San Diego Family January 2023

Healthy Kids. Happy Parents.

Our only priority is your child’s health. That’s why parents count on Children’s Physicians Medical Group.

In partnership with Rady Children’s Health Network, CPMG brings you the most comprehensive pediatric health care in San Diego County. We’re the region’s only pediatric medical network specializing in children’s health.

From babies to teens, we’re there for you in a big way.

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Otay

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Kick-off

with healthy lunch or dinner options from Jersey Mike’s Subs. They offer “a sub above” using lean cuts of high-quality

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San Diego Family Magazine is published monthly by San Diego Family Magazine LLC. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily the opinions of this publication.

Sunday, January 15th 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Registration for 2023-2024 January 23rd returning families January 30th open to community 16275 Pomerado Road, Poway 858-487-2140 www.stbartspreschool.org

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Publisher’s Letter

It’s 2023 and We Have Lots to Look Forward To!

Let’s talk about family health. Does your family exercise together? Pickleball is a popular new sport for parents, but did you know you can get the kids (ages 8 & up) involved also? There are many indoor and outdoor pickleball courts in San Diego County; check the website in our article on page 14. Also in the article is information about getting involved in 5K walks/runs as a family—it can be more fun than just running three miles on your own. It’s fun walking with lots of other families and friends.

OMG, my computer and phone are cluttered! Cherie Gough, one of our freelance writers, has provided helpful tips to organize my desktop, unsubscribe from emails, and of course, organize my photos. Trying to find a special photo is always hard. If you need help too, check out page 22. Good luck!

The pandemic has raised many concerns about developmental delays in little ones, especially language and social development. Read the expert interview on page 18, which includes important suggestions for parents to keep children active, engaged and regularly screened.

New Year’s resolutions are always talked about at this time of the year. On page 16 you will find great ideas that are different—not the usual lose weight and work less tips. I like the vision board for myself—a reminder to enjoy every day, week and month of the year.

sharon@sandiegofamily.com

Main Office: 1475 Sixth Avenue, Fifth Floor, San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-685-6970 Fax: 619-685-6978

Email: family@SanDiegoFamily.com

Mission Statement

To enhance the quality of life for San Diego County families by providing information and resources that support the importance and pleasure of parenting.

Our San Diego Families

Even though temperatures have dropped, we San Diegans are lucky to still get outdoors in January! We asked local parents how they stay active as a family or spend time outdoors. Here is what they had to say:

Twins Maxwell and Wesley (age 8) of Poway explore tide pools with their Cub Scout Pack at Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma.

A little rain won’t stop Harper (9) and her friends Julianna (11) and Marlo (9) from practicing softball in Point Loma.

Sumaya (10) and Zachary (8) of Sabre Springs stay active during the soccer off-season by gathering with several families every week to play at the park—kids versus adults!

Villa of Mira Mesa digs in the sand at La Jolla Beach with daughters Natalie (8) and Emilia (3).

Have you checked out our “new arrival?” The 2023 edition of San Diego Babies & Toddlers is now available at www.sandiegofamily.com/parenting/baby/san-diegobabies-and-toddlers. Some of the helpful information you’ll discover in the digital publication:

• How doulas make a difference in childbirth

• How to encourage speech and language from the start

• Why it’s critical to reduce screen time for little ones

• Stroller-friendly spots for mom meet-ups

• The “411” on fitness for pregnant and new moms

• Car safety tips, oral care for babies and more

Live Well San Diego offers a 31-day resolutions challenge, featuring simple tasks to “live well” every day of the month. Get inspired and learn more at www.livewellSD.org/31-day.

Editor’s Picks

A Spark in the Dark by local author-illustrator Pam Fong is a powerful picture book about the ocean of feelings inside everyone. Whether you are mad, sad, scared or lost in the dark, there’s always hope. The story gives young readers and their parents a platform to talk about the variety of emotions people experience.

Life necessities and mental health support

Call 211

• Speak to clinical social worker.

• Free over-the-phone consultation.

• Provide information so social worker may assess situation.

• Get resources for life necessities (food, diapers, utilities, employment).

• Get referral to appropriate agency or resource in your area and/or network.

Call San Diego’s Access and Crisis Line: 888-724-7240

• Speak to someone who has a Masters in Psychology (or higher).

• 24/7 hotline to discuss how you’re feeling right now and get help.

• Free over-the-phone assessment and/or counseling.

• Get referral to appropriate agency or resource in your area and/or network.

Call 911

• Call in a life-threatening emergency.

• Call if you’re a danger to yourself or others.

• Call if someone in your household is a danger to you or your children.

If you’re feeling safe and need more resources, visit the Life Necessities and Behavioral & Mental Health sections of the Flourishing Families guide at www.SNRFSD.org

Designed for ages 4–8, Brave Like Mom by Monica Acker (illustrated by Paran Kim) is a heartfelt and sensitive picture book about a little girl who learns the meaning of courage, empathy and compassion as she watches her mom navigate chronic illness.

Lisa Gipson

Head of the Class

San Diego is fortunate to have a plethora of educational options for children. If you’re considering a change to your child’s learning environment, here are some local administrators who can help navigate that path and determine the best fit for your family.

Mission Bay Montessori Academy has been educating children from Preschool6th grade since 1968. Our Montessori hands-on approach instills a lifelong love of learning while developing social skills, emotional awareness, and independence. In addition to our strong language arts and math programs, our curriculum offers diverse enrichment classes integrated into our weekly curriculum with Chinese, Spanish, Art, Computers, Science, Music, Accelerated Math and P.E. We invite you to visit MBMA!

The school combines the philosophies of Friedrich Froebel, Reggio Emilia, Maria Montessori, and Orff Schulwerk.

Phone: (858) 457-5895 Email: tgoodwin@mbmacademy.com 2640 Soderblom Avenue San Diego, CA 92122 www.mbmacademy.com

Caroline Rose, our Director, comes full circle as she was a Pre-Kindergartner at Del Mar Hills Nursery School, graduating in 1995! She began teaching at Del Mar Hills Nursery School after graduating from UCLA in 2011.

Owner Polly Trump has always been inspired to improve the quality of the curriculum and environment, and has attended two study tours in Reggio Emilia, Italy, the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, Institute for Child Care Design; and collaborated with educators worldwide at the Working Forum on Nature Education. Polly began her career at Del Mar Hills Nursery School in 1977 as a teacher’s aide and was mentored by the founder of the school, Ursula Waddell.

Ursula built the educational foundation of the school upon the elements of Froebel (1782-1852), founder of Kindergarten, and graduated from the Froebel Seminar in Kassel, Germany in 1953.

Polly Trump took ownership of the school in 1997 and is thrilled to have one of her previous students as the Director!

(858) 755-8338

13692 Mango Drive, Del Mar Visit our website www.delmarhillsnurseryschool.com

Head of the Class: Educational insights from local administrators

Miss Caroline Rose

Ms. Tamara Goodwin, M.Ed School Principal Mission Bay Montessori Academy

of the

An innovative UTK-12 public school in East Village developing students who are active, creative, empathetic, confident, and ready to lead. Students solve real world problems and experience daily enrichment including PE, STEAM, Design & Visual Arts, and Performing Arts. Spots open now in various grades. Priority applications for our lottery are due by February 28! Accepting age 4 by September 1 for UTK.

Alonso Nuñez is the executive director, and lead instructor of San Diego’s Little Fish Comic Book Studio, a nonprofit comic art studio and advocacy group. His work focuses on the continued placement and use of comics and comic-based curricula in schools and organizations. Alonso was a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards in 2021, the most prestigious awards given for comics and graphic novels. He is currently working on his first fulllength graphic novel, Hatchepsut

Head of the Class

URBAN DISCOVERY ACADEMY • URBANSD.COM

New Year, New Moves

Creative, fun ways to exercise as a family

Whether you have goals, resolutions, visions, mantras or targets for the New Year, one popular topic on people’s minds is exercise. And why not? In addition to helping to prevent a slew of diseases and health conditions, exercise and physical activity help manage weight, boost energy and improve mood.

Exercising as a family is a great way to connect with your kids and encourages them to make physical activity a priority. “A family that exercises together, stays healthy together,” says Glynis Eckert, Director of Marketing & Partnerships at The Salvation Army Kroc Center. “Being active is so important for physical and mental health, and being active as a family pushes that one step further by providing a way to bond and grow together.” Making exercise a family affair also encourages teamwork and helps teach the importance of setting and accomplishing goals.

So how do you encourage kids to take screen breaks and exercise with you? Easy. Just focus on F-U-N. Kids are more likely to be physically active when they’re doing activities they enjoy. Here are unique ways to get your family started.

Ready, Set, Run (or Walk) a 5K

There are many family-friendly 5K events in San Diego that feature different themes and support worthy causes. According to Road Runners Club of America, it is appropriate for kids ages 8–12 to start participating in 5K runs. For families with younger kids, a lot of 5Ks offer “dash runs” (from a few yards to 400 meters) and fun runs (half mile to one mile) to get little ones involved. Remember, walking is also always an option.

If you’re ready to jump in, give yourselves about 6–8 weeks to prepare for the race. Running apps like Couch to 5K help you get raceready and keep everyone on track. Take it slow and easy to build strength and endurance. Children should build up to longer distances over time. Make sure to encourage kids with praises and high-fives along the way.

Not ready to commit to a 5K just yet? Get an idea of what to expect (and how much fun it can be) by volunteering as a family at an event. It just might get the kids excited and motivated to prepare for their own race.

Upcoming Local 5K Events

Mermaid Half Marathon

5K and Mermaid Dash for kids Mission Bay on Feb. 25

San Diego Leprechaun Run 5K and Kids 1K

Pacific Beach on March 11

Hot Chocolate 5K Downtown San Diego on March 19

Race

For details on the above events, visit www.sandiegofamily.com/ resources/family-health-and-home.

Jennifer Burman

Join Pickleball Fever

This fast-growing racket sport has exploded in popularity in recent years and has been a “hit” with young and old alike. “Pickleball is one of the most recent popular programs on campus,” says Eckert. “We started with a twice weekly offering and now we have pickleball almost every day of the week. It’s definitely a sport that parents and children can play together.”

Combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong, pickleball can be played in singles or doubles using solid paddles and a perforated ball on a court with a low net. It is easy to learn and a great way for the family to get moving.

Ready to get your game on? Certified pickleball instructor Ray Smith offers classes for kids at The Westwood Club in Rancho Bernardo. Enrollment is open to members and non-members. The next eight-week session, which starts the week of Jan. 9, will accommodate beginners in at least two different age groups (starting at age 8). Coach Smith will have junior-sized paddles to use on the first day of class to help determine what size you’ll need to purchase.

Once you have the basics down, there are local recreation centers and parks with pickleball courts that families

can use for free. For details, visit www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/ pballlocations.pdf. Be sure to call in advance to confirm courts are open and to reserve a spot, if needed.

While there are not a lot of organized pickleball programs for kids right now, the good news is that some local schools are offering it in PE. According to Smith, this will be a big year for the sport. “The U.S. Tennis Association is starting to promote pickleball, so more programs for kids should be available within the year.”

Pickleball Classes & Clinics

Beginning classes for kids ages 8 & up in Rancho Bernardo www.raysmithpickleball.net

Salvation Army Kroc Center Open play sessions and pickleball lessons for ages 18+ http://sd.kroccenter.org

YMCA of San Diego County Open play, clinics (for 18+) and private lessons in various locations www.ymcasd.org/programs/sportsand-fitness/pickleball

Need more ideas to get your hearts pumping?

• Play old school games like Red Light Green Light, hopscotch and freeze tag.

• Head out on a kayak.

• Dance your heart out at a Zumba party.

• Learn some cool moves while ice skating.

• Jump, climb, swing and flip with parkour.

• Scale a rock wall.

• Play an exhilarating round of disc golf.

• Shake those hips with a hula hoop.

• Go on a brisk nature hike.

• Embark on a splashy adventure with paddle boarding.

Never lose sight of the most important aspect of exercising as a family: to have fun! v

Jennifer Burman is a freelance writer who loves dancing Zumba with her kids.

Ray Smith Pickleball

Pickleball photos courtesy of Laura Haver

Foster Connection in 2023 with a New Family Tradition

A new year presents a great opportunity to start family traditions. January may be the coldest and darkest month of the year, but it’s also an excellent time to reconnect with your spouse and kids. Here are eight ideas to start the year on the right foot with a new family tradition.

1. Kick Off the Year with a Vision Board

What do you want 2023 to look like? Each member of the family can make their own or the family can work on a combined board—or both. Find graphics or words from magazines or the internet that represent your goals and add them to a poster board or cardstock. The board might include vacation destinations, paint colors for a room makeover, a soccer ball graphic for spring tryouts, extended family who is visiting or a new puppy. Some people even choose a focus word for their board such as growth, love, kindness or explore as a theme for the year.

2. Schedule a Family Game Night

Some of our best family memories are when we’re gathered around the table, playing a game. Take turns letting everyone pick—board games, cards, dice games, even multiplayer video games. No need to have a Monopoly marathon unless your family is into that! Switch things up with games that include a night out—go bowling, play pickleball or try an escape room.

3. Set Aside Time for a Monthly Parent/Child Date

Dedicate time for each child to spend one-on-one time with each parent. It is a great opportunity to share common interests and catch up on what’s going on in each other’s lives. Tailor the time to the personalities and preferences of each child. Consider trying new restaurants, hitting a bucket of balls, getting your nails done, hiking, biking or tackling a hands-on project together. Just make sure there is space to talk and, more importantly, listen.

Read more about why parent/child dates are important in our Parenting with Purpose article at www.sandiegofamily.com/parenting/ why-parent-child-dates-are-important.

4. Start a Series: TV, Book, Podcast or Movie

Don your pajamas, grab some popcorn and gather one night a week to engage in a family-friendly series. For TV or movies, consider documentaries like “Pick of the Litter” or prequel series related to popular movies like Star Wars. Podcasts provide an old-fashioned, listen-around-the-radio feel with series like “Wow in the World” and “Storynory.” Reading books aloud is another fun way to experience a series. Try Magic Tree House, Harry Potter or The Great Shelby Holmes and take turns reading aloud.

5. Try a New Recipe Each Week

We are big foodies in my family and I attribute that to the fact that we’ve always encouraged the kids to try new recipes. It’s easy to make “kid food” for picky eaters, but if the kids are part of menu planning and meal prep, they’ll likely expand their palates.

Offer food “flights” that include new ingredients and old favorites. Think pasta with three sauce options or chicken sliders with three different sauces (barbecue, teriyaki, honey mustard). Make a game of it with score sheets and suggestions for next time.   It might be fun to purchase a new cookbook together that features recipes that appeal to both parents and kids. Try Fast. Simple. Delicious. 60 No-Fuss, No-Fail Comfort Food Recipes to Amp Up Your Week by Tara Ippolito (creator of Al Dente Diva). It’ll be hard to resist the family-friendly ItalianAmerican dishes and your family will enjoy trying the recipes together.

6. Volunteer Together

Volunteering is a win-win. Your family spends quality time together while helping someone in need and

Pam Molnar

instilling the importance of lifelong volunteerism in children. Volunteer opportunities can include helping at animal shelters or local events, playing games with residents of an assisted living facility, setting up a community garden, collecting food, toys, clothing and other items for donation to local charities and more. Get tons of ideas at www.sandiegofamily.com/thingsto-do/donations-volunteers-and-localfundraisers.

7. Start (or Continue) a Gratitude Jar

Several years ago, my son made a blessings jar at church during the holidays. It included all the things that he considered blessings—family, video games, our pets, etc. After the new year, I emptied the jar and started filling it with events and moments our family had during the year—crazy hair day at school, a winning goal and a new family car. On New Year’s Day the following year, we took turns reading each folded piece of paper. It was wonderful to relive those memories throughout the year—it’s been a great tradition for our family year after year.

Get instructions to make a gratitude jar at www.sandiegofamily.com/for-thekids/crafts-for-kids/thankful-jars.

8. Celebrate Family Culture

For many, family culture is a lost “art,” perhaps in part because somewhere along the line, relatives stopped sharing stories. If you don’t know the language, foods, traditions or celebrations of your heritage, reach out to older family members and ask questions. Ask about their childhoods, write down shared memories and favorite family recipes. Or, research your family history to find out what nationality you are with genealogy sites such as Ancestry. Practice some of these new cultural traditions, try incorporating them into daily life and do your part to help those traditions live on. v

Pam Molnar is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family and trying new things.

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• Integrated secular and Judaic curriculum

• Bilingual Program

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Pregnant or have a child under 5 years? Receive CalFresh, CalWorks or SSI? Experiencing homelessness, caring for a foster child, or have a child with a disability?

Neighborhood House Association Head Start offers center-based early childhood care and education that includes nutritious meals, health screenings, family support and more! Not comfortable leaving your little one? Our home-based program may be just right for you!

Apply today by calling 858-873-5145 or visit www.neighborhoodhouse.org.

Head Start is a registered trademark of HHS; license 3766000282. Transportation information: sdmts.com or 619-233-3004 for bus/trolley routes & schedules. No child will be discriminated against because of race, nationality, or religion.

Anne Malinoski

Pandemic Pitfalls

What to know about developmental delays in children

An interview with Tracey Tasker, MA, CCC-SLP

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have observed an increasing number of children with developmental delays. While the numbers are concerning across all ages and areas of development, the greatest delays appear to be in infant communication and social-emotional development. We interviewed Tracey Tasker, M.A., CCC-SLP, to learn more about these trends. Tasker is a speechlanguage pathologist at Coastal Speech Therapy and a 4S Ranch mom of four.

Q: Which environmental changes during the pandemic contributed to an increase in developmental issues?

A: Mandates that were necessary to control the spread of COVID affected children differently during sensitive periods of development. The period of 18–24 months is considered a sensitive period for conversational turn-taking, so reduced turn-taking decreased the vocabulary explosion we usually see at this age. The period between birth and 10 months is a critical period for facial recognition, where exposure to facial features and emotional expressions develops the brain network that controls social skills. Mask-wearing in

hospitals after birth disrupted facial recognition, especially for babies born prematurely who spent additional time in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Mask-wearing also disrupted the critical period for speech perception in the first year of life when babies rely heavily on a speaker’s mouth movements when learning to talk. Bilingual children were especially impacted as they continue to look at a speaker’s mouth longer than children who are only learning one language.

One of the biggest challenges for parents during the pandemic was the loss of childcare, and research shows that parents began to rely on screens to occupy children as they balanced working from home. The research shows that lower executive functioning and self-regulation were directly linked to increased screen use in infants and toddlers during COVID. Research also shows that young children who used screens less had greater gains in vocabulary during lockdown. Research across all ages shows decreased physical activity and sleep disturbances during the pandemic. Maintaining routines such as bedtimes and physical activity is not only critical for health, but also for brain development.

Q: Can you summarize the observed impact on infants and what may have caused these delays?

A: Infants were disproportionately affected as environmental input is most impactful during infancy when brains are most plastic. Babies born during the pandemic are showing delays across all developmental domains including motor skills (crawling and walking), cognitive skills (thinking/problem solving), and self-help/adaptive skills (feeding and dressing). The largest delays were in communication skills (understanding and using gestures and words) and social-emotional skills (relating to other people and self-regulation). Researchers have been following these babies and found that they were not catching up in 2022.

Research shows that there was less turn-taking between parents and children, as well as between daycare providers and children. Turn-taking is the primary mechanism for building brain connectivity that supports the development of social-emotional and language skills.

Research also shows significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression among mothers who were pregnant and

gave birth during the pandemic. Higher depression levels were associated with decreased bonding between babies and mothers. Brain research on the babies of depressed mothers shows decreased connectivity between the parts of the brain that process emotions, and control executive functions like planning and the part of the brain that enables us to perform tasks quickly and efficiently. Longitudinal studies show those babies had trouble with self-regulation and lower scores on cognitive testing.

Q: How about the impacts on older children?

A: Preschool teachers across the globe have reported delays in socialemotional skills, as children are having a harder time sharing, taking turns and separating from their parents. As with infants, social distancing mandates would have interrupted development at a sensitive period. Children under 3 do not understand social distancing and require physical contact; whereas preschoolers interpret social distancing (how close someone sits or stands next to them) as a sign of “friendliness.” Therefore, as parents and staff had to maintain social distancing at drop off/pick up it sent a message of distrust rather than friendliness. For preschoolers who were required to maintain social distancing in classrooms, it also interrupted socialization skills with peers.

Q: How about the impact on children with disabilities?

A: Although many parents had higher anxiety during the pandemic, parents of children with disabilities had significantly higher anxiety levels as they [had the added challenge of] interruptions to support services such as early intervention or special education. Research shows that higher anxiety in parents leads to higher anxiety in their children and a likely increase in maladaptive behaviors.

Parents of children with autism reported regression in skills and worsening of ASD (autism spectrum

The

Girls set goals and are inspired to reach and exceed them. Encouraging an interest in entrepreneurship builds confidence and problem-solving skills—qualities that prepare girls for academic and career success.

To support a girl’s goal, visit sdgirlscouts.org/cookies.

disorder) symptoms. Mask-wearing could have interrupted both emotion recognition and speech development as children with autism rely on a speaker’s mouth for both [of these skills] longer than typically developing children. Audiovisual cues are most critical for speech perception for DHH (deaf and hard of hearing) children who were doubly impacted by sounds being muffled/dampened by a mask and not being able to see a speaker’s mouth.

Q: There have been some notable changes to the CDC’s developmental milestones. What should parents know about these changes?

A: The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) revised milestones to ages when most children actually reach a milestone (versus the average age children are expected to reach a milestone). The result is that many milestones were moved to older age ranges, raising concerns that parents won’t recognize a delay until

kids are older (which could make it more difficult to address).

Other notable changes include the removal of crawling as a milestone. Although some children do not crawl before they walk, research shows that hand and knee crawling is critical for many other skills such as hand-eye coordination, core strength and visual perception.

Speech therapists have expressed concern to the CDC that the new milestone that children use at least 50 words by 30 months is too late to catch late talkers. A late talker is a child who is not using 50 words and combining words by 24 months. Language research shows that most children have a vocabulary spurt between 18–24 months, which is why late talkers can be reliably diagnosed by 24 months.

Q: What can parents do now?

A: Many children missed recommended developmental screenings during COVID at ages 9, 18

Serving the San Diego Community since 1987!

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Planning how to make this year the best Birthday ever? Hosting a birthday party here is great for parents and kids alike!

OFFICIAL SCHOOL OF THE SCRIPPS BALLET THEATRE

When you celebrate with us, we offer everything you need to make your child the STAR of their own show!

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and 24/30 months; therefore, parents should ensure children receive those developmental screenings now, even if they’ve passed those age marks. Parents should discuss concerns with their pediatrician or directly contact their Family Resource Center or the San Diego Regional Center.

Parents should try to adhere to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommendations of no screen time for children under 18 months (except video chatting with loved ones), and a maximum of one hour per day of co-viewing highquality programming for children under 5. An example of high-quality programming is the PBS channel. Although YouTube is popular, research shows that only five percent of YouTube programs for young children meet the criteria for high educational value.

Parents should make efforts for children to meet the WHO (World Health Organization) recommendations for physical activity. Children under one year should be physically active several times a day with interactive floor-based play—and not be restrained for more than an hour (car seats, stroller, etc.). Children ages 1–4 years should have at least 180 minutes per day of physical activity, with at least 60 minutes consisting of moderate to vigorous intensity.

Parents should also read to children daily; research shows that parents who read more to their children during the pandemic had the largest gains in vocabulary development.

Finally, parents should be seeking opportunities for children to socialize with their peers. Although children don’t master social skills such as cooperative play and sharing until later in preschool, the foundation for these social-emotional skills is built much earlier in development. v

Anne Malinoski is a contributing writer living in East County with her husband and two boys.

Digital Declutter

How to tame and reclaim your devices

Thousands of photos 1,128 unread emails Not enough storage

If any of the above is familiar, you know that technology comes with clutter all its own. The mental load added by devices can be overwhelming. This year, make a commitment to declutter your devices, because just like clearing clutter in our homes, clearing clutter in our digital lives helps make room for greater calm and happiness. I spoke with local professional organizer Bethel Swift, founder of Real Life Professional Organizing in San Diego, for practical tips that make the process attainable.

Don’t Aim for Perfection

Getting a job done is more important than getting a job done perfectly. “As with any organizing project, think about good, better and best scenarios,” says Swift. “Before you jump in, envision an [attainable] end goal to motivate you toward completion.” Life often gets in the way, so don’t beat yourself up if you “only” do a good job the first time around.

Cherie Gough

Create a Back-Up System

Few things are more upsetting than losing precious photos of our children. To avoid this, Swift recommends regularly backing up photos to three locations: cloud-based storage, computer desktop and an external hard drive.

Error

Not enough storage

Start Small: The Computer Desktop

Swift recommends having one to five (max 10) main folders on your desktop. Over-organizing can be counterproductive. Ideally, structure folders to be no more than three clicks away from any file. It’s important to name folders and files the way YOU will look for them. Ask yourself, “When I look for a digital copy of my car registration, will I naturally type ‘truck,’ ‘vehicle’ or ‘F150’ into the search bar?”

Be Purposeful with Email

Fewer email addresses are easier to manage, of course, but Swift recommends having separate work and personal email addresses to prevent getting sucked into work when you embark on personal tasks (or vice versa). Use yet another email address for signing petitions or making purchases since these generate followup spam. If using email folders, Swift proposes keeping the system simple for easy access and maintenance. She uses an “Active” and “Archive” structure with a few subfolders.

Unsubscribe

Unroll.Me helps people mass unsubscribe from unwanted emails and will condense others into “digests” to view at the user’s convenience. Learn more at www.unroll.me.

Tackle the Mother Lode (Photos)

Swift’s number one suggestion for an overwhelming number of photos on

phones is to delete, delete, delete! “As with physical items, the fewer we have, the easier it is to organize. By regularly deleting duplicates, old screenshots and blurry snaps, you’ll have an easier time finding the photos you really want.”

How to Get Started

• Go through photos starting with the oldest and work on it for 10–20 minutes each day. Or, begin with the most recent and work your way backwards. Seize mini moments to delete photos: In the drive-through line, while you wait for kids at school or afterschool activities, during a child’s naptime or when you have travel downtime. Again, a few minutes each day makes a difference!

• Once you’ve deleted, set up a simple file system and add new photos to it as you go.

Use Mylio Photos to organize photos, videos, report cards and other meaningful digital files in one lasting library that’s accessible on all your devices. Fit even the largest photo library on your phone without reaching storage limits—and set automated backups. Easily import years of Instagram, Flickr and Facebook images. Visit www.mylio.com to learn more.

“I prefer to do most sorting and renaming of photos on my laptop and then upload them to my secondary back-up systems,” says Swift. When naming folders, Swift puts the date first so photos automatically sort in chronological order. “The most important thing to remember when naming folders and photo files is to go broader initially,” she says. “You can always get more specific later.” It can be very difficult to maintain files the other way around.

If you have photos and videos stored only in apps like Instagram and Facebook, be sure to back up those as well (the ones you want to keep).

Share the Love

Consider preserving special photos by creating an annual photo book for yourself or to give loved ones as gifts. Or create shareable digital folders.

Enlist Help

When it comes to photos, get the kids involved. Most kids enjoy choosing favorite photos—let them help decide which ones to keep. To find a professional organizer, search by city on www.NAPO.net. Swift is adding photo organizing to her repertoire of services starting this year. Learn more at www .RealLifeProfessionalOrganizing.com.

Stay Motivated

The best way to stay motivated is to not let digital clutter get out of hand again. Schedule maintenance—calendar “delete emails” as a weekly or monthly agenda item. Try pairing it with another activity you do regularly (housecleaning, laundry, doctor visits, etc.).

Officially Sign off

If you work from home, avoid the blurred boundaries and mental clutter of always being connected and available. To officially sign off for the day, consider a ritual that creates boundaries between home life and work life. “Try an initiation and cessation routine, such as a quick gratitude practice or affirmation to transition in and out of work and family modes,” suggests Swift.

Gretchen Rubin, author of Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness, suggests that adding an element of fun motivates task completion. To that end, she created a Desk-Clearing Bingo game; each square contains a small, manageable task. “Play” every day or once a week for a satisfying sign off. Visit her Instagram page (@gretchenrubin) and scroll to the March 18 post to play along.

Most importantly, remember that any day is a good day to start decluttering! v

Cherie Gough is an award-winning writer with a background in education. Find her on Instagram @cgoughwrites.

Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. Recommended for Ages 10 years and up. A JTOriginal World Premiere! TICKETS $16-$18 Call 619-239-8355 or visit JuniorTheatre.com

Just like San Diegans, our Little Blues enjoy mild winters and sunny skies. Waddle over this Winter and meet them for yourself.

livepenguins in snow. Not all

National Hobby Month • National Baby Safety Month • National Hot Tea Month

JANUARY

Still looking for last month’s events? Check out the digital edition of our December issue at SanDiegoFamily.com

“Frozen”

Features the songs you know and love from the original film, plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers. Jan. 18–29. Starting at $39. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave. Tickets: www.broadwaysd.com

Don’t forget to call to confirm dates, times and admission prices.

sunday | 1 New Year’s Day

“Annie.” Today, 1 & 6:30 pm. Starting at $30. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave. www.broadwaysd.com

New Year’s Day Brunch Cruise. Start your new year in style with exceptional views of San Diego’s iconic skyline. 11 am–1 pm. $79–$99; 3 & under free. Pier 1 Hornblower Landing, 1800 N. Harbor Dr. www.cityexperiences.com

Winter Paradice: Skate, Create & Celebrate. Skate on a synthetic ice rink. Fri.–Sun., 11 am–4 pm. Through Jan. 8.

Fleet Science Center, Balboa Park. www.fleetscience.org

Skating by the Sea. Beachfront ice rink. 11 am–8 pm. $40, includes skate rental. Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado. www.hoteldel.com

“Lightscape.” The illuminated trail features installations that come alive with color,

Photo credit: Deen van Meer

imagination and sound. Today, tomorrow & Jan. 6–8; 5–8:30 pm. $18–$29; 2 & under free. San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas. www.sdbgarden.org

SeaWorld Christmas Celebration. Music activated tunnel of lights, snowfall, 30-ft. twinkling Christmas tree and more. Through Jan. 8. Interstate 5, exit SeaWorld Dr. www.seaworldsandiego.com

FREE “At First Light” Lightshow Spectacular. The Del’s historic pine trees are draped in a spectacular light show with music and snow flurries. 5–9 pm. 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado. www.hoteldel.com

Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station. Daily, 10 am–10 pm. Through Jan. 8. $15–$20, includes skate rental. 2875 Dewey Rd. www.radyfoundation.org/icerink

Holidays at LEGOLAND. LEGO Christmas tree, light show with falling “snow,” life-size LEGO Santa and more. Through Jan. 8. One LEGOLAND Dr., Carlsbad. www.legoland.com

FREE Winter Wonder at Belmont Park. A million holiday lights, giant holiday sculptures, photo ops, live performances, character appearances and more. 3146 Mission Blvd. www.belmontpark.com

Peltzer Ice Rink. 8,400 square feet of skating space. 1:30–7:30 pm. $12–$18; skate rental $2, helmet rental, $4. 39925 Calle Contento, Temecula. www.peltzerfarms.com

FREE Northern Lights. of twinkling lights, LED Christmas trees and light shows. Today & tomorrow, 5–10 pm. The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd. www.artcenter.org

Snow N Glow Holiday Festival. tubing, walk-through holiday lights, Santa and more. 4–9 pm. Starting at $15.99. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. www.snownglow.com

Jungle Bells. Twinkling lights, live entertainment and the magic of “Aurora,” an immersive presentation weaving 3D projection mapping, music and lights. 9 am–8 pm. Included with park admission. San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park. https://zoo .sandiegozoo.org/jungle-bells

Jurassic World: The Exhibition

Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND

Run, walk, skip or stroll through the park at this 1-mile fun run for kids of all ages and abilities. Saturday, Jan. 14, 7:45 am. $30–$35. 1 LEGOLAND Dr., Carlsbad. www.inmotionevents.com

Viejas Ice Skating Rink. Southern California’s largest outdoor ice rink. Through Jan. 8, 3–10 pm. $18–$20; includes skates. 5003 Willows Rd., Alpine. www.viejas.com

monday | 2

Winter Whale & Dolphin Watching. Search for Gray Whales, dolphins, sea lions and more. Through April 16. 9:30 am–1 pm & 1:30–5 pm. $39–$52; 3 & under free. Pier Two, 970 N. Harbor Dr. www.cityexperiences.com

tuesday | 3

“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg: The Life & Times of The Temptations.” The thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal. Through Jan. 8. Starting at $39. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave. www.broadwaysd.com

Take Apart by Studio X. Use tools to open and learn about the different components of everyday electronics and gadgets. Daily, 10 am–5 pm. $19.95–$24.95. Fleet Science Center, Balboa Park. www.fleetscience.org

Residents FREE Days at Balboa Park. Park museums offer free admission Tuesdays on a rotating basis throughout the month to residents of the City and County of San Diego, and to active military personnel and their dependents. For schedule visit www.balboapark.org.

friday | 6

FREE Blue Sky Hike. A scenic hike through Blue Sky Reserve. 9 am. 16275 Espola Rd., Poway. www.poway.com

FREE “Los Trompos.” Six colorfully woven, life-size spinning tops. Daily, 9 am–4 pm; closed Tuesdays. The New Children’s Museum Park, 200 W. Island Ave. www.thinkplaycreate.org

saturday | 7

Monster Jam. The most unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable motorsports experience for families. Today & Jan. 14, 7 pm; tomorrow & Jan. 15, 3 pm. Starting at $25. Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way. www.monsterjam.com

San Diego Seals Lacrosse. Tonight vs. Vancouver Warriors. 7 pm. Starting at $15. Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. www.sealslax.com

tuesday | 10

FREE Family Read & Play Day. A book reading, art project and a free book. 10–11 am. 6845 University Ave. https://sd.kroccenter.org

wednesday | 11

San Diego Gulls Home Games. Tonight & Jan. 13, 25, 27 & 28. Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. Tickets: www.sandiegogulls.com

thursday | 12

Borrego Springs Film Festival. Through Jan. 16. Details: www.borregospringsfilmfestival.org

friday | 13

FREE Winter Festival. Sled down the snow hill, enjoy delicious s’mores, a synthetic ice rink and more. Today, 5–9 pm & tomorrow, 3:30–8:30 pm; special needs event tomorrow, 2:30–3:30 pm. Poway Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Dr. www.poway.com

Don’t forget to call to confirm dates, times and admission prices.

Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND California Resort

sunday | 15

Carlsbad Marathon, Half & 5K. Spectacular coastal marathon offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Marathon, 6:15 am; 5K, 6:45 am; half, 7:45 am. Visit website for registration fees. 2525 El Camino Real. www.inmotionevents.com/event/carlsbadmarathon

FREE Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. Floats, bands, drill teams, civic and youth organizations and more. 2–5 pm. Harbor Dr. www.sandiegoalphas.com/ mlk-parade

monday | 16

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

FREE Martin Luther King Day Celebration. Music, guest speaker, vendors and more. 12–6 pm. WorldBeat Center, 2100 Park Blvd., Balboa Park. www.worldbeatcenter.org

thursday | 19

Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures. Exciting twists and turns await as Mickey Mouse and his Disney friends embark on a wild ride to your favorite Disney destinations. Through Jan. 22. Starting at $20. Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. www.disneyonice.com

friday | 20

Jurassic Quest. Observe a herd of life-size animatronic dinosaurs including Apatosaurus, Spinosaurus, T-Rex and an incredible 50-ft. long Megalodon. Today & tomorrow, 9 am–8 pm & Jan. 22, 9 am–6 pm. $19; parking, $10. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. www.delmarfairgrounds.com

saturday | 21

Chinese New Year Festival. Lion dances, ethnic food, cultural performances, crafts and more. Today & tomorrow, 11 am–5 pm. International Cottages, 2191 Pan American Rd. W., Balboa Park. www.chinesenewyearfair.com

FREE Fit Athletic Yoga at The Rady Shell. Allow your body and mind to joyfully connect in one of the most beautiful settings in San Diego. 9:30–10:30 am. 222 Marina Park Way. Register: www.theshell.org

FREE Accessibility Mornings at the Fleet. Families who benefit from a lowsensory experience can enjoy exhibit galleries in a quieter setting and a special IMAX film screening (lights on and a lower volume). 9–11 am. Free admission for one guest and one chaperone. Fleet Science Center, Balboa Park.  www.fleetscience.org

sunday | 22

Chinese New Year: Year of the Rabbit

FREE Star Walk XV. Learn about stars, constellations and simple astronomy facts and principles. 5:30–7 pm. Double Peak Park, 900 Double Peak Dr., San Marcos. www.san-marcos.net

wednesday | 25

Farmers Insurance Open. The PGA Tour comes to San Diego. Through Jan. 28. Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla. Tickets: www.farmersinsuranceopen.com

thursday | 26

Oceans at Night. Guests 21 and older enjoy interactive experiences highlighting ocean phenomena that occur at night including bioluminescence and biofluorescence. Select Thursdays, 6:30–9:30 pm. $27–$30. Birch Aquarium at Scripps, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. www.aquarium.ucsd.edu

friday | 27

Fun Animal Friday: Tide Pool Creatures. A live presentation, meet and greet, story time, craft and more. 10 am –12 pm. $11.50; 1 & under free. San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, 320 N. Broadway, Escondido. www.sdcdm.org

Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience brings the magic and mystery of Ancient Egypt to San Diego. Through Mar. 26. $27–$44; parking, $12. Wyland Center, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Reservations: www.beyondkingtut.com

San Diego Têt Festival. Through Jan. 29. Details: www.sdtet.com

San Diego I Chula

BrainBalanceSanDiego com (858) 324-5545 Hablamos Español

saturday | 28

Plays by Young Writers Festival-Night of Celebration. A live performance featuring winning scripts from its 2022 California Young Playwrights Contract. 6:30–9:30 pm. $40. The Joan B. Kroc Theatre, The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 6611 University Ave. www.playwrightsproject.org/productions/ pbyw

Find more family happenings at www.sandiegofamily.com.

Crafts for Kids Crafting for a Rainy Day

Drip Drop Rain Painting

We don’t know many kids who can resist jumping in rain puddles. And since we don’t get rain puddles too often in San Diego, it’s a particularly unique and special activity! Why not commemorate this favorite childhood pastime with an art project? Create rain using a fun drip painting technique, then personalize your masterpiece with your favorite photo.

Blow Painting: Crazy Hair Day

Lisa Gipson

While San Diego boasts excellent weather for year-round outdoor play, sometimes it’s nice to have projects in your back pocket for the occasional rainy or lazy day. That’s where these projects from Louise McMullen, author of the book “Fun Painting Projects for Kids” come in. McMullen, who is also the creative mom behind the popular blog Messy Little Monster, was kind enough to share instructions for both projects with us, which can be found at www.sandiegofamily.com/for-the-kids/crafts-for-kids.

Kids love crazy hair day during school spirit week. Now they can celebrate crazy hair every day with this awesome blow-painting project. Use a photograph or drawn picture of your face, then blow paint in all directions for a hilarious hairdo. Find full instructions for both projects at www.sandiegofamily.com/for-the-kids/crafts-for-kids.

Order Louise McMullen’s book at www.messylittlemonster.com/2022/03/fun-painting-projects-for-kids.html. Follow her on IG @messylittlemonster.

Photo credit: Jen Allan Photography

Healthy Kids. Happy Parents.

Our only priority is your child’s health. That’s why parents count on Children’s Physicians Medical Group. In partnership with Rady Children’s Health Network, CPMG brings you the most comprehensive pediatric health care in San Diego County. We’re the region’s only pediatric medical network specializing in children’s health. From babies to teens, we’re there for you in a big way.

Teach skills early

“I did it” or “all by myself” is the refrain of the toddler years. It’s a time when children are insistently eager to become independent.

In Montessori, we make it easy for children to learn skills that feed their will to do things by themselves. With the dressing frames, children learn to button their clothes: it’s easier to button two matched sides of fabric, held on a frame, on a flat table, than to button a jacket.

By isolating the difficulty—enabling children to focus on one skill at a time—and with caring support from skilled teachers, Montessori toddlers learn to dress themselves, preschoolers bake, elementary students organize their own Going Out excursions, and middle school students create the school’s yearbook.

Children who experience themselves as capable and powerful develop real self-confidence and the can-do attitude they need to joyfully conquer their world.

See independence in action and discover how LePort Montessori enables children to thrive as confident, happy young people.

Learn