Now summer is here, ice lollies pops are a great way to keep cool, but how about saving all the sticks and making some great crafts with them?  Simply wash them well after use and store them together until you lots to play with. If you can't wait that long, you can also buy them from craft shops!  Here are few ideas to get crafty with the little ones...

Pen holder: (You'll need lolly pop sticks, glue and cardboard tube)

1. Cut the tube so that it's just shorter than your sticks .
2. Cover the tube with glue.
3. Stick all the lolly pop stick onto the outside of the tube and allow to dry.
4. Decorate with paint or stickers.

Fairy Wand for a Doll: (You'll need lolly pop stick, card and silver glitter)

1. Cut the card into a star shape, decorate the sticks and star with glitter.
2. Allow to dry then attach the star to the end of the stick.  Magic!

Flower Garden: (You'll need green card, paint, egg carton, glue, play dough)

1. Paint the sticks green and attach leaves cut out from the green card.
2. Cut out cups from the egg carton and snip round the sides to make petal shapes: cut round or pointy shapes.
3. Decorate with paint to make into flowers.
4. Glue onto the sticks and display by sticking into a lump of play dough.

Puzzle: (You'll need 6 sticks, sticky tape and paint/pens)

1. Place the sticks next to each other and tape together.
2. Draw on a picture and colour it in.
3. Remove the tape.
4. Mix up the pieces and then recreate the puzzle!

Games: (You'll need 15 sticks and 5 different coloured paints).

1. Paint 5 sticks red, 4 sticks green, 3 sticks blue, 2 sticks yellow and 1 stick purple.
2. Mix them up and use them to practice counting, sorting, colours, make shapes, adding etc.

Sums, maths, numbers - what ever you choose to call it, we cannot deny that learning the basics about numbers and adding up is one of the most important things your child will learn.  Numbers are everywhere and play a great part in our lives.  Even if you consider yourself to be no mathematical genius, there is still loads that can be done to put our children on the right path when it comes to numbers.  Apart form actively helping them understand their numbers, it is great for their self esteem if a parent or carer shows an active interest and shows a positive attitude towards numbers.

Here are some tips to get involved with numbers from an early age.

1. Count steps when you climb stairs.  Practicing over and over is the way to reinforce numbers and counting.
2. Play games with your child: throw dice and count the dots, play snakes and ladders, dominoes and other number related games.
3. For older children look at money and the numbers on the coins and notes.
4. Look at door numbers when you go for a walk.  Predict what number the next house will be.
5. Do some physical games that involve scoring or counting.  How many balls can be thrown in the bucket?  How many goals did you score?
6. Make sure there are some number toys in the toy box: rulers, clock, counters and coins, tape measure, pack of cards.
7. Keep an eye out for various patterns as you go out and about.   Copy any designs you see or spot shapes in the design (floor tiles for example).
8. Look at clocks and calendars together.  Talk about time and days.
9. Do simple arithmetic.  Add up grapes at tea or sandwiches on a picnic.
10. Do cooking.  Make some simple recipes and weigh out the ingredients together.