The idea of “life hacks” is a growing phenomenon right now, especially in the geek community. A computer hack, in the non-malicious sense, is a small script or shortcut to facilitate common tasks. A “life hack” is any tip or trick to help cut through the clutter of our everyday lives. Several prominent blogs, notably […]
The California Supreme Court issued three rulings yesterday stating that lesbian partners who have children while they are a couple are both entitled, and required, to be treated as the children’s parents, regardless of whether they are formally registered as domestic partners. This puts lesbian parents on an equal footing with unmarried heterosexual parents, and
A new study from Harvard Medical School suggests that the risk of breast cancer increases with every serving of french fries consumed between the ages of three and five. The culprits seem to be the high saturated fats and trans-fatty acids used for frying. The study, while potentially important, is dependent on mothers’ ability to
As some of us prepare our children for going back to school, the Human Rights Campaign has posted a number of tips on school safety and what to do if your child has been harrassed or discriminated against because of your sexual orientation. Also, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) has partnered with COLAGE
We’ve all had them in our homes (usually as gifts from relatives who don’t have kids): toys that make annoying beeps, bleeps, or buzzes. Some are merely bothersome; others could be potentially harmful to your child’s hearing. Lifehacker has a useful post today about how to disable the speakers on many children’s toys, a simple
They laid eggs together. They prepared for parenthood together. But Romeo and Juliet, the famous two swans residing in the Boston Public Garden (remember Make Way for Ducklings?) both turn out to be female, the Boston Globe reported Friday. Unfortunately, since the eggs were unfertilized, they did not hatch. Visitors have suggested artificial insemination so
Enjoy the last weeks of summer–find a state park near you and get outside. Little ones can ride in a backpack child carrier. We have one for our son, and it’s nicely adjustable in case there are two wearers of different sizes. (Helpful hint for moms: wear a hat so you don’t get Cheerio goo
Here are a couple of sites to help you find things to do with your kids before they go back to school (or even after): Find a children’s museum near you through the Association of Children’s Museums. For older children, find a science center through the Association of Science – Technology Centers.
My two-year-old son just received a subscription to Wild Animal Baby, a magazine for one to four year olds published by the National Wildlife Federation. It comes ten times per year, and is packed with age-appropriate stories, games, and activity ideas, all animal related. We very much enjoy it, and recommend it to any animal-loving
Here’s an interesting (if ultimately inconclusive) article from Scientific American on how babies learn object permanence. One recent study indicates it’s a gradual learning, not an “aha.” The results can be interpreted differently, however, depending on how one defines the varying degress of familiarity babies have with objects. Interesting (and relatively short) reading, though, for
