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Marble, May 19th Pet of the Week

May 19, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Marble is a German shepherd mix, about 3 years old. She’s another victim of a family moving and having to leave the pet behind. It took Marble a minute to feel comfortable with the shelter volunteers, but she’s feeling better and more playful with each day. She acts like Sherlock Bones on her walks, keeping her nose glued to the ground as she gathers clues. Our shelter’s at capacity, especially with big dogs like Marble, and everyone needs to be in a home, whether forever or foster. Please add this pretty Marble to your collection! Shelter hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 7700 E. Spring St. at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors). You can email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov to speed the process for adopting or fostering Marble. Ask for ID#A650883.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)

Filed Under: Pet Corner

How to Help Your Child Prepare for College

May 16, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Going to college is an exciting and stressful time for both parents and their kids. For parents, their kids are moving away from home and having their first experience with freedom, while kids are stepping into a new world that will shape the rest of their lives. To ensure the transition is smooth, every parent should prepare their kids for this change by helping them cope and showing them how to navigate college.

Have The Difficult Talk

At this point, you likely have had difficult conversations with your child, but it is also good to have these conversations again before they leave for college. Topics of discussion here will surround consequences for their actions. These actions range from alcohol and drug consumption to peer pressure and sex. Consent is an especially important topic to discuss.

Additionally, if they are used to talking to you about their challenges, find appropriate resources for them so they know they have someone to help them navigate difficult situations in case you are not available.

Teach Them Life Skills

It is also important that you teach your child important life skills such as cooking, managing money, and doing laundry. Learning to take care of themselves while they are away from home will be challenging, but it is something they have to do and that will benefit them when they are off to college.

Set aside some time every week a few months before college to provide hands-on lessons and experiences.

Show Them How to Meet Deadlines

Deadlines are important in college and missing one could have serious consequences. While your child needs to know how to manage their time and track deadlines, you can help them with other deadlines. These include keeping track of housing and hostel opportunities and ensuring they pay their fees on time. You can show them how to use an online calendar to keep track of important deadlines and dates.

For academics, you need to give them the tools they need to complete assignments on time. A computer is necessary not only for researching and completing deadlines but also for catching up or seeking clarification because most universities now post educational content online. You do not have to spend too much here as there are numerous student discount computers that are perfect for school work.

Ensure They Learn Time Management

Time management is an essential skill not only in college but also in life. This is a skill that teens should learn before they go to college. You could start with simple things such as letting them manage when they go to bed and when they wake up.

You can then move on to ensuring they can plan well enough so they have enough time to handle homework and related tasks. Lastly, you can let them take care of things such as setting appointments and getting where they need to be on time.

Conclusion

College is a time for new experiences, learning how to rely on oneself, and gaining skills and knowledge that they will use for the rest of their life. To ensure your child has the best experience in college, prepare them for these experiences and this next chapter of their life.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Take care of your children’s health from a young age

May 15, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Children are a very important group of the country’s population. During this period of their lives, parents from their children approach health, which will remain after maturity. Good health in childhood ensures healthy development in the future, which must be one of the greatest society goals in any country. Children’s health includes physical, mental, and social well-being. The healthcare basics for parents to ensure their children’s health include offering them healthy foods, making sure they get enough sleep, exercising, and ensuring their safety.

Nutrition

A child (from the age of 2) should eat 5-6 times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two or three snacks). It is recommended that breakfast and lunch should receive more than two-thirds of the daily calories and dinner less than one-third. Children should eat regularly – at the same time each day because then the body is ready to absorb food in advance. Foods should be varied as much as possible, especially low in fats (especially saturated fatty acids). Children’s diet should include vitamin-rich foods. Thus, it is recommended to eat vegetables, fruits, berries, and grains as much as possible, and eat food containing salt and sugar as little as possible. Also, it is recommended to feed children according to the healthy eating pyramid and/or healthy eating plate. This pyramid is based on grains, bread, potatoes, and their products, which should be eaten the most usually during the day. Also, it is recommended to include nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) rich food in children’s diets. Nicotinamide mononucleotide is a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). According to scientific studies conducted in China in 2018, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an important compound in all living cells that is involved in metabolism, improved insulin sensitivity, energy production and muscle endurance, improved mitochondrial function, cell signaling, gene expression, and DNA repair. NMN is found naturally in foods such as edamame, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, and avocado. Many more foods that contain NMN include shrimps, tomatoes, beef, and mushrooms.

Sleep

A study in New Zealand found that children who sleep too little tend to be overweight. Professor Ed Mitchell of the University of Auckland and colleagues studied 591 seven-year-old children. It turned out that children of this age sleep on average 10.1 hours per day. Seven-year-old children who slept less than 9 hours a day are overweight or obese, according to a study published in the medical journal Sleep. Lack of sleep even triples the risk of gaining more weight. In addition, researchers have found that children who sleep fewer hours than average children sleeping time are more likely to have behavioral problems. In this study, researchers prove the importance of sleep for children’s health – getting enough sleep is one of the most important conditions for healthy growth. It should be mentioned that at different ages children go to sleep at different times.

Physical activity

The child begins to move already in the womb. The unborn child moves instinctively, unconsciously, and strengthens the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems. The movement is the foundation of personality development. Physical inactivity also impairs mental capacity. When the body is inactive, the mind freezes and becomes lazy. Therefore, it is necessary to create conditions for free and meaningful expression. Restriction of movement causes physical, mental, nervous, and other illnesses, and currently obesity. Physical activity fully strengthens the child’s body and health. It is only unfortunate that we, as adults, involuntarily try to slow down our children from this physical activity.

Safety and emotional health

While the child is still in the womb, we spend most of our time thinking about how we will try to protect him from all the misfortunes of the world, and grow a happy and confident person. When babies are born, parents never lose sight of them, and grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other relatives work with parents in the team. We seem to be pursuing our goal so consistently: to ensure a happy, healthy, and unaffected world. When setting great goals, we forget the most important thing – health is not only the absence of illness or disability but also spiritual, and social well-being. A psychologist, A. Maslow, highlighted the idea of security by focusing on the spiritual well-being of people. According to the psychologist, there are five basic human needs: physiological, security, social, self-esteem and recognition, self-realization, and problem-solving. When we meet physiological needs, a person begins to care about personal safety: only when we feel safe, can we seek love for ourselves and the rest of the world. When we meet this need, we want to feel self-worth. Once we discover our value, we ultimately strive for self-expression, to be empowered. So, it is very important to build a foundation for a child’s mental health from the first day in this world.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Book Series of the month!

May 15, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Join Dragon on 3 different adventures with this fun and adorable series!

In Just Be Yourself, Dragon, readers will help Dragon face her nerves on the first day of school. Through her joyful antics, little ones will learn the value of being true to oneself, and making friends along the way! I really liked the storyline of this one and highly recommend it for young children! You can buy it on Amazon.com.

Who Loves the Dragon? Shows our sweet Dragon in preparation for the annual Friendship Festival – and her dismay when she finds many of her friends may not be in attendance! Help cheer her up in the meantime, and engage with every page of this interactive tale! Another great story with lovable characters! You can also buy it on Amazon.com.

And last but not least…

Don’t Wake the Dragon is a bedtime story that features our dragon, who will NOT be woken up! As various castle members cause a ruckus, Dragon stays sound asleep…Until everyone else settles down. Children will love this interactive read-aloud, that ends with a dreamy lullaby! This is a really fun story and children will love the characters!

You can also buy it on Amazon.com.

You can also find these books at Barnes & Noble.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the books to facilitate this post. Cover images were also provided.

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Must-Haves for Your Little Ones!

May 15, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Aren’t these adorable?

Komuello Baby Shoes

Price: $32.00-$34.00

Eliminating lost socks and shoes, Komuello keeps tiny feet covered in comfort. Meet the most innovative-designed baby footwear that combines a sock and a shoe in an easy pull-off and pull-on design. These baby shoes are breathable, machine washable, non-slip, and BPA free. Great for indoor, outdoor and at the pool/beach. Breathable. Slip Resistant. 100% TPE Recyclable. These are so cute and comfortable!

Puttisu’s Sun Cushion Sunscreen 

Price: $30.00

Kids can have fun applying sunscreen with this sun cushion, and no more messing with mom’s makeup! Physical/Mineral sunscreen for a child’s delicate skin with SPF 50+. I love that this is so compact and cute! My little girl reviewer thought that it was very cool! She insists on taking it with her when she goes to the beach!

Self Disclosure: I received free products to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

Tank, May 12th Pet of the Week

May 12, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Tank is just a big, happy boy ready to share a home with people who want a walking partner, a playing partner, a reading companion, a TV couch potato buddy, or any or all of these things. Tank is a striking, metal-gray 4-year-old American pit-bull who’ll be ever so grateful to have a forever home—in fact, he’ll Tank you demonstrably! Shelter hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 7700 E. Spring St. at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors). You can email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov to speed the process for adopting Tank. Ask for ID# A668969.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)

Filed Under: Pet Corner

Snoopy Presents: To Mom (And Dad), With Love * Funny, Heartwarming Animated Film About How Not Every Family Is The Same

May 12, 2022 By Leave a Comment

This short film tells the story of Peppermint Patty. All the other kids are excited to celebrate the special day, Mother’s Day. But Peppermint Patty never had a mother, so she decides to celebrate her father instead since he does mother things.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Samantha P. comments, “To Mom (and Dad), with Love is a funny and heartwarming animated film about different types of families and how not every family is the same. This 40-minute story featuring the much-loved Peanuts gang appeals to all ages  — old and new fans alike – and will pull you in with its bright colors and sweet storyline.” See her full review below.

Snoops Presents: To Mom (And Dad), With Love
By Samantha P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

To Mom (and Dad), with Love is a funny and heartwarming animated film about different types of families and how not every family is the same. This 40-minute story featuring the much-loved Peanuts gang appeals to all ages  — old and new fans alike – and will pull you in with its bright colors and sweet storyline. The film has an original point of view on Mother’s Day because the main protagonist, Peppermint Patty, doesn’t have a mom, though the reason isn’t specified. Audiences can only tell that she has a dad, who is very special to her.


The story of To Mom (and Dad), with Love jumps from character to character as each does something original for Mother’s Day. The main character, Peppermint Patty (voiced by Lexi Perri), has to find her own way to celebrate a holiday that has always been hard for her. By the end, Patty figures out how to celebrate her own unique family. This film shows almost every character celebrating Mother’s Day. Lucy (Isabella Leo) tries to make an art project; Charlie Brown (Tyler Nathan) and his sister, Sally (Hattie Kragten), experiment with a lot of ideas; and other characters, including Snoopy (Terry Mcgurrin) and Woodstock (Rob Tinkler) do something creative and unique for their families, too!


To Mom (and Dad), with Love has a theme of embracing differences and being yourself, as well as celebrating moms (and dads) and caretakers in whatever form they take.


I give To Mom (and Dad), with Love 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 14, plus adults. It releases on Apple TV May 6, 2022, just ahead of Mother’s Day! 

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness * Edge-Of-Your-Seat Exciting, Heartwarming, Reminds Us Of The Importance Of Love.

May 12, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Dr. Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens the doorway to the multiverse, including alternate versions of himself, whose threat to humanity is too great for the combined forces of Strange, Wong, and Wanda Maximoff. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Nyara A., comments, “The thrilling Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, written by Michael Waldron, keeps you on the edge of your seat—you silently root for Doctor Strange as he embarks on the daunting journey to save America Chavez.” Katherine S. adds, “Right from the start, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is action packed and keeps you on the edge of your seat for the duration. The movie evolves the depth of these Marvel characters that we already know and love, and it introduces us to new characters that are likely to be fan favorites.” Tiana S. wraps it up with, “This film pulls you right into the multiverse with action-packed scenes from the opening credits right up until the credits at the end. The visual effects and cinematography will have feeling like you’re traveling through your own multiverse.” See their full reviews below.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

By Nyara A., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

The thrilling Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, writtenby Michael Waldron, keeps you on the edge of your seat—you silently root for Doctor Strange as he embarks on the daunting journey to save America Chavez. Not only exciting, this film is also heartwarming, as the characters show the viewers the true importance of love. The acting is emotional and grounded in reality, even though the Marvel world is fantastical. Marvel fans will be fully engaged as they travel through the endless and unknown multiverse with Stephen Strange.

The storyline follows Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) as he tries to save America Chavez’s (Xochitl Gomez) powers from being stolen by the indomitable Wanda, the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen.) The unlikely duo must travel deep through the uncharted multiverse in order to defeat Wanda, but along the way, how will Strange and Chavez overcome the seemingly impassable obstacles that they will inevitably face? Wanda just wants her children back, but how much is she willing to sacrifice and destroy in order to return to her content family life? 

As usual, Benedict Cumberbatch portrays Stephen Strange’s beautiful complexity with ease, making his work seem simple. I forget he is even acting. To me he is truly Doctor Strange. Xotchil Gomez, although new to the Marvel Universe, starts off with a bang. She acts in a relatable and comical way, and it is impossible not to root for her with every step. The CGI is scarily realistic and absolutely essential to the story.  The marvelous monsters are gruesome, each universe is unique and colorful, and the fight scenes are powerful—all because of the CGI. The music in this movie, by composer Danny Elfman, makes the action even more dramatic and gives the audience a pump of anticipation and adrenaline. Music even plays a pivotal role in one scene as it becomes a tool and a weapon in battle. My favorite part of the movie is the first time Dr.Strange travels with America to a new universe and experiences wonder and fright and ultimately awe.

The message of this film is that love is the most powerful kind of magic. One may be strong or supernatural, but familial love comes before any other superpower. This message is beautiful, relatable, and uplifting, especially for those of us who miss someone we truly love. The film starts really quickly and immediately draws the viewers into to the plot, but there are many macabre scenes that may be frightening to a younger audience. 


I give Doctor Strange, into the Multiverse of Madness 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10-18, plus adults. It was released in theaters Friday, May 6, 2022.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Right from the start, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is action packed and keeps you on the edge of your seat for the duration. The movie evolves the depth of these Marvel characters that we already know and love, and it introduces us to new characters that are likely to be fan favorites.

Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) encounters fourteen-year-old America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who has the power to travel the multiverse, but she doesn’t know how. Strange joins his old and new allies to go on a thrilling and perilous adventure that pushes the limits of the multiverse.

The special effects are not just out of this world, they are out of this universe. Everything from intense fight scenes and portals through the multiverse to scary creatures and witchcraft, the CGI lives up to the high standards of a Marvel movie. My favorite performances in the movie come from Elizabeth Olsen, Xochitl Gomez and Rachel McAdams. Elizabeth Olsen, as Wanda Maximoff, really sheds new light on her character as she displays a more complex personality. Xochitl Gomez plays America Chavez and brings a very refreshing yet powerful performance. Rachel McAdams (as Christine) shows the audience an independent girl-boss side to her character. Make sure to look out for some surprise cameos and always stay for the credit scenes at the end.

The message of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is to try to make the most of your circumstances as “multiversal” travel isn’t usually an option. This movie contains violence and some scenes that will be frightening for the faint of heart.

I give Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 11 to 18, plus adults. Marvel fans will love this movie. It released in theaters May 6, 2022.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
By KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Tiana S., age 11

Four Doctor Stranges, epic battles, twists and turns and dimension travel are just some of the thrills you can expect in the new Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness! This film pulls you right into the multiverse with action-packed scenes from the opening credits right up until the credits at the end. The visual effects and cinematography will have feeling like you’re traveling through your own multiverse. 

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), is having dreams about the universe being in danger and him trying to save a young girl, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). The adventure begins when he encounters her in his real-life universe and learns that she has the power to travel dimensions. They run into Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), also known as the Scarlet Witch, who is on a mission to steal America’s powers so she can re-connect with her two sons. It’s an all-out battle between happiness vs. sadness, evil vs. good and even dreams vs. nightmares.                                             

The main characters of this film are Stephen “Doctor” Strange, Wanda Maximoff, America Chavez, and Wong (Benedict Wong). I love the different versions of the characters and learning the backstory of each from their own universe. My favorite part of this film is when America and Doctor Strange are falling through tons of dimensions and pass through one that turns them into paint. America even jokes about how hard it is to eat in that universe. The music battle scene between two Doctor Stranges was hilarious and creative. They use their powers to fight each other with music notes while upbeat piano tunes play in harmony. The Marvel character cameos from films such as The Fantastic Four, Captain America, and even a special appearance from the X-men that, once again, will wow Marvel fans.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness shows us that just because someone stumbles, and falls, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever. Many of the characters multi-verse versions didn’t always make the best decisions. People deserve to have second chances to become better. Parents should be aware of foul language, gory scenes, some jump-scares, and violence.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is very entertaining. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend it for kids ages 13 to 18, plus adults. You can watch Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness now in theaters only.

Filed Under: Media Reviews
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