By Todd Leavitt

When it comes to playground sets safety must come first. Wood swing sets are your wisest choice because they are simply more durable than plastic or metal. They are rooted into the ground, they don't fall over easily, unlike metal swing sets that become giant rockers after a winter or two and they don't snap and break like plastic. In fact both metal and plastic can develop seams and cracks that you cannot see and that can eventually break.

Yet another thing to consider is that wood can support a lot of weight, and that means it can support the weight of growing children. Even adolescents can't resist swinging off the trapeze on wood swing sets. Wood swing sets have triple joints and also bolts that often slide completely through the wood in a way that is embedded. This means that if something does happen to compromise the structure the bolts will still keep the lagging structure together. Your child is not in danger of collapsing and falling like they would be if they were standing at the top of a plastic or metal set.

Another thing to consider is that wooden swing sets are not made of toxic materials. Plastic materials off-gas fumes that can be toxic, especially in really hot weather.

A big part of accident prevent is choosing playground sets that are age appropriate. The great thing about today's wood playground sets is that you can assemble them in components that suit your child's age. To have fun your child does not have to go up a ten foot metal ladder and risk a fall. You can get a five foot slide that attaches to a fort-like or tent-like enclosure that is lower and offers less of a drop should your child slip.

Yet another way to prevent accidents is to make sure that any swings on the set are at least 22 inches apart. This prevents them from clashing with each other when two children are swinging on the set at once.

Quality playground sets have guidelines that tell you what components are appropriate for what age. For instance a climbing wall is more suited for a kid over age seven rather than a toddler. Tire swings suit ten-year-olds better than little seats with bucket swings.

Finally, it is a good idea to make the area beneath playground seats a bit softer by placing it in a "bed" of cedar chips or shredded rubber. Make a rule that the area must be kept free of any clutter, such as branches, skateboards and toys, as a falling or slipping child might risk injury.

The laughter of children is like music to a parent's ears. This is why Tree Frog Swing Sets builds quality wood swing sets and playground sets to give children more fun and enjoyment.

By Todd Leavitt

One thing that many people over look when buying playground sets is how and where they will be situated in the yard. It is very important to measure the span of your chosen location to make sure that you have enough room to put the set you have in mind. This is particularly true of wooden playsets. Although wooden playsets are preferable over other types they are also bulkier and larger. As many of them are put together in components with each "block" having a different feature like a slide, a fort, a net or a climbing wall, you have to be particularly meticulous about making sure that the space you have is large enough to accommodate it. Yet another thing to keep in mind is that you might want to add even more components to these wooden sets over time. This means that if you think you want to add a climbing wall to an existing swing and slide that when you situate the unit in your yard you must leave room for expansion.

It is not a good idea to situate your playground set beneath a tree as children that grow could bump their heads on branches. You should also watch out for back ending the unit up against a tree that could grow a huge trunk over the years. Wooden playsets also last for years and you do not want to compromise the growth of your tree or do an expensive move of the unit.

Playground sets with swings should have plenty of clearance on all sides. If there are two swings on the unit then make sure there is no fence or any other kind of obstacle that could get in the way of the swings highest potential to arc upwards. Also, most adults remember from being young once that the favorite thing for kids to do on a swing is swing as high as you can and then jump off. Make sure that your child has at least six feet in front of the swing to play like this and that he or she is not going to smack into the side of your house or into a pool or into the neighbour's fence.

Another important aspect of situation playground sets is line of view. Make sure that you place it in a way that you can view it from windows that you often look out of when you are in the house. This allows you to keep an eye in general on your children and their friends as they monkey around on playground sets in your backyard.

The laughter of children is like music to a parent's ears. This is why Tree Frog Swing Sets builds quality wooden playsets and playground sets to give children more fun and enjoyment.

By Preeti Sunil

Parents are at their wit's end trying to teach children lessons in hygiene only to find them indulging in their favorite hobby, yet again! Dirty, mud covered clothes and bodies are symbolic of childhood. However, new research suggests that this is an evolutionary instinct, which must not be curbed for reasons described in this article.

It is no secret that most children have an insatiable urge to grab the dirtiest looking things and put them into their mouth. Even a child who is less than a year old, hardly able to do much except drink milk and sleep all day, experiences a personality change the moment it is put down on the ground, out in the open. The exploration begins and everything including dirt, mud and even poop finds its way into the tiny mouths. This continues for a while and most mothers are clueless about why their babies find the taste of dirt so irresistible, when mashed veggies, formula food in various flavors and other food prepared with the labor of love just do not seem to appeal to them! Well, relax everyone! You're not bad cooks, bad parents or bad caregivers. Your darling kids are just being very natural and their actions are driven by instinct.

Positive Effect On Our Immune System
Recent research suggests that children splattered in mud are acting on instinct that gives them an evolutionary advantage. The immune system that is still in the developmental stages in children, is exposed to a variety of bacteria, viruses and worms through all the dirt and filth. This exposure prepares suitable immune responses to counter the possible ill effects caused by the entry of these pathogens into the body. This early exposure to pathogens is so effective that scientific research claims it is instrumental in preventing allergies and other autoimmune disorders later in the life of these children.

Exposure to dirt and filth is akin to a "warm-up" exercise for the immune system to enable it to get ready for nastier bugs. Isn't that a good reason why dirt is good for kids? Among all the research published, the book by Dr. Mary Ruebush, Why Dirt Is Good: 5 Ways to Make Germs Your Friends is worth mentioning here. Through her book, the immunologist strongly advocates that the western civilization's obsession with antibacterial soaps and the quest to be 'always clean' is actually making our children more sick.

A Case Against Hyper-cleanliness
Diseases involving immune dysregulation, autoimmunity or chronic inflammation have been increasingly reported as becoming common in developed countries. Experts believe that this is mainly due to the destruction of our 'personal ecosystems' caused by our attempts to over sanitize our living spaces and our bodies to make them "germ-free". A whole range of modern diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, Graves' disease, ulcerative colitis, type I diabetes, asthma, allergy, coeliac disease, and Sjögren's syndrome are more common than ever before, and experts believe that our excessive sanitization of our environment is one of the primary causes.

In modern medicine, this theory is called the hygiene hypothesis. The hypothesis states that humans have always coexisted with several varieties of microbes (lactobacilli, various mycobacteria, and certain helminths) including parasites forming our personal ecosystem. The exposure has resulted in human beings becoming less susceptible to allergies. But in today's extremely clean environment, the lack of exposure to these microbes has resulted in children growing up with an underdeveloped immune system. The lazy immune systems are now developing allergic reactions instead of focusing on fighting infection (which never occurs due lack of exposure to microbes, thanks to vaccination, hand washes, airtight windows, etc.). In addition, antibiotics are making things easier for the already relaxed state of our immune system. On the contrary, the microbes are now fighting back to resist these artificial responses, resulting in "super bugs" that seem to be resistant to even antibiotic treatment.

Is it Time to Shed our Clean Image?
So should we go to the prehistoric lifestyle of humans and stop all vaccinations and cover our children in filth and dirt? Should we just stop bothering if the child catches a mild cold or fever, hoping his/her immune system will rise up to the challenge? Certainly not! We definitely should not ignore life-threatening food allergies or encourage our children to be less hygienic in the hope of developing resistance to germs. What we need to do is stop obsessing over cleanliness and understand why playing in the dirt is good for kids.

Let your kid play freely when he/she is out in the open. Let environmental interactions be normal and playful. Stop fretting every time your child touches mud on the ground. Do not count the several times he/she touches his/her sweaty playmate! It is useless to lose sleep over that little scratch on his/her elbow. Stop carrying the hand sanitizer looking for an opportunity to use it on your child.

Go and get that vaccination done now, if your child has been bruised by a rusted metal thing. Ask your child to wash his/her hands before a meal and to always keep the nails clean. Ordinary soap is fine for maintaining hygiene. Avoid using antibacterial soaps on a regular basis. A balanced diet and normal exposure to the environment are essential for children. You're not being a protective parent by obsessing over your child's hygiene when outdoors. Just let the child be. Find that essential balance between caution and obsession. Let your children go barefoot into the mud and befriend some of those germs! Mother Earth will surely protect them.

My work experience spans content development, knowledge management and organizational social learning activities. One of my favorite subjects, relating closely with my career background, is the study of social media tools and social learning strategies within huge organizations and their potential benefits in facilitating real time exchange of ideas and knowledge transfer.

By Shazzie Love

I am celebrating. Actually, I'm always celebrating, but today I'm celebrating for a reason. My daughter Evie has been head lice free for two weeks.

Is that something to celebrate? Yes. Why?

    She's got the longest hair in the world.
    Head lice are rife where we live, in her school and amongst her friends outside of school

Why are head lice hard to get rid of?

Lice are very clever at resisting all conventional treatments and it seems many parents have given up trying, preferring instead to wait until they "grow out of them". More children have lice now than in our day, and so it's much easier to catch them. Chemicals that are toxic to our children don't make much of a difference to lice. Even if you get rid of them with chemicals, they will come back when your child comes into contact with lice again, and so your child has to be subjected to more toxic chemicals. Not a nice option, and I wouldn't do it to Evie.

So I've been working my way through Evie's hair for months using a combination of an electric comb and essential oil spray. Sometimes she'd only have one or two lice a day, sometimes she'd have none, but they'd always come back. Only when I added tea tree to the oil spray did the head lice disappear properly.

I'd read about tea tree oil being the magical head lice ingredient a while ago, and in tests the oil kills both the lice and the eggs. But spraying a child every day with any substance isn't really what I want to do, so I figured I'd use the minimum amount possible.

This is what has been working for us: Using a 200ml bottle, I filled it up with water and added just 10 drops of tea tree oil. After combing Evie's hair with the electric comb to detect and kill the lice, I spray her hair, making sure I spray in all the areas head lice like to gather. Since using tea tree oil spray, she hasn't caught head lice at all.

You can also add tea tree oil to your shampoo, but I don't know how effective this is as it gets washed out. Adding it to a leave-in conditioner would probably work better.

So there we are, a child with no lice, and still with the longest hair in the world. Yipee.

And no, I have no idea how I can call myself a vegan now, after intentionally killing animals living on my daughter. Where do you draw the line?

Bliss U

Shazzie | TV Presenter, Author, CEO

Read my book on raising children naturally for more hints and tips like this: http://www.detoxyourworld.com/acatalog/evies_kitchen.html

By Carolyn Whitley

Kids Strider Balance Bike

Teaching children how to ride a traditional bike can be challenging. Young children have difficulty learning so many new skills in one go. They need to learn to peddle, balance, be confident enough to take their feet off the ground and have some co-ordination. Children do learn quickly, they also learn that if they come off they will have scratched knees and some bruises. Previously, parents have had no choice except to purchase a traditional bike for their young child with the addition of training wheels, and gradually take the wheels off as the child has gained sufficient skill and confidence to ride without them. Surely there must be an easier way! Well now there is!

Introducing the Strider Balance Bike.

This is a fabulous little bike that teaches your child one thing at a time. It gives their feet easy access to the ground if they feel their balance is a bit off. Most kids don't want to fall off a bike and will feel reassured knowing that they can put their feet down to balance them at any time. Developing co-ordination skills takes time and practise, and these balance bikes allow children at a very young age, to begin their journey. And learning to ride their bike, becomes a fun and exciting time for them.

So, What Age Is Best..

The strider bike is perfect for small children. Children as young as 18 months can ride a strider bike. If your child can walk confidently, then he is ready to ride a strider pre-bike. Children learn very quickly to sit down and push with their feet, balancing on two wheels.

Advantages of Using Strider Bikes

- The strider is a safer bike, eliminating risks of injuries that may be sustained from bicycle pedals, chains and sprockets if your child loses his balance and falls off his bike.

- It is a better alternative to tricycles, as tricycles are heavier and bulkier for little children to handle, they are harder to pedal and there are still risks of ankle scraping and other leg injuries. They will still need to learn to balance on a bicycle.

- The seat is designed to adjust to suit the size of the child, allowing them to have their feet comfortably touch the ground whenever they choose, allowing them time to learn how to balance on the bike, without the pedals getting in the way. As the child grows, the seat can be adjusted.

- As the child becomes more experienced and more confident, he can put his feet on the footrest, allowing him to glide down hills.

- The balance bike is smaller and is lighter in weight than a traditional bike, making it easier for young children to manage. He will have more control over the bike and less chance of falling off.

- A pre-balance strider bike doesn't require the usual maintenance and repair that a traditional bike does.

- Your child will enjoy the freedom that comes with a pre-balance strider bike, as he will be able to go further before his little legs get tired.

This article has been written and provided by Carolyn Whitley. It has been written from first hand experience of the strider bike. If you found this article helpful, please visit my site http://www.squidoo.com/strider-bike-balance-bike-for-kids for further information.

By Kathy D Lee

The weather along the northeastern seaboard has been so mild this December-January 2011-12 season that it's hard to write anything that has to do with enjoying fun, cold-weather activities with children. There has been no snow to speak of, and it's already the first of February. In fact, it's getting so close to spring and the balmy weather is already reminiscent of a beautiful summer afternoon, that I decided to turn my full attention to a summer vacation trip with the little ones aboard. If by some coincidence the weather reverts to the type while I'm writing this article, I'll of course get busy penning my snowman building instructions.

But, for now, whether it's a day trip, a long weekend, or a full week at a remote vacation spot, taking along an infant or toddler requires some serious planning ahead. Some of us can remember our own experiences when we were children, when once the car was in full motion, we were lulled to sleep by the confines of inactivity and the rhythmic hum of the engine. But if you have children who are not susceptible to this, here are a few suggestions to help you get your trip off to an enjoyable, stress-free beginning.

Dress the children in their most comfortable outfits. When it's warm, a short-sleeved bodysuit for the baby and a cotton tee and shorts or pajamas are fine for your toddler. If you're looking to impress Grandma, if that's where you're heading, you can always change them to special outfits just before you arrive. Important: Don't forget your child's lovie (special stuffed animal or blanket). This works wonders, especially if they're tired and you're stuck in traffic. Remember, familiarity breeds content. And while you're at it, keep your diaper bag close by filled with plenty of wipes, diapers, binky, and a fresh change of clothes. Keep all your bottles in a cooler filled with ice packs. If baby needs her bottle warmed, be ready with a compact bottle warmer that plugs into the cigarette lighter. This all makes perfect sense, but consider the impact it would have on your trip if you omitted any of these things. This is a list worth going over several times before leaving.

Provide entertainment. You can burn your children's favorite music on CDs and create your own "mix" from your experiences with them. Bring along plenty of books, and if possible, consider moving into the back seat to read them some stories. You can even play car games with your toddler, like counting trucks or red cars, and other fun and simple exercises.

Make frequent stops. You might be able to get where you're going in under four hours if you keep on truckin', but your little ones might not be able to sit in position in their car seats for that long. Stopping along the way gives everyone a chance to unwind, get some fresh air, and at many rest stops, run around on the grass.

Pack plenty of snacks. Having an impromptu picnic can be a lot of fun for infants and toddlers. Pack cut-up cheese into your cooler, along with a sufficient amount of yogurt, cut grapes, apple slices, Cheerios, crackers and pretzels. Add a cool cup of water and you have a yummy snack for the entire family along with a drink that doesn't make you thirsty (or sticky) once you're on the road again.

Finally, make a surprise bag the night before. This was a favorite for my daughters. I'd give them each a paper bag filled with a few surprises, like books, stickers, and paper to affix them to, plus a snack and pipe cleaners. The night before heading out on our trip to Hershey Park, (when the girls were two and six), we watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Once the show was over, I gave them each their own special "Golden Ticket", just like in the movie. That set the stage for our road trip the next morning. We left in our jammies, sang the songs from the movie, and wondered what we would see on our way there.

Going on a car trip with your children doesn't have to be along the road to disaster. You can create your own theme based on where you are going. Often, the giggling and laughter that comes from little ones can make the trip much more enjoyable for the adults as well. Enjoy yourself... and relax.

Kathy Lee is the Assistant Director at the Alice Brown Early Learning Center at Adelphi University. Her experiences in a long career as a classroom teacher and Early Childhood Specialist has contributed to the knowledge base supporting her informative website designed exclusively for solving the child care concerns relating to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. You can enjoy more of her collection of helpful information by visiting her unique website at http://www.AllAboutChildCare.INFO

By Roz B Stuzin

As a grandmother of four year old twin girls, I often ponder what baby gifts to give them for holidays and birthdays. A lot of the answers I have discovered depend on how the Mother dresses them.

Tip 1. Find out whether the Mother wants to dress the babies alike or different. If she has matching baby boy and baby girl outfits for every occasion or has her two twin sons or daughters dressed identically, then you should send two of whatever you choose. They should be exactly alike. If they are two blankets, it is permissible to buy a pink for the girl and a blue baby blanket for the boy, but make sure they are the same identical baby blanket.

Tip 2. If the Mother is more modern and wants to dress her twins differently, then you have more flexibility in what you choose as the gift. Now you need to find out what the Mother's favorite color is or what color she has chosen for the nursery. This way you can coordinate the blankets, towels or outfits to the color palette that matches the nursery.

Tip 3. If you are going to buy totally different gifts for twins; they should cost approximately the same amount.

Tip 4. It is a good idea to buy gifts that have something in common. For example, buy two towels that are totally different or buy two security blankets that are different colors and have different animal heads.

Tip 5. Twins love to share. When you gift clothing, try to buy tops and bottoms that are interchangeable so that if one twin wants to wear the top of one outfit; it will match the bottom of the other outfit.

Tip 6. If you want to individualize either identical or totally different gifts, you can always have them embroidered with baby's three letter monogram, initial or name.

Tip 7. Sometimes, you can find one gift that is meant for two. For example, there are shopping cart covers for twins or strollers designed especially for twins.

Tip 8. Books are a great gift for twins. Make sure that you select a board book so that it will last through sticky fingers and sippy cup spills. In this case, you would usually buy different books that they could share. One caveat, if a twin has a favorite book, make sure to get two of the same because they might not share their favorite book.

When twins are older; it becomes much simpler to find gifts for them. This past holiday season, I asked my two granddaughters who are fraternal twins to help me select their gifts. One wanted a Fancy Nancy purse in purple; the other wanted a telescope. No gifts could be so different as their two choice. I gave them both what they wanted and they were delighted and I was certainly glad I checked with them before I spent a lot of money on gifts they didn't want.

Namely Newborns has beautiful gifts for twins. Please contact us at 1-979-9347 or email us at info@namelynewborns.com Enjoy a 10% discount on your first purchase. Use code ma. http://www.namelynewborns.com located at 7005 N.Waterway Drive Suite 303, Miami, Fl. 31555. Call for appt.

By Shaun A Maxwell

At the end of 2011 there were still very few cyberbullying laws on the books, anywhere in the United States. Of course the issue with these types of laws always comes down to our First Amendment Right to freedom of speech. But in dragging out feet to protect freedom of speech we're allowing innocent kids to literally perish at the hands of cyberbullies who know the actions will go unpunished.

Right now, as it stands, those states that do have any laws against cyberbullying will only charge offenders with an unclassified misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of only $1,000 or a year in jail. When you consider the fact that in 2010 there were 34 children in the United States who committed suicide as a direct result of cyberbullying, that small $1000 fine is an egregious insult. And since most cyber bullies are minors, the punishments will be even less.

Current proposals before state legislatures call for a broader definition of cyberbullying or a broader definition of bullycide. On the other side of the coin they're asking for narrower definitions so they don't step on anyone's right to free speech.

And therein lies the problem, really. It took years for states and the federal government to come to terms they could all agree on in relationship to hate crimes. We can't afford that wait when the victims of cyberbullies are our children. We need to act now.

A lot of this harassment occurs on sites like Facebook. No. Let's not use the word 'Like'. That's too passive-aggressive. Let's point fingers here and say - Most of this cyberbullying that's resulting in bullycide is occurring on Facebook. While Facebook has taken measures to try to detect and eliminate cyberbullying it still has a long way to go.

As parents, we need to be pro-active. We can't wait for the legal system to catch up. By then, how many more children will die?

We need to demand even stricter controls at Facebook. Facebook needs to accept responsibility for the monster they've created and put stronger controls in place - now. If it hurts Facebook's pocketbook, so be it. Our children's lives are at stake.

We need to talk to our children. In 2011 more than 1 million teenagers were harassed or threatened on Facebook. Yet only 1 in 6 of those teens let their parents know there was something going on. We need to let our children know that they can come to us the minute, the very MINUTE they receive that first harassing message. And we need to let them know that we will step in and do everything necessary to bring the cyberbully to justice.

As parents, we need to let our kids know that being the victim of a cyberbully isn't something they need to feel embarrassed or guilty about and that it's not their fault. Until stricter cyberbully laws are enacted we need to be the protective barrier between our children and the bully.

By Moh Eng Bee

If you have been giving in to your child's demand for fast food over healthy foods, then think again. Regardless of the stress you are undergoing, be it at home or at the office, it is a sin to just give in to the child's demands. The child cannot think right, but you as the parent have the onus of ensuring they get the needful nutrition, that they cultivate healthy eating habits so that they can grow strong and healthy. Most fast foods, though labelled "the most nutritious protein food" is more often made up of more than 50% non-nutritional material such as preservatives, stabilizers, sodium, sugars, synthetic substances and fat. Protein, the most important nutrition for healthy growth makes up less than 10%. With a wailing 3 year-old on your hand, it is understandable to just give in and have some peace, but this is detrimental to your child's health. If you have been finding it difficult to manage, here are some tips.

Get your child involved in the preparation of family meals from an early age. Show them what to prepare, teach them what is healthy food, explain why they are healthy and most of all, make the food look and taste good. In as much as possible, stock up plenty of healthy foods of many varieties so that your child gets accustomed to healthy eating from an early age. Allow your children to make their own snacks; in this way they are more likely to eat what they have prepared.. Make your marketing and grocery trips interesting and fun. Bring along your children. This is one area where it allows you to educate them on the value of healthy food. It will also give them the sense of pride that they are allowed to take part in making purchases.

Children love finger food snacks especially chicken. No, do not run to the nearest fast food outlet. Make your own, they are easy. Just cut chicken breasts into "finger" size, and bake them or have them grilled. At all times, avoid frying. Make some healthy and tasty yogurt dressings to go with them. Serve a variety of foods and a spectrum of colors to make the foods you are serving attractive and delicious. There are times when you do need to eat out and when that happens ask for food to be grilled instead of fried.

Fruits and vegetables are healthy foods to eat

As an adult, you need to show good examples. Children ape their parents, so as a responsible parent avoid snacking on salted chips or processed food too often. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, they do make delectable snacks and meals. So, make a habit to snack on fruits, salad and juices instead of reaching for that bag of chips. Fruits can be sliced; carrots and celery cut into sticks and serve with a bowl of yogurt dip, low-fat sour cream added with honey as well as applesauce. Children just love anything that comes with a bowl of dip.

Remember, it is the owner of the hand that feeds them that makes children what they are. So start now and give your children healthy foods to eat.

I am Moh Eng Bee, an active grandmother, enjoying my retirement. I have time now on my hands to do the things I love and writing is one of them. I love taking care of my 5 grandchildren ages two to nine. I am therefore, an expert in this area of child care and besides that I am also an advocate of home remedies and all health recipes.

By Mark S Hawley

This game is brilliant for 4s and up at a birthday party or other gathering. Ideally, you would have some music in the form of a CD player or similar.

Before you start this or any other game it is important to get every child's attention. The way I do this is as follows:

Tell the children that you need them to sit down somewhere. This might be in the middle of the floor if indoors or at a venue, or perhaps outside on the grass - but as long as they are sitting close together, this is fine.

Once you tell them where to sit, count from 5 down to 0. Once they hear you counting down from 5, 4, 3, 2 and then 1, the children usually hurry to sit down where you have asked them to just before you say 0. If there are children being fairly noisy once sat down, the you can ask them "who is the quietest person in the whole room/garden?" (wherever you are). Usually this is enough to get the attention of all of the children with them sitting quietly.

Once you have them sat down in the middle (hopefully quietly), you can explain the rules for this particular game:

The Rules (for your reference):

When you say a number, the children have to get into groups of the number you said. So, for instance, if you say "groups of 2" then the aim of the game is to be in a group of 2. If you say group of three, then the aim is to be in a group of three and so on. Usually about half way through, I like to introduce a new rule whereby if I say the word 0, they all have to hide. If you have a prize to give then you can say that the person who hides the best wins a prize. It is also fun to shout the number 1 every now and then.

How to explain this to the children in a fun way:

"OK, now we're going to play a game called musical numbers. Don't worry, there isn't any adding up to do!"

The second sentence is crucial as the children who don't like maths will be able to relax.

"who here knows how to hug?"

At this point, you should encourage the children to raise their hands by raising your own hand - after all, they surely all know how to hug!

"Now, when I say a number, you guys have to get into groups of that number and give everyone else a nice, big hug."

"Ok guys, up you get. Now who's the best dancer here?"

At this point, you should play some music. After a few seconds of music playing, you simply stop the music and say a number. Whichever number you say, they'll rush in to groups of that number. If you say 1 at any point, it is a little confusing in a fun way, so have fun with that too if you are brave enough.

This game can usually last around 10-15 minutes and is great fun!

Thanks for reading!

Mark Hawley is a Children's Entertainer from London, England. He has performed at over 1,000 shows from school disco and children's parties. You can find his site here: http://www.thecoolkidsparty.com. If you are looking to book a party in the areas of London, Surrey, Essex or Kent then go ahead and book your party here: http://www.thecoolkidsparty.com/childrens-parties