kids – Page 5 – Mediocre Mum

Scooters for Children

Y Fliker A1 Extreme Scooter

Seriously, how cool are these self-propelling scooters from Yvolutions? They come in two sizes 5+ and 7-adult and in a choice of colours starting from £69.99.

It was incredibly easy to put together, simply unfold the scooter and assemble the handlebars, be careful not to pinch your fingers. I don’t know why but I thought you would use a pumping action with your legs (in and out motion) to get it going but in fact it’s more of a wiggle of the hip as you can see in the video. It also has a handbrake if you get going too fast.

My daughter is only 6 and took to it very quickly, zooming around the house in minutes. The only challenge we have had is the journey to school is up hill, but makes it rather exciting on the way home. Plus, we have the perfect netball court in our local park to practice on, unfortunately, the idiots from the local council have replaced the tarmac paths with gravel, which makes it impossible to scoot on. Luckily there are other spaces around town we can use it.

I think it would make a great Christmas gift for those who are starting to outgrow their regular scooters or are thrill seekers!

Things to do with Kids in Bucharest, Romania

Travelling to Romania with Kids – Suggested Itineraries

As an intrepid traveler when I was first invited to join Easyjet’s inaugural flight to Bucharest, I jumped at the chance, then it donned on me….

‘Where the h*ll is Bucharest?’

I’ve been to Budapest in 2000 for the Solar Eclipse, but drew a blank on Bucharest, after a quick Google I worked out it’s in Romania and the same part of the world but farther south bordering the Black Sea and is less than 3 hours away by plane. As it’s farther south it was about 5 degrees warmer, so made it very pleasant in late October.

Prior to my visit to Bucharest I knew very little about Romania. I was in my last year of high-school during the revolution and my world didn’t extend much further than my home town. The only other experience I had was the documentary ‘Children Underground’ (2001) which follows a group of homeless youth while they try to survive in the streets and subways of Bucharest, which may have left me with the wrong impression of Bucharest, it’s not to say that this doesn’t still happen, but I felt just as safe walking around the city as I would in any large city.

‘Little Paris of the East’

With the recent investments by the EU I can’t help feeling that Bucharest is an up and coming destination. It boasts large boulevards, lots of green space, loads of museums, the old town is heaving with outdoor bars and cafes and the people are extremely friendly. Definitely a great weekend city destination for couples.

Things to do in Bucharest with Kids

I didn’t have my daughter with me but on any trip I’m always looking at it from a families perspective. Would I bring my daughter here? Yes, I do think the capital city is a great start to any holiday in Romania and will put things into context for you. So, before you dash off to the visit the fairy-tale castles, beaches and small towns spend a day or two in Bucharest.

Although very interesting and informative for adults, I do think a trip to the Palace of Parliament, walking tours and some of the museums may be a bit heavy for younger kids and not overly engaging/interactive but I would recommend a visit to the places below.

The Village Museum is a must. 5o buildings representing the history of rural architecture in Romania have been transported from their original locations and rebuilt giving you an opportunity to explore inside and out. The Museum is set in 30 acres on the shores of Lake Herastrau. Take a picnic and make a day of it.

In summer time, they have tonnes of workshops for children. Handicrafts, weaving classes, music classes, painting Easter eggs, traditional art, religious art (icon painting) and other fun activities. You can spend a half a day there.

I really wanted to go to the Peasant Museum, a collection of artifacts representing rural peasant life in Romania, there is also a display of communist iconography in the basement which also includes one of the very few pictures still remaining of Ceauşescu unfortunately time wouldn’t permit.

The Geology Museum is also a must as they are one of the only museums in Bucharest that has actively put on activities for kids.

The Bucharest parks are quite amazing, with lots of flowers and beautiful trees. Cismigiu is the most central of the parks and boasts 30,000 trees, with a big lake in the middle where you can hire small boats and hydrobicycles and in the winter it turns into a skating rink, open-air cafe’s, and a large children’s playground. Herastrau Park is one of the most popular parks on the northern side of Bucharest covering 187 hectares and home to the Village Museum although it’s busy it’s large enough to swallow up the crowds. And don’t overlook Tineretului and Titan as some of the locals argue that they’re far superior to Cismigui and Herastrau.

There is a small zoo, which won’t compare to some of the larger zoos that you may have visited but has an excellent display of exotic birds and would make a good half day out.

Eating out with kids in Bucharest

In Bucharest , you will find every kind of eating establishment from fast food to Michelin Star. The majority of restaurants are child friendly but do bear in mind many of them still have large smoking sections and can get a bit smoky. To avoid this I’d suggest eating a bit earlier, self catering or find one that is non-smoking.

Suggested Itineraries for Romania

If you’re planning a family holiday to Romania, I’ve quizzed the locals about suggested itineraries for family breaks. Here are two suggested itineraries, you could stretch them out for longer breaks.

Itinerary one (7 days)

Bucharest – 2 days

Danube Delta – 3 days

5 hours drive from Bucharest, also accessible by train is a natural wonder. Children are delighted to see thousands of birds, nenufars and other aquatical plants. While you enter the natural reservation the landscape is truly amazing. Children can learn how to fish or swim in the Danube. Hiring boats is not expensive. The food (based on fish and related products) is great. You can see and explore the point where the Black Sea meets the Danube and also enjoy quite virgin beaches.

The seaside – 2 days

It is two hours drive from the Danube Delta. In Mamaia resort you have lots of clubs and an intense night life. In Vama Veche resort you have a hippie atmosphere.

Itinerary Two (6 Days)

Bucharest – 2 days

Sinaia- 2 days

2 hours drive from Bucharest (if not in the week-end) Sinaia- Peleş Castle, an adventure park suitable for children, the mountains (highly accessible for all ages).

Braşov – 1 day

Braşov – 1 hour drive from Sinaia Braşov- a mountain city, with gothic churches and an excellent Aqua Park. Bran Castle, often named Dracula’s Castle even the history tells us that it has nothing to do with Dracula .

Sibiu – 1 Day

2 hours drive from Braşov Sibiu region- isolated villages with traditional houses, excellent for families as the children can play in big gardens, just near the woods.

A HUGE thank you to Ana-Maria Caia who put these itineraries together for us. If you do take a trip to Romania with your kids or have been already I’d love to hear your tips.

Flights to Bucharest

With easyJet now flying into Bucharest 4 times a week with fares starting from as little as £28.49 including taxes (per person based on two people flying on the same booking) it’s never been easier.

And if you’re just looking for a weekend away easyJet Holidays are offering a two night stay at the Grand Hotel Continental in Bucharest for £140 per person, which includes flights (price correct as of the 15th October 2013) for more details check out easyJet Holidays.

Win a Canvas from Victoria Crossman Kids worth £35

From India to Paris to London

I’ve always been a fan of travelling….

When I was planning on redecorating my daughters room a few weeks ago I was going to go with white with red accents (pillows, curtains, bedding) so I chose this delightfully bold cushion from the India collection from Victoria Crossman Kids. I was hoping to give my daughters a more slightly more sophisticated grown up room.

Victoria, the designer, brings to life fun, creative and unique drawings onto a range of desirable products.

But as some of you may have seen I changed my mind at the last minute and went for a teal bedroom inspired from a Retro 60s duvet cover. So I had to relocate the cushion.

However, the cushion goes perfectly in our eclectic lounge, which does have knick knacks scattered around that we’ve collected or have been given over the years: wooden elephants from Africa, a Swedish Dala Horse, beaded doll from South Africa, an ornate decorative birds cage from Tunisia and a few diving photos from Egypt to name a few.

I’ve never been to India but it is on my list of places to go…..

The lovely Victoria and Charlotte from Victoria Crossman Kids has offered my readers a chance to win one of their ‘Elephants in London’ Canvas prints which is sure to get your kids imagination going. Can you spot all the London Landmarks?

To enter simply use the rafflecopter form below. The full terms and conditions can be found on the bottom of the form but in short it’s open to UK residents aged 18+ and closes on the 3rd of November.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: The cushion was complimentary for review purposes

This competition is listed on Loquax, Prize Finder and Competition Hunter.

Creating Childhood Memories in London

Things to do with kids in London

In association with Direct Rail

‘We recently took the girls into London and had a fabulously random day! ‘

Taking children to London can provide then with memories that will last well into adulthood. For children, central London can seem like a giant playground. Everything looks like it’s on a much large scale, from the lions in Trafalgar Square to just the sheer size of the buildings towering overhead.

Whereas other cities have their own unique charm, no other UK city can compare to London in terms of scale, history and the ability to create lasting memories.

We love the Natural History Museum!

London also has a lot for children to do, so much so that you could spend an entire week there and still find new things to keep your little ones entertained. Child-friendly museums abound in the city, which is a fantastic way of making learning so fun that children won’t even realise they’re having an educational day out.

The Natural History Museum is a must for children of all ages. Seeing the life size model of the Blue Whale will be a memory that will stay with them for a long time, while kids love seeing the roaring T-Rex. Another popular destination is the British Museum where encountering real life mummies will satisfy most children’s fascination for the macabre. While the child friendly, HMS Belfast offers a unique and fun day out.

Travelling around London with Kids

Even just a simple trip on the Underground will often seem like an adventure for children. The old tunnels will capture their young imaginations, while the novelty of travelling underground provides an extra thrill. It is also a great opportunity to tell them stories about the history of the city and how Londoners would shelter in the dark tunnels during the Blitz.

Children love stories and London’s thousands of years of history provide lots of stories to tell. You can bring some of these to life by visiting places like the London Dungeon and the Tower of London; they will also help to capture children’s ghoulish imaginations.

Sometimes by sheer chance and luck you’ll be in the city on the day of a big occasion or ceremony, but even if this isn’t the case London has a lot of daily traditions that are great to watch. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, although you will probably have to navigate through tourist crowds for a view.

Memories will also be created at London’s theatre district. Musicals are a great way of introducing older children to the theatre, while if you want to start them even earlier look out for productions inspired by much loved children’s books. Introducing children to the theatre at an early age not only provides them with a special treat, but also means that when they are older a night out at the theatre won’t seem as intimidating.

Children also delight in seeing street performances, so if you get a chance head to Convent Garden, again this is a great way of introducing them to art and culture while also providing them with childhood memories that will stay with them for years to come.

Written by Derin Clark, a writer, editor and blogger

Full disclosure policy can be found here.

Win a Wall Mural worth up to £500 from Photowall

Decorating Children’s Rooms and Nurseries using Murals

Like most first time mums, prior to my daughter being born nearly six years ago I set about decorating her room nursery. I opted for a fairly simple colour scheme, with a neutral caramel colour on the walls, white units and cream carpets as I thought it would grow with her. I didn’t want to do anything too babyish as she would grow out of it quickly.

However, it now looks rather tired and if I’m honest it’s a tad boring and doesn’t reflect her personality. In addition, her room is tiny, so we’re currently planning on redecorating it. To increase the floor space in the room we are opting for a high single bed and will paint the walls white to give the optical illusion that it’s bigger.

She also has a cast iron fire surround in her room. I would really like to make that a feature wall. While I was putting this competition together I fell in love with these three Children’s Patterned Murals from Photowall (Candy Fish, Lucky Ladybug and Secret Garden). They’re not too girlie-pink, more sophisticated for a young lady and would be fun to accessorize.

For a chance to win a wall mural from Photowall worth up to £500, simply use the rafflecopter form below. Full terms and conditions can be found at the bottom of the form. But in short it’s open to UK residents aged 18+.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This competition is listed on Loquax, Prize Finder and Competition Hunter.