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...

When it comes to the most magical time of the year, we know how to romp

Spring really is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!” Flowers are sprouting, the breeze is warm and trees are ripe for the climbing. We’ve rounded up our most stellar ideas to help you and your kids to take full advantage of the season — we’ve got you covered, from picnic basket pointers to mud puddle musts.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, FROLICKS AND SHENANIGANS

Want to get outside and give back to your community? Here are five cool ways you and your kids can volunteer this spring. Restoring murals, community garden drop ins, and park clean ups — these ideas are way cooler than a bake sale.

Robins and Cardinals are now hopping all over the place. We put our feathered thinking caps on and came up with some ways you can help a bird build its nest from natural materials.  Read more...

Gavin McInnes says the suburbs are great for kids

My brother-in-law was in town recently and he was talking about “the intense fun” he and his big sister (my wife) had playing hide and seek in the suburbs with the other kids. “That’s something you don’t get in the city,” he added and my wife shut him up with some quip like, “That’s why we have a place in the country,” because that’s what big sisters do.

But our place in the country is so secluded, the only hide and seek our kids could play is with each other and there’s only two of them. Besides, you can’t really play that game in the forest. It’s way too hard.  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

1. A non-profit organizaton started a contest to find the scariest playground in the States – the derelict, decrepit, and dangerous – so they could find ‘em and fix ‘em. The winner was found in Arizona.

2. Is your kid not getting outside enough? Don’t blame the iPad.

3. Rejoice – trampoline parks are in again! Indoor bouncy parks geared toward kids, teens and adults alike are springing up all over the States!

4. A report by the National Wildlife Federation says that most kids are sleep deprived – and lack of play outdoors is to blame.

5. And now, check out one kid’s reluctant first attempt to use a playground:

Photo by Henghwee! via Flickr

And how to determine what sort of hunt you should have

Like that other major Christian holiday, some of the symbols we associate with Easter derive from pagan traditions. We get it: Easter celebrates Jesus’ new life having risen from the dead. Easter is all about new life, what with birds laying eggs and bunnies having millions of baby bunnies. So the egg is a sign of fertility and new life. One theory as to the origin of the Easter egg hunt goes that pagan farmers would bury an egg on their property to ensure a fruitful harvest. During the crusades, the Christian soldiers would reward kids who found the hidden eggs, as that allowed them to identify the pagans. Nowadays, egg hunts are considerably less dark and have much more delicious consequences.

The basic set-up of an Easter egg hunt is:  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

1. Sesame Street is coming out with a Pakistani version. The Pakistani school system is reportedly failing and USAID aims to help the kids of Pakistan learn some words and numbers with their pal Elmo. (But not Big Bird or the Count) Via The Guardian

2. What’s your strategy for finding a great kids’ app? GeekDad says we must pay attention to the evolution of kids’ apps because, “trying to find the apps that are of high educational value and high quality design isn’t easy.”

3. Is child’s play a lost art? On the Globe and Mail. P.S. That “web resource” cited at the beginning of the article = Bunchland.

4. How do you make serious parenting decisions, reason or emotion? On the Huffington Post

5. Today in twin babies videos: evil twins, they DO exist. This does not bode well for these kids’ tween years.  Read more...

Your Sunday Morning Plan

EAT:

Sunday’s forecast is warm and sunny in many cities across the country so we figured breakfast should match. And if you’re in a city less than blessed weather-wise this weekend, you might need these bright and sunny pancakes more than we do. These Ricotta pancakes from Apartment Therapy look like they’ll do nicely. Especially with the suggested lemon curd.

You’ll need:  Read more...

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• pinch salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3 eggs, separating the whites from the yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla