Strollerderby : SpongeBob

Finish Line - April Fools And More

Brett Singer — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:30:00 GMT

April Fool's ain't just for your kids, and that's no foolin'. You need foooolin', baby I'm not foooooolin'... or something like that.

A few faves from the week that will soon be history:

Shannon fooled a whole bunch of y'all with Sesame Street Changes with the Times Again. I wasn't snookered because, as anyone who's seen Avenue Q knows, only Bert goes that way. Ernie is as straight as an arrow. (If you haven't seen the show, my apologies since you don't get that. But see the show cuz it's very funny.)
Cole's post Musical SpongeBob Rectal Thermometer. Fun for Your Kid’s Butt? was not an April Fool's joke, unfortunately. Two comments that need their brilliance highlighted: Mike's "Sponge bob is actually a licensed physician in three states, so this makes a lot of sense. And his bedside manner is gracious." And CK Lunchbox, who said, "Beats the std home-test kit they had planned so teens could check for Krusty Krabs." Heh heh. Krabs.
Jeanne goes all cue ball for a good cause, tells us about it, and even shares a photo of her shiny pate with her post When a Mother Goes Bald. The shave is to raise money for St. Baldrick's, and I will admit to the world that it took me a few days to get the connection (BALDrick's). As a naturally almost-bald man, I approve. Read more about the worthy charity, and donate, at www.stbaldricks.org.
Jen found something else for parents to worry about with Why Can't Johnny Read? Because Someone Thinks His Books Contain Lead.
Keri got some folk's blood boiling when she wondered if we should be concerned with whether Ashley Biden does or does not liiiike.. cocaine with Joe Biden's Daughter Allegedly Caught on Tape Snorting Cocaine; Do We Care?
My personal favorite post of the past few days (from my own work, that is) was Spiderman Rescues Autistic Boy. And not only because it allowed me to mention Spiderman. Well, that's part of it. But it's not the only reason. (It's not!)
And finally, Hannah asks a question that has troubled scholars for many moons: Little Girl Dancing to "Single Ladies": Disturbing or Adorable?

That's all for now. See you next week. And remember -- let's be careful out there.

Crafty: President Obama, Cube Style

JeanneSager — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:34:00 GMT

Tuesday was supposed to be the best part of the week, but I can't help thinking Wednesday was even better.

Every time someone came on the radio and said "President Barack Obama," did such and such, my daughter said, "Mommy, Barack Obama's the president, I saw it on TV!"

The way I see it, we made the little kids sit through watching the inauguration with us, so now they can celebrate the new president nursery school style - it's time for crafts! Leave the macaroni in the closet, because we've got a modern craft for a modern president.

The folks at Cubeecraft have done up 44 so you can download him, print him, and let the kids get to work cutting along the lines (good practice for kindergarten!). The folding part is rated two scissors, which means "there is a shape that needs to be cut with an exacto besides a straight line (such as a beard or other detail.)", so you'll need to lend a hand.

But with no glue required, it's a no muss, no fuss craft - and lets them get in on the excitement!

To download President Barack Obama, visit Cubeecraft here. Stock your printer - with Grover, Grimace, Spongebob and Jigglypuff, there are plenty of kids Cubeecrafts to stock up on for future snowy days when you're stuck indoors.

Image: Cubeecraft

Kid to Obamas: Take My Puppy

Kid Sells Mom's Diamond Ring to Buy Comic Books

Babies Understand Presidential Material

Nick to Cover Inauguration for the First Time

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Both Inauguration Day and Nickelodeon just got so much cooler. For the first time in its history, Nick will send its young reporters to Washington, D.C. in January to cover the presidential inauguration for the younger set.

Nick will feature excerpts from Obama’s speech, interviews with young people about his election, and coverage of past presidents getting sworn in. The election coverage will air during commercial breaks and between regular shows in primetime (all right, it’s SpongeBob with a side of politics, but what six-year-old would willingly sit through Obama’s whole inaugural speech?).

Kids seem to be as excited as parents about Nickelodeon’s increased political involvement this election season. 2.2 million kids voted in Nick’s online election (with Obama beating out McCain by a slightly smaller margin than in the actual election). And Nick sent reporters to both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. (The Dems granted Nick’s teen reporters access to the convention floor, while the Republicans did not.) The fact that Sasha and Malia are the same age as many of Nick’s viewers has probably helped get kids as excited about the new First Family as about Dora the Explorer.

So on January 20, the answer to the question, “Can I puh-lease watch kid TV?” is, “Of course! Just let me open this bottle of champagne first....”

Photo: nickjr.com

Schools Closing for Inauguration Day

Mix Rap With Kid Shows and Whaddya Get?

JeanneSager — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:33:00 GMT

Stephanie in all her pink haired cheeriness just can't take the nasty out of Lil' Jon. So while the assorted awesomeness of hip hop mashed up against our kids' favorites shared by Cole earlier today is disturbingly hilarious, you'd do well to kick the kids out of the room before watching it. Oh, and that goes for this post too.

Some parents get all ferklempt when folks start messing with their kids' characters. But if your five-year-old is perusing YouTube, you'd be better off spending your time worrying about something else. . . namely, them. The rest of you? Check out Cole's post on Unreality Magazine's list of Twelve of the Best Kids Show/Rap Mash-Ups.They use the word "rap" loosely. Right Said Fred? Really guys? That's actually the lamest on the list anyway - because who wants to watch Hannah/Miley/Smiley/Achy Breakying Daddy's Heart and hear the words "I'm too sexy?" Ew. Just ew.

The Lil' Jon and Lazy Town mash up, however, is pure art. The others are clever, although they're your basic "take video clip, lay new song over" design (with impeccable timing - check Mr. Krabs eye-popping action in the Spongebob/Eminem's "Just Lose It" video). Mixing Stephanie's "Gotta Do the Cooking by the Book" with Lil' Jon dropping the mother of all f bombs? G-f'ing-en-i-ous. Warning: listening to Lil' Jon might destroy your vocabulary. It will also get you thinking about all the funny things you found while wandering around YouTube when you're stuck with only a computer to amuse your pre-schooler (long story, so let's just say hooray for hulu).

In other words? They were missing some of my favorites. So here's another taste of rappers doing it kid's school:

Dora, Dora, Dora the Whore-a!

How does Pablo push it?

Fraggle caught in your throat?

They call him Charlie 3000.

Alllllvin! Everyone's Favorite Chipmunk is Fifty

Moose With Loose Poops: Most Disgusting Book Title Ever?

Can a Mom Pumping Breastmilk Really be Sexy?

Kid Arrested for Farting

Reporter Seeks Bad Theme-Birthday Stories

editors — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:07:00 GMT

Surely you've been to a party (or thrown one of your own) that seemed like a good idea in theory and wound up being kind of god-awful. Frightening clowns, anyone? A reporter lady is looking for your story. This is what she says:

I am a newspaper reporter and am working on a story related to parents' arranging for costumed characters and impersonators (think Dora, SpongeBob, Spiderman, Hannah Montana) to entertain at their kids' birthday parties. Specifically, I'm hoping to chat with parents who (in the last year-to- 18 months) had a hard time finding the desired character and/or were disappointed by what Dora (etc.) looked like when she arrived. Please contact me at katierosman@mac.com. Thanks so much!

image courtesy of PBS