Summer is here, but not without its share of blood, sweat and tears. As parents, we’re used to trudging through it all — unstoppable forces until we come up against that immovable object. This year, just 72 hours after the first day of summer, I came face to face with my immovable object: a hip gone bad.

By the time you read this, I’ll have undergone surgery and will be (I hope) recovering well at home. While none of us ever wants to go under the knife, the timing was perfect. Since learning last year that I needed surgery, my main refrain was: “Just please let it be after my son’s prom, graduation and college admissions stuff.” In other words, like many moms, I had no time to take care of me. Thankfully, one by one, each of Sol’s senior-year milestones was reached:

He received his college acceptances, then made his final choice.

He attended prom — and on a yacht in Marina del Rey. But on the afternoon of prom, I got my first call ever from a school nurse: Our son had cut his finger on a robotics project and needed stitches! Luckily, my husband got him in and out of a packed urgent care by playing the prom card, and I found the perfect last-minute brooch for his tux by texting him photos from the shop and awaiting his yay or nay responses.

He turned 18!

He graduated — and we parents screamed our heads off as our robe-clad progeny pretended not to hear us.

We threw a backyard garden party to celebrate the graduate’s rite of passage with our extended community.

He got the nose piercing he’s been begging for. “At 18, you don’t need your parents for most stuff,” he told me. Yet, tuition still has to be paid and he still expects my hearty breakfast “sammiches” every morning.

As we cleaned up the party leftovers, I could sense a shift in my parenting journey: In a way, my husband and I were graduates, too.

In June, our digital editor, Nina Harada, attended her eldest’s kindergarten promotion. She emailed the L.A. Parent team after the ceremony: “I barely held it together. I am going to be a MESS for all graduations to follow. Cassandra, how did you survive Sol’s?!”

So far, I’ve held it together, but I have a feeling that come August (campus move-in time), I’ll have had a few breakdowns. And yet, these good cries are like a soft drizzle compared to the storms so many of our fellow families are facing (ICE raids, still trying to find their way after the L.A. fires and more).

I hope you and your family have a safe summer — and that you find ways to play, explore and unplug — even in the midst of chaos. This edition is a beautiful guide to help you do just that.

The post Editor’s Note: Rites of Passage appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Few collective experiences celebrated around the world inspire goal setting, demonstrate the power of teamwork and teach the value in reaching for dreams as powerfully as the Olympics. And with Los Angeles set to host the games in 2028, this summer is the perfect time to start making Olympic-sized memories with our children.

Big dreams begin at home

I first became a fan of the Olympics in the summer of 1976, when I gathered with my friends to watch Queen Elizabeth proclaim the opening of the Montreal Olympic Games. The kids in my neighborhood decided to host our own “backyard Olympics.” Apparently, I wasn’t the only child inspired by those games. Olympic track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee said, “It wasn’t until I was 14 and watched the 1976 Olympic games on television that I really started to dream about the big time.” Watching UCLA’s Evelyn Ashford compete in the 100-meters dash inspired Joyner-Kersee to also become a Bruin and eventually compete and medal in four Olympics.

Back in the ‘70s, we turned the shiny insides of Peter Pan peanut butter jars into gold medals. We covered Smucker’s jelly lids with tin foil to make the silver medals.  Bronze medal recipients received brown construction paper circles with BRONZE written on them in black crayon. We threw a broomstick javelin and a baking potato shotput, measured our long jumps with yardsticks and were covered in grass following our summersault-filled floor exercises.

The memories we made have lasted a lifetime, which is why I’ve continued the tradition with my own children every four years, including last summer when, in between watching the events in Paris, relatives and friends who happened by our house stood a chance to medal in kickboard races in the pool, water polo with a Vaseline-covered watermelon or a USA version of P-I-G at our local basketball court. We even played a round of Olympic Yahtzee.

The good news is you don’t have to wait for the games to come to L.A. to get in on the action. Here are a few fun activities you can do this summer to inspire your aspiring athletes to get moving and dreaming of going for the gold!

New ways to get active

Run by L.A.’s Department of Recreation and Parks, PlayLA is set to impact more than one million kids by the time the 2028 Olympic torch is lit. It boasts a broad array of youth athletic programs, including 26 Olympic and 10 Paralympic sports. Local public pools are not just for swimming. Many also offer water polo, synchronized swimming and kayaking lessons. Flag football will be a new Olympic sport in 2028, and multiple locations offer classes and leagues to join.

Inclusivity for every young athlete

Most summer leagues and clinics through PlayLA kick off July 7. Go to laparks.org/play-la to register for these low- to no-cost sports supported by a $160 million investment from LA28 and the International Olympic Committee.

Though Los Angeles hosted the Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984, the 2028 Olympics will mark L.A.’s first time ever also hosting the Paralympic Games and, with that in mind, the adaptive sports offerings by PlayLA are robust, including tennis, para-equestrian opportunities and wheelchair basketball.

“PlayLA Youth and Adaptive Youth Sports Program has transformed the way we deliver sports to our youth,” says Department of Recreation and Parks General Manager Jimmy Kim. “We have been able to provide access to high-quality, inclusive and affordable Olympic and Paralympic style sports for kids. This movement reflects the spirit of the Games and ensures that this generation grows up with the opportunity to play, compete and dream in their own communities.”

Days and evenings full of fun

Summer Night Lights (SNL) is the extended recreation program at 40 public park sites across the city. Families and teens can enjoy a variety of activities with extended evening hours Thursdays through Saturdays, often including free food and movie nights. South Park, Hubert Humphrey and Costello recreation centers all have SNL kickoff events slated for July 10.

PlayLA Day – July 14 will mark three years until the opening ceremonies of the 2028 Olympics, and PlayLA will celebrate with a free event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering Olympic-inspired activities for kids and families at L.A. Memorial Coliseum (the first venue in the world to host three Olympic Opening Ceremonies!). Registration is required. Go to laparks.org and search “PlayLA Day.”

Attention older kids –PlayLAis hiring coaches, especially for specialty sports such as skateboarding, fencing and archery. For more information, contact PlayLA via email at rap.playla@lacity.org.

GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play – Just across Exposition Park from the iconic Coliseum, you’ll find GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play, an all-new interactive exhibit at the California Science Center. Aspiring young Olympians can participate in hands-on activities and learn the science behind success.

“GAME ON! is engaging from the moment you enter the colorful space,” says Alyson Goodall, senior vice president and chief advancement officer for the California Science Center Foundation. “It’s incredibly immersive and interactive, and a wonderful opportunity for children to practice skills for familiar sports or try something new, all with virtual guidance from mentor athletes and rooted in core science principles.”          

Imagine practicing your swing and having Dodgers first baseman and World Series Champion Freddie Freeman offer tips on how to plant your feet with video playback! How about virtually swimming alongside Paralympian Jamal Hill as he demonstrates the physics of thrust, drag, buoyancy and gravity that helped him win his bronze medal?  How cool would it be if your soccer-loving child could get kicking advice from Angel City FC’s sister duo Alyssa and Gisele Thompson? And then there is “Lethal Shooter” Chris Matthews, who has worked as a shooting coach for numerous WNBA and NBA standouts. At GAME ON!, young athletes can learn the science behind the flight path speed of a basketball and test the arc and angle of their own shots.

“One of the best parts,” adds Goodall, “is that even if you’re not the one doing the activity, kids are gathering around, cheering each other on as they explore the science and test their skills.”

Thanks to the collaboration between the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the LA84 Foundation and the Walter Family Foundation, the 17,000-square-feet exhibition is included with free admission to the California Science Center, though groups of 15 or more need timed reservations. Call 213.744.2019 or visit californiasciencecenter.org.

Your own backyard or local park

If you want to stay closer to home, why not bring the games to your own yard or a nearby park and use these easy ideas as inspiration?

1. Jar lids can be spray painted gold, silver and bronze if you want to get crafty while recycling and repurposing with your kids. Don’t have lids, ribbons or time? Many companies offer easy options. Visit orientaltrading.com for starters.  
2. Got a ping pong table or badminton set? Encourage your children to work on their skills throughout the summer with a friendly competition planned before school begins again.
3. If you have a pool for diving or a grassy space for a gymnastics floor exercise, make the judge’s score cards, make a list of moves that earn points and let kids rate the moves they like best.
4. Set up races down the sidewalk or around a park path. Let kids who don’t want to run keep the times.

Making summer memories shine

There is still time to get your young gymnasts and synchronized swimmers, weightlifters and badminton champions to put down their electronics and start dreaming of gold.

It might be one of their favorite memories of the summer of 2025, and it might get them thinking about what sports they’d like to see in person when the Olympics come to town in just three summers!

Suzanne Weerts is an author, teacher and producer who loves sports but is far more effective as a fan than an athlete. 

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With more than 3,700 miles of hiking trails in Southern California alone, you could spend every day exploring a new trail, but if you’d like your family to join you on some of those excursions this summer, consider choosing trails that everyone — all ages and abilities — might enjoy.

These suggestions for outdoor activities take into consideration the contrasting needs of hyperactive young children and aging adults with limited mobility, including those using powered devices and walkers. Bring water, sunblock, hats, shades, snacks, binoculars and comfortable shoes to all of them. All parks listed are ADA-compliant.

South Coast

Wetlands and marshes

Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center – Torrance; Tues-Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Little kids love this small park, which offers a series of educational programs tailored to them. There are brochures in the parking area for self-guided tours. At least 275 species of birds live in this park. Dogs not allowed. 

El Dorado Nature Center – Long Beach; Tue-Sun, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

In this manmade environment built with the soil extracted from construction of the 605 Freeway, children can enjoy watching turtles bask in the sun while older folks can rest by the lake to look at the waterfowl. With three connecting loops, the park offers a total of 3.25 miles of trail, mostly shaded. The soil is so soft that people often walk barefooted. Parking $8-$9 on holidays; passes with senior discounts. Dogs not allowed.

Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve – Marina del Rey; daily

Enjoy about four miles of soft trail. Watch for butterflies. Look for easy parking on Bluff Creek Drive.

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve – Seal Beach; daily, 6 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Originally home to the Tongva people, this rich coastal ecosystem surrounding a tidal mouth has been a restoration project for decades. The 1,300-acre park offers four miles of flat trail accessible to powered mobility devices and strollers. From the trails, visitors have a vantage point to observe Bolsa Chica’s biodiversity far beyond the beautiful birds, including endangered plants and even sea lions. Pamphlets are available at the two free parking lots. Dogs not allowed.

Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park –Wilmington; daily, dawn to dusk

Around 300 species of migratory birds enjoy the freshwater lake, the tule marsh and the willow forest. The two flat trails have a total combined distance of 5 miles. Free parking. Fishing permit needed.

Overlooking the Ocean

Point Vicente Coastal Trail –Palos Verdes Peninsula; daily, dawn to dusk

Also known as Vicente Bluffs, this trail runs several miles east and west parallel to the south rim of the peninsula. Stroll west as long as you can, taking in the spectacular view. Don’t miss the interpretative center, the whale-watching deck or the lighthouse, which opens only on second Saturdays. Have a picnic or watch the sunset. It’s all free, including parking. Bring a jacket. Leashed dogs are OK.

Urban

Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area – Los Angeles; March to October, 6 a.m.-8 p.m.

Nestled between La Cienega Boulevard and La Brea Avenue in Baldwin Hills, Kenneth Hahn is an urban gem with a network of hiking trails at varying difficulty levels. The trail closest to the Japanese garden is ADA compliant. To avoid parking fees, use the shuttle bus for 25 cents.

Suburban

Powder Canyon Trail – La Habra; dawn to dusk

The best family-friendly trail of the entire Puente Hills Preserve is a 1.1-mile portion of the Powder Canyon. Equipped with complete facilities. Leashed dogs allowed.

Mountain

Crystal Lake Recreation Area/Campground – Angeles National Forest, accessed from Azusa via California Highway 39

This overnight camping trip requires planning. Adventure pass and fishing permit are needed. Senior discounts are available. Pack all you need to feed and shelter your family for a weekend, but think simple, practical and economical. California Highway 39 is a long, winding road shared with cyclists going uphill. Kids might need something for motion sickness.

At 6,000-feet elevation, Crystal Lake campground has running water, clean bathrooms and 120 tent sites. Arrive late on Thursday or early on Friday ahead of Labor Day to secure one of the three ADA-compliant sites. Use only designated, bear-proof garbage containers. Leave no trace is the principle.

There are two ADA-accessible, interpretative trails with brochures: Golden Cup Trail (0.25 miles) and Pinyon Ridge Trail (a new 1-mile loop). The lake trail is 2 miles long and mostly on the road, then you hike down the last .25 miles on a wide trail. Swimming is not allowed. For a greater challenge, older children and strong adults can take an adventure day of their own. Windy Gap Trail is 2.5 miles long (one way) with an 1,380-elevation gain of moderate difficulty. It serves as a popular path to the Pacific Crest Trail and to Little Jimmy Trail Camp. Visit sierraclub.org for a list of 10 essentials to bring. Pick up a trail map at the ranger’s office.

If you can only stay in the Crystal Lake recreation area and walk the short trails around camp, do not be discouraged. Disconnect from your digital devices and play camp games, creating beautiful memories for your family along with the breathtaking views of the San Gabriel Canyon.

Born in Venezuela, Lisbeth Coiman is a trekker of intersecting paths and an avid hiker with aching knees. She is the author of “I Asked the Blue Heron: A memoir” and “Uprising/Alzamiento,” a poetry collection that calls attention to the humanitarian crisis in her homeland. Visit lisbethcoiman.com.

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This July, the rhythmic pulse of drums and paddles will echo across Brandenburg, Germany as more than 4,000 elite athletes from more than 30 countries compete in the 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships — the most prestigious event in the sport’s international calendar.

Among them? 14-year-old Ysabella Cajanding from Bellflower — making waves on the Junior U.S. National Team.

“These kids have made sacrifices for two years preparing for Germany, and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Nathan Salazar, Team USA coach.

Dragon boat racing, a sport with roots dating back over 2,000 years in China, is now one of the fastest-growing water sports worldwide. It combines fierce physical endurance, flawless timing, and team unity — teams of 20 paddlers race in sync to the beat of a drum aboard 40-foot-long boats adorned with traditional dragon heads and tails. It’s a spectacle of culture, community and competition.

“I want to bond with my team, make memories, and hopefully win gold,” Ysabella said about the upcoming trip to Germany. ”I like the community it creates with my teammates. We’re working together, paddling together and winning together.”

For Ysabella, this journey started when she was just seven years old, paddling alongside her dad Rex who has competed for over two decades. By age 12, she was making history, competing internationally in Thailand, where she brought home three gold medals and two silvers, becoming the youngest competitor at the 16th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Competition.

“I started because I saw my dad doing this sport. He’s been a part of it since before I was born, and he saw my interest growing and put me in the boat with him. Now, I’ve been paddling for half my life,” Ysabella said.

Now, Ysabella and Rex are not just father and daughter, but also teammates representing Team USA on the global stage. Their shared passion for dragon boat racing has built more than strength, it’s deepened their bond and created a legacy of teamwork and resilience.

When she’s not on the water, she prioritizes her wellness and conditioning for the sport. According to a nationwide survey conducted by Planet Fitness, teens believe physical activity helps deal with emotional ups and downs of being a teenager, and 93 percent agree that regular exercise is beneficial when handling challenges. 

“Watching my daughter grow through sports and at the gym, I’ve seen how it strengthens more than just her body—it gives her confidence, clears her mind, and helps her face the daily challenges teens deal with today. She also has our full support. Her mother, Liz, provides her with good nutrition and mental stability, always reminding her that she’s a student before an athlete,” said Ysabella’s father, Rex. 

Ysabella is a regular at her neighborhood Planet Fitness, where she utilizes Team USA coach-approved machines that target the back, shoulders and core muscle groups she needs to excel as an athlete. She works out at Planet Fitness three times a week, noting that the gym has lots of space for her to complete her fitness routine. 

“I have an athlete mentality, and I’m thankful that my local Planet Fitness has the space for what I need to accomplish. It’s hard to find a good gym that’s not overcrowded,” said Ysabella. 

She especially enjoys the resistance bands for assisted pull-ups, something that not every nearby gym provides. Both Ysabella and Rex use the massage chairs and hydromassage beds at Planet Fitness to cool down and recover their sore muscles. What’s more uplifting, 90 percent of teens say exercise helps them feel happy, with 88 percent noting improved mood after exercise noted by the survey.

Whether they are training for a sport or just want to get in some healthy exercise, Planet Fitness is dedicated to investing in teen wellness. The franchise is offering free memberships to high school students and athletes nationwide ages 14-19 from now until Aug. 31 as part of Planet Fitness’s annual High School Summer Pass Program. For more information on how to sign up, head to planetfitness.com/summerpass. 

The post L.A. County Teen Makes Waves at World Dragon Boat Championships appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Since before our son could toddle, he’s been traveling alongside my husband and me. We’ve bundled him, backpacked him, and “Bijorned” him on boats, planes and automobiles. 

We’ve trekked together across many continents, and explored cities and deserts nearer home, instilling in all of us, a love of exploration and renewal.

Our family odyssey has taught us invaluable lessons — some profound, some hilarious, and some that smelled suspiciously like goat. Here are seven big takeaways from our travels that extend far beyond the school gates.

Curiosity creates lifelong learners

Young people sometimes show a premature weariness with life — it’s all algorithms and eye rolls. But the world outside WiFi is endlessly fascinating.

Our son’s curiosity exploded in the best way possible once he saw how kids lived around the world. We’ve watched pre-teens hunting for food with their parents in Africa, seen children clean their classrooms in Japan, and youngsters fish at dawn, in the Amazon.

In Fiji, we looked on in awe as children made music with found objects, showing a deep resourcefulness and creativity we rarely see at home. My son learned an invaluable lesson that day; when there’s no toy shop, you must make the toys. 

All our minds have been opened many times — and honestly, if my son ever loses interest in TikTok, I’ll credit the children of the Andes.

Confidence comes from climbing, not clicking

True confidence stems from real achievements and a sense of being capable. While American society often promotes confidence, it sometimes leans into a “fake it till you make it” mentality. The idea of posing in front of someone else’s Maserati doesn’t build genuine self-esteem.

True, hands-on experiences create a deeper sense of accomplishment and identity, and travel is a short-cut to that. It’s important your kids, partner, and family see you trying new things, solving problems, and having fun — whether it’s figuring out where to buy sunscreen, replacing lost contact lenses, or picking the perfect picnic spot.

Our family has learned this first hand during our travels. We’ve all faced moments of uncertainty and confusion — wondering where to catch a bus, deciphering signs to find waterfalls, or trying to figure out opening hours in another language. Tackling these challenges together has given us a “we’ve got this” attitude. 

Empathy needs no translation

In this digital world, connecting both to nature and to people has never been more important. I’ve watched our son connect to a Masai tribe in Tanzania and to a woman carrying a small goat in Peru. I’ve looked on as a beautiful lady served our son soda in Japan and admired our son’s gratitude in receiving it. 

I’ll never forget the time, high up in the Andes, a group of women grabbed him as he ran up the stairs to greet them at 12,000 feet altitude, and then nearly fainted in their arms as the lack of oxygen hit. They wrapped him in blankets and made him a cup of cocoa. 

It was extraordinary to see him give himself over to this tribe of mothers without a word of English being spoken. It takes a village, sure — but sometimes it also takes an Andean auntie with a flask and a good sense of humor.

Think outside the goldfish bowl

Fixed perspectives can suffocate potential and understanding but shopping at a busy weekly market, doing laundry at a local laundromat, or trying a food that might be considered a pet (side order of guinea pig anyone?), creates not just curiosity but also empathy. 

We’ve been to a cat park in Lima, Peru, and there was a shared sense of joy, peace and play with every human and creature in the area, and, in Madrid, a history-filled whole roast suckling pig dining, remains a family highlight.

In transit, we’ve had to visit a local eye doctor (Austria and Spain), a tailor for to fix a camera bag (Zimbabwe), and a local electronics shop to fix an iPad (Japan), which were all adventures of their own. 

And it’s not just kids who can learn. Camping is not my first choice of a vacation but when my son wanted to go, I rented an RV and it turns out, that for a few days, I can enjoy life in a mobile home. And yes, I brought half my house for a three-day camping trip. And yes, I used all of it. Don’t judge.

When the plan becomes cereal in bed

Life doesn’t always play out as it should and neither will your vacation. Things screw up, everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes things are less than the photo presented. We learned as a family how to research, leap, pivot and that sometimes it’s okay to go back to your room to sleep and wait to get out to the next place. 

On a walking trip through Japan, after a day that saw us hike at a high elevation for 7.5 miles, from Matsuzaki to Hiroshima, the three of us ended the day snuggled in our room, enjoying bowls of cereal in bed, instead of a group dinner. 

While exploring the Dolomites, a magical hiking day turned into a mad dash down the mountain when torrential rain clouds arrived with lightening. It felt like an episode of The Amazing Race to return to the tram to hitch a ride down before it closed for the day. Travel is chaos with a sense of direction, and learning to pivot is part of the package.

Adventures lead to smarter choices

Many people often have an unrealistic understanding of what’s safe and what’s risky but travel can teach us valuable lessons about making sound decisions and clearly navigating through life.

In Africa, when our son asked if he could stand and put his head out of the roof of our Jeep, our guide responded: “There are few rules out here in the Bush, so do what you want. I’ll tell you this however, the nearest doctor is six hours away and he is a shaman. The nearest doctor the way you are used to it is a plane ride away, so choose your actions carefully.” He sat down.

On a Japanese commuter train, we watched everyone clean up before they departed, and now we’re just as committed to always leaving our public areas just as tidy when leaving.

You can tell your kid to watch their phone until you’re blue in the face, but it may take being in a group when an adult is pickpocketed, such as happened to us in Spain, for them to take notice. 

Coming home with new eyes — and heated toilet seats

There’s a huge amount of joy in budgeting for a trip and anticipating the adventures that lay ahead – but mistakes happen. 

I once had to return a bunch of scarves to a Japanese museum gift shop because I’d wrongly calculated the exchange rate. And that’s fine because we also found joy in unexpected places; for example, we learned that the Japanese use heated toilet seats, and so my husband purchased one as a souvenir!

Returning home after traveling makes us fully appreciate the comfort and security of our everyday lives. These moments of gratitude, mixed with the excitement of our adventures, inspire us to value what we have and think about how we can protect and share these experiences for future generations.

From the peaks of Patagonia to the canyons of California, our journey continues. But the real treasures? Curiosity, resilience, empathy and an unshakable belief that cereal in bed sometimes beats fine dining.

Pack light. Laugh often. The world is waiting — with snacks.

Margot Black is a Los Angeles-based travel writer, mom and founder of Black Ink PR.

The post 7 Life Lessons Kids Learn from Traveling the World appeared first on L.A. Parent.

This summer, local teens get to hit the gym for free.  Planet Fitness has announced the return of its annual High School Summer Pass program. Celebrating its fifth year, the initiative invites high school teens ages 14-19 to work out for free at any of its 2,700+ Planet Fitness locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Teens can visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass to register for the program with club access beginning June 1-Aug. 31. Find the club nearest you here. 

Since launching the program in 2019, Planet Fitness has invested more than $300 million in waived membership dues to promote youth health and wellness and improve the physical and mental health of millions of teens. Planet Fitness’ High School Summer Pass program has helped millions of teens establish healthy fitness habits during the summer months, a critical time when many young people lack access to organized physical activities.

To better understand what today’s teens are experiencing — and how to support them — Planet Fitness conducted a nationwide study, revealing the following key insights:

• Mental health is a major concern: 66 percent of parents are concerned about their teen’s well-being and stress levels and 72 percent of parents believe that consistent exercise can improve their teen’s mental wellness. Unfortunately, around three in five teens report their stress and anxiety are not improving and getting worse as they get older. 
• Working out is a solution: Encouragingly, 90 percent of teens say exercise helps them feel happy, with 88 percent noting improved mood after exercise.
• Exercise is more than physical health: Teens believe physical activity helps deal with emotional ups and downs of being a teenager; 93 percent agree that regular exercise is beneficial when handling challenges.
• Screen time is consuming: 81 percent of teens acknowledge that social media and video games take up a significant portion of their day. In fact, nearly four in five teens report that avoiding social media is helpful. 
• Summer brings a fitness slump: 50 percent of teens report that their fitness levels tend to decline when school is out for summer break.

“At Planet Fitness, we offer a high value experience to both our members and High School Summer Pass participants in a welcoming, judgment-free environment where everyone can get a great workout,” says Planet Fitness’ Chief Executive Officer Colleen Keating. “With free access to our clubs throughout the summer, we’re providing teens with the tools they need to develop healthy fitness habits that can last a lifetime.”

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In the bustling rhythm of Los Angeles life, parents often juggle multiple responsibilities, striving to provide the best for their children. Amidst this hustle, understanding the foundational role of attachment in a child’s development becomes paramount.

Attachment refers to the deep emotional bond that develops between a child and their caregiver. This connection lays the groundwork for a child’s sense of security and influences their social, emotional and cognitive development. Secure attachments foster confidence, resilience and the ability to form healthy relationships throughout life. Children with secure attachments often exhibit:

• Emotional Regulation: They can manage their emotions effectively, leading to fewer behavioral issues.
• Social Competence: Securely attached children tend to have better social skills, enabling them to build strong peer relationships.
• Cognitive Development: A secure base allows children to explore their environment, promoting learning and intellectual growth.

Conversely, insecure attachment styles — which may result from inconsistent, unresponsive or unpredictable caregiving — can have lasting effects. These children may struggle with:

• Anxiety and low self-esteem.
• Difficulty trusting others or forming close relationships.
• Emotional dysregulation and impulsivity.
• Academic challenges and reduced motivation.

Without early intervention or supportive relationships later in life, these patterns can persist into adulthood, influencing everything from romantic relationships to parenting styles and mental health.

Fostering Secure Attachments

Parents and caregivers can nurture secure attachments by:

• Being Responsive: Attending to a child’s needs promptly and consistently builds trust.
• Engaging in Quality Time: Shared activities and attentive interactions strengthen the parent-child bond.
• Providing a Safe Environment: A stable and predictable environment helps children feel secure and supported.

Recognizing the importance of community in parenting, we’ve established a supportive group for families seeking guidance on fostering secure attachments. This community offers resources, expert insights and a platform for shared experiences.

For parents interested in deepening their understanding and application of attachment principles, consider joining our supportive community group: www.skool.com/attachment-matters-family

Heather Thompson is the founder of Attachment Matters, LLC, dedicated to supporting families in nurturing secure attachments and promoting healthy child development.

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Young L.A. County filmmakers are on an award-winning streak. C-SPAN visited Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach on May 19 to celebrate and honor students for their prize-winning documentary filmy entries in C-SPAN’s annual student video documentary competition, StudentCam.

C-SPAN and Spectrum representatives recognized the winning students and their teacher, Jeff Montooth, who served as their StudentCam adviser, at an assembly of classmates, teachers, family members and elected officials.

For this year’s competition, C-SPAN, in cooperation with its cable and satellite television partners, asked middle and high school students to address a theme — “Your Message to the President: What issue is most important to you or your community?” In response, nearly 3,500 students from 42 states and Washington, D.C. sent more than 1,700 entries to C-SPAN.

Award-winning documentaries

Several freshmen from Poly High received top honors and cash prizes for their documentaries:

Second-Place Prize ($1,500):

Nolan Sheets, Rene Ortega and Roman Leonor, freshmen, won second prize and $1,500 for the video “Crime: Perception vs. Reality.”

Third-Place Prize ($750):

Sara Kong, a freshman, for the video “Ocean Acidification: Small Changes, Big Problems.”

Honorable Mentions ($250)

Isabella Sim and Owen Gurga, freshmen, for the video “Editing the Future: Bridging Science, Society, and Policy in Gene Editing.”

Juliet Haesly and Megan Lee, freshmen, for the video “No Means No.”

Eliza Floto and Brianna Goldstein, freshmen, for the video “The Divided States of America: Is the United States Really United?”

Natalie Hebdon, a freshman, for the video “A Safer Tomorrow: America’s Need for Enhanced Disaster Protection.”

“Congratulations to all of the incredibly talented young students who won awards in this year’s competition,” C-SPAN’s Director of Education Relations Craig McAndrew said. “Through in-depth research and interviews with an array of topical and technical experts, [they] have crafted impactful short stories that capture issues of wide public interest and importance. [Their] documentaries set a very high bar for future StudentCam filmmakers.”

C-SPAN is funded by America’s cable and satellite television companies as a commercial-free public service. In Long Beach, C-SPAN is available through Spectrum, the local partner in StudentCam. 

“As a long-time supporter of StudentCam, we are continually inspired by the curiosity and creativity students bring to C-SPAN’s annual competition,” Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs for Spectrum Adam Falk said. “The program provides a unique opportunity for young people to showcase the critical thinking, problem solving and civic engagement skills essential for informed and active communities. We celebrate this year’s winners and look forward to watching them continue to follow their passion for storytelling through this medium.”

Popular Topics Explored

Now in its 21st year, this project-based learning experience asked students to explore and analyze matters of personal, local or national importance.The most popular topics addressed were: 

• Climate, environment and land use (11%)
• K-12 education policies and the cost of college (10%)
• Health care and mental health (10%)
• Gun violence, school safety and firearm policies (9%)
• Inflation, taxes, government spending and the economy (9%)

In addition to the grand prize and first-prize winners, C-SPAN awarded 16 second prizes, 32 third prizes and 97 honorable mention prizes. The StudentCam competition has awarded more than $1.6 million in prizes since 2004. You can watch all 150 winning videos from this year’s competition at StudentCam.org.

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In these challenging times, raising emotionally healthy children can feel like a fleeting fairytale. Below, Jenna Haeflinger-Kurtz, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the director of Early Intervention & Community Wellness at Wellnest, shares some tips for nurturing our children’s well-being, navigating tough emotions and creating a supportive home environment.

In addition to programs for children, Wellnest runs a comprehensive maternal mental health program featuring specialized therapy through its home visitation program to support people experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, birth trauma and the emotional complexities of parenting. Rooted in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care, the services create a safe space for mothers to heal, Haeflinger-Kurtz says.

Moms are still the primary caregivers. How can they be supported so their well-being is also maintained?

Self-care is essential, not selfish. I encourage moms to find time for themselves — whether it’s a quiet morning coffee, a hair or nail appointment, maybe a yoga class or a dinner with a friend. And it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Even setting boundaries, like putting your phone away during a meal or taking a short walk alone, can help recharge your energy. 

What are the critical components of wellness for young kids that parents should be aware of?

In early childhood, it is important children and parents understand that emotions are part of a child’s daily life. We all experience joy, excitement, frustration, sadness, disappointment and anger. Children gradually develop skills over time to manage the continuum of emotions. Here are a few critical components of wellness:

• Teaching children that all their feelings, from joy and happiness to frustration and sadness — are perfectly normal. We want to help them to name what they feel.
• We want to encourage our children to use calming strategies like deep breathing or finding a nice, quiet space when they feel overwhelmed.
• As parents, we always want to be a reliable source of safety and comfort when our children face challenges, whether it’s starting at a new daycare or experiencing a new sibling’s arrival. A hug or reassuring words go a long way to build trust and security.
• During our busy schedules, it is important to take a minute to slow down and see situations from your child’s point of view. Their meltdowns aren’t just misbehavior — they are working through big emotions with their still-developing brains.

What are some types of traumas that you see in young children, and how do you address them?

When we think about trauma in early childhood, it’s important to remember that trauma isn’t just about what happens to a child; it’s about how they experience it.

Some of the most common types of trauma we see in young children include the loss of a loved one, exposure to violence, neglect or abuse, separation from a caregiver and highly stressful life events: a parent’s serious illness, homelessness or major disruptions in their environment. Even things like frequent moves or instability at home can feel very traumatic to a young child who craves stability, predictability and safety.

The impact of trauma can show up in different ways. Some children become more withdrawn or anxious, while others might show more aggressive or defiant behavior. Sleep issues, frequent tantrums or difficulty separating from a caregiver can also be signs of distress.

But with the right support and services, young children are incredibly resilient. The key to healing is a strong, secure relationship with a trusted caregiver. That’s why, at Wellnest, we focus on working with both the child and their caregiver, using child-parent psychotherapy (CPP), an evidence-based approach designed specifically for young children who have experienced trauma.

Through this therapy, we help parents and children process difficult experiences together in a way that builds trust, strengthens their bond and helps the child feel safe again. We focus on emotional regulation, attachment and communication, giving parents the tools to support their child through tough emotions and create an environment where they can heal. An example of this is a technique that we use often here at Wellnest: “rainbow breathing.” Rainbow breathing starts with asking the child to focus on their breath and imagine a rainbow. As they take each breath, they will breathe up the arc, starting with the color red, and then breathe down the arc, continuing on until they have gone through all the colors of the rainbow. The wonderful thing about this simple exercise is it can be done anywhere.

Ultimately, the goal of therapy is to make the parent-child relationship the child’s greatest source of security and resilience. No child should have to navigate trauma alone — and no parent should feel like they have to figure it all out on their own, either. With the right support, families can heal together.

Can you give us some hands-on practical tips on how parents can enhance their child’s daily well-being?

One of the best ways to help children develop emotional awareness is through storytelling and books. Reading together not only builds literacy but also gives kids language for their emotions. If a child is struggling with transitions, a book about starting preschool can help them feel understood. If they’ve recently lost a pet or loved one, a book about grief can open up space for conversation.

Another powerful tool is modeling emotions and coping strategies. Young children look to us to understand how to handle big feelings. I always encourage parents to share their own emotions in an age-appropriate way. For example, after a tough day, you might say, “I felt really frustrated at work today, so I took some deep breaths and went for a walk to help myself feel better.” This helps kids see that emotions are normal and that there are ways to manage them.

Movement and play are also key. Thankfully, L.A. is full of opportunities for outdoor adventures. Whether it’s exploring a local park or just running barefoot in the backyard, movement helps kids regulate their emotions. Sensory play — like playing with sand at the beach, splashing in water or using playdough — can also be calming for children, giving them an outlet to work through big emotions.

What do you wish all parents knew?

I wish parents knew — really knew — that they are doing an amazing job! We are constantly bombarded with messages telling us we need to do more: more activities, more enrichment, more organic meals, more quality time, more perfection.

What I want parents to know is that good enough is truly good enough. Children don’t need perfect parents. They need parents who love them, who show up and who are willing to grow alongside them. They need parents who will make mistakes and then model what it looks like to repair, because that’s real life.

The post Happy, Healthy Kids: Simple Strategies for Emotional Well-Being appeared first on L.A. Parent.

When my 2-year-old daughter died in her sleep of unknown causes (Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood—SUDC), I was crippled by grief and guilt. Although no cause of death could be determined after a thorough autopsy, genetic testing and death investigation, I was certain I must have unwittingly done — or not done — something that contributed to Alice’s death.

No matter how many professionals assured me there was nothing I could have done to prevent my daughter’s death, my internal judge insisted otherwise.

I was hanging by a thread.

The Southern California Counseling Center (SCCC) and its sliding-scale trauma therapy saved my life. SCCC is one of few sliding-scale centers in California that offer trauma-based therapy modalities. Through my work in healthcare, I knew about these modalities, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). This knowledge enabled me to seek treatment as soon as trauma symptoms began to manifest six to 10 weeks after Alice died.

But even once the guilt surrounding Alice’s death began to subside, I realized I’d been living in a constant state of baseline guilt since the minute my eldest was born. I felt guilty about being away from the kids when I was at work and guilty about not working enough when I was home. I felt guilty when my kids didn’t share their toys, eat their vegetables and when they fell and skinned their knees. Yet I was completely unaware of this constant background chorus of guilt until I was eventually able to release the guilt over Alice’s inexplicable death.

While the source and depth of parental guilt is influenced by individual circumstances, Eliza Steel, a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), relational trauma therapist and supervisor at SCCC, suggests all forms of it share a common thread. “Parental guilt is a reaction to a self-perceived expectation we didn’t meet,” Steel says.

Five years ago, The Washington Post called parental guilt a silent epidemic, and with today’s parents having navigated a global pandemic and all of its repercussions, fresh guilts sprouted and spread in parents all over the world.

Like a scientist studying a virus, I became curious about the source of parental guilt — and how to treat it.

Generational shifts in parenting styles

Although it was somewhat validating to learn I was far from alone in my self-imposed prison, I wondered what led to its precipitous rise in our society. Steel suggests it may come down to when a parent was born. “The current generations of parents weren’t born with internet or social media,” she says. “We were plastic enough to get on board, but it is not our second nature like Gen Z. Therefore, we didn’t develop tools to protect ourselves against other people’s opinion and judgment.”

Gen X and Millennials seem more prone to guilt — including the waves of inadequacy we might feel from watching a social media influencer seemingly run their households and parent their littles with style and finesse — than our Boomer or Silent Generation parents. And there’s a reason for this, according to Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and author of “Mom Brain: Proven Strategies to Fight the Anxiety, Guilt, and Overwhelming Emotions of Motherhood — And Relax into Your New Self.”

“Our generation feels like we need to keep tabs on our kids 24-7 and are responsible for entertaining them,” DiMarco says. “Also, we have access to phones which allow us track our child’s every movement and reach them wherever they are. And because we have this technology, we feel like we need to use it.”

My parents are Boomers. I could have been running a drug cartel during summer break in elementary school, and they would have had no idea.

According to Morgan Cutlip, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of “Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself,” the baseline guilt many parents feel today (especially felt by mothers) was less prevalent in previous generations. The Silent Generation (born 1928-1945) emphasized self-reliance, discipline and respect for authority in their children, and Boomers (1946-1964) took most of that parenting approach to heart with their children.

“Gen X and Millennials placed a far greater emphasis on gentleparenting, emotional validation and psychological well-being, leading to heightened awareness of their children’s needs, but also a greater likelihood of guilt when they feel they aren’t meeting every expectation,” Cutlip says.

And one significant contributor is the increasing prevalence of intensive mothering, she adds. “This ideology suggests that mothers should dedicate an extraordinary amount of time, energy and financial resources to their children’s development. Intensive mothering is rooted in several core beliefs, including, ‘good mothering should feel difficult. If it’s not hard, you’re not doing it right.’ This standard creates an unsustainable level of pressure, making guilt an almost inevitable consequence.”

Gender differences in experiencing guilt

While exploring my relationship with parental guilt, I noticed that most of the literature was geared toward moms. In an interview with Notre Dame News about her 2020 parenting study with Lindsay Heldreth, Abigail Ocobock, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and the Gender Studies Program at the University of Notre Dame, said there may be a reason why. “Put simply, moms felt guilty whatever they were doing; dads did not. In the rare cases when dads took on most of the parenting and schooling labor, moms felt very guilty and indebted to them.

“More often, though, moms felt guilty even though they were already doing most of the parenting and schooling labor; it was never enough. By contrast, not a single dad mentioned feeling guilty about having to work or not spending enough time with their kids during the pandemic. Dads seemed to have a much easier time hiding away somewhere in the house and focusing on their own work or needs.”

I asked DiMarco why that might be. “For generations, women have been socialized to believe that it’s their job to be the primary caretakers of their children. Full-time single dads and two-dad families are not subjected to this socialization, so they’re freer to figure out their roles as parents.”

Cutlip agrees. “I once asked my husband if he ever felt guilty about leaving the kids while traveling for work, and his response was, ‘Maybe for a minute, but it’s my job.’ It was so cut and dry — and completely unrelatable,” she says.

How parental guilt affects kids

As I attempted to untangle myself from the web of guilt I’d spun around myself, I wondered what effect it had upon my kids. For that, DiMarco offers a word of caution: “If a parent overindulges their children out of a sense of guilt, they risk raising children who are entitled and spoiled. If a parent’s guilt leaves them depleted of energy and distracted, they won’t be able to engage with their children in the way they wish to.”

This kind of parenting is stressful, Cutlip says. “When parents, especially mothers, parent from a place of guilt, it often leads to a hypervigilant parenting style where the pressure to ‘get everything right’ becomes overwhelming,” she says. “This can cause moms to neglect their own well-being, leading to burnout and resentment toward the very people they’re working so hard to care for. When a mother is running on empty, self-regulation becomes harder (understandably so!). This can mean shorter tempers, emotional exhaustion and feeling disconnected from both herself and her children.”

Addressing our guilt with self-compassion

Releasing some of our guilt doesn’t mean we should neglect self-reflection and accountability in our parenting decisions. We will never get it all right — and that’s OK.

“We don’t need our kids to see us as perfect in order for us to raise good people,” Steel says. “Being perfectly imperfect is a wonderful goal. Repairing after a ‘mess’ is what is most important. In an age-appropriate language, acknowledge that you messed up.”

DiMarco offers three key steps to help reduce our entanglement with guilt:

• Limit social media use. Unfollow all accounts that leave you feeling guilty after you access them.
• Remind yourself of everything you’re doing for your kids. Keep a journal of parenting victories every day.
• Do a values exercise and write down what you value. Stick to those values, even when they don’t indulge what your children want.

Cutlip also offers three steps:

• Identify your impossible standards. What expectations are you holding yourself to? Are they truly realistic? Write them down and challenge whether they’re necessary or coming from societal pressure. For example: Is it necessary to cook full-course meals every day of the week?
• Adjust and reframe. Once you recognize these unsustainable expectations, work on redefining them in a way that aligns with your values without guilt. Perfection isn’t the goal — balance and connection with your kids are the goal.
• Use practical tools like the ones in Cutlip’s free guilt guide, which includes tips such as identifying unrealistic self-expectations, then adjusting and reframing.  

Parental guilt thrives in isolation. But when we share our struggles openly with other parents and mental health professionals, we are reminded that we’re not alone in this journey. Together, we can challenge societal pressures (including an influencer-obsessed culture) and support one another in redefining what it means to be a “good parent.”

During my second-to-last EMDR session, I was able to identify my own unrealistic expectation — that I could have saved Alice from something no team of scientists has yet to discover. I did not have to wait long for the joy to bubble forth after verbalizing this realization to my therapist. Immediately, I felt like someone removed a boulder from my chest.

Suddenly, I truly felt Alice’s presence and, for the first time, feeling her presence brought a smile to my face rather than tears to my eyes. Happy memories swarmed my mind — the crazy way she blotted her eyeball with her beloved blankie, the way she showed every passerby her light-up shoes, the way she’d gently pat my back when I sang her lullabies. As I laughed and remembered these happy times, I had the overwhelming sensation that Alice happily snuggled up to my chest and whispered, “I wuv you, Mama.”

With these sweet memories, I sometimes cry, but they are tears of relief, joy and a beautiful connection that will never sever and never again be marred by guilt.

Melissa M. Monroe, Ph.D., garnered Honorable Mention in Writer’s Digest 2023 Self-Published Book Awards for her book, “Mom’s Search for Meaning: Grief and Growth After Child Loss.” She is a mom, writer and licensed acupuncturist in L.A. Her recent work has appeared in LA Review of Books, New York Times, Slate, Well + Good, Backpacker and Insider.

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