the Yale Child Study Center, emphasize reducing accommodations while increasing emotional support. Parents learn to communicate confidence in their child’s ability to cope, rather than trying to eliminate anxiety.

When schools and families align around the same approach, children experience consistent expectations and greater success with returning to school.

The power of gradual return

One of the most important pieces of treatment for students who have been out of school, or who have variable attendance, is a structured, gradual return to school.

A sudden full-day expectation often overwhelms a child struggling to manage their anxiety. Instead, research supports using exposure — the systematic introduction of feared situations — a little at a time.

Exposure works because it breaks the avoidance-relief cycle. When a child stays in an anxiety-provoking situation long enough for anxiety to rise and fall on its own, while using taught coping strategies, confidence grows. Over time, the child learns that the situation is manageable; it may have been nerve-wracking, but it wasn’t dangerous.

Gradual return plans may include:

• Predictable morning routines.
• Shortened days that increase over time.
• Temporary reduction in workload.
• Regularly scheduled communication between home and school to assess progress.

What parents can do now

If your child is struggling with school refusal: 

1. Build a collaborative relationship with your child’s school. Early intervention is key, and intervention starts with everyone being on the same page. 
2. Seek evidence-based support that emphasizes supporting the parent, not just the child.
3. Remember that while school refusal is often a complex problem, it is treatable. There is hope!

Most importantly, shift the goal from eliminating anxiety to building your child’s capacity to tolerate it. Resilience isn’t the absence of distress — it’s the ability to move forward despite it. With early, coordinated and evidence-based support, children can rebuild confidence, re-engage with school and strengthen lifelong coping skills.

Kristen McNeely is a licensed marriage and family therapist and board-certified behavior analyst in Southern California. She is owner of Kristen McNeely Consulting and Family Counseling, a virtual private therapy practice where she specializes in parent support for ADHD, anxiety and school refusal, as well as provides training to both private schools and public school districts. For more, visit kristenmcneely.com. 

The post How to Help Kids With School Refusal Caused by Anxiety appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Hosted during Heart Health Month by Abbott, a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life through its portfolio of life-changing medical devices and healthcare solutions, the special playdate brought together Los Angeles-area families and one very spirited 5-year-old miniature poodle mix named Oscar. Each guest of honor was born with a condition called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) — a hole in the heart that failed to close after birth — and each had been treated with one of Abbott’s minimally invasive heart devices.

A 23-week preemie’s journey to the playground

Among the youngest attendees was 2-year-old Leila, who entered the world at just 23 weeks. Within her first month of life, she received Abbott’s Piccolo device, a tiny implant designed to close the opening in fragile, premature infants without the need for open-heart surgery.

Today, she toddles and plays like any other curious 2-year-old — a joyful milestone her family once could only hope for.

A tiny poodle’s unexpected diagnosis

Oscar’s diagnosis came unexpectedly. Before being neutered, a veterinarian detected a heart murmur. Further testing revealed PDA, a condition that is also among the most common congenital heart defects in dogs. Without treatment, three out of five dogs born with PDA won’t survive past their first year. Oscar received Abbott’s ACDO through a minimally invasive procedure and has since returned to his favorite activities, bounding across the yard and greeting new friends with enthusiastic tail wags.

Patent ductus arteriosus occurs when a temporary blood vessel that helps circulate blood in the womb fails to close after birth. The condition can cause too much blood to flow to the lungs, making it difficult for babies to breathe and, if left untreated, leading to serious complications. A PDA requiring treatment is present in approximately 20% of premature infants.

Before catheter-based devices were available, repairing the defect required open-heart surgery for both children and canines. Advances in minimally invasive technology have dramatically shortened recovery times and reduced risk, allowing patients — whether on two legs or four — to thrive.

Inside the Westchester event space, the medical milestones faded into the background as children and pups played freely, a reminder that innovation in heart care doesn’t just save lives — it restores the simple, beautiful rhythms of childhood.

For families like Leila’s — and for Oscar’s — that rhythm now includes playdates.

Brent Tippen, an Abbott spokesperson and director of Public Affairs shared, “Seeing children laugh and play alongside pups — all of whom are thriving thanks to Abbott devices — underscores a powerful message of hope and why we come to work every day. For families facing a congenital heart disease diagnosis, these moments reflect what is possible when innovation meets compassionate care.” 

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Nearly every parent struggles to get their infant on a sleep schedule that works – and allows the parents to be functional – but what about children who aren’t good sleepers as they age? And what about neurodiverse children who don’t sleep well?

We met one mom on a mission to make life easier for the rest of us.

Meet Melisa Moore, PhD, a clinical psychologist who is board certified in behavioral sleep medicine. In her Los Angeles practice, she works with children, teens and young adults for a variety of sleep and mood issues, and she specializes in neurodiversity. So much so that Melisa wrote a book: The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids. It’s due out in March, which happens to be National Sleep Awareness Month.

We asked Melisa to share her experience, her expertise and what prompted her to write the book?

L.A. Parent: What exactly is sleep medicine?

Melisa: Sleep medicine is a medical specialty focused on understanding and improving sleep. It helps identify and treat common sleep problems in children and adults, such as insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep) and obstructive sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep). What makes sleep medicine unique is that it brings together a team of doctors, psychologists, nurses, respiratory therapists and others who work together to support your child and your family.

Sleep medicine isn’t just about diagnosing sleep disorders, it’s about helping families build healthy sleep habits so children can grow, learn and thrive – and parents can get the rest they need too.

L.A. Parent: How did you develop your interest and expertise in this field?

Melisa: When I was a graduate student, I loved working with teenagers and wanted to focus my research on something that truly affected their health and day-to-day lives. I quickly realized that sleep touches almost every part of adolescent life. As I became more immersed in the field, I saw firsthand how improving sleep could make a real difference not just for children and teens, but for their entire families. That’s what drew me to sleep medicine and continues to motivate my work today.

L.A. Parent: When, and how, did you realize your son needed help to become a good sleeper?

Melisa: My son was a good sleeper when he was younger, but around kindergarten age I started noticing things about his sleep that felt different. For months at a time, he would wake up at 4 a.m., wide awake and perfectly happy. Other times, if he got a new toy or learned something exciting, his mind just wouldn’t slow down and it could take hours for him to fall asleep. Experiences like these helped me understand how differently children’s brains can respond to sleep and how important it is to look beyond “typical” sleep advice.

L.A. Parent: How did your son respond?

Melisa: To be honest, it was a lot of trial and error. Some things helped and some didn’t. What did help and still does, was a combination of strategies: Setting his bedtime closer to when he was actually able to fall asleep (which meant a later bedtime), teaching him quiet, calming ways to help distract his busy brain, gently reminding him every 15 minutes or so that it was time for sleep and using a melatonin supplement.

L.A. Parent:  What do you want parents to get out of the book?

Melisa: First, my hope is that having science-based, comprehensive sleep information specifically focused on neurodiversity helps families get better sleep. Just as importantly, I want parents to feel less alone.

I’m in about the best possible position to help my own neurodivergent son sleep well – I do this work professionally, I know many experts I can turn to and I have access to the latest research. And still, sleep has been genuinely challenging for our family.

That experience has reinforced something I want every parent to hear: If your neurodivergent child struggles with sleep, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. This is hard. Your child’s brain works differently, and sleep can be more complicated.

The good news is that there’s almost always something else to try, whether it’s a new strategy, a different approach, or even a small tweak that makes a big difference. Our understanding of neurodiversity and sleep is always evolving, and that means new ideas and tools are becoming available all the time.

Melisa Moore, PhD, is the author of “The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids,” which is available at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and Amazon. Melisa will be doing two free author talks/book signings: March 6 at 7 p.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, and March 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Diesel Bookstore in Santa Monica. A clinical psychologist board certified in behavioral sleep medicine, she currently works for the Sleep Center at Rady Children’s Health San Diego helping to develop their behavioral sleep medicine program. She also has a practice in the Los Angeles area working with children, teens and young adults across the country for a variety of sleep and mood issues, specializing in neurodiversity. Visit her online at http://www.DrMelisaMoore.com.

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It can be unsettling. Now imagine it for a child who has sensory issues. What was unsettling becomes chaotic.

The team at the Children’s Health Dental Clinic is out to change that.

The Children’s Dental Health Clinic (CDHC) is a non-profit pediatric dental clinic with a nearly 100-year history of providing specialized oral health care services, support and training, with an emphasis on low-income children and young adults ages 0-21 who live in greater Long Beach and southern Los Angeles County. The CDHC team also supports the unique needs of neurodiverse children, as well as children who have medical complexities like asthma or cancer.

So as we begin National Children’s Dental Health Month, we decided to check in with the CDHC team for their thoughts, especially since they serve 5,500 patients and families each year at their main clinic in Long Beach and in Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, both on the MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center campus; through their school-based, satellite clinic in Avalon on Catalina Island; and through early intervention, education and outreach in the community.

How many people are on the CDHC team?

We consider ourselves very lucky, because our team is made up of more than 50 dedicated dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, anesthesiologists and administrators who are passionate about providing quality, compassionate and comprehensive oral health care to our community. A majority of them have been part of our team for at least 10 years, and for many, it’s more.

We are also an accredited training facility for multiple dental specialties, providing hands-on training to student interns in local dental hygiene and dental assisting programs, as well as through a Clinical Residency program for pediatric dentists and oral surgeons in partnership with USC’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center. After spending time in the different placement settings during their first year, four of the pediatric dental residents then join our Multi-Specialty Pediatric Dental Treatment team during their second year. This gives them hands-on experience with the complex treatment needs of children with disabilities and medical complexities both in our clinic and in Miller Children’s Hospital, where they’re on-call for the emergency room and serve on the hospital’s integrated hematology, oncology and cleft palate/cranio-facial teams.

What type of services to you provide?

We have three programs – Multi-Specialty Pediatric Dental Treatment, Orthodontics and Early Intervention – and both our programs and facilities are designed support the unique needs of children who are physically, mentally or developmentally disabled and/or medically compromised.

Through our Multi-Specialty Pediatric Dental Treatment Program, we provide children and young adults with preventative, restorative and specialized treatments, including all levels of sedation. These services include general and pediatric dentistry, endodontics and periodontics, oral surgery, treatment with intravenous (IV) sedation, and treatment under general anesthesia in the operating rooms at Miller Children’s Hospital.

Through our Orthodontics Program, we offer comprehensive orthodontic treatment, including braces and Invisalign. We also treat patients with everything from routine to complex cases, such as children with cranio-facial/cleft palate development challenges.

Our Early Intervention Program is specially designed to provide fun and engaging ways for children ages 0-5 and their parents/caregivers to work together to prevent cavities, learn about healthy habits, and reduce a child’s fear of the dentist. These individualized, 30-minute sessions take place in a classroom-like setting every three-to-six-months, depending on the results of the child’s Oral Health Risk Assessment. We begin each session by letting the child play while we talk to the parents/caregivers about their day-to-day lives and how it has an impact on oral health. We also provide personalized guidance and give them an opportunity to set two or three self-management goals, following up on future visits. After that, we introduce the child to dental care tools, and they practice using them to clean a stuffed alligator’s teeth or their own teeth in a mirror. Finally, while standing, sitting on their parent’s lap or sitting on their own, the child’s teeth are examined, cleaned and a treatment is applied. At the end of the visit, they are given a new oral health kit to take home, along with a toy or sticker.

What can parents do to prepare their neurodiverse child for a visit to the dentist?

We asked our Dental Director and Pediatric Residency Team to provide these tips, and they suggested the following:

• Before the appointment, show your child photos and videos of positive experiences in a dental office, including kids having dental exams and treatment.
• Encourage your child with positive talk about the dentist and dental office.
• Use pretend play to simulate a visit to the dental office at home, helping them become more desensitized to what they will experience. Start by having them lay down and then:
  • Touch their cheeks and around their mouth.
  • Have them practice opening and closing their mouth.
  • Look into their mouth with a flashlight and count their teeth.
  • Ask them to open their mouth wide and use a toothbrush to brush their teeth.
• Choose a time of day when your child is well-rested.
• Try to keep routines as normal as possible the day of the dental appointment.

What accommodations do you have or do you make to a neurodiverse child to keep them comfortable?

We asked our Dental Director and Pediatric Residency Team to help with this question too. Here’s what they said:

• We ask the parents to help us facilitate a familiar environment by bringing in their own toothpaste and/or a favorite toy.
• We suggest scheduling early morning appointments, and we try to minimize how much time they spend in the waiting room to help ease anxiety.
• We have single-patient rooms that we can specify using for their appointment, which offer limited stimulation to help patients who need a quieter environment away from others.
• We consider using flavorless fluoride and prophy paste (cleaning/polishing paste), if needed.
• We suggest using nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) or IV sedation for their treatment.
• We also schedule out longer appointment times for exams and treatments, so we can take the time to talk to them and walk them through each step.

You can learn more about how we take the time to care for our patients based on their individual needs and why we suggest using of nitrous oxide in a story we shared before the holidays. This story features Luis, who had extreme anxiety due to a previous dental experience, and it’s a great example of how we build trust with our young patients.

What should parents do to ensure good oral-care habits are established at an early age?

We asked Elizabeth Valdivia, RDH-AP – who works with families through our Early Intervention Program – to provide these tips. Here’s what she said:

• Brushing as a family is very important, and for small children, don’t just limit it to the bathroom. It can be done anywhere they’re comfortable, such as in a high-chair or stroller or while they’re playing.
• Sing a song to them as they brush their teeth, and start incorporating it as part of their bedtime routine. You can find links to helpful tools like the Brush, Book, Bed Sing-Along on our website.
• For neurodiverse children, it’s especially helpful to establish a habit and make brushing their teeth part of a structured routine.
• When looking at children’s toothpaste, make sure it has fluoride. You only need a little bit, the size of a grain of rice or half of their pinky nail, which is safe to swallow if they don’t spit it out or rinse their mouth.
• You can also dip a toothbrush in children’s mouthwash when they’re learning to brush. As they get in the habit of brushing, they’ll also get used to having a clean mouth. Same with using floss on their teeth early – it helps them to get used to the feeling, even if it’s not done perfectly.
• And of course, begin taking them to the dentist at an early age – as early as six-months-old – so they can get acquainted with the dental staff and facility. This is especially helpful if you find something like our Early Intervention Program with an environment where they can relax and play!

Anything else our community should know about your clinic?

Let’s talk a little bit about how we are able to do this work. While a majority of our patients are on Medi-Cal, we also accept some PPO insurance and offer sliding-scale fees based on income. Please call our office at (562) 933-3141 if you’d like to discuss insurance details. You can also find more information for patients and families on our website.

Unfortunately, we’ve found that because of the complexity of treatment and low reimbursement rates, few dentists in our area treat children with disabilities or medical complexities. Patients are continuously referred to us for our Multi-Specialty and Early Intervention programs, and about 40% of our patients have one or more of these special health care needs.

We are proud to help our community overcome various barriers to oral health care, but we can’t do it without the support of our community. The reality is that we only receive about 55% of the true cost of our services through insurance reimbursements, and as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we are able to make up the difference thanks to support from corporations, foundations and generous individuals throughout the community.

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