Seasonal articles
Best construction toys for kids
Want to develop your child’s problem-solving skills, understanding of physics and fine motor control (essential for handwriting)? Time to get out the building blocks! We pick eight of the best construction toy sets for budding engineers, architects and designers.
100 of the best educational toys: EYFS
Learning toys that are packed with play value, too, our 100 best educational toy picks will help your child identify numbers and letters, learn their high frequency words, understand rhyming and even get to grips with primary-school programming and physics. Get great gift ideas with our recommendations for nursery and Reception children!
100 of the best educational toys: KS2
Your child will be having so much fun playing these games they won't even realise they're practising their times tables, improving their vocabulary, boosting mental maths skills and revising geography facts. Hands-on fun is guaranteed with every learning activity, from writing in hieroglyphics to dissecting a body and observing the night sky.
100 of the best educational toys: stocking fillers
Don't forget the stockings! These little toys and games are the perfect size to slip in, yet still offer plenty of educational opportunity. Encourage observation, curiosity, dexterity and creativity with these brilliant gifts, whatever age your child is.
100 of the best educational toys: KS1
These games and toys consolidate early reading skills, help with simple maths calculations, boost strategic thinking and even introduce your KS1 child to engineering and geology! For literacy and numeracy fun in toy form, these are the games to try.
7 learning activities for autumn weather
Do you remember diving into a pile of crisp, golden autumn leaves? Collecting conkers? Walking through first-frost grass and feeling it crackle under your feet? Autumn and early winter are really inspirational seasons for outdoor activities, so wrap up warm and march the whole family out of the door. They won't want to come back in!
Brilliant Nativity costumes to buy
Pressed for time on getting an outfit together for your child’s Nativity play? We’ve found a range of costumes to dress your little Mary, Joseph, star or shepherd in that won’t break the bank!
3 ways to learn about London at Christmas
At Christmas time, a walk around London has its own special magic as you explore and experience the city in the cold. Francesca Fenn from Step Outside Guides shares some very special Christmas places, past and present, to warm your heart, teach you about our capital's history (for free!) and get you into the festive spirit.
Best children’s books about Christmas
Get into the festive spirit with some Christmas-themed bedtime stories – perfect to snuggle up to in front of the tree, sipping mulled wine (you) and hot chocolate (them). From wintery classics to new favourites about Father Christmas and his life in the North Pole, this reading list is suitable for all ages.
12 no-sew Roald Dahl costumes
Who doesn’t adore Dahl? Well, possibly the parent who’s just been told it’s Roald Dahl Day in the morning and every child in the school has to dress up in character! Create a costume in minutes with our easy Dahl dressing up ideas – no sewing required!
Best Olympic reads for kids
Get the whole family into the sporting spirit with our selection of brilliant reads about the Games, sport and competition. Brush up on your athletics knowledge, discover amazing facts, find out about the history of the Olympics and travel back in time to 1936 Berlin. Have you got Olympics fever yet?
6 World Book Day activities for EYFS, KS1 & KS2
Celebrate World Book Day with these fun ideas for children of all ages – get a free book, join a reading group, raise money for charity and more!
No-sew costumes for World Book Day
As the children get excited over book week, it can leave us parents feeling more than a little stressed! Time-poor and not at all sewing-savvy Phoebe Doyle has some simple suggestions for effective World Book Day costumes that won’t break the bank.
6 outdoor activities for wintry weather
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you need to stay indoors! Bundle up and get everyone outside to enjoy these fun learning activities, perfect for chilly temperatures and snowy weather.
Nativity cringe stories
Heart-melting occasion? All too often, your child’s performance in their school Christmas play leaves you wishing the ground would swallow you up. These not-so-proud parents shared their shame with Lucy Dimbylow
Handwriting practice: writing to Santa
It’s the handwriting activity your child will be clamouring to start: writing to Father Christmas! Gather your child’s paper and pencils and settle down to compile the list, then organise a response from the big man himself, as well as a personalised Christmas message.
100 of the best educational toys for Christmas
Looking for great Christmas presents? TheSchoolRun team have picked 100 of the best educational toys, from maths games to spelling challenges, chemistry sets to telescopes. Every single one of them offers hours of fun and lots of learning to children aged 4 to 11. Don't do your present buying until you've read it!
8 no-sew Nativity costumes
If your little angel is honoured with the role of Mary, or your shining star is to be a sheep, here are some sewing-free, stress-free ways of getting simple, yet effective, handmade Nativity costumes recommended by non-crafty mum and teacher, Phoebe Doyle.
Sports Day cringe stories
It’s supposed to be one of the highlights of the school calendar, but in reality sports day is ripe with opportunities for humiliation. From finishing line tantrums to trackside arguments, six mums share their shame with TheSchoolRun.
Halloween face painting: a step-by-step guide
You don't have to be an artist to face paint! Make your child's Halloween costume stand out by following these easy steps.
Roald Dahl Day: five ways to celebrate
While there’s always a reason to enjoy and celebrate the amazing books that Roald Dahl wrote, make a special effort on Roald Dahl Day to organise phizz-whizzingly brilliant activities and scrumdiddlyumptious treats!
No-sew Halloween costume ideas
No need for complicated patterns or topnotch sewing skills – get ready for Halloween with these easy costume ideas. Ghosts, wizards, witches and more can be created in less than an hour and the kids can help, too. Emily Organ waves her wand and shows us how.
Top tips for your family's ski holiday
Skiing holidays can take a great deal of organisation, especially if you are new to the slopes. But with our expert advice you can plough through the planning, leaving you more time to enjoy your family holiday.
Celebrate Father's Day without breaking the bank
Thinking of a great present for your father or carer can be stressful – you want to buy the best gift you can find, but that can prove to be very expensive! Check out our fantastic suggestions for cheap, easy Father's Day gifts that are also special, unique and heart-warming.
Top tips for safety in the sun
When your child is out in the sunshine, in the UK or abroad, they need to be protected. Follow this advice to keep them safe.