Children need love and attention and what better way to show them how much they mean to us than giving them once in a while a present. Our gift doesn’t have to be expensive; it just has to tell them that they have someone who loves them. Whether children have a family or whether they are orphans, they all enjoy receiving a gift.

If you think that teddy-bears have been with us forever you are certainly wrong. The teddy-bears appeared for the first time in 1902 in Germany and the United States. In America, the bear showed up for its first time in a cartoon and only in a couple of years the American manufacturers began to produce bears in all colors and sizes. Throughout the years, teddy-bears have become loved and indispensable not only for children but also for adults.

Fizzy sherbet in a paper bag with a strawberry lollipop was probably my favorite treat as a child, but I never knew what was in the sherbet and why it sparkled and tingled on my tongue! Try making some with your kids and enjoy a mini science lesson in the process.

The basis of the sherbet is icing sugar (confectioners’ sugar). 50g will make enough for about 6 children. For that amount you will also need a scant teaspoon each of bicarbonate of soda and citric acid. You can buy the latter, in the form of a white powder, very cheaply in small quantities from your chemist or pharmacy. Children will also enjoy having a lollipop or liquorice stick to dip into the sherbet.

Twirl the Trencher
This is a game which almost any number of children can play. The players seat themselves in a circle, and each takes the name of some town, or flower, or whatever has been previously agreed upon. One of the party stands in the middle of the circle, with a small wooden trencher, or waiter, places it upon its edge, and spins it, calling out as he does so the name which one of the players has taken.

The person named must jump up and seize the trencher before it ceases spinning, but if he is not very quick the trencher will fall to the ground, and he must then pay a forfeit. It is then his turn to twirl the trencher.

A very similar game to this is “My Lady’s Toilet.” The only difference is that each player must take the name of some article of a lady’s dress, such as shawl, earring, brooch, bonnet, etc.

All girls love jewellery and making it themselves is an added bonus. It is the perfect activity for rainy days and requires a minimal amount of supervision. Depending upon the age of the girls as well will dictate the level of intricacy involved.

This activity is not however suitable for children under the age of three as beads and sparkly things will appeal to them and will inevitably end up in their mouths leading to unwanted complications.

If there’s one thing that kids love to do, it’s make a mess. Now that might not fit very well with your idea of a wholesome, tidy activity! But don’t fret, there’s something you can help your kids out with that’ll keep everyone happy. And best of all, the kids still get to get their fingers mucky!

It’s something that’s all around us these days and something that your kids will doubtless spend a lot of time with. Yep, that’s right. Music.

Learning To Play Music From A Young Age

Something you may want to consider for your child is organising musical lessons for them. There are several things to consider such as, is your child the right age to begin learning? What instrument should you choose?

Generally, any age is good to start at, if the child can sit attentively and learn by following the example of a tutor. Children as young as 4 or 5 can pick up the skills required, and a great knowledge of music will give them great opportunities in the years ahead

Sometimes it feels difficult, in this day and age, to come up with an original, fun activity for you to enjoy with your kids which won’t involve either

• Taking them out for a meal at a fast food restaurant which will leave them hyperactive and out of control
• Spending copious amounts of cash on garish entertainments and sugary snacks
• Or spending hours listening to them complain those tried-and-tested words “When are we going home?”

Edinburgh Zoo, A Place For Kids And Adults Alike

Edinburgh Zoo was established in 1911 and has been on the same site ever since. It has developed over the years to become one of the most enjoyable, educational and exciting zoos to visit, especially if you’re looking for a day out you can share with your children.

How to Get There and Parking Facilities

The zoo is located around two miles out of the city centre in the suburb of Corstorphine. There is a good number of local service buses that run past the zoo (12, 26 or 31). The best thing to do is ask the driver to give you a shout when you get to the zoo. They are more than happy to do so. Either that or the masses of parents with kids getting off at the same stop may give it away.

If you are arriving by car either from the city centre or from the bypass keep an eye out for the Holiday Inn Hotel as the zoo is right next door. That would be an unusual wake up call if you stay there.

I bet, if you’re a long-suffering parent, you’ve tried everything to get your kids to spend some quality time outside rather than being cooped up inside with sugary snacks and television. There are many activities you can persuade them to take up to get them out and about though, and nothing is quite as satisfying or as enjoyable as kite flying

Getting Hold Of a Decent Kite

Kite flying is an age old hobby, and is something you can spend many hours with your kids enjoying too. If you are new to kite flying and have never tried anything like it before then fear not, it’s very easy

There are several different designs of kite that you can choose from to get started, some are more easy to fly than others and will provide a more satisfactory experience for your kids

If you’re someone who’s got a children’s party or special occasion coming up soon, I bet you’ve been thinking hard for a while now about ways you can make the day stand out and ensure that everyone has a great time.

Face Painting

Fancy dress and make-pretend have long been favourite activities for kids, and they love nothing better than to act out as all sorts of cartoon characters or animals. Face Painting is a great way to help them have a fun and exciting day, they can pretend to be a wild tiger, or a rampaging elephant!

To get hold of good quality face paints for the day, you can try looking round local fancy dress shops or any dance/theatre shops that might be nearby. Have a look through your local yellow pages for more information. You’ll want to use professional water based face paints to make sure that the paint comes off easily at the end of the day. You don’t want to send a child home as a ferocious lion now, do you!