December 23, 2011 – 11:47 AM
It’s December 23rd and still time to answer a Craiglist ad for a new horse, pet pig, or used rabbit cage. Here’s our advice on six pets not to get:
1. Tarantula – Sure, they are cute, furry, and cuddly when you take them home, but wait until your son lays one on your face while you’re taking a post-football Sunday nap. Your heart attack won’t be as embarrassing as what you’ll do in your pants.
2. Snake – Yes, they also look great in the pet store when you’re thinking of how your ex-wife will react. But, trust me, they are a lot less fun when the wily creatures find a way out of the snake cage, free to wander through the walls and heating ducts of your house, ready to jump out at you.
December 18, 2011 – 2:08 PM
One thing we’ve learned about Rosemary, our three month old baby girl, is that she loves to stare at things. Especially fuzzy, hanging things. Put something fuzzy and hanging in front of her eyes and she’ll be captivated for period of time. And the more things you can dangle in front of her, the better. [...]
December 5, 2011 – 8:46 PM
My kids think I’m a bad dad in our house on at least one score. I don’t let the kids play video games during the school week, and so far, we have not let them have a DS or other personal gaming device. We do let them play on the iPad, but when it comes to video games, we mostly limit use to multi-player games on the Wii, which there luckily are easy to find.
Many dads forget that there are still electronic toys that captivate kids’ imaginations but don’t have anything to do with video. Here’s a tribute to some that we like in our house, and still have the flashing lights, sounds, and movement to intrigue a ten year old.
December 10, 2010 – 11:00 AM
One key thing all dads (and moms) should be looking at when choosing a new toy is whether dad is going to have fun with it too. Quite often this aspect is overlooked and the new toy that was meant to give so much joy becomes a source of conflict or frustration between a child who wants to spend more time with dad, and the father who can’t imagine playing “just one more game.” Here are some toys and games I’ve played with over the past year with my son who is now six years old, but would be good for kids 5+, including readers.
Citiblocs. – We’ve reviewed these simple pine blocks before. Because they are thin, you can use them to create all kinds of different structures, doubling or tripling up as needed. Dads can re-find the fun of construction. Sometimes, simple is just better.
December 8, 2010 – 7:01 AM
Right up until morning of December 25, there are still last minute gifts you can give to the mom in your life, whether she is your own mother, parenting partner or just a good pal. Here are a few ideas with the lateness of the hour in mind.
1. iTunes gift card – okay, it’s not the most romantic gift in the world, but iTunes gift cards are appreciated in a way that most other gift cards aren’t. They basically give adults the permission to be irresponsible with their money and blow it on worthless apps and bits and bytes masquerading as music. A $20 card says go and enjoy, and for once don’t worry about it. It’s a simple pleasure and has no weight or ill health effect, that anyone has found anyway.
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