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Happy holiday activities There are learning opportunities all around us, if you know where to look. We have put together some happy holiday activities to keep the kids entertained and learning this summer. |
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More rainy day activities Who needs sunshine when you've got MyChild's collection of creative holiday activities for a rainy day? |
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Rainy day activities It can be difficult finding things to do on a rainy day for kids. Keeping the children entertained during the school holidays is hard enough, and if it’s raining then the challenge is even greater. We have compiled a list of fantastic rainy day activities to keep the kids happy. |
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Cycling safety tips Here's some tips from LV=Streetwise to help keep your child out of harm’s way while they’re cycling and building their confidence on two wheels. |
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Top 5 UK staycations If the standard package holiday is losing its appeal then why not do something different with your family? Keep it local with our look at the top 5 UK holiday destinations with a difference. |
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As easy as riding a bike Learning to ride a bike (and falling off it) should be a normal part of growing up, shouldn't it? But some parents are delaying teaching their kids to cycle because of safety fears. Here's how to teach your kids to ride confidently and safely. |
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Camp Bestival: Oh what a weekend What a weekend. From the incredible Gruffalo stage show to the magical and eclectic House of Fairy Tales to Madness’s stunning performance, this was a family event that lived up to all expectations. |
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Fun science activities at home During National Science and Engineering Week, schools will be running activities to show that science encompasses many fascinating, kid-friendly subjects, such as space, wildlife and computers. Science can not only lead to well-paid and exciting jobs (think doctor, sports technologist, space craft engineer), it also opens up children’s minds to new ideas and encourages a curiosity about the world around them. Here are some fun and interactive activities that you can do with your child to inspire their interest in science. |
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Family walks to beat the winter blues Favourite family walks bring laughs, fun and memories to share. What could be better than exploring new journeys in the fresh air with your children unearthing new sights and experiences along the way? |
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How to prepare for starting school Should a child be able to write their name and do basic maths before they start school? One mother debates when formal education should start. |
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Where's Santa? Places to see Father Christmas this year Where can you see Santa this year? MyChild has teamed up with Let’s Go with the Children to bring you a selection of places to see him and have a word in his shell-like about what’s on your child’s Christmas list this year. |
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Back to School tips Going back to school brings on a mix of emotions. While children may feel excited at seeing their friends again, they may also be worried about what’s in store, especially if they are making the transition to “big school”, or facing important exams. These useful tips will help your child and you to prepare for going back to school – whether they’re moving up from nursery, going up a year, or going from primary to secondary school. |
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Children watching TV - How do you manage their viewing time? Are you worried about your children watching too much TV? How much television is too much? Do you feel that watching television offers benefits for your child? We take a look at how television in moderation can be used to support your child's learning. |
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Children's learning: How hard should you push your child? Do you worry about getting the balance right between your children's learning and playing? How pushy should you be? We take a look at how you can find a balance between work and play for your child. |
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Kids' views on children's computer games What do children really think about the amount of time they spend playing computer games? Do children's computer games encourage positive behaviour? Denise Roberts finds out. |
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How can play help your child's Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs? How can you best prepare your child for SATs Key Stage 1 and 2? It may come as a surprise to you but play can have a significant impact on your child's SATs learning. We tell you how. |
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Children's playdate etiquette Today when children play together, it's often known as a playdate. We have one mum's brilliant advice on playdate etiquette for you and your child. |
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The magical story-world of Michael Morpurgo Have you read your child any Michael Morpurgo books? We take a look at this fantastic storyteller's life and works AND have some terrific giveaways up for grabs! |
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What supervised indoor play offers your child Indoor play is not only great fun for kids but adventure play centres also provide huge health benefits with youngsters climbing, swinging, jumping, and pulling their way around the exciting play structures. They see it as play but they are in fact gaining 'Exercise in Disguise'. |
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Top 10 fun activities to get kids active Getting the kids away from the TV can be difficult, but there are plenty of ways to encourage them to lead healthier lives. Here are 10 ideas to inspire you. |
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Introducing the My Child family learning online shop We've launched our new online catalogue shop. Visit the site at http://shop.mychild.co.uk. |
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Do computer games pose a risk to children? Can playing computer games harm children, and if so in what way? Research and debate around this heated subject tend to get stuck on the ‘yes, no’ dithering seesaw. |
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Help your child learn about firework safety Fireworks are an exciting part of the winter months, but is your child aware of the fireworks safety code? We take a look at some practical ways your child can learn about fireworks and fire safety throughout the year. |
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Animation for children Maker of the global TV success Bob the Builder, Curtis Jobling says that kids can learn a lot through this type of filmmaking and it’s never been easier for them to have a go at animation themselves. |
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10 great Christmas shopping ideas for your kids Stuck for gift ideas this Christmas? We have teamed up with Toys, Games, and Gifts to bring you some great Christmas present ideas to treat your little ones over the festive season. |
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Teaching children circus skills Ever thought about how circus skills could benefit your child? In fact, circus skills offer children a unique and very fun learning experience which can help them later on in life. Ruth Breckman explains. |
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The history of children's TV While the future of children’s television remains in question, we’re taking a whistle-stop tour of the past, to remind you how enlightening, enriching and good it can be. |
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Help your child learn to save energy In recent years, we have all become increasingly aware of the need to save energy in our everyday lives. Energy saving not only supports the wellbeing of our planet, but also makes far better financial sense in our current economical climate. |
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Helping children develop good habits - part one Good habits have an important role to play in your child’s learning. A child who habitually forgets to complete homework, or is always late for school, or gets stuck on a groove that ‘learning is boring’ will be short-changed throughout their academic career… |
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Helping children develop good habits - part two We continue our feature on children's good habits, and the positive effects they can have on learning, health, and general outlook on life. We focus on older children as they enter the 'tween' years. |
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Imaginary friends Does your child insist that you set a place at the dinner table for a friend that doesn’t exist? Do you find your child insisting on the rights of an imaginary friend to the point of throwing a tantrum? |
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The importance of teaching your child teamwork The ability to work together with others as part of a team is not simply a skill needed at school, it is a vital skill used in all areas of life. School is, however, an excellent time to cultivate the teamwork ethos your child will then draw from throughout their lives. |
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Childhood friendships - should you intervene? Childhood friendships are such a critical part of growing up and school life, so when a disagreement leads to friends falling out it can end up affecting a child’s learning and desire to go to school. It is at that point that many parents worry whether to intervene or not, writes Danielle Weekes. |
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What's so educational about relaxation for children? Early starts, full school days, tests, deadlines, extra-curricular activities, homework, family time, fast-paced technological changes, umpteen choices… today's child has a very busy schedule. It's no wonder then that finding time for relaxation is as important for children as it is for adults. |
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Reading outside the book A child’s literacy skills are not exclusively bound to the confines of a reading book or story-time. Reading takes place all around us and is a big part of everyday life. From street-signs to restaurant menus, your child is reading constantly… even if not aware of this fact. |
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Walking as a sport for children Although you may not consider it a sport, walking is a physical activity which most children can participate in. Aside from being an enjoyable pursuit, it can also help improve children’s health. Even the least active child, who claims to lack any sporting aptitude, probably still finds time to walk from the sofa, to the games console, via the TV and back to the sofa. |
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The Importance of Children's Play Why is play such an important element of a child's life? Well, for a start play inspires fun and laughter and creates a happy family environment in which both children and adults thrive. It can also involve a different type of creative learning which is far removed from the academic environment of school. |
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So you Want your Child to Learn French? What are the benefits of your child learning a language from a young age? Get your child learning French and it will certainly give them a great advantage later on in their life, says James Charles. |
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Children's Activity Holidays: Summer Camps Summer Camps make excellent activity holidays for children. They offer children the chance to learn new skills, make life-long friends, and try unusual activities which they might not normally experience in daily life. |
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The Benefits of Summer Camps If chosen carefully, summer camp can do more than help your child discover their hidden talents - it can help fight obesity, develop friendships from around the world, open up the great outdoors and deliver you back a super confident child. |
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The Benefits of Play: Traditional Outdoor Games The sight and sounds of traditional games children once played outdoors have waned over the years, but with them go many learning benefits. |
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Creating a Space to Play Somewhere to become totally absorbed in your own make-believe world, concentrate on an intricate craft project, or charge around in a game of cops and robbers... every child needs one. Find tips, ideas and inspiration on creating the ideal space for your child to play in and remember to be creative - whether it's a whole room or a corner in the living area. |
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Teach your Child to Play Outdoors Over the years children's play habits have changed. Past generations of children spent many happy hours enjoying the benefits of playing outdoors and as adults look back fondly on these years. But in recent years, concerns about the safety of outdoor play have increased. So how do we encourage safer play outdoors? |
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The Educational Value of Boredom With school holidays ever on the horizon, many parents feel obliged to conjure up a fun-packed timetable of exciting activities and outings with which to keep their kids occupied for weeks on end. But have you ever stopped to think that a little boredom may actually be a good thing? |
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Playing Outdoors Every parent has witnessed the benefits of getting the kids away from their Playstation and playing outside in the fresh air. A day out in the sun, be it to the beach or a walk in a local green-spot, gives children to the opportunity to burn up excess energy and use their imagination to play in an outdoor setting. By the end of the day their spirits will have inevitably lifted, as will yours. |
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Hobbies to Last a Lifetime Children's activities and hobbies can be energetic or relaxing, performed in or outdoors, in company or solitary and range from the popular football to the bizarre insect watching - with this in mind, Crispin Andrews says there is an activity or hobby out there for everyone. |
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Craft Activities for Kids With school holidays always looming around the corner, many parents will constantly be worrying about what to do with the kids to keep them occupied and happy. Well here's an idea - how about using the holidays as an opportunity to get creative? |
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Bedtime Stories Once upon a time, in a land not so very far away, storytelling ruled. Today, as watching television, playing computer games and surfing the net take up most of our time, it's the bedtime story that best preserves that storytelling magic. Denise Roberts finds out why it's so special to read bedtime stories during your family time. |
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Eco-friendly Family Activities Conservation is essential to the survival of mankind and a concept we all need to know about. We take a look at some top eco-friendly family activities where learning about saving the planet is cleverly disguised as a fun day out for the whole family. |
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Juggling and Learning To most of us juggling is the art of balancing work, children and commitments - not tossing balls in the air. But can teaching our children how to juggle improve learning and be the way forward in a society where an ever increasing number of youngsters are struggling to cope with a conventional teaching system? |
