TOY STORY
Geordie Shore’s Holly Hagan shares Ikea hack to keep kids entertained in the warm weather & people say it’s ‘brill’
Scroll down to reveal how to keep your kids safe in warm weather
ANY parent will know just how difficult it can be to think up fun present ideas for your little one's first birthday.
But if you're lacking in creative ideas, then no fear...because former Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan, 31, who gave birth to her first child Alpha-Jax last summer, has come up with the perfect gift that'll keep your little entertained for hours.
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In a clip shared to Instagram (@), the mum-of-one begins by explaining how she bought the '' and coordinating chair from Ikea, which she then turned into a sensory table.
"I can't believe this has come round so quick and I thought, 'this can''t be too hard,' so this is the flisat table and chair from Ikea," she says.
"You can get the little bins to go with it as well."
Holly goes on to explain that she realised as she started building it that there's no way Alpha-Jax would be able to reach the table with the legs it comes with, so she swapped them with the shorter chair legs instead.
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"It was actually really easy to build - it took me around 10 minutes," she continues.
My daughter used this table from 2 until she was 6!!! It was everything from sensory, to a dinner table to arts and crafts across the years - its AMAZING!
Social media user
Holly then explains that she made the water using blue jelly before digging plastic toy fish in which he has to dig out, and made the sand using none other than Rice Crispies.
"Why on earth has no one else thought of this before because wow, that is a game changer for any child that loves to eat absolutely anything," she says.
Sharing a video of her excitable son when he saw his first birthday present for the first time, she enthuses: "He was in his element and when I tell you he played with this for hours, I'm not even joking."
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Holly notes that once Alpha-Jax was done with the "messy" side, she then put water in the other side.
"He climbed in fully clothed and thought it was a bath and he sat in there for a good hour just playing with the water," she explains.
Chloe Ferry and Holly Hagan look incredible as they pose for sizzling bikini snap on Geordie Shore trip to Thailand
"He was just splashing around and he had the time of his life."
Alongside the short video, she penned: "Building the flisat table and stool from and turning it into a sensory beach for Alpha-Jax first birthday!"
Sharing what a success it'd been, Holly added: "He’s obsessed and I know he’s going to get years of play out of this!
"There’s so many fun ideas for all ages on TT just search 'sensory bin.'"
It wasn't long before the post was flooded with comments, with many quick to praise Holly for sharing the creative idea.
"My daughter used this table from 2 until she was 6!!! It was everything from sensory, to a dinner table to arts and crafts across the years - its AMAZING!" praised one social media user.
How to keep your kids safe in warm weather
Hot weather is fabulous, a wonderful trip to the beach or enjoying time in the garden! However, when temperatures skyrocket it can become dangerous. Save The Children have compiled 10 heat safety tips for keeping children safe in a heatwave.
1. Light clothing, heavy suncream
Choose lightweight, light-coloured, and breathable fabrics (such as cotton), and use lots of suncream to protect you and your child from the heat and potential sunburn.
2. Drink lots of fluids
Remember to drink plenty of liquids, regardless of your activity level. Check your baby’s nappy for concentrated (dark in color) urine, which can indicate dehydration.
3. Get lots of rest
Try and limit activities. Make sure that children get lots of rest when they are active. NHS advises to “try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm”.
4. Keep children entertained
Children may become anxious or restless from being kept indoors. Plan for indoor activities and games.
5. Reassure children
Children may be stressed by the heat. Remember that children take their cues from their parents and caregivers, so try to keep calm and answer their questions openly and honestly. Also stick to and sleep times for your child.
6. House safety/cooling tips
During the day, keep rooms cool by closing blinds/curtains, especially in rooms facing the sun. Using a fan to circulate air in the room is beneficial.Review your child’s school sun policy.
7. Never leave children unsupervised in parked cars
Even in less threatening temperatures, vehicles can rapidly heat up to dangerous temperatures. A child left inside a car is at risk of severe heat-related illness or death, even if the windows are cracked open.
8. Stay informed
Listen to local news and weather channels for health, safety and weather-related updates.
9. Know how to identify heat-related illnesses
Look for signs of heat-related illnesses/conditions such as heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps, and severe sunburn. If children show these symptoms, seek medical assistance. Refer to the for a complete list, and how to remedy them.
10. Read the NHS guidance for babies
The NHS advises giving your baby a cool bath before bedtime and keeping nightwear to a minimum. Your baby will sleep most comfortably at room temperature between 16C and 20C, a nursery thermometer will help you monitor the temperature of the baby’s room.
A second commented: "That's brill! Where did you get the fish & nets?"
A third advised: "Awesome job!! If you use plain gelatin and a couple drops off food dye it’s not as sticky."
Meanwhile, a fourth enthused: "This is So good! Fantastic idea Holly."
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Another added: "My son is 4 next week and he is autistic, I'm defo getting him one of these tables and stealing the jello and rice crispy idea for him!…. he eats EVERYTHING."
And one more chimed in: "This is a brilliant idea!"
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