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. DJ and disco Give your child the run of the CDs for the day and have her put together a playlist for a disco. Ask her to make decorations and name the event, then set a time when she will play DJ (with Dad’s help) while you take to the dance floor. If your child is too young t...

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...

The ingredients for the best family holiday? How about five-star pampering for Mummy, peace and quiet (and a great wine list) for Daddy, fun and games for the children, adventures for all and… 5am wake-up calls. Ah yes, there is that slight downside, but then, this isn’t just any...

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...

How to travel to far-flung foreign lands without feeling fearful…Begin with a country that you know is safe but that is foreign. So if you really want to have a cultural experience go someplace that is kind of traveling for beginners – you know – Morocco. It is a gorgeous...

January Spring blossoms in CyprusCyprus is gorgeous in winter – which is really their spring. The trees are heavy with pink almond blossoms and the temperature is cool enough to take hikes, gentle bike rides and explore some of the island’s antiquities. Hotels are geared up for y...