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Keeping Cool
With the recent heatwave, it’s been a struggle to keep the kids cool. And although it’s tempting to rush out and enjoy the sun while it lasts, it’s important to play safe to avoid sunstroke and overheating.
- Stay out of the sun between 11am-3pm as this is when it’s hottest. If you must be out and about, stay in the shade wherever possible.
- Keep children’s arms and legs covered up with light cotton fabrics and always make sure they wear a hat.
- Suncream is your friend this summer and you should never be without it, even if you go out for the day and it doesn’t look very warm. Apply 15 minutes before going out and again immediately on sun exposure. Re-apply every 1-2 hours, paying particular attention to the face, ears and back of neck.
- Have plenty of fresh drinking water to hand and choose watery foods like melon, peaches, pineapples and nectarines along with cucumber and tomatoes. Fresh salads and fruit salads make tasty lunches and teas.
- In larger Boots stores, suncare consultants are on hand to give advice on how to protect against the dangers of sun exposure and to recommend products suitable for different skin types.
- Try to relax and if they don’t want to eat something, never force the issue. If you’re trying a new food, always combine it with one that you know they enjoy. Strange vegetables may not seem so scary if they are nestling next to a comforting blob of mashed potato!
Stockist
John Lewis 08456 049049 www.johnlewis.com
Laura Ashley 0871 230 2301 www.lauraashley.com
Summer Fun
Now that the schools have broken up, there are plenty of opportunities to spend some time together as a family doing all the fun things you never seem to have time to do. Even if you can only grab a couple of days a week, here are our top tips for great days out.
- Take a football and a picnic to the local park and spend an afternoon kicking the ball around. Sometimes a breath of fresh air and heaps of space to run around is all it takes to keep them happy.
- Invite some of your children’s friends round for a play date. This can be especially helpful if their parents need to work or have things to do. Get the paddling pool and sand pit out, and let them use their imagination. When lunchtime comes, serve sandwiches and drinks on a rug in the garden.
- Go to your local train station and find out about reduced admission to attractions if you travel by train. Lots of theme parks, zoos and farms offer this service.
- Visit your nearest maize maze. There are plenty around the country and now’s the time to go as the maize is at full height. Children will love getting lost in the maze and there are usually helpers to sort out those who really are stuck. Look out for tractor and trailer rides, too.
- Spend a day at the seaside. It’s the cheapest way to enjoy the sunshine and once the paddling and sandcastles have finished, why not challenge the children to make a sand person or sand village using pebbles, shells and things they find on the beach.
- If you have friends you haven’t seen for ages, arrange to meet them half way. Visit www.meethalfway.co.uk - this online directory and route finder will locate suitable venues anywhere in the UK. It will even provide maps and directions from both starting points.
Stockist
John Lewis 08456 049049 www.johnlewis.com
Laura Ashley 0871 230 2301 www.lauraashley.com
Party Time
Your child's birthday is a special time, so make it a day to remeber with a party for family and friends. You don't have to splash out either, as there are plenty of ways to provide fun without forking out.
- Choose a fancy dress theme, as this will make it easier to plan around. Boys love anything like pirates, cowboys or superheroes while girls like fairies and princesses.
- For the cake, check out your local library for books on novelty cakes. Urchin is also a great place for mail order cake tins, moulds, candles and cake stands.
- Children love games so devise a few that will fit in with your party theme. Treasure hunts are always great fun. Draw simple maps and hide tokens or paper coins in various places until they reach the treasure, which could be a box containing party bags for everyone. Pin the tail on the monster or the wings on the fairy is aslo a favourite, as are musical bumps and statues and pass the parcel.
- A party table laden with goodies is a real treat. Forget the healthy eating plan for one afternoon and indulge them with crust-freesandwiches, mini sausages, fruit platters, cupcakes and crisps. For a really special treat, serve ice cream in cones.
- For the party bags, why not try somthing different with packets of seeds for the garden (Woolworths has a good selection), badges, balloons and stickers.
- Dont forget to take lots of photos - your children will ebjoy reliving the day afterwards and they make a great addition to a 'thankyou' letter for all those presents.
Stockist
Babyface 01483 720734 www.babyface.uk.com
Urchin 0870 112 6006 www.urchin.co.uk
The Natural Home
A clean, chemical-free home is something we should all aspire to and it’s not difficult to achieve. Using a few simple measures to cut down on dirt around the home means you won’t need to rely on powerful chemical cleaners:
- Water is still one of the best ways of removing dirt whether it’s on pans, glasses, cookers or floors.
- Keep a stock of natural cleaning aids in your cupboard – pure soapflakes, additive-free liquid soap, baking soda, table salt, steel wool, a hard nailbrush and lemon juice.
- To clean windows, simply rub the glass with a piece of crumpled newspaper and a solution of white vinegar and water.
- Remove marks from the carpet by sprinkling the stain with baking soda. Leave to absorb then vacuum.
- To remove limescale in the bathroom, rub half a lemon around sinks, baths and taps.
- Rosamond Richardson’s book Home Hints & Tips is packed with essential advice (Dorling Kindersley, £12.99).
Essential contacts:
Aqua Ball. Tel: 020 7289 2121. www.aquaball.com
Auro Organic Paint Supplies. Tel: 01452 772020. www.auroorganic.co.uk
Eco Solutions. Tel: 01934 844484. www.ecosolutions.co.uk
Ecos Organic Paints. Tel: 01524 852371. www.ecopaints.com
Ecover: www.ecover.com
Greenfibres. Tel: 0845 330 3440. www.greenfibres.com
Method Home: www.methodhome.com
Natural Eco Trading. Tel: 01892 616871. www.greenbrands.co.uk
The Green Shop. Tel: 01452 770629.www.greenshop.co.uk
The Healthy House. Tel: 01453 752216. www.healthy-house.co.uk
Please take a moment to look at our range of giant, themed room stickers. The quick, easy and fun way to decorate your child's room!
Playroom Checklist
With a little creative thinking you can turn your child’s playroom into a magical den that will encourage them to use their imagination. Even if the room is on the small side, you can still divide it up into specific areas with a different activity in each.
Make sure there is somewhere to relax; a reading corner perhaps with squishy beanbag or floor cushion and a shelf or book case filled with colourful books – both factual and fantasy.
You don’t have to splash out on a whole stack of new books – your local library is a great source as well as second-hand shops, jumble sales and car boot fairs.
Children should be encouraged to be creative so an easel, blackboard or small table where they can paint, chalk or crayon is ideal. You can buy waterproof mats, which can go underneath if you’re worried about the carpet.
Fill a plastic storage box with inexpensive musical instruments – Early Learning Centre sells a good range of tambourines, shakers and rattles from as little as 99p. Or why not make your own? Spend a rainy afternoon making your own with the children. Empty food containers like sandwich boxes make great maracas when filled with rice or dried pasta.
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