Eighty percent of American students in grades 6 through 12 aren’t getting enough sleep during the school year, according to research by the National Sleep Foundation, reports the LA Times. The paper also discusses the increasing number of schools starting classes later, especially for teens. It’s about time, I say. I have never understood why […]
Children’s musicians Erin Lee and Marci bring us the next of their regular posts with thematic recommendations for kid-friendly music, plus activities to make the songs an interactive experience for the whole family. Look for Erin Lee and Marci here on the first Monday of each month, or visit their homepage, www.gottaplay.org. I’ve created links
(Originally published in Bay Windows, August 6, 2009.) It is August now, and for many parents, that means the all-too-swift descent towards back-to-school time. It seems apt, then, to take another look at the ongoing issue of including discussion of LGBT families in classrooms. Many ultra-conservatives warn that our schools are being invaded by nefarious
It’s back-to-school time for many of our children. For those of you, like me, prepping our kids and ourselves for the transition: What are you looking forward to about having your kids in school? What are you dreading (or at least not looking forward to)? If your kids are not yet in school, or you
(Originally published in Bay Windows, September 11, 2008.) It’s back-to-school time, when we LGBT parents face the dual challenges of getting our children in an academic frame of mind and readying all of us to face a new batch of questions about our families. My own son is about to start kindergarten, and I’m trying
Helen and I are excited (and a little anxious) this week because our son is starting kindergarten. We take the opportunity to reflect on some of the things that have surprised us most about parenthood during the past five years, including aspects of our child’s development, our relationship with each other, Helen’s relationship with her
Last year at back-to-school time I published a list of school-related resources from various LGBT organizations. I’ve revised and reposted it below. It focuses on key, accessible resources for parents and educators, and is not meant to be absolutely comprehensive. If you have any further suggestions, though, please leave a comment. [Update: Please see the
Even though my own son won’t need any of these tips for a while, I’ve been impressed by Lifehacker’s long list of back-to-school hacks. Whether it’s Top 10 Back to School Tools for the Organized Student, ways to Raise Your GPA, or Best Places to Find Deals on Textbooks, if you have a child in
There are only a couple of weeks left until school starts in most areas of the U.S. For those of you with school-age children, here’s a quick poll: {democracy:10}
My son is starting preschool in two weeks, and I’m viewing the event with a mixture of excitement and hesitation. As a reformed academic myself, who always saw September, rather than January, as the real start of the year, I can’t help thinking that he’s embarking on the first steps of an adventure that will
