Swap your ski jacket for waterskis with a stay at Beachcomber’s Shandrani Resort & Spa in Mauritius. Winner of the Junior Design Award 2011 for Best International Hotel, it’s an ideal option for active families because of its huge range of land

45 Days Of FunOpen Now–August 14There will be no excuse to stay indoors this summer with The Gyle, Edinburgh organising 45 days of free summer activities from 1st July. Children of all ages can get involved with activities ranging from free pop

1. Body painting  Buy a selection of bathtime body paints, then hop in the tub to paint designs on each body part, naming the body parts and the things you are drawing as you go... bees on their knees, a sweet on their feet and so on. 2. Put on a puppet show  If you don’t have pu...

for traidcraft stalls with gifts and cards, mince pies and seasonal nibbles, children's activities, storytime and a Christmas Quiz.Time: 10.30am–12.30pm. Cobbett Road Library, Cobbett Road Southampton SO18 1HL.Plymouth Christmas CarnivalDecember 5See

Alongside all those fabulous shows there will also be some great Kids Week activities, free to ticket-holders for that day’s performance. Here’s a flavour of what’s going on:ROOM ON THE BROOM TALK BACK, August 19Join the cast of Room On The Broom

Slip and slideSo easy to do and guaranteed many laughs. Go to your local hardware store and get a heavy-duty plastic tarpaulin that folds out lengthwise. Find a small grassy hill and stake the tarpaulin down on both corners at both ends. Pour on some water from a bucket, ready fo...

1. Throw an afternoon tea party  A tiny table, a pot of lukewarm ‘tea’, cups, saucers, serviettes and spoons and your toddler will be acting like the perfect lady of the house... Encourage her to ‘pour the tea’ and ‘add the sugar’. Offer plenty of pleases and thank-yous.2. ‘Paint...

1. Do a circus routine  Encourage your child to practise being a clown (for costumes, use ping-pong balls for a big red nose, colourful oversize clothing, some funny glasses and a big hat), an acrobat (who does cartwheels, somersaults and handstands), a juggler (you could use thr...

1.  Pack a picnic hamper  ...with damper (recipe below), fruit and chocolates, then enjoy an afternoon in the garden with a variety of traditional games: boules, a giant snakes-and-ladders, skittles.2. Make gingerbread men  Why not try making characters from your child’s favourit...

1. Write your name or funny messages in the sand with shells2. Decorate sand-pies and sandcastles with different shaped shells3. Have a rock-pool ramble  Learn about the food chain of this natural aquarium so your child understands how it works: look at the different seaweeds, th...