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15 Trick-or-Treating Neighborhoods You Have to Hit

by Debra Flanagan

The very best Chicago spots to find Instagram-worthy decorations, full-sized candy bars, and plenty of family fun on Halloween

Grab your biggest treat bag and get your bell-ringing fingers ready. Halloween is upon us. However, with All Hallows Eve falling on a Tuesday this year, trick-or-treating won’t likely start until the grown-ups are home from work. Considering that late timing—plus the ever-present threat of snow in October—it might make sense for parents of little kids to take their pint-size ghouls and goblins to one of the formally organized daytime events on the weekend prior.

Whatever your family decides to do, there are frights and delights from A to Z (or, rather, Andersonville to Lincoln Park Zoo)—so many, in fact, that you might need a second bag to carry your candy haul. We know which neighborhoods and events you should hit this Halloween to find the fewest tricks and the best treats. These 15 spots throughout Chicago are guaranteed to be well worth a costumed visit.

Related: The Best Local Costume Shops For Your Family’s Last-Minute Halloween Needs

Buena Park
Long before the pandemic inspired candy givers to get creative with their distribution tactics, the Booena Park Safe Trick-or-Treating event always went above and beyond to make trick-or-treating uniquely interactive. Case in point, the use of dryer hoses to send candy down from upper-level units. Since the pandemic they have only upped their game and have been encouraged to do so again this year with prizes for the scariest house and best overall house. Kenmore Avenue is closed from Irving Park to Montrose from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on the 31st. Insider Tip: If you head out towards the end, residents tend to offer candy by the handful!

Online: buenaparkneighbors.org

Edison Park
For a different spin on trick-or-treating, check out the Edison Park Trunk or Treat event taking place on Oct. 26th from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Collect candy from 60 different decorated vehicles at this free neighborhood event. The first 350 kids will receive a complimentary trick-or-treat bag, and each goodie bag will contain a dining coupon to a local restaurant to be used that night only. There will also be bounce houses, face-painting, a balloon artist, and Affy Tapples.

Online: edisonpark.org

Gold Coast
Visit the over-the-top, professionally decorated mansions on Goethe Street from Dearborn to Astor. Here you will find full-size candy bars and even plush toys as the generous treats being passed out.

Andersonville
At Aville-o-Ween, you can get a head-start on Halloween. On Oct. 28th from 12 p.m.-3 p.m. families can trick-or-treat all along the Andersonville Business District on Clark St. Businesses will had out a variety of regular candy, gluten-free candy, nut-free candy, and even small toys. Go online for a map of who is handing out what.

Online: andersonville.org

Hyde Park
Year-round, Hyde Park has that East Coast autumn vibe, and Halloween is when it really shines. The setting of hordes of kids going mansion door to mansion door of the tree-lined streets could be taken straight out of a Hollywood movie. Check out Harper Avenue between 57th and 59th Streets. Go early to avoid the crowds!

Lakeview
While Lakeview is another great area in which to trick-or-treat come Halloween night, there are two organized events before Old Hallow's Eve not to be missed. Trick-or-Treat on Southport will take place one day earlier on October 30th from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. In addition to trick-or-treating at local businesses, there will be other family-friendly activities including a DJ, inflatables, and a pumpkin patch. There's even a craft beer tent and lots of business discounts for the well-deserving parents!

Online: southportcorridorchicago.com

On Oct. 29th, from 12 p.m.-3 p.m. join The Little Monsters Crawl around the streets of Lakeview, (mostly Clark St. and Broadway), to collect candy and treats, for all ages, from local businesses.

Online: lakevieweast.com

Lincoln Park
Burling St., located between Fullerton and Diversey, blocks off party-style on Halloween night, offering visiting trick-or-treaters a night of fun and candy galore. Your best bet is to hop on a bus, or jump on the "L" as evening parking can be tricky. This is destination trick-or-treating at its finest; it's particularly fun to get a glimpse of the homes all open and welcoming to the sounds and little feet of kids on the spookiest, silliest night of the year.

On Oct. 21st from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (or while supplies last), the Lincoln Park Zoo will host a free Spooky Zoo event. This year’s event will offer trick-or-treating on zoo grounds and family-friendly entertainment.

Online: lpzoo.org

Related: Our Ultimate Guide to Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches

Lincoln Square/Ravenswood
Ravenswood has become known for its "full-size chocolate bar houses." Even kids from neighboring Lincoln Square flock to the streets of Ravenswood to score these rare finds. Check the week's weather forecast, and if its not looking too good for Halloween night, head to Lincoln Scared Ravenswoooood on Sunday, Oct. 29th from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. when participating businesses in both Lincoln Square and Ravenswood will be passing out candy. Check the Chamber of Commerce's website for maps for both neighborhoods.

Online: lincolnsquare.org

Logan Square
Bernard Street between Fullerton and Wrightwood might as well be deemed the honorary Halloween-town. Families go all out in decorating their homes for the season. People travel in from far and wide on the 31st to admire the spectacle and get in on all that candy!

NorthCenter
On Oct. 28th, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., don your most creative costume and hit the streets of Lincoln, Damen, and Irving in NorthCenter to collect sweet treats and other prizes. Pick up your map, and drop of non-perishable food and toiletry donations for Common Pantry, at the NorthCenter Town Square. Be sure to return back to the square for the annual costume contests, refreshments, and free Halloween-themed crafts with Macaroni KID.

Online: northcenterchamber.com

River North
Visit Navy Pier on Oct. 28th from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. for a Slightly Spooky Saturday, including its free Trick-or-Treat Bonanza. Over 70 candy stations around the pier will be stocked with Ferrara Candy. There will be lots more family entertainment including live performances, arts and crafts, Halloween science experiments and more. You can ever enter your pet into its own costume contest.

Online: navypier.org

Rogers Park
Check out the free Family Full Moon Halloween Fest on Jarvis Square on Oct. 28th from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Wear your costumes for a Halloween candy hunt, as well as family entertainment including a stilt walker, jugglers, drummers, a face painter, and a tarot card reader. There will also be LED "fire" throwing and free s'mores around a firepit. 

Online: jarvissquarechicago.org

Roscoe Village
One of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in Chicago, Roscoe Village is the perfect place to spend Halloween night. Most blocks are lined with side-by-side, single-family homes, making it easy to earn a handsome loot without too much walking. You'll find the owners of said houses, gathered together by outdoor fire pits in this tight-knit community, enjoying the evening as much as the kids. If you want to get a head-start on the Trick-or-Treating, join the Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party on Sunday, Oct. 22nd from 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Roscoe Street will be closed to traffic while businesses between Damen and Hoyne will be handing out candy to all the costumed creatures. You'll also find kid's activities in the center of the road.

Online: roscoevillage.org

Related: Field Day! Local Chicago Corn Mazes to Get Lost In

Wicker Park/Bucktown
Purchase tickets and reserve a time slot to trick-or-treat at The Bucktown Green (1714 N. Hoyne Ave.) on Oct. 30th from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. There will be 25 booths to visit.
Online: wickerparkbucktown.com

Wilmette
From near and far, people flock to Wilmette, specifically Lake Ave., east of Green Bay Rd., to see huge historic homes transformed into haunted houses with spider webs, ghosts, and goblins. The trick-or-treat theory of big houses equals big candy haul is certainly the case here. Trick-or-treat hours in Wilmette are 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on the 31st.
Online: wilmette.com

Make sure to capture all the fall fun—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

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10 Music-Making Apps Your Kids Will Love

by Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

If music is the food of love, then tune-loving kids and parents alike will swoon over the veritable smörgåsbord of fantastic music-making apps available on the market today. From classical creators to hip-hop jams, we sampled an entire marching-band-worth of apps (so you don’t have to) and discovered the grooviest ones. Check out our ensemble of apps below—your kids will be joining in on the rhythm nation in no time.

Melody Jams

Preschool rock-and-rollers will really dig Melody Jams, a fun, interactive music-making game that lets players animate and orchestrate their own garage band comprised of adorably-drawn monster characters. Band members can be mixed and matched, with each character possessing unique personality traits and different instrument skills, which are described in detail on the Melody Jams website. Additional music and scene bundles are available for purchase via iTunes for $4.99.

For preschoolers & up. Available for iOS, $3.99.

Crayola DJ

Aspiring DJs will have a blast mixing and scratching their own custom beats and tunes with Crayola’s nicely-designed music app. Created in partnership with mobile game developer Legacy Games, Crayola DJ features a well-laid-out interface of dual virtual turntables that junior Junior Vasquezes can use to mix and remix almost 100 exclusive tracks—all created by professional DJs. Tracks are available in five musical genres, including hip-hop, dance, pop, fusion and holiday, and a tempo slider lets users adjust BPMs to take their mixes from chillout deep house to frenetic EDM. Regardless of your mini-DJ’s level of musical experience or sound-engineering skills, the app intelligently creates legit professional-sounding dance music that invariably will get people on their feet and moving to the beats.

For ages 6 & up. Available for iOS, $2.99.

 

Kapu Bloom Tunes

Combining two activities that kids love (painting and music) Kapu Bloom Tunes lets kids paint the world with music. This sweet digital toy may seem simplistic—there are no recording or sharing options—but young musicians will delight in seeing how their finger paintings are brought to life through colors and sounds. Players dig for, find, then decorate the seeds of a melody flower, which are planted in the ground. By painting the soil and watering the seeds, the resulting plants bloom with music. Tickling plants causes them to sing a variety of familiar melodies and nursery rhymes, and spinning petals leads to even more musical interludes.

For ages 0 & up. Available for iOS, $1.99.

Duckie Deck Homemade Orchestra

This delightful music-making app is designed for preschoolers and older, and lets them explore how sounds are made using a variety of different, ordinary household objects, such as an empty soda bottle or a rubber band. Kids can listen to and learn how to play sounds created with virtual homemade instruments, at the same time developing a better understanding of how sounds are made in the real world. The app’s simple, intuitive interface makes it perfect for younger users, and the ad-free play environment makes it easy on parents’ wallets, too.

For preschoolers & up. Available for iOS, $2.99.

Adventures of Poco Eco—Lost Sounds

Although it’s not precisely a music-making app per se, Adventures of Poco Eco—Lost Sounds is a dreamy and visually-stunning music-adventure game that’ll have you and your kids hooked from the start. Featuring straightforward puzzles and a gorgeous electronic soundtrack composed by acclaimed Hungarian musician and artist Iamyank, players are drawn into a mesmerizing neon wonderland where they are tasked with helping an explorer named Poco Eco complete his mission of finding the lost sounds of his tribe. This multi-award-winning app is less like a typical puzzle-adventure game and more like a meditative musical journey across a dozen 3D-animated game levels.

For ages 6 & up. Available for iOS, $3.99, and Android, $2.99.

Loopimal

Take one part plug-and-play music maker and one part covert coding tutorial and the results would be Loopimal, a cool digital building app that lets nascent electronica musicians create neat animations powered by sounds. Users can create music loops by using pre-programmed blocks that provide both melodies and character animations that can be layered over various beats. With its easy-to-use interface, kids can learn how arranging and repeating blocks in certain sequences can add up to different sounds and movements of cutely-illustrated animals, including a bear, a pig, an octopus, a sloth, a bird and a yeti. Although the app is missing save and share options, young users will enjoy experimenting with sounds and animations in this entertaining app.

For preschoolers & up. Available for iOS, $3.99.

Easy Music

Conceived by musician and educator Michael Emenau, Easy Music is premised on the theory that before kids can effectively learn how to play music, they first need to learn how to listen to it. Through this appealing, interactive app, kids learn how to recognize notes, pitch, rhythm and melody by exploring different animated worlds and interacting with a color-coded keyboard that helps budding musicians begin the journey toward playing music by ear. Bonus: there are no ads or in-app purchases, a welcome relief from the growing deluge of overly commercialized mobile apps aimed at kids.

For ages 5 & up. Available for iOS, $3.99 and Android, $10.99.

Magic Piano

From classical to contemporary pop, Magic Piano has gamified tickling the virtual ivories. The app even makes someone who’s all thumbs sound like a piano prodigy. Players follow beams of onscreen lights, which guide fingertips to hit the right notes. Rhythm and tempo can be adjusted to suit a player’s fancy, adding his or her own sense of musical style to some familiar and not-so-familiar songs. There’s also an option to switch instrument modes, which range from baroque harpsichord to new wave synthesizer. The app supports 13 languages and the premium music catalog currently boasts more than 1,000 songs, with new songs added daily. For those who want access to the entire songbook, subscription plans start at $2.99 weekly.

For ages 5 & up. Available for iOS and Android, free with in-app purchases.

Medly Music Maker

Downloaded more than half a million times, award-winning Medly Music Maker already has been named to numerous “Best of” lists, including Apple’s Editor’s Choice and Best App of 2016. The free version of the app comes with 12 instruments, with 100 more—ranging from house synths to classical violins, and hundreds of drum and FX samples—available through in-app purchases. Amateur and professional musicians alike can create songs in a variety of genres through a simple visual interface where notes are drawn onscreen. The app is compatible with Apple Watch, allowing users to open, play and control Medly-created songs directly from their wrists.

For ages 10 & up. Available for iOS, free with in-app purchases.

Keezy

Addictive and delightful are just two words to describe Keezy, a quirky musical instrument-slash-sound sampler app that helps wannabe beatboxers of all ages create and record their own custom beats and loops with just a few taps. Keezy comes pre-loaded with 15 sound boards—created by popular alternative musicians, including Reggie Watts, Tegan and Sara, The Mast, Francis and the Lights, and Reni Lane—which can serve as the basis for users’ musical creations. Additional sounds can be recorded on each of the eight colored tiles, which are tapped to play back or pressed and held to loop. There’s also a free companion Drummer app from Keezy for those who want to take their beats to the next level.

For ages 5 & up. Available for iOS, free.

 

 

—Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

All images courtesy of app companies.


Featured image: iStock 

RELATED STORIES: 

These Moms Tested Amazon’s Kids Edition Tablets—Here’s What They Discovered

26 Homemade Instruments That Really Work

Incorporating Music into Distance Learning

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What to See at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival

by Kelly Aiglon

Move over, Olaf. There’s something even cooler coming to the big screen. The 31th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is back from October 24-November 2. The kid-focused film fest put together by Facets Multi-Media has nearly 300 juried shorts and features from close to 40 countries. Here are seven programs (plus a workshop and party!) that cinephiles ages 2-12 shouldn’t miss.

photo: A Letter to Momo

A Letter to Momo
The award-winning Japanese anime film sweeps you on an adventure with 10-year-old Momo, who moves to an island with her mother after her father passes away. When she realizes her new home is haunted by friendly goblins, she accepts their help in a journey to face her past and save her mother’s future.

Held Saturday, October 25 at 1 p.m.
Facets Multi-Media
Ages 10 & up
120 minutes

Animal Antics
Gather ’round for 10 short films that send you on loopy adventures with animals. It starts with two Danish shorts about a man named Peter Pix who lives an everyday existence —until the objects in his home take on a life of their own. There’s also Captain Fish, an animated short that shows what happens when a little girl decides to save the food she’s supposed to eat. And the biggest hit? Spot and Splodge: Disco Party, an animated Swedish romp in which two bunnies bust hop-tastic dance moves.

Held Saturday, October 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Music Box Theater
Ages 5-8
63 minutes

photo: Belle and Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian
A French novel series by Cecile Aubrey about an orphan boy and a sheepdog has been turned into a live action adventure film. It’s set in an Alps mountain town during World War II, where they eventually team up to help a Jewish refugee family escape to Switzerland. This film, which is getting international praise, is screened in French with English subtitles.

Held Saturday, October 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Music Box Theatre
Ages 10 & up
104 minutes

Halloween: Tricks & Treats
Part of the Festival’s “Flick or Treat” holiday programming, this collection of shorts provides kid-friendly frights. The mix of live action and animated delights comes from Sweden, Mexico, the U.S., Italy and beyond — dive into stories of carrot-hoarding rabbits, a skeleton ghost and even a frosting tube with a life of its own!

Held Sunday, October 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Music Box Theatre
Ages 2-9
62 minutes

photo: “Silent” from Arty Party

Arty Party
Words, pictures and performances come together in a swirl of artful shorts from Hungary, France, Brazil, India and beyond. Great for kids with big imaginations, the action includes fighting a rainy day with a box of crayons, playing jazzy music against the beat of a marching band, and learning to create photographs without a camera.

Held Sunday, October 26 at 11 a.m.
Facets Multi-Media
Ages 8-10
71 minutes

Wondrous Weirdness
This program is great for the 2-5 crowd. Nine short films (from Taiwan, South Africa, Japan and elsewhere) celebrate the idea that it’s okay to be different. The colorful, offbeat stories include that of a lamb with a funky new haircut and an outer space alien that sticks out in a crowd.

Held Saturday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Facets Multi-Media
Ages 2-5
60 minutes

photo: Pim & Pom: The Big Adventure

Pim & Pom: The Big Adventure
A great “my first movie,” this animated feature puts you hot on the trail of two cats that get catnapped, escape and have to navigate the big city before they get found. It has lots of songs that will keep your kiddos on the edge of their seats. The film is in Danish but dubbed in English.

Held Saturday, November 1 at 11 a.m.
Facets Multi-Media
Ages 2-8
70 minutes

Cool Workshop: iPad Animation Tots and Tablets
This is screen time you can get behind. Alongside your kiddo, you’ll learn how to make computer animations on an iPad. It’s taught by animator George Berlin, who walks you through how to use the free app, Flip Boom Cartoon. You’ll all have a blast sketching with digital pens, crayons and paintbrushes; creating a storyboard and backgrounds; and bringing it all to life!

Saturday, November 1 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
350 E. South Water St.
Ages 5-8
Tickets: $40 Facets members, $45 non-members (includes both parent & child)
Online: facets.org

photo: Boo! Bash

Special Party: Boo! Bash
For the festival kickoff, kiddos can watch classic films with a salute to LeVar Burton of “Reading Rainbow,” get their faces painted to match their costumes, and ooh and aah at live acrobats. Make sure to wear your best costume for a friendly contest, and keep your eyes peeled for celebrities! This is a benefit event that helps CICFF continue its amazing programming.

Held Sunday, October 19 from 2-5 p.m.
Park West
All ages
Tickets: $125 per adult & $50 per child (free for children 3 & under)
Online: facets.org

For a full schedule of Chicago International Children’s Film Festival films and to buy tickets, go online to facets.org.

Family film festival passes are $40 (good for up to four adults or children for all general screenings). Individual film tickets are $9/adults and $6/children (2-18).

Facets Multi-Media is located at 1517 W. Fullerton Parkway in Lincoln Park and Music Box Theatre is located at 3733 N. Southport Avenue in Lakeview.

Enjoy the show!

Which film will your family go to see? Let us know in the Comments section below.

— Kelly Aiglon

 

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Kid-Approved Holiday Happenings Worth Booking…Now!

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Jumping the gun on the holidays when school just started may sound like over-the-top type A behavior, but—trust us—when it comes to some of the most popular revelry in the District, it’s totally worth it. You’ll have more family fa-la-la-ahh time together in December with this booking guide for the hottest holiday happenings. Plan now; stress less later. Period.



Nutcracker Sw-w-w-e-e-e-e-t
Remember the first time saw the Snow Queen? The world shimmered as she danced, taking your breath away with each jeté. Everything was beautiful at the ballet. If your sugarplums will be 5 or 6 years old by December, they’re ready for you to share Clara’s magical story with them. Snag choice seats now to the most bedazzling and sumptuous performances of this timeless dance confection by nabbing your tickets now. Squiggly kid tip: Aisle seats make for quicker exits.

  • The Washington Ballet
    November 29-30
    THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus)
    1901 Mississippi Ave., SE
    December 4-28
    Warner Theater
    513 13th St.
    202-397-7328
    Online: washingtonballet.org
  • The Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
    December 14
    Strathmore Music Center
    5301 Tuckerman Ln. (North Bethesda, Md)
    301-581-5100
    Online: strathmore.org
  • Center for the Arts, George Mason University
    December 17-18 (not matinee)
    4373 Mason Pond Dr. (Fairfax, Va)
    888-945-2468
    Online: cfa.gmu.edu
  • The Puppet Co.
    November 28–December 31
    Glen Echo Park
    7300 MacArthur Blvd. (Glen Echo, Md)
    301-634-5380
    Online: thepuppetco.org

One Lump or Two?  (No, Not Coal)
A proper cup of tea with a scone. What a lovely tradition. If your timing is right, you and the kiddo can go ice-skating together and then refuel with delectables. If the weather is dreary, not to worry dearie. A hot cup of tea with your kids will do you all good. Reservations now mean your holiday to-do-list-that-is-way-too-long has a built in pause button. Time for a nibble and giggle.

  • The Ritz Carlton at Pentagon City Va, serves up a posh tea service for the pint size set (did you say Hot Chocolate mom?) and is nearby the not-too-big skating rink in Pentagon Row. Book your reservations now because they fill up fast. Insider tip: tell them you want the Teddy Bear Children’s Tea when you make the reservation.Ritz Carlton Pentagon City
    1250 S Hayes St. (Arlington, Va)
    Tea Times: Saturdays 2:30 pm-4:30 pm
    Sundays 3 pm-4:30 pm
    Cost: $29-$42/person; Teddy Bear Children’s Tea (with Hot Chocolate), $16/person
    703-412-2762
    Online: ritzcarlton.com
  • Sip a cuppa tea with your 4+ year old and Mrs. Claus at the Mansion at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md. Listen to music, and nosh away while she reads a heartwarming story. Guess who will stop for a surprise Ho-Ho-Ho? Nope. Not the Green Giant. Guess again, but don’t tell the kids. It’s suppose to be a secret.The Mansion at Strathmore
    10701 Rockville Pike (North Bethesda, Md)
    Cost: $26/person
    Reservations: 301-581-5108

Discover Tuba Christmas
Every year a triumphant of tubas gather at the Kennedy Center grand foyer to play holiday songs. Think dozens of marching band members of all ages coming together in a euphoric Christmas euphonium fest. It’s an oomp-pah-pah hoot not to be missed. Sound check tip: Take along earplugs for little listeners.

When: Second week in December
Cost: Free
Kennedy Center
700 F St., NW (Foggy Bottom)

Spend the Holidays in Russia
If you missed out on the summertime French Festival at Hillwood, you can revel at the Russian Winter Festival at Hillwood in December. Hang on to your babushka as you and the kid-niks kick up your heels Russian style and twirl around to that lively Caucus beat. After a full day the kids will go to bed early. You can curl up and watch Doctor Zhivago. Nyet?

When: December 13-14 , 10 am-5 pm
Cost: $5-$18; FREE for 6 and under
Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens
4155 Linnean Ave., NW (Van Ness)
202-686-8500
Online: hillwoodmuseum.org

Which of these do you plan on booking? Tell us in the comments section below. 

—Linda Bennett

Photos courtesy of The Washington Ballet via Facebook, Larry Jacobsen via Flickr, Hillwood Museum via Facebook

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Taking Skin Care Seriously in the City of Angels: Dr. Diane Truong and Dr. JJ Levenstein

by writerredtri

Meet they the dynamic, doctor-mom-duo—Dr. Diane Truong and Dr. JJ Levenstein, creators of MD Moms.  While they are board-certified pediatricians who not only created the first pediatrician-developed personal care line for our babies, they also give back to their community through their unwavering support of the Epilepsy Foundation.

Red Tricycle:  You’re part of a group of moms that are on a serious mission.  What’s yours?
DRs:  We trained together at the Children’s Hospital of LA, and witnessed firsthand just how many children were in need of products that effectively protected their delicate skin from harmful solar damage in southern California.  Our tiny patients, with crusty scalps, painful diaper rash, eczema and dry skin helped us develop several of our products.  It was so sad to see the children in pain, and we knew we could help!

RT:  Through your work, how did you decided to support the Epilepsy Foundation?
DRs:   During our time as pediatric doctors, we have cared for so many children and young adults who suffer from epilepsy – most of whom require 100% care.  We aligned with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles in order to help their cause.  We help to fund more fellowships to train pediatric neurologists.  Epilepsy needs to be diagnosed early and treated with state of the art therapy to help improve lifelong prognosis – there are just not enough neurologists currently to meet that critical need!

RT:  What inspired you to pursue this passion for both the business and the foundation?
DRs:   We were moved by the need in the community for support.  Our commitment helps ill and disadvantage children through work in pro-bono clinics, as well as giving a portion of our proceeds to the foundation.  It’s thrilling to be able to provide our patients great products, but also be able to channel that directly towards the benefit of the community.

RT:  Did your kids play a role in helping you to come up with certain products?
DRs:  We both knew how frustrating it is to chase our kids around trying to apply sunscreen!  When our kids were growing up, they thought sunscreens were part of their daily routines–similar to brushing their teeth.  Once they figured out that not all their friends were subjected to the same rub down routine–they, of course, began to protest!    During those protests, the concept of self-applied sunscreens from towelettes was formed!  Moms win, and kids win too!  It makes applying sunscreen fun.

RT:  Chasing kids around to apply sunscreen is like watching a comedy of errors, right?
JJ:  My son was in the marching band, and all the kids after summer camp looked like raccoons since they weren’t apply sunscreen!  My son thought the self-applied wipes were super cool, so he handed them out.  Marching band saved!
DT:  Not anymore, thank goodness!  My son is a soccer player, and I always get a kick out of seeing his entire team line up to wait for a sunscreen towelette from me at the start of practice or game.

Be Like the Doctors!  Blue Shield of California’s Wellness Challenge:
Sunscreen and skin care is a lifelong lesson to staying healthy throughout our years.  But that’s not all the good doctors have to say.  As pediatricians, JJ and Diane give this advice:  Teach by example.  That means turning off the electronic devices when you’re together (bye bye for now, iPhone!) and spending time outside exploring the world around you.

Blue Shield of California is an independent member of the Blue Shield Association.

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