On The Blog

From first board books to big-kid classics: the Christmas books we're reading at bedtime this year, picked by age.

They're too old for "little kid" toys but not quite ready to stop playing. Gifts for 8–10 year olds that hit the sweet spot.

The gifts that actually get played with at five, six and seven: family games, creative kits, books and a few showstoppers.

Fill your pockets on your next walk, then come home and make something. Ten easy autumn nature crafts using leaves, conkers, acorns and pinecones.

Loud bangs, late nights and freezing fingers. My honest guide to Bonfire Night with babies and toddlers, including the sparkler rule every parent should know.

Refillable fabric calendars, a toy behind every door and a book for every day. My pick of the best advent calendars for kids this year, beyond the chocolate.

Light trails, Santa steam trains and Christmas markets within easy reach of Huddersfield, plus my tips for booking the popular ones before they sell out.

Who scoops, who draws and who holds the knife. A realistic guide to pumpkin carving with kids, plus no-carve ideas that are perfect for toddlers.

No costume, no panic. Eight toddler Halloween looks you can pull together from their wardrobe in ten minutes, plus a few safety tips worth knowing.

Kirklees schools are off from 26 to 30 October. Here's how we fill the week, from free walks and museums to rainy-day plans and our own kids' workshops in Slaithwaite.

Simple, low-mess Halloween makes for little hands, from paper plate bats to spooky window art. No Pinterest perfection required.