SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: 60 Activities to Keep Children Entertained at Home

After only three weeks back at school after lockdown in the UK and the Easter Holidays are already almost here! Inset the panic of how we're going to keep the children entertained at home once again. From the 29th March 2021 two households can meet outdoors, which means that small playdates can happen in gardens or at the park again. But other than that we are still mostly advised to stay local and typical school holiday days out (zoos, farms, theme parks etc.) are still all shut. As someone who likes to plan in advance and considers preparation as key I thought I'd put together a whole host of different activities that will keep children entertained over the school holidays, whether that be the upcoming Easter holidays or looking forward to the longer summer holidays.

PARENTHOOD: Organisational Tips for Going Back to School after Lockdown

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Three months into 2021 and we are finally starting to see the end of the third lockdown in the UK and the second lockdown that involved having all schools closed to the majority of pupils. The last time our children were at school was in 2020, so it is fair to say WELL DONE to everyone who has just got through the past few months of home learning. It's been a rollercoaster to say the least, but now that my eldest is back at school and my middle child is back at pre-school the house is a lot quieter. I have to admit I miss the chaos, the feeling of being so involved in Isabella's learning and the extra 'bonus' time together, but seeing them with their friends again made me realise how important school/pre-school is for them. 

PARENTHOOD: Why I'll be homeschooling my own way and you should too

What a start to 2021. Not exactly the positive 'Happy New Year' we were all so hoping for after the experience of 2020. Yet we find ourselves here and all we can do is make the most of it I guess. Lockdown #3 is here in the United Kingdom and once again we are being told not to leave our local area, home school our children and most importantly stay at home in order to save lives. It's vital that we do do this, as the NHS is already at saturation point with the 'worst yet to come'. However, after five or so months of homeschooling in 2020 I didn't think for even a minute that I'd ever need to home school again. Perhaps completely naively, but it was a real shock when Boris Johnson announced that the schools were shutting for the foreseeable future. Like so many, the shock and sheer panic set in, however this time we all had the experience of last time weighing on our minds too. The juggle looks different for every single one of us, but there is no doubt about it it is there for everyone. 

HOW TO: Easy Decoration Ideas for a DIY Frozen Cake

There is no denying the popularity of Frozen; the characters, story lines, spin offs and endless merchandise are loved by children of all ages. My two daughters are big fans, so when Poppy turned three years old this year she requested a Frozen inspired day and cake. Embracing the challenge I started to look into Frozen cake designs on Pinterest, but was a bit overwhelmed at the idea of having to roll out fondant icing and cover a cake myself. Poppy's birthday was back at the start of summer, so we were still in lockdown and it wasn't very easy to just nip to a shop. I knew the cake needed to 'wow', yet be easy to put together and relatively quick too because lockdown life meant making a cake secretly was a real challenge!

CHRISTMAS: The Ultimate Gift Guide for Children 2020

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The gift options for children are vast and can be overwhelming at times. The television adverts, posters, endless toys in shops etc. all inspire the present possibilities for children. However, actually deciding which ones are worth the money and will be played with for longer than a couple of minutes can be the tricky part as a parent. In this gift guide I have put together a wide range of presents that would suit an array of ages, interests and price points. I do also have a £10 and under stocking fillers gift guide, if you're looking for slightly smaller gifts too. The excitement children have for Christmas is part of the reason it is such a magical time of year, so I always find it really special putting together my children's presents each year. Imaging their excited little faces as they open them is just the best feeling, isn't it?  

CHRISTMAS: Gift Guide for Toddlers 2020

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The world suddenly becomes so much bigger when our little ones become toddlers'; there's so much to explore and discover that it makes buying gifts for Christmas really exciting. Once babies become toddlers they are more aware, interested in 'playing' with toys and learn at such an impressive rate. I have to say that buying presents for toddlers has to be one of my favourite ages because there is just so much choice and you can start to appeal to their personal interests too. This year I have tried to include a whole range of gift ideas within this Gift Guide, so that it covers all price points and interests, while being mindful that the world we live in at the moment isn't what it used to be.