When should you have babies? The widening gap between culture and biology. NPR
Some schools are implementing single-sex classes to help boys catch up. Boston Globe
Is your child addicted to video games? U.S. News & World Report
An Arkansas woman, Michelle Duggar, is pregnant with her 18th child! (She wrote an article for us back when she had only 14…) Yahoo! News
Facebook is making changes to protect its younger users. New York Times
Original photo via
This Week's Big-Screen Goody:
La, la, la...Go Speed Racer! Go Speed Racer! Go Speed Racer, go! I wasn't a huge fan of the show growing up, but I still remember the theme song to this day because it was one of the few cartoons my older bully brother would let me watch. Truth be told, he was more into it than I ever was. Boys and their cars–I still don't get it. Now he has an 11-year-old son he can use as his excuse to see the new live-action version of Speed Racer (rated PG) out today. Personally, I still feel the theme song was the best part of the show. Come to think of it–lots of cartoons from the '80s and early '90s had really rocking openers. Special shout-out goes to ThunderCats. What was your favorite?
This Week's DVD Goody:
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Mysteries of Hard to Find City
Avatar the Last Airbender: Book 3 Fire, Vol. 3
The Secret of the Sword
Speed Racer the Next Generation: The Beginning
Thomas & Friends: Mud Glorious Mud
Veggie Tales: Lessons from the Sock Drawer
TMI! Documentary of the Week
The Business of Being Born
The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:
I'm Not There
This Week's Big-Screen Goody:
Summer blockbuster season officially kicks off today, and you know what that means: Lots and lots of grown men running around in costumes and using their superpowers to save the planet and stuff. First up is Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man (rated PG-13). Are you going to take your husband kids to see it?
This Week's DVD Goody:
One of last year's most controversial movies is now out on DVD. The Golden Compass (also rated PG-13) is based on a children's fantasy book, and it's considered to be anti-Christian by some, while other believe it's all about free will and thinking. We want to know your take on this whole brouhaha:
Kourtney's Cult Classic Pick:
The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Your kids may breathe easier if you live on a tree-lined street, according to new research. BBC News
More U.S. mothers are at least trying to breastfeed, says a CDC survey. New York Times
Why your child may be dyslexic in English, but not in Chinese. Wall Street Journal
Immunization rates for American children are lower than experts thought. ABC News
You probably really are tougher on your firstborn, a new study finds. Newsweek
Original photo via
An article in the Los Angeles Times last week exposed a scary situation involving a fraudulent nanny agency. Gelila Puck, wife of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, found a nanny for their kids through an agency an acquaintance had recommended. She hired the woman, who traveled with the family, and then when double-checking one of her recent reference, Puck realized that it was fake. The woman pretending to be the nanny's former employer of five years was a friend of the head of the agency and had never even met her. This story shows the importance of always checking all references when hiring a nanny or a sitter–even if you find her through an agency you think is reputable. Have you ever been burned by someone taking care of your kids?
Parents food stylist Karen Tack just released a "faaabulous" how-to book called Hello, Cupcake! Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make. GoodyBloggers GoodyVloggers Taryn, Amanda K., and I crashed the recent launch party with a camera to check out the book, chat with her about the art of dessert, and learn how to make some of the cutest cupcakes ever–well, everyone's except mine...thanks again, guys.
This Week's Big-Screen Goody:
Fellow GoodyBlogger Josh and I took a field trip to see the new comedy, Baby Mama (rated PG-13). We consider ourselves the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler duo of the office. The only problem is we always argue over who gets to be Tina Fey (we <3 her brilliance). Now we're fighting to see which one of us has to be the baby mama–my money's on Josh. Needless to say, we were SO excited about this movie.
A little background for you in case you haven't seen the trailer. Tiny Fey plays a woman with a "T" shaped uterus, which apparently means she can't carry a baby to term. So, she hires a surrogate (Amy Poehler) to do it for her, and that's where the hilarity ensues. The first half of the film didn't disappoint. Josh and I were in stitches, especially during the childproofing and prenatal vitamins scenes (why do they make those pills so large, anyways?). Unfortunately, the second half of the movie was a bit of a letdown. I won't give anything away, but it takes some weird twists and turns that didn't work for us. In the end, we still love watching these ladies together in anything, so we gave the film a "B" as the final grade (A+ for the first part, C for the second). If you're big fans like us, you may still want to hire a babysitter and check it out in the theaters. If
not, just wait for the DVD.
BTW, the film has a fun site called Baby Mama Maker, where you can take a photo of yourself and a friend and create a composite of what your child will look like. Here is a picture of our.... Girl? Boy? Baby? Click here, and scroll down for real photos of Josh and I. Please tell me you don't see any resemblance. Please? Maybe we should hold off on this baby-mama plan.
This Week's DVD Goodies:
Todd World, Vol. 3
Wonder Pets: Save the Beetles!
The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:
Cloverfield
Some parents who've had it with all the baby gear decided to make a profit. Los Angeles Times
A new study finds that (in most ways) things are better for American children than they were a decade ago. Washington Post
Peanut allergies and bullying can be a dangerous combination. ABC News
Should an NYC 4th grader be allowed to take the subway alone? A debate over parenting styles. Newsweek
Biking sends kids to the hospital more than any other sport, according to a new study. Chicago Tribune
Original photo via
It's Take Your Child to Work Day. We've noticed there aren't very many kiddos running around our offices (although there are kiddos running around our offices on all kinds of random days!) so we wondered: If you work, did you take your kids? If your company participates, are you guys doing anything fun?
Photo via.
In honor of Earth Day, we're going to help you turn your boob tube into a green screen. Whether it's wildlife documentaries or a "Very Special" episode of your child's favorite show, DVDs can be a great way to educate and entertain your family about Mother Earth. Check out these top eco-friendly flicks....
Perfect for Preschoolers:
It's a Big, Big, World: The Earth Needs You
Cool for Kids:
The Jeff Corwin Experience: Season 1
All About Animals:
National Geographic: The Wildlife Collection
Great for Grown-Ups:
The 11th Hour
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Earth:
The BBC Natural History Collection
Now that you know our Earth Day picks, it's time to share yours. We've rounded up four of the best animal-themed features on DVD. Vote on which one you think is the top doc:
