CURIOUS GEORGE: A HALLOWEEN BOO FEST
Not rated. On DVD 9/03. Ok for kids 3+. Reel Review: 4 of 5 Reels. Halloween is almost here and George can’t wait for the festivities to begin: carving pumpkins, costume contests, and especially the Annual Boo Festival. Eager to get the festivities started, George and Allie visit Renkins’ Farm to pick out the perfect pumpkin. There, they’re told the spooky tale of... Read More
“It Doesn’t Hurt, Doc!”
Always Smile At The Dentist With This Expert Advice… Even though I’ve heard it all before, I must say that I thoroughly enjoy dentist jokes and funny stereotypes about dentists. If you can’t laugh at yourself, what can you laugh at? But one thing that still makes me scratch my chin is when patients tell me, “It doesn’t hurt, Doc” with a sparkle in their eye, implying... Read More
Brace Yourself for a Trendy-Toothed Teen
The Benefits & Choices of Orthodontic Care Braces weren’t trendy back in the day. The dreadful nickname of “metal mouth” was often used to tease those who had to don hideously thick, metal wires and brackets across their teeth. If you wore them, you likely didn’t smile for your school pictures. Then, there was the thought – or nightmare – of experiencing your first... Read More
The Mommy Makeover
Cosmetic Surgery Trends and Options The physical demands of pregnancy can take a toll on a mother’s body. Winter Park based, board certified plastic surgeon James Baker, MD, FACS, explains that “the abdominal muscles separate and the skin stretches to allow the uterus to grow. The mom is often left with loose or sagging skin that is frequently attributed to the relaxation of... Read More
THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SEC
Reel Review: 4.5 of 5 Reels. PG for some violence, language, brief sensuality, and rude humor. On DVD/Blu-ray 8/13. Ok for kids 7+. I love this film from director Luc Besson ─ a fantasy adventure starring Louise Bourgoin as a fast-talking explorer/writer in pre-WWI France. On a mission in Egypt, she attempts to retrieve a sarcophagus and tote it back to Western Europe, while fending... Read More
CHUGGINGTON: CHUG PATROL – READY TO RESCUE
Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 8/20. Ok for kids 3+. Wilson, Koko, and Brewster are moving up to the next level of training! This DVD finds Wilson taking on new challenges and making daring rescues as the newest member of Chuggington’s emergency rescue squad. Koko and Brewster join in on the new adventures as do new characters Chug Patrol Chief Jackman and super-speedy... Read More
Fun & Funky Frames: Trends In Pediatric Eyewear
Are vision problems affecting your young pupilís education? Fashionable back-to-school eyewear can help your child focus in the classroom! According to the American Optometric Association, an estimated 80 percent of all learning is done through a childís eyes, including typical classroom tasks like reading, computer usage, and chalkboard work. Therefore, when a child experiences... Read More
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Prior to relocating from Buffalo, New York, to practice at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, ophthalmologist Airaj F. Fasiuddin, M.D. recalls treating “one of the worst eye injuries in her professional career.” In 2010, Troy Holman, then 10, was running in a neighborhood park when he tripped and landed on a stick. The impact caused the twig to puncture Troy’s right... Read More
Keep Pets Healthy, Cool During Hot Weather
Summer is for relaxing – for pets too. Many pet parents indulge their animal companions with vacations, special meals, hotel stays and trips to the spa. In fact, an estimated $53 billion were spent on pets last year. Yet many families with pets may not realize the longer, hotter days of summer require pampering around their health and safety. “During hot summer months, it’s... Read More
The Johns Hopkins Children’s Heart Surgery Program at Florida Hospital for Children Opens
The Johns Hopkins Children’s Heart Surgery Program at Florida Hospital for Children recently launched to provide comprehensive cardiac surgery care. The program draws on the expertise of Johns Hopkins, a pioneer in the field of heart surgery, and will give Florida children access to a top-notch surgical team and the newest treatment approaches. Dr. Constantine Mavroudis, a world-renowned... Read More
Mother Saves Daughter’s Life With CPR
Bringing home a newborn baby is usually a joyous occasion – with the pink or blue nursery filling with gentle coos and smells of baby powder. But the homecoming for Shelly Shabdue, a local mom, was certainly not as peaceful as a lullaby. Her daughter, Kaitlyn, was born prematurely and had spent several weeks in the hospital NICU unit due to collapsed lungs. Thought to be... Read More
BEST OF WARNER BROS. 50 CARTOON COLLECTION
Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 6/25. Ok for kids 3+. This 2-disc set features a great collection of iconic Looney Tunes cartoons from Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, Robert McKimson, and more. As part of Warner Bros. 90th Anniversary, the set includes such funnies as Knighty Knight Bugs, Speedy Gonzales, the definitive musical masterpiece What’s Opera Doc?, and The... Read More
Wellness Warnings: Statistics Parents Need to Know
Drug Bust! More than 3.1 million teens ages 12 to 17 report abusing prescription drugs. 70% of children who abuse prescription drugs get them from family or friends. Prescription drugs are the #1 drug choice among 12-13 year olds. Florida has the highest rate of prescription painkiller sales in the country. InformedFamilies.org VIIIth city for HIV Orlando ranked 8th on the Centers... Read More
K-9: THE COMPLETE SERIES
Reel Review: 4 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 5/07. Ok for kids 7+. This live-action family spinoff from the cult favorite “Doctor Who” series features his longtime robot pet dog, K-9, as re-imagined by “Doctor Who” creator Bob Baker. However, if you’re a “Doctor Who” fan, don’t expect any major crossovers. This was not produced by... Read More
MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: QUEST FOR THE CRYSTAL MICKEY
Reel Review: 4 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 5/21. Ok for kids 4+. Mickey Mouse channels Indiana Jones in this super-fun DVD for little ones. There’s no time to lose after greedy Plunderin’ Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without the sparkly statue’s magic, the Clubhouse will disappear forever! Can the world’s most extraordinary... Read More
BUBBLE GUPPIES: SUNNY DAYS!
Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 5/28. Ok for kids 2+. The Bubble Guppies are stars of a Nick, Jr. preschool show set in a vibrant, aquarium-inspired underwater classroom. Molly, Gil, and their fish-tailed classmates are just like all preschoolers ─ learning about the world around them through playful investigation. The show covers a wide range of topics, from dinosaurs... Read More
Your Daughter’s First Trip To The Gynecologist
No woman really looks forward to her annual gynecology visit, which often brings back memories of discomfort, probing, and cold stirrups. As your daughter grows and develops, you may wonder when is the right time to start taking her to a women’s health specialist. “According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it is recommended that the first visit be... Read More
IRON MAN: RISE OF THE TECHNOVORE
PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence and action. On DVD/blu-ray 4/16. Ok for kids 13+. Reel Preview: 4 out of 5 Reels. Billionaire Tony Stark (voiced by Matthew Mercer), in his Iron Man armor, prevents an attack from a mysterious new foe, but innocent bystanders are killed including his best friend War Machine, Lt. Colonel James Rhodes. Detained for questioning by S.H.I.E.L.D.,... Read More
THE BIBLE
Not rated. On DVD 4/02. Ok for kids 9+. Reel Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Reels. If you caught this 10-part miniseries that aired on The History Channel in March, you already know how epic it is. Executive producers, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, crafted an engaging story based on the Scriptures from Genesis through Revelation. Breathtaking in scope and scale, “The Bible” features... Read More
Crohn’s Disease & Family Planning
In the middle of a chilly night in January 2009, then 26-year-old Beth Smith awoke with a severe, surging sensation in her lower abdomen. She assumed that her appendix had burst, but upon arrival at the hospital, a scan revealed that Beth had Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) describes... Read More
Raising a Vegetarian
Many parents choose to raise their children with a vegetarian lifestyle, which usually consists of a plant-based diet that allows the consumption of dairy products, but no meat. Others would like to explore this option, but simply don’t know how to safely start a vegetarian meal plan. It is known that some children gravitate toward a plant-based diet by themselves after finding... Read More
