Do your kids like to use computers? Do they linger in the computer areas of science museums, playing with the demos? Do they eye the Lego Mindstorms robot sets until you see the nearly $300 price tag and quickly usher them away? Here’s good news: Scratch, a programming language designed just for kids, is absolutely […]
Long-time readers know we’re nutty about Legos here at the house of Mombian. I was intrigued, therefore, by an article in The Morning News (via Make) in which author Giles Turnbull discusses Lego terminology. Different families, it seems, have different names for each of the little pieces, usually driven by what the children call them.
My spouse Helen recently stumbled across the fascinating world of moneygami, origami using paper money. Some of the more clever designs even highlight the portrait of the person on the bill. It seems to be one of those niche hobbies that the Internet facilitates, although I am sure it far predates the Web. Helen has
Helen and I explore the importance of imagination, with a look at how modern media and toys stifle kids’ creativity and what parents can do to change this. Are Lego bricks a force for good, or have they gone downhill since the time of our childhood? Helen also demonstrates a whirling homemade toy that could
Here’s a fun one for the kids (and grown-ups, too), in honor of the 40th anniversary of the moon landing: Google has launched an upgrade to its Google Earth software with information and activities about the lunar landings. According to Google, you can now: Take tours of landing sites, narrated by Apollo astronauts View 3D
My family and I spent a few days in Washington, D.C. over the July 4 holiday, seeing the sights and taking full advantage of the city’s plethora of museums. More on our trip later. . . . In the process of planning for it, however, I discovered some fun online games for kids at several
Helen and I share a favorite toy from our son’s recent birthday collection, and give a demo of its projectile-launching fun. We then offer some suggestions for kids’ birthday parties and ask viewers to weigh in on gendered gift items. Mombian: She Got Me Pregnant, 07-02-2009 Uploaded by drudolph. – More gay and lesbian lifestyle
Helen and I share an inspiring story of high school students who stood up to hate. We then discuss the joys of smaller children’s museums, with some money-saving tips and hints for engaging the kids at museums of all types. We then end our Monday-night filming to go watch Weeds and Nurse Jackie, and promise
Helen and I take to the great outdoors this week to bring you a home improvement edition. Lumber, power tools, rebar, and dirt—what could be better to create both a sandbox and a garden plot? We also discuss how the Prop 8 decision impacts children and invite viewers to participate in the upcoming Blogging for
The White House Egg Roll is coming up on Monday. I wrote last week about the Obama administration’s groundbreaking outreach to LGBT families while also questioning their continued reluctance to grant us full equality. For another perspective (not so different, when you come right down to it), here’s a piece at HuffPo by Alisa Surkis,
