Home

No Easter is complete without an egg hunt. Instead of the traditional, this year, introduce clues so kids have a bit of riddle-solving to do along the way. Or add challenges like ‘do 10 bunny hops’ for little ones to try. As an alternative, get the kids to hide eggs for the adults with rewards they’d like to receive – ‘extra pudding’, ‘stay up late’ and other requests will probably spring to mind.

Why not host your own spring Olympics? Invite friends and family and set races such as an egg and spoon race, egg toss and a donut-eating contest of confectionary strung up on string.

The garden offers ample spring-centric shenanigans. Grab some foil trays and encourage kids to make their own Easter garden. Pick spring flowers and press them to make a montage, or gather foliage to decorate Easter bonnets.

Inside, try blowing out eggs and painting them. Think faces, farm animals (white pom poms for sheep, quail eggs for pigs) and botanical-themed eggs. Otherwise, dabble in a little Easter baking. Try making beautiful, edible Easter bark by melting milk and dark chocolate, spreading over a baking sheet and marbling together using a skewer. Scatter on some coloured chocolate buttons and chill in the fridge for an hour to set.

Alternatively, host a mini Easter party. Play pin the tail on the bunny, Easter piñata or make some art by filling blown-out eggshells with paint and taking turns to throw at a canvas – messy but totally worth it.

Whatever the weather, get outdoors

There’s a Swedish saying that goes ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,’ which is why you’ll find them embracing nature and making the most of the great outdoors all winter long.
The layering principle, rätt klädd med lager på lager, can help you dress kids for all weathers. Here’s how to do it…

• Layer one consists of Merino or polyester base layers. These fabrics trap heat close to the skin, drawing cold moisture away, keeping the wearer dry and warm. This isn’t thermal underwear however. Buy dresses, tops and long johns which are perfect for inside the house once you’ve come in from the cold.
• Layer two is a middle layer of breathable fleece or wool. This keeps in heat under the outer layer and releases moisture. In less chilly weather, soft-shell jackets or fleece jackets can be worn alone, without the need for the third layer.
• Layer three is a wind and waterproof outer that protects against the elements. A padded winter coat is what you need, or a Polarn O. Pyret shell jacket to attach to layer two’s fleece jacket. These are designed so if you sit in a puddle, you won’t get wet. Polarn O. Pyret also make waterproof trousers which attach to their coats and hook over the kids’ feet to stop them riding up.

Finish off the layers with gloves, boots and a beanie hat, which can be worn under a hood. Kids will be ready for every adventure.
Take-home tip: With the right gear, you can all enjoy hours outside.

Establish cosy Fridays

Fredagsmys, which means Friday cosiness, is a widespread tradition in Sweden. On a Friday night the family gathers together and eats tacos, crisps and dip, and snuggles up on the sofa to watch TV. Taking into account long winter nights, Scandi interior design provides the perfect setting for a night in. Think mood lighting and luxurious texture.
Take-home tip: Establish one evening of the week as a family night in.

Make the coffee break intentional

Fika, meaning ‘coffee break,’ is a national institution in Sweden. But it holds more significance than just a literal translation. While it traditionally consists of coffee and fikabröd such as cinnamon buns, it can really be anything, as long as you’re sipping coffee, eating a baked treat and taking a break, as it’s more about pausing and making space; establishing the coffee break as a designated moment.
Take-home tip: In the business of weekend activities, designate time to eat as a family and share about the week.

Switch-up Pancake Day

Shrove Tuesday in Sweden is also known as Semlor Day. Instead of pancakes, semlor - cardamom-flavoured buns, filled with almond paste and cream - are eaten. So popular, they’re now enjoyed through all of Lent. Pancakes with jam and cream, however, will almost invariably be a restaurant children’s main course option throughout the year, along with meatballs and mash, and hot dogs.
Take-home tip: Make your own Pancake Day tradition.

Build an interchangeable wardrobe

Polarn O. Pyret and other Swedish kids’ brands are masters in playful patterns. Stripes, dots and bright colours are key and make for unisex pieces that can be mixed-and-matched. Kidswear is also designed with practicality at the fore. Super-soft fabrics that don’t lose their shape when washed, seams that can scarcely be felt, and easy-to-put-on garments; these features make clothes kids will want to wear – and life easier for you. Arm your children’s wardrobe with these and they’ll keep happy and stylish all winter.
Take-home tip: Think timeless patterns and bold colours for clothing that’ll work for passing on to friends.

Home

We know the feeling: after a couple of hours in the house, all the toys have been played with and the kids are restless. Fear not.

Make an indoor laser maze by stringing up streamers of various heights in the hallway and encourage kids to climb through without touching them. Create a race car track by sticking masking tape on your floors or fill a room with balloons for all sorts of throwing and catching fun. Try an ABC hunt and get kids to run around the house collecting objects starting with each letter (and then challenge them to put the objects back in the right places first).

Suggest kids re-enact their favourite children’s book (complete with costumes) and invite friends round to watch. Alternatively, build a den by draping a sheet around chairs and fill the inside with cushions and fairy lights.

Get creative by doing some baking. Try cutting apples in half and coring them, melting chocolate and peanut butter and drizzling on the top of the apple slices, with berries and sprinkles, so they resemble donuts. Make colourful ice cubes by freezing fruit juice and berries. For more creative fun, use plastic forks dipped in paint to press on paper to create colourful firework patterns or grab a few plastic toys and choose a sunny spot to draw their shadows.

Summer is the prime time to make use of the garden. Camp out overnight and have a bonfire, complete with marshmallows. Get kids’ to keep a nature diary, recording all the wildlife spotted and seeds they plant over the summer.

Get kids to put on an acrobatics display and encourage them to learn to cartwheel and roly-poly. When it’s sunny, string up balloons filled with water on the washing line and play piñata. Alternatively, run a plastic sheet down the slope of your garden, put the hose at the higher end and with a little soap, you’ve created the perfect water slide. Genius.

If there’s one product that takes centre stage at Christmas, it’s the toy. Wished for, opened, paraded around, played with for weeks – a great toy can make childhood memories. Yet, like all yuletide duties, picking one – unless you’re under strict instructions from the recipient themselves – can be a troublesome affair. But to make it less work, more fun, we’ve delved into Santa’s grotto and cherry-picked our favourites for 2018.

“Sit back and watch the reactions”

Whether it’s the supersized version of everyone’s favourite marmalade-loving bear or the sassy Batgirl who’ll make everyone say ‘yass’, these will delight little ones. Long story short: peruse our hand-picked lists of top toys and it’ll be the simplest of all your festive assignments.

“I’d wear my school shoes,” divulges Maisie (aged 4), “and a blue dress with hearts on it, or one with fairies on it.” There's a definite fantasy theme at play. “I would put on a snow queen outfit that is white and blue,” Eliana (5) says, “with a beautiful tiara with snowflakes on it.”

The boys go for a sporty, high-low look. “I’d wear my Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom top or a shirt and a bowtie because then I’d look smart,” Beau (6) explains. “For my trousers, I’d wear my football shorts with the big number ten on them and my brown boots for shoes.” Reuben (2) would follow suit. “He likes to wear what he calls his ‘goal-keeper’,” his mum explains, “which is any long sleeve top with stripes on it and his monkey trousers!”

Town

Time to head out of the comfort of home? Story-telling sessions, craft-making and fun trails can all be winners. Check out your local library, leisure centre, museum and garden centre for information. For days out, there are dozens of child-friendly events going on, from the Viking festival in York to the children’s book festival at The Eden Project, Cornwall.

"Look out for half term deals."

Transform your everyday chores into fun activities to do with the kids. You could try ‘alphabet days’ where you nominate each day of the holiday a different letter and do things starting with that letter. For example ‘L’, you could drink lemonade, sing lullabies, play sleeping lions and make lanterns.

Country

It may be cold but there are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors. Head outside, take some dressing up clothes and put on a play- Little Red Riding Hood is perfect. Farms, outdoor high ropes and adventure parks are great places for a day outs. Check out Dayoutwiththekids.co.uk for attractions near you.

"Take the chance to explore the local area."

How about making it a mission to go to all the woods in your area? Make a nature book with lists of birds, bugs and plants and get kids to keep a log of all they see. Also look out for junior park runs and football coaching in your area- perfect for giving kids time to let off steam.

Away

February half term is often just the right moment for a holiday. Desperately craving the warmth? Stock up on stylish tees, lightweight knits and swimwear from our new collections. Equally it’s the ideal time to snap up cool-weather clothing bargains if you’re going skiing or to Scandinavia.

"In need of a holiday? Now’s the time to go."

No time for a trip abroad? A staycation packs just as much appeal. Top of our UK hit list? Fossil hunting and cream teas on the Jurassic Coast; the Beatrix Potter sights in the Lake District; and Edinburgh with its castle and zoo.