Just before Christmas '10, Booktrust was told that it was losing all of its £13 million Government funding for schemes in England from April. Booktrust has introduced thousands of children to the pleasures and benefits of reading and given families an enjoyable way to interact – a welcome alternative to toys and television. The charity, operating since 1992 provides Bookstart packs to parents when their babies are first born and then further books at later stages in their development. Its co-founder, Wendy Cooling, was awarded the MBE in 2008 for services to children's literacy.

Issues like bullying, divorce and school related stress are creating unhappy and anxious children. More than half of Britain’s under 11s now suffer from stress at school and one in five suffers from a stress-related disorder. Teaching your children relaxation techniques like meditation enables them to manage their stress. A tool for life. Meditation can alleviate anxiety, frustration, fear, anger, restlessness, and many more symptoms. Guided meditations help children develop concentration and imagination as it improves focus and memory Christiane Kerr, mother of 2 and founder of Calm for Kids teaches yoga and meditation to children. As well as her classes and workshops she has created CDs to help children meditate. Christiane shares her meditation tips with Mumzine.

Whilst on holiday I was gobsmacked by the sight of children watching films on portable DVD players whilst eating dinner with their parents. Meal times are tough for most parents with young children, we had many a screaming tantrum over the buffets endless treats, but this is crazy. I saw one child aged about 5 or 6 with a dummy in and the DVD player on. How's that for a message of be seen but not heard?

Research from Soil Association's Better Nursery Food Now campaign also revealed that nine out of 10 (89%) parents wanted to see legally enforceable rules for the nutritional standards of food in nurseries. 95% off parents said they wanted to ban additives linked to behavioural problems or health issues in nursery food and almost all parents wanted compulsory nutrition and cookery training for nursery staff preparing and serving food.