Children and Family
Children & Family section. Reviews and advice about anything kids and family related.
Why are so many of our children obese? Because our approach to PE is wrong
By Phil Jones is Director of the Military Preparation Schools Child obesity levels have risen once again, according to National Child Measurement Programme figures published last week. The percentage of overweight 10- and 11- year olds in this country has increased by 0.7%, and while that’s a relatively small increase on the face of things, it’s important that a spotlight is shone on the direction in which things are heading. There is a need, and an urgent need, for schools...
Family refused priority housing despite video of mum carrying disabled son up stairs
Council chiefs who were shown a video of a mum struggling to carry her disabled son up 30 stairs still refused her priority housing - because she made it to the TOP. Sharon Arkell, 38, and Richard Mikkelson, 37, live with Tommy, four, and his little sister Susie in a second-floor flat. Tommy cannot reach it unaided as he suffers from muscular dystrophy, a progressive illness which means he'll soon have to use a wheelchair permanently. So mum Sharon carries...
The challenge of providing childcare in London
Welcoming London’s First Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare Challenge, Joanne McCartney to discuss the London Childcare Challenge. Have you ever considered childcare to be part of the infrastructure? Well in my book, it’s very much part of a modern economic strategy enabling parents to work, children to learn and thrive and families to be part of local community connections. In London, providing and accessing childcare is challenging. For parents it is cost and accessibility especially when fewer than 20%...
Adopting Maisie – One family’s journey
Tom and Caroline’s little boy had just turned four when the couple first started thinking about extending their family. Dominic had brought untold joy to their lives and both had embraced parenthood with gusto. As they considered their new addition, their thoughts increasingly turned to the possibility of welcoming their second child through adoption. Caroline said: “Parenthood does heighten your awareness of just how precious children are and we felt that if we wanted another child in our lives, this...
Never Too Old To Volunteer – 65-y-o woman travels to Africa to support child abuse victims
In January 2016 65 year-old, Shelagh Harris embarked on a unique experience to South Africa to help at child victim abuse charity, a once in a lifetime chance to give something back to the needy, this is her story... I had recently retired when my daughter asked if I would like to go to South Africa with her and volunteer. We had enjoyed a number of weekend breaks together; time for informal chats, pampering and re-charging of our batteries. I...
Exclusive – Boyfriend helps mum give birth in car park
A mum had such a quick labour that her boyfriend had to help her give birth - in a hospital car park. Rebekah Connaughton, 24, was 39 weeks pregnant when she went into labour and made a quick dash to her nearest hospital. But as her partner Kris, 26, pulled into the car park, the baby's head appeared, leaving Kris with no choice but to deliver the baby himself - in the car park of East Surrey Hospital, in Redhill....
£15K a year spent by dad to make 8-year-old an “A-list” star
A dad from South East London are investing heavily into their eight-year-old sun hoping he will make it into international stardom. The boy, Theodore Liang, attends drama, acting and dance classes which clobbers him with a £1,300 a month. In total, taking everything into account he splurges £15k on their son, who they already think has “exceptional” talent. The dad Steffan ia already trying build little Theodore’s brand as an actor and dancer. Next up for Theodore will be his...
When one mum’s child died of cancer she set-up charity so others can fight disease
"Why we must improve data collection if we are to see cure rates for childhood cancers increase" Sally Hall lost her son, Skye, in 2014 from side effects of his treatment for Medulloblastoma; an aggressive and cancerous brain tumour. She has set up the charity Blue Skye Thinking to raise money for brain tumour research and also lobbies for data collection for Standard Treatment Protocol in the UK. When your child is first diagnosed with cancer, and after the initial...
Half-term horrors: How to keep the little monsters entertained
Review: Goosebumps Kids, The Vaults, Waterloo A looming half-term is enough to give most parents in the capital sleepless nights but this time around there’s a new attraction to keep even the most terrifying of little monsters entertained. Staged deep underground in the creepy vaults beneath Waterloo Station, Goosebumps Kids brings to life RL Stine’s bestselling children’s horror stories in a spine-tingling theatrical adventure aimed at five- to 11-year-olds. Not quite knowing what to expect, my nine-year-old son and I...