The Big Bang Explodes Into Life

London ExCeL event aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers

This March, The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair is preparing for record numbers of people to take part in what is the UK’s biggest ever FREE celebration of science and engineering for young people.

Thousands have already registered to attend the science extravaganza at ICC London ExCeL from 10 – 12 March, and organisers are urging families and schools to register now for free tickets. The 10 and 11 March are for schools with Saturday 12 March open to the public.Aimed at unleashing passion and excitement in the next generation of scientists and engineers, the large-scale event will host 120 interactive activities, exhibitions and live shows, as well as the finals of the National Science & Engineering Competition.

Headline acts include live performances from BBC One’s Bang goes the Theory and an explosive line up of daredevil experiments from Sky TV’s Brainiac Live! TV’s favourite fictional duo Wallace and Gromit will also be bringing their ‘World of Invention’ roadshow to The Big Bang, where visitors can get creative at the clay station.

To show just how fun and inspiring science and engineering can be, other show-stopping activity zones include:

Go Global

• Discover how to weld big structures using chocolate 
• Test your robotic skills by designing and programming a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robot to help discover solutions to real world problems 
• Join geoscientists to make your own earthquake and try your hand at fossil hunting

 The Next Factor

• Find out how the liquid crystals in your LCD TV can be used for bullet-proof vests
• Feel Good Vibrations with a workshop designed to uncover the weird science behind sound
• Meet real-life astronomers who have turned their curiosity for the universe and life beyond earth into a career

Body Talk

• Take a look at your blood up close and visit a Stem Cell Lab of the Future
• Have a go at handling real bionic implants and uncover where they fit in the body
• Step inside the BodPod and discover your body shape and why what you eat matters

Energise

• Use your pedal power to help generate electricity! Challenge your friends to see who can create the most energy
• Find out how Algae can be used to produce hydrogen, electricity or other forms of green energy

Capital Hall

• Get in the fast lane and see how McLaren are using the latest technologies to create a range of high-performance sports cars. Feel the power and take your seat inside some of its newest innovations

Professor Brian Cox, one of The Big Bang’s biggest advocates, will also be attending The Fair to judge in the finals of the National Science & Engineering Competition. Visitors on Friday 12 March will see the TV science star rewarding some of the UK’s most inspiring young talent.Paul Jackson, Chief Executive of The Big Bang 2011, said: “The line-up for this year’s event guarantees a spectacular experience for young people of all ages. As well as showing just how much fun and inspiring science and engineering can be, it is also the ideal place to find out about the exciting career options out there.”

To find out more and book your place visit http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/

Peter Corey’s top 10 tips for making reading a great experience for kids of all ages

It's World Book Day tomorrow and learndirect has teamed up with top children’s author Peter Corey to help parents boost their children’s reading skills Mums, dads and their children can enjoy two free online storybooks by logging on to www.learndirect.co.uk/readtogether. Great for entertaining families, both are perfect for helping prepare children for the challenge of starting or going back to school.

“The Journey to Darkest Somewhere” and “The House of Scary Words” let kids become the lead characters and change details within the stories. The books also encourage readers to use basic English language while they play, so kids and parents can learn together.

Here are Peter’s top 10 tips for making reading a great experience for kids of all ages:

1. Read little and often – ten to fifteen minutes every day is great. For younger children, use bedtime or bath time if finding a moment isn’t easy during the day.

2. Reading should always be fun so try not to pressure your child if they feel too tired or lose interest. Laugh together at the funny stuff and enjoy the rhyming words – you’d be surprised how rewarding it feels.

3. Relish the story – talk about it and encourage your child to ask questions. You’ll be able to see how well they have understood what they have read.

4. Enjoying the pictures in a book is as important as the text. They can make the words easier to understand and help bring the story to life.

5. Be brave in your choice of books. Always search around, even if you think you’ve already found you and your child’s favourite author.

6. Use a library to borrow books. Libraries give us lots of choice and are like a dating agency – helping match the right person with the right book!

7. Don’t be scared of long words – they can be broken down into smaller parts which will make them far easier. Some English spellings just don’t make sense at first, so don’t worry if you or your child stumbles, it might be the word’s fault!

8. Don’t be afraid to judge a book by its cover and check what’s written on the back. This should help you decide if you and your child will enjoy the book.

9. Don’t worry if your child wants to read the same book again and again. Kids enjoy repetition as it helps them understand the story.

10. Always praise your child for trying hard at their reading and let them know it’s okay to make mistakes. After all, we all get words wrong – even parents! Practice makes perfect and solving reading problems together is part of what makes story time fun.Mums, dads and their children can enjoy two free online storybooks by logging on to www.learndirect.co.uk/readtogether.  Great for entertaining families, both are perfect for helping prepare children for the challenge of starting or going back to school.

How accurate is new research claiming that television is hindering children’s language development?

By Dr. Lin Day, Baby Sensory

Research out this week has found that too much time spent in front of the television is hindering children’s speech. The survey of 6,000 people, including 3,000 parents, conducted by the Communication Trust, also found that more than half (51 per cent) of those questioned think youngsters can suffer from speech problems if their parents do not talk to them enough. There has always been speculation amongst both parents and professionals about the effect that television can have on a child, but it is also important to realise its benefits. There is some research to suggest that quality TV programmes can have a beneficial effect on literacy activities, comprehension and recall in three and four-year-olds.

Interactive programmes that encourage singing, signing, clapping and dancing can promote language development and imaginative play. Programmes that have themes of repetitive content can make it easier for children to learn new words. Studies show that toddlers who watch their favourite alphabet characters fare better in their knowledge of letter sounds when they go to pre-school than children who have no screen time. Children also benefit from snuggling up and watching television with an adult. The physical contact is good for them and parents can talk about the programme that they have watched together. High quality educational programmes can provide a window on the world for toddlers and help them to make sense of it. Some programmes can also inspire parents to play with their child. For example, a nature or craft programme can be a starting point for an outing to the park or a messy play activity.

Convincing data supports the view that the content, editing speed and the length of viewing time are what really matters. Indeed, short periods in front of a television can help babies to focus on pictures, lights and colours a short distance away. Nevertheless, watching the screen for an hour or more may affect depth perception and long-range vision. Television programmes that have slow editing speeds, continuous narrative and a single gentle voice are much better for the under-twos than fast-paced programmes with lots of zooms, cuts and multiple voices.

In an ideal world, babies and toddlers would be happily entertained with activities other than television. However, it does play a big role in today's hectic society and preventing the under-twos from watching it may be an unrealistic goal for most parents. The key is to provide good quality age-appropriate programmes as part of a balanced schedule and to limit viewing to 10 minutes for babies and 20 minutes for toddlers at any one time. Television should not displace important activities such as outdoor play, social interaction, talk, physical exercise and going to the park. If used responsibly, the risks of harm are very low.

Mum Knows Best - Britons’ money habits are most influenced by their mothers

Editor's note: the results of this survey are worth noting if we want to make sure that our kids grow up handling their money well!

Britons’ money habits are most influenced by their mothers

• 36% of Brits say that their mothers have had the most influence on the way they handle their money
• We are twice as likely to consult Mum than Dad on our daily spending
• More than half of people say their father took control of their household finances when they were growing up

New research from M&S Money reveals that our mothers are the biggest influences on our financial habits.

M&S Money surveyed 1000 people to find out about how their family has influenced their finances. The research reveals that 36% say that their mothers have had the most influence on the way they handle their money, compared to 32% who say it is their fathers.

Grandparents (3%) and siblings (1%) have little influence while 24% say their family have no influence over their financial habits at all. It seems we also follow our own gender as a role model; women are most likely to say it is their mother that has most affected their financial habits (39%) while men are most likely to say that it is their father (36%)

When it comes to their daily spending, more than twice the number of people would consult Mum for her point of view instead of Dad. 22% would ask their mother about their day to day finances, while just 8% would consult their father on matters such as shopping or saving. Indeed, 6 in 10 people say they are not like their fathers at all when it comes to their finances.<.div>

It is only when the stakes are high that we turn to our Dads for occasional advice. When making large financial decisions such as buying a house or a car, one in five (20%) would turn to their father for advice compared to 11% who would ask their mothers.

Despite more people saying their Mum has been the biggest influence on their money habits, more than half (55%) of people say their father took control of their household finances while they were growing up, while for 40% it was their mother.

Colin Kersley, Chief Executive of M&S Money, said:

“While it may not always have been our mothers who controlled large financial decisions and the overall household budget when we were growing up, it seems they are now the ones who we are most likely to turn to for advice on day to day matters such as saving and spending.

“Our fathers do still have a clear role in being first point of call for advice on bigger purchases. It is great that we see the value of both parents in helping us through the many different financial decisions we face on a daily basis such as choosing the best home for our hard earned cash.”

New parents urged to seize nursery tax benefits

New parents who pay higher-rate tax are being urged to ensure they join their employer’s nursery voucher scheme before 6 April otherwise they could lose more than £1,000 tax relief due to planned cutbacks, says Baker Tilly.

Changes to employer supported childcare to be introduced on 6 April will mean that higher-rate taxpayers, both at the 40% and 50% rate, stand to lose at least half of the current annual relief offered if they have not joined an existing scheme before the new rules take effect. Tax relief is also available to parents using any form of ‘registered’ or ‘approved’ childcare.

Under measures announced in the June Budget, employees taxed at the higher and additional rate, who join a scheme after 6 April, will have their weekly allowable reliefs reduced from £55 to £28 and £22 respectively, as the the maximum relief for all taxpayers will be equalized to approximately £11 per week. Employees already part of a scheme will not see their relief affected by the changes.

Currently, higher rate tax payers can make annual tax savings of £1172 on childcare but those who join after April 6 2011 can expect to see their annual saving reduced to only £597. With two parents claiming, the amount of tax relief is worth more than £1,000.

Mark Collins, Head of the Employers Consulting Group at Baker Tilly, urges employers and employees to act now or they will lose their entitlement before the 6 April.

“Any employees who can join an existing scheme before 6 April will still be sure of obtaining tax relief at their top income tax rate – couples potentially avoiding a reduction of over £1000 a year in tax savings.”

“Employers who are considering setting up a new scheme or changing the terms of an existing scheme would be well advised to do so in time to enable all eligible employees to join in time. It will not be enough for the scheme to be in place: the employees must also have joined before 6 April.”

Win a sample Waybuloo magazine (UK)

Waybuloo Magazine has developed an online game to mark the launch of the magazine. Simply play the Waybuloo online game, Flight of the Narabug, and enter your details – there are 5,000 free samples to give away.

The game is another way for children to extend their enjoyment of the series and magazine. Children can play with De Li and her ‘Narabug’, helping to collect strawberries to share with the other Piplings. In addition, the game will give young children the opportunity to learn to mark the launch of Waybuloo Magazine, the pre-school title based on the new CBeebies programme and the first magazine to help children learn about feelings, understand emotions and their impact on the world around them. and develop their computer skills.

About Waybuloo Magazine
Waybuloo is the first pre-school magazine to help children learn about feelings and understand emotions. Through their engagement with De Li, Nok Tok, Lau Lau and Yojojo (the ‘Piplings’) in the land of Nara, the magazine aims to help a child’s development in a number of ways:

• Feeling Good – helping children to understand how to care about themselves, their world and other people;


• Communication – having fun sharing stories, making choices, thinking and talking about feelings and emotions;


• Being Creative – confidently making things for themselves and others;


• Finding Out – discovering more about things in the natural world and learning to appreciate them;


• Physical Development – keeping fit and healthy with the Piplings, eating fruit & vegetables and trying yogo (a simple, gentle form of yoga).

8 Activities to Aid Social and Emotional Learning in your Child

Social skills involving sharing, interaction and expressing views are viewed by parents as valuable to a child's development, so children’s educational specialist and editor of Waybuloo Magazine, Stephanie Cooper, has put together some fun and practical activities to encourage really positive behaviour with young children.
Read Stephanie's suggestions here:
8 Activities to Aid Social and Emotional Learning in your Child

Helping Our Children Survive Their School Years

By Nancy Kelsey Smith

With the school year having already started for most and on the verge of starting for many, problems that were "tucked away" during the summer months are now back in full force. Parents often battle mixed emotions as they send their children off to school, happy to have them back on a scheduled routine and sad that they'll see less of them for the next 9 months. First time mothers of kindergartener's are often reluctant to accept that their little ones are now going to be "out into the world", realizing that they are stepping into new territory from which there is no turning back. For others, the end of summer hasn't come soon enough. For the millions of two working parent families, covering the bases for their kids during the summer months is a tough assignment.

But what about the kids? How are they feeling about beginning a new school year?

Continue reading Helping Our Children Survive Their School Years

Toddler Activities - For Your Kids Growth And Your Sanity

By Jayce Broda

The great thing about having young children is that your perspective can be their perspective. You just have to sell it right. For example, today I took my kids to volunteer at our local humane society. Now even-though they spent most of the time picking up dog poo, all three are pumped to do it again next week. Why you ask? How is that possible? Because to them, it was not a crappy job. It was a chance to show how they could help animals in need. It showed how they could help a dog be adopted, who would otherwise be euthanized. It was a chance for them to show mom and dad how they could do a job all by themselves. By the time we left the dog shelter, our kids felt like heroes. I spent time the day before talking to them about the above points; I sold them a positive perspective on cleaning up dog poo...

Read the rest of this article here

Balancing Homeschooling And Working At Home

By Michelle Shaeffer

A common reason for moms to homeschool their children and work from home is that the at-home lifestyle appeals to them. It sounds like an ideal situation - you're home, the kids are at home, and everyone's happy.

But juggling a home business with homeschooling usually doesn't look as peaceful as it might sound. In fact, this is a more likely scenario:

You've planned to do a math lesson with your children at 9 am. Since you have a few minutes of peace while the kids are finishing breakfast, you decide to fit in a quick email check.

There's an email from a prospective client, who wants a proposal from you right away, for a juicy contract. There's still 20 minutes before you had planned to start your school day, so you start to reply. Well, one thing leads to another...

Read the rest of Balancing Homeschooling And Working At Home

7 Back To School Lunch Tips

Don't look now, but school's here! Are you ready for one of the biggest challenges for Moms of school-age kids - preparing school lunches day after day?

There's hope and help for you yet. Here are 7 back-to-school lunch tips. Hey, I can't come over and make your kids' lunches for you, but these tips will surely make it much easier:

1. Make dinner do double-duty

You're already in the kitchen preparing your family's dinner, why not use that time to get a head-start on the next day's brown bag lunches?

Make a double batch of meals that taste just as good "the morning after," you know, like fried chicken. Or cook dishes that can be transformed into something "new", such as pasta sauce that's just as yummy as pizza topping (on ready-made crust of course).

To make meal planning easier, take a look at Dine Without Whine. It's a monthly service for planning your family's meals and grocery shopping.

2. Include lunches when meal planning

To do tip #1, you need to be more organized. This means including your kids' lunches when planning your family dinners.

3. Let the kids participate

Lighten your load and teach your children some important life skills at the same time. Even small children can help prepare their lunches.

If morning is too stressful, then make this an after-dinner activity - which brings us to...

4. Make advance preparations

Do whatever you can do ahead of time. For example, cook in batches on the weekend, or put leftovers in packable containers the night before.

5. DIY fast food

Commercial packed lunches are attractive but unhealthy. But who says you can't make your own? Buy your own colorful and attractive lunch boxes, such as a bento-style lunchbox.

Fill it up with a variety of healthy food. Think of mixing up foods with different textures and colors. And cut them up into small pieces so they're easy and fast to eat.

6. Soup it Up

Soup makes a quick and healthy lunch. You can cook a large pot in the weekend and pack it in a thermos for a warm and satisfying lunch. Serve with whole wheat bread and some fresh fruit and you've got a complete meal!

7. Sprinkle in some fun

Sneak a little surprise into your child's lunchbox once in a while. It could be a little chocolate treat, stickers, or a sweet note from you. Getting something unexpected makes lunch fun.

With planning and creativity, your children can have healthy, delicious lunches without too much work for you.

For meal planning help, go to Dine Without Whine. It makes meal planning a breeze, while helping you save time and money.

Then you'll have time and energy for those school lunches.

For a limited time, you can try Dine Without Whine for a penny. Click here to find out how.

More Back To School at Activity Village

Back To School Dinner Tips

Is school really just around the corner? You know what that means - early morning scrambles, after-school tizzies and ragged nerves at dinnertime.

It's still possible to have pleasant family mealtimes even after school has begun. Check out these back-to-school dinner tips for busy Moms:

1. Have a meal plan

The most important key to having relaxed family dinners even on school nights is having a meal plan. This will simplify both food shopping and meal preparation, and help you save money to boot.

If you need help, check out Dine Without Whine's meal and grocery planning service.

2. Try freezer meals

Cut down on cooking time by cooking large batches and then freezing them for future use.

3. Simplify your schedule

With school comes extracurricular activities that could have you running - or driving around - like a headless chicken. Keep things to a minimum. Overloading children with too many after-school activities is not good for them. They need downtime too.

4. Get the kids involved in cooking

Get some help by mobilizing your own troops - your husband and children - as your kitchen helpers. Cooking is an important life skill and now it's bonding time as well.

5. Have an emergency plan

No matter how well you plan in advance, something always comes up. Plan for that as well. Always have emergency supplies in the pantry so you can throw together a home-cooked meal at a moment's notice.

It could be a frozen dinner you prepared during the weekend. Mine is pasta, a can of tomato sauce and whatever vegetables are in the refrigerator.

6. Post your family schedule

Keep a large calendar on the wall where you can see every family member's schedule at a glance. It will also help you plan activities around your family dinner times.

7. Set a routine

Decide on an earlier dinner time, bedtime and wake up time and start following them a few days before school officially begins. This way, everybody's adjusted when the real thing comes.

8. Stay flexible

Sometimes you just can't afford disruptions to your meal times. An occasional missed family dinner is no big deal - when you know you'll have more throughout the week.

9. Consider school schedules

Take note of school events and other activities in your family calendar - so you can plan your family dinners with them in mind.

10. Cook once, eat twice

Every so often, cook a double batch of meals that can easily be transformed into another entree or side dish. For example, roast 2 chickens. Have one for tonight's dinner. Chop up the other for chicken salad for later in the week.

11. Organize your kitchen

If you haven't done so yet, now's the time to take stock of your kitchen. Make sure the items you use most often are accessible from your food prep area. Replace the tools that are broken, and get those gadgets that will help you get dinner ready faster.

12. Have a special meal

Make Friday night Teen's night - which means they plan and prepare the meal. That is, if you have teens or any child old enough to prepare meals. They'll learn how to cook, you get the night off (from cooking), and everybody has fun. The only condition is: everybody has to eat what's prepared.

13. Make it educational

This idea is for preschool-age kids. Make or buy a special placemat with letter or numbers. Laminate it with Con-Tact paper so it becomes a wipe-off board. Use it only for dinnertimes.

14. More mealtime learning opportunities

Plan some meals to coincide with specific topics your child is studying in school. For example, on the night after a field trip to a pioneer town, have a pioneer-style meal.

15. Celebrate school successes at dinner

Celebrate school successes with a special family meal. Prepare the child's favorite meal and prepare a nice dessert. It's more important to have a meal that's relaxed and delicious, than one that tool hours to prepare.

16. Nurture school relationships

Get to know your children's closest school friends by inviting them to dinner once in a while.

Follow these tips to make family mealtimes simpler, easier and more fun. For meal planning and grocery shopping help, go to Dine Without Whine.

Your monthly subscription includes a weekly meal plan with recipes for main dishes, side dishes, 2 desserts and 2 brunches.

You'll also get a weekly grocery shopping list of everything you need to create the recipes. The list is categorized according to grocery sections, so your shopping will be easier and faster.

For a limited time, you can try Dine Without Whine for a penny. Click here to find out how.

More Back To School at Activity Village

Parenting - Making A Schedule

Editor's note: This article on the benefits of scheduling your day as a parent really struck home with me. It took me a while to work this out for myself when I had young children at home, and I wish I had done so - and benefited from the much calmer household that was the result - sooner!

An excellent tool to help you navigate the course of a day more efficiently is 'the schedule.' Making a schedule is as much for your benefit as it is for your child's. It allows you to introduce specific expectations and rewards to bring about greater cooperation from your child.

Making a schedule is different from having a schedule...

Parenting - Making A Schedule

Three Titbits I Wish I'd Known Before Having A Baby

I hope this title is not misleading, as I in no way want this article to appear as if I regret having my beautiful baby boy. I just quickly found out that there were a few surprises to parenthood. I hope you can learn something from my experiences and be a little better prepared when your new little one comes.
Three Titbits I Wish I'd Known Before Having A Baby

Basics For Buying And Using A Breast Pump

For busy mothers, breast pumps offer convenience and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they're providing for their child as only a mother can. For working mothers who are unable to meet the schedule-busting feeding demands of their child, they can use a breast pump to save time while ensuring their baby receives essential nutrients. But, there are many different types of pumps. Some are manual while others are powered by batteries. Some cost $150 while others may retail for nearly $400. And once you've invested in a pump that is right for you and your child, using it can present its own challenges.
Basics For Buying And Using A Breast Pump

Clothing Crisis For New Mums

After giving birth our bodies feel like they will never be the same again. This isn't surprising, giving what they've just been through. The weight comes off very gradually, no matter how much running around you're doing looking after baby. You are caught between not wanting to wear your "huge" maternity clothes, and not fitting into your pre-pregnancy clothes either. This can be incredibly depressing for new moms when they go to their wardrobes to get dressed every morning.
Clothing Crisis For New Mums

There are kids in our park! Surviving the summer as a homeschooler.

Why do home schoolers need a guide to surviving the summer, I hear you ask, your children are always at home why is the summer any different?
Well simply because other children are around. Most homeschoolers I know have a sense of dread at this time of year, knowing for the next 6 weeks any semblance of our normal routine is impossible.

Homeschoolers summer moans:
The parks and playgrounds where we spend our afternoons lazing around are full of children. There is no sitting down and watching the toddler from a distance anymore. We need to follow him around in order to see him and make sure he takes turns.
The libraries where we idle away our rainy days curled up on beanbags reading, are full of such ear-splitting din that it is difficult to think never mind read.
Museums, which we happily potter around for hours on end, are suddenly so full it is impossible to see anything.
Friends who haven’t even phoned all school term suddenly seem to have moved in and everywhere you go in your house you trip over children.
Also if you adopt a formal approach to home schooling it is difficult to persuade you children that they should be working when they can hear children playing outside.

How to cope: major tip is to try to view the mass of children as an ‘educational resource’ rather than an encumbrance.

Parks and playgrounds: Could you change your favourite one for one slightly quieter? Where I live we have two local parks, one is on the sea front and people drive over from several miles around to visit it, so it is always packed. The other is a local one in a housing estate, used by local children; this becomes our regular haunt in summer.
If your children don’t know many local children (home schoolers friends are often spread over a relatively large area) hanging out in the local park over the summer is an excellent way to let them make local friends.

Libraries and museums: They often lay on special events and activities for children over the summer, these are well worth finding out and getting involved in. As well as entertaining the children at the time they also provide an excellent opportunity to meet and chat to people such as the local Children’s librarian and museum curators and educational co-ordinators. Mention you are home schooling and they are often keen to help by running sessions at the libraries and museums for home schooling groups.

Friends: Make the most of opportunities to catch up with schooled friends. You are pleased to see them really and your children certainly will be.
Take advantage of the extra children cluttering up your house to do activities that are difficult with only one or two children; help the children put on plays, play cricket or baseball, have a mini Olympics etc.

‘School work’: Does it matter if you let things slide a bit really? Perhaps you could change the time you sit down to work so everyone is finished early. We are often sitting at the table at 7am.

And of course, don’t forget to plan your back to school picnic. The day the schools go back gather your home schooling friends, a yummy picnic and take yourselves down to the beach, park or other favourite hang out, kick back and enjoy the peace.

5 Reasons Why Animals Are Important To Your Child

Why are children so fond of animals? From teddy bears to favourite TV and cartoon characters, animals are a key part of a young child’s development. Children’s educational specialist Stephanie Cooper has identified 5 key areas where animals play an important role:

Continue reading....

Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Your Husband

Some women have a difficult time trying to figure out what gift to give their husband for Father’s Day each year. Start thinking about Father’s Day gift ideas for your husband now and you’ll be better prepared when the day arrives.

Some people like to make sure they are getting the perfect gift by asking directly what a person would like, but many prefer the gift to be a surprise. If you fall in the latter camp then you need to do some serious thinking before heading out to the shops.

Does your husband have any hobbies? Perhaps he is a keen gardener or enjoys to work with wood, then a new tool might be ideal. If you are not sure which tool he needs then why not buy a gift card to his local home improvement store or gardening centre then he can choose the item he needs most?

Is your husband a sports fan? Maybe he is a golfer or fisherman? Take him to the closest sporting goods store. He may be searching for the perfect club or tackle. Allow him to pick out what he needs to fill his tackle box. By doing so, you may make his Father’s Day.

Does your husband enjoy reading? Check to see if he’s purchased a particular series of books or books about a certain topic. If there is a series he’s been reading, do some investigating and see if there’s a new book in the series that he doesn’t own. Take this opportunity to get that book so he doesn’t have to go looking for it.

Another possibility, if you have a games console, would be to purchase him the latest game. To make the gift even better, take some time to play the game with him, even if it’s not something you’re interested in. He’ll appreciate you choosing to spend time sharing something he enjoys.

Finally, you could take the initiative to get a babysitter for the children so you and he can go out on the town. Take him to his favourite restaurant and perhaps that new movie he’s wanted to see.

After dinner and movie, remember that the most important thing is that you’ve taken the time to think about him, what he likes, and chosen to spend the time with him. That’s really what you need to think about when deciding upon Father’s Day gift ideas for your husband. What would he really like? Then take the time to fulfil that desire.

Don't forget that there are lots of ideas for Father's Day crafts, printables and activities for children over on Activity Village:

Father's Day on Activity Village

Organizing The Kids' Toys!

I enjoyed this video, which gives some great tips on organizing the kids' toys - and finding ways to help them keep them organized! It all boils down to the 6 steps: Sort, Purge, Assess, Contain, Label and Maintain...