One of the best ways to get kids to learn is to disguise educational tasks through fun, playful activities. One of the best North West destinations where kids are able to mix play with learning is The BugWorld Experience at Liverpool’s Albert Dock. At The BugWorld Experience kids are guided through several different ecological environments throughout the world, from a typical British home to the Amazon Rainforest, where they are able to explore the bug and insects that would inhabit each area.
Towards the end of the tour children are also able to hold some of the creepy crawlies such as stick insects, centipedes and spiders. Kids will love the interactive games throughout the experience and adults will be pleased with the fact that their children are learning at the same time. The BugWorld Experience also forms a base for teachers to discuss and explore mini beasts and the different environments that exist in the world.

The snow has eventually disappeared. Now, don’t know about you but it helped fill in many an hour at the weekend, sledging and making snowmen. It kept us entertained for hours and we didn’t have to spend a penny!

But fear not – there is still snow nearby all be it artificial but I went ski-ing to my local indoor snow dome last week and there was all sorts to do. Not only is there a snow slope for all levels of snowboarders and skiers but there is an area for beginners – commonly known as the nursery slope. There is also an area for the little ones which includes being able to sledge and even a slide!

…putting a bit of fun into chores!

Now, I dare you to try this – the idea may seem a little daunting but you may be surprised at the outcome. Our house needed a good day spent on sorting it out – old clothes needed bagging up for charity and things putting back in their place but the main thing was my sons room. It’s only the size of a postage stamp so storage and keeping it tidy so the poor lad can have room to play is always a chore but has to be done.

So we set Sunday aside for us BOTH to tidy and do know what? we actually had fun doing it. The toys he’s not played with have been given to charity. We’ve sorted the hundreds of tranfsormers and all the bits and bobs into one box and jigsaws into another – cars in another. He knows where everything is now so has absoultely no excuse for not playing with anything. We even came across things that he had as a baby so in sorting his room out we also had a trip down memory lane talking baot when he was a baby and toddler – stories which children always love to hear!

My son is seven – as I’m sure I’ve mentioned already on many of my previous blogs. He loves, his DS but knows when to put it down – normally because his neck or shoulders are aching! He loves his Wi he has at his Dads. But what he also loves is good old session of playing games.

In our collection we have ‘Guess who’ this can go on for hours until we’ve exhausted all possible questions to ‘Guess who’ He loves playing twister – normally because I land flat on my face with my bum stuck in the air. And he also loves a good old game of snap or pairs.

All really simple but they can take up time – it’s just whether you have thattime to spare. I didn’t think I did but after begrudgingly giving up 30 mins of my time to spend with him – we had lots of fun and will definately be making much more of an effort in future.

The recent snow has brought us lots of fun. I’ve found myself going back to my own childhood and making all sorts of shapes in the snow….

Snow angels – where you lie on your back and nove your straight arms up and down – get up and you leave the shape of an angel behind!

If you look around the fields and peoples gardens, everyone has made such an effort to build the biggest and best snowman / woman / decorated with all sorts – I saw one the other day with big feathers popping out of its head to makes it look like an indian.

If the snows going to last the challeneg is to see what you can construct so you have the best snow shape on your front garden!

Christmas is well and truly gone for another year- everyone is feeling fat from eating too many mince pies or drinking too many galsses of wine. What better way is there to get some fresh air – get the kids out of the hosue – and get some excercise than to go sledging!

It’s time to dig out the sledge from the back of the gargage, dust it down and go insearch of the nearest biggest hill – for some fun that doesn’t cost anything at all.

Just make sure you’re well wrapped up, weelies are worn and no snow can get down your neck, up your arms or in your footwear. Keep an eye on the young ones too because as soon as they get too cold that’s where the fun ends and you have to head for home!

New Years Eve is upon us and although in years gone by it might have all been about partying and downing the drinks, now that the children are about, perhaps you can make it into a night for them.

Your children may not be old enough to stay up until midnight but that doesn’t mean they can’t celebrate the start of the New Year.

Allow your children to have fun and decorate the house with their own decorations, set up games for them and put their favourite films on.

New Year isn’t just about the adults, so make the effort to make it a night for your children too.

It’s Christmas Eve!!! The children are no doubt absolutely uncontrollable with excitement! Just one more sleep, and they will be allowed to open that huge pile of presents.

But how can you make this Christmas Eve a little more special?

Well, aside from settling down with some mulled wine (hot chocolate for the kids) and all watching a festive film together, you could also:

• Put out milk for the reindeer
• Leave a mince pie out for Father Christmas
• Leave a carrot out for the reindeer
• Leave a note for Father Christmas

This will help to make the evening even more special for the children. And who knows, they might get a hand written note of thanks written back from Father Christmas!

The big day is almost here and soon the chubby bearded one will be slipping down our chimneys to deliver all those presents.

But if your kids are getting a little too excited at the prospect and are currently running riot, then you need some ideas on how to calm them down a little and keep them occupied.

Kids thrive on making things. So why not add a little more festive cheer to your home by getting them to make some Christmas decorations and paper chains. You could even get them to make a few last minute Christmas cards for the neighbours or even their very own stocking for all those presents!

Keep your children busy and ensure that they are on the ‘nice list’ this year.

If you’ve got Christmas lists coming out of your ears this year, you will know exactly how stressful it is to get everything your children requested.

Having no understanding of money, what your children have asked for can often be way out of your price range, or even worse; out of stock.

This year, the Nintendo Wii Fit, once again, is set to be a big seller. And what better gift to get your child than one which will not only entertain, but will keep them fit in the process? But there are plenty of other gifts too which the kids will be equally happy with.

Christmas is all about the children, so get the elbows at the ready and get down to the high street to bag yourself some of the hottest gifts this year.