Family

Ad Feature Making her mark: Lucy’s Durham School scholarship story

New Gen Yoto Player

Yoto Mini 4th Gen vs 2024 Edition: my verdict on which is worth buying

I’m making a Halloween boo basket this year and Sainsbury’s has everything I need

How to make a Halloween boo basket with treats and gifts

SUPER Natural Halloween adventure at WWT Washington Wetland Centre.

Halloween fun at Washington Wetlands this month

Culture House Sunderland is running a Halloween costume exchange

Halloween costumes for kids

The new Yoto Mini 4th Generation starts shipping today and I’ve already ordered one for Christmas

The new Yoto Mini starts shipping today and I can’t wait to get mine

Everyone’s favourite dog Bluey has just landed on Yoto and we can’t wait to listen

Bluey fans can now listen to their favourite stories on Yoto

Houghton Feast returns for 2026 with plenty of fun for all the family

New Gen Yoto Player

The new Yoto Player has already made my son’s Christmas list

Helen Gibson Nursery School, in East Boldon.

Nursery praised in latest Ofsted report

LEGO DUPLO bricks are designed for little hands and can be used to create colourful models through open-ended play.

6 skills toddlers can learn through LEGO DUPLO play

Erin Caldwell (centre) is leading a musical theatre workshop in Sunderland in November. Photo credit Pamela Raith.

West End star leads musical theatre workshop in Sunderland

Everyone’s favourite dog Bluey has just landed on Yoto and we can’t wait to listen

Bluey fans can now listen to their favourite stories on Yoto

A North East designer outlet is bidding farwell to one of its businesses after just two years.

Dalton Park says farewell to store after two years

Staff and pupils at Broadway Junior School are celebrating their award

Sunderland school celebrating award for 'teaching through creativity'

Summer fun in Sunderland

13 fun things to do with kids in Sunderland over the summer holidays
Looking for some inspiration to keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays?
Katy Wheeler

Family fun day returns to Foundation of Light

We're hosting our biggest family fun day yet at Foundation of Light

Tesco is extending its Kids Eat Free scheme to include weekends for the first time this summer.

Kids eat free at Sunderland supermarket this summer

Families can travel for less this summer as ‘Kids Go Free’ returns to the North East.

How families can travel for less this summer

Ten toys and games under £10 that will keep kids entertained all summer holidays

Ten toys under £10 to keep kids entertained this summer

Sainsbury's three for £8 picky bits deal includes a wide selection of quick and easy family favourites. Stock image.

Sainsbury's £8 deal is helping families save on summer meals

Sainsbury's three for £8 picky bits promotion includes a wide range of quick and easy family favourites. Stock image.

Sainsbury's £8 deal could make summer holidays easier

Dalton Park's summer artisan market is making a return on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 15. Photo credit Dalton Park.

Dalton Park releases jam-packed programme of summer fun

The Owlet Dream Sock is a wearable smart baby monitor that tracks pulse rate, oxygen levels and sleep through a companion app

Parents can save £100 on the Owlet Dream Sock smart baby monitor

Durham County Council is offering free swimming to all youngsters under the age of 18 to mark World Drowning Prevention Day.

Children can enjoy free swimming this summer

Hetton’s historic community carnival returns for 2026 this weekend.

In pictures: People enjoy day out at Sunderland's Hetton Carnival

Flamingo Land’s major rollercoasters are included in the discounted half-term ticket deal.

Flamingo Land launches huge half-term ticket sale
Parents planning late May half-term days out can now get Flamingo Land entry from £29, with family tickets reduced by as much as £135 in a major limited-time sale.
Marc Reeves

Looking for something to do this May?

Here are 10 things to do in Sunderland this May

There's archery sessions running

We're taking over city parks with dodgeball, archery & more

NASA's Artemis II moon rocket on Launch Pad 39-B just before sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center

Artemis 2 launch: NASA rocket lifts off as LEGO set trends

Despite their young age, children are spending more time on phones than ever – raising urgent questions for parents about safety, supervision and screen time

Parents turn to safer phones as kids’ screen time warning lands

Aldi's lamb dinner is available for just over £2 a head for a family of four this Easter.

Best Easter 2026 supermarket deals: Aldi's meal is just over £2 a head

Freebies galore in this special Simba Sleep promotion

Simba Hybrid mattress review: the upgrade that fixed my sleep

Bluey’s Big Play Uk & Ireland Tour

We can't wait to bring Bluey to life on the North East stage

left to right: Councillors Martin Haswell, Steve Donkin and Julia Potts (Liberal Democrats) at the site of the new playground on Blackie Park.

Play equipment returns to park five years after it was vandalised

Now's the time to plan for Mothers Day

Mothers Day 2026 UK: date and 25 brilliant gift ideas

Inflation drops - but energy prices remain stubbornly high

Inflation falls but electricity bills jump 5.3%

Girl, 6, given weeks to live after sprain turned out to be rare cancer

A busy 2026 planned for Beamish

Dates for your diary - 8 great events happening in Beamish in 2026

Illustrator Hannah Graham has finished her book about her son Peter Graham being born prematurely.

My book about being the parent of a premature baby

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness with members of the Stiller and the Children’s Foundation team.

3,000 baby boxes given to North East families over Christmas

We asked for your favourite things about this time of year

Despite their young age, children are spending more time on phones than ever – raising urgent questions for parents about safety, supervision and screen time

The child-only mobile network giving parents more control

Huge sums are giving people more influence than ever before, according to new research

The £7 trillion wealth transfer changing who controls money in the UK

More families are turning to regulated financial advisers to help navigate inheritance and the growing £7 trillion wealth shift.

The £7 trillion wealth shift changing who holds UK wealth

Rockpool Rookies participant takes a closer look at life in a rockpool in Seaham

We're introducing kids to the sea life on their doorstep

HMRC is reviewing the suspension of child benefit for around 23,500 parents wrongly flagged as having left the UK (Photo: Pexels)

23,500 hit by HMRC benefit suspension - how to get your money back

If you’re counting the pennies, small savings can add up nicely

Save up to £1,200 this winter with these four simple money switches

A vanity unit transformed into a canvas of colour – proof of just how far 34 St John’s interactive tool can go.

Discover your perfect bathroom colour with 34 St John

About one in five parents admit they are unsure what “reasonable” screen time looks like for children

Expert tips for managing your child's social media use over half-term

The October half-term holiday begins soon, across most local authority areas in England

When half-term starts and ends - and other term dates you need to know

Footballing stars including Alan Shearer and Shania Hayles, and basketball team Newcastle Eagles, back NSPCC campaign to keep children safe in sport.

Footballing and basketball stars back NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport

Pure Pet Food air-dries fresh ingredients, which makes them much easier to store and serve

Dog owners are swapping pricey raw food for these easy cupboard meals

The Bank of Mum and Dad just opened a branch overseas — sort of

The Bank of Mum and Dad goes global – here’s how it actually works

Probiotic supplements can work wonders for your pet's gut health - and help with various ailments

Save 15% on these probiotic pet supplements with autumn discount code

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