The Lollibop Line Up - Plus Your Chance To WIN Tickets

LolliBop, the UK’s biggest kids festival, has announced it’s most exciting line-up to date with CBeebies Superstar Justin Fletcher headlining on Saturday and Sunday and Mister Maker taking over the main stage on Friday.

The event, which this year takes place at Hatfield House, August 15-17, also welcomes stars of CBBC’s Big Friday Wind Up Sam & Mark to LolliBop for the first time.

Other LolliBop ‘newbies’ include Thomas & Friends with a bespoke interactive play experience created especially for LolliBop, Chris & Pui with their Mini Roadshow, Scooby-Doo! The Mystery of the Pyramid, Cook and Line from Swashbuckle (Fri & Sat only) and Michaela

Mother's Day Jewellery from Cavendish French *Win*

Being a mum is a full time job and when it comes to Mother's Day it's lovely to be treated to something special that shows real appreciation. Whether that's in the form of a hand made card from the kids, a pretty bouquet of flowers complete with chocolates or just a night away from the kitchen and cooking - it makes us feel loved by our little ones.

However, if you are after a gift with a touch of elegance this March, a wonderful keepsake, look no further than Cavendish French. They have a stunning silver jewellery collection with something to suit everyone - from the timeless and classic to bold contemporary statement pieces, and everything in between. 

Outdoor Family Fun - 5 Cold Weather Activities

We all know how important it is to be active but when the sun hasn't got it's hat on and Jack Frost lurks around every corner we often need encouraging to go outside.

Hopefully these 5 ideas will help to persuade you and your family to pop on your boots and get moving outdoors, regardless of the weather!

Shadow Fun

With darker days until Spring it's the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all of the shadows on the ground. Use them as stepping stones, play shadow tag or see what interesting shapes you can make with your hands and body. 

Star Gazing

Enjoy a lovely evening walk and see if you can identify the sounds of the wildlife before laying on the ground and staring up into the nights sky. There are so many constellations to look out for but you can also look for planes, bats and owls in the process. 

For a warmer alternative take a tent.

Puddle Jumping

Your little Peppa Pig fans no doubt like to get messy so put on some sensible footwear (I love my new women's Puma trainers), some waterproofs and get splashing. You can stand nearby for some great action shots or join in too. Warm up afterwards with a hot chocolate, plenty of cream and marshmallows with a great family movie.

Winter Games

With the Olympics in progress it's the ideal time for recreating some of the activities safely at home in the garden. Use cardboard boxes as bobsleighs and your imaginations for some competitive play. You could always do some baking and make some cookie medals to reward yourselves after!

Woodland Creations

With high winds there are many broken trees and plenty of branches around. Go on a scavenger hunt to collect some and then use your materials to make your own magical broomsticks and stick characters. Cuddle up with Room on the Broom and Stick Man for a read too or get back straight back out there for some kite flying action!

Which winter activities do you enjoy as a family?

Make 2014 a Better Year for Someone

Our New Year’s resolutions are always the same, aren’t they? Get fit, lose weight, give up smoking…

Self-improvement is all very well and good, but what if you could do more? What if you could make someone else’s life better in 2014? 

With child sponsorship, you can do just that, and bask in the satisfaction that at least one of your resolutions will be going to plan. 

Charities all over the UK use child sponsorship programs to help change the lives of children worldwide. Being a child sponsor gives you a unique insight into the life of a child in a developing country, and over time you will be able to watch your sponsored child benefit from your kindness and generosity as they continue to improve their lives. 

Letters, photos and reports from your sponsored child and charity will help you see the difference you are making in that child’s life and the impact your contribution has. 

You are free to write to your sponsored child and see how they are doing. In fact, most charities encourage this, as the letters help to improve the child’s literacy skills and help you to establish a connection with your sponsored child. Also, reading a letter from someone miles away who cares about them and is willing to support them is priceless to these children, and can help to motivate them in their ambitions. 

Start off the New Year by making an immediate improvement to a child’s life. When you sign up for child sponsorship, you will be given the choice of sponsoring either a boy or a girl. You will receive a profile of your sponsored child as well as photos of them and their family. You will also receive guidance on writing to your sponsored child as well as writing materials. 

Just knowing that someone else cares about their fate and is sending some of their hard-earned cash to help them improve their lives means a great deal to these children and their families. For the minimal cost of 50 pence a day, you could help change a child’s life forever. 

The money you donate goes towards projects that will best benefit your sponsored child and the needs of their community, be it agricultural training, renovating wells for clean water, building and restoring schools or providing immunisations. Most importantly, the emphasis is placed not on hand-outs, but on helping the community to take ownership of these projects so they can help themselves out of poverty and become stronger as a community for the benefit of themselves, their children and future generations. 

Make your New Year’s resolution one you won’t give up on this year, and help change the lives of a child and their family for the better. Your contribution will make a difference not only today, or for the next year, but for many years to come due to the projects that your generosity can help fund and sustain. 

Visit http://www.plan-uk.org/sponsor-a-child today.

*Sponsored Guest Post*