Author: kiddy@admin

Get creative this Halloween

Posted on by

Lots of kids either have a craft side or simply enjoy making something, regardless of the end result and Halloween is a perfect time to go this.  There are hundreds of different craft ideas for kids around the theme ranging from simple pot decoration to more complex activities.

For the little ones, painting a pot is a good idea.  Cover a pot in some white paper the day before, stick it down and leave it to set for a blank canvas.  Then the kids can paint it orange, cut out some black eyes, nose and mouth and add a stalk and leaf in glittery paper to make a cup pumpkin lantern.  Or paint it luminous green, draw on some face features as well as a big black gash with stitches then paint the rim black.  Add a couple of metallic T-shapes on either side and you have a Frankenstein pot!  Once decorated, they can fill them with sweet to give out on the night to trick or treaters or for a party.

If you’re having a party, a Halloween decoration or ten are compulsory.  For the younger kids, you can start simple.  Buy some wooden blocks, one for each letter of Happy Halloween.  Let them paint them orange or whatever colour they want then write a letter on each in a black marker.  Either glue them together to form the word or if you are handy with a drill, drill holes through them and string them onto some thick cord.

Another decoration is a nice witches broom to hang above the fireplace but using the real broom can be a bit heavy.  Instead, take the inside of a roll of wrapping paper and get the kids to paint it black.  Wrap a few sections of yellow around it and you have the stick.  For the broom, take a piece of cloth and either stick or stick a load of threads on it then wrap it around the stick and glue it.

Costume Ideas

Going out trick or treating means that a costume is compulsory.  Some kids choose to just go with a favourite character without regard for the time of year but others want something special to Halloween.  You can buy lots of them in the shops but if you want to make something unique and spend time with the kids making it, you can create your own.

The scary spider is a simple option and all that is needed are some plain black clothes to start with.  A hoodie, trousers and black shoes are the basis for the outfit.  Take two pairs of black tights and stuff them with the content of an old pillow or some bubble wrapping.  Stitch them onto the top and tie loops at the end so that kids can move their spider legs with their arms.

Perhaps one of the easiest costume options is the Grim Reaper.  A black hooded cloak that goes all the way to the ground is all that is needed along with a white swimming cap to hide their hair.  Face paints to make their faces white and add big black eyes and a cardboard scythe finish the outfit.

For the girls, a witch is a good choice.  Pick up a witches hat from the shop and decorate as you like.  A feathered scarf is a good addition to the outfit and a coordinating top and skirt to match the hat colour is needed.  You can cut out paper or cardboard stars and other shapes to stitch onto the clothes for that witch chic.  Then some makeup or face paints will finish the look.

Children’s Party Food

With all the elements of Halloween it is easy to find food that can be transformed into something spooky or gory.  For instance, Dracula cookies are an easy quick option.  Take some chocolate chip cookies and cut them in half.  Put some red jam on one side of each then stick some white marshmallow pieces in to resemble teeth.  For the fangs, slide some slivers of almond between the marshmallows – instant vampire cookies.

For cupcake fans, the ideas are endless.  Green icing and some witches’ legs sticking out is one design while spider’s webs iced into a flat cake is another great look.  Using biscuits to make grave stones and have them sticking out of crumbly chocolate icing works well for spooky cemetery cakes while a simple iced face on a white cake makes for a ghoulishly tasty snack.

If carving a pumpkin is a bit too much for you, why not make oranges into carved lanterns instead?  Cut the top off the orange and scoop out the middle then cut out eyes, a nose and a funny mouth.  You can even add jelly inside them and leave to set before carving the face.

School Lunchbox Rules and Ideas

Posted on by

If there’s one area that is frequently discussed among parents and teachers but has no clear solution in place, it is the topic of school lunchboxes.  Many believe that poor quality lunches are a big part of the growing obesity epidemic and some schools are taking dramatic steps to deal with the problems of children food.  Others believe that parents need to be better informed about what they should give their kids for lunch.  So what are the rules and ideas to make for a better, healthier lunch

Educating parents

Others take the view that the solution isn’t about banning or confiscating foods but educating parents on what constitutes a healthy lunchbox and what they should include in it to give their kids the best meal.

In the US, there is also a big move towards giving parents the information to create healthy lunches.  This can include elements such as baking batches of food to freeze such as whole gain muffins or breads as well as healthier cookies.  A big emphasis is placed on what the food looks like because tasty looking food is more likely to be eaten by the kids – hence the reason that sugary foods are always popular.

Filling a box with veggies sticks and a little amount of a yoghurt dip or hummus are ideas discussed along with healthy crackers with toppings, fruit smoothies and sandwiches made with pitta bread rather than normal white bead.  Even leftovers such as grilled chicken breasts cut into sticks or nuggets and served with a dip are easy to make options.

Websites such as Change4life offer a rota of school lunchbox meal ideas to get the right stuff into the kids but to keep the menu varied.  There is also a range of recipes on the site to make with the kids and then send into school for their lunch.

Why it matters

While the growing concerns about childhood obesity are at the centre of these concerns, there are other reasons why a good, healthy school lunch is a benefit to children.  For starters, eating the right foods can boost the metabolism, making the children feel more energetic and increasing their concentration.  This leads to better results in class.

By making all children eat school lunches, there can be a stop to the problem of some children feeling left out when eating a school meal versus a ‘fun looking’ lunchbox filled with poor nutritional foods.  Let’s face it, kids love what isn’t good for them and if they see their friends eating fun, sugary foods, they don’t want to eat their own healthy lunch.

Whether banning, confiscating or educating is the way forward, it is clear that a plan needs to be in place to help our kids have a happy, healthy lunch that sets them up well for the rest of the day.

Campervan holidays with the Kids

Posted on by

At one time, the campervan was seen as a hippie thing, an old VW campervan travelling around the outdoor concerts and the occupants sleeping in fields.  But today, the campervan comes in a range of different styles and features, though the VW campervan is still a good starting point!

Other big name manufacturers are now producing their own versions, with both the Sharan and the Harry being Peugeot’s offerings.  Recently, a New Zealand company has begun to convert Toyota people carriers into campervans and these are now available in the UK.  There are also specific motorhome companies that make spacious and luxurious mobile homes that you won’t want to leave behind at the end of the holiday.

Routes

The variation and type of route you can plan is only limited by how long you have.  You can cover all the main sites within a single county over a few days or take a week or longer to cover a larger area and see the most important sites.

One example is the 7-day English Heritage route from Spaceship Rentals.  Their route starts in London then heads south to Hastings to see the abbey and the battlefield then along to Dover Castle.  On the 2nd day, travel to Portsmouth and hop on the ferry to the Isle of Wight or enjoy the sites around the city.  The third day recommends visiting Osbourne House and Carisbrooke Castle while on the 4th, take in Salisbury and Stonehenge, adding in Woodhenge if you have the time.  On day five, visit Oxford and the sights of the city then do the same the next day in the other big university city, Cambridge.  Finally, on the 7th day, head back to London and visit sites such as Kenwood House and Parliament Hill.  All of these come under a special pass from English Heritage.

Places to stay

There are plenty of caravan and camping sites around the country that will happily accommodate campervans.  Some can be closed at certain times of the year so if you are planning to travel in autumn and winter, this may limit your options a little more.  Sites can range in price from £15-20 a night for those with an electricity connection and organised sites will often offer features such as coin operated laundry and free showers as well.  

In theory, you aren’t allowed to simply park in a layby or on public land to camp but many people do this and it is known as wild camping.  Make sure if you consider this that you aren’t trespassing on anyone’s land, you aren’t disturbing anyone and there are no signs specifically prohibiting camping overnight on the spot.  

Equipment needed

When going on holiday in a campervan, remember that you only have a limited space so prioritising what you need for the break is important.  Take essentials in the way of food and drink with you but remember most of it can be bought while on the road, as there will only be a limited space to store stuff.  If you are using a gas burner, don’t forget to have space fuel for it and the same if you are taking a barbeque.  Dishes can be cleaned as used but don’t forget to take items such as cloths.

Tips

Most campervan holiday fans will advise you to plan ahead for your trip – being spontaneous can be fun but can also be disappointing if things don’t pan out as expected.  Include things in your planning such as toll roads and ferries so you have change for them and watch out for closures on roads and in venues.

If you are travelling with young kids, don’t forget to take along the car seats they will need and plenty of children’s entertainment for the travelling part of the holiday – avoiding bored kids is every parent’s ultimate aim in life!

Children and the safety of the Internet

Posted on by

Today kids start using mobile enables devices from a young age, usually to play games aimed at kids or to visit websites designed for their age group.  Usually this will be done with parental assistance and supervision but it doesn’t take long for them to outgrow the need for someone to type in addresses or find a particular app.  In no time at all, they will be brushing off assistance and with it, the supervision that most parents feel they need to have.

Dangers at different ages

When kids are learning how to use the internet, they are naturally trusting.  If someone tells them they are a friend, they will accept this.  As they get older, they become a little more ‘streetwise’ and will be a little more cautious about people.  They are also wiser about their own age group so someone posing to be a kid can often trip themselves up with teens who realise they aren’t what they say.  Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case though.

Finally, identity thieves will sometimes target kids to get information or access due to their inherently trusting nature.  This can be as simple as asking for a password to give them a special game upgrade or voucher that will appeal to them.

A similar problem comes when they reach 13 and can embark onto social media sites such as Facebook.  It is important to set their accounts so that only their friends can see their updates and monitor who these friends are.  Talking to them about matters such as posting photos of themselves or giving out information about where they live or go to school is also important.

Solutions

As with many things with kids, start as you mean to go on.  From an early age, begin to talk a little about being safe online at the same time as you discuss things like being on the internet for too long.  This will mean they grow up with limits and restrictions being a natural thing but also being cautious when on the internet will be too.

Setting parental controls is important and many of the big internet providers incorporate this facility automatically when you set up with them.  They can also be added or amended at any stage, so as your kids get older, you can change them accordingly.  If you let them use a smartphone or tablet when out and accessing a public Wi-Fi that won’t have these controls, make sure you set them for the device instead.  You can set most devices to forget the Wi-Fi password to stop the kids picking it up and going online when you aren’t around.

As kids get a little older and start school, their knowledge will advance both through use and through what they learn from others.  At this stage, make sure there are controls in place that prevents them from downloading content or apps without your approval and set up a list of websites that your kids are allowed to visit.

Kids will often be able to outsmart their parents once they are in their early teens and will know more about the internet than you will.  Keeping up to date with the latest tech, trends and problems will help you keep up to date with what your kids are doing.  Update your parental settings and be frank with your kids about the really bad stuff out there on the internet.  You don’t want to scare them off (at this age, you probably wouldn’t be able to anyway) but they are old enough to fully understand how important their online safety really is.

Back to school clothes

Posted on by

The mad rush begins to get the last of the School Uniform. Here is a selection of the best school uniform deals.

Supermarket bargains

As with many things in life today, the first place to try for bargains has to be the supermarkets.  No longer just the domain of the weekly food shop, most of them now stock an impressive range of school clothing and at some astounding prices.  For example, ALDI/LIDL have a ‘while stocks last’ range at the moment in some of their shops that includes two polo shirts, a round neck sweater and either a skirt or pair of trousers for the astounding price of £3.50 and shoes for £6.99.  The clothing may not be the very highest quality but if your kids are the type to have scuffled holes in their trousers within a week, then quality is a secondary concern!

Morrison’s Nutmeg range is another big name that have jumped into the school wear department in a big way.  All of their shops have a selection of items available and there are some good prices to be had.  They are also very good quality and are rivalling many of the other supermarkets

Tesco have a range of offers in place for the Back to School period including uniform and other essentials.  As most people will have just had their Clubcard vouchers through, there is the Clubcard exchange that allows £5 to become £10 to spend on school uniforms and this is running until 13th September.  There are also offers in addition to this such as two gingham summer dresses for early in the term for just £7 and also a range of stationary essentials on half price.  Tesco have a click and collect service as well so if your local shop doesn’t have the items, it can be sent from another and picked up a day or two later.

Pre-loved bargains

When it comes to sorting out the uniform that no longer fits, why not donate to a pre-loved site or a Freecycle website?  There are plenty of these on Facebook and as standalone websites, while many schools offer a uniform recycling service that allows parents to donate uniform items that are wearable but no longer any use for their kids.  That way you clear out space in the wardrobe for the new items and lend a hand to others who need it.

Facebook is also handy for finding groups that produce iron-on badges to add to bargain clothing and thus saving money on expensive, school logo clothing.  Sew on options can also be found and will work out less costly than buying the new version ready-made from the school.

Finally, check out websites that collect coupons and codes for money off deals, as many of them will be running back to school sections at this time of the year.  These can ideal for finding those special bargains that aren’t well advertised but that can save you a lot of money.  One example is a cashback site that currently offers 11.4% cashback on any Clarks shoes bought, so this helps offset the initial cost a little.

Top 10 UK piers

Posted on by

Blackpool Central Pier

There are three piers at Blackpool and the Central Pier is often called the ‘fun’ one.  It opened in 1868 and became famous in the 1940s for the open-air dancing competitions held there.  Today it is a great spot to visit with the kids due to the various fairground rides on offer, most notably the 108-foot big wheel, visible for miles around.

Clevedon Pier, Somerset

Clevedon Pier is the only remaining Grade I listed pier in the UK and was voted Pier of the Year in 2013 by the National Pier Society.  It is just eight miles from Weston-Super-Mare in the car and was opened in 1869.  The pier was built using discarded railway track from the famous Great Western Railway Track designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.  Today it remains a landing place for steamers and is a popular tourist spot as well as for those who enjoy a spot of angling.

Brighton Marine Palace and Pier

The Brighton Pier is the only remaining intact pier in Brighton and was originally opened in 1899.  The pier offers a range of different rides and attractions to keep the kids occupied including traditional rides such as the dodgems and waltzer as well as a spooky Ghost Train.  Thrilling rides include one that throws passengers 38 metres into the air, not ideal after an ice cream!  There is also a famous fish and chip restaurant and three bars.

Southend Pier

The Southend Pier opened in 1830 but was replaced by a modern iron pier in 1889.  As well as its role as a tourist attraction, it even served the Royal Navy during World War II as a mustering point for convoys and for the navy to control the Thames estuary.  The pier was badly damaged by fire in 1976 and by the early 1980s, was facing closure.  Protests led to the Historic Buildings Committee doing the repair work needed and in recent times, more work has been done to bring it to modern standards.  The pier has a railway running its length operating every fifteen minutes and it is still used as a lifeboat station as well as having a brand-new cultural centre

Southport Pier, Merseyside

Southport Pier is the 2nd longest in the UK.  It has seen a great modernisation project in recent years that saw a shopping centre added to the traditional pier amusement.  There is also a tram service running the length of the pier and a café to enjoy the views.

Cromer Pier, Norfolk

Cromer Pier was first opened in 1822 but only lasted 24 years before it was destroyed in a storm then the wooden pier that replaced it was rammed by a coal boat in 1897.  The pier that stands today was opened in 1902 and is home to the Pavilion Theatre as well as a Lifeboat Station.

Llandudno Pier

Llandudno Pier is the longest pier in Wales and the 5th longest in the UK.  The pier has a theatre on it called the Pier Pavilion where musical performances have been held since the 1940s, when an admission fee was first charged and music was performed to compensate for this.  It is unusual for having two entrances, with the Grand Hotel standing between the two.

Ryde Pier, Isle of Wight

Ryde Pier is the oldest pier in the UK and started out as a working pier before pleasure piers were created.  An additional tramway pier was added in 1864 with first horse drawn trams then trains running the length.  Today it is a grade II listed building with many of the original buildings having been restored.

Grand Pier, Weston-Super-Mare

The Grand Pier dates back to the early 1900s and is over 1300 feet long.  It has been damaged by fire on two occasions, giving it the tag of the unluckiest pier in the UK with the 2008 fire completely destroying the pavilion.  It reopened after a £39 million rebuilding project in October 2010.

Gravesend Pier, Kent

Gravesend Pier was built in 1834 and saw a major restoration project in 2000 that saw it returned to its former glory.  It is the oldest intact cast iron pier in the world and is a grade II listed building.  It is currently being adapted for new use as a base for water taxis and a cross-river ferry service.

so why not visit one of these iconic structures next time you plan a family trip to a coastal town

Making memories

Posted on by

There are some amazing attractions around the country ranging from historic buildings to zoo and gardens.  So if you are planning to visit somewhere this summer with your family and want something that’s sure to leave a lasting impression, then why not check out some of our top ideas for children’s entertainment and family friendly fun… 

1. Old Trafford
No footie fan — Man U supporter or not — could fail to be excited by a visit to Old Trafford, the ‘Theatre of Dreams’. The official stadium tour takes in the players’ changing room, the lounge, dugout and press briefing room, but for most children the highlight is the chance to have their own Wayne Rooney moment, and emerge from the tunnel to the roar of the crowd (even if it is made up of just Mum and Dad). 

Tickets: adults £18, children £12. 
2. Belfast Zoological Gardens
Set on a hillside overlooking Belfast Lough, Belfast Zoo has to be the most picturesque animal park in the UK. It’s big (55 acres), and with over 1,200 animals to see — from giraffes and spider monkeys to Asian elephants and Malayan sun bears — you’ll need to set aside almost a full day to do it justice. Some of the slopes are pretty steep, but there are picnic tables en route, and plenty of those all-important loos. 

Adults £12, children (age 4–16) £6, under-4s free. Open 10am–7pm daily April–Sept; 10am–4pm daily October–March. 

 



3. Roman Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum
Four miles apart on Hadrian’s Wall, the garrison fort of Vindolanda and its associated museum bring our Roman conquerors back to life. The kids can rampage around ruins and replica fortifications, compete with the best Syrian archers, learn some Latin, watch 3D films – and even scrutinise the ongoing excavations at what is one of Britain’s most significant archaeological sites. 

adults £10.50, children (age 5–18) £6, under-5s free. Open daily 10am–6pm until September 2016. 




4. King Arthur’s Labyrinth
Stories of dragons, ancient kings and epic battles come alive at King Arthur’s Labyrinth, as you sail through a spectacular underground cavern in the company of a mysterious hooded guide. Younger children spooked by the dramatic sound and lighting effects might want to visit the playground, maze and café above ground instead, but older children, especially budding creative writers, will be entranced. 

Adults £9.95, children (age 4–15) £6.65. Open daily from 10am–5pm until 31 October 2016.

5. Watergate Bay
A two-mile stretch of glorious golden sand on Cornwall’s north coast, Watergate Bay has it all: a friendly beach café, plenty of parking, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall restaurant, and the Watergate Bay Hotel & Extreme Academy, which offers surfing lessons for children of eight and up. If your kids would rather watch than get wet, check the website for regular events held on the beach throughout the summer, from polo matches to surfing competitions. 

Outdoor fun – nature’s way!

Posted on by

Have a go at Kew’s Treetop Walkway

Got a child with their head in the clouds? This 60ft high walkway nestled in South West London’s Kew Gardens will burn off lots of energy. The 118 steps are worth the wait as you take in the tree tops at eye level. Endless opportunities for spotting birds, wildlife and weird and wonderful creatures await, and the kids’ mission task asks budding tree surgeons to gen up on all things wood as you go around. Adult tickets into Kew: £9 Free entry to under 16s 

Take a stroll in Ashdown Forest

A. A. Milne set his Winnie-the-Pooh stories in 100 Acre Wood – a forest inspired by Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. Head there for a day out to visit all the locations enjoyed by Pooh, Piglet and Tigger too, including the gorgeous Pooh Sticks Bridge for, of course, a family game of Pooh Sticks. Pooh Corner on the High Street in Hartfield village, sells Winnie-the-Pooh goodies for all ages

See the Northern Lights

Pull on your thermals and go in search of the Aurora Borealis, aka, the Northern Lights. The greatest light show on earth can be best seen above the Arctic Circle, which means a trip to Scandinavia, probably in minus one conditions. The lights are incredibly elusive, so if you’re planning a trip, never, ever promise your kids they will see the action! 

See the Pyramids

The breath-taking Pyramids of Giza are special. Head to Egypt when your kids are a little older, so they can cope with the heat better and marvel at the Pharaohs’ ingenuity

Make new friends at Oceanopolis

Overlooking the harbour in Brittany, Oceanopolis is bursting with aquatic life. Turtles turn tricks, penguins potter in front of your very eyes and even a shark shakes its stuff in a dedicated tank. With three different sections to visit, tropical, polar and temperate waters, this enormous aquarium is a day your kids won’t forget. Adult tickets: €19.80 Children’s tickets (3-17 years): €12.80 

Marvel at the Grand Canyon

An epic gorge which in some places is a whopping 6,000 feet deep, this is a wonder that takes some beating. Best taken in when your kids are a little older, and can manage to troop around on their own. Take a stroll, bike around and don’t miss the Skywalk – a glass-bottomed path providing breath-taking views. 

Visit Cheddar Gorge

Head underground and explore the caves at Cheddar Gorge for an unforgettable adventure. Audio guides bring Gough’s Cave to life, while the colourful, underground world of Cox’s Cave has fountains and mirror pools like you’ve never seen before. Take time to have a go at the Crystal Quest as a family to discover new corners and secrets of the underground world. Adult tickets: £18.95 Children’s tickets (5-14 years): £12.95

More great family places this summer

Posted on by

Enjoy LEGOLAND Windsor

Stacks of fun awaits at LEGOLAND, with the emphasis very much on letting children enjoy themselves. It’s dedicated to kids aged 3-12 years, and is a very unique experience where imagination knows no bounds. Get drenched on the Pirate Falls, travel through the depths of the LEGOLAND castle and find the force in the Star Wars Miniland Experience. More fun than you can ever imagine having with large, colourful blocks. You can even stay at the hotel.

Explore Jorvik Viking

Stroll through reconstructed Viking-Age streets at the dedicated Viking centre in York. The experience presents life as it was for the Vikings, complete with 1,000-year-old houses revealed beneath your feet and objects taken from excavations brought before your eyes. Adult tickets: £10.25 Children’s tickets (5-15): £7.25 

Go wild at Longleat safari

Pack up the car and prepare to be amazed as the big cats, zebras, rhinos and meddling monkeys cross your path, all in the UK. Longleat is the UK’s most popular safari park, and it’s easy to see why with its incredible crop of animals. Book ahead for one of the park’s newest features, hand-feeding giraffes in the African Village Adult tickets: £28 Children’s tickets (3-14years): £20.35

See a show at the Minack Theatre 

The Minack Theatre is the most famous open-air theatre in Britain. A beautiful theatre carved into the granite cliffs of Porthcurno in Cornwall, you can’t fail to be impressed with its magnificent views and structure, or by the seriously impressive shows it puts on during spring and summer, including storytelling and family specific performances. While you’re in the area, take a trip to Land’s End so your kids can tell their friends that they went to the end of the earth.

Go wild at the National History Museum

Packed to the rafters with dinosaur bones, fascinating fossils and interactive games, London’s Natural History Museum is a must-visit attraction for every child. They will marvel as they stride under the giant T-Rex on arrival and be blown away by the models and characters they will meet along the way. Better still, it’s free!

Take launch at the National Space Centre

The most frequently asked question about space travel is ‘how do you go to the toilet in space?’ Find the answer, and so much more with a visit to the National Space Centre in Leicester. See roaring rockets, shining stars and actual moon rock at this out of this world attraction. Adult tickets: £13 Children’s tickets (5-16): £11 

Be bookworms at Seven Stories

Seven Stories in Newcastle celebrates the wonderful world of children’s books, in a seven storey building no less. See original artwork and manuscripts, settle down to book readings for different ages and see fancy dress and props from different books all under one roof. Adult tickets: £7.70 Children’s tickets (4-16): £6.60

6 great places to take the kids

Posted on by

Have a magical time at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

A must for Harry, Ron and Hermione fans, the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Hertfordshire lets wannabe wizards whizz around Diagon Alley, get their heads down in class and sit down in the iconic Great Hall of Hogwarts. The tour is full of props from the movies and behind the scene exclusives. A truly magical (sorry) day out with photo ops’ aplenty to treasure afterwards. Adult tickets: £33 Children’s tickets: £25

Meet the Crystal Palace dinosaurs

Looming out of the south London park are several cast iron dinosaurs from 1852, just hanging out and waiting to greet inquisitive guests on Dinosaur Lake. The short circular walk around the beasts shows our prehistoric friends from all angles, while info boards give just the right amount of information for dino-obsessive children. The park has a popular playground and very welcoming café for a pit-stop afterwards. 

Take a steam railway trip

Find a steam railway journey near you and head out together. You won’t be disappointed with a day chugging around the countryside. One of the best we’ve been on is the Llangollen Railway in North Wales. Worth the trek for the stunning surroundings alone, and if you’re lucky, Thomas the Tank Engine will even be around. Look out for the moment the train’s engine runs around the track to pull the carriages back in the other direction. Truly special stuff.

Visit Disneyland Paris

Make memories that will last a lifetime with a family trip to Disneyland. Meet Mickey and Minnie, swoon over the gorgeous Disney Princesses and enjoy thrills on the rides designed for all different ages and theme park thresholds. The lights, the glitter, the characters and the atmosphere will stay with your children forever. Big kids (who don’t want to admit they still really want to hang with Minnie) will love the rollercoaster rides. 

Cycle the Camel Trail

Stretching right from the village of St Breward on the edge of Bodmin Moor, to Padstow the Camel Trail is a recreational trail which follows the line of the old railway, summed up in John Betjeman’s Cornwall as ‘the most beautiful train journey I know’. The 17-mile trail is perfect for families on two wheels, so hire bikes and enjoy the flat trail. If 17 miles is a bit daunting, head for the last leg which takes in the coastline into Padstow from Wadebridge. Lock your bikes up at the end and have fish and chips on the harbour, try your hand at crabbing and then scramble over the rocks for a stroll on the beautiful beach at Hawkers Cove.

Learn at Our Dynamic Earth

Perched on the edge of Edinburgh’s epic Holyrood Park is Our Dynamic Earth, which takes visitors through our amazing planet’s past, present and future. With a focus on a sustainable future, and how we can help the planet deal with climate change and a growing population, make the trip when you have young children, and get tips for carrying on the good work at home and beyond. Adult tickets: £12.50 Children’s tickets (3-15years): £7.95.