Kids

Stop fussing! And other lockdown lessons

Parenting can be a little fraught when you're essentially under siege in your own house. So we decided to talk to our young people to find out what they think we could be doing better.
Superflashy Newsflash

Say whhattt?! ... All hail the first newsy newcast of 2021. Want to know what's hot on the block this month? Read on for what to put on your radar, from Brazilian Zoom fiestas to new takeaways and more.
Should you care about a value-added education ?

You may have heard about how schools use ‘value-added’ to measure performance but it is an often misunderstood concept. Wycliffe College has spent more than a decade feeling justifiably proud of its value-added output. Here, Sean Dunne, Deputy Head of Wycliffe College, shares his views on the subject.
Stowe School’s life-changing Change 100 project is go

Know a truly talented child who could be a future change maker? The illustrious Stowe School in Bucks is embarking on a hugely ambitious, altruistic project to help fund 100 student places a year for those who desperately need it.
6 reasons to consider InterHigh

If you're one of the many parents considering an alternative to mainstream education right now, virtual school InterHigh could be the answer to your prayers.
8 Cracking Christmas wreath classes and kits

Festivities may look different this year but we’re glamming up our fronties with as much foliage and frills as they can darn well handle. Fancy giving it a go? This year some are virtual, some are make-at-home kits and some are in house with special measures. So crack open the mulled wine, put on that […]
22 Glorious lockdown walks

Life may be locking down but the great outdoors of Glos & Worcs is there for the taking. We've curated the 22 best walks (with added coffee pit-stops) to kick out that cabin fever.
It’s a wrap – Muddy gets festive at the farmyard

Think family photo shoots and what springs to mind? Boxy studios? Bored kids playing up as you smile through gritted teeth? Nothing could be further from reality at one of Michelle Morris’s shoots on her idyllic farm in Worcestershire’s Teme Valley. So when Muddy got an invitation to spend the morning posing it up at […]
10 of the best subscription boxes for kids

Running on empty when it comes to entertaining the kids? Royal Mail comes up trumps with these brilliant subscription boxes – time to sit with a gin and wait for the postman.
18 Screamingly good Halloween ideas

Trick or treating is so 2019, but that doesn't mean there isn't a whole lot of fiendish fun to be had. Check out our safe and socially distanced picks for Halloween, from pumpkin flotillas to ghost trains and werewolf walks ... we dare you.
Muddy goes alpaca trekking

Combine a pack of camelids with the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds and what do you get? The coolest experience this side of Peru. Muddy Glos Editor Sophie swapped heels for hooves for a morning's alpaca trekking.
How to manage back-to-school anxiety

With the nation’s schoolchildren poised to go back to school, it’s a tense time for everyone. So, how, as parents, should we control our fears? Muddy finds out.
10 books for younger kids

Kids have had a lot on their plates: no school, no play dates, and slim chance of a summer of fun in the sun. Here's 10 great book for ages 5-8 to create a fictional escape route from the madness.
7 Best PYO Farms

Can we tempt you with something juicy and plump ... I am talking about Pick Your Own Farms of course (cheeky). It's peak PYO season so get yourself down to one of Glos and Worcs fruity farmsteads and fill up those punnets pronto.
The screen-free summer guide

Ready for the school holidays? ... Non? Fear not, Muddy to the rescue with some sanity-saving solutions. We've handpicked the best summer camps, courses and workshops to keep them (and you) smiling.
Is it time to try an online school?

With many children struggling to study at home and doubts over September start dates, specialist ‘virtual’ schools are gaining huge traction - but what do they offer that’s different?
Parent ‘Lockdown learning’ survey – the results

Earlier this month we commissioned our own comprehensive survey amongst Muddy readers into Lockdown Learning – and we’ve been blown away by the response! Thank you to the 1200 of you who expressed how you felt about virtual-schooling, the difficulties you and your children were facing, as well as revealing surprise success stories and offering […]
Kids driving you nuts? The best parenting books

And we all thought parenting was hard BEFORE lockdown. Jeez! We've got five brilliant new books that promise to help.
Living in lockdown with teens – eek!

Here are 20 things to do that might encourage your teenagers to get out of bed by midday – or at the very least by least by nightfall (fingers crossed).
5 things I’ve learned about motherhood

Acclaimed author (and Muddy favourite) Clover Stroud is in the midst of raising her 5 children. Miraculously she's found time to write a book about it all. Here's a taster.
J’adore/ J’abhor

Parlez-vous teen slang? The language barrier has always been a problem when it comes to parent/child communications. Do you find the way your little darlings speak totally basic or, like, lit?
Your ultimate Autumn Walks guide

Grab your kids, your besties, your dog and anyone else who is free to join you on our first Autumn Walks initiative with Joules - and win coats and wellies for the whole family!