As a child, one of my favorite poems was Shel Silverstein's "Tree House." I dreamed of having a tree house I could escape to when I needed a minute alone. Now that I am about to move, I couldn't help but go ga-ga over this Tree Top Inn designed by Barbara Butler. The multi-tree, multi-level house has a 17-foot swinging bridge, an eight-foot straight bridge, a club house with a tin roof, a balcony, several decks, and a winding staircase. The San Francisco-based Butler creates a variety of backyard play structures for kids and adults, often using colorful redwood and including a secret escape hatch in each model.
Next week marks the beginning of the school year for many children in the country, and some will attend school for the very first time. Kids seem to be starting formal education programs earlier than they used to, with some wee ones enrolling before they turn 2. Since 75 percent of 4-year-olds attend a preschool program, we want to know how old your child was when he began hitting the books. Source
Boys love nothing more than to dig in the dirt. When it comes to their unearthing activities, what better way to dress the lil guys than with attire inspired by the real movers and shakers — construction tools and vehicles? While out shopping with my son, I spied these boyish finds at Crazy 8. Check out the dirty apparel for your wee worker.
If Michael Phelps had been pulled from the pool, would he have gone on to be the winningest Olympian? It's ridiculous to think that a child could be punished for being too good an athlete, but that's what is happening to Jericho Scott, a 9-year-old little leaguer in Connecticut who has an arm that can throw a fast one. While the pitcher tops off at 40 mph and has never beamed another child during a game, batters have a hard time hitting his pitches, and some parents were concerned when their sluggers went up to bat. As a result, the league has banned Jericho's team. Do you think this is fair?
Brad Pitt turned paparazzi on his beloved brood for the November issue of W. While the actor, his partner, Angelina Jolie, and their six offspring — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox — often find themselves the subject of snapping shutterbugs, this time daddy Brad was behind the lens and calling the shots.
The Jolie-Pitts had Chateau Miraval in the south of France as a breathtaking backdrop and, most likely, state of the art cameras, makeup artists, and lighting technicians, but many moms and pops are able to capture their family's essence on film. Whether the pictures grace the pages of a major magazine or a handmade scrapbook or album doesn't make a difference. Photos are a way for everyone to preserve memories. Who mans the camera in your home?
It seems that almost anything can be done over the Internet. Mothers Madeline Robb and Megan Santos have never met, but since their children were born on the same day, the two became pen pals sharing advice and photos of their tots over email. Madeline noticed a shadow on lil Rowan's eyes in the pictures suggested Megan to take her daughter to get it checked. Her advice likely saved the girl's life.
Jette Joop
Anne Weyburn
Lipsy