Bunchland

What we’re reading today:

1. Jan Berenstein, of Bears fame, has died.  One Slate writer is pleased that there will no more Berenstein Bears books, but good riddance is a bit much, isn’t it?

2. How do you get your kids to listen to socially conscious music? Put some K’Naan on. Also, keep them away from Chris Brown’s music, but we don’t know why the kielburgers aren’t still listening to the Beastie Boys.

3. A new study shows that kids who play active video games (Wii Sports, dancing games) don’t get any more exercise than kids playing inactive games. 

4. At what age should kids be identified as “gifted”?

5. Construction paper isn’t known for being the coolest of craft supplies, but this stop-motion music video for a new Josh Ritter song proves otherwise. Also, if you’re not listening to Josh Ritter, this is a good opportunity to start. He’s awesome.
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Meri Perra blogs about the challenges she and her partner face in trying to raise their girls with feminist values

I remember as a kid watching Fantasy Island on a channel we didn’t get. You know, one of those channels from back in the day where you could sort of see the show, and also sort of see some of what’s
happening on the next channel, but with enough determination, you could basically see what’s happening in your own show.

Fantasy Island. Geesh. You think I could have just gone outside.

Now, we have Netflix, or in our house, our two-year old calls it Nexfix. And the only viewing restriction our girls have is moms-imposed. So there are choices, choices and more choices.  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

1. British working parents heap presents on their kids to alleviate their guilt at working long hours/going on business trips. The result: British kids way more materialistic than other European kids.

2. The Berenstein Bears have a show in Lakota. It’s the first animated show ever to be translated into a Native American language.

3. Gay kids can show gay tendencies as early as 3-years-old. Playing with dolls and breaking away from traditional gender behaviour might indicate that a boy grows up to be gay, but the same is not true of tom boys.

4. If you feed your kids raw milk, they are less likely to develop asthma and allergies. Pasteurized milk sucks to your assmar.

5. Madison, the internet’s favourite makeup artist, is all set for Halloween.

Photo by dccraftaholic128 via Flickr