has special family rooms and suites and a children’s concierge who can organise grand days out and  furnish your child with books and DVDs. From £660 per night for a family of four. Visit www.athenaeumhotel.com

in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, activities include pastry-making, kite-flying, garland-making and pitch-and-putt; the Rasa Ria also has an orang-utan orphanage where children can be a ranger for the day and help tend for the baby orang-utans; while the Rasa

PonyGuaranteed entry to the rarefied world of gymkhanas and pony clubs (eek!) but beware the time (they need to exercise every day), money (they are among the most expensive animals you can own), and work (mucking out – and believe me, you’ll end up

Fashion SpecialClassic retro styles, soft-coloured floral patterns, casual looks for hanging out, plus Fifties-inspired pieces and a new range for both boys and girls from Romeo GigliThe Child Who Likes AdultsWhat should you do when your child

Little Miss Junior has had a busy week, and has seen her new friend Santa all over London!First stop was Harrods children’s clothes floor for a spot of designer Christmas party outfit shopping. As she was browsing through the sparkly sequin dresses

, excellent swimming, great rock pools and even a dollop of surf when there’s a south-coast swell. A smattering of beachfront shops, a café and a water sports centre make Praa a doddle for a relaxed day out. Apart from the glorious beaches, Cornwall has a host

and was delighted with the great nods of approval from the waiters. It turned out to be quite handy that Joe had made some local friends. On our last day, he managed to lock himself in the toilet and one of the more nimble waiters had to squeeze through the tiny

– then promptly shut, as the air con won’t work with open windows and, as we soon learnt, to keep those pesky mosquitoes out.The villa is set on a hectare of land, with a shady pergola which overlooks the surrounding hills, dotted with medieval spires, and full

Eat Good Things Every Day by Carmel Somers (Atrium, £35) This book is set out as a handy eight-week healthy eating plan. At the start of each chapter you are told how to best prepare for quick and healthy meals in the week ahead. Recipes range from

for adventure holidays, from exploring the Great Wall of China to visiting a Thai hill tribe.Explore’s family programme includes China, Thailand and the 16-day Indonesian Volcanoes and Dragons Schooner Adventure, centred around nine nights aboard a traditional