The way play used to be: Mom lurked, but only to take a picture.

Here’s something to mull over: kids, in general, are engaged in so little self-directed, theme-less, purely from their own minds play these days that, in order to maybe try this kind of free play out, they need to be shown how to do it.

Kids need to relearn how to play, according to some child development experts.

A lot of us parents probably suspect this at some level.We know that we had a lot more freedom to roam during our childhoods compared to our kids’ childhoods. But we only sort of wish our own kids could experience that. We’re reluctant send them out the front door and tell them to come home by dinnertime because were worried for their safety, we fear we’d get arrested, and, anyway, the Kindergarten homework packet still needs to get done.

A convergence of trends in education, society restrictions and electronic games (designed by grown-ups) has left kids totally inept at … being kids. Continue reading »

Tweet

30

Pin It

How much? Actually, not that much. But you’d hardly know this if you pay any attention to all the studies that have come out proving that we parents are just miserable. Miserable!

Writing “All Joy and No Fun” for the July 12 New York magazine, Jennifer Senior tries to get at the heart of what’s going on. Why do studies showing parents are less happy than their childless peers seem so wrong? I mean, parenting’s hard, but not that hard. The precious little ones get on our last nerves daily and yet, whatever. Most of us couldn’t imagine — and certainly don’t long for (much) — life without them.

Why? How? Continue reading »

Tweet

0

Pin It

I know, I know! We’ve done a terrible disservice to our mega-wealthy readership by never, ever offering parenting tips on how to raise the impossibly entitled.

While this advice may come too late for the Hiltons, it’s not too late for your cashmere-wrapped bundle. So pop in a diamond encrusted binky and hand her over to one of the nannies. What you read could change the course of your born-on-third-base future success story! Continue reading »

Tweet

4

Pin It

You know, we middle class smarty pants Americans didn’t always feed the kids organic micro-greens, line-caught fishes, and gruyere and Danish butter-laced macaronis for lunch. There was a time when mothers — or better yet, latch-key kids themselves! — cranked open cans of pre-made meals and sat down (in front of the TV) to eat.

Campbell’s SpaghettiO’s were once a classic lunch. You probably ate them too, perhaps even well into college. So you’ll be at the very least wistful of news that the creator of these bloated, tomato sauce soaked pasta rings has died. Continue reading »

Tweet

4

Pin It

Oh, come on. Are we new modern parents even half as ridiculous as we’re still made out to be?

A pack of old coots up in Canada seems to think so. They’re shaking their fists in the air and complaining about a perceived, collective, prolonged adolescence in a series called “Grow Up” running in Canada’s National Post (I know, I know, why am I reading the National Post?!).

Many parents … aren’t growing up at all, they write in the introduction. From middle-aged women dressing like high-school fashion victims to daddy’s X-Box addiction, modern adults are reverting to childish habits en masse.

If only we’d embrace the elasticized waistband! If only the old man would take up golf! (Wait, now what are we doing wrong again?) Continue reading »

Tweet

0

Pin It