We’ve all heard the story: Childhood obesity is on the rise, kids play too many video games, watch too much television and don’t play outside nearly enough. It’s difficult to make sure kids get enough exercise in a world where it’s just not as easy to just say: “Go outside and play”. The YMCA wants to help us come up with ways to get active with our kids, and that’s part of what Healthy Kids Day is about. Although Healthy Kids Day dates for Canada have not yet been announced (last year it was June 1), Bunch readers in the US can take part in events tomorrow, April 18th, at over 1,750 Ys across the country. Check out this page to search for your local participating Y by zip code and have fun!
Your best chance at being a rockstar is learning the bass (The Kids Are Alright - Entwistle and Baby Ox)
Documentary maker and New York Dolls video producer Walker Lamond wants to get some things straight before he becomes uncool, so, before a family was even in the works, he began keeping a blog of advice for tomorrow’s renaissance man. A culmination of manly advice from his own father, with a sprinkling of tips from other sources, Rules is updated nearly daily and is slated for publication as a book in November. From “When in doubt, wear a tie” to “Never underestimate your own fertility” Lamond has a lot of wisdom to impart.
Advertisers are spending approximately 17 billion dollars annually on marketing to children, and the age they’re targeting is getting younger and younger. Current research is suggesting that this marketing is leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, childhood obesity, eating disorders, increased violence, and family stress. What can parents do to combat this barrage of consumer culture aimed at our kids’ vulnerable psyches? As always, plenty of family time spent reinforcing the values we wish to impart is key. For tips on how to spend that time, how to avoid the avoidable, and how to combat the unavoidable advertising, check out the New American Dream website. There you’ll find information for parents and educators, as well as comprehensive lists of other websites and reading materials to help kids grow up with a realistic view of media and advertising.
In the neverending search for kids music that doesn’t suck, we’ve stumbled across the whimsical Gustafer Yellowgold. Sometime opener for Wilco and Polyphonic Spree, Gustafer Yellowgold performances are multimedia events, combining whimsical animation with compelling story-songs. The creation of illustrator/songwriter Morgan Taylor, Gustafer has been described as “A cross between Yellow Submarine and Dr. Seuss” by the New York Times and is promised to be a hit with kids and parents alike! check out this Gustafer video for “Pterodactyl Tuxedo”
Read an interview with Gustafer Yellowgold creator Morgan Taylor here.
Bunch loves Art Spiegelman‘s series of children’s graphic novels, Little Lit. When Spiegelman put out a call for authors for the third collection in the series: It Was a Dark and Silly Night, Neil Gaiman was an obvious selection and New Yorker cartoonist, Gahan Wilson was chosen to illustrate his contribution. Now, as a lead-in to the Gahan Wilson biography, “Born Dead, Still Weird” , this animated version of the story has been released. It’s really charming, a little spooky and a whole lot of fun!
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network has released this 30 second PSA for Autism Awareness Month. Titled No Myths, the spot aims to dispel some of the misconceptions about autism and send out the optimistic message that with correct supports, there is hope for every autistic person. ASAN hopes that spreading accurate information about autism will combat the problems that high-functioning autistics face in accessing appropriate supports to do their best, and raise respect and dignity for so-called “low functioning” autistics, who often are far more cognizant than they are assumed to be. Most of all, they aim to give autistic people themselves a voice that can be heard when decisions are made about autistic futures. Read more...
It seems that there have been articles bemoaning the current over-scheduled state of children’s lives for nearly 30 years, so we’re reluctant to call what is now being referred to as “hyper-parenting” a new issue. It is one that has come under fire more and more in recent years, however, and we’re beginning to see a movement rising in opposition to it. The movement is being called slow parenting, and advocates are largely championing Canadian raised Carl Honoré as the leader. Read more...
Advertisers are spending approximately 17 billion dollars annually on marketing to children, and the age they’re targeting is getting younger and younger. Current research is suggesting that this marketing is leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, childhood obesity, eating disorders, increased violence, and family stress. What can parents do to combat this barrage of consumer culture aimed at our kids’ vulnerable psyches? As always, plenty of family time spent reinforcing the values we wish to impart is key. For tips on how to spend that time, how to avoid the avoidable, and how to combat the unavoidable advertising, check out the 
