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Just when you least expect it, London gets invaded by Monster Vikings…
This game has been around since ’05 but with over 1.5 million plays it still has plenty of sticking power More »
Tags: 13-18 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, family fun, games
I will be the first to admit, it can be quite a challenge taking care of three boys when my wife isn’t around, or heaven forbid, I need to take them with you to get my errands done, but with the right attitude you can turn a quick trip to the grocery store into a scavenger hunt or turn your living room into a theater.
Allow these fun times as a chance to listen to your kid, play on their terms, while maintaining fair play and encourage healthy social interactions. Young kids, toddlers and preschoolers alike spend most of their day playing by ‘our rules’, let this be a chance for them to dictate things a bit; it is good for their confidence and promotes self assurance.
1. Masterpiece Theater – turn the living room into a More »
Tags: 2-4 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, dad hack, DIY, simple kids projects
Flying a kite with the kids is yet another golden activity that holds great potential for learning, bonding and just having a little fun. Ever wonder exactly why and how a kite flies? Chances are at some point your kids may ask you, right? With a little digging around I have found some great sites for explaining why and how kites fly, believe it or not NASA’s Glenn Research Center has a fantastic (and thorough) explanation of exactly how and why a kite flies.
While the forces on all kites are the same, each kite flies a little differently. Some kites are highly maneuverable and some kites are very stable. There are kites with multiple control lines that can perform stunts, while other kites can be flown to high altitudes. We can use math techniques that you learn in school to determine the altitude of a kite graphically. With a little more knowledge of mathematics, you can actually calculate the altitude at which the kite is flying” ~ Kite Flight, NASA’s Glenn Research Center
I got my kids into kites last spring with a simple $5 classic delta design and 200′ of line. I think it was a Diego design, surprise-surprise. They were thrilled at the action we got from the nearby ocean breeze. But kids being kids, More »
Tags: 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12, educational, family fun, simple kids projects
I love this company’s selection of plush toys. Shanalogic is a small artful boutique out of Ann Arbor, Michigan that offer limited edition runs of custom plush toys for kids and grown-ups alike. Most are standard fleece and polyester fiberfill plushes (a few like Squidlet are crocheted or yarn knit), but the designs set them apart from the rest of the toys on the shelves.
Marshmallow Bunny – Special Love Edition $28 bucks
Squidlets $18 bucks
Loveye – Limited Edition $40 bucks [+shipping]
Times are changing but I have found it is still hard to find non-toxic toys that are free of phthalates, BPA and PVC which are the standard for most soft plastic or rubber toys on the market. Of course there are standard wood toys and a few classics, but few true gems.
One of the rising stars is the Boon line which is surprisingly accessible, meaning, I have found their stuff at Target, as well as Amazon. Specifically, the Boon Scrubble toy is a playful lil’ set that will encourage the kids to scrub and squirt there way through their bath-time routine.
I will introduce you to additional non-toxic bath toys as I stumble upon them. Feel free to drop me a line or comment if you know of some great affordable products out there. In the meantime, you may want to consider dropping $8 bucks and replacing that classically toxic rubber duck in you bathroom.
Boon Scrubble $10 bucks [+shipping] at Amazon.Com
All Natural Rubber Ducks at Amazon.Com
Additional Articles:
The ebb and flow of toxic toys
5 cool & affordable eco-friendly kids gifts
All-natural teether for the tots
New moms and dads are quick to learn about the shortage of space in quality preschools and daycares throughout Los Angeles. We quickly give in to the lengthy waiting lists, the secret handshakes, the endless tours and the skyrocketing application fees. Before you send in that application fee wouldn’t you like to get honest feedback from parents who have children that either attend the school or have attended there?
You may be in luck, there is a website, The Savvy Source, that allows parents to anonymously rate and comment on preschools and daycares throughout the country. The Savvy Source is similar to the Great Schools website, which also has a wealth of information and resources for parents of preschool children as well as school-aged children but does not have preschool or daycare parent reviews.
Like any User driven review site, the Savvy Source is only as good as the User makes it. Meaning, if there isn’t a review for your neighborhood school your kid goes to, take a minute and do one. If the school isn’t even listed, leave a note for the school’s Director to fill one out.
Reviews include categories like “Quality of Teaching,” “Home, School Connection,” and “Discipline, Health, and Safety” to name a few. Each section is described by the School’s Director and is parent rated (simple 5 star rating system) and includes confidential parent comments, criticism and insight. The sum of these reviews will allow incoming parents to have a snapshot of what the school is like.
Sited Links:
The Savvy Source | Preschools & Daycares in California
Great Schools
