There is a great deal of research and evidence that shows that when fathers (and father figures) are engaged in their children’s lives children do better academically and socially and have stronger self-esteem. (A longitudinal study done with 300 families by Stanford University beginning in the 1950s found that the best predictor of adult empathy was dads’ involvement in child rearing when the children were 5 years old and those men and women who had better social relationships in their 40s had experienced increased warmth from fathers as children. Nugent, JK. (1991) Cultural and Psychological Influences on the Father’s Role in Infant Development. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53)

Children whose fathers are emotionally engaged show greater resilience, are able to focus on their studies better, persevere longer, take reasonable risks and are less aggressive. Girls who get positive attention from their fathers also are less at risk from eating disorders and self-harm and make better partner choices. In addition when dads are involved from an early point in a baby’s life the couple relationship benefits, if the couple should separate there is higher degree of father contact, fathers adopt healthier lifestyles, and mothers are less likely to smoke or suffer from depression. (Sources: The Fatherhood institute, Fatherhood: Parenting Programmes and Policy -A Critical Review of Best Practice, www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/?p=3744; the Gottman institute)

So what can mums do to facilitate fathers’ engagement with kids?

It’s not unusual for fathers to withdraw when a new baby arrives. Mums need a lot of emotional support which is typically provided by women who are mothers and dad can feel pushed out. He may feel inexpert as mum spends more time with the new infant (sometimes the women may even laugh at dad’s incompetence at changing nappies, feeding, bathing) so he does what he knows how to do and spends more time at work. He may also feel a strong urge to provide for his new family. In fact studies show dads are just as competent as mums in knowing how to respond to a crying baby (Ross Parke: fathers held and rocked infants more than mums and equalled them in talking, kissing and exploring. Throwaway Dads: The myths and Barriers That Keep Men From Being The Fathers They Want To Be. 1999 Houghton Mifflin).

From the time they are babies right through to adulthood women can encourage dads to take an active role with their kids by not criticising or laughing at their efforts but instead appreciating them for what they do. Recognise that in fact men have something unique to offer in parenting. Fathers tend to foster independence and encourage adventure. Dads tend to give children more freedom to explore. Mothers are generally caretakers and teachers and are often more cautious.

The differences are very marked in the way they each play with children. Mums tend to play visual games and are verbal with children while dads are more physical and tactile. (Gottman: when given a choice of play partners 2/3 of 2 ½ year olds prefer dad.) Dad’s style is more jazzed up and has heightened intensity followed by periods of calm in contrast to mum’s more even style. Provided dads know how to calm a child when over stimulated this style is very effective at helping children regulate emotions.

• Dads are more likely to be involved when they feel they’re doing a good job -acknowledge them for all their positive parenting input but especially for spending time with the children eg: Thanks for coming home early and minding the children while I went out. It was great to see you had fed everyone and read stories (even if the house is a tip when you get back).
• Schedule time for Dads to play with the kids. It is a strength for them. Get dads to encourage a healthy attitude to competition – have rules around rough play. When playing board games model a good attitude to losing.
• Encourage Dads to do practical things around the house such as cooking or hanging out the washing. It is good modelling for the children, stimulates their      interest in those activities, includes Dad as part of the team and leaves more time for fun.
• Use descriptive praise to reward his efforts eg. I really appreciate it when you      remember to put the rubbish out/empty the dishwasher, rather than pointing out the soggy bath mat on the floor. Can’t you ever wipe down a surface? doesn’t motivate anyone!
• Don't expect perfection in parenting skills either for your partner or yourself. Increase his awareness of the skills by downloading parenting CDs onto his ipod or giving him small chapters of books to read; it's less likely to feel like nagging or be overwhelming. Praise his willingness to read/listen. When we are criticised while parenting in the moment we can feel undermined and de-motivated.
• Take the children to visit Dad at work; get Dads to talk about their world and what they do when they go away from the family. Encourage Dads to phone at a regular time when away from the home to make them feel included and to let children know their Dad is thinking of them.
• Achieve a united front on matters of discipline by scheduling regular time      together to discuss child-relates issues eg. A strategy for training children to put their own shoes on (rather than Mum trying to encourage self- reliance and Dad doing it for them) or what to do when they have a tantrum (it won’t work if Mum thinks the child should go to their room and Dad thinks it is better to listen and try to find the source of the problem). Focus on solutions more than the problem and keep track of progress by writing it down. Find a workable compromise for areas where you don't have exactly the same values eg. how much screen time should children have?
• Use "I feel" statements rather than "You never, you always" when you have a difference of opinion. Eg “I feel my discipline is undermined if you say yes to something I’ve just said no to without checking with me. That makes me feel like the bad guy and it’s a bit lonely.”
• Remember less can be more when communicating with men. Sometimes emails or notes work better than direct speech.

Melissa Hood is founder of The Parent Practice and mother of three. A skilled therapist, providing parents with the right tools to improve and enjoy family life promoting happy childhoods and a brighter futures. She and her team deliver tailored training and consultations to enable parents to bring out the best in their children.

www.parentpractice.com

@parentpractice
 

For this reason, I contacted “fathers” (in whatever guise and family model they be, and to whom I have access through the wonders of social media), to ask them which meal would make it a special day for them come Father’s Day on Sunday 16^th June.

Answers were varied, and included “latkes and salt beef on rye and a pickled cucumber”, “Sunday lunch wins out for me. Roast rib of beef with horseradish sauce” and “Tournedos Rossini with ample Foie Gras”. So, as you see, meat featured heavily. It’s as if what men want on their day is to be allowed to be men, to be themselves and to remember who they were and what they loved B.C. (Before Children). Importantly, everyone wanted to enjoy it with their family but also wanted a well-earned lie-in, in order to have the headspace to do so. I think we can all relate to that.

Now, nothing says “I love you” like a breakfast in bed made by the children. However I can see that singed and invariably cold toast, prepared by little hands of dubious hygiene, may not be everyone’s idea of a treat. With this in mind, I’ve devised a recipe that allows Dads to indulge in their meat fantasies. Also, given that one respondent said, “…feel free to sneak in with a cup of tea at around 8am…” the implication was that the next line would be “…and then leave.” So this recipe for a twist on a minute steak sandwich, I call my “Not-A-Minute-Before-11-O’Clock Steak Sandwich”. It’s a perfect brunch dish that ticks all the boxes of the dads I heard from. It’s fast, easy, beefy and the children can help. Most of all, its spicy kick is guaranteed to wake up sleepy head…so he can help entertain the offspring.

 Not-A-Minute-Before-11-O’Clock Steak Sandwich with Chimichurri

Serves 2: One so that everyone gets a taste and a whole one for SuperDad, naturally.

Ingredients:

For the sandwich:

• Pack of good quality minute/sandwich steaks (usually around 400g), cut into strips
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• large onion , thinly sliced
• 2 slices of bread (manly doorsteps from a fresh sandwich loaf)
• 50g garlic butter (made from 50g butter and 2 cloves garlic taken from chimichurri ingredients)

 For the chimichurri:

• 2 large red chillies, seeds and membranes removed
• 12 garlic cloves, (unpeeled, cooked in a microwave for 2 minutes in a few tablespoons of water to remove raw taste, and then slipped easily out of their skins)
• 1 pack flat-leaved parsley
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp  flaked sea salt
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• Juice 1 lemon
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method: 

For the sandwich: 

1. Heat a large frying pan over a high heat and add the oil. Add the sliced onion. Cook and stir until burnished gold for about 5 minutes. Set aside in a warm place.
2. Add the steak strips to the same pan and stir fry for 30 seconds. Season and keep warm.
3. Cut the bread diagonally into triangles and toast to give crisped edges all round. Spread with the garlic butter while still hot.
4. Overlap two triangles of toast on each plate. As children are so adept with building blocks, allow them to take responsibility for the presentation by creating a tower of onions, then the steak and more onions.
5. Drizzle with chimichurri. (See exceptionally complicated method below.)

For the chimichurri:

1. Blitz. 

Variation: As red meat was clearly a winner in my survey, feel free to substitute with spring lamb, if you think it would be better received. This season’s lamb and beef from Wales are at their best right now (after all this rain), which means they’ll provide value for money too.

Tip: Use remaining chimichurri in a “Wakey-Wakey Mary” to serve alongside your sandwich. Add 1 tablespoon of chimichurri to tomato juice and ice cubes and blend. Add a good slug of vodka, if you so desire. I’ll bet you can guess what my recommendation would be! I may even make two.

I wish you all a relaxed and festive Father’s Day. Kate x

Kate Rowe is a witty cook, food writer and mother to two daughters who believes that ‘Food is the way to bond, nourish, educate and show love’. She shares her passion for food in our blog through her mummy friendly recipes and with an extra pinch of humour.

http://foodcentric.blogspot.com

@EFoodcentric

As parents ourselves, the Half-Pint Mummies know how important it is protecting our little ones but realise that there are many differing opinions about choosing the right sunscreen and using it correctly.  We thought it best to bring in the professionals and asked SunSense, Australia’s No. 1 sunscreen brand, for their top sun care tips.

Be Sun Sensible & follow these tips

Tip 1 – Protect

• Apply SunSense sunscreen liberally at least 15 minutes before going outdoors

• Apply more than ½ teaspoon (around 3ml) to each arm, face/neck

• Apply more than 1 teaspoon (around 6ml) to each leg, front and back of body

• Apply sunscreen evenly. Use a mirror when applying to the face

• Be careful not to miss any exposed areas

• Avoid prolonged exposure. Do not stay too long in the sun, even while using a sunscreen

• Cover up with clothing, hats and sunglasses, and protect children and babies from direct sun at ALL times

Tip 2 – Maintain

• Re-apply SunSense sunscreen every 2–4 hours, as directed and especially after swimming, exercising, sweating and towelling dry

• Use sunscreen generously and re-apply frequently

Tip 3 – Soothe

• Apply SunSense Aftersun Cooling Crème Gel to hydrate skin that feels dry after sun exposure

It is also important to keep children hydrated so keep plenty of water ‘on tap’ (so to speak!).

http://www.sunsense.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/SunSenseUK

https://www.facebook.com/SunSenseUK

Find out more about being sun sensible at www.sunsense.co.uk .  SunSense Ultra can be prescribed by your GP or dermatologist if you are undergoing treatment for a skin condition or have a history of skin-related problems. A range of SunSense products can also be purchased from your local pharmacy, John Lewis, Waitrose, Ocado, or from the Crawford Healthcare online shop at www.crawfordhealthcare.com/online_shop

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One lucky winner has the chance to win this amazing selection of SunSense products worth £100

Simply visit our Facebook page, LIKE & SHARE to be entered into the draw.  Winner will be picked on Monday

Firstly there is the competitive element. How will my child cope if she comes second, third or even last? What if she trips on the way, drops her egg or misses the start because she is chatting to her friend? Schools have varied approaches to racing. Some are keen that everyone gets a medal wherever they finish, some put the children in teams so that they compete in groups rather than as individuals, and others stick to a traditional winners-only awards system. Watching the Olympics last summer, many of us may have questioned whether the 'everyone gets a medal' approach actually stops children from striving to do their best. Surely if we want to create the next generation of Olympians, they will need to be aiming for the top from their very first egg and spoon race?!

It is a fine balance for a parent to give enough encouragement and support to enable their child to do their best, without putting on so much pressure that they crumble if they lose. Children always respond to our emotions and losing will be devastating for them if they feel that you are devastated by it. It is important to help your child understand that everyone has different strengths and that you love them whatever happens.

Sports day can be an opportunity for them to learn that they can experience losing but everything is still ok, even if they need to be distracted by an ice cream on the way home! Secondly, whatever happens on the day, there is the ongoing need for us as parents to keep our children enthusiastic about sport. There is more and more research published linking physical activity not just to physical health, but to mental health, social and cognitive development and academic performance. A study carried out by Loughborough University last year found out that at 8 years, 60% of children say they do regular exercise. However by 14, 50% of boys report exercising regularly and only 31% of girls. One of the factors reported by the girls in explanation for their low engagement in sport was 'lack of confidence'. This is something we as parents could play a part in.

If sports day does not go well for your child, think with them about the variety of sports that are out there. Different sports require different skills and will appeal to different personalities. Help them recognise their particular strengths and then encourage, praise and reward their efforts to develop them. Model physical activity by doing more yourself and enjoy doing active things together as a family. In addition to helping your child, you may find hidden sporting talents that you never knew you had!

Clare Henderson qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2002 and has been working with children and families ever since. She currently works for a child development team in Surrey and is mother of two small children of her own to keep her busy when she's not working or writing for us.

BEST FOR FOOD LOVERS
Villa a Persia, Domaine de Murtoli, Corsica, France

You can have your pick of a selection of stunning villas on the award-winning Domaine de Murtoli in Corsica. The private villa estate is made up of unique, rustic cottages dotted over 2,500 hectares of Corsican countryside and beaches, all of which have been sympathetically restored and furnished. Perfect for foodie families is Villa a Persia for in this converted sheepfold set in the hills of Corsica, you’ll find not one but two kitchens. It’s a traditional, stone cottage made utterly gorgeous with its French boho interiors but it’s the stunning location that will delight culinary connoisseurs. Hidden away on the sweeping Murtoli estate, the grounds offer an abundance of produce that guests can order as they wish. There’s veal and lamb from the estate’s farm, fruits and vegetables from the kitchen garden, olive oil from the mill, freshly caught sea bream from local fishermen. It’s a veritable feast for the body and soul. And when you are not in the mood for cooking, then there’s a choice of two restaurants – La Grotto is found in a spectacular natural cave by the beach and another The Beach Restaurant serving local dishes

BEST FOR SUN LOVERS

St Anne’s Point, Antigua, West Indies

Overlooking Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour and beyond to the island of Monserrat, this villa has such breathtaking views, you’ll probably be hard pressed to leave it to explore elsewhere. But tear yourselves away if you can bear to and take a five minutes walk and you’ll arrive at Pigeon Beach, one of the best loved beaches in Antigua. This is the ultimate Caribbean paradise and ideal for children with its soft pink sands, unfeasibly turquoise waters and swaying palm trees. It’s a lovely choice for holidays with friends or with the extended family – the villa sleeps 6-10 and has a 50ft pool, not to mention the wrap-around terrace with its own summer kitchen and state-of-the-art BBQ. Despite the fact that it is steeped in history – it is actually located on the site of a canon platform built by the British navy 200 years ago, this offers all the modern trappings you’d expect of a 21^st luxury bolthole – WiFi, SAT TVs, AC and daily housekeeping.

BEST FOR COUNTRY LOVERS

Cortijo el Caligto, Andalucia, Spain

Surrounded by olive and almond groves, this revamped cortijo high in the Sierra Tejeda hills is the ultimate place to get away from it all.  Inside its beautiful décor includes antique chairs, hand-stitched tapestries and soft linens. Traditional features include sloping ceilings, white beams and huge fireplaces. Highlights are the hammam-style bathroom, terrace with outdoor shower and gorgeous pool with spectacular views. It’s a fantastic location to explore Andalucia’s Moorish cities and whitewashed villages. Guests can also arrange for tapas cookery lessons in the outdoor summer kitchen or go for a culinary tour of local suppliers of olive oil, wine and pata negra ham.

BEST FOR UK LOVERS

Shalmar Hollow, Cornwall, UK

Like something out of the pages of Elle Deco, this Cornish family house will leave homebodies desperate to redecorate when they go back home. Based near Porthilly Cove in Rock, it means guests can buy sardines straight out of the ocean to combine with the pick-your-own vegetables from the garden, all to be cooked on the Aga. With its seven bedrooms and three reception rooms, not to mention a huge kichen-diner, this house has tons of space, making it ideal for all ages to rub shoulders together for a while. Kiddies will be kept happy outside in the large landscaped garden, with its own outdoor heated pool, swing and trampoline. Parents, meanwhile, will no doubt enjoy some well-deserved ‘me’ time (after the little-ones have gone to sleep) with a glass of wine around the outdoor firepit or a soak in a claw-footed tub with Jo Malone toiletries on tap.

BEST FOR ACTION LOVERS

Villa Eucalipto, Vale do Lobo, Algarve, Portugal

This luxury villa is found just outside the prestigious Portuguese resort of Vale do Lobo, with its tennis centre, championship golf courses, gorgeous beaches and lively Praca just minutes away. You couldn’t find a better spot for the family who wants to keep active on holiday. The villa itself is sleek and contemporary – a double height entrance hall with polished calcada tiling sets the scene. Everything is well thought-out for guests to enjoy an indulgent break: super king beds mean there’s still room to snooze when the little ones pile in of a morning, separate dressing areas and double sinks mean mums can have some space to themselves, while all the family will love the super gadgetry this place offers. From its cinema room to the satellite TV, Bose surround sound to the WiFi and coffee makers, this is more akin to a hotel than self-catering. Outdoor bbq and dining, polished terraces with sunloungers and heated pool mean there’s enough to keep all happy after a hard day of sporting activity.

Angelina Villa-Clarke has been a travel journalist for the past 15 years. She writes for Stylist Magazine, Harpers Bazaar, Spa Secrets, Kensington & Chelsea Magazine, BA's High Life Magazine, Thomas Cook and The Independent. She also writes her own blog Angelinascasa and likes to get her feet sandy occasionally.

Doing well in the world of work in the 21^st century depends on creativity and collaboration and the current system of exam focused education encourages neither. Gone are the days when rote learning, beyond the basic skills of the primary years, will instil the type of skills required for a modern workforce (despite recent comments by Michael Gove). We can access facts at the click of a mouse but that is no use unless we know how to analyse said data and can think for ourselves. Overemphasis on preparation for exams runs the risk of narrowing curriculum and squashing pupil interest. Unless students have some input into what they are learning motivation runs low and without motivated learners how are we to progress and make new discoveries?

The emphasis on exams starts very young and it is tragic to see keen pupils lose their interest in what they are learning as the focus becomes the grade. Grade based systems naturally encourage competitiveness and children’s self-esteem and belief in themselves as learners drop when they compare their results with others. Even those who do well develop a fragile self-esteem which is dependent on maintaining good results. There are many adult over-achievers who live very stressed lives as they still seek to prove themselves. Educational systems (like the Finnish system) which focus more on the content than the grade actually produce excellent results as motivated, creative and happy pupils do very well. This doesn’t mean that exams and grades don’t play a part in the education system but the emphasis needs to be changed.

Melissa Hood is founder of The Parent Practice and mother of three. A skilled therapist, providing parents with the right tools to improve and enjoy family life promoting happy childhoods and a brighter futures. She and her team deliver tailored training and consultations to enable parents to bring out the best in their children.

www.parentpractice.com

@parentpractice

Figures released today (24 May 2013) show that UK parents are poorly equipped to deliver potentially life-saving first aid to their own child in a medical emergency.

According to a British Red Cross survey, only 13 percent of UK mums and dads have attended a first aid course for babies and children in the past three years.

The results of the poll, carried out by Opinium for the British Red Cross have been published as the charity launches a ground breaking mobile application (app) on lifesaving advice for children and babies. The Baby and Child First Aid app is free to download via http://www.redcross.org.uk/babyandchildapp.

The new app – packed with useful videos, animations, tips and a ‘test yourself’ section – is designed to equip parents, guardians and carers of babies and young children with simple and easy to learn first aid skills. It also provides educational content for people to learn first aid.

Joe Mulligan, head of first aid education, said: “Our studies show that 70 per cent of parents have taken their baby or child to an A&E unit at some point, while 83 percent believe that they would feel more confident in giving first aid treatment if they had instant access to guidance.

“This information is a massive part of our motivation to build the app as we want to raise parents’ confidence in first aid scenarios. The Baby and Child First Aid app is a truly unique product gathering together all the information you need to help babies and children. As the success of our original first aid app has shown, there’s a real appetite for this kind of product. I think most people appreciate the value of having such potentially life-saving knowledge at their fingertips,” he explained.

It’s hoped the app will have a wide ranging reach, as the new figures from the British Red Cross survey also indicate that 80 percent of parents in the UK own a Smartphone; while 31 percent have a tablet device. Encouragingly, 80 percent of UK mums and dads have indicated that they are likely to download and use a first aid app on their mobile device.

The Baby and Child First Aid app is the first of its kind and contains clear instructions on what to do in many emergencies. It also boasts information and videos hosted on the app meaning no internet connection is needed for viewing. The bite-sized videos make it easy to learn about first aid while juggling childcare demands.

One of the app's most unique features is its Hospital Finder which allows the user to search for nearest emergency department from anywhere in theUK.  The device also enables users to record children’s medication needs, family medical information and any other important details.

To download the British Red Cross Baby and Child app, please visit redcross.org.uk/babyandchildapp or find it on iTunes AppStore or the Google Play store for all Android mobile devices.

The app has been optimised for Apple iPhone, iPad and Android mobile but will also work on Apple iPod Touch and Android tablets and follows the Red Cross’ original mobile first aid app, which launched in December 2011 and has already chalked up over 500,000 downloads in the UK.

British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. They are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies.  They enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives.

www.redcross.org.uk

So, in order to mitigate the potential challenges thrown at us in our pursuit of relaxed, convivial alfresco dining with the children (yet another challenge thrown into the mix), I’ve devised some ideas for divine picnic dishes that are get-ahead-of-the-game, eminently portable, and healthy – we have enough to contend with without feeling guilty too.

All that patriotism aside, we’ve always been very good at absorbing other nations’ influences; especially when it comes to food. Exciting dishes to adorn your picnic basket often borrow from world cuisine, and most especially those from countries with better health statistics and longevity than our own. Humble salads are given vibrancy with oriental dressings made from a little soy sauce, honey and rice vinegar. Rainbow-hued “ribbon” salads, where a peeler is used to great effect on courgettes, carrots, radishes, cucumbers, red cabbage, fennel and red onion and dressed simply with lemon juice, olive oil and fresh herbs, feel decidedly Californian and virtuous. Along with a chopped Russian salad these are all simple ways to ensure a health-giving picnic and elevate “greens” to objects of salivation for our children.

The recipes below continue this theme of international influence. Together, these dishes make for a delectable and balanced picnic, but equally each dish will complement your existing alfresco repertoire. All quantities are for 4-6 people – as with most outdoor pursuits, the more of you there are, the merrier the games will be.

Muffuletta

As far back as 1906 food purveyors who were thinking about products that could be conveniently taken away and eaten in the fresh air, hit upon the idea of the muffuletta (sometimes called muffaletta). The owners of the Central Grocery in New Orleans watched the Sicilian farmers, who came in to the city to sell their produce, juggle their favourite lunch of cheese, ham, salami, olives, salads and bread whilst teetering on the crates and barrels that were their only source of repose. Named after a traditional Sicilian dome-shaped bread, the muffuletta was transformed into a layered sandwich that accommodated all of their favourite sources of protein and flavour. The grocery’s trademark was the inclusion of an olive salad consisting of olives and vegetables taken from a jar of pickled “giardiniera”. My homage to this great invention uses fresh vegetables to make a finely chopped salad (so it more closely resembles a relish) in order to pack in a vitamin boost and create a texture palatable to reluctant veggie-consumers, yet still retains a pleasing crunch. Making ahead (I suggest the night before) allows the herb and olive oil-marinated salad to permeate all the layers and marry their complementary tastes; and enables you to set off early to your chosen area of outstanding natural beauty.

Note: Substitute with your favourite cheeses and cooked meats, such as mortadella, roast turkey or rare beef, if you prefer. This is also extremely tasty filled with a Nicoise salad, if you’d rather avoid meat.

Ingredients

Guacamame

1 small bag (480g) frozen shelled edamame/soya beans, thawed

50 ml extra virgin olive oil

4 generous tbsp 0% Greek yoghurt

1 diced small red onion

½ red pepper

½ yellow pepper

Juice of 2 limes

½ mild chilli (optional, but does lift the dish)

Small bunch coriander

Small bunch mint

Salt, large pinch

Black pepper, to season

Salt & Chilli-Roasted Pitta Chips

4 pittas

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

¼ tsp salt

¼  tsp chilli powder

Method

Preheat oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6.

Puree all of the ingredients for the guacamame in a food processor.

Slice pittas into eighths. Mix oil, salt and chilli powder, and brush onto pitta wedges. Bake for 10 minutes.

Serve with the guacamame and any leftover olive salad from the muffuletta recipe.

Ginger & Lemon Cordial

Enjoying alfresco games like rounders, cricket, sticky glue and hide-and-seek means we’ll be working up a thirst, too. Ginger is wonderful for promoting good circulation to ensure we’re not letting the side down, and teamed with lemon in this lip-smacking cordial, it refreshes the parts other drinks cannot reach. This cordial will keep for up to a week in the fridge, so you have plenty of time to experiment with it as a base for summery cocktails too. You didn’t hear that from me though, ok?

Ingredients

100g fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped

500g caster sugar

4 lemons, sliced

sparkling water

Method

Place the ginger, sugar and lemon slices in a pan with 400ml water. Bring to the boil, and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat, allow to cool, then sieve.

Serve diluted with sparkling water.

Lemon Drizzle Cupcakes

Despite the healthy-eating message we’re all trying to convey to our young ones, it wouldn’t be a picnic without a sweet treat. In their defence, these lemon drizzle cupcakes come in controlled portions, contain a good dose of Vitamin C and are perfect served with fresh nutrient-packed raspberries or blueberries. They are baked at a lower temperature for slightly longer than normal to keep their tops level, making them easier to transport without shedding their sticky topping, and more robust than their loaf cake counterpart. However, they do still come out impossibly light and fluffy.

Ingredients

250g pack of butter, softened

400g caster sugar (split 250g + 150g)

250g self-raising flour

3 eggs, lightly beaten

zest and juice of 3 lemons

Method

Heat oven to 160C/Gas Mark 3. Line a muffin tin with 12 muffin cases. With an electric whisk, cream the butter and 250g of the sugar until pale. Add the eggs, flour, zest of 2 lemons and juice from 1 lemon until just combined. Divide between the cases and bake on a middle shelf for 30 minutes.

Leave to cool for 10 minutes. Pour the remaining lemon juice over the remaining 150g of sugar and zest of 1 lemon. Spoon this syrup over the cakes while they are still warm. Leave to cool completely.

Place all goodies in your prettiest picnicware, grab the family, and go “shine forth upon our clouded hills”.

Kate Rowe is a witty cook, food writer and mother to two daughters who believes that ‘Food is the way to bond, nourish, educate and show love’. She shares her passion for food in our blog through her mummy friendly recipes and with an extra pinch of humour.

http://foodcentric.blogspot.com

@EFoodcentric

We asked Sarah Willingham, Founder of letssavesomemoney.com for her tips and advice on entertaining your children for free and we were surprised at how many suggestions she came up with.

"As a mum of four and owner of website www.letssavesomemoney.com I’ve become an expert on organising BIG fun on a little budget.

FREE DAYS OUT

My number one money saving tip for a family day out is always, always, always take a picnic. Taking some bottles of homemade squash, sandwiches and snacks will stop your money vanishing into pricey cafés or on fast food and my kids LOVE it.

All the state museums are free and they are dotted around the country including the Imperial War Museums, the National Museums of Scotland and the National Museums of Wales. And of course there are loads of free museums around London.  We recently took the kids to the Natural History Museum to see the MASSIVE roaring T-Rex, followed by an exceptional couple of hours around the planets at The Science Museum.  It was so good that my husband and I wondered how we could sneak of without the kids next time and really take it all in. It was brilliant!

English Heritage has loads of free and exciting attractions. The annual membership to the National Trust starts from about £18.75 but if you purchase annual membership through cashback site TopCashback you earn 5.05% cashback and they often have free weekends when you can visit their attractions for free.  Most places have special attractions for kids.  Last weekend we spent nearly 2 hours ‘dressing up’ in a place near us.   GREAT free fun!

The gift shop is a big draw for this kids – so I often just give them £1 and let them choose something.  For a 5 year old it’s pretty cool to have your own money and learn it’s value.

FREE TOYS

Yes really! FREE! Around the country there are toy libraries you can join. At these libraries you can borrow new toys and even attend play sessions. Most services are free but some do charge a small fee to cover the cost of the toys. There is a full list of libraries at play matters.

FREE SPORTS

Some (but not all) local councils offer free swimming to children under the age of 16. This tends to run after school and during the holidays. If you search your local council’s website it will tell you whether they offer it. These are some of the ones I know of: Brighton, Leicester, York, Glasgow and Manchester.

Tesco and the FA run a great programme which offers free football sessions during the holiday and after school clubs during the school term for kids aged 5-11. After school sessions cost a maximum of £2 and you can search for your nearest session here.

There’s a useful site called Tennis For Free where you can search for free courts near you. It is just a search though, you can’t book through the site and you’ll have to take along your own racket and balls.

FREE TV

Obviously not to be done whilst the sun is shining! You can get some great cartoons, TV and movies for free online.  Netflix and Lovefilm offer free 30 day trials and both have a good selection for kids, whilst youtube has LOADS of my kids favourite cartoons. BEWARE this will suck up a lot of data so only use this if you have a good internet package- to give you an idea downloading 1 film= 1GB .

You can also watch TV being made for free! You can apply to be in the audience for loads of different shows directly through the BBC or ITV or through Applause Store. Be prepared for lots of queuing though!

FREE TREASURE

There is a free treasure hunt called geocaching you can do using the GPS on your smart phone.  It is SO much fun!  You and your kids follow co-ordinates to try and find the geocache (a container of treasure) hidden in that area. It’s always more about finding the treasure than the treasure itself, but whatever you take you need to replace with something of equal value. Have a look at geocaching for more details and locations near you.

CHEAP CINEMA

This isn’t quite free but it’s pretty close! There usually children’s showings at cinemas on a Saturday and Sunday morning. Check your local cinema for their deals, if you go to the Odeon  Kids screening with every child’s ticket you will get a FREE adult ticket and at the Vue’s Kids AM  tickets are only £1.75.

HOW TO GET MONEY OFF

Use your loyalty points to cut the cost of days out. If you are going to a Merlin Theme park (Alton Towers, Legoland, Chessington) you can swap Clubcard and Nectar points for money off vouchers on the Nectar and Clubcard sites at a great rate. If you want to go to any other pricey attraction you should check to see if your loyalty points can help you out and also do an internet search stating 'attraction, voucher, month' (eg.‘Peppa Pig World, Voucher, May 2013’)".

For more great ways to save check out www.letssavesomemoney.com