Author: Jennifer Aldley

I have just spent a wonderful week with three grandchildren.  The age range is not vast, 11, 13 and 15 – so very manageable and as they are siblings, each respects the others’ likes and dislikes as much as their…

Ah the joy of playing an taking part in an organised Beetle Drive – the rules are  simple but where the name Drive comes into it is quite beyond me.  I have taken part only in a hilarious group activity,…

Playing any kind of game with some grandchildren will inevitably mean sharing the ipad or other hand held gizmo.  The thought of sitting around a table with a board game, having to read the rules, lay out all the pieces…

Hockey is such a great game for spectators – I am amazed and quite sad that it isn’t on tv more, except every four years with the Olympics.  It can encourage so many youngsters out to take part in a…

I have some lovely young neighbours – several families with kiddies live nearby and it is an absolute joy to hear them playing very happily, if a little noisily, out in our shared driveways. It’s great too when a particularly…

The February half term holidays are always a difficult time for parents in this family.  There has usually had o be some heavy negotiation over the coverage of the Christmas school holidays and then Easter is fast approaching too.  This…

Ah the patter of little feet – in the shape of toddlers and maybe very small teenagers.  There are other folk in the world though who appreciate being bought toys and games.  If we stop restricting ourselves to only looking…

Whilst going through the endless lists of possible presents for grand-children in readiness for the Christmas onslaught, it became obvious how out of touch older folk are with what the modern generation of youngsters actually want for presents.   Years ago,…

A recent need to find exactly the right kind of presents for a set of grand children who live abroad required a trip to a specialist toy and game supplier.  When items have to be wrapped, labelled and then packed…

One of the absolute joys of grandparent-hood is searching for gorgeous and wonderous toys for the new arrival, as he or she grows up.  Each birthday and christmas there are endless possibilities for fun and mayhem.  Of course, grandparents generally…