Spots & bumps

Having children can be difficult and expensive, but are they grateful? Of course not, they arrive demanding constant entertainment whenever they deign to stay awake for a few minutes. We point to help before and after childbirth, but not in that order.

Dog in the… park

The Fun with Spot website has been a fixture on the Gateway to websites for rather a long time, and quite right too. It’s not intended to be a substitute for the Spot books – no surprise there, since it’s promoted by the publisher of the books, Frederick Warne. But it stands alone as a great interactive site for children, full of movement and colour.

Mostly, the graphics don’t fill the screen – Spot does his stuff in an attractive box in the centre of the screen, with navigational icons at the top or the side, depending on where you’ve followed the perky pup.

By clicking on different bits of the picture, you can, for instance, go to a party, to the beach, or to the park for interactive games. In the books section, there are animated versions of two of the Spot books, with a not-too-shouty link to the bookshop where you can buy the actual books.

There is content for adults, including links to other child-friendly activity sites, but it’s Spot who’s the star of this show, and his antics will appeal to many a child.

(From the Gateway to websites, select "Family & personal". Fun with Spot is under "Children & young people".)

I’m a stranger here myself

As an ageing bachelor I approached the Babycentre with some care. A large picture of a pregnant tummy rather confirmed my worst fears (would there be any squidgy stuff?!), but I pressed on with my investigations, and I liked what I found.

There is so much information here – on pregnancy, childcare and all related topics – that the only danger is that a mum-to-be would feel overwhelmed by the quantity. But the site is well organised, and plays well to its real strength, its interactivity.

You can sign up to newsletters, you can join a forum or a blog, or you can generate a timetable for maximising your chances of getting pregnant. This site is seriously into tailoring itself to suit each individual user.

They don’t hide their sponsors – they’re clearly stated on the home page. And there’s even a chance to win some free stuff from two of the sponsors.

[Oh no!! I’ve spotted another tummy! Time to leave…]

(From the Gateway to websites, select "Family & personal". Babycentre is under "Parenting".)