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‘Healthy’ and ‘Halloween’ – two words that we rarely see together and despite Halloween being a fun opportunity for children of all ages to dress up in ghoulish costumes and roam the neighbourhood with their parents, collecting sweets and treats, most of us dread the inevitable sugar-rush that follows – usually right around bedtime! 

As lockdown restrictions are slowly lifted and the weather has shown big signs of improvement in June, it’s time to make the most of our newfound freedom. Hurrah!

It’s great that the first restrictions for lockdown have been relaxed, just in time for the start of the school Easter holidays. Does this mean you can have a family get-together this Easter? It certainly seems that way – providing the weather is kind to us, of course!  According to the government guidelines, outdoor gatherings

Ideas for bringing grandparents, parents and children together through art and activities as part of Children’s Art Week.

For the whole of spring, those picnics in the park that we all enjoy were sadly limited to our back gardens. COVID-19 restrictions also meant that we could only share the fun of a family picnic with people in our households too, which quite frankly wasn’t quite the same. Not having our closest friends, aunties and uncles and grandparents to share those family moments with us has felt like we have missed out on some special time.

What makes a good picnic in terms of filling that picnic basket? And which foods are best for our babies who at 6 months are starting their weaning journey? Happy Tums list their top 10 picnic foods and tips to ensure your day out is as fun and easy as possible.

Exploring the outdoors this Spring Now that Spring is in the air, there’s nothing like getting out and about with the grandchildren to brighten up your day. I don’t know about you but giving the grandchildren the freedom to run around and explore in the fresh air is just wonderful. We always hear lots in the papers and on TV about grandchildren not getting out as much as they did when we were younger, so let’s make the most of the outdoors and get up and out there. Here’s some of our favourite activities to do with our young ones: Pooh Sticks Head off to your local river or stream to enjoy this simple game. Find a bridge and a couple of sticks and drop them off one side of the bridge and see whose stick reaches the other side of the bridge first! This game never gets old! I know you know it but we need to say – always watch your grandchildren around water. Nature Art Head off to the park, woods or even your garden and see what you can find. Leaves, twigs, berries, flowers – they all make great items to create art with. Whilst collecting the leaves and twigs it’s lovely to chat to the grandchildren about what you’re finding. My grandson couldn’t believe that acorns fell off oak trees! When we get home, we set up the table and start getting creative. Use glue to stick some of your items on to a piece of paper and create a picture, use paint to create leaf art, or simply get the crayons and draw some of the things that you have seen. Treasure Hunt  On a piece of card draw pictures of things for the grandchildren to find and let them in to the back garden to explore (if it is safe to do so)… a pebble, a flower or even a feather. Don’t worry if your garden is quite plain, you can always hide things for the grandchildren to find. It’s great to see their face as they come back to you with all their treasure in their arms. You could even give a small reward for their efforts. Pebble Painting Whilst out and about with the grandchildren try and find some smooth pebbles, oval ones are great but you can make any shape work! When you get home use some paint to decorate the pebble. You can let the grandchildren just experiment or try something like painting the number of their age or the letter of their first name and if they are a bit older, they could even try something like our Ladybird! It’s best to coat the pebble with a sealant of some kind, we have used clear nail polish which has worked fine for the keepsakes the grandchildren have painted. The outdoors holds so many possibilities for the grandchildren to learn and explore. From activities like the above to a simple picnic or ride on a scooter, whatever you choose to do, you’re grandchildren are sure to create some wonderful memories they will treasure. Have fun! The Grandparent Hub

With the end of school term fast approaching, summer days out only are a hair’s breadth away. Here are some of our favourite beaches and parks for days out.

Do you love doing arts and crafts with your child, but can’t bear the tidying up? Well, like most parents, you’re not alone! However, the advantages of joining your child in this kind of activity far outweigh the negatives.