activities

The Online Community Report recently interviewed Joi Podgorny - an expert in the subject of online communities. Joi's area of expertise is Tweens and Children - and she's worked the past decade building and managing safe, online communities for kids.

Unless you have a small child you may not know that thousands of children are already online. And many sites offer entertainment, education and "kid-friendly chat" to kids four and up.

Are you looking for a reliable source of information about your family's health?

The American Academy of Family Physicians publishes a helpful website called familydoctor.org.

If you want a break from reading the same Dr. Seuss book, we recommend sitting with your toddler in front of the computer. Mouse around some kid-friendly websites and get connected to an alternative to t.v. and books on the next rainy day.

NOGGIN.com offers interactive games that aim to stimulate, challenge and engage its visitors. You can also find music videos, and printable cartoons featuring Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, and Jack's Big Music Show.

"The Essential Guide to Lesbian Conception, Pregnancy and Birth" is a book written with lesbians in mind. Lesbians have special needs when it comes to pregancy and birth, and this book is targeted toward our lives.

"Daddy’s Roommate"

In this picture book for ages 2-5, Frank and Daddy are seen pursuing their daily routine; and on weekends the entire family goes on various outings.

It's a useful and straightforward view of an alternative family, and the format - single lines of copy beneath full-page illustrations - are great for kids and adults.

Daddy's Roommate was one of the first children's books to portray gay life in a positive way; the gay couple do the same things heterosexual couples do: Take care of the house, argue, and spend time with their kid.

"Heather Has Two Mommies"

A book that never fails to answer questions for children ages 2 to 6. This is a simple story about a little girl named Heather and her two lesbian mothers. She's a preschooler who discovers that some of her friends have very different sorts of families.

This book started a huge controversy when published in 1989. The religious right attacked the book, but libraries and bookstores supported Heather and her moms.

Heather Has Two Mommies, 10th anniversary edition written by Newman Leslea. Alyson, 2000

"It’s So Amazing! A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families"

This book targets middle-schoolers ages 7 and up. Specific topics include puberty, intercourse, birth control, chromosomes, fetal development and genes. Adoption and adjusting to newborn siblings are discussed.

Artwork ranges from fun cartoon panels of talking sperm and eggs in the fallopian tube, to straightforward drawings of reproductive organs and a developing fetus.