While their parents are tending to be dreaming about exotic holidays in places such as the Caribbean, it’s a very different story for their kids, with the majority preferring a trip to the moon than anywhere terrestrial.

www.sunshine.co.uk polled 2,105 British parents, each with children aged between 3 and 8, and asked them to talk to their children about their ideal holiday destinations.

Respondents were given a list to show to their children, with a mixture of fictional and real-life destinations, as well as more unrealistic settings for holidays, and their youngsters were required to pick the 3 places they would most like to visit on holiday.

According to the poll by sunshine.co.uk, the top 10 places British children would most like to visit on their next holiday are;

1.       The Moon – 47%

2.       Disney World – 41%

3.       Narnia – 39%

4.       Hogsmead – 26%

5.       Lapland – 25%

6.       Hundred Acre Wood – 17%

7.       Hogwarts – 14%

8.       Pride Rock (Lion King) – 9%

9.       Australia  – 4%

10.   Bikini Bottom (SpongeBob SquarePants) – 2%

As well as the list that sunshine.co.uk provided, parents were also allowed to give their child the option of selecting ‘other’ after which they were required to specify the place their youngster had chosen. One of the parents’ children claimed she would like to go on holiday to her ‘Granny’s house’.

Of the top 10 destinations named by children, 6 were fictional places from various kid’s television shows and films, whilst the top answer, the Moon, was perhaps just as unrealistic.

Chris Brown, co-founder of sunshine.co.uk, commented on the findings;

“Having four kids of my own, I know that mine would pick Disney over any destination, but it’s incredibly cute to see that so many selected fictional destinations and the Moon! I know if I was young, there’d be nothing more exciting that the idea of going somewhere like the Moon or Tracy Narnia; as far as the kids are concerned, they are all very magical places that are still seemingly within their reach.

“A family holiday is, in most cases, all about the kids, so it’s always worth trying to remember that when booking. Whilst Mum and Dad might want to sit back on the beach and relax, it’s obviously vital that there are plentiful kid’s clubs and activities about the resort to keep them happy.”

LINK http://www.sunshine.co.uk

Related posts:

1. Family Holiday Ideas for 2011 As the pound is now stronger against the Euro and...
2. Why you should consider holiday parks for a family holiday If you are not familiar with Holiday Parks, but are...
3. Combine work and holiday fun for the kids at the Third Door Holiday Club Get some work done while your kids learn all about...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

If you are looking to take a trip to a true winter wonderland that has jaw dropping landscapes and is in tune with nature like nowhere else, Finland in the place for you. This gem of Northern Europe and the contrasts between freezing winters, golden summers, endless countryside and buzzing cosmopolitan cities is truly something to behold.

Tourism to Finland is booming, and millions of travellers have now discovered for themselves the magic this country emanates.  The extraordinary natural beauty of Finland can be enjoyed in many ways, but undoubtedly one of the most exciting is to take a Husky sled ride. Imagine being whisked across the snow and ice, wrapped up against the elements, and taking in the full grandeur of the landscape.

This same landscape invariably lends itself to a plethora of winter sports including cross country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, sledging, ice skating and many more. The resorts that cater to these sports are compact, comfortable and have much to appeal to travellers of all ages, whether you want to participate in a winter sport or simply relax and have a coffee while admiring the view.

One of nature’s most colourful spectacles can be seen from Finland, the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. Experiencing the best that mother nature has to offer first hand is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. Cosy up and watch the most phenomenal light show on earth in all its spectacular glory.

Every year in Finnish Lapland, a thousand truckloads of snow are used to create the world’s only ice village. Snuggle up in a sleeping bag within an ice hotel, and eat in the ice restaurant and bar. This village is lovingly created from scratch and is truly one of those extraordinary places that you have to see to believe.

There is a new video online that is a veritable montage of everything that this magical wonderland has to offer. It can be seen on the visit Finland website and gives the prospective visitor a taste of everything that there is on offer for the tourist. You see snowmobiles speeding across the glistening ground, the husky rides, a taste of the wildlife, and all under the banner of ‘take me to wonderland’.

There is so much to see and do in Finland that once you have been, you will want to return time and time again. A trip to Finland will create those memories that last a lifetime, so make sure you make the effort to visit this northern Europe wonderland.

Related posts:

1. Second annual branch contest for kids from Northern Rock Northern Rock is hoping to make sure that kids stay...
2. YAZOO offer free sport sessions for kids pocket savings YAZOO offer free sport sessions for kids pocket savings It...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Before you leave home:

Ensure that you have valid travel insurance booked and check any exclusion such as water sports and other general activities.

Apply for and receive EHIC cards for the family. This will allow for some of your treatment to be covered should you be hospitalised while travelling in a European country. All members of your family, providing they are entitled to UK passports, will be eligible for one of these and you should carry these with you while in a European country just in case.

Once you arrive at your accommodation:

Move any furniture around to ensure that sharp edges are facing walls, that furniture is not a slip or trip hazard and that you have covered up any potentially dangerous areas or even had the furniture moved completely.

Tape up any sharp corners on furniture or perhaps ask at your hotel reception for them to do this for you or perhaps provide an alternative piece of furniture.

Move blind cords or other long wires that could be a hazard and try to think about anything that could potentially be grabbed by your child and present a choking hazard.

Use plug protectors to cover any plug sockets and you can pack some of these in your suitcase to save yourself the hassle of having to find them while in another country.

Check underneath the beds for any pieces of dirt or debris that your child could end up eating or playing with.

Pack some cable ties or something similar so that you may close any doors that do not have locks and ensure that you lock any doors that can be locked and put their keys in a designated place.

Look out for hazards or climbing items near windows and doors to ensure that your children are not able to climb up and open windows or doors by themselves.

Do not leave your child unsupervised if you would not leave them unsupervised in that room at home. Remember that bathrooms can be terribly hazardous places with hot water, razors, electrical items, heaters and other items being ways for your child to injure themselves. Also remember to keep the toilet lid closed at all times and pack a child lock for that if possible from home.

Basically you should be looking out for any of the hazards that could present themselves like they would at home. Nothing dangerous should be left within reach of your child and they should never be left alone or unsupervised regardless of the reason why. As long as you prepare in advance and use some common sense you should be able to have a wonderfully relaxing family holiday after spending just a short amount of time ensuring that your accommodation is child proof.

Article courtesy of Netflights

Related posts:

1. Half Price Kids with Sunsail Clubs’ Family Holiday Deal Sunsail has announced a great family holiday offer for February...
2. Family holiday ideas If you are planning bext summer’s holiday then why not...
3. Family Holiday Ideas for 2011 As the pound is now stronger against the Euro and...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Magic Blackout Blind travel and sleep solutions for children

A new and innovative product intended for use both in children’s nurseries and when you are travelling with children on holiday has been launched. It is called the Magic Blackout Blind and is the quick and easy way to black out windows anywhere in seconds. For more information on this brilliant product visit www.magicblackoutblind.co.uk

The Magic Blackout Blind is effectively a temporary black out covering for windows that can be used with or without blinds and curtains to completely block out light. This is turn helps everyone, not just little ones, to get a good night’s sleep.

The blind comes on a convenient and lightweight roll, which makes is ideal for when you are travelling or on holiday. Every roll contains ten perforated black sheets that you can easily cut to size with scissors. The black sheets ‘magically’ cling to windows by static, thus leaving no marks behind on the glass.

It will stop bright sunlight coming through your windows and help you sleep better. Magic Blackout Blind is useful if you have young children because it will help stop them waking up at dawn and help parents get an hour or two extra sleep in bed.

It is incredibly simple to fit; you tear off a sheet and place it on the window. You can quickly and easily remove it when not required. You can also reuse it.

Each sheet measures 60cm by 80cm or 24 inches by 32 inches. A roll of 10 sheets costs £35.99.

For more information visit www.magicblackoutblind.co.uk

Related posts:

1. Children’s Sleep Patterns – Survey reveals lack of understanding of children’s sleep needs The first-ever transatlantic survey into children’s sleep patterns has revealed...
2. Children do not get enough sleep A recent study that has been conducted in the United...
3. Concern about children not getting a decent nights sleep Recent research has suggested that children are spending more time...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

One of the major mistakes that parents make when travelling abroad is, if they have a flight through the night or in the early morning, trying to keep their children awake under the misconception that they will sleep on the plane/coach/train. This is rarely the case as children get over tired and become grumpy and fractious, and getting them to sleep when they get to this stage is a nightmare.

Firstly, try and arrange your travel so that it is at a reasonable time of day, where planes are concerned this can be particularly difficult however, so if an awkward time of travel is unavoidable, put your children to bed a bit earlier.

They have no concept of time and go by routine, so if their downtime and bath are a bit earlier they won’t be aware of it. Leave it until as late as possible to wake them and they should be generally good natured throughout the travel.

Another reason for kids acting up is boredom, so make sure you have plenty of things with you to keep them occupied. Favourite books, handheld games, colouring books and pencils will all take their mind off the fact they are in a strange place. While they might be curious at first as long as they have familiarity around them the interest will soon wane and they will settle down for the journey.

If you are driving a long distance with children considering investing in a DVD player where the screens attach to the back of the front seats. Take a long their favourite films and you should have very little trouble with them. If you are taking a coach or train try and get a seat with a table so they have somewhere to rest on to draw or play.

Travelling with young children needn’t be problematic, and my taking these few tips on board you can ensure that you will all arrive at your destination stress free and ready to start your break or holiday.

Related posts:

1. Children travelling alone often not covered by insurance Children travelling alone often not covered by insurance Research carried...
2. Speekee Spanish learning programme gets the young speaking Spanish Despite Kirsty Young’s recent statements in the press about pushy...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The resorts that came out top in their comparison list were the Austrian resorts of Fieberbrunn, Flachau, Ellmau and Kaltenbach, Oberstdorf and Bondemais in Germany, Meiringen in Switzerland, Valmorel and Tignes in France and Castelrotto in Italy

For them to call themselves family ski areas, resorts should offer easy slopes. Childrens’ kindergartens and schools, plenty of daytime activities for when there is inclement weather conditions and be attractively priced for families.

The CEO of Snowtrex is Thomas Bartel, and he spoke more about these comparisons, saying that the areas that they found were top for families offered very satisfactory conditions for ski facilities, new ideas, great value prices and plenty of leisure time activities. He added that in the resorts they rated as top, families had a great range of opportunity to find family friendly skiing to suit all budgets throughout the Alps.

“Our favourites for families with small children offer supervision in kid’s clubs or ski kindergarten, a family or activity swimming pool, as well as tobogganing”, says Bartel. Further, the resorts also offer ski-free days and diverse evening entertainment.

Price-wise, the French resort Valmorel is unbeatable where you can get 7 nights including 6-day lift pass for the Grand Domaine in an apartment at the Résidence Les Chalets de Valmorel from the 7th of January 2012 for a family with 2 children from £868.

In Autria, Kaltenbach in the Ziller Valley is the best resort for families. One week including 6 days skiing with the “Zillertaler-Superskipass”, in a double room with 2 additional beds at the accommodation Jägerklause, for a family with 2 children (aged 5 and 9 years), from the 21st of January 2012 costs £1,108.50. Children up to the age of 5 receive 100% and children up to the age of 10 receive 50% reduction.

Top ski areas for families with older children who can already ski or snowboard, according to the SnowTrex study, should offer a snow park, time tracking on the slopes, ski bus and ice rink. Here Fieberbrunn is one of the top resorts in Austria (one week including the 6-day lift pass “Schneewinkel” in the Gasthof Obermair from £339 per person).

The TravelTrex GmbH recorded 106,000 travellers and 33.5 million euro revenue in the tourism year 2010/2011. In the company headquarters in Cologne SnowTrex has approx. 100 members of staff working under one roof.  With its winter brand “SnowTrex” the company has developed market leadership for ski holidays in the European region and offers a continuously expanding portfolio with more than 200 destinations and 1,200 accommodations in nearly all European mountain ranges, as well as the USA.

With the brand “HolidayTrex” the company offers holidays all year round. Via the websites www.snowtrex.com and www.holidaytrex.com as well as via the call centres (both available in 16 languages) TravelTrex offers its holidays in the whole of Europe. However the company does not only concentrate on direct sales, but also cooperates with more than 600 active booking pages on the Internet, as well as travel agents and other renowned sales affiliates from within and outside the holiday sector.

Related posts:

1. Educational Learning Limited new games offer family fun with bite Educational Learning Limited new games offer family fun with bite...
2. Gatwick airport is top choice for families according to British Airways British Airways has revealed that more families than ever are...
3. Intervac home exchange holidays ideal for families It’s no secret that going away during school holidays is...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

San Francisco: Visit Pier 39 to see some sea lions, completely free of charge, watch sharks in the Aquarium at The Bay or even some face to face with leopard sharks and bat rays which your children can even touch. Visit the Venetian Carousel to take your children for a spin or catch a ferry from Pier 33 over to Alcatraz to teach them about something, although be warned that this tour is more for the older children in the family. Some of the best locations to stay with children include Fisherman’s Wharf and the Marina.

Istanbul: Take your children on a boat trip along the Bosphorous waterway and allow them to travel from Europe to Asia viewing the beautiful oceanic views along the way. Visit the bazaar at the local Spice Bazaar and get your children interested in Turkish Delight, particularly with some free samples usually on offer. Give your children something extra to learn about at the Istanbul Modern where they can learn about contemporary art while having some fun also. The Gülhane Park is a fantastic place to allow your children to burn off some of their pent up energy before retiring back to your accommodation for the evening.

India: Firstly your children are going to experience something truly amazing with the food that is on offer in India and North India probably provides the best destination in India with younger children. There is lots of fresh fruit on offer wherever you are so you can keep your children on a healthy diet while taking in the lovely sights that are on offer here. With no shortage of cows and animals just hanging around by the streets there is plenty for your children to learn about Indian culture while here. There are temples to view and no end to the amount of wonderful restaurants, cafes and cultured places to be visited here and your children will come away having learnt something new about the World and having sampled lots of wonderful cuisine along the way.

Morocco: Marrakesh offers a real Aladdins Cave of wonderful things to see and do for young children. Whether they are interested in Harry Potter or not they will probably be amazed by some of the wonderful hand blown glass and potions that are displayed quite readily here. Palmeraie offers the chance for camel rides to be enjoyed, complete with photographs to show their friends when back home and with lots of horse and pony stables near by you could even get your children interested in an activity that they can continue back home and remember the memories of forever.

Wherever you want to travel in the world you will be sure to find something suitable for yourself and your children, regardless of their age, but always ensure, when looking at travelling, that you think about the type of accommodation that you are looking to book and the implications for your children. Think about sleeping arrangements and think about the implications of your travel arrangements and always ensure that you are prepared for upset children when you are travelling or trying to get them to sleep in a different location to normal.

Related posts:

1. Children’s party ideas without breaking the bank Children’s parties may seem like a luxury in tough economic...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Disneyland Paris

The most child-friendly destination in Europe has to be Disneyland Paris. Its short journey time from the UK on the Eurostar makes it a strong contender for one of Europe’s best holidays for kids, particularly if you have young children who get bored easily. The Disneyland resort has all sorts of attractions for kids and parents too. With a range of thrilling rides, shows and entertaining parades, the magic of Eurodisney Paris is an unforgettable holiday for everyone.

The Spanish Costas

Activities for kids are aplenty in Spain – and it’s just a few hours journey from the UK. The likes of Costa Brava, Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol offer many beach activities, such as wind surfing, volleyball and banana boats. Hotels with Kids Clubs for younger children are also fantastic at keeping them entertained. With the sun, sea and vast variety of destinations there’s plenty of options for the perfect holiday with the family.

Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Even closer to home is Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Although the temperatures aren’t as high as they are in Spain, there’s plenty here to keep the kids entertained. With various museums, playgrounds and three zoos, Eindhoven is a great alternative to the typical European package holiday.

Algarve, Portugal

For a sunnier holiday on the beach, the Algarve is another fantastic option for a family holiday. Water parks like Aqualand and Atlantic Park are always terrific days out for families who love sliding down water chutes and splashing about in the wave pools. With zoos, dolphin tours and mini golf, this Portuguese resort has everything.

Related posts:

1. Disney Holiday Package Offers with Disney Moments of Magic campaign If you are looking for one of those great family...
2. Advice on family holidays to Orlando Recent research commissioned by the Orlando Tourism Bureau shows that...
3. Intervac home exchange holidays ideal for families It’s no secret that going away during school holidays is...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The airline has already seen a ten per cent increase in family bookings compared to last year and the trend is set to continue through the summer.

In July and August, British Airways will serve around 7,000 child meals on its long haul and European flights from Gatwick, and cabin crew will give out over 26,000 special Paddington Bear Skyflyer packs to keep its young customers entertained.

Florida is the number one destination for British Airways from Gatwick during the school holidays, offering 14 flights a week to the Sunshine State, with daily flights to Tampa and Orlando.

Parents travelling with children can benefit from family check-in and the chance to choose seats together free of charge 24 hours before departure.

On long haul flights children also have their own television channels as well as a choice of family movies on the in flight entertainment system.

Gatwick is the only UK airport, to join a new Family Friendly scheme launched by the Family and Parenting Institute which aims to make the UK more family friendly.

Over the past 18 months, the airport has rolled out a number of family friendly initiatives to help take the stress out of travel for families, particularly those with young children in tow.

In Spring 2010, Gatwick became the only UK airport to create separate security lanes – “Assistance lanes” – to give families travelling with young children in buggies extra help through security after checking-in.

Earlier this year, it also created dedicated “kids zones” in the departure lounges of both terminals for children aged between 0-5 years to enable parents and guardians to relax while their children are kept entertained.

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive of Gatwick Airport said: “Millions of families choose to travel through Gatwick airport every year. We realise that travelling with children can be stressful, so we’re going out of our way to make their journey through the airport more enjoyable. That’s why we’re proud to be supporting the Family Friendly scheme.”

The second most popular long haul holiday hot spot for British Airways customers is Barbados and there are still some family holidays in Barbados available there and many other destinations from Gatwick, including many with free night offers and kids stay free.

British Airways has also introduced the family favourite destination of Malaga to its Gatwick schedule, moving the service moved from Heathrow and almost doubling frequency to 27 flights a week.

Related posts:

1. Seven great tips for families flying with kids The nation’s favourite airline advises giving your child some pre-flight...
2. Holiday Swimming Academies Launched by First Choice Last year, First Choice taught more than 7,000 children to...
3. Intervac home exchange holidays ideal for families It’s no secret that going away during school holidays is...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

• Peugeot research pinpoints 31 minutes into the average British car journey before cries of “Are We Nearly There Yet?” break out

• An alarming 62% of parents happier without children in the car while 65% of parents think they suffer more than their kids on long journeys

• Peugeot & Professor Tanya Byron provide essential tips on turning nightmare journeys into quality time this half-term at www.peugeot.co.uk/arewenearlythereyet

With summer break underway all across the UK families are getting ready to pack up and set out for car journeys as they start their holidays on the road. New research from Puegeot commissioned for the launch of the new 308, revelas how frazzled the nerves will be and how the arguments will be going long before most reach journey’s end. Fifty-five percent of UK parents admit to having lost their temper when on long car journeys with their children.

Over 62% said they are happier when their children are not in the car with them and 43% said they feel irritable, anxious and angry at times when on journeys. Living in an age when family is less and less this time together is a wasted opportunity for the parents. They could be doing activities and making the most from their captive audiences.

Professor Tanya Byron, Child Psychologist worked with Peugeot on the study and pointed out many easy and highly effective ideas you can implement will help stressed out parents to change hours of angst into hours of fun quality family time.

It is important to make the journey a part of the overall fun of a vacation because a stressful ine with fighting kids and whining kids will do nothing but cause tension and eventually lead to arguments and an unbearable atmosphere in the vehicle and that can overshadow even before it gets started.

“It’s only natural that being confined in a small space for a long time will lead children to become bored and in need of distraction and stimulation. However rather than leaving them to their own devices and allowing that frustration to build towards shouting and arguing, be one step ahead and prepare activities and games that will keep them occupied and their minds engaged.”

Even once the journey’s underway, there’s a lot that parents can do to keep boredom at bay and kids calm. While a worrying 60% of parents admit to lying to keep their children quiet and a further 71% confess to offering bribes of sweets to distract their kids, there shouldn’t be any need to resort to either of these potentially damaging quick fixes.

Tanya Byron goes on to say: “It is estimated that sustained attention to a task will range from about five minutes for a two year old to around 20 minutes for older children and adults. Given that children are frustrated by the lack of freedom in a car, it is vital that there are a variety of tasks and activities that they can engage with in order to reduce their frustrations and improve the quality of the long car journey for everyone.

“A car journey family tool kit1 should include activities and tasks that enable the following:
• Distraction
• Communication
• Relaxation
• Having fun!

“Time spent creatively preparing different activities and fun for the kids, with a variety on hand that can be rotated when the span of attention has finished, will ensure a smoother and happier journey for all. Try to vary the activities in terms of the senses engaged e.g. follow a memory game with a sing song which then leads into some creative play.

“Reward activities successfully completed with healthy treats and stickers on individual charts2, which can be exchanged for treats (a comic, pack of football cards etc.) during breaks in the journey.”

Are we nearly there yet?

Every parent will be familiar with the warning shot across the bow as wriggling children reach their patience thresholds and the first cries of ‘are we nearly there yet’ ring out from the backseat. Peugeot’s poll of more than 2,000 UK parents pinpoints 31 minutes into a long car journey as the moment when those fateful words can first be heard. And the first warning comes only two minutes earlier, 29 minutes into the average journey, as children first show signs of boredom, leaving parents little time to react if they haven’t taken steps already.

But the serious side to in car harmony is safety, as one in five parents say they have either had or almost had a car accident due to their children’s unsettled behaviour, making easy to follow tips and advice all the more important.

For Professor Tanya Byron’s full list of travel tips to make long car journeys something to look forward to rather than dread, visitwww.peugeot.co.uk/arewenearlythereyet to download the free guide.

Related posts:

1. Seven great tips for families flying with kids The nation’s favourite airline advises giving your child some pre-flight...
2. Christmas family getaways in Italy and France Still not sure what to do for Christmas this year?...
3. Animals at War stories feature in Half Term Exhibition at Imperial War Museum North You would expect to find a captain and sailors on...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.