Probably not the photo you’d expect to see on The Risky Kids, no?  Eli won this motocross helmet by taking 2nd place in a Strider bike race this winter.  He LOVES it, and would probably sleep in it if I let him.  I don’t see how he can walk around in it, much less ride his bike or rollerblades … it’s so heavy and huge on his head!  So lest you think we roll our kids gravel or toss them from the roof, please note that even the The Risky Kids pad and protect themselves from time to time.

Here are a few things I’ve found around the web in the last month that I thought you’d enjoy.  Take your pads off and stay awhile!

Are American parents doing it backwards?  An interesting perspective from the Huffington Post on how parenting styles differ in other cultures, and how our style may hinder our kids.  (Thanks to Paul K., a reader who tipped me off to this article.)

Now that you’ve read about how we’re doing it all wrong, chew on this: are we raising a nation of wimps?  This article over at Psychology Today thinks the efforts of some parents to shield their kids from bumps and bruises (both the physical and mental kind) may be setting kids up for a propensity to break down.

Are you and your kids more likely to hang out in the back yard or front yard?  Here’s the #1 reason you should be hanging out in the front yard instead.

Love camp, but don’t love how fast the cost adds up?  Have a kid that isn’t drawn to traditional camps?  Take a look at Maker Camp over at Google+.  Our tween-in-residence will definitely be taking part!

For more risky inspiration, follow us on Pinterest.  And if you ever see anything you think we’d like, please share it with us!

It seems that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and that I have a budding shutterbug in the house.  After years of seeing me snap pictures with my phone camera, Elena has turned into a mini-me.  While her photo library is filled with 101 more selfies than I’ve ever taken, it’s also filled with photos like mine – photos of food, her brother, nature, and friends.  We both love snapping those quick photos with our phones, and we both wanted to get better, so a few weeks ago I signed us up for an online iphoneography class through Photojojo.  It’s been so much fun to go through the lessons together. She has a great eye for unique shots!

The weather is still dicey here (just last week we had 4 inches of snow), and we’re still living amongst boxes (we move to our new house in a few days!).  Here are a few things I found while avoiding icky weather and towering boxes that I thought you might enjoy, too.

Soon we’ll have stairs and plenty of extra cardboard.  I think the kids need to make a cardboard slide. (via The Contemplative Creative)

In keeping with the cardboard theme, this DIY cardboard flyer looks super cool. (via Instructables)

Surely spring is just around the corner, but we still have quite a few chilly, wet days ahead of us.  I love this roundup of ideas for inside play. (via Modern Parents Messy Kids)

It’s that time of year when families start signing kids up for spring and summer organized sports.  Mike Lanza’s post on how they fit organized sports into their family life was really interesting, as I struggle with the benefits versus the hassle. (via Playborhood)

How do you raise successful kids?  Hint: it’s not with praise and overparenting.  Hallelujah.

Moving day is nearly upon us.  This weekend we’ll move out of our home of nearly 7 years and into a temporary home for a month before moving into our new home.  We are surrounded by piles, boxes and bubble wrap.  If my kids were ever inspired by Caine’s Arcade, they’ll be in heaven when we start unpacking next month.  They could make an entire amusement park out of all the cardboard.  Also (and I could be getting overly sensitive here due to lack of sleep), I think cardboard boxes are getting a little condescending these days:

I’ll be doing my best to keep posting as scheduled, but if things seem a little quiet here for the next few weeks you know why.  Can’t wait to show you our new digs, though, including the biggest tree I’ve ever had in my very own yard.  In the meantime, here are a few things I’ve come across that I thought you might find interesting.

Please Don’t Help My Kids – A reassuring and inspiring piece for parents everywhere who are trying to raise independent children.  We’re not lazy or uninvolved – we have a purpose!

My kids have been begging for s’mores ever since a friend of ours made them some over her gas stove burners.  We don’t have a gas stove, so how fun would it be to have them earn those s’mores with a little DIY project? Have them build an indoor s’mores grill!

For the generation that will grow up thinking they need a GPS to find their own nose: show them how to find north using a stick.  I’m also loving the other posts in OutsideMom’s series “30 Uses for a Stick.”

Minimalist Parenting has a book coming out in March, and to celebrate they’re offering a free online workshop called MinCamp.  It sounds like a great motivator to simplify your family’s life … plus you earn merit badges.  I’m a sucker for merit badges.  Hope you’ll join me!

A mom with older kids reflects on the futility of raising kids with “no” and “it’s dangerous” as the default response to every situation.  Turns out she had nothing to fear.

As I write this, today is the first day I am home alone with both kids in school.  As much as I hate the mad rush out the door before the sun even rises, this is glorious.  We had a good holiday, despite a family medical emergency (not in our immediate family  - we’re all fine) and a computer meltdown (happy birthday to me – a new hard drive).  The highlight was getting a really good, can’t-leave-the-house snow storm the day after Christmas, especially after a dismal winter last year with no snow to speak of.

The other highlight was seeing the kids enjoy Christmas gifts that were screen-free.  We try hard to buy them things that will foster learning and creativity … sometimes they’re a hit and sometimes they’re duds (I’m looking at you, human anatomy board game that seemed like a good idea).  This year they were big hits, especially the LEGO Master Builder Academy Set and Snap Circuits Jr. .  Even the hard-to-please tween is impressed.

While you’re slowly crawling out of the post-holiday tinsel and cookie crumbs, here are a few things that caught our eyes:

I really want to give these Sticklets a try.  They’d be great in the winter for building indoor forts and just as useful in the summer for building tee-pees and such.

We do the Girl Scout gig, but how cool would it be to call yourself a Hacker Scout?  Forget peddling cookies, how about dumpster diving and soldering?

Leave a few related items out and let the kids figure out what to do with them.  That’s the idea behind these “Planned Discoveries.”

Welcome to the age of overparenting. Do you see yourself anywhere in here?

For more thoughts and ideas, follow our Pinterest boards and Like The Risky Kids on Facebook.

Three out of four of us conquered Everest!

Just last month our family did one of the riskiest things you can do: vacation together.  I’m happy to report we survived 5 nights in a 260 square foot hotel room and came home with great memories and all of our limbs.  We toured all four Walt Disney World parks, Legoland, and Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  We took some of our own advice and split up at times, and it was the difference between everyone having fun and everyone being miserable.

The combination of our vacation, the holidays and our house being on the market has made the last month fly by.  I love to unwind by reading other blogs and cruising Pinterest.  Here are a few things I found that I thought you might enjoy.

Two years ago Santa brought the kids Nerf guns.  We have to constantly replenish ammo (Where do those Nerf bullets run off to? Must be the same place socks and Tupperware lids go to die.), but they’re definitely a toy they never tire of.  This Nerf Gun Shooting Range and all its variations will keep them happy all winter long.

Eli wants a bow and arrow for Christmas.  Bet he’d love this DIY mini bow and arrow in his stocking!

I can see this small toy catapult adding a whole new storyline to LEGO minifigure play.

How cool is this 12-year-old girl?  She decided she wanted a Fiero, then went about a grand plan to buy and restore one to drive when she turned 16.  Talk about resourceful.

It’s a busy time of year, but most of us with kids have a couple of weeks of winter break to look forward to. How about ditching some of the plans we think are “must-do” and giving kids the gift of free time?

Finally, a post from Lenore Skenazy of Free Range Kids that will have you in tears. A mom reflects on a young life filled with risk … and joy.

Happy holidays – we’re so thankful for all of our readers.  If you’d like to keep up with us around the web, be sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest!

The votes are in (well, at least one of them!) and you told me that you’d prefer to see some links thrown in with our Risky Pins round up.  So let’s say goodbye to “Risky Pins” and say hello to “Risky Reads.”  About once a month I’ll share a few pins and links that I think risky folks like you will like.  Here are a few things we’ve found this month.  Hope you like them, too!

Source: Acorn Pies

Learn how to whistle with an acorn cap – what a cool way to impress your kids with a nifty fall trick!  The Risky Kids Pinterest board via Acorn Pies

Speaking of fall, do you own a leaf blower?  How awesome would it be to turn it into a hovercraft? Via Apartment Therapy and the Makeshop Show

Check out these 10 backyard roller coasters. It’s like Phineas and Ferb visited these backyards. Via Built by Kids

Even me, the riskiest of moms, cringes a bit at this.  And yet, I see the value in giving kids this kind of creative freedom. What do you think? Via Mama’s Minutia

As the weather cools and we spend more time inside, read up on the importance of roughhousing with your kids.  Just don’t buy expensive lamps. Via The Art of Manliness