This is the heartwarming moment Sophie Ellis-Bextor surprised children at a hospice pyjama party. The mum-of-five, who arrived at the sleepover-style party with cake, took part in art activities and read the children and their siblings a story before their afternoon nap. Sophie, 40, also spent time chatting with staff at Claire House Children’s Hospice in the Wirral, …

Millions of parents feel totally disconnected from their children. A study of 1,000 mums and dads with youngsters aged 0-18 found ‘family’ is becoming a thing of the past as more than half feel ‘distant’ from their offspring. More than four in 10 (43 per cent) put this ‘endangered’ family time down to children spending large amounts of …

The perfect family TV show should be a comedy with 10 jokes per episode – and a ‘loveable animal. A study of 1,000 parents found the ideal programme would also have three plot twists, a ‘goodie versus baddie’ plot and be set on Earth. One in six also think family shows should be animated and fantastical while 45 per cent …

Night feeds, keeping on top of the dirty washing and other people judging your parenting techniques are among the most stressful things about becoming a new parent. A poll of 2,000 mums and dads asked them to think back to a time when they were blessed with a new bundle of joy – and the struggles which came …

Looking after your grandchildren, having more time for travel and being less stressed are among the best things about growing old, according to research. After working hard during their younger years to take care of their family, over-60s agreed having more time to spend with their loved ones is a highlight of getting older. Playing games with grandchildren, …

A third of families sit in silence during meal times, according to a study. Three in 10 admit they struggle to find enough to talk about over dinner while four in 10 parents eat their evening meal at a completely different time to their kids. One in 10 NEVER have dinner at the same time as the rest …

  Three quarters of British parents feel ‘under pressure’ to make sure their child does better than they did at school. As families prepare to start a new academic year, a study of 1,000 parents and 1,000 children in school years 1-11 found one in five households feel ‘strained’ due to the demands of homework. And a further quarter …

– Puzzle here: [PUZZLE Embed code] Can you spot the summer dangers_ Summer is the perfect time to kick back and relax – unless you have kids who can easily wander into danger. The latest brainsteaser to hit the web shows a cute holiday scene which has a serious message behind the playful tots splashing around in the water. …

News Copy  – By Astrid Hall Parents care more about their children’s happiness than they do about grades, a study has found. Research revealed despite the pressures of modern life and looming exam results, they would much rather their little one had a happy family life than fret over their future. The study of 1,502 mums and dads revealed the …

News Copy – By Richard Jenkins Parents face a bill of more than £1,260 keeping their teens amused during the summer holidays, a study has found. Researchers discovered taking children on day trips, buying video games and magazines, and the extra cost of childcare will set mum and dad back £502 over the six -week break. And they’ll shell out …