Over the last few years there has been a drive to improve awareness of the worrying problem of increasing childhood obesity with the main causal factors being the over-availability of high fat content junk food combined with poor nutritional education regarding the actual content of many processed foods.

If everyone was aware of the fact that one meal from a well known fast food company contains the total recommended daily allowance of fat for an adult how many parents would still be happy for their children to consume it. There is now nutritional information posted in some outlets though if you do not know how to decipher the large amount of information thrown at you then it will just appear to be random information.

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.

I recently organised a birthday party for my two children at a local soft play centre and would like to share the experience with you that you might be able to avoid the pitfalls that befell me

I will not name the soft play area as even though on the whole the experience was fun and the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves there were areas that I was not too impressed with and these are points that I have raised with the play centre on a one to one basis.

The first word of advice is that if you are planning on organising your childs birthday party at a soft play centre visit it first. In fact the best thing to do would be to shop about for the best deal. I went on the recommendation of a friend and in hindsight should have probably stuck with my local and well visited soft play centre.

Kids love Halloween parties. However you do not need to spend too much to make a spooky party a success. The temptation is to buy a lot of decorations and accessories whereas making your own can save a large amount of money.

Even the invitations can be homemade. Cut out a circle of black card, stick some wobble eyes on it and attach eight pipe cleaners to resemble legs and you have a fun spider invite. If you are not feeling too artistic you can use some purple card and stick some shiny stars to it.

Decorating your house can also add to the atmosphere. Cut out bat shapes from black card and hang them from light fittings and doorways. Putting the cut out bats as well on the lamp shades will result in spooky shapes around the room. Cover the furniture with white sheets which will not only enhance the atmosphere but will also protect from sticky fingers.

One of the most important aspects to ensure that the big day runs smoothly is planning. Leaving things until the last minute may be the easy option but is definitely not the most stress free. So if you want the important day to leave you feeling satisfied
A birthday party does not need to be planned down to the final detail, sometimes impromptu events can be the most memorable though with a little bit of planning you can make it run more smoothly.

Throughout the year be aware of bargains and what you may need and buy at sales or end of line clearances. This will reduce the cost drastically allowing you to spend more money elsewhere. Start stockpiling supplies of tableware and keep a notebook of ideas and themes that may pop into your head. How many times have you thought of a brilliant idea and then forget about it?

We have all been there. The day is planned down to the final point, the picnic is prepared and the outdoor activities will be fun. Then it rains. Here is one cheap solution to that inevitable question: What do we do now?

Weather on holiday is something we cannot control and planning for unexpected days of rain can not only help relieve boredom but can also prevent a rather large dent in the bank balance. The easy option when it rains is to seek out some indoor entertainment which can, especially on a rainy holiday, add up.

So why not stay in? Spend some quality family time instead playing an enjoyable fun game. The indoor treasure hunt. Okay if you are camping this may not be the best solution and you may be best to stick with the reliable and dependable board game.

We have all been there: the perfectly thought out day , the expensive rich menu and the thoughtfully organised seating plan. However one aspect does not always fit in with the brides idea of a perfect day. Kids. This article will explore why kids are not the most welcome guests at weddings and how on earth are you going to stop the bride going ballistic at you when your little darling has a screaming fit in the midst of their vows.

Wedding days as we all know are mostly high stress days where sometimes over a years planning and half a years wage has gone into making it one of the most perfect days in a girls life. It is a day where everything has to run like clockwork and anything that will make the smooth precision instrument that is a wedding deviate from its well thought out plan is doomed to the uninvited list.

With the main holiday season approaching and thoughts turn towards sun drenched destinations and tropical climes. But wherever you go always remember to factor how you are going to get there. Probably one of the easiest ways, though maybe not the most pr
In this article we will explore the benefits of travelling by train with kids. All the suggestions within this article are just that suggestions and should be viewed as such.

Travelling by train does conjure up pictures of relaxation and stress free travel with beautiful scenery passing the window at every gentle curve of the train, starched white linen tablecloths in the dining car and service with a smile. Unfortunately we do not live in a Hollywood movie or travel daily by the Orient Express and the reality may not live up to your expectation.

So unless you can afford to travel first class, train travel can require a bit of forward planning. In this country in comparison to many other western nations, train travel can be more wearing than wonderful.

With the upcoming holiday season its time to start considering that all important yearly family holiday. Here we will look at one of the least planned aspect of the holiday : “the getting there”, which can at times be the most stressful. All suggestions with

When looking at possible holiday destinations you will take a lot of things into account: the accommodation, the facilities, whether there is a childrens club, etc. However, how often will you look at the travelling required. Its all well and good to research that Hawaiian island for child friendliness but if you do not take into account the fact it would take you approx 20 hours to get there then your holiday is doomed from the start.

So the simplest holiday can turn out to be the best. Kids are not too bothered where they go on holiday (unless they are Disney obsessed) so sometimes the more basic the better. Some of the best childhood holidays that I have had was in a rented house by a beach normally with an unexplored forest behind (it usually contained monsters).

Its that time of year again when the days start getting longer, the weather turns slightly less chilly and the school holidays loom. Yes! its holiday time. In this article we will explore the benefits and the not so benefits that come with travelling with kids on a plane

One of the many dilemmas that face parents today is where and how to go on holiday. Like all sane adults the appeal of tranquil beaches and gently lapping waves will be very tempting but not very practical. Most of these tropical beach paradises will be a long plane flight away so unless you are lucky enough to own your own plane the practically of a long flight with young children can be daunting.

However it is not impossible.