That’s because the proliferation of computer games and electronic devices has provided them with non-stop stimulation and entertainment.

Ironically, one potential counter-balance to this phenomenon has become boring itself.

The children’s playground used to be somewhere that kids could go run, climb and swing.

I think in response to insurance-based safety concerns, modern councils have transformed general playgrounds into plastic creches, more suitable for toddlers than any children aged over six.

That’s certainly the case with our local playground. The West Torrens Council recently removed the former metal frames and replaced the equipment with plastic stuff.

There are no longer “monkey bars” for our kids to climb because the plastic structure doesn’t reach more than four feet off the ground. The “slides” are no more than seven feet long.

Sure, the playground is sheltered and has a new waterproof sponge surface, and the kids can’t cut themselves or fall off anything, but they’re also bored with it and don’t want to go there any more.

Michael is 174cm (5′ 8), James is 126cm (4′ 1) and Maggie is 122cm (4ft).

Our younger kids were introduced late to cycling because we have lived on busy roads for the past few years and at Mount Gambier there was no sealed footpath near our house.

We bought James a small secondhand bike with training wheels for Christmas. He didn’t take to it as quickly as Maggie, who showed aptitude and enthusiasm.

Maggie started riding a friend’s bike without training wheels a few weeks ago.

Today we picked up a small bike for her and she’s pictured above and below with her new set of wheels.

Apparently the technology has been around for several years to monitor school attendance and library books.

Seems like a good idea to me. According to this (pdf) explanation:

“Finger scanning in schools allows for accurate tracking and monitoring of attendance in and out of school gates as well as study periods. The primary focus is fulfilling the schools duty of care and enhancing student safety by increasing the accuracy of attendance data.”

According to Wikipedia:

“The most common misconception about fingerprint systems is that they are thought to store a fingerprint image or other biometric information, which calls into question legal and data protection concerns. However these systems actually work by running key features of the fingerprint through a complicated encryption algorithm. This produces a result which cannot be ‘Reverse Engineered’ to produce any biometric or image information.

“This means the data kept on file can only be used to verify an identity against another scan through the same system; the information would be effectively useless to police and third parties.”

For my son’s school, parents who elected to opt out of the system were told their children would be issued with scan cards.

I would like to see the biometric system introduced at my workplace. I have four different cards there for the three offices I have to work from and the carpark.

Cards can be stolen, but my finger is going nowhere I don’t want it to go.

He had invited some bear friends around and they were having a big party.

The bear said he’s missing Maggie a lot and can’t wait until she and James visit next weekend.

The bear doesn’t always win, like James normally does, but he’s a pretty good player.

When Maggie went back to Mount Gambier today she left her bear behind. She’s returning next weekend and didn’t want to forget him.

The bear misses Maggie very much, but decided to keep busy so he doesn’t get too sad while waiting for Maggie to return.

Today the bear went for a ride on my bike. Then he climbed up on the kitchen bench while I cooked lunch.

He doesn’t think I’m a very good cook, so kept his bike helmet on in case I accidentally dropped a pot on his head.

Maggie initially thought she had swallowed the tooth while eating an orange, but the tiny little thing was discovered, much to her relief because she now hopes to cash it in for $2.

I blogged about the Tooth Fairy in 2005 and how Kathleen still expected payment five years ago, aged 11, when she knew it wasn’t true.

It’s nice to know inflation hasn’t raised the $2 trade fee.