Many parents have invested in an award-winning educational toy only to watch their child ignore it entirely and play with the cardboard box it came in. One man who recognized kids' love of cardboard has created notched cardboard discs, which kids can use to create their own playgrounds. His vision is that the discs will help communities transform abandoned lots and neglected playgrounds into fun, creativity-inspiring destinations. These discs will probably be most popular in dry-weather climates, though, as cardboard and the rain generally don't mix too well.
Elton John breastfeeds his son! OK, not him personally (although it's rather amusing to imagine), but the surrogate who gave birth to his son does. She pumps and FedExes the milk to the baby boy. Talk about taking extreme measures to ensure the answer to the question "Got Milk?" is yes. What an amazing commitment from all parties to give this little baby such a healthy start to life. The La Leche League may have just found its newest celebrity spokesperson.
Lunch ladies everywhere might soon be "buying local" for school cafeterias. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a new rule that encourages schools to partner with local farms as a way to get fresh fruits and veggies onto school lunch trays. While most everyone applauds this as a good first step toward getting kids to eat healthier, some caution that while you can lead a horse to water, you can't make him drink. Yes, you can put healthy greens on that tray but if they don't taste good, they're likely to just get tossed.
Kids often complain of itchy, uncomfortable clothing. While it's sometimes just an excuse to ditch the dress-up clothes, an estimated one in 20 kids is affected by sensory sensitivity, which means they are truly bothered by the textures of their garments. A clothing line has now been developed specifically for kids who suffer from Sensory Processing Disorder (which is often a symptom of ADHD, autism and developmental disorders). The designers claim the garments can enhance a child’s social skills, sensory organization and concentration. Helpful products for highly sensitive children or a way to bilk desperate parents? Only time and wee-garment-testers will tell.
Why get a job when you can live at home and collect a $588 monthly allowance? That seems to be the thought process of one 25-year-old man-boy who sued his parents after they cut off his allowance when he refused to look for a job. To the delight of parents everywhere, the judge dismissed the case and told the guy to get a job and move out already. Rule of thumb: If you're old enough to sue your parents, you're too old for an allowance.