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While we also believe that children thrive on love, positive parenting, and supportive environments, we can’t help but be more and more persuaded of how much is “hard-wired” in each individual…. While the mommy/infant bond is primary during the first two years of life, dads must bond with babies during the first five years to develop the trust, reliance and respect for their fathers that will become even more important to their development as they reach pre-adolescence.
Category Archives: Owned by GreatDad staff
Nature the Nurture – Interview with Michael Gurian on difference between moms and dads
February 25, 2008 – 8:40 am
Another toy to buy “for the kids” – battling infrared helicopters
February 22, 2008 – 12:02 pm
The real live video game quality of flying infrared controlled helicopters can’t be beat, and this added dimension made this toy a Time Magazine toy of the year for 2007. In my experience, these helicopters take a lot of work to get flying properly; work that probably involves losing a tail rotor or top rotor (or several), so buy extra or you’ll six minutes of fun, interrupted by ten days of waiting for spare parts.
Simple toy teaches counting – the Imagiplay Number Snail
January 24, 2008 – 11:53 am
I don’t know how many times I’ve put this thing together, but I always sit with him a minute and try to think of another angle on the activity…. While he has learned how to count to ten (a not small achievement), I’ve relearned an important lesson on the value of sitting down with your kids and engaging with them even on something as seemingly infantile as this silly puzzle.
Review of Marble Runs
January 22, 2008 – 4:38 pm
The plastic marble run – Marble Run” (Quercetti Toys) This is a fun set, but requires some skill to balance towers so that as you grow them, they still stand up…. The prices here are far more affordable at $55.00 for this big set, but the toy is a lot more free form (think erector set) and requires more imagination (or dad involvement) to get excitement out of it.
Reading Harry Potter
January 21, 2008 – 11:03 am
At every occasion, she begs for me to read Harry Potter to her, and many of our conversations are reviews of the plot and mystery.
…We’re proceeding cautiously at this point, which will increasingly become a challenge, as my daughter asks every afternoon when she gets home from school, “Can we read just a little bit?.”
Leave it to Beaver for Dads
January 3, 2008 – 10:11 am
Almost every show nears its conclusion with Barbara Billingsly in the role of June Cleaver, saying to her husband (Hugh Beaumont), “Ward, don’t you think you’re being a little too hard on the Beaver.”
…We yell at our kids tryng to make an impression on them them and all we accomplish is to get them to so confused they don’t understand a word we say.”
We love the Banana Bunker
December 18, 2007 – 8:46 am
For a dad who packs a lunch every day wondering whether the good stuff will get eaten, finding variety is a big issue…. I could never pack bananas because by the time the lunch box was tossed around the playground a few times, the banana was too mushy to be eaten.
Another new idea from the inventors of I Spy – 3D
November 28, 2007 – 2:55 pm
I can waste a lot of time with my daughter looking for hidden toys and random objects in the I Spy series of books. Though a lot of other books have tried, and perhaps “Where is Waldo” is the best other example, I Spy continues to intrigue with it’s different scenarios.
Cute little light perfect for nighttime changings, or even reading in bed
September 10, 2007 – 10:16 am
The Goo-Goo Baby Totspot Night Light is a clip-on LED light that shines a gentle beam for night time baby duty…. We wish the Totspot were a little more solid, but it is lightweight and makes a good shower gadget item at $12.95.
Perfect to stick in the bottom of the diaper bag until you need it.
September 10, 2007 – 9:08 am
Perfect to put in a sealed bag at the bottom of a diaper bag, in the glove compartment, or in your stroller. Eventually, you’ll find yourself in a situation where you forgot the bottle or dropped it in puddle and urgently need a backup.