playdate

Hitting Kids Is Not Funny

by SciFi Dad

A commercial released by the Toronto Blue Jays for preseason advertising purposes was rejected by the Television Bureau of Canada (TBC).  According to this article, the commercial (which can be viewed in its original, unedited form online) was deemed to be inappropriate for Canadian private television.  In the ad, Frank Thomas (an offseason free agent signing) takes a pillow from a boy and makes a baseball style swing with the pillow and knocks the boy off a bed.  The TBC would not comment as to their issue, but according to the company that made the ad, the issue was family violence.

Edward Makes the Cut

by nomotherearth

I think there’s a common misconception among parents that young children aren’t mature enough to attend theatrical events unless they involve characters from popular kids programming. Attending theatre is a learned skill for any child, much like going for dinner at a restaurant, or following instructions at a Gymboree class. It takes time for kids to understand the rules, and a parent has got to be willing to abandon ship if it’s not going well. And try again. Just because you had a bad restaurant experience with your kid, doesn’t mean that you’re never going to eat at a restaurant with your children for the rest of your life (although you may feel that way at the time). Trouble is, most parents don’t see theatre as something worth following through on. I beg to differ.

Mama Drama

by nomotherearth

Pablo Picasso once said Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Research has shown that instruction in the arts strengthens learning in children and enriches all aspects of their lives. Yet with today’s expectations of achievement, we are increasingly pushing children towards academia, and allowing no time for play. I have long held that children exposed to the arts early on don’t simply go on to a career in the arts, but also function better in school and life. Parents often don’t support the arts because they see them as a nicety, not a necessity. Toronto has so much to offer artistically-speaking. I think it’s time show kids that learning can be fun, and creative! Join me as I find out how.

For The Young Hep Kitten

by Kittenpie

Most of us like music, and many like jazz. Want to open up that sound to your wee one? Break out the berets - here are a selection of jazz-tinged books for the young, a way to share the sounds and rhythms and stories of its legends.

Paying Others to Parent

by SciFi Dad

Today's story comes from Nashville, Tennessee, and asks the question: should parents outsource responsibilities such as teaching their children how to ride a bike or showing them proper manners?  In Nashville there are services that will perform various parenting tasks such as taking kids to midday doctor appointments, showing them how to grocery shop and budget, or helping them with homework.  The crux of the article is that working parents have the financial resources but not the time to perform all the common parenting duties.

About Daditorial

Daditorial is a commentary blog where current news items and/or editorial columns are discussed, analyzed and critiqued. Even-handed, observational, and more than liberal socio-political views are the foundation of the blog and the blogger who writes it.

Women’s History Month

by Kittenpie

Did you know March was Women’s History Month?  I think it’s interesting to use these opportunities to remind us to talk with our kids, but I will say right up front that I find a lot of the books related to topics like this are more factual than fun, more history than story.