Bunchland

What the cool parents are reading today:

1. Yay dangerous, risky playgrounds! Advocates for a more natural and challenging playground want to address the “increasingly sedentary and risk-averse generation of children disconnected from nature,” and so we need playgrounds with rocks and tree stumps and other things kids might fall and scrape their knees on. No, they don’t want the kids to get hurt, but they do want kids to know that they can get hurt and be aware of their surroundings.

2. Some parents actually camped out overnight for a precious spot at a good daycare the way a superfan might for concert tickets. Today’s Parent wants to know what you’ve sacrificed for daycare. Is it a vacation? A new car? A so-so daycare because the good one is just simply too cost prohibitive?

3. Why would a nine-months-pregnant woman want to do a nude photoshoot? Because she can! And she wanted a little adventure.  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

1. A recent New York Times article argued that picture books aren’t as popular with the kids these days as they used to be. A California elementary school disagreed with the article and sent in a letter to the editor. In the form of a 15-foot scroll.

2. A new celebrity (fake) gossip site is only covering the Hollywood kid scene, TMZforKidz. We wish this Apple Martin headline was true: “Mummy Needs to Chill the F— Out” Via Jezebel

3. Nail polish and gender stuff part 2: GeekDad spawn, age 10, hears about Fox News’ outrage with J. Crew and decides he would like to be photographed with his nails done. Cute.

4. If your toddler isn’t sleeping through the night, you should think about changing his sleep environment. Via L.A. Times

5. Australian kids hang out with a small Tyrannosaur via BoingBoing  Read more...

What we’re reading on the blogs today — science edition!

Curious as to what sort of effect the constant texting and steady stream of facebook updates has on your kids’ brains? Miles O’Brien tells PBS that the tech-savvy millennials might have better brains than we do. Via BoingBoing

Want your kids to get a start on that brain-boosting technology? Check out this interactive Cookie Monster science lesson video. Cookie and his pal Emma prompt the viewer to choose an object and then come up with a hypothesis as to what the object will do in a tank in water. Who knew Cookie could say “hypothesis”? Via BoingBoing

Scientists in South America have uncovered a previously unknown ancestor to the T. rex and other ancient predators. Its name is Eodromaeus (pronounced eyo-DRO-may-us) and it was only four feet long. Lightweight and quick-moving, the name means “Dawn Runner.” Excellent news if you have any budding paleontologists in your brood. Via Huffington Post.  Read more...