Family Life

Children spend hours chewing, cuddling, and dragging their toys around, so whatever a toy is made of will be close to their skin, their mouth, or both. Phthalates, BPA, and lead-based paint are among the chemicals that can be found in some traditional toys, and these can become a concern with regular use. The good news? There are plenty of safer alternatives that don’t sacrifice fun. Here's a quick list of non-toxic toy categories to consider, including non-toxic 3D printed toys and some that have nothing to do with 3D printing at all.

As long as you know what...

Growing older does not automatically mean wanting a completely different way of life. For many people, the small things matter most: sitting in a favourite chair, sleeping in their own bed, knowing the neighbours and having familiar shops just around the corner. As more families consider how best to support ageing relatives, preserving those everyday comforts is becoming an increasingly important part of the decision.

This is one reason home-based care is gaining popularity across Britain. Rather than asking older adults to adapt to a new environment, it brings the support they...

Moving to Devon was the right call. The lifestyle, the coast, the pace of life, all of it. But if your parents stayed put in the South East, there often comes an evening when you find yourself at the kitchen table researching care homes in Brentwood for your mum, or looking into nursing homes in West Sussex for a relative on the coast, and feeling every one of those two hundred miles. Plenty of people across Exeter and Devon are in the same position: settled here, with parents who built their lives somewhere else.

Being the child who moved away comes with a particular mix of...

Ask most adults about their favourite childhood memories, and very few will immediately start listing the toys they received. Instead, they often recall adventures, family traditions, birthday parties, holidays, funny moments with friends, and the occasions that made them feel excited, included, or special.

Presents certainly have their place. The excitement of opening a gift can create wonderful moments of joy. Yet the memories that often stay with children for years are usually tied to experiences rather than possessions. Experiences engage emotions, relationships, imagination...