Family Life

5 Christmas gift ideas for kids under 5

Forget that it is October. Christmas is a few weeks away, and some parents are already compiling their shopping list ahead of time. While toys serve as delightful presents for kids, stationery items are also excellent gifts for art-loving children who have so much time on their hands during the holiday.

Furthermore, stationeries are cheap gifts that can help children under five years be better at journaling, drawing, scribbling, doodling, and so on. Stores like TheWorks.co.uk make life more comfortable by offering online shopping for kids’ stationery.

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Claire Small

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The latest in Family Life

Devon appeals for adopters to come forward as number of children waiting increases

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 10/16/2019 - 7:42am

Adoption agencies in Devon are working together this National Adoption Week (14-20 October) to appeal for potential adopters to come forward. This comes as numbers of adopters drop to an all-time low in the county and the number of children waiting continues to grow.

Regional Adoption Agency, Adopt South West, and independent adoption charity Families for Children are specifically looking for adopters who will consider adopting a sibling group. If adoptive families cannot be found soon then it is likely that these brothers and sisters will be separated.

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How to choose a collapsible wagon for kids

Authored by David Humphrey
Posted: Sat, 10/12/2019 - 6:06am

When your toddlers grow up and need more space than a stroller, you should consider a toddler’s wagon. It has enough space not only for your kids but also for their necessities. Depending on your need, you can purchase two-seated wagon or three-seated wagon.

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Two adults and two children run through trees in the dark

Shaun the Sheep is on the run this Halloween at Haldon Forest Park

Authored by Haldon Forest Park
Posted: Thu, 10/10/2019 - 12:34pm

Join Haldon Forest Park this Halloween for a Shaun the Sheep Farmageddon Glow Run!

To celebrate Aardman’s new film A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, in cinemas 18 October, Shaun the Sheep welcomes all the family to enjoy this spooktacular 3km glow run on 30 October.

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£13,000 a year for time to chill

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 10/10/2019 - 8:02am

Exhausted working parents spend almost £13,000 a year in a bid to free up time to relax, new research has revealed.

Desperate Brits have spent an average of £249 forking out for cleaners, ironing services, food deliveries and taxis in a bid just to free up time. If they did this every week it would equate to almost £13,000 a year, new research from Churchill has revealed.

Despite parents forking out for the extra home support a third say there simply isn’t enough time in the day to chill out, new research from Churchill shows.

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New deal for Devon’s children and families launched

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 10/04/2019 - 8:29am

An ambitious new vision for how public services will come together to better help and support children and their families in Devon is being launched this week.

The Devon Children and Young People’s Plan brings together all the local agencies responsible for helping children, young people and their families including schools, councils, health services, the police, and community organisations in a clear shared vision of how they will work together to tackle the real challenges and big issues facing families, children and young people in the county today.

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Flock to the forest, an alien has landed!

Authored by Haldon Forest Park
Posted: Wed, 09/25/2019 - 4:30pm

For the very first time in history, Forestry England has confirmed that an alien has crash landed into Haldon Forest Park! Lu-La, from the Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (in UK cinemas 18 October) is an impish and adorable alien with amazing powers. She has been stranded in the forest and needs to charge her communicator so that she can get a message back home to call for rescue!

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Babies’ own genes influence when they are born

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 09/12/2019 - 10:45pm

Large genetic study involving data from Exeter mothers and babies reveals new insights into pregnancy duration and the timing of delivery

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Time travel to medieval Dartmoor during Heritage Open Days 2019. Photo: Dartmoor National Park authority

Time travel to medieval Dartmoor during Heritage Open Days 2019

Authored by Paula_D
Posted: Sat, 09/07/2019 - 9:07am

Dartmoor National Park is pleased to once again take part in England’s largest festival of history and culture and will be shedding a light on how people lived in the 14th Century.

From 13-22 September 2019 the Heritage Open Days festival returns to Dartmoor with a packed programme of medieval-themed activities. Every September places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history.

This is your chance to try out new experiences - and they're free!

Get involved

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Stagecoach South West are again sponsoring Sci-Fi Day in Paignton on Saturday 24 August.

Sci-Fi extravaganza returns for Torbay Children’s Week

Authored by Paula_D
Posted: Mon, 08/19/2019 - 9:03am

All things Sci-Fi will be celebrated on Saturday 24 August, as Sci-fi day returns to Paignton Green.

The day will showcase an impressive range of cars and costumes from popular films including Transformers, Batman, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, Disney Pixar’s Cars and many more.

Visitors can expect to come across Darth Vader, Star Wars Storm Troopers, Iron Man, RoboCop, Batman, Spiderman, Captain Jack Sparrow and chimps from Planet of the Apes, provided by look-alikes company UK Garrison.

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How to keep your dog healthy during summer

Authored by Claire Small
Posted: Tue, 08/06/2019 - 6:13pm

Summer is a really important season to focus on when it comes to your dog's health. Not only is the heat often too much for our furry friends, but there are other things like fleas and fitness to consider too. Aside from the obvious tips for keeping your dog safe in summer, the following tips are to help you ensure your dog is healthy and ha[[y during the warmer summer months. 

Fighting Fleas

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