LEIDEN LIVE

It's really feeling like summer, what with the constant demands for ice cream, the refusing to go to sleep because 'it's still sunnish', and the constant discovery of sand in the most bizarre places. For ice cream, try De Bonbonnerie , (Apothekersdijk 6, www.bonbonnerie.nl , opposite Webster University). They have a gorgeous choice of yummy homemade ice creams, and the fact that it's a bargainly € 0,95 per scoop makes it a more affordable keep-children-happy outing. If you want to make something healthy at home, cut a peeled banana in half, stick a lolly stick deep into each half, and freeze it for at least a few hours: they are loved by even the most fruit-dodging child. As everyone gears up for the summer holidays, there is loads on in Leiden, such as the Lakenfeesten, ranked number 8 for city festivals in the Netherlands. Check out What's On This Week for details, including the 'Children's village' in Breestraat on Sunday 5 th , with lots of fun activities, and a painting competition for children aged 4-12.

Tip of the Week

Sunnish situation keeping the little darlings awake? Curtains ridiculously see through? A great cheap and easy way of making your children's existing curtains block out the light is to buy a length of 'verduisterings gordijnstof' (black-out lining material) slightly bigger than the inside of the window at one of the market fabric stalls. Then all you need is to fold over the edges and stick them down using iron-on fabric tape, and put a ring in each corner (all available at Mol en de Groot, Lange Mare 116, www.molendegroot.nl ) and with a nail at each corner of the window you have an (almost) instantly dark bedroom. Well worth the (minimal) effort and cost!

Website of the week

www.dream-angus.com This is the website of the most utterly comforting, kind, reassuring woman I have met in a long time. Great news for us: she offers help (in English or Dutch) with children's sleep issues, weaning, potty training, bed wetting and other such issues. In my experience, there's always some issue with one of the Big Three of sleeping, eating and the potty, and it can be hard to address problems in another language and with your family far away. I'd love to have an idea of what the FAQs are of our community for a possible future event: if you have an idea/question/suggestion, please email me on harriet@homeinleiden.nl.