Games they play.

Jingle, my little grandsons (almost 4) have been practicising 4.1/2 somersault high dives from the sofa to the blue carpet since watching the Olympic 10 metre diving. They now claim they can do 60.1/2 somersaults and a twist, and they managed to break the legs of my china dog in the process! (The last dive went slightly wrong when the little body went over the arm of the sofa and missed the hearth by 1/2 an inch, but landed on the dog, who got the blame.......so all activity was halted). They're very sorry, by the way

[when]

Sop=unds just like these two!

meant when

Sounds as if they are heading the same way as our Little Man - have you got your local A&E on speed dial?

I used to slide down the stairs - and the banisters - when I was a youngster along with my friends. This activity now seems to have been replaced by leaping off sofas yelling at the top of the voice. Not by me I hasten to add

My GDs like to jump off the stairs - each vying with the other to see how many they can manage! Every time they do it I have visions of broken limbs...

My kids used to slide down the stairs on a tray....steep and with a storage heater at the bottom. Then they used a blowup armchair (remember them?) - but it didn't survive that!

AlieOxon You can still get inflatable armchairs. I sent one as part of my 4-year-old grandson's birthday presents. Apparently, it's been confiscated several times by his parents. What can you do with an inflatable chair that merits confiscation? (I think it might be banging it and making too much noise while everyone else is trying to watch television, but am not sure.)

The mind boggles?

Yes, you can get blow-up armchairs for children depicting a variety of Disney characters etc. in lurid colours from Argos, Amazon etc.

My dgd loves my Irish drum. Bodrhum?

So good to hear of children using their imagination (duvet for the sea) and playing games that would be considered a bit "risky" with regard to the cotton wool health and safety standards!

Mine (6&4) horrified me on an unseasonably warm day in February when I was supposed to be looking after them by getting the ladder out when my back was turned and climbing onto the roof of the shed and taking all their clothes off. 'Daddy lets us,' they said, all wide eyed and innocent. Oh yeah! They are the same pair that decided to have a bit of water play in the bath but let it overflow thus incurring a substantial insurance claim.

It can get a bit hairy sometimes phoenix, but they do alright.

My children's favourite play venue was the top of the septic tank! It was concrete and surrounded by trellises - it was a boat, a car, a bus, a den, a magic carpet - they just loved it!

We have stepping stones across the lawn to the (fairly decrepit) shed. Last year it was a crystal path, with little baskets of pebbles on each stone, leading to the diamond palace, which was the shed. Which had to be opened, a blanket laid on the floor, and a picnic provided. This was the two little GDs in full imaginative flight, for a whole day.

I have a photo of DH skipping up the crystal path and drinking "Champagne" in the palace.

A few years ago when aged about 6 E and P's favourite game used to be sitting in a sleeping bag and whizzing down the stairs....solo and tandem....huge fun...no broken bones....nostalgic grin...

I can't wait till my little GD is old enough to do all these things!

My two are today painting the coal bunker. And the path. And squirting pastel coloured water around the garden.

They go home today.

will not say hooray will not say hooray...............