Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 You often hear new parents saying that they wish babies would come with an instruction manual, or that they could have had some training in how to bring up a child | We expect our nannies and nursery nurses to have qualifications and experience when it comes to looking after children, but as mothers we aren't expected to know anything! Another brick in the wall This glaring omission was brought home to me this weekend when my youngest son hit a ..read more

If there's anything that will help your child when they venture out into the world, it's good manners and politeness. We have some quick pointers on how you can teach these important values to your child | Most parents appreciate a child with manners, in fact everyone appreciates manners. Who wouldn't like to know that their child is polite and helpful when they aren't around! With so many external influences around, it's even more important to ..read more

Keeping your children safe and letting them have fun on Halloween can be difficult to balance, but with a few of these tips everyone can have a spooktacular night | It's that time of year again where children dress up as witches and goblins or their favourite cartoon characters. As Halloween becomes more and more popular around the UK, some parents are entering uncharted territory. From choosing costumes to discussions about stranger danger ..read more

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:00:00 I'm not going to make any friends here by admitting that I'm one of those people who normally cracks their Xmas shopping by the end of November | When I say I finish my Christmas shopping quite early, most people want to hit me. But there have to be some advantages to having OCD! This year, however, disaster struck. A back injury meant that I had to miss out on my "early bird" Christmas shopping trip with my sister. This is where I normally nail ..read more

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 10:00:00 I know that I will be shot down in flames and vilified on social media for saying this - but I'm tired of Brexit already | I don't know about you, but every conversation I have these days, whether over dinner, over a drink or at the school gates (and sometimes at the school gates with a drink - but that's another story), it's all about Brexit. Out of EU and out of Euro Whilst we are experiencing the inevitable shockwaves of leaving the EU, I am ..read more

Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:00:00 Happy New Year! Let's be honest, how many times have you heard or even uttered the phrase "I can't believe it's 2015"? You can't avoid it, but it's getting a little annoying now | Back to the FutureAs 15 comes straight after 14, it shouldn't come as any great surprise. But it does sound a bit futuristic doesn't it? It puts it into perspective when the film Back to The Future II sent the DeLorean car into the future, to the year 2015. The film ..read more

From the moment you find out your partner is pregnant to the day she gives birth - and beyond - your life will change in many ways. Here's how to get to grips with it all! | From day one, you'll be there watching as your partner's body performs the miracle of developing and giving life. Dads sometimes feel like they have been relegated to the sidelines, but taking an interest and playing an active role from the very beginning has a positive ..read more

There are always lots of purchases to make when you have a new baby or growing children, but one decision can have a lasting impact on ease of travel and mobility in the days, weeks, months and years to come | If you pick the wrong one, you'll find it doesn't fit in the boot or your car, or its too wide to go through the shop door, or it doesn't fold easily if you take public transport or that there just isn't enough space to carry a few extra ..read more

Learning through play is an important part of a child's development, helping them develop imagination and discover new and exciting adventures | Play is fun. Play is learning Through play, children learn basic skills such as language, creativity, problem solving and self-control. We understand the importance of role play either in a nursery setting or at home, so we asked the experts at The Great Little Trading Co for their thoughts on role play ..read more

The primary school curriculum has just had a big shake-up. What are the main changes and how will they affect your child? Here are all the important details you need to know | The new national curriculum will be statutory in your child's primary school this autumn. The national curriculum contains all of the content and attainment targets for the main subjects taught in English primary schools (Scotland and Wales have their own curriculums). We ..read more