Impatient kids complain about being bored an average of 122 times every month – that’s nearly 1,500 times per year - according to new research by BIC as part of its Young Artist Award  (It feels like double that in my household!). The study also revealed that 69 percent of us parents dread hearing the words “I’m bored”. But experts claim parents should be doing more to encourage boredom as mechanism to inspire creativity. We should be letting their minds wander rather than plonking them in front of the TV or electronic tablet.

Here are my screen-free top tips tips to help promote imagination and creativity in our kids.

Dry skin care treatment for children, Epaderm Junior is offering you the chance to win a bundle of Epaderm cream and emollient from their range worth £50 (RRP), with sizes to keep at home or great for your little one’s travel bag!

Science needs more women! So last month I took my girls up to London to visit The Science Museum in Kensington. Armed with technical backup from my 15yr old nephew, who has GCSE Science glory firmly in his sights, I was ready for serious questioning and expected to come away with a couple of budding physicists/biologists/chemists. First impressions of the museum was that is was a little dry for my 4 and 7yr old little ladies and I began to get slightly worried whilst wandering through the Flight gallery that we were gonna be done in record time. I'm not a teacher! I don't know how to make these static objects fun for my kids! Then I noticed a banner for Wonderlab: The best thing to do with your kids in London with kids. Sounded amazing. And, simply put, it is.

Today my blog turns 5yrs old. FIVE! Crazy. This has prompted me to stop and take a look at my year so far and see if I'm on course with one of my 18 goals for 2018 - to write more opinion pieces and generally have more of a personal voice and presence. After all this started as a pregnancy diary where I bared my soul, it needs to reflect me.

September = Back to school. Actually new schools for both the girls with Little E moving up to Junior School and Little I starting Reception at Infants. And I managed not to cry! It was also a month filled with birthday celebrations, lots of parties for the little ones and grown up celebrations with cocktails and whole pies. Then of course Husband's foot operation which has been rocky but it's lovely having him home all day.

1 in 3 British mums admit that they are unaware of Infant Colic, a common medical condition affecting 1 in 5 newborns, which can cause excessive crying. This month Infacol and Cry-sis, the only parenting charity dedicated to supporting parents through excessive infant crying, have launched Infant Colic Awareness Month which strives to educate and support parents to ensure they can experience the joys of parenthood to the full.

Here are the colic signs and symptoms to look out for and you can enter my giveaway to win a 0-6mth White Company Sleeping Bag to help encourage a good nights sleep for baby and parents!

Nothing pleases my kids more than pasta. Except maybe muffins. Hang on, what if we could combine the two...  This recipe from Mr Organic is certainly a crowd pleaser and is super easy to make for snacks, lunchboxes and parties. Plus, don't tell the kids, it is packed with hidden veggies!

If you are looking for a good excuse to get creative then my latest giveaway is perfect for you. These fabulous Metallic Marker pens from Spectrum Noir are stunning dual-tipped markers which cover beautifully, for a perfectly smooth and highly reflective metallic finish. They are ideal for use on black or dark surfaces where their effects will really pop! I have the full range of 12 pens, both the Rare Minerals and Precious Metals packs, to giveaway to one lucky winner!

Finding the right furniture that matches your home style and your lifestyle as a family can be tricky. Getting that balance between creating a welcoming home and a home that can withstand the trials of parenthood, can become costly so that’s why Furnish Your Home have suggested these simple, kid-friendly ways to introduce good looking pieces without the worry of having to constantly replace hard to maintain fabrics.

I haven't had much spare time over the past few weeks with the back to school madness but I have started some new shows and am using my Netflix app to watch box sets while doing the housework and cooking! Here's what I'm watching at the moment: