This time of year is very exciting for families. However, the party can be a bit much for toddlers to handle. Guests for the night, many people in the house, travel and endless activities can leave toddlers excited and missing their old life. The result can be stress and lack of sleep. Use these tips to ensure your holiday season is full of pleasure instead of stress. 1) Keep your sleep schedule for your toddler in mind when visiting family and friends during the holidays. If festivities interfere with nap or bedtime, try to arrange for your child to stick to their schedule. Ask in advance if there is a quiet place where your child can lie down for a nap. Plan quiet activities for older children during periods of rest. Toddlers need sleep to recover from reading and visiting. Their immunity and development is hampered if they do not get the rest they need. 2) Do not let your child get lost in the excitement. Sometimes adults are so busy visiting with each other, keeping the house clean and prepare large meals, they fail to pay attention to their toddlers. Toddlers need time with people who like to relax and center themselves. Plan some play time, lap alone, or even a kid movie Christmas time when your little one can relax and enjoy some human contact. Most parents are happy to help by reading to your child or to carry on a fast walk. 3) Do not neglect the play time outdoors. Outdoor games is important, especially if your child is visiting homes where they are not allowed to run and play as usual. Designate at least thirty minutes twice a day and take the children outside. If time does not permit, try to spend time with windows or on the covered porches where they can still get some sunlight. Vitamin D that we receive from the sun on our skin helps us keep a good mood throughout the winter months. It also helps to maintain energy during the day and sleep well at night. 4) Plan Age-appropriate activities. This is your chance to have your child create something that you may treasure for the rest of your life. Homemade Christmas tree ornaments are fun to make and make wonderful gifts and souvenirs. Plan activities that all children in the home can participate in. Bake and decorate Christmas cookies. Print photos of each child and let them make ornaments and cards. A treasure hunt is to announce that hide-and-seek time. Being led by adults helps children learn to listen and agree with each other. 5) Whatever you do, just make sure there are things planned for your toddler. A good mixture of quiet activities and exciting to help keep their stress levels at the lowest while teaching them about your traditions and fun. Provide learning toys and preschool toys for visiting toddlers to play with. An activity table will not make a mess and encourage cooperative play between friends and family. A good variety of rugs for children, soft play toys, toys and childcare will quietly entertain little ones while you enjoy the holiday season.
You are currently browsing all posts tagged with 'Holidays'
Regifting Presents for the Holidays | It’s Just Not Right
Letâ?? S face it, regifting hurts. ATI?? S a concept of Nice?? rather than to develop an unwanted gift away, ATI?? s given to someone else instead! Now, if you didnâ?? T as the gift you received, what are the chances that the person you re-gift in love? And why didnâ?? T is the person who bought the first gift for taking the time to buy a special gift that would be the recipient? Here trying to acquire a dreamer, memorable, useful current intelligence comes in. Although it does not seem very important, it really is. Take time to choose a gift for the occasion in mind. Buy a gift for the right opportunity, though it may seem silly, can sometimes be difficult. In addition, buying a gift or personalized engraved can eliminate eliminate all regifting question altogether. The fact that donations can be custom gives them even more meaningful. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and are almost here. Tell your dad how special he is to you with a No 1 Dad Gift Personalized Clock! Instead of buying something your mom for cooking, remember to tell him how much you appreciate it with acrylic heart shape engraved specially for her! This will be a memory she will love and treasure forever. And once the holidays are over, there will be a year of anniversaries and babies being born, it will reward teachers and graduations to attend. Tell your friends and family how special they are with gifts from the heart, not the gifts they turn around and regift! Good luck with your gift shopping! Sincerely, memorable gifts
Home for the Holidays: Selling a Home During the Christmas Season
Selling your home during the holidays can be a real grind, but could result in a surprisingly quick sale. Here’s an overview of selling during the holidays, the pros and cons and whether it’s worth it for you. Christmas is not a popular time for house hunting; most people go house shopping in the spring, when the weather is nicer and more people put their houses up for sale. However, those people out hunting during the holiday season usually have a good reason. Serious buyers during the holiday season are more likely to be looking for a house quickly. They may buy your home with a minimum of haggling in order to get moved in before the holidays are over. However, there are some cons to selling during the Christmas season. Many serious buyers wait until after the holiday season to start house hunting. The customs and vacations attendant upon the holidays means that people will be vacationing, which could meant that your agent will be unavailable for a period of time. Prospective buyers may think that *you* are eager to sell, and price their offers accordingly. If you are celebrating the holidays at your home, you might find that it is inconvenient to have the house sparkling clean at all times and to have to shoo everyone out of the house at an hour’s notice. If you want to try selling during the holiday season, here are a few tips:The power of the nose is underestimated by many people. Smell is the first sense we develop and is deeply associated with food and emotion. A bad smell may not affect your buyers consciously, but unconsciously, they’re thinking. “Ew. Maybe there’s a corpse in the basement or the walls are molding away. ” A clean smell is great, as it does not cause negative reactions from most buyers. However, for Christmas, it may pay off to stage your home so that your buyers can imagine their Christmas happening here. When you clean your home and stage it for buyers, try choosing natural-based citrus and pine scented cleaners. These should just leave a hint of their scent behind . If you can bake cookies and cakes (bake, don’t burn!), do it in the morning before you leave for the house tour; it will give the house a holiday smell. Also, a pot of apple cider that has been heated on the stove lends a delightfully spicy, Christmasy smell. Go the extra mile and leave some of those cookies and cider or hot chocolate out for your buyers. They might not remember the moldings, but they will remember free food and drink! Decorate conservatively, but do decorate; it blends your house in with your neighbors’ houses and looks more homey. Several strands of Christmas lights and a wreath on the door are enough to make your house sparkle. Keep banners and large yard displays packed up this year. Get a smaller tree than you normally would if your living room is small; it will make the space look larger. Keep the kids’ ornaments off the tree when buyers are around and try for a more uniform look this year with classic Christmas ornaments and a light hand on the tinsel. It is recommended that you shut your family’s presents away, but since they look good under the tree, wrap a few fake presents to provide a nice effect. Make sure that your sidewalk and pathway to the house are scraped and salted. Nothing turns off a buyer faster than falling on the ice; it is not only a negative connotation regarding the safety of your home, you could also get sued if you knew these people were coming and didn’t bestir yourself to ensure their safety. Trim back any branches and make sure no roof icicles or snow threaten to fall on your buyers’ heads. A nice Christmas-theme welcome mat can minimize snow and dirt from being tracked through the house. If you plan on entertaining during the holidays and/or want to have a family dinner at your home, create a schedule for entertaining and make sure that everyone invited to your events knows the right time and date. This will give you a better idea of when you can schedule home showings. Let your agent know ahead of time the times and dates the house will be unavailable for showing. Even better is the plan to have Christmas at someone else’s house! With some extra thought to decorating and scheduling, you can certainly pull off house selling on the holidays. However, stop and think whether you really want to – it may be easier to pause for a short time while holiday celebrations are going on and then start anew in January.
Holidays With Fido – Ornaments and Stockings for Your Dog
Christmas is a special time of the year. Get Fido into the spirit with his very own Christmas ornaments and a stocking to hang on the mantle. Donât forget your canine friends when shopping for Christmas, as there is a wide array of holiday gifts available for all of your four legged friends. There a unique selection of Christmas ornaments for nearly every breed of dog available, so we can decorate our trees and homes with beautiful ornaments displaying our favorite breed. Some ornaments show the breeds of dogs on both sides so that as they are hung on the tree, the picture can be seen from any angle. You can find gold or brass ornaments etched with the dog breed of your choice, even tiny velvet stockings holding glass figurines of your dog would be adorable on your tree. You can personalize round ball ornaments with your dog’s name, or ornaments that look like little bones. There are even hand-beaded ornaments or glass domed ornaments displaying your breed of dog. Many different kinds and shapes of ornaments are available to show your love for your dog, it will be difficult to choose and you will want to get more than one. Now Fido and Fifi were all snug in their beds, while visions of chew toys danced in their heads. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care⦠Thatâs right, there are stockings for your dogs, too! A fun way to give your dogs their raw hide treats and chew toys is in their very own stocking. Stockings can come in a variety of materials and styles that can again be personalized with both your pet’s name and a picture of his breed. If you have more than one dog, why not personalize a stocking for all of them? Fill their stockings with a variety of dog toys and treats. Put a new dog bed with a squeaky toy in it under the tree, and with the stockings and Christmas ornaments, it will be a day they will dream about for many nights to come! Click for more details : http://luvurdog. com
Christmas Decorations and Ornaments – the Special Fragrance of Holidays!
The first Christmas decorations were the mistletoe and the holly. People all around the world, enlightened by the holiday spirit, felt the need to express their joy and decorate their homes for this special holiday. In the early days, food was also used for Christmas decorations. Today, Christmas trees are usually the focal point when it comes to decorating. They enrich ones home along with wreaths, garlands and additional beauty.
The mistletoe has a special meaning; it has a special kissing tradition coming from the Worse myths. It is said that Frigga, one of the gods, gave her son Balder a charm of mistletoe to protect him from the elements. The mistletoe was believed to have special healing powers in the Celtic culture and the British tradition traces back in the history the sacredness of the mistletoe.
Holly, with its dark green spiky leaves and red berries, was also believed to have magical powers and the ability to drive demons away. Germans considered holly to be a good luck charm against the hostile forces of nature.
Some of the most wonderful Christmas ornaments included cookies, candies and sugared fruits. Today, the tradition continues and a lot of kids enjoy making gingerbread houses, which can be used as centerpieces for Christmas displays and are eaten later.
A lot of people prefer using Christmas decorations as in the early days. They string cranberries or popcorn, the paint the edges of pine cones white to suggest snow and they add wonderful ribbons in white, green, red, blue,gold and silver. Modern Christmas ornaments include decorative baskets or containers with fragranced potpourri for an interesting display.
During the holiday season the magic of Christmas comes alive. At the mere mention of holly, ivy or mistletoe, visions of Christmas with all its wonderful memories wanders into our minds and we feel warm and peaceful. We are enraptured in visions of Christmas ornaments on trees, snow falling slowly, carolers singing and outdoor lights. The winter is cold and distant but the evergreens, the holly and the mistletoe are its small wonders. These winter delights are used as Christmas decorations in order to brighten up the chilly days of the winter.
The tradition of hanging a wreath on the front door is a welcome gesture of friendship. The wreath, the door garlands and swags are delightful Christmas ornaments that extend the evergreen theme of winter to other parts of the home. Using ones imagination and creativity, they can be wonderfully personalized and have an unique look and charm. You can use cones, berries and ribbons in order to increase the effect and have beautiful Christmas decorations. The branches of trees can also be used to decorate mantelpieces or form the basis of a table center arrangements.
Homemade Christmas ornaments include trimming of beads, knots of bright ribbons, paper stars and lace bags filled with candies. Nuts, seeds, berries and other homemade materials are used even today for Christmas decorations and they increase the beauty of the holiday. The tree décor is open to creative and inspirational holiday decorating ideas. Silver foil icicles, chains of tiny beads and crinkly of wire tinsel added sparkle to the Christmas trees in the past.
Decorating for the holidays can be a pleasure in itself and there are a lot of wonderful Christmas ornaments to choose from. The Christmas treeâs pine smell delights ones sense and decorating has become a true art form. The original tradition of outdoor lights is a cheerful delight throughout the holiday season. The cold winter days of December are warmed up by the amazing light displays that bring the holiday spirit to everyone.
Christmas Decorations – Enjoying the Holidays
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. People are surrounded by happiness, generosity, peace and kind feelings and everyone is thinking about how to make this holiday even more special. No Christmas is ever complete without the beautiful, sparkling decorations and naturally there is a huge rush for picking up the perfect Christmas ornaments.
A lot of people enjoy making handmade Christmas decorations. This is especially fun for kids because the decorations can be easily made from regular paper or any other type of material. By going online, one can find a lot of websites specialized in Christmas craft projects for kids. Also, there a lot of Christmas ornaments cutouts and guides at the local craft stores. The child can paint plain Christmas ornaments shaped in different forms such as a start or a cross. Also he can make his own drawings or paintings and table centerpieces. Regardless of which type of Christmas decorations you choose to make with your kid, the most important thing is to enjoy the whole experience and give into the holiday spirit.
Many holiday shoppers focus on buying the perfect Christmas ornaments. They enjoy purchasing beautiful, symmetrical fir shimmering with blinking lights, gleaming bells, stars, garlands and of course, toys. The fact that there are so many Christmas decorations to choose from (religious, traditional, addorned with gold or silver) only adds up more fun to preparing for the holidays.
Christmas decorations can be traced back to distant times in the 1500s, when a fir tree associated with the Virgin Mary was adorned with roses. Since then, Christmas decorations have undergone a lot of changes. In some corners of the world, Christmas trees were decorated with nuts, cookies, raisins and pretzels. Some of the most famous Christmas ornaments were made by germans and they were the famous glass pickle ornaments. Today, Christmas decorations are made from a wide variety of materials: glass, paper and especially plastic.
Nowadays, kids have a fun time decorating their tree with little snowmen, Santa Claus ornaments, crystal balls, small toys, candy canes and many other chic decorations. Some parents prefer ornaments with educational value so that kids can learn even while having fun.
Traditional holiday decorations center round the Christmas tree and there are a lot of ornament choices. People are especially attracted by the special pine fragrance and they prefer to start decorating for the holidays with the evergreen. Still, there are a lot of other places to decorate in or outside the house. The outside lightning in various shapes and colors are a wonderful idea of Christmas decorations. Some communities even participate in competitions for the best light displays.
One may even make centerpieces for the festive table by anchoring pieces of fir, holly or pine and then add accents to complement the design: berries, cones and even tree Christmas ornaments. A lot people enjoy decorating their doorway with a garland of pine roping and trimming it with complementary colors and shapes: bows or ribbons, dried fruits and whole spices.
Hanging a wreath on the front door can be a welcoming Christmas decoration for carolers. The wide variety of styles and types can suit anyoneâs tastes and integrate easily in the seasonal décor. Even if one buys a standard wreath or garland, there are all kind of possibilities for decorating it in an personal style. The wreath can be personalized with natural or painted cones, berries and jazzy ribbons to contrast colors.
Give a festive touch to your home by decorating it with Christmas ornaments and gifts. You’ll find a variety of decoration items in the market, from fancy lights to musical decors and much more. But the best decor is the one that you create, after all the spirit of Christmas is all about being together, caring and sharing. So get together the entire family and discover great ideas for decorating both the interior and exterior of your home for Christmas.
Christmas Decorations to Light Up Your Holidays
In the bleak cold days of winter, Christmas comes alive with the jingling bells, twinkling lights and the handsome Christmas evergreen. Everything about this holiday bears the spirit of joy, hope and festivity—be it the Christmas planning, Christmas party, Christmas greetings or the Christmas decorations. It is a big celebration and justifiably so, demands big preparation. Just as the shopping and planning ensue right after Thanksgiving, decoration activities start at least a week in advance. With a wee bit of extra time and imagination, you can do wonders with your Christmas decoration. So it is always a wise thought to start decorating your home early.
How to get started? Well, it is always the Christmas tree which is the central element of the holiday and consequently, the starting point of decoration. The whole family is hooked on to adorning their fir with great enthusiasm all through the pre-Christmas days. The bells, stars, beads, garlands, angels, teddies, icicles, snowmen, cookies, nuts, stockings, gift boxes and other ornaments are scattered everywhere to be neatly arranged on the branches of the Christmas evergreen. The mind-boggling range of Christmas ornaments adds up to the holiday delights and is, therefore, a fun source of more Christmas decoration activities. There are little gingerbread men, crystal snowflakes, silver icicles, red hat ladies, colorful balls and bells, Christmas print ribbons, red berries, German glass ornaments, Santa caps, small toys, angels, and even handmade paper or cardboard ornaments to make the Christmas tree look stunningly gorgeous. The lights go in the last, spiraled around the cone-shaped fir and to sign it off in all its brilliance. Brightly colored gift boxes piled up at the base of the tree is again a traditional sight and brings back wonderful memories of Christmas. To render a cute touch, sometimes people even choose to snug the base with a bunch of plump teddies clad in Christmas gear. Why not try that this Christmas? It sure would be amusingly different.
Besides the Christmas tree, there is still much left to the decorations. Bet you cannot afford to miss decking up your halls and yards on Christmas. If you choose to go the Victorian way, you can stock up your stuffs with stockings or take the floral route to the big occasion. Flowers look elegant and fresh on Christmas, just as much as it goes with the Christmas wreath at the front door or the mistletoe hanging on the doorway. Then there are the holly and ivy to pretty up your halls and bring nature indoors. As eye-catching centerpieces, a big bowl stuffed with red apples, fresh oranges and grapes would be a winning idea anytime. You may reserve the Christmas figurines like the Nativity Scene or the Santa and his reindeers for outdoor decoration.
However, no matter how much or how little Christmas ornaments you use for your Christmas decorations, do not forget the lights. The festive decoration and the holiday spirit fall insipid without the splendor of the Christmas lights. So go ahead and light up your holidays.
Have Great Memories During the Holidays
A favorite Christmas song has a line that describes Christmas as ‘the most wonderful time of the year. ‘ While giving and receiving gifts is something that is highly anticipated and remembered at Christmas time, there are also many more activities that make Christmas memorable and wonderful. One of these activities is decorating the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree occupies a central spot and is the most visible display of Christmas in most homes. Unlike in other countries, most American homes do not have a representation of the Nativity scene, which is more likely to be located at churches. As soon as the Christmas season begins on the day after Thanksgiving, families will begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree. This in itself can become a memorable activity as children may accompany family members to places like a Christmas tree farm to select a tree. Once a real or artificial tree is selected, then it’s an exciting activity for the entire family to play a part in decorating the tree. Manufactured decorations come in many shapes and forms. But a special memory is created when family members make a special ornament for the Christmas tree, or contribute one or more keepsake items to decorate the Christmas tree. It then becomes a ritual each year for those particular items to be placed on the Christmas tree although other decorations may change in coming years. Another activity that can help to create special memories at Christmas is baking cookies. Along with popular gingerbread cookies, using cookie cutters to make special holiday-shaped cookies is also practiced a lot in households. Based on the ages of children, they can help in the actual baking activity by measuring and mixing some ingredients, or, younger children can sprinkle sugar on the cookies or decorate them with icing when they are finished. Helping in this activity can also be educational as parents can use the activity of measuring and figuring out equivalent measures to teach fractions and other mathematical elements. An activity that is related to food which also helps to create memories during the Christmas season is making fruit and goody baskets, which are filled with candies, baked items and other treats for loved ones, their special friends, neighbors, teachers or for charity. Items such as goody baskets make especially wonderful Christmas gifts because they are home-made. That quality often makes them more treasured than a Christmas present that is bought at the store. Because Christmas is the season of goodwill and good cheer, it is very important to reach out to family, loved ones and friends during the season. The busy lives that many people lead today often leaves them little or no time during the year to be in frequent contact with family and friends who are located far away, or even others who live within a reasonable distance in the same or a neighboring state, for example. It is therefore very common during Christmas to send a Christmas or holiday greeting card to those individuals. Along with the pleasant memory of receiving the card, there may be a short letter included that gives a brief account of any significant event in the individual’s life or with members of the family. That makes sending and receiving Christmas greeting cards more memorable. Then there’s probably the most anticipated activity of Christmas – finding out what Christmas gift Santa brought on Christmas Eve. While adults also look forward with much anticipation to see what Christmas gifts they will get, it’s really the children who get the most delight from receiving presents at Christmas. The carefully planned actions to hide Christmas presents from children and then to magically place them under the Christmas tree to be found on Christmas morning is one of the most wonderful ways to create unforgettable memories for children at Christmas.
Make the Holidays More Affordable: Give Personalized Gifts
The holiday season is looming, the economy is still tanking, and your list of family and friends who need gifts just keeps growing. What’s the secret to finding unique gifts for everyone on your list without spending a bundle? Easy, give personalized gifts! It is possible to find a beautiful, handmade gift that can be personalized to your specifications for $50 or less (sometimes far less). If you haven’t considered how the addition of a name, a monogram, a personal message, or a photo can enhance a gift (and save your budget), here are the facts:Personalization Turns the Ordinary Gift Into the ExtraordinaryYou might think it’s hard to feel excited about giving a travel mug as a gift. Too boring, you say? Think again. Select the perfect fabric to wrap around that mug (under the plastic exterior), add a name or monogram with the thread color of your choice, and you’ve turned an ordinary product into a one-of-a-kind gift made just for the recipient. A gift that might have said I picked this right off the shelf in a hurry now says I had this made just for you! And there is more good news: you’ve spent less than $25. There are many products out there like the travel mug: too ordinary on their own, but really fabulous when personalized. Toddler cups and sippy cups, for example, make great gifts when embellished with a child’s name. Notepads turn into something special when you choose their pattern and add a name or clever phrase to the top of each page. Pacifier clips, those handy gadgets that keep children and pacifiers attached, become fashion accessories when you choose the right fabric and add a monogram. A shaving kit or wallet becomes a treasure when you have a photo of the grandkids added to them. A silver money clip means far more to dad when it’s engraved with a message of love from the kids. A sterling silver necklace becomes a treasure to mom when it is hand-stamped with the names of her kids. A wine glass engraved with a special holiday message to a friend is much more meaningful than a plain wine glass. And for the golfer in the family, a personalized golf accessory makes the perfect unique gift for the golfer who has everything. Whether you’re shopping for a family member or your child’s teacher, personalization turns a run-of-the-mill gift into something extra special, without costing a fortune. Personalization Turns a Holiday Gift Into a KeepsakeBuy your friend a Christmas ornament from a department store and it’s likely to be just another ornament in her mix of ornaments by next year. Give her a hand-painted ornament that features the names of her children plus the year and she’s likely to treasure it forever. When it comes to holiday-themed gifts, personalization is the key to making them keepsakes. Whether it’s a hand-painted ornament to mark a baby’s first Christmas or a ceramic plate designed for Santa’s cookies, the personalized gifts are the ones with sentimental value that lasts a lifetime. Personalized Gifts Make Kids Smile“Mine!” comes out of most mouths by age two, so take advantage of every kid’s desire to claim ownership of almost everything and personalize their gifts with their names. Kids love to see their names on their stuff, and that makes it easy to give great gifts that don’t cost much. An ordinary place mat might not excite a child, but one that features his name and a print of a hand-painted, kid-friendly picture (a fire truck, perhaps, for the vehicle-obsessed boy) will surely be appreciated (and will cost you around $20). A handmade, hand-painted door plaque (you pick the design) is a great way to help any child decorate her room and claim her space. Give a kid a hand-painted ceramic plate that features his name and a cool design you chose just for him and he will instantly feel special (and grown-up too). And when it comes to buying holiday-themed gifts for kids, don’t forget their second favorite holiday, Halloween! Order a special t-shirt decorated with a haunted house and personalized with your son’s name and he might think wearing it to school is almost as exciting as wearing his costume. Or spend less than $25 to personalize a silver bucket with a spooky fabric design and ensure your daughter has the coolest bucket around for trick-or-treating. No matter who you are shopping for this holiday season, give a personalized gift and say you care without spending a fortune. For a complete selection of unique, handmade personalized gifts for the holidays or almost any occasion, from births to weddings to memorials, visit http://www. cccgifts. com today.
Holidays With Children in Barcelona – Arriving in Barcelona, Getting Around Barcelona, Barcelona Family Attractions and Parks, Play Areas and Beaches
In recent years, Barcelona has established itself as one of Europe´s most popular tourist destinations, and it is not difficult to understand why. With its balmy all-year climate, its avant-garde architecture, its burgeoning gastronomy, its fabulous beaches, proximity to the Costa Brava & ski-slopes as well as its eclectic mix of shops, Catalunya´s capital can be justly proud of what it has to offer visitors. Transformed by the 1992 Olympics, the city has attracted millions of curious independent travellers and, in the last few years, it has become increasingly popular as a family destination. The website mumabroad. com, a local site written by parents living in Barcelona with recommendations from local mums, shows you why the city has so much to offer kids, from its child-friendly accommodation and restaurants to its numerous outdoor activities and day-trips.
Arriving in Barcelona with the kids
Nowadays there are many airlines who operate in and out of Barcelona and not surprisingly most visitors arrive by air. Below we have listed a few options on how to reach the city centre. The most popular option is the Airport Bus due to its frequency and ease of access from the airport. Taxis can be expensive and most won´t have car seats although Spanish law requires that all children under three years of age must use a child seat. Failure to do so will result in a fine of 90 euros.
Barcelona Taxis
Just outside the arrivals hall you will find the Barcelona Airport taxi rank. Fares to Barcelona cost approximately 25 Euros and the journey time is around 30 minutes.
Barcelona Airport Bus
The Barcelona Airport Bus stops in front of Terminals A, B (Arrivals) and C and takes passengers to the centre of Barcelona (Plaza Catalunya). Departures from Mondays to Saturdays from the airport are from 6am to 1am; and from Plaza de Catalunya from 5:30am to 12:15am. Buses run every 7 to 15 minutes. Single Fare: 3. 90 euros
Barcelona Airport Train
The Barcelona Airport train station is located opposite the arrivals and departure halls. The Line C10 goes to Barcelona Sants and takes around 30 minutes and costs 2. 50 euros. The first train from the airport is at 6am and the trains run at 30 minute intervals until 11. 44pm. From Barcelona Sants it is likely you will need to take the metro or a taxi as it is not in the centre of town.
Getting Around Barcelona with the kids
Barcelona By Metro
The Barcelona Metro is not such a popular choice for young families visiting the city, due to the fact that there are a limited amount of lifts for buggies, which means accessing the trains can be a real chore. Travel is cheap however and you can purchase a book of 10 tickets for around 7 euros. The ticket is valid for any journey on the metro although if you need a new ticket for journeys on the same day. For many, taxis are the transport of choice (see below). However if you are visiting Barcelona with older kids or if you decide to brave the system anyway, the timetable is below:
Mondays -Thursdays, Sundays & Holidays: 5am to 12am.
Fridays: 5am to 2am
Saturdays: Non-stop service
Barcelona By Taxi
For many families, taxis are the transport of choice as they are relatively cheap and even ones without car seats will accept young babies and toddlers for short journeys. You can flag them down (green light means they are empty) or many hotels will also call a taxi on your behalf. Be warned though English is not widely spoken amongst taxi drivers in Barcelona so it is a good idea to write down your destination on a piece of paper.
Barcelona By Tourist Bus
The open top double-decker Barcelona Bus Turístic is a fantastic way to get around Barcelona with little ones (children under 4 travel for free). You can hop off or hop on at any of the 44 stops. You will receive an information guide about each of the enroute attractions as well as a discount voucher booklet. The buses go between every 5-25 minutes and the timetable is at each of the 44 stops. First buses call at most stops between 9am and 9. 30am A one day ticket for adults costs 20 euros and for children (4-12) 12 euros. You can buy tickets on the bus or at any of the tourist offices in Barcleona. The service operates daily apart from 25th December and 1st January.
Family Attractions in Barcelona
Nou Camp Tour
An absolute must for all football-mad kids. The guided tour of the third biggest football stadium in the world includes visiting the stadium,tunnel & pitch area. Admission: 11,50 euros adults 9,20 euros for children under 13 years.
Av. Aristides Maillo 12-18 Metro Collblanc, Les Corts, Badal or Maria Christina
Barcelona Zoo
Zoos aren´t everyone´s cup of tea, but Barcelona Zoo has a lot to offer children. As well as big cats, penguins, gorillas, hippos, bears etc there is a twice daily dolphin show at and a children´s farm with pigs, horses, rabbits & guinea pigs. The play area in the centre of the zoo is excellent, including a mini absail area and climbing frames. On the downside drinks & snacks are quite expensive and it gets very crowded at weekends. Open from 10am until 7pm in summer and until 6pm in the winter.
Parc Zoologic de Barcelona S. A, Parc de la Ciutadela s/n, 08003 Barcelona Metro Arc de Trionfo or Barceloneta (+34) 932256780 www. zoobarcelona. com
Barcelona Aquarium
This is the largest aquarium in Europe and includes an interactive space called Explora. Admission: Adults 13 euros. Children 4-12 years 9 euros. Under 4s free. Worth it just for walking in the vast transparent shark tunnel! There is a really good interactive children´s area. You are also among the shops and restaurants of the Maremagnum – a good place for lunch. Open 9. 30am – 9pm.
Moll d’Espanya, Port Vell. Metro Drassanes (+34) 932217474
Tours of Barcelona
If you come to Barcelona with your children, fear not! Organised tours take place in the old town which can be enjoyed by parents and children alike. The idea is to include visits, games and stories to keep the attention of the younger ones (and the odd easily-distracted adults). These might include an artisanal sweet shop where they can see how the candies are made, an original toy workshop, an old-fashioned milk bar where they can indulge in a creamy traditional milkshake, guessing games in the food market, and more. With the little ones occupied, there is time to explain to the grown-ups of the group the anecdotes on the history, culture, cuisine and associated tales of the city.
Poble Espanyol
This is a mini-disneyland with every Spanish region in cameo and it provides great day out for children. Entry is 8 euros for adults and 5 euros for kids. Family ticket 16 euros (with children between 7 and 12 years). Opening times Monday 9am – 8pm Tuesday to Thursday 9am – 2am Friday 9am – 4am Saturday 9am – 5am Sunday 9am -midnight
Metro Espanya. Buses 55, 13. Tourist Bus Stop:Poble Espanyol (+34) 935086300 www. poble-espanyol. com
Tibidabo Amusement Park
Mix of fun rides and state-of-the-art attractions including a multimedia experience which allows children become part of a cartoon. There is also a mechanical Puppet museum dating back to 1899. Entrance fee: adults 15 euros, children under 110cm height 4 euros. Unlimited use of rides and attractions. Open every day from 11am apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day
3-4 Plaza del Tibidabo By Train: Get FGC from Plaza Catalunya to Avenida Tibidabo then follow signposts to the Tramvia Blau at the end of Balmes in Placa John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Take the Tramvia to the Mirablau and then the Funicular to the top of the Mountain. By Bus: Take the Tibibus from Plaza Catalunya
Port Aventura Theme Park
Hugely popular theme park around an hour outside Barcelona. You can be flung around eight inverted loops on Dragon Khan (supposedly the largest roller-coaster in Europe) or get soaked on Tutuki Splash. There are also shows with bubbles, birds of paradise, Mexican and Chinese themes.
Located near Salou/La Pineda, off A7. Buses go from from Passeig de Sant Joan and for trains from Passeig de Gracia. Look for trains on the Salou line and you need to get off at Port Aventura. The park also has areas designated for small children such as play areas, small rides, children´s swimming pools and the hotels offer special services for children such as menus, entertainment and monitor led activities. There are many baby changing facilities at the park and you are also able to rent prams.
Chocolate Museum
Located in an ancient convent in Calle Comerc (number 36) in el Borne, children can learn everything about chocolate including its medicinal, nutritional and aphrodisiac qualities. There are also some fantastic chocolate sculputures and workshops to teach you how to make chocolate. Best of all you can sample the goods! Admission 3,6 euros
Las Golondrinas
Double decker pleasureboats take you from the harbour to the breakwater. Good fun, good value with some great views of the city. Every half hour leaving from the bottom of Las Ramblas until 7pm. Adults 5 euros children up to 12 years 2,50 euros
Montserrat
Half the fun is getting there. The cog railway up the mountain is a must for children and railway enthusiasts alike . Once there, children will be awestruck by the wacky shaped rocks and for the more active there are numerous walking tracks, caves. Montserrat is of course famous for being the home of Our Lady of Montserrat and a Benedictine monastery.
Trains (R5) go from Placa d’Espanya metro. You can either get a train and cable car ride or just the train (and rack railway). Journey is approx one hour and they leave at a quarter to the hour. Get out at Montserrat Aeri Station if you have chosen the cable car or in Monistrol de Montserrat station to change to the Rack railway.
Magic Fountains of Montjuic (Font Magica)
This is a great stop for some evening entertainment for the children. The Font Magica is a colourful water and classical music extravaganza held each night. Thurs-Sun 9pm, 9. 30pm, 10pm, 10. 30pm, 11pm. From October to April just Fridays and Saturdays 7pm, 7. 30pm, 8pm and 8. 30pm
La plaza de Carles Buïgas, just above the Avenida de Maria Cristina. Metro Espanya . Walk towards the MNAC between the two large towers at Placa Espanya
Beaches, Parks and Play Areas for Kids in Barcelona
Park Güell
Probably the world´s most enchanting public park created by Barcelona´s most famous son, Antón Gaudí. Loosely based on Hampstead Heath in London, the park boasts sparkling mosaic stairways, multicoloured buildings and fairytale fountains. It is pure fantasty and kids will love it.
How to get there: Bus 24 from Plaza Catalunya stops right outside the main entrance. Metro Vallcarca (walk out the metro down Avenida Militar for 4 blocks, turn left at Baixada de La Gloria and take the outdoor escalators to the Park entrance. It is signposted).
Ciutadella Park & Play area
The Ciutudella Park is Barcelona´s most centrally located green space, sandwiched between the districts of Poble Nou, Barceloneta and San Pere. For families, there are a huge amount of facilities and activities including the Zoo, the Geology Museum, the Hivernacle (currenlty being renovated) and the boating lake. You can also rent out bikes at the main entrance (www. bicing. com). Located at the top end of the lake, twice daily toddlers can enjoy free toys and games in addition to the permanent swings and slides. There is even a sprinkler in the summer which the kids love! 11am-2pm every day and 4. 30pm-6. 30/7pm from mid september to mid June. 5. 30pm-8. 30pm from mid June to mid September
Mar Bella & Base Nautica
Mar Bella beach is about a 20 minute walk north of the Port Olimpic (left facing the water) and probably the most child-friendly of all of Barcelona´s beaches. It is clean and quiet and you can find a children´s play-area, lifeguards, sunbed hire, showers and a beach restaurant (chiringuito). The Base Nautica is can also based here, where you can hire small sailing boats, canoes and kayaks.
Parc de Collserola
Often overlooked but this Natural Park is literally a breath of fresh air and so close to the centre of town. The park is huge (22 times the size of New York´s Central Park) – the largest city park in the world. The information centre provides numerous walking guides and hikes to Tibidabo, the Torre de Collserola or the town of Vallvidrera.
Take train to Baixador de Vallvidrera from Plaza Catalunya and you arrive right in it.
Barceloneta
Barceloneta beach is popular with families due to its proximity with a huge choice of restaurants and the pedestrian walkway along Passeig Maritim, where you can also cycle. The beach gets very crowded in summer but is regularly cleaned. Likewise the water – for a city beach – is suprisingly clean. We suggest you don´t plonk yourself on the nearest available space but walk a little further on towards the Olympic Port where it gets much less crowded.
Metro Barceloneta or any Passeig Maritim bus route. For daily information on the city´s beaches call (+34) 934810053
Parc del Laberint d’Horta
This 17 acre park really warrants a short trip from town. It is a fairytale park with its pretty walkways, canal, romantic gardens, cascade and of course, the maze which kids will love. Entrance fee 1,90 euros
Pg Castanyers 1. Directly behind the Velodrome. Metro Mundet.
