Nope.

As a musician who convinced his very pregnant wife to stay out late at a pub where his friend's band was playing just so their baby could be exposed to live Irish music in utero, that is a hard statement for me to make. But after spending a blazing hot weekend chasing my daughter around a festival where the music was basically delegated to background noise, I have to say if I had to do it over again, I would have taken her to a park instead. I'm pretty sure she would not have noticed the difference. More

Whether you're traveling somewhere new or enjoying a summer long "staycation" here's an activity that will keep your kids unplugged, engaged, and a bit more aware of their surroundings.
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A really fun and memorable part of childhood — and parenthood! — is the dreaded and anticipated trip away from home solo for the kiddos. Whether your little ones are being whisked away to the beach for a week with grandparents, or spending a few days with a friend's family on vacation, it can be an exciting and scary time for both kids and parents! Here are some tips on what to pack to make the trip more fun. More

When I came across this wooden smart phone teething toy on Etsy, it seemed like just the thing to spark a little controversy. So I thought I'd put it to you, readers: is a beautiful wooden teether shaped as a cell phone a good idea or not? More

Last year we invited you to participate in KABOOM's Playground Challenge, and we think it is such a worthy project that we wanted to remind you that it is an annual event! And this year it is even easier to participate — entering is only an app away! More

Some years ago we asked you what you do when your kids declare, "I'm bored!" It's an affliction that is especially rampant during the summer when days are long and activities are fewer. It's taken a while, but we think we've found a clever cure for the boredom blues: the I'm Bored Jar. More

This is my bookshelf. Correction, this is a bookshelf in my house, tucked away in a guest bedroom so the nerdy and slightly over-analytical way my wife and I approach parenting is not on display for everyday visitors to see. When you combine an overzealous tendency to gather information, a mild thrift store addiction and nine months to obsess about your first child, this is what happens. More

At a playgroup my daughter attends there is a heavy emphasis on open-ended and imaginative play. This is reinforced by the objects scattered around the room, which are fun and colorful and interesting, but somewhat non-specific. For example, there isn't a play kitchen, per se, but the kids have combined unrelated elements such as felt balls and wooden blocks and combined them with stools and boxes to make their own completely fanciful kitchen. This concept intrigues me, and the idea of 'Planned Discoveries' allows me to give it a try at home.
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For some people, summer is defined as a time of no required anything. Leisure is king and to-do lists are off-limits. But when you have kids it pays to have a few things up your sleeve to fight the inevitable chorus of 'I'm bored' and to encourage them to do more than sit inside and play video games. Here is a take on the idea of a bucket list which will keep everyone active and make writing a 'How I Spent My Summer' essay next September a breeze. More

Name: Willie Hoffman
Occupation: Furniture Maker
Kids: Zelda age 5, Wren age 2
Location: New Haven, CT
Where to find me online: Playable Studio

1. A product I would recommend to another dad: Ergo carrier (We still
carry our five year old when she is tired on long hikes).

2. A parenting trick that works for me and not for my wife: Getting the kids to help me clean the house by pretending we arecharacters in the movie Snow White.