Thursday 14: Have Fun On-line
Hide away from the bitterly cold weather, grab that book you have been meaning to finish since your summer vacation, and allow the kids to explore some fun websites on the Internet. The web is full of interactive gaming websites with an educational twist; here are a few to get you started: Funbrain is great for the younger kids , while dwkids and yahoo games are more suitable for the older ones. If your kids are looking to expand their minds, visit Britannica Encyclopedia or BBC Bitesize .

Don’t Forget: Too many hours in front of the computer can strain the eyes. Best to surf the net in small doses.

Friday 15: Avatar (PG 13)
Director James Cameron’s latest Hollywood blockbuster, Avatar, has amazed movie-goers around the world. An estimated USD 250- 300 million has been invested to produce spectacular, spellbinding visuals in a futuristic 3-D setting. The story follows the life of Jake Scully – a war veteran who lost his lower limbs in a previous battle – and his journey to the planet of Na’vi. Scenes of violence and brief intimate encounters means Avatar may not be suitable for the younger children, but it is suitable for children 10 and older. Playing at Megabox, The Village, Sanlitun.

Don’t Forget: Bring some healthy snacks to fuel bursts of hunger.

Saturday 16: Cooking at The Hutong
If you are tired of hearing, “Can you make me something to eat?” then take the kids to a cookery class at The Hutong this Saturday. Under the supervision of trained chefs and simple instructions, allow the kids to blend local and international ingredients into adventurous and fresh dishes. The Hutong intends to bring more events of this nature to you weekends in the future. RMB 150, RMB 130 for members. For more information or to book, contact Sophia Du at sophia@thehutong.com or 1590 104 6127.

Don’t Forget: An extra T-shirt – stray food often evades the apron.

Sunday 17: Longqing Ice and Light festival
Harbin remains China’s most famous ice and light festival, but the long journey and despairing temperatures can be off putting. Not to worry, the Longqing Ice and Light Festival takes place 80km outside of Beijing and boasts an array of ice sculpted animals, lanterns and temples set to rival their Northern competitor. More bearable temperatures are predicted for Beijing this weekend – so wrap up, grab the camera and take advantage of the transformed Longqing Gorge before it closes at the end of February.
By car: From Madian Qiao on the North Ring Road, take the Badaling Expressway to the Yangqing Exit. Follow the Shijnglong Ski Resort sign to the Mijiapou Beikou Intersection, turn right, and follow the signs to the gate.

Don’t Forget: Wear plenty of pairs of socks and bring a flask of something hot.

Having strapped the “Chosen” tree to the roof of the car, trawled it through the house, hacked at the trunk so that it will fit into the base and made sure that the tree is standing straight, we cannot bear to look at the thing any longer. “Why didn’t we just buy one of those already decorated, perfect looking plastic trees?” my sister would shout while unknotting the fairly lights. I always struggle to understand how the Christmas tree lights manage to knot themselves while they are in a sealed box, shoved away in the attic. They do though, without fail.

As a child – reasonably well-behaved child, I might add – my parents would often lie, fib or manipulate the truth in an attempt to tame my sporadic, but memorable outbursts. Their “white lies” did not leave a lasting effect on me, nor were they used on a daily basis, but the result of their ability to deceive saw an improvement in my behavior.