Just imagine…that there’s a book that it’s impossible for a small child not to fall in love with…

I have to confess that until I became a mother, I always thought Spot the Dog books were the most boring things imaginable. I remember looking at one and thinking ‘God, this is so basic – “Where’s Spot?”, “Hello Spot!” – where’s the imagination in this?’ Well, times have changed because I now get so […]

Why I want to read everything Shirley Williams has ever created

There are six books in the already classic series, and all are wonderful, but my son’s very favourite is The Super Scooter and I think it’s because it distils to a fine essence all the ingredients a small child likes in a story.

One mother argues that joyless baby classes are pointless…

It’s not just simple words and notions which children glean from Scarry – it’s also how to behave, always with a sweet irony…

Our pick of educational yet entertaining apps to download.

I’m not some stern disciplinarian. I’m a loving, soft-hearted mother. And I can even see why Yes Parenting guru Bea Marshall advises that rather than telling your child to leave the cat food alone, you should try having family meals out of bowls on the floor and make believe you are cats. Yes, she really […]

Investigating the ‘dating’ websites which promise to find you ‘mum friends’…

For example – taking them swimming.   What you imagined: Joyful and serene quality time together in the womb-like waters. The reality: The bit in the pool is lovely. But then there’s the other stuff…