Skiing with Toddlers

Earlier this year, we went on our very first ski holiday - something we didn't imagine would be possible with toddlers.  It was exciting, exhilarating and actually a great place with young children, from snowball fights to sledging to cosy afternoon in the creche, our boys had a fantastic holiday whilst the bloke and I hit the slopes for the first time and came home with some great stories.

Mark Warner have teamed up with P.O.P and challenged us to create a ski holiday wardrobe for children - it was easy.  I love bright colours, and with the white snow as background it is easy to spot the little ones whilst they play.  I would get the boys matching thermals, and I love this grey set, and then matching but not matching outers.  Dylan would need sallopettes and a jacket and this blue is the perfect colouring for him, whilst Archie is still best in an all-in-one.  These look durable and bright, and I know that in two years time, Archie will fit in Dylan's set, and bump will have grown into Archie's.  PoP is known for longevity and with ski wear I think it is worth investing in something that can last more than one child.

I love the matching gloves and complimentary hat, and both of these can be used all winter long.  The hat is perfect for a British winter as well, and the gloves mean snowman building with warm, dry hands too.

Obviously the boys would need a nice off-piste outfit for meals out and snuggly evenings, and I love this cloudy top and comfy jeans - definitely something they would both suit (and I can't get enough of matching at the moment!)

  All these items are currently available from the PoP website

Being Active Together

Being active is an important part of our family lives.  I have two children who love to be outdoors every waking moment, and they don't care if it is pouring with rain or bright and sunny.  With the boys still being under three, our Sunday morning bike rides and football games in the park are still a couple of years off, but here are our favourite activities for each season:

Spring

The spring is about walks along the river, feeding the duck, exploring the emerging flowers and baring our arms for the first time.  We love to visit a local park which is perfect for toddler adventures, and we always take along some stale bread for the hungry ducks.

Summer

The summer is about walks on the beach, sandcastle building, toe dipping and running barefoot.  Collecting water from the sea to make a fort, launching head first into everyone's sandcastles (so that may just be Archie) and walking to the ice cream van and back mean long sleeps for everyone!

Autumn

The Autumn is for leaf crunching, stomping and crisp afternoons wrapped up warm in the park.  The swings, the slides, the climbing frames are ours as only the hardcore park go-ers are left! The days may be getting cooler, but the leaves are not going to crunch themselves!

Winter

The Winter is for wellies, puddle splashing, dancing in the rain and coming home to hot chocolate and teacakes at the end of the day.  We love wrapping up with hats, scarves and gloves and braving the elements.  A puddle suit is essential as no puddle is too big for my mini adventurers!

How do you keep active as a family?  This is my entry into the Mark Warner Mum competition

Travelling with Toddlers

Toddlers are not known for being easy in any department, and with two under three, you would be forgiven for thinking that holidays are more stress than they are worth.  What we have found is the complete opposite and actually some time away, a break from routine and daily stress means relaxed parents and relaxed toddlers too.  Here are my top 5 tips for travelling with toddlers

1) Relax. 

They can totally sense fear and they play on it.  It isn't always easy when your flight landed an hour ago and you are still waiting for your luggage (us yesterday!), but if you can't change it then don't try.  Hit the vending machine for something sugary, use your hand luggage as a pillow and relax, chances are the kids will too.

Thank goodness for Gatwick airports pushchair service!

2) Don't take too many toys.

It is tempting to pack all their favourite games and puzzles to keep them occupied, and we have been guilty of taking an entire suitcase full of their things from home.  As it turned out, one child was happy to read Dear Zoo to himself for nearly two hours straight, whilst the other was mostly interested in climbing on things.  Taking a couple of well chosen favourites is definitely wise, but children are great at making their own fun, so even without their beloved train tracks, they will still have fun.

All this monkey needed was a pushchair basket to climb in and out of!

3) Don't worry about the mess.

With the space you have saved on toys, take plenty of spare tops, as there is nothing quite like a holiday to make you more relaxed with cleanliness and more likely to dish out the ice creams.  Toddlers have no concept of 'keep clean, you look lovely in that outfit', and will most likely drip ice cream/the blue lollipop you stupidly gave into all over themselves.  Relax, change them and finish those sticky sweet treats.

4)  If you can't beat them, join them.

Sometimes being an adult is great fun, but there are times when it is best to forget about responsibility and etiquette and join in with whatever silly games the little ones want to play.  It will not only leave you giggling all day, but the toddlers find it hilarious too.  Sometimes you have to hop all the way down the high street, some times it is building a snowman, but follow their lead.

Is there anything quite as fun as sliding down a big hill on your bum?

5)  Don't force the photos

Although it is lovely to have everything captured beautifully on camera, toddlers tend to have other ideas that involve either running away screaming or pulling funny faces.  As much as I try to get those lovely candid natural shots (and I do have a few), most of mine seem to come out with rather 'interesting' expressions.  I do have some beautiful shots of the scenery though - that was much happier to stay still!

If you are looking to travel with toddlers soon, then make sure you are fully prepared with passports, sugary snacks and a sense of humour, that is all you really need.

 This post is an entry in the Mark Warner Blogger Competition