New research has found that one in ten children will be obese in the next five years - what a staggering statistic!  Research carried out at the University of London studied statistics between 1995 and 2007.   The health survey for England provided the data which takes a sample of UK households.

If the trend continues, then researchers predicted that 1 in 10 boys aged between 2-10 will be obese by 2015, and approximately 1 in 9 girls.  In lower income families the statistic was slightly worse. They said  'these increases will affect the lower social classes to a larger extent'.

The research was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health - let's hope the predictions don't become reality.  It's so important to get kids up and moving from an early age.

Children who are overweight at a young age risk greater likelihood of health problems in later life, including diabetes and heart disease.  Children who are more active in their first few years are statistically more likely to maintain an active lifestyle when they are older.

There is so much that parents and carers can do and its one area where you don't need to spend much money.  Going to the local play park, setting off on nature walks round your neighbourhood, heading off the woods and climbing on fallen tree trunks, even walking or scooting to school instead of driving.  Enjoy an active lifestyle with your children and they will benefit for years to come.  Premium Members of ToucanLearn can search for 'Physical Development' activities 'Outdoor' and find lots of fun games and activities to do outside, specifically aimed at the capabilities of their children!

New research brings consensus to the idea that the dinosaurs were wiped out after a phenomenal asteroid collision sited at what is now the Yucatan Peninsular in Mexico - this is the stuff of boys' imagination, combining two fascinating boundaries of knowledge: dinosaurs and space.

Although your little ones are probably too young to comprehend the reality of either space or dinosaurs, why not at least introduce these ideas?  No matter where you live you probably aren't that far from a museum that has exhibits on at least one, if not both, of these topical areas.  Plan a visit and activities around one of these two areas!

Space

To foster an interest in space, take your little ones outside after dark to observe the moon and stars; explain that every star is like our sun but so far away that they appear to be tiny.  Talk about concepts of near and far based on things you can see nearby, explain how further objects appear to be smaller than nearby ones.

Introduce the idea that we live on a planet called Earth and that there are lots of other planets in space but so far away that we can't see them.  Look at a map of the world and describe how we have lots of countries and lots of sea, and perhaps name some of the countries that your little ones might have heard of.

Create a spaceship out of old bottles, boxes or cartons and encourage your kids to go off exploring the universe!

Dinosaurs

Time is a very confusing and abstract concept.  Children struggle to distinguish 'today', 'tomorrow' and 'yesterday', so having them conceptiualise dinosoars roaming the land hundreds of millions of years ago is going to be a challenge!  But you can explain that dinosaurs were like giant monsters and that there were lots of them a long, long time ago!

Find pictures of dinosaurs in a book, online, or best of all, in a sticker book, and look at the different creatures.  Point out their different characteristics such the styles of their legs, tails, horns; maybe some of them have funny necks and small heads, others might have huge teeth; lots walk, some fly, others swim.  Study the pictures and tell your children their names.  See if they can pronounce the really tricky ones - to them the sounds may be no more alien than many of the other words and phrases they hear every day.

Why not make a dinosaur park?  Draw and cut out your own dinosaurs, make more out of card or old bottles, and see if you can create a dinosaur menagerie.

 

It has been said that Grandparents are taking the lead when it comes to teaching our children traditional values and standards of behaviour.   Over half of those questioned said they learned good manners and values from their grandparents.  Many considered their grandparents to be like second parents, and said that they considered the parents to be confidants.

As the structure and dynamics of families change, it seems that grandparents are now playing an even greater role in children's lives.  Grandparents provide more and more childcare, support in financial or emotional ways and seem tp play an increasing role in the family life.

However, the role of grandparent changes as the children grow.  They may be carer in the beginning, baby sitter as they are older and friend and teacher as they grow up.  Here are a few ideas of the roles a grandparent can play.

Respected ancestor: grandparents are our link with the past.  They are the head of the family and living proof of the family's history.  They can talk about 'the old days', share stories of how life used to be and create a whole new world for little ones who love to listen to their grandparents (often embellished!) tales.

Friend: children feel happy to discuss things with grandparents who often appear more relaxed and permissive than parents.  Children seem more likely to discuss things freely with grandparents and even talk about injustices that they feel with their parents.

Hero: being older, wiser and having lived for so many years, children can see grandparents as their heroes, full of stories and experiences of days gone by.

Teacher of practical skills: they can teach how to polish shoes, how to skip, how to knit, how to do the washing-up.  Grandparents have so many skills and the time to teach them!  They therefore become a role model for children.  They can can be a mentor and guide children in a spiritual way.

Constant, reliable focus: in a world where divorce and separation is becoming more and more common, children look to grandparents as a constant in their life.  They provide a nurturing and reliable place to go and feel wanted and cared for in an unconditional way.

Teachers of social skills: teaching children how to behave in public, how to look after themselves and how to communicate with adults.

Playmate: the magic that a grandparent can bring to a little child's life is priceless!  The simplest of tasks become an adventure with a bit of inspiration and the fresh take on a situation that a grandparent can have.  Children adore the excitement that grandparents can create and the games they have together.

In short, the role of grandparent has many layers, and indeed changes over time.  Being a grandparent is what you make it and with a bit of time and thought it can be such a positive inspiration and a vital part of a child's life.

You don't need fancy toys or equipment in order to be a good grandparent, though.  You don't need lots of brilliant ideas and complicated activities lined up for a visit.  You just need some time, a little creative thinking and be willing to listen to what your grandchildren ask you for.  The most important thing a grandparent can offer is a friendly ear and someone to listen!

 

Birds are wonderful to watch and with a little encouragement can become part of your the family!  If you don't fancy a dog or a cat as s pet, then, why not care for some wild birds instead?  Children will love spotting them, naming them, watching them feed, looking at their different colours and you can even draw some together.

How to invite the birds into you garden
Fix a bird box into a hedge or tree depending on which sort of box you buy and what type of bird you wish to attract.  There are some 5-6 million bird boxes in the country now and as birds' natural habitat declines they are relying more and more on our help.

Bird boxes
They need not be expensive.  There are about 200 different types of bird box on the market.  Some even have hidden cameras so you can spy on the resident of your bird box.  However, you can pick up traditional boxes from garden centres or you can try and build your own if you are handy!  Once in place, you then have to watch the box and see who moves in!

Bird feeders
There are all sorts of bird feeders available.  If you have squirrels in your area, you may have to opt for a squirrel-proof feeder as they can be very crafty and manage to get away with all the bird feed!  Many birds will come on to feeders even if situated close to you house.  So if you don't have a garden, then put a couple of feeders at the window or on your balcony and you may still attract visitors!

Naming the birds
Once you are getting birds into the garden, you can start spotting them and finding out what they are called.  You can go online and discover the breeds, or buy a children's spotter book or a sticker book.  See how many different types of birds there are in your garden and keep a note of  what you see.

Interesting facts about some common garden birds you'll see

1. Blackbirds

• Male are black and female are brown
• Blackbirds eat worms from the lawn and scratch around in leaf debris for insects
• They have a lovely tuneful song

2. Blue Tits

• Blue tits eat caterpillars, nuts and seeds
• They nest in trees and bird boxes
• They usually stay up in the trees rather than down on the ground

3. Robins

• Male and female both have red breasts,  young are all brown
• They are normally found alone rather than with other robins
• They love to sing
• They eat worms, seeds and insects

4. Sparrows

• Brown, black and white feathers, if they have a black bib, they are male
• They live near humans and eat seeds and scraps
• They are less common now than they used to be

Out and About
Taking interest in birds is great for children.  Even when you take them out and about, keep an eye of for birds you recognise and ones that are new to you!  Try look at the colour of their feathers and then draw them together when you get home.

Children deserve to experience going out to eat, if that is what you want for them. You have every right to take them into a restaurant and never feel embarrassed in doing so, as long as its a place that welcome's welcomes children.

However, going out to lunch or dinner may fill some parents with dread: how would their little ones behave in public? But, be bold, follow the few tips below and they may surprise you!

1. Take a few small toys to entertain while you wait. Don't necessarily buy new, perhaps find a few buried in a draw that you haven't seen for a while.
2. Go to a restaurant that has a child menu. Then you won't feel uncomfortable because if there's a child's menu, they welcome children and you have every right to be there!
3. Make sure the venue has all the facilities you need: baby change, etc.
4. Ask for what you need, don't hesitate, as the staff will be happy to help if it means a more smooth meal! Lots of napkins, teaspoons to eat with, a straw to drink with etc.
5. Order the children's meal to come first. They can start eating straight away even if your meal is not ready. In fact, order all your meals as quickly as you can so the wait for you all is not too long.
6. For little ones that may be super hungry, bring a couple of snacks or finger foods to keep them going. If you have none, ask the a little bread or raw vegetables while you wait.
7. Eat at the approximate time you'd normally eat so your routine is not too mixed up.
8. If you have a newborn, don't be shy about feeding at the table if you can do it discretely, or asking for bottles to be warmed.
9. If you book a table make sure you reserve a high chair if you need it a tell the restaurant you'll have little ones. They may reserve a larger area for you.
10. Have a practice at home: set up a restaurant and pretend one day at home!
11. Have a trial run. Go to a coffee shop and just have coffee and a muffin one morning. See how that goes.
12. Explain what you expect from your children if they are a bit older, and tell them what it will be like so they are more prepared.
13. Choose something from the menu that they will eat rather than be adventurous. You want them to eat, after all!
14. Start them young. Don't put off going out if you want to because you think your baby is too little.

Be bold!   Bon appetite!

 

Children love the responsibility of ongoing projects, diary projects make for wonderful activities that you can dip into a little bit each day.  Diary projects are great for identifying slow change over long periods.  Buy a little notebook or staple some sheets of paper into a booklet.  Select your project and each day, once a week or every couple of weeks, make an observation on your project and have your child draw what they see or capture elements of what you are observing.  Take photographs and stick them into your diary.

Here are some project ideas:-

• Plant a sunflower in a pot and observe it growing.  After initial planting, it will be a few days before anything appears but when it does you'll observe daily change for several days.  After the stem has unfolded from the seed, measure it each week and draw it in your project book.
• Plant cress seeds or mung beans in a little pot and grow them on a windowsill.  These little plants grow very quickly and you can observe them each day.  Draw what the plants look like and note how tall they are.  You can even eat them at the end of the project!
• Watch the transition from winter to spring and into summer.  Every two weeks draw a picture of the trees.  At first they will be bare, then buds will appear, they will flower and at the same time, new leaves will start to grow.
• Monitor the weather, each day draw symbols to show what weather you are experiencing; is it rainy, sunny, cloudy, snowy?  Is there a lot of wind?  Is it hot or cold?
• Keep a note of birds frequenting your garden or park.  Go out every few days and note down what birds you see.  Talk about their colours and explain that this is how you can identify them.  See how many different types of bird you can spot over the course of a few weeks.
• Make an activity diary, have your children draw pictures of the activities that they undertake.  Draw any models that you make, draw a picture for days out, stick in pictures from brochures and so on.
• Learn a new letter, number or word each day.  Write it in your diary and draw pictures to help remember the meaning.

Diaries offer a great way to sustain attention on slow changing things surrounding your children and give a sense of purpose that your children will simply love!  You might run projects just for a week, or you might keep one going for months.  There's no reason why you can't have lots of projects on the go at any one time - why not have a different project for each day of the week?!

Christmas is approaching, and with that comes Pantomime season - that peculiar art form that dominates British theatres over the New Year and has children crying with laughter.  For our international readers, a word of explanation is probably required!  'Pantomime' harp back to ancient Greece, 'panto' meaning 'all' and 'mime' from mimic; in ancient times it was a low form of theatre, almost a review that satirised traditional theatre.  In Victorian England it became a popular form of entertainment with traditional stories told with comedy, satire, song, dance and much merriment!

Panto is full of tradition: there is a 'principle boy' played by a female star (Robin Hood, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Dick Whittington etc); there's an old dame or 'baddie' played by a man in drag (Cinderella's stepmother, the wolf in Red Riding Hood or the evil witches in Snow White and Sleeping Beauty).  There are funny songs set to well known tunes, often updated to include parodies on current events and aimed at the adults (no doubt MP's expenses and bankers bonuses will feature this season!) and there's lots of audience participation.  Most panto's even throw in the pantomime horse with obligitary jokes about who's at the head and who's at the back end!  Yes, panto is a riot!  Until recently local pantomime's wowed their audiences with B, C and D-list celebrtities, but even A-list celebs are in on the act now, ever since Kevin Spacey hosted panto at the Old Vic, starring leading thespian Sir Ian McKellen as Widow Twankey in 2005.

Pantomime is good old fashioned family fun, and you'll see children from as young as two in the audience.  Is it appropriate for your children?  There's less pressure than traditional theatre for children to have to sit still for the duration, the themes are suitable for young children.  Beware that young children may be scared by some of the bad characters, and there may be pyrotechnics involved.  Check with your theatre's box office as to what they deem to be a suitable age to attend.  Certainly by three and four years old, children are able to get into the swing and enjoy a fun afternoon or night out!

Just because the weather has turned cold, damp, windy and rainy, don't be tempted to jump into the car and take the boring (albeit easy) option to get around!  There are a host of ways to enjoy even the ugliest winter weather if you and your children just wrap up, and get out and about!

Children grow and develop so much during their first five years, so its really important to encourage physical activity.  Walking in the rain, splashing in muddy puddles, kicking leaves, going on a windy walk somewhere exposed, are all great ways to turn a simple stroll into an adventure!

Getting kids moving is about keeping them fit and healthy, maintaining a healthy weight and getting them into a routine of regular exercise.  It's also about building co-ordination and spatial awareness.  Yes, you can climb the tree or roll down the slope.  Clothes and jackets were made for washing so don't hold back even if its muddy!

Being out and about also builds confidence, and can inporve social and communication skills. Plus it has been shown to improve concentration.

Probably the best way to inspire older kids is to take the lead!  Take up a new sport or show the kids you're not afraid of a bit of frost, by being the first to reach for your thermals when its cold and leading the team's adventure.  Reward them too with the promise of some steaming hot chocolate or warm milk or blackcurrant juice when they get home.

And of course, and possibly most important to a young family, going on a walk together, getting tonnes of fresh air and generally tiring the kids out has the marvellous result of encouraging  the children to have a deep and restful sleep!  Enjoy!

Mum's that aren't working tend to have a busy social live revolving around their babies - have you thought of starting a book club for toddlers?  Meeting up with other Mum's is great because it gets you out, and introduces your children to others of a similar age.  Although you don't need an excuse any greater than 'coffee', having a focus helps you to establish meeting on a regular basis.  Start a toddler book club and this will help you to meet routinelywhilst educating your children.

Each week, select one mum member to choose a book to 'study' - it may be just a picture book, a board book or any story book.  Take turns meeting at each other's houses, and after a bit of play, all settle down into a circle with your children and have the lead mother go through the book, reading it aloud to all the children and other mum's.  As you go along, look at the pictures and point out the characters, and any objects mentioned in the story.  At the end of the story, have a discussion about the story and ask questions about the characters, and what happened.  Ask the children what they would have done if they were in the various situations protrayed in the story.

A toddler book club will introduce your children to the idea of sitting still in a group and listening to stories - something that they will do many times when they start nursery and school.  The club will also encourage them to listen to understand because they will want to be able to answer the questions.  They will extend their vocabulary as they will be learning new words, and they will learn participation through the discussion and build their own confidence.

Tell us if you already run a book focused activity for toddlers, or if you start one, and we can feature your group in our newsletter!

Meeting up with other mums, with your babies and toddlers, in cafes and restaurants is a fun part of raising kids. Don't be embarrassed if your babies make a bit of noise, if the restaurant has high chairs and serves children's food then they expect to cater for young children, and noise is part and parcel of what they are! There will be instances where a child is too unsettled in a restaurant and you may feel you need to abandon the outing, but generally a stressed baby can be calmed and you can enjoy the visit without causing too much of a problem to other customers. Attitudes to babies varies greatly across cultures - in much of Mediterrenean Europe, babies can be found accompanying families in restaurants into the middle of the night, and they are doted on by waiting staff and made very welcome. Unfortunately this attitude is only slowly coming round in other countries where a more traditional attitude of 'babies should be seen and not heard' has sometimes prevailed.

Swimming is a great activity for you and your little ones.  But, so many women refuse to shimmy into their bathing costumes because of a low self body image.  Rather than seeing a swim as a healthy and relaxing time with baby, toddler or pre-schooler, so many mums dread that mad dash from the changing rooms into the pool so they simply don't go!  This means that many chidren are growing up not having had much contact with the water - which is not good at all.  Instead, see swimming as a great chance to have a splash around with your little ones; lots of cuddles and bouncing in the water together!  You don't have to go every week, just set a goal perhaps once a month to start with and see how you enjoy it.  Swimming need not be a fearful excercise for anyone!

If you are nervous of revealing your curves, go off peak where there are fewer people in the pool.  And remember, no one sees you once you're under water anyway!  You don't need to be a great swimmer either: have a splash and a fun time in the shallow end of the pool.  If you think you'll get bored, take along some floating toys to play with.  There may even be kiddie lessons at your local pool - so pop along and see what's going on.  Your little will love the water - you may even really enjoy the visit too!

There are lots of attractions for older children, such as soft play, theme parks and farms, whilst there's seemingly little for babies, but look around and you'll find there are plenty of activities for babies too! Babies will go almost anywhere and do almost anything, they are, after all, largely pram-bound and to them everything is excitingly new. Many activities designed for babies are community or group based, such as meeting with other mum's at toddler groups, attending baby massage groups and baby swimming lessons. If you find there's not a lot going on in your area, why not be a proactive mum and set up your own local baby groups? Even if there seems to be a dearth of baby activities, there's probably no shortage of babies. Make sure that you don't find yourself imprisoned in your own home for the first few months after having a baby, it will really help you to get out and meet and talk with other mums. Your baby will also enjoy the company of other babies, even though they don't interact or play together until they are much older.

Nursery rhymes have their place, but don't forget to also introduce your children to the music you like to listen to!  If your thing is classical music, then get them listening to Mozart.  If you prefer ABBA, then have a dance to Mamma Mia!  Get up and have a boogy too -  especially if no one is looking!

Music can have a calming effect.  Babies respond to music in the womb, even before they are born and even more so when they are newborn.  Play something soothing and sit comfortably to listen together.  When baby is trying to sleep, some nice quiet music can help to set the mood.

And, if your little ones get to like the music you like, it means when you're on a long journey you'll be able to listen to your musical choices and not endure endless hours of "Old McDonald Had A Farm", "Wheels On The Bus" and other classic, but nonetheless tiresome, nursery rhymes as you drive.  Instead, you'll be singing along to music you all like!

 

 

Lots of families visit local parks frequently during the summer months.  Keep things fresh and exciting by playing some new games.  Take along a kite to fly or maybe a boat to float on a pond.  Throw pebbles into the water or try to hit leaves of plants on the opposite side of the river bank.  Make a 'secret camp' in the bushes.  Don't forget the ducks - take along any stale bread and give the ducks a feast.  Or, take along a picnic and enjoy your own feast.  Perhaps try something new: pitta breads, or wraps for a change from sliced bread.  Hunt for different leaves or special pebbles or pine cones, collect them up, take them home and make a collage from all the different things you find!

Does it ever seem that you're constantly telling your children "no"? Don't run too fast, don't climb because you'll fall, stay near me in case you get lost... So, give the children a taste of freedom and head to some local woods or parkland where they can run wild a bit and enjoy some freedom. As long as you can see them at all times - and there is no real danger around - let them play for a while without your intervention and see how they enjoy spending some time free of constraints. Running around for a bit is good for them and will probably wear them out too! Study nature with them, collect some large leaves, pine cones, interesting twigs and other natural debris and use them to make craft collages or models when you get home.