London au pairs in the city over the festive period will no doubt be wondering what to do with their young charges in the coming few weeks – and the good news for them and the kids alike is that London at Christmas is a truly magical experience, with all sorts of activities and fun events to enjoy. But which to put at the top of the list? There are so many to choose from that you’ll need to admit to yourself that you can’t possibly see and do everything you want to – so here are just a few of the very best events and attractions at this time of year to consider making a serious priority. Enjoy ..read more

Many parents are finding it difficult to limit the amount of time their children spend using screens. That’s the finding of a new survey by Create Development, an agency that delivers PE training. The Lancashire Post reported on the research, which revealed that 29 per cent of parents find it difficult controlling the amount of screen time their youngsters have, with many worrying about the impact of too much time on computers, smartphones and tablets. According to the survey, 28 per cent of the parents polled believe their children prefer playing games online with their friends than playing o ..read more

Three-quarters of mums and dads in Britain think it is costing more to send their children to school every year. Parentkind’s Annual Parent Survey has revealed 76 per cent of parents believe they have to spend more on school expenses, and 51 per cent are concerned about the spiralling costs. This is hitting parents of children eligible for free school meals (FSM) harder, with 38 per cent admitting to feeling expenses rise compared with 31 per cent whose children are not given FSM. Chief executive officer of Parentkind John Jolly said: “It’s hugely concerning to see that the most disadvantaged ..read more

There are just a few days left of the school holidays, which means parents or au pairs in the UK will be busy buying uniform and stationery ready for their children to start the new term soon. However, they could be spending more than they bargained for, with the back-to-school market having increased by 36 per cent between 2017 and 2018, according to findings from Mintel. School uniforms alone typically set carers back £134 per child in 2018, a rise of six per cent from the previous year. While there are some cheaper options available these days, 79 per cent of parents prefer to spend more on ..read more

There are all sorts of reasons that people choose to get in touch with au pairing agencies to look for childcare work, but one big one that often attracts them to this particular job is the opportunity to travel – and do lots of it! If you’ve always loved the thought of working with children but don’t find the idea of teaching as a profession appealing for whatever reason, being an au pair overseas could be just the answer you’ve been looking for. Typically, you would live with the family whose children you’re looking after, so accommodation will often be covered, sure to be a big relief to ma ..read more

When the schools break up for the summer holidays, it’s tempting to spend lazy days at home with the family and to fall into bad habits when it comes to what you’re eating. But new research has found that it’s important to ensure you pay attention to your children’s diet over the summer, as well as encouraging them to be active. If you’re working as au pairs in the UK, you may want to find different ways of keeping the kids you’re looking after active. The Daily Post reported on research carried out by UK Active, which found that, on average, children return to school after the summer break 80 ..read more

The number of children identified as having a mental health issue has increased significantly since 2014/15, rising by 54 per cent in three years. According to the latest figures from Local Government Association (LGA), there were 205,720 cases of children with emotional problems in 2017/18, which is over 70,000 more than in 2014/15. Councillor Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “It is clear we are facing a children’s mental health crisis, and councils are struggling to provide the support young people so desperately need.” She implied this growth in ..read more

Giving young children small items that are dangerous to swallow could be life-threatening, and as many as 40 kids under the age of five end up in hospital every day in the UK from choking. This is according to findings from CE Safety, which revealed 14 infants have died in the last four years from obstructions. As a result, it is becoming one of the biggest causes of accidental deaths for children under five years old. A spokesperson for the organisation stated: “It’s inevitable – babies putting objects in their mouths. It’s their way of exploring the world around them. And while there is no w ..read more

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