Archives › Kids’ Activities
Moneygami Marvels
My spouse Helen recently stumbled across the fascinating world of moneygami, origami using paper money. Some of the more clever designs even highlight the portrait of the person on the bill. It seems to be one of those niche hobbies that the Internet facilitates, although I am sure it far predates the Web. Helen has [...]
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“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 76
Helen and I explore the importance of imagination, with a look at how modern media and toys stifle kids’ creativity and what parents can do to change this. Are Lego bricks a force for good, or have they gone downhill since the time of our childhood? Helen also demonstrates a whirling homemade toy that could [...]
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Tour the Moon, No Rocket Required
Here’s a fun one for the kids (and grown-ups, too), in honor of the 40th anniversary of the moon landing: Google has launched an upgrade to its Google Earth software with information and activities about the lunar landings. According to Google, you can now: Take tours of landing sites, narrated by Apollo astronauts View 3D [...]
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Online Art for Kids
My family and I spent a few days in Washington, D.C. over the July 4 holiday, seeing the sights and taking full advantage of the city’s plethora of museums. More on our trip later. . . . In the process of planning for it, however, I discovered some fun online games for kids at several [...]
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“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 74
Helen and I share a favorite toy from our son’s recent birthday collection, and give a demo of its projectile-launching fun. We then offer some suggestions for kids’ birthday parties and ask viewers to weigh in on gendered gift items. Mombian: She Got Me Pregnant, 07-02-2009 Uploaded by drudolph. – More gay and lesbian lifestyle [...]
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“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 72
Helen and I share an inspiring story of high school students who stood up to hate. We then discuss the joys of smaller children’s museums, with some money-saving tips and hints for engaging the kids at museums of all types. We then end our Monday-night filming to go watch Weeds and Nurse Jackie, and promise [...]
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“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 70
Helen and I take to the great outdoors this week to bring you a home improvement edition. Lumber, power tools, rebar, and dirt—what could be better to create both a sandbox and a garden plot? We also discuss how the Prop 8 decision impacts children and invite viewers to participate in the upcoming Blogging for [...]
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Chickens and Eggs
The White House Egg Roll is coming up on Monday. I wrote last week about the Obama administration’s groundbreaking outreach to LGBT families while also questioning their continued reluctance to grant us full equality. For another perspective (not so different, when you come right down to it), here’s a piece at HuffPo by Alisa Surkis, [...]
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“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 63
What happens when the Massachusetts House Minority Leader visits our home to talk about his bill that could limit the discussion of LGBT families in schools and require parental permission before students participate in gay-straight alliances? Helen and I tell you in our vlog this week. On a lighter note, we give new meaning to [...]
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Where Do You Socialize with LGBT Families?
Let’s do another poll and explore how we build community and friendship: {democracy:19}
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Book Recommendation: Humpty Who?
One added benefit of my trip to New York has been that I had the pleasure of dining last night at Café Forant, the restaurant owned by Lea Forant and Carolyn Montgomery, the lesbian moms of Campbell Soup ad fame. Julien Sharp, whose writing some of you may know from Pam’s House Blend, was kind [...]
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“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 54
Helen and I take a post-holiday look at some of our favorite presents of the year, including a new obsession for all the board- and card-game geeks out there (adults and kids), as well as some items for the younger tots. We also thank readers for your more serious parenting questions, and promise to address [...]
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Breaking News: Florida Adoption Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman today declared Florida’s 30-year-old ban on adoption by gay men and lesbians unconstitutional, saying, “It is clear that sexual orientation is not a predictor of a person’s ability to parent.” ‘Bout time they realized that. State lawyers have already said they will challenge the decision. At the moment, however, it [...]
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Constituting Marriage in the Constitution State
It’s ironic. Voters in the Constitution State last week rejected the possibility of a Constitutional Convention that could have banned marriage of same-sex couples, even as three other states enshrined discrimination in their constitutions. No, maybe it’s not ironic. Maybe it means Connecticut citizens are more aware of what a constitution is—fundamental rights and governing [...]
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Weekly Political Roundup
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from “ex-lesbian” mom Lisa Miller, who is trying to deny visitation to her former partner, Janet Jenkins. SCOTUS rejected the appeal based on a ruling from the Vermont Supreme Court, where the case was first heard. It must still decide whether to hear a petition in [...]
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Playground Songs from Erin Lee and Marci
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 [...]
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Weekly Political Roundup
Inspirational quotes of the week: Mom was not an extraordinary person, but she was a person who accomplished extraordinary things, and this is an important thing because each of us is needed to continue her work. It would be a shame if you left here today thinking that Mom was somehow bigger and bolder than [...]
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Second Giveaway of Giggles Software for Babies
This is my second giveaway of a set of Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby software by Leveractive. Babies can hit any key on the keyboard to interact with the software and trigger various animations and other fun but age-appropriate actions. See my post about the first giveaway for more on the software and this LGBT-friendly [...]
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Online Art for Kids (and Others)
Here are a couple of great little online apps, ways to satisfy a kid’s desire to be online but without the ads and noises of many kids’ sites: Mr. Picassohead is a simple painting app that lets users create faces in the style of the famous Spaniard. Jacksonpollock.org is even simpler. Just drag your mouse [...]
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The Lipstick Schtick
Ellen Degeneres revealed she is the new face of Cover Girl barely a week after the first smear in the lipstick wars between Sarah Palin and Barack Obama. {democracy:13}
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“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 42
Hele and I start our vlog this week with a discussion of Ellen and Portia’s potential as parents. We then bring you some dyke-sized craft projects involving large boxes and lots of duct tape, with a little inspiration from my mom. Online Videos by Veoh.com (If the Veoh video above doesn’t work, try it at [...]
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Giveaway: Giggles Software for Babies
Today I’m giving away a set of Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby software by Leveractive. Babies can hit any key on the keyboard to interact with the software and trigger various animations and other fun but age-appropriate actions. When Amanda DeVito, VP of Marketing/Sales for Leveractive, first contacted me, I was dubious about the need [...]
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Back-to-School Hacks
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 [...]
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Marriage and Parenthood: A Talk with Nancy Polikoff
(Originally published in Bay Windows (PDF link), July 24, 2008) For many same-sex couples, one of the primary motivations for getting married is to gain legal protections for our children. Nancy Polikoff, professor of law at American University Washington College of Law, cautions us, however, that we should not tie parenthood and marriage too tightly. [...]
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Gay Pilgrims’ Progress
I don’t often post about purely local events, but since this one has ties to national history, here goes: Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts, the site of the first Thanksgiving, will host “Out at Plimoth Plantation” on September 13. The event will “offer a glimpse into the lives of 17th century LGBT pilgrims and Native Americans,” [...]
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