Whether a Grandparent or Aunty, or even a parent, babysitting a new born baby can be boring!  Here are a few tips to make it fun for both of you!

• Cuddle up with a good book:  It could be a kiddie book and you can read in a nice, quiet voice to the little bundle and enjoy a nice cuddle. It could be your own novel!  Try reading aloud and seeing how happy baby is just to be warm and safe and listening to your voice.
• Watch TV together and chat about what you see.  They will love the moving pictures, the sound and comfort of your voice and the attention!  A little bit of television is fine!
• Have a gentle massage.  Lie them down safely and tickle their toes, stroke their hands and gently give a massage.
• Count fingers and toes and get their hands moving.  Sing Round And Round the Garden and watch their delight!
• Have a sing: singing, and music, are a great comfort to a baby.  Listen to all sorts of music together, it needn't just be soft, baby music - as longs as it's not too loud.
• Get down on the floor and encourage crawling or playing depending on the age.  They will love the attention and to have someone new spending time with them.
• Carry on as usual: you can still get on with your regular tasks and jobs when babysitting.  If you make sure the baby is safe, you can leave their side.  Perhaps chatter as you do things  and talk through what you are doing.
• Go for a stroll: it's nice to get some fresh air even in winter, so wrap up baby and go for a walk whenever you can to get you out.  As long as baby is warm you will be fine!
• Have a nap: babies do get tired, so if you think they are getting sleepy, put them down for a nap.  Watching them when they sleep is just magical!

Walking to pre-school or nursery in the bad, autumnal weather can be  a real bore for little ones, especially those who are only just out of the buggy.  Here are a few ideas to perk up your walk together and do a bit of fun learning on the way!

Weathery Walk - walk the way you might in different types of weather.

• Trudge through snow
• Battle against raging rain
• Fan yourself in the heat of the hot sun
• Keep upright in the blowy wind

Colour-Spy - spot things that are certain colours.  Find 3 red things (traffic light, post box, car) etc.

Letter Think - think of things that begin with certain letters.  Name 4 things beginning with "d".  Even little ones can do this with come help.  Give a clue to help them get to a "d" word.

Wonkey Walks - Walk in different ways between the trees you pass.  So, walk like a frog to the next tree.  Then walk like a monkey to the next tree.

Tree Races - If you live on a quiet road you could race to the next tree.  See who gets there first.

Count the Steps - estimate how may steps you need to get to the next landmark (tree/traffic lights) and simply count how many steps you actually take.  How close were you?

Car Count - name a colour and count how many cars you see on the way of that colour.

Walking to school or nursery is a great, healthy way to start the day;  these ideas will make it fun too!  Have a good day!

Earlier this month, about 6,000 children took part in the BUPA Great North Run.  There's the junior section (9 - 14 year olds) and the mini section (3 - 8 year olds).  Of course the distance is shorter, and the pace is much slower than the 54,000 adults who take part in the main event, but that said, it's still great that so many kids are being encouraged to take part.

All the competitors, no matter how little (!), all get awarded a medal and a T-shirt just like the grown ups!  More importantly it gives them a goal to reach and the chance to feel they achieved something worthwhile.  What a brilliant thing to be involved in!  Congratulations to all who took part!

Of course, you don't need to do a marathon to get active.  Simply walking to school or to the shops every day is a great start.  Keep a note of how much you actually walk each week and you'll be amazed how it adds up!  Getting the kids involved from the start is a great way to get them in the mindset of walking rather than jumping in the car every time you go out!  It's healthy to get active; it's fun to be out and about and with fuel prices rising, it's cheaper too!

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!