We may not be regulars at the local nudie bars, but we don’t mind a little nakedness on stage. All in the name of art, of course.

Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter) stripped down for the London Stage version of Equus, the story of psychiatric patient Alan Strang, receiving treatment in lieu of prison time after blinding horses. The Segal Centre’s version (with ballet-dancing horses!) stars Dan Jeannotte as Alan and Jean Marchand as the doctor who treats him in this exploration of sex, passion, religion and modern psychiatry. —Jennifer Nachshen

Tickets from $34, until October 2, The Segal Centre, 5170 Ch.Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montreal, 514-739-7944, www.segalcentre.org

Play therapy may be the buzzword of the day, but here’s a new twist: modeling clay that soothes and calms your kids with its scents.

Available for the first time in Canada, Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay comes in scents like Lemongrass to inspire, Lavender to sooth, and Pink Geranium to balance.

And the scent will come in handy when you find it under the couch six months from now.

$25.99 for 5 tubs at www.naturalpod.com

A recipe for preserving children:
1 grass–grown field
Half a dozen children (or more)
Several dogs (if available)
1 stream of pebbles

Into field pour children and dogs, allowing to mix well. Pour stream over pebbles till slightly frothy. When children are nicely brown, cool in a warm bath. Once dry, serve them milk and fresh baked gingerbread.

We found this recipe in Aussie online children's magazine Papier Mache. From decorating ideas to the coolest international products, the first issue is quite a treat. We perused the Stockists section and found amazing designers including Wovenplay, the creators of beautiful costumes like this whimsical playsuit ($160, pictured) available at www.sweetwilliamltd.com.

Subscribe to Papier Mache for free at http://www.papier-mache.com.au/

Social networking is hard work for toddlers these days.

But we found these clever play date cards by Felix Doolittle so your little one can make friends faster than Facebook while working the playground.

Customize the high-quality cards and choose from 100 fun images, and both of you will make a great first impression.

My place or yours?

US$30 at www.felixdoolittle.com

Remember walking yourself to Kindergarten, playing kick-the-can till dark, and breaking into the school gym to do ABBA airbands while your mom was still at work?

We do.

In the new documentary Lost Adventures of Childhood airing tonight, Toronto’s award-winning director Scott Harper laments the rise of helicopter parents who micromanage every aspect of their kids social lives.

But beyond pure nostalgia ("Remember our wood-paneled station wagon with no seat belts and a hole in the floor?") the well-researched doc finds evidence from London, England to Edmonton, Alberta to support the theory that free play promotes brain development in a way Wii never will.

Now plug your kids into Rockband and watch this!  

Lost Adventures of Childhood premiers tonight, 7 p.m., on CTV.

Cash poor—you know the expression all too well.

But you can teach your children to be aspiring homeowners (the fingerpaint decorating possibilities!) with these Canadian-made recycled cardboard playhouses for the yard.

And now you can even get them to mow the lawn. Their lawn.

Paperpod Playhouses are $75 at www.naturalpod.com