Comments on: Windows into other worlds

By: Gracie

Gracie — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:25:00 +0000

I, too, agree that the Dark Materials books are excellent, but they’d probably be better for when your daughter gets a little older–I think I red them when I was ten or so and they were too dark for me.

The “Harry Potter Recap” goes away after the fourth book, so books 5-7 get started much, much quicker. They do get darker as the series progresses, as I’m sure other people have told you, but given how grown-up and savvy Nefarious sounds, she should be fine. Have fun with them!

By: Jes

Jes — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:09:22 +0000

I’m all for giving kids computers with supervised access to the internet. My son is 3, nearly 4, and has had use of a laptop for a while now. It has helped him learn about things he enjoys as well as with his reading and spelling. Your mention of using video chat to keep in touch is what made me want to leave a post though. I travel for work fairly often and being away from my family is made a little less unpleasant by being able to see and talk with them while I’m gone.

By: Indigo

Indigo — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:59:01 +0000

I am insanely envious of all of the space you have! It looks like such a great place for kids and adults alike, with all of the areas for different interests.

I’d love it if my daughter’s grandparents were receptive to the idea of her using the computer to communicate (she lives with them, a fair distance from me), but they’re paranoid about online safety, and I can’t come up with a convincing argument. It sucks. I think it’s so great that you’re facilitating that connection with your daughter’s mom, along with general introduction to computers. Your parenting style, from what I’ve seen/read in your blog over the years, is to be commended – you’re doing a great job, and I’m sure Ari will have awesome memories of her childhood for the rest of her life. Kudos to you!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:33:15 +0000

Yes the wrestling mats are spendy…but they absorb shock like nobody’s business.

By: Nikk

Nikk — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:50:56 +0000

more like no plot at all Denise. That movie had so much potential to be amazing, and it just killed any hopes of ever seeing the whole series as a film.

The last book wouldve been epic.

and wrestling mats are expensive, but a lot of people sell old ones when they upgrade.

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:45:03 +0000

Thirding His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I, too, enjoyed them more than Harry Potter. They’re actually kind of controversial in that there are many religious overtones throughout it. Google all the drama, it’s pretty interesting. I’m sure you’ll both get a kick out of it. But avoid the Golden Compass movie – it’s full of bad CGI and glaring plotholes.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:14:14 +0000

Actually, that blue mat that you see in the picture is those puzzle mats. They’re nice, but they’re not going to absorb much force.

By: angela

angela — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:20:43 +0000

what about those puzzle-piece looking mats you can get from walmart? the martial arts school i used to go to used those on our dojo’s floor.

By: Nikk

Nikk — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:57:04 +0000

His Dark Materials is a pretty amazing series, i liked them much better than the HP books, but they are a bit darker.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:04:26 +0000

https://www.countrystorecatalog.com/15-in-1-Game-Center/010_39190,default,pd.html That’s the chess (and more!) set I got for Alex this Xmas. He and his brother play, Dad used to and I may yet learn.
Super awesome that Windows is now completely living up to it’s name. I never use it in that capacity but if I traveled away from the fam I sure as shit would.
I’m too lazy to go back and post on it but the kids and I laughed and laughed over the mugshots. Then I spent at least an hour going to the site they came from and laughed summore. :)

By: Allahkat

Allahkat — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:04:22 +0000

After you finish the Harry Potter series, I highly recommend The Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, etc). I’m pretty sure Caitlin has the first book, if not all three because she’s the one that suggested that series to me in the first place. I can always send books two and three if you don’t have them!

By: Gillian

Gillian — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:34:22 +0000

Definitely get a mat!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:09:48 +0000

Oh and I have a suggestion for the mats…I think that a wrestling mat (the big roll out kind) would be a good base…and then whatever you add to it will help absorb shock. I was a gymnast in my youth and trust me as much of the shock as you can absorb will save the knees and other joints :)

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:07:00 +0000

my kids love chess too and I let them change things as well. I’d love to know more about your fantsy pieces so I could teach them…I know they’d enjoy it :)

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:51:23 +0000

You won’t regret it, it’s really great for keeping someone grounded to family that’s not all in one place.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:51:05 +0000

This gives me encouragement for my partner’s child (5yrs), who resides with his mother primarily. We are looking at moving internationally, and he is very concerned that he won’t be able to keep in touch much with his son because the mother is place-bound. Sounds like a laptop and a chat function should be the way to go! I do it with my own family (they are living in the middle east for the time being, while I am in school in Illinois, USA) but hadn’t thought far enough ahead for a child using it. Cool, nice to think about. Thanks!