When Should Your Child First See the Dentist? A Pediatric Dentist Explains
Whether you're welcoming your first baby or adding another little one to the family, one question often catches parents by surprise: When should my child first see the dentist? The answer is probably sooner than you think. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends scheduling a child's first dental visit by their first birthday or within six months of the first tooth erupting. While many parents assume dental visits can wait until preschool, those first years are an ideal time to establish healthy habits and identify potential concerns early. As both a board-certified pediatric dentist and a mom of two,...
Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl Invites Readers to Explore 13 Independent Bookstores
PHOTO COURTESY CHEVALIER'S BOOKS Book lovers have a new way to explore Los Angeles this summer. The inaugural Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl will take place July 24–26 at independent bookstores across the region for a weekend celebrating local booksellers, neighborhood discovery and literary community. From Manhattan Beach to Montrose, 13 independent bookstores are joining forces to create this unforgettable weekend for L.A. bibliophiles. Events will take place during each bookstore's regular store hours (check website for information). This special event, modeled after popular book crawls in San Diego and Seattle, is an invitation for readers to explore the diversity of L.A.'s indie bookstores,...
The Crème School Opens First California Location in Irvine’s Great Park
PHOTOS COURTESY THE CRÈME SCHOOL Families in Irvine now have a new option for early childhood education. The Crème School has opened its first California location, The Crème School of Great Park, offering research-based preschool programs, enrichment experiences and modern learning spaces designed to support children’s growth ages 2 and up. Located in Irvine’s growing Great Park neighborhood, the school will serve nearly 200 children. It introduces Crème’s newest school design, the first of its kind, featuring modern learning environments, elevated family amenities and personalized educational experiences designed to support every stage of a child’s development. The Crème School of...
Why Yosemite Is One of California’s Best Family Getaways
An easy visit to the national park reveals breathtaking views of Half Dome, sequoias and waterfalls – and a haven for the whole family at the new Waybound Yosemite. PHOTOS BY MICHELE RAPHAEL When I headed to Yosemite National Park for work last summer, I knew I’d come face-to-face with towering sequoias, the steep, granite walls and cascading waterfalls. What surprised me was how often I reached for my phone — not to document the trip, but to FaceTime my children. As a frequent solo traveler and new empty nester (or free bird, as I call it), I’m familiar with...
JULY BOOK CORNER: Adventures, Mysteries & Magical Discoveries
From magical fairy kingdoms to galaxies far, far away, these summer reads will entertain young readers and inspire summer adventures of their own. What Does Miss Sue Do? A Teacher’s Summer By Carole Jevons; Illustrated by Cristina Kramp Former early childhood educator and mom of three, Carole Jevons’ debut picture book “What Does Miss Sue Do? A Teacher’s Summer” teaches young kids that teachers are real people with lives outside of school. Recommended for ages 2-6. A Sea of Ships and Souls By Jordan S. Keller In the young adult adventure, “A Sea of Ships and Souls” award-winning author...
Why More LA Parents Are Taking Their Family’s Device Security Seriously
By Jatin Suri Nowadays, connected devices have become so integral to family routines in Los Angeles that it is as if almost every waking moment revolves around them. Parents rely on their laptops to go on working, kids do their homework with the help of the internet, family pictures are synced to the cloud storage service and other activities like banking, shopping and watching the latest movies, shows or sports events all take place over shared home networks. Of course, such advances in technology have made life easier and more comfortable, but at the same time have resulted in some very...
Meet L.A. Mom Sara Amini, Author of Luisa, At Your Service
Sara with her son on Mother's Day in Atwater Village. "Luisa, At Your Service!" is a charming children’s book (coming in August) celebrating beloved neighborhoods, bilingual storytelling and the love of family. Actress, writer and L.A. mom Sara Amini wrote the story inspired by her mother’s experiences growing up in Salento, Colombia. Spirited young tour guide Luisa introduces visitors to her beloved hometown on the way to the Cocora Valley, proudly sharing her favorite foods, places and people along the way. Award-winning illustrator Juana Medina brings the charming Colombian town to life with warm, expressive illustrations full of personality. Tell us a little about your growing...
Meet L.A. Mom and Writer Sandra Equihua, author of ‘Hola Lola to the Bodega’
Sandra Equihua's book "Hola Lola! To the Bodega: A Bilingual First Words Book," is out Aug. 11. Emmy Award-winning El Tigre creator and L.A. mom Sandra Equihua will soon have a new children’s book published “Hola Lola! To the Bodega: A Bilingual First Words Book,” (on sale August 11). Young readers follow Lola as she heads to her neighborhood bodega to pick up a candle for her abuelo’s birthday cake, discovering pastries, paletas, drinks and more along the way while learning over 100 words in both English and Spanish. Filled with Equihua’s whimsical animation-inspired artwork, Hola Lola! captures the warmth and familiarity of...
Meet Donna Silver, LA mom and co-founder of Aliza Hotel
A sense of home, family and belonging is what Donna Silver wants all guests to feel when they enter The Aliza Hotel Venice, a boutique hotel she co-founded with her brother in 2024. Together they transformed a vintage motel into a design-forward family-owned hotel with a strong sense of place. The Santa Monica native graduated from USC with a degree in Communications and followed her culinary passion and trained at Apicius in Florence. She again returned to Italy to earn her MBA in Food and Beverage Management from Bocconi University in Milan. Back in L.A., the mom of two is...
Empty Chair Club: How One Family Turned Tragedy Into a Movement for Safer Roads
Sixteen years after the death of their 13-year-old daughter, Emily, in a car crash on Pacific Coast Highway, Michel and Ellen Shane continue to honor her legacy through advocacy, education and a renewed call for safer roads across California. Michel Shane, a Hollywood producer known for films including “Catch Me If You Can” and “I, Robot,” co-founded the nonprofit Emily Shane Foundation and has become a leading voice for traffic safety in California. This year, Shane is raising awareness through The Empty Chair Club, a public safety campaign that uses the image of an empty seat at the family dinner table to highlight the lasting...
What’s New at Disneyland Summer 2026
“Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” celebrates the heart and humor of the critically acclaimed animated series “Bluey” in the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland park. PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN THOMPSON/DISNEYLAND RESORT July is here, and it’s time to entertain the troops. Summer at Disneyland is always a little bit magical, but this year, the resort is pulling out all the stops. After a recent media visit with my own three kids in tow, I can tell you the new additions are worth the trip. The big theme this season: kids rule. Disneyland's "Kids Rule Summer" runs through Sept. 7, and the new experiences...
Beyond the Summer Slide: What Kids Really Need to Thrive
Summer learning matters — but so do confidence, resilience and the trusted adults who help children grow. This summer feels especially meaningful for my family. My toddler will start preschool in August, and we're preparing to welcome our second son this fall. Like so many parents, I've found myself thinking about routines, transitions and the kind of childhood I hope to create for my boys. Everywhere I look, I see advice about avoiding the "summer slide." Keep the learning going. As a parent, I understand why. School success matters. I want my children to love learning and walk into school...
Meet Nicole Noar, RN, IBCLC, Founder and CEO of Snuggle Shield
Nicole Noar with her husband and their two sons. 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...
Editor’s Note: How Summer Shapes Us
A peek at artist Lauren Halsey’s art installation park. PHOTO BY CASSANDRA LANE How did you spend your childhood summers? I believe this should be one of the first questions we ask the people who go on to become our partners and friends. Peering into the kaleidoscope of someone’s summer memories is an intimate way to discover how they became who they are beyond the demands of school and other obligations. If their family took road trips, what songs did they sing along to in the car? When was their first plane ride — and was it to a dreamy...
More than Moonwalking: Juliano Valdi Stars as Young MJ in ‘Michael’
Juliano Valdi dances on his toes during an L.A. Parent photo shoot. He portrays the young Michael Jackson in “Michael.” PHOTO BY BRADLEY MEINZ 12-year-old Juliano Valdi says portraying the young Michael Jackson taught him about the power of discipline “I just can’t/ I just can’t/ I just can’t control my feet,” Michael Jackson sang in 1978 with his brothers in “Blame It on the Boogie.” But as I yelled these lyrics along with a crowd at a recent MJ/Prince party, it was the image of Juliano Valdi’s moonwalking feet that flashed in my mind. Juliano, 12, portrays Jackson as...
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Experts Help Rescue Birds After East L.A. Oil Spill
PHOTO COURTESY UC DAVIS More than 100 birds have been rescued following the crude oil pipeline spill in East Los Angeles, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance wildlife health experts are among the responders helping rehabilitate affected birds through the UC Davis-administered Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN). Since late May, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Wildlife Care and Wildlife Health team members have deployed to assist with the rescue and rehabilitation effort. Their work has included stabilizing oiled birds with IV fluids, tube feedings and medications, collecting blood samples, washing birds and providing ongoing care as the animals recover. The...
Cat Dads Help Save Lives During Kitten Season
As shelters fill with vulnerable kittens and stray cats, more men are discovering the rewards of fostering— and helping save furry lives. Allie, Domestic Short Hair, Adoptable. PHOTOS COURTESY HELEN SANDERS, CATPAWS Kitten season doesn't usually make people think of a grown man sitting cross-legged on a bathroom floor at 2 a.m., coaxing a kitten the size of a deck of cards to take a bottle. But that's exactly what's happening in homes across L.A. and Orange counties right now. And if you ask those men whether it counts as fatherhood, most of them say yes, it does. We're in the...
A Vintage Weekend: Explore L.A.’s Own Stretch of Route 66
PHOTO COURTESY SANTA MONICA TRAVEL & TOURISM Take the kids and travel down L.A.’s own stretch of the historic Route 66 There’s something magical about the open road — kids in the backseat and the anticipation of adventure along the way. And no road holds more nostalgia than Route 66, which marked its 100th anniversary this year. This historic highway, which spans 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, is an enduring symbol of hope and collective memories of station wagons, milkshakes, neon-lit signs and Nat King Cole singing “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” To celebrate, we’re taking you...
For the Love of Produce: 9 Farmers Markets to Explore This Summer
PHOTO COURTESY CASSANDRA LANE From Hollywood to South L.A., these family-friendly choices offer fresh food, fun and community If you type the words “fruit” or “vegetable” into my phone’s photo app, hundreds of juicy farm jewels will appear. Purple-indigo figs, blueberries and eggplants. A mountain of what I call my emerald treasures: pears, parsley, lettuces, kale, collards. The multicolored hues of other delights: tomatoes, sweet potatoes, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries. I snapped images of these bounties here in the City of Angels over just the past few years — mostly from local farmers markets and community gardens. As a daughter...
Best Family-Friendly Beaches In and Around L.A.
From calm coves to tide pools, bonfires and sunset views, these parent-approved beaches offer something for every age and stage Like any beach-loving California girl, I’ve got my opinions on what makes the best beach. Having grown up in L.A., I’ve experienced our beaches as both a kid and as a parent, and I realize the “best” beach is relative to the circumstances. Are you looking for ease, seclusion or stunning views? Do you want to explore or relax? The wide boardwalk in front of Annenberg Community Beach House extends towards the ocean, making carting your gear from the parking...
We Love It: Ultimate Summer Toys, Games & More
Giant Outdoor SpirographTransform your sidewalk into a giant canvas for dazzling spiral creations with chalk. The jumbo wheel and gear make it easy to spin out bold designs. $24.99, ages 5+, amazon.com Swimways Monster Jam Wild Whippin' SprinklerBring the Monster Jam stadium to your backyard! Features 360-degree spraying power, whipping in a circle and soaking everything in its path. The truck is removable from the sprinkler stand with fully working wheels. $16.99, ages 4+, target.com Priority Start 20” BikeProvides a smooth, low-maintenance ride. The lightweight aluminum frame, puncture-resistant tires and kid-specific geometry ensure durability, safety and confidence. Designed to grow...
Happy 100th Birthday, L.A. Central Library: Family Guide to Central 100 Events
It may have taken Los Angeles Public Library 50 years of planning before opening its Central Library, but once the doors finally cracked, there was no turning back. The stunning rotunda at Los Angeles Central Library. For 100 years, LAPL has helped Angelenos discover new worlds through books, research school projects and family histories, learn new skills and connect with the larger community. And the library possesses an uncanny ability to reinvent itself: rebuilding Central Library after a devastating fire in 1986, finding new ways to provide services to people in need, fighting against book banning, creating a makerspace lab...
Kern River Rafting With Kids: The Ultimate Family Glamping Adventure Near Los Angeles
Planning an outdoor family getaway? Here's why rafting and glamping on California's Kern River is an unforgettable adventure that's surprisingly easy for parents. Family and guide selfie opportunity on the Kern River. PHOTO COURTESY MARGOT BLACK As a parent, I love the idea of outdoor adventure, but the reality is often somewhat less glamorous. Family camping trips can involve enough organization to launch a small military operation. There are tents to pack, meals to plan, sleeping bags to remember, and somehow, despite being surrounded by nature, parents often end up putting in more work than they do at home. So,...
Summer Grilling for the Whole Family: Charred Cauliflower with Tahini-Yogurt Sauce
Noah Galuten takes advantage of his backyard grill to cook for his family. PHOTOS BY KRISTIN TEIG L.A. dad, chef and Jame Beard Award-winning cookbook author Noah Galuten understands the unique challenges facing families at mealtime. How do you cook healthy, delicious food the whole family will love without making a mess or taking up precious time in your day? The answer is your grill. Noah's latest cookbook "GRILL TIME!" features tons of veggie-forward comfort food full of flavor, like Miso Butter Corn and Tofu Bánh Mì with Lemongrass BBQ Sauce, in addition to tried-and-true classics like bacon cheeseburgers and...
Hahaha Kids Streetwear Launches in L.A.
Hahaha is a Los Angeles kids streetwear brand making hoodies, tees, joggers and jackets in 100% Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton, cut and sewn entirely in Downtown LA. We hold a GOTS Transaction Certificate and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. What makes us different: Every top has built-in patch zones, and kids attach and swap embroidered patches themselves using a soft hook-and-loop backing. We have more than 29 themed patch collections, so a single hoodie keeps changing as a kid's interests change. It’s the part of getting dressed that kids actually want to do, and it extends the life...
When Your L.A. Home Feels Too Small: Smart Ways Families Can Reclaim Their Space
If you're raising kids in Los Angeles, you already know the math doesn't always work out. The neighborhood is right, the schools are good and the community is yours — but the square footage? That's another story. Whether you're in a two-bedroom condo in Sherman Oaks, a bungalow in West Adams or an apartment near Mar Vista, space has a way of running out faster than you'd expect. The good news: You don't have to move to breathe. With some intentional changes at home – and, for many families, a nearby self-storage unit – you can reclaim your space without...
How to Protect Your Family’s Personal Data Without a Tech Degree
By Jatin Suri Parents have always put their children’s safety as their number one priority -- and rightly so. We continue to make sure that our kids are strapped in, we tell them to look both ways before crossing the street and to be alert for accidents that can happen at any time. Yet, with the connectivity of the present day, safety now extends beyond the physical realm into the digital world. If you want to protect your family's personal data, don't worry, it's not as if you need to be a computer scientist or have technical skills. In reality, some...
