Tag: idea

Good homework websites

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Before looking at some of the best homework help sites, there are a few tips to remember about homework in general. The first one is to let the kids have something to eat before starting – this might just be a nutritional snack with their main meal scheduled for later, depending on the family schedule.  None of us work at our best when we are hungry.

Make sure there is a quiet place to do the homework away from distractions.  If there are pre-school kids in the house, try to keep them occupied elsewhere.  Ensure all the essentials are on hand such as pens, pencils and that there is a good workspace to use.

Set up a timetable for homework sessions so that kids know when to expect to be doing it. It might be after the evening meal for older kids or you might schedule different ‘slots’ for the different kids if they distract each other. TV is a no-no but some quiet music can help relax them.

Remember to keep in mind the current teaching techniques, rather than those you were taught when you were at school.  By telling them what you know, that can just confuse them and mean they aren’t learning what the school wants them to learn.

Best homework help sites;

BBC Bitesize

The BBC has been making high quality educational programs for generations and their education website, called Bitesize, is equally useful. There are two ways to search for help – by the subject or by the stage the kids are studying at. Once you go into the subject, there is a range of options such as KS1 Maths, 4th level Maths and even Higher Maths. By selecting the stage your child is studying, there is then a range of topics to help them, for example mathematical skills including problem solving and reasoning.

The website also has less formal content such as educational news, school newsletters and news around, a news program for kids. There are interactive games to help them with their studies and plenty of fun stuff to engage them.

BBC Cbeebies

The Cbeebies website works alongside the children’s channel and is filled with educational fun for kids. This includes homework help, interactive challenges and even stories.

Homework Elephant

Homework Elephant has some 5,000 resources available to assist kids in their various homework topics.  These are listed through the subjects they are covered by so are easy to search for a specific category.  They also offer an ‘Agony Elephant’ service where kids can ask questions to an expert on subjects including maths, English, biology and history.  Finally, there is a hints and tips section that covers how to do homework, learning tips and even helping kids cope with worries about their projects.

National Geographic Kids

National Geographic are another massive name in TV shows and their magazine so their Kids section is filled with useful resources of the highest quality.  Subjects covered includes animals, science and nature, history, places as well as games and entertainment resources.  So kids can learn about the countries of the world, the birds and animals that live there and there are fun areas to entertainment them as well as help with the homework.

Channel 4 Learning

Channel 4 Learning is aimed at seven to eleven year olds and covers three main subjects – science, history and geography.  There are plenty of interactive resources to entertain the kids as well as notes for teachers to help out.

Party games for little ghosts

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Incorporate a few fun Halloween party games for kids into your monster bash. Having games at your Halloween party will keep the children entertained and having fun. When deciding what games to play pick ones that are age appropriate, easy to play, and accommodate all of the children at the party.  

You also want to make sure that the games are Halloween themed by including things like witches, ghosts, and pumpkins into the directions or rules. Here are a few easy Halloween games for kids between the ages of 4-10 to consider for your party planning: 

Pumpkin BINGO: This is a great Halloween party game for kids because it is easy to play and fun. Make your bingo game spooktacular by using pumpkin tokens instead of bingo chips and ghost shaped bingo cards. Have a prize bag full of Halloween sweets and toys ready for the winners to make a selection.

Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin: Pin the nose on the pumpkin is an easy Halloween game for toddlers to play. To setup the game start by making an adorable pumpkin banner with black and orange felt. Have the kids “pin” the nose on the pumpkin after a few blindfolded spins. The closest to the actual nose wins!

Pumpkin Toss: To setup the game, start by carving a large pumpkin with openings for the eyes and mouth or group together lots of pumpkins. To play, have the children throw beanbags shaped like ghosts into the holes to score points. Have each hole be worth a different number of points. The child with the most points after three rounds wins a prize.

The Bone Collector: This game is a great way to get the children up on their feet because it is a Halloween themed treasure hunt. To set up the game, buy a big bag of skeleton bones. Next, hide all of the bones around a designated area for the children to find. For the really little ones, create a diagram of a skeleton so they know how many parts to look for.

Monster Musical Chairs: Musical chairs is an easy Halloween game for kids because all you need is chairs and some fun Halloween music. Have a playlist ready with Halloween songs and let everyone dance around the chairs. When the music stops everyone has to sit down as fast as they can. The child that doesn’t get a chair is eliminated. Each round another chair is taken away until only one child is left sitting.

Top Zoos for the summer holidays

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The zoo has long been a favourite place to visit for both kids and adults and with over 60 to choose from spread around the country, there is always one within travelling distance.  But when you are wanting serious, full on animal exposure, then the big zoos offer the most critter for your cash and here are the top 7 zoo’s in the UK.

Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo comes consistently top of the rankings for UK zoos, for the most visited wildlife attraction and even the top attraction outside London in various polls and surveys.  The zoo is located in Upton, Chester and is one of the largest in the country cover 125 acres and being home to around 400 species.  Travelling around the zoo is easy with a public bridleway, called Flag Lane, bisecting the park as well as a monorail system with three stops around the park and even a circular boat rides on the Lazy River.

But it is the animals that are the real attraction and there plenty of them.  Over half the species at the zoo are currently on the IUCN red list for endangered and threatened species and around 130 of these are part of captive breeding programs to boost numbers.  There are 79 species of mammal and 150 bird species as well as reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and fish.  The latest addition to the zoo is the Islands at Chester Zoo exhibit, adding 15 acres to the site and showcasing conservation programs from Madagascar to the Philippines.

Paignton Zoo

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is in Paignton, Devon and is a combination of a zoo and a botanic garden that sees over half a million visitors every year.  There are over 2,000 animals in the zoo covering some 300 species and even 1600 species of plant.  The animals are divided up by the habitats they are native to such as the Desert House with real plants, free-flying birds and pancake tortoises.  The Tropical Forest House displays everything from Burmese pythons to poison dart frogs from the tropical rainforests while the Forest Animals area is home to lions, tigers, orang-utans, owls and doves.  The Wetlands Birds occupies the moats around the monkey islands and sees pelican’s storks as well as plenty of ducks and geese while for zebras, cheetahs, giraffes and elephants, head to the Savannah Animals area.

Dudley Zoo

Dudley Zoo is a 40-acre site within the grounds of Dudley Castle in the West Midlands.  It combines a zoo with a host of listed and important buildings associated with the castle.  There are over 900 animals at the zoo from 160 species and include some notable animals.  These include giraffes, tigers, lions and three snow leopards.  Many of the animals are from endangered species and are involved in captive breeding programs to help boost numbers.  As well as the large animals, there are plenty of cute, smaller ones for the kids to see including meerkats, lemur, wallabies, monkeys and even kangaroos.  A favourite attraction is the Monkey Tails where you can have a close up encounter with a number of monkey species.

Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo is an 82-acre site in the Scottish capital that was founded in 1913 by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.  The zoo sees over 600,000 visitors each year, has over 1000 animals within its walls covering over 170 species.  It was the first zoo in the world to both house and breed penguins and is currently the only one to house koalas and giant pandas.

The pandas, Yang Guang and Tian, are currently one of the biggest hits at the zoo, with a special enclosure having been built for their arrival from China.  Other important exhibits include the Brilliant Birds, a walk through aviary with a number of exotic species free flying within, including the only Andean cock of the rock in the UK.  The Budongo Trail is a new facility that is home to a troop of monkeys and features a viewing gallery and interactive displays to educate kids about these fascinating creatures.

London Zoo

London Zoo is the oldest scientific zoo in the world, opening in 1828 and welcoming the public from 1847.  There are over 19,000 animals in residence today, making it one of the largest in the country and over 800 species can be seen.  These include over 70 species of mammal and over 110 species of birds.

Notable sights include the into Africa themed area with African animals including giraffe, hippopotamus, zebras and wild dogs.  The Rainforest Life and Nightlife is a glimpse of the rainforest with sloths, marmosets and armadillos on show while the Gorilla Kingdom is home to five western lowland gorillas as well as smaller monkeys and birds.  There is also an aquarium within then zoo, opened in 1853 so the world’s first public aquarium.

Twycross Zoo

Twycross Zoo is near Norton Juxta Twycross in Leicestershire and is known for the largest collection of monkeys and apes in the Western World.  It sees over 500,000 visitors each year and has 900 animals covering over 150 species.  Most of these are endangered and the zoo operates a number of conservation programs.

The zoo is separated into eight different zones, each with a theme.  These include Elephant Creek, home to five elephants as well as the World of Small Monkeys, tortoises, foxes, and three types of owl.  The Kingdom of the Apes is the only zoo in the UK to have all four of the great ape species in one place while the Himalaya section houses the snow leopards.

Banham Zoo

Banham Zoo is found in the town of the same name in Norfolk and is home to over 2,000 animals.  It receives some 200,000 visitors each year and is voted as the Top Attraction in Norfolk.  It has humble origins, started out with a collection of pheasants and parrots when it opened in 1968.  Now there are over 100 species represented in the various enclosures.

Notable sights include the Province of the Snow Cat, the home of the breeding pair of snow leopards, who produced three cubs in 2010.  There is also a Giraffe House, a Bird Garden and a Lemur Enclosure, with two different species of lemur running around.

Happy Birthday sweet 16

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Sweet 16 is a time of coming of age and celebrating it in true style. Many 16th birthday parties are becoming quite similar these days so why not make your 16th birthday party one to remember.

Firstly, choose a venue; this could be your own house. Secondly choose a theme. Trust us, this will make your 16th birthday party that extra bit more unique and give your guests the excitement leading up to your party.

Finally, your party entertainment… make your 16th birthday party stand out from the crowd and have some of the most interesting and lively entertainment. Underneath is a variety of 16 birthday party entertainment ideas to help you!

DJ – Every party needs great music. You will not need to worry about changing songs over on your IPod when a DJ can do it all for you by using the latest technology. You can tell the DJ exactly what music you would like played so your music can be catered specifically for you!

16th Birthday Party Entertainers

Photo booth – Why not keep a little memory of your 16th birthday party night by hiring a photo booth. Your guests will have so much fun trying on colourful props and overall having fun in the photo booth. Instant photos will be available for your guests and you will receive a DVD of all photos taken on the night.

Themed nights– Give your party that Vegas feel by having your very own fun casino. Spin the wheel, place your fun bets and have a laugh with all your guests. The Fun Casino is a great way to get your friends having a laugh and the style of entertainment is top class. Nobody else will have a casino at their 16th!

Magician – A walk around hired magician is perfectly suited to a Sweet 16 party. The magician will stun your guests with various tricks that will definitely catch them out. The magician could also be a comedian on the side, so Dynamo mixed with a bit of Lee Evans will go down a storm at your 16th birthday party.

16th Birthday Party Food

Fish and Chip Van – If you are unsure of the catering you would like for your party, then why not hire out a fish and chip van. The food caters for everybody’s tastes and your guests will enjoy their very own freshly cooked food. You can tailor the food to your requirements as well, burgers, sausages, goujons… whatever you want you can have!

Overall, enjoy your 16th birthday party. This is your big night; it’s not every day you take that step from a childhood to adulthood. Your 16th birthday party will be all about you, show it off, and make sure to get the perfect entertainment for your party. But the best thing you can do is smile and create some amazing memories and plan the best 16th birthday party ideas right here!

A guide to family surfing

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When someone starts talking about surfing, the mind turns to California or Hawaii with huge waves and plenty of sunshine.  But the truth is, here in the UK we have some excellent spots for a surfing family fun day out and the weather does cooperate sometimes – but even when it doesn’t this can be a good thing!

The Equipment – Boards and Wetsuits

The first and most crucial part of your surfing equipment is the surfboard.  There are three main types of board but only two of these are suitable for beginners.  Foam boards tend to be the most forgiving and are ideal to learn the basics such as standing up.  Most surfing experts will recommend a pop out board for beginners.  These are made from plastic and come in many shapes and sizes – when it comes to selecting your first one, make sure you go big.  The bigger the board, the more volume it has to help surfers stabilise so boards that are 8-9 feet for an adult beginner are ideal.  Smaller boards may look cool under the arm but are harder to paddle and there’s less chance you will catch a wave with one.

The wetsuit is the next crucial piece of equipment when surfing in UK waters if you want to retain feeling to your extremities.  Getting the correct fit of wetsuit is very important and seeking out a local supplier is the best bet – get expert advice to make sure you get the right wetsuit for everyone is the best idea and saves money as it ensures you get the right suit from the start.

Other important start up equipment includes a leash or leg rope is also useful to have as this attaches from the board to your ankle and means you don’t lose your board when you fall off.   Wax is also useful to have if you are aiming to spend any time on the board and ignore all those ideas that it goes on the bottom of the board to make it go faster.  The idea of wax is to go on the top of the board for traction.  Select a wax designed for cool or cold waters so that it responds correctly to the British seas.

Preparing to Surf – the Weather and the Tides

Once you have your equipment, then you are ready to surf, right?  Wrong because the next step is to understand a little about waves, wind and tides as well as selecting where is the right place to go and start.

All beaches have waves but some will be delicate and dainty and others will be huge and monstrous.  The weather has a big impact on the type of waves that hit the beach and a windy day might sound great but is better for kite flying than surfing.  Understanding the tide at the beach you have chosen will also help, particularly if there are areas of rocks that need to be avoided.  Most beaches will have signs on them with relevant information on it as well as on websites and the Met Office are always good for an idea on weather conditions.

When choosing a beach also factor in the safety aspect.  Look for beaches that have lifeguard cover in case anything goes wrong and even better, if there is a surf school based there you can either join in or at least know it is good spot to try out.  The RNLI also work hard keeping an eye on everyone in the water and their website lists all beaches that have their lifeguards on them.

Where can you learn to surf?

If you really aren’t certain that you or the kids will take to surfing, then getting a few surfing lessons can be a great option.  There are hundreds of surf schools around the country and most will include the basic equipment needed to start out so people don’t need to spend money on equipment until they have tried the sport.  Basic surfing skills can be learnt in as little as a day but a series of lessons will allow a fuller sense of the sport and let kids see if it is ‘the one’ for them.

If jumping into the sea to try out surfing is a little intimidating for anyone, then there are also a few indoor surf centres around located across the UK.  If you live in Wales or planning to visit Wales during the Summer Holidays you could consider the Cardiff International White Water centre, which has a special surf machine for complete beginners to try as well as experienced surfers to practise when the weather is bad. Indoor Surfing can also be carried out at the LC at Swansea.

Lake surfing is a modern creation and a great example is Surf Snowdonia, a fresh water lagoon the length of six football pitches with a two-metre-high barrelling wave running from the centre to the ends. A great place to learn to Surf if you are a little intimidated by the Sea!

Popular Surf Beaches

Whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales there are plenty of beaches where you can go Surfing. The most popular Surf Beaches are;

Longsands Bay, Tynemouth

Ideal for beginner to expert level, the best swell direction is coming from the northeast.  There are lifeguards on duty in summer and both lessons and board hire can be arranged at the beach.

Saltburn-on-Sea, North Yorkshire

Good for intermediates but also fine for beginners, the surf is generally fairly mellow either side of the pier and there are excellent reefs as well.

Newgale, Pembrokeshire

Fine for beginners but intermediate onwards only in big swells.  There is a surf shop on the beach offering equipment hire and lessons as well as daily surf reports and there are rarely crowd problems here.

Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Suitable for beginners through to experts, the beach has been created as a ‘ski resort on the beach’ with surfing just one of the lessons on offer.  It has been the premier water sports spot in Cornwall since the 1960s so can get a little crowded.

Pease Bay, Borders

Great for beginners and one of the new hotspots of surfing in Scotland.  There are good breaks and a lovely beach as well as challenges for more experienced surfing.  There is also a surf shop offering hire and lessons nearby.

Tips

There is a certain etiquette when surfing and it is important to learn this before starting on the waves to avoid offending anyone.  Many beaches will even post a list of what is expected from those using the beach and while they are mostly common sense, knowing who has right of way is a good one to get to know!

School Holiday changes

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It can be hard to keep track of everything as a parent whilst trying to plan activities with the kids so here is a roundup of the big recent stories.

Lincolnshire breaks the mould

Two schools in Lincolnshire have become the first to change from the traditional summer term.  White’s Wood and Mercer’s Wood Primary Academies in Gainsborough have confirmed that when the school term ended last week, their children would have a four-week holiday instead of the normal six weeks.  Their opinion is that this will both help with learning and allow parents to take their kids on holidays during off-peak times.

The government welcomes the change and said it was aiming for all schools to be able to set their own term dates in the near future.  This is also a move to help combat the fining of parents for removing children during term time.  The kids will return to class on 19th August and will have two extra weeks added to terms in September and November as well as in May. 

Easter holiday clash

Parents in Dacorum, Hertfordshire, are facing a complex Easter holiday schedule after many of the secondary schools elected to split up the traditional Easter holidays.  Their plan would involve a long weekend for Easter then returning to school for four days before then having two weeks off.  But it seems that the primary schools in the area, despite being in favour of the change, didn’t put it into place.

What this means for parents is that if they have a child in both primary and secondary schools, they will be facing a different holiday period for each with only a week overlapping.  The schools normally get together each year to organise holidays under the new county council model but somewhere the communications broke down and now parents will find themselves in a potentially awkward position over time off at Easter. 

No fines for Carmarthenshire parents

Good news for parents of kids in Carmarthenshire schools after the council announced that next year there would be no fines for taking kids out on pre-booked holidays.  The move comes after the announcement of new school holidays and terms times from the Welsh Government that were in conflict for those already published by the schools in the area.  The mix up included October half term being a week earlier and the return from the Christmas break also being a week earlier.  Even the January 2017 term will be slightly different.

The confusion led to the county council saying that pupils would not be fined for not attending school for holidays booked in those times, when the parents thought the kids were due to be on holiday.  However, the move has yet to be signed off by the government in Cardiff so parents are advised to speak to the school directly if holidays are being affected.

Inset days used to save parents money

A school in Newport has come up with a new way to help ease the pain of parents wanting to take their kids on holiday but finding that peak times are too expensive.  Eveswell Primary School have said they will use their five teacher training days all together at the end of the Whitsun half term in June 2016 to allow parents to make use of cheaper holidays

The best Theme Parks in the UK

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Ask a kid where they want to go and a theme park is probably one of the first places they come up with.  Theme parks also offer activities and fun for kids of all ages from the special rides for little kids right up to the white-knuckle rides that even adults think twice about riding.  Some of them even have animals as well so a double-up on the unmissable stakes.  Here we look at the top 11 Theme Parks in the UK in no particular order.

Alton Towers, Staffordshire

Alton Towers is the UK’s biggest theme park, located in the grounds of a 15th century country estate.  It opened in 1980 and has a total of eight high-speed roller coasters, 11 thrill rides and a number of other rides including those suitable for the little kids.  Add to that the new Cbeebies Land, an aquarium, cable car, monorail and even gardens to explore, there is more than a day’s worth of children’s entertainment.  There are even two hotels on the site including one that features a giant pirate ship as its downstairs area, which the kids will love.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Lancashire

Blackpool Pleasure Beach may be one of the most well-known spots in the country but doesn’t lack for rides despite its urban location.  There are 40 rides in the park including five steel roller coasters, five wooden ones and plenty of family-friendly rides as well.  For the smaller kids there is a Nickelodeon Land while older kids will love the Ghost Train and Go Karts.  The Big Blue is the pleasure beach hotel but the central location means there are plenty of other accommodation options too.

Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey

Chessington World of Adventures has a staggering range of things to do from the thrill rides and roller coasters to the zoo and a Sea Life centre.  Nor is the zoo just an add-on – it has over 1000 animals including gorillas and tigers spread over eight different zones.  One of the notable rides is the Dragon’s Fury, an unusual roller coaster that spins around a half kilometres track encasing the Land of the Dragons zone.  There are two hotels within the park and a monorail system to get around.

Crealy Park, Devon

Crealy Park is actually two sites, one in Devon and one in Cornwall.  The Devon site includes a range of water rides, swinging boat and even quad biking among around 60 attractions.  It is aimed more at the under 10 age group and doesn’t have the big thrill rides for the older kids.  There is a Dino Jeep virtual ride that takes kids through the dinosaurs that most will love as well as a Roman themed roller coaster.  A small zoo includes friendly faces such as guinea pigs and meerkats while there is a campsite next door as well as places for motorhomes.

Drayton Manor, Staffordshire

Drayton Manor is another theme park built on a former mansion site and contains a great mixture of roller coasters, thrill rides and rides for the kids as well as a zoo.  There is a dedicated Thomas Land for the little kids – dedicated to that famous little tank engine.  For the older kids there is The Shock Wave, a coaster where you stand up and loop through a Zero-G roll as well as a double corkscrew.  There is a four-star hotel on the site as well as plenty of nearby camping options.

Flamingo Land, Yorkshire

Flamingo Land was named for the former bird residents of the Yorkshire Zoological Gardens that the site started out life being.  Situated between York and Scarborough, the park is now filled with thrill rides, roller coasters, kids’ attractions and the best zoo in the northeast.  The zoo has many famous animals including white rhinos, tigers and giraffes while one of the newest ride is called Hero and is a vertical position tower similar to the Air ride at Alton Towers.  Accommodation on site is varied as well including everything from luxury lodges to camping spots.

Gulliver’s Land, Buckinghamshire

Gulliver’s Land is a combination of theme park, water area, farm and a campsite so there is something for kids of all ages.  It is aimed at children from the age of two to thirteen and everything is aimed at children, with no alcohol on site for example.  Lilliput Land is particularly special for the under-fives with rides such as teacups and a cycle monorail.  There is no on-site accommodation but its central location means there are plenty of options nearby.

LEGOLAND, Berkshire

LEGOLAND used to be one for the younger kids but not anymore and most adults will admit to loving a chance to play with those famous bricks.  There may not be the white-knuckle rides of many of the parks but there are plenty of great rides for the kids to enjoy and Miniland will fascinate young and old.  Using nearly 40 million bricks, this is a series of detailed models of scenes from around the world with animated cars, boats and scenery included.  Even the on-site hotel has a completely Lego theme to it that the kids will love.

Paultons Park, Hampshire

Paultons Park is on the edge of the New Forest National Park and is home to over 60 rides and attractions as well as Peppa Pig World, a must-see for the little kids.  There is a period themed garden with a real Victorian carousel contrasting with the brand new 4D cinema.  There is also a beautiful African themed gardens area to explore after the rides.

Pleasurewood Hills, Norfolk

Pleasurewood Hill has recently undergone a major refurbishment meaning the site now has four roller coasters as well as thrill and kiddies rides.  Animal shows include a sea lion show and a parrot show so something for the animal fans.  For the thrill seekers, HoBs PiT is said to be the scariest ride in the UK, travelling through an abandoned mine.

Thorpe Park, Surrey

Thorpe Park is located on an island raised from a former gravel pit near both the M3 and M25 motorways.  From wet rides to thrill rides and even seven roller coasters, the park is an adrenaline junkie’s paradise while the new Angry Birds Land is great for younger kids.  Stealth is one of the fastest coasters in the UK, reaching over 80mph while Saw – The Ride is based on the horror franchise and is typically billed as the ‘most terrifying coaster’ including a hall of horrors and vertical drops.  Accommodation comes in the form of shark-theme hotel that rises out of the lake within the park.

Birthday cake from scratch

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One of my school Mum’s had never made a cake, let alone a birthday cake. Her son was quite specific about he wanted too – A Lego style theme! So the heat was really on.

When she posted the cake of Facebook we were all rather surprised how great it really was. We asked her a few questions, and this may help you decide if this is something you would like to do?

Given that you’d never made a cake before, what made you decide to make your own cake instead of buying one?

I think there’s something about making things yourself which brings about a sense of achievement and satisfaction. I knew finding a cake with everything my son was currently into would be a challenge and so I decided to take on the challenge myself and add a Mummy’s personal touch! I did have a look at the price of cakes and felt I wasn’t able to justify the expense and so found it so much cheaper ordering what I needed from the internet. I took inspiration from google images and Pinterest and thought I’d give it a go.

What was the theme and why did you choose it?

It was a mix of Lego with a little touch of football and pirates! This was part of the reason why I decided to make it myself, as I wanted to incorporate all his favourite themes onto the cake and make it extra special.

How easy was it?

I did ask a friend to help with the sponge as I am no baker! I then iced the cakes and the cake board (after a couple of goes at it) and handmade the decorations. I wanted everything to be edible and so it was (except for the little Lego men). I know the way children love to pull bits off the cake and gobble them up! I made the decorations whilst in front of the TV a couple of nights before the actual party to make it more manageable

Would you do it again?

I would definitely do it again! Once you start a challenge like this, you’d be amazed at how rewarding it is and how creative you can actually be.

What was your son’s reaction to the cake?

I was up on the last night putting together all the final touches pretty late, but in the morning I showed my son and he hugged me and told me how much he loved it! To see his genuinely sincere reaction showed me he was impressed and I had passed! It was all definitely worth it just for that.

Making a birthday cake is of course a fair bit more work than buying it, but it can be a lot of fun, and as Sarah said herself, it’s a great way to involve your child in the party planning process. It’s always nice to have your own personal cake at the end of it for your child’s birthday party.

Hosting an outdoor children’s party

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Providing the weather holds, there is nothing more exciting for children than an outdoor party. Rather than being cooped up inside, the fresh air and additional space will do your guests good and give them new terrain to explore. Here are a few top tips if you’re thinking about hosting a children’s party in the garden or a hired outdoor space:

Plenty of food
An array of party foods will go down a treat. Try to ensure that you:

• Balance healthy and sugary snacks, avoiding too many E numbers
• Keep fluid levels up with regular drinks, particularly on hot days
• Provide shaded seating while children are eating

Games
No party is complete without games, and being outdoors will give you plenty of scope. Depending on the size of your garden and the age of the kids attending you could also arrange a:

• Treasure hunt
• Water balloon battle (best to advise for kids to have a change of clothes with them though)
• Messy flour and water game – where you have 2 tubs (one filled with water and the other with flour.) The kids have to use only their mouth to ‘fish’ out a sweet in a tub full of water and then they have to do the same in a tub of flour. Only once they do it with flour, they will end up with their faces covered in it- loads of fun!!! They must keep their hands behind their back at all times!
• Relay race
• Talent show – get the kids into groups and give them ideas of what they could do e.g. sing, do a funk dance they make up for themselves, a mini play, a mini x factor style competition, or whatever they like.
• Obstacle course – another fun idea is to set up some pegs either side of the garden with string either side and tell the kids that the string are laser beams that they have to crawl under, like a spy or just a cool obstacle course game. If you have garden toys, e.g. a slide (where they have to slide down the slide before coming back through the ‘laser beam maze’ or paddling pool (where they have to fish something out of the pool full of water and bring it back through the laser beam maze).

With a bit of imagination – a lot of fun can be had!!!

Kids Party Entertainment
Professional children’s entertainers can really take the pressure off you as a host as well as making the birthday boy or girl feel really special. We have plenty of entertainment packages that are perfect for a spring party or birthday celebrations.
Children’s party entertainers bring so much fun to any party and can include some great activities such as:

• Magic tricks
• Puppet shows
• Comedy
• Musical or dance-based activities
• Balloon modelling
• Exciting themes
• Science parties
• Clowns
• Discos and more

Children’s Party Themes
Introducing a theme can pull all of the above elements together. For example, if your children’s entertainers will be doing magic tricks, a magician or wizard theme goes down well. The children can dress up as their favourite character and the food and games could have a magical theme incorporated too. If you’re planning an outdoor treasure hunt, guests could come dressed as pirates and your children’s entertainers can include a cool pirate theme throughout.

Budding archaeologists

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If your child is into ancient History, then maybe an Egyptian party would be just the thing;

You could ask your guests to come dressed as an Egyptian (not only would it be great fun but also very educational)

There could be lots of crafty making (seeing as the Egyptians love to build things) why not have a Pyramid building competition which cardboard recycling could be put to very good use. All you need it glue, glitter pens and the children’s imagination to build an amazing Pyramid!!  

PARTY GAMES & ACTIVITIES;

Mummy wrap game;

Divide the children into 3 teams and had them wrap one person as a mummy. Best wrap in 5 minutes’ win.  You will need lots of toilet tissue, try and buy the more expensive stuff as the cheap tissue will rip easily.

Next game is a scavenger hunt. Divided into teams and gave them hieroglyphic clues which they had to translate. There are a lot of websites that give ways to translate hieroglyphics, but not all of them use the same letter-to-hieroglyphic translations.  Tell the children that archaeologists weren’t always given complete information!

The first clue led them to an archaeological dig site (the sand box). They had to dig up a ring, necklace, gold coins, and their next clue. Use one of the pyramids to give instructions — particularly, one item per person; I wanted everyone to get one of each.

The second clue took them to buckets that they had no idea what was inside.  There were all sorts of horrible feeling things inside for example, Jelly, baked beans and custard and they had to dig deep to get their clues!!

The third clue took them to the Nile River. Planks were laid out in the garden and pretend water was underneath them.  The idea is that they balanced and didn’t fall. At the end of the Nile was a crocodile’s nest. They had to get the eggs from the crocodile’s nest for their next clue. 

Final stop was Tutankhamun’s tomb, for their prize there were sweets and prizes all stuffed into a treasure chest 

KIDS PARTY FOOD;

Sandwiches and crisps were laid out and ice cream scooped into bowls, so just had to bring it out from the freezer.  Oh and of course a Pyramid Cake!!!