Seasonal pollen, grass, and environmental allergies can spike in the desert during the fall, especially during the grass scalping and reseeding times. Children commonly suffer from seasonal allergies and it can affect their mood, concentration, and well-being. Seasonal allergies can be treated with dietary changes and nutritional supplements, which help avoid the grogginess and side… Read more »
Children’s Health
Imagine being a teenager in a troubled home where daily life is all about survival; or a pre-teen caught up in drugs and looking for a way out; or a young girl coerced down the wrong path and fearful of those maintaining a strong hold on your life. How do you get out? In Riverside… Read more »
It’s the start of a new school year, and parents are faced with the same challenge: how to prepare healthy, easy, and nutritious school lunches every day. Healthy school lunches do not need to be time consuming, or expensive. The key to creating nutritious lunch options is staying well stocked and thinking ahead. Maintaining a… Read more »
Back to school butterflies are a natural phenomenon. The two most frequent words I am hearing in my practice about back to school are “excited” and “anxious.” They are both uttered simultaneously and related to unknowns. When I ask children what they mean by these words, they explain excited to mean seeing friends, discovering their… Read more »
La Quinta is most commonly known for its beautiful golf courses and annual La Quinta Arts Festival; however, it is much more than that. Over the years, it has transformed from a sleepy desert resort community into one that is full of life, action and activities for its residents and visitors. Dotted with walking trails… Read more »
There are no safe plastics. Products made with plastics contain harmful chemicals, and exposure to plastics and their toxic constituents can cause long-term health consequences in developing babies and children. Certain types of plastics, such as BPA, have been banned in bottle nipples because of health concerns associated with BPA toxicity in infants.1 However, when… Read more »
The Coachella Valley has a tremendous resource available for local children experiencing speech and language challenges. It is the Scottish Rite Childhood Language and Learning Center in Palm Desert. Since its inception in 2004, the center has graduated more than 250 children who receive free one-on-one speech therapy with certified professionals. Many people do not… Read more »
Autism now affects as many as 1 in 68 children and adults.1 Those diagnosed may have a wide range of developmental delays, as well as difficulties with communication, motor and language skills, and certain repetitive behaviors that limit their social interactions.2 There are many theories on which therapies best help affected children become more integrated… Read more »
In the last 15 years, a growing number of professional athletes have tried to remain competitive in their sport through the use of sports supplements and energy drinks. Unfortunately, this has trickled down to our youth. A national study done by the Kellogg’s Group in 2012 showed that 40% of all kids skipped breakfast. Of… Read more »
Following the most recent U.S. measles outbreak which began at Disneyland, the vaccine debate has been ignited once again. Whether to vaccinate along the recommended schedule, along an alternative schedule, or not at all, is a heavy decision that needs to work for each family based on their risk factors and what they’re comfortable living… Read more »
Although it is my belief that therapy should be a mandatory requirement for all school-age children and their parents, I am readily aware that this could be an idealistic belief. Like adults, children can greatly benefit from having an objective and empathic listener to help mentor and provide them with direction. Most children face problems… Read more »
In recent years, medical research has shown that an increasing number of children are Vitamin D deficient. Currently, 1 in 10 children in the U.S. is estimated to be Vitamin D deficient, and 60 percent of children have suboptimal levels of this vital nutrient.1 Vitamin D is primarily necessary for building strong bones in growing… Read more »
Cold and flu season is now upon us and as parents, knowing what to do ahead of time can alleviate unnecessary stress and discomfort for our little ones. The first part of combating winter illnesses is of course prevention. This time of year, it is essential to continually remember to wash hands prior to eating,… Read more »
When kids are involved in the choice, they are more inclined to take part. That is the philosophy behind FIND Food Bank’s Kids Summer Feeding Program: Don’t just feed the children, make them part of the selection, education and preparation. Teaming with valley Boys & Girls Clubs and local YMCAs, FIND’s summer program delivers produce… Read more »
As we start a new school year in the Coachella Valley, many parents are seeking ways to help their children cope with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to a National Survey of Children’s Health conducted in 2011-2012 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 11% of school-aged children in the U.S. have… Read more »
First 5 Riverside (Riverside County Children & Families Commission) has launched a program to help child care providers throughout the county improve nutrition, physical activity and family habits through free training and materials. Working with those who care for children throughout the day, the program aims to help create healthy habits for babies, toddlers and… Read more »
In 1932, Edith Morrey was 20 years old. You may know Edith as the “Grande Dame of Fashion” whose chic clothing boutique, the first on El Paseo, helped launch the famed street. At 20, she lived in Portland and it was there she would attend the most impactful event of her life. That year, she… Read more »
Awareness surrounding the use and benefits of probiotics has exploded in recent years. If people aren’t seeking an oral probiotic at their local health foods store, they are reading the back of yogurt labels in search of active cultures. Further, fermented foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, and kimchi (kimchee) have seen their popularity increase due… Read more »
Kids and teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Indio are learning about gardening and nutrition through hands-on experience. Last summer, they worked with Marriott International and the University of California Cooperative Extension to build raised garden boxes which they filled with seedlings. This year, they expanded their gardens to add a larger… Read more »
We know that stress can be detrimental to adult health, but what about children? Significant research now suggests that American children are indeed experiencing stress at new levels: suicides among adolescents have quadrupled since the 1950s; only 36 percent of 7th graders agreed with the statement “I am happy with my life“; and in the… Read more »
