Surviving the summer holidays!

Fun for all...

After the initial thrill of waving good bye to the classroom for six weeks, it's usually only a few days before the children start complaining about being bored!

Don't despair we've got loads of ideas for you!

The school summer holidays can often be a real headache for parents - trying to find interesting and fun activities for children of different ages which won't end up costing a fortune isn't easy.

Why not check out what's happening at your local sports or arts centre - your local library will have listings of all the council-run activities in your area.

We've also got some suggestions for fun places to go with the whole family across Beds, Herts and Bucks - which won't cost a penny!

• Why don't you in Beds! >
• Why don't you in Herts! >
• Why don't you in Bucks! >

In the meantime, here are some ideas for activities to keep the children occupied which shouldn't break the bank.

Mini Sports Day

If you're not lucky enough to have a big garden, take some basic sports equipment, (balls, skipping ropes, bats and balls, etc) to the local park. The children can then take turns to challenge each other to different games and races. A game of rounders is always a winner with children of all ages!

A DIY Picnic

Preparing for a picnic can be a whole morning's activity in itself! Get the children to plan the menu, help with the shopping and then get all the ingredients ready. Then stand back and be on standby as the children prepare the sandwiches, fetch the fruit and grab the goodies!

Make a Tent

Throw an old sheet or blanket over the washing line and peg it down at the corners to recreate the thrill of being under canvas.

It's Show Time!

Set the kids a theme and send them off to rehearse for their very own show. Junior Pop Idol where they can dress up and sing along to their favourite pop songs is one idea, but the list is endless!

Your Very Own Cinema!

Liven up a boring video by moving the furniture, dimming the lights and making your very own popcorn.

Down on the Farm

Visitor farms are usually good value for money, especially when they have playgrounds and rides to enjoy after you've seen all the animals! Standalone Farm and Woodside Wild Animal Farm are just two of the excellent family farms in this area.

Get Crafty!

Great for a rainy day! Stock up on paper, glue, felt pens and paints. Cover the table and stand back and watch your little darlings at their most creative!

Go for a swim

Why not cool off and spend the day at the local pool - remember to take sunhats and lots of sun cream!

Visit a Museum

All national museums are now free and full of interesting things to see and fun hands-on activities. Most will have special holiday events for children.

Do a 'Changing Rooms'

Help your child give their room a facelift! Clear out old clothes, toys and books. Rearrange the furniture and perhaps put up some posters

New member of the team!

We would like to welcome the newest member of our team, Vicki! Vicki is available to answer any questions or take any bookings on 07749 602892

A BABY who may have infected other children at childcare is now being tested for swine flu.

Tasmanian Director of Public Health Chrissie Pickin says she has ordered tests on the eight-month-old to be completed "as quickly as possible''.

The baby was in childcare when it would have been infectious on Thursday and Friday, Dr Pickin said.

"We are providing advice to the child care centre involved,'' she said.

"As a standard precaution we are advising that any child or staff member who is unwell with a fever and respiratory symptoms should be excluded from attendance until they have fully recovered.''

The baby's test results would hopefully be returned within 24 hours, Dr Pickin said. No one in Australia has tested positive for the virus.

The baby and its parents returned from Canada on April 26.

Meanwhile, a third Australian in Britain, journalist Kate Corbett, has tested positive for the potentially deadly virus, ABC radio reports.

Related Coverage

• Second wave: Flu could strengthen
• WHO ups swine flu alertDaily Telegraph, 5 May 2009
• Swine flu fears for childcare centreNEWS.com.au, 4 May 2009
• Third Aussie has swine fluPerth Now, 4 May 2009
• Chaos as China locks up its MexicansNEWS.com.au, 4 May 2009
• Third Aussie in UK contracts swine fluThe Australian, 4 May 2009

Ms Corbett, 29, earlier tested positive for Influenza A after returning from a trip to Mexico, but had to wait longer to find out if it was the H1N1 strain.

British health authorities have now told her she has the virus.

"They asked me what airline I flew home with, what my flight numbers were and they're going to get in contact with all the people who sat within a metre of me," she said on ABC radio.

Her flatmate, boyfriend and sister were now being tested for the H1N1 virus, ABC said.

Two other Australians in the UK are known to have the virus.

They are a 29-year-old Sydney builder, who moved to the UK from Australia less than a month ago and doesn't want to be named, and fellow Sydney man Mark Robertson, 23.

Plan a Perfect Easter Egg Hunt

Plan an Egg-stra Special Event for Your Kids

By Shandley McMurray

What Easter celebration would be complete without an egg hunt? Whether you’re planning an indoor search for three or an outdoor event for 300, here are a few ideas to help you organize the perfect hunt this year.

After you've gathered all the information on egg hunting, please be sure to check out our great Easter printables, Easter games and activities, Easter Sunday recipes, and of course--Easter crafts.

Use different colors

Color code the eggs according to age, says Judith Manley, a mother of eight and grandmother of eleven, who remembers hunting for eggs with her children in Lewiston, New York. Get two- to four-year-olds looking for blue eggs while those four to six search for green, and so on. “That way the little ones have an equal chance at finding the eggs,” she says.

Make words

Paint a different letter on each egg, says Corinne Williams of Hammonton, New Jersey, a mother of one. Then have the kids create words with the eggs they’ve found. The kid with the most words wins a prize.

Keep a record

Always make a note of how many eggs you’ve used and where they’re hidden. There’s nothing worse than smelling a rotten egg in July or finding melted chocolate under the couch cushions!

Set boundaries

For safety, establish borders when planning an outdoor hunt, suggests Jane Brown, mother of four in Whitby, Ont.. Tell kids to stay between the house and the first maple tree, for instance, or to go no farther than the mailbox. “I forgot one year and the kids were in the woods behind the house for ages,” says Brown. “They came back very upset that they hadn’t found anything.”

Draw a map

Keep things interesting by setting up a treasure hunt for kids, says Brown. Give each child a map using picture clues for non-readers. Cut out a picture of a chair, for instance, or draw a coffee table to show them where the eggs are. Then be a bit sneaky by hiding another map at one of the clues. Use riddles for older kids and lead them to more difficult places, such as a specific novel on the book shelf.

Add a piñata

If you’re using plastic eggs, place them in a piñata once they’ve been found. Have the children take turns hitting it with a plastic bat while blindfolded. The one who finally bursts it open wins something special.

Planning a neighbourhood or church group hunt? Here are a few tips from the organizers of the Guinness World Record holder for the largest Easter egg hunt. More than 1,500 children searched for over 292,000 eggs at this hunt in Rockford Park District in Illinois.

Set a limit

Figure out your maximum number of participants before the hunt and stick to it. Hand out only that number of egg collection bags in the beginning to help keep your hunt under control. Ask a local store to donate the bags—it’s free advertising for them!

Use plastic eggs

Real eggs can crack and it’s time-consuming to cook and dye a huge batch. Instead, choose the plastic variety and ask everyone to return them at the end of the hunt so you can reuse them next year.

Supply good prizes

Every child should get a candy prize for participating. As well, have small prizes such as free ice cream cones, arcade passes or popcorn donated by local shops. For the grand prize, choose something that kids will really love, like a bike or DVD player.

Hide the prize inside

Go for random winners, rather than the children who have the most eggs. Simply place a note inside a certain number of eggs to declare the victors.

Stay safe

Think about your location carefully beforehand, and be aware of hazards such as water and traffic. An open space such as a football field is ideal. Make sure everyone knows where the boundaries of the hunt are, and if you have a large number of kids, have parents be responsible for keeping an eye on them.

The History of Easter

Find this year's date in the multifaith calendar

Semana Santa Easter festival in Seville, Spain ©

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important Christian festival, and the one celebrated with the greatest joy.

The date of Easter changes each year, and several other Christian festivals fix their dates by reference to Easter.

Churches are filled with flowers, and there are special hymns and songs. But not all Easter customs are Christian; some, such as the Easter Bunny, are Pagan in origin.

The Easter story is at the heart of Christianity

On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion. His body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave.

The tomb was guarded and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.

On the following Sunday, some women visited the grave and found that the stone had been moved, and that the tomb was empty.

Jesus himself was seen that day, and for days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead.

	Father's Day food They say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so show your dad a little bit of love by cooking him a hearty meal for Father's Day on Sunday 21 June.

In this article

Rachel's recipes Family-friendly meal

Something special Keeping it simple

Rachel's recipes

Irish-born celebrity cook Rachel Allen is a fan of modern homely cooking and, with a chef-husband and two sons, she knows what men like to eat!

Here's a selection of Rachel's recipes that are simple to prepare, full of flavour and certain to satisfy any father's appetite.

Family-friendly meal

This bacon and sausage stew is a satisfying all-in-one meal. It's easy enough for children to make (with a little adult assistance) and looks impressive taken to the table in its cooking pot. Serve it with a generous bowlful of creamy mashed potato or hunks of crusty bread and a fresh green salad.

For dessert, try Rachel's simple chocolate meringues. They can be made in advance, and even very young children can join in the mixing and assembling. Serve them with fresh berries, if you like.

• Bacon and sausage stew with beans
• Chocolate meringues with chocolate cream

Something special

For a more slightly more sophisticated meal, go for three impressive courses, rounded off with homemade petits fours.

Start with a light, fresh Vietnamese-style salad, followed by Rachel's Arabian spiced lamb. Tender racks of lamb, rubbed with homemade harissa and served on a bed of couscous flecked with fragrant herbs, should keep most men happy.

If your dad has a sweet-tooth, serve him a generous slice of Rachel's No-pastry pear and almond tart, with custard or good quality ice cream on the side. Substitute peaches or berries for the pears for an early taste of summer. If your dad's a savoury man, present him with a selection of two or three artisan cheeses, oat cakes, water biscuits and slices of fresh pear or quince paste, instead of the tart.

To round off your father's feast, sit him in his favourite chair and hand him a plate of Little mocha kisses and a strong dark espresso or big mug of tea.

• Vietnamese crab salad with rice noodles - this recipe serves 4 as a starter
• Arabian spiced rack of lamb with couscous
• No-pastry pear and almond tart
• Little mocha kisses

Keeping it simple

Maybe your dad's more of a meat and two veg kind of man. If that's the case, stick to what he likes. Rachel's homemade pork sausages combine some old-fashioned favourites and make a classic meal with some lightly steamed vegetables on the side.

• Homemade pork sausages with colcannon and apple sauce

Alternatively, stick to the British classics and cook him the perfect sirloin steak and chips, or serve a traditional roast with plenty of potatoes and gravy. Follow one of the video recipes below and print out the step-by-step images to make sure your meal turns out perfectly and makes your father's day.

• Sirloin steak with chunky chips - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Roast beef with Yorkshires - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Roast loin of pork with crackling and cider gravy - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Roast leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Roast chicken - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Mashed potatoes - video recipe (a non-video version is available)