Bunchland

What we’re reading today:

1. The joys and benefits of reading to babies.

2. Parents who are already shelling out $40, 000 for their kids’ private school education are spending an equal amount or more on tutoring. Course-specific tutors can charge more than $400 for each 50 minute session.

3. More parents are getting their kids’ genes tested for diseases and other health risks.

4. The dangers of bouncy castles.

5. And if reading that article made you think bouncy castles are too dangerous to have around, at least your playground doesn’t have this thing:

Photo by dolanh via Flickr

What we’re reading today:

1. One student headed to University of Toronto Schools shared his Secondary School Admissions Test know-how with parents who are looking to get their kids into private schools.

2. Did anyone attend the Ultimate Block Party? Congratulations, by playing your kids were learning. And hey, those of us who didn’t make it out to the block party but still managed some serious playtime this weekend are also getting smarter. Go us.

3. Schoolchildren in Arkansas were polled on who they thought were the worst people of all time. Who joined Hitler, bin Laden and Charles Manson? George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.

4. A German girl neglected to make her Facebook party invite private, and 1, 500 people showed up.

5. Babies sneezing.

Photo by tracy the astonishing via Flickr

What we’re reading today:

One Babble blogger says she doesn’t mind if her house is a little messy. Her kids eat off clean plates and wear clean clothes, but her place probably wouldn’t pass a white glove test. “My mudroom may contain actual mud and my countertops may be sticky, but my kids, my husband and I laugh a lot.” How important are shiny floors to you? Is this blogger justified, or do you agree with the comments that she’s just lazy?

So it’s school admission season in NYC and apparently 18-month-olds have to have interviews? Also, parents whose kids do and don’t get into prestigious private schools sometimes lie and get totally bitchy — Slate

And in child car seat news, keep that kid facing the back of the car until about 2-years-old.  Read more...