Q. Having experienced the pros and cons of a rock star lifestyle, would you recommend being a rock star to your four-year-old son Hector? A. "He can do whatever he wants – he plays drums, he paints, he plays soccer. He’s four-and-a-half, going on thirty. He’s an old soul. I don’...

1. Take a wooden (preferably) cotton reel and hammer four nails into the top so that the nails are protruding fully.2. Thread some wool through the middle of the reel.3. Wind the wool once around each nail so that each nail has a ‘loop’ around it.4. Wind the wool once around the ...

1. Cover the floor with newspaper, as this is a messy activity.2. Blow up a balloon; sit the end in a cup.3. Tear newspaper strips about 15cm long, dip them in papier mâché paste (one part flour, two parts water) and spread them across the balloon, covering everything except the ...

One of the most beautiful capitals, Stockholm is spread across 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, so your first excursion should be a boat trip around the archipelago to help get your bearings and spot the houses of various Abba members.Stop off at Djurgården Island, which house...

1. Fold the two opposite ends of a square piece of paper to make a triangle, then fold the opposite ends of the triangle to make a smaller one.2. Open the paper up and fold a corner into the centre point, repeat with the opposite corner – you should now have a square.3. Turn the ...

1. Look at some examples of mosaic designs, then choose a central image – it could be a truck, a moon or a face that inspires your designer.2. Sketch your design or paste a picture of the object on the back of a paper plate to create a template.3. Using colourful magazine pages, ...

1. Cut two circles from cardboard about the size of the pom poms to be created.2. Cut a circle out of the middle (fold the card in half to cut out this circle).3. Place the two cardboard circles together, then wind a ball of wool through the centre hole and around the outside.4. ...

When it comes to planning your next barbecue, make it a gourmet occasion with these five pointers from Australian celebrity chef Bill Granger. 1. Plan the menu as if you were in a restaurant  What would you want on one plate? Stick to the combination that you think will work for ...

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...

GREAT BOOKS FOR ACTIVITIES365 Activities You And Your Toddler Will Love by Dr Roni Cohen Leiderman and Dr Wendy Masi, Bonnier Books, £7.99.Art Attack Great Stuff by Neil Buchanan, Dorling Kindersley, £9.99.Big Book Of Things To Do by R Gibson, Usborne Publishing, £6.99.Cooking Wi...