Summer Reading Challenge 2018 – Mischief Makers

Aimed at children aged 4–11 years, of all reading abilities, the Summer Reading Challenges encourage children to carry on enjoying their reading outside of school during the holidays. They borrow books and earn stickers and other rewards throughout the challenge. The books they choose can be anything that takes their fancy: fact books, fiction books, poetry books or even audio books. They need to read six books to complete the challenge and if they do, they get a certificate. Our local schools get involved so there is the option for the certificate to be presented in assembly. My eldest loved this!

This year’s challenge is called Mischief Makers and features all the favourite characters from The Beano (to commemorate Beano’s 80th anniversary). Once signed up, children will receive a Beanotown map and as they read their books they’ll follow a trail to uncover the hidden treasure.

Most libraries in Scotland have already started the challenge and the majority in England and Wales will start the challenge on Saturday 14th July 2018. There’s a mini challenge for under fours available in most libraries.

The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by charity The Reading Agency. For more information go to: www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Best childrens’ books of all time

It’s a matter of great debate. My daughter Sofia, who is nine, likes a mix of modern and classic. She absolutely loves David Walliams, Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, J.K. Rowling and Andy Stanton’s Mr Gum books.

According to research by cartridgesave.co.uk, which has just launched its ‘Gift of Books‘ campaign, the classics still have a firm place in all our hearts. Their survey of 2000 people – of all ages – saw Enid Blyton’s Famous Five (Five on a Treasure Island -1942) take top spot as the nation’s favourite childhood book.

The top 10

What’s you favourite childhood book?

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I’ve just taken delivery of that great idea and am really excited to give it as a gift.

The Present Idea

My eldest daughter has a December birthday so I really have to get into gear on the present front at this time of year.

She mentioned she’d like a copy of The Magic Faraway Tree, which they’d been reading at school. I thought this, as part of the series of four, would work as a small Christmas present so looked for the Famous Five series, which she isn’t familiar with. I found the first 10 books, sold as a set, for just over £14 and ordered immediately.

The books arrived promptly and had the lovely retro covers. However, they were just in a bundle wrapped in cellophane. I suppose hardly surprising given the price. I didn’t want to wrap them up to give just as they were so had to think of an alternative.

It’s all in the Presentation

I set about looking for a presentation case, just something simple like proper book box sets come in. I searched for ages and drew a blank. I then had the idea of getting a decorative box to actually put them in, but nothing really seemed to fit the bill. I then thought treasure chest!

It seemed the perfect idea as it all fit in nicely with the whole adventure theme, and of course it would even contain the book Five on a Treasure Island. It is also something that I would have loved at eight year’s old, so I know Sofia will. The chest has arrived today and I actually can’t wait to give this present to her. It even comes with its own lock and key to keep it all secret!

Here are the links to the products:

• Famous Five – books 1-10
• Pirate Treasure Chest
• Other Pirate Treasure Chest (by the same company also looks great – double check the dimensions)

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Knoll House is situated in a prime spot on the Dorset coast, overlooking the stunning Studland Bay and its beautiful, long sandy beach and heathland (managed by the National Trust). Studland beach is less than 400 metres from Knoll House and can be accessed via the hotel’s grounds.

Studland Bay

Knoll House a Truly Family-friendly Hotel

My first thought on approaching the hotel was: it looks nice, rather old-fashioned. As we spoke to the receptionist on checking in, the true charm of the place quickly became apparent. It’s a family business and this permeates through everything. We were immediately given the lowdown on the main dining room and the Children’s Dining Room (CDR), which boasts its very own childrens’ chefs. As we’d arrived in time for lunch, we were going to head to the CDR straight after seeing our room.

On the Studland sand dune trail

Rooms

Our room was configured perfectly for a family of five. On entering, there was a bathroom to the left, a separate single bedroom for my eldest daughter straight ahead and a central double bedroom for my husband Matt and I, which then connected to a twin room (for the twins). The rooms were clean, comfortable and child-friendly.

Our room didn’t have a TV (many rooms do, and they are available on request for the rooms that don’t plus there is a TV lounge). However, we didn’t contemplate requesting one as the kids, who are big fans of the goggle box, were so entertained they never once asked to watch a single programme. My only criticism was that the bathroom had seen better days and could have done with a spruce up.

In the CDR eating tea. A little subdued after a day’s activities

Dining Experience and Feeding the Little Ones

Our second port of call was the CDR. Knoll House cleverly timetables things so that everything caters completely for families but doesn’t infringe on other guests. This means childrens’ lunch is served 12.30pm to 1.15pm and tea is 5.00pm to 6.00pm. Although we completely missed it, a table literally had our name on it (as did tables for all the other families staying). It was already set up with two tall chairs for the twins (high chairs were set up for younger children) and three plastic cups and three sets of childrens’ cutlery, so no scrabbling around to bag the last high chair! There was a marker pen and labels on the table so that we could make name badges for the kids so staff could get to know them. Our waitress came over and explained a little bit more about the CDR. The kids (or we) could help themselves to juice and water that was laid out and then could have a starter, choice of two main courses and dessert. The children unanimously loved every meal; there were favourites such as spaghetti Bolognese, shepherd’s pie, macaroni cheese and roast with trimmings. I loved the set up for tea; it was a sort of buffet of both healthy foods and treats. Our kids loved the novelty of the pick and mix style. For many children this would be ample for tea following a hefty lunch. However our gannets ate this and then had a hot main, which is also offered.

On the first day, we were told that there was a childrens’ disco after dinner; that cemented it: they loved the place.

The pièce de résistance was the adjoining playroom, which was available throughout the day, but actually supervised from 1pm until 2pm. The playroom had its own child-sized toilets and a changing station equipped with nappies in all sizes from newborn to number 5s.

One side of the playroom. The other half had lots of comfy sofas and more toys!

Matt and I had the option of ordering from the main dining room and eating in the CDR or actually leaving the children in the playroom and going to the main dining room itself. On the first day we felt we should eat in the Children’s Dining Room as we didn’t want to desert them. We had a lovely two course lunch delivered to us. As it turned out, it was the children that deserted us, lured by art and craft activities, sing-alongs and lots of toys and games. Day two and we had no qualms, so after having an enjoyable time with the children as they polished off every last bit of their roast (and we had an alcoholic beverage), we absconded to the main dining room and enjoyed a leisurely lunch a deux: The best of both worlds.

Feeding for babies

I was given a tour of the Children’s kitchen, which is accessible 24 hours a day. I was very impressed. You can help yourself to milk, squash, ice and fruit whenever you want. There are also tea and coffee making facilities as well as tons of children’s plates, bowls and cutlery that you can help yourself to. You can store anything you want in the fridge, which incidentally contains jugs of cooled boiled water (something else not to have to think about). You have access to constant boiling water and a microwave, so every feeding/weaning scenario is catered for. There is even a cupboard that stocks jars of baby food.

Activities

We packed the two days with beach and seaside town visits (the hotel is really close to many good attractions), punctuated with meals back at Knoll House and plenty of visits to the great adventure playground on site. It’s really well maintained and suitable for little children and young teens alike. We also spent time in the spa using the plunge pool; something we all enjoyed. I particularly liked the spa bar, which alongside smoothies, juices and coffees also served spirits, wine and beer (my kind of health spa).

Dinner for the Adults (and the baby-listening service)

So that was the kids very well catered for. What about the adults? One of our waitresses had told us about the evening baby-listening service, which runs from 7.30pm until 11pm. Having never done this before and actually not sure what it entailed, I was a bit apprehensive. I was then convinced that it was fine. One of the housekeeping staff was literally stationed outside of ours and another two rooms, and sat there all evening listening out for any whimpers or cries. If any upsets did occur they could go in and try to settle the child or – if you wanted – just call straight down to let you know. Matt went down to the bar, got us some pre-dinner drinks to have in our room as we got ready; we settled the kids and then had another drink in the bar before dinner.

The hotel’s main restaurant boasts twelve chefs, who provide different table d’hôte menus of classic dishes each day. The food, if not groundbreaking, is very good quality and locally sourced; that said, the Dorset Blue Vinny ice-cream was rather avant-garde (and tasty). Our waitress was stunned that we dared to order it. Matt and I were thoroughly enjoying our evening meal and all the parents that were dining looked to be having a great time; then the restaurant phone rang. We all looked around. We were all thinking the same: ‘please don’t let it be my child that’s woken up’. Phew it wasn’t (either night)

The Pirate ship, one of the attractions in the adventure playground

We had a lovely meal, and on the first night adjourned to the bar for a bit of old-school Scrabble and bar billiards. The following night we hit the games room (which is actually aimed at the older kids staying there) and reverted to our teenage selves by playing table tennis and more. Brilliant! I kind of envisaged my 15-year-old self coming here: too young to go on hols with my friends, but feeling too old for the family holiday, but actually enjoying it and maybe having a little holiday romance with someone else that was also ‘too old’ for the family holiday.

The Other Stuff

So what else? There’s a self-service laundry with ironing facilities (which we made use of), two hard tennis courts, a nine-acre par-three golf course, Turkish steam room, gym, hot tub and a wonderful, big outdoor pool (surrounded by loungers), which is heated from mid-May until September. The kids were itching to get in, but seeing as our visit was at the start of May, we said we’d save that for another time. Dogs are also very welcome and the hotel has several resident ones.

We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience of a completely family-friendly hotel. The children loved it and my eldest was asking (before we’d even left) when we could return. All the guests seemed so chilled out and everything was designed to make life easy. I think Matt and I were the most relaxed we’ve been on a family break. Matt said: the question is would you come back paying full price? Yes we both agreed.

* We were given two nights full board for the purpose of this review.

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