The first taste of Spring is already here, with a beautiful 1st March to get us off to a good start. Daffodils are already raising their heads, temperatures are milder and there's a certain sense of relief and expectation as the sun shines. Bring on summer, the winter is finally over! It's time to start getting outside and enjoying what Berlin has to offer with festivals popping up here and there, as well as all the other workshops and family days that Heather Sinclair has found for us this month. Go out, enjoy, and let us know if you find anything else worth mentioning! 

February.. that dismal, dreary month where all hope is almost lost that winter will never end.. but fear not! Here are all our new exciting listings, gathered expertly by Heather Sinclair, to cheer you and your family up through until Spring, hurrah! A special highlight is the Festival of Lights, which, for the first time is being shown in the Winter/Spring crossover as well as in October. Huge, supercool projections and light shows all around town are a sure fire winner with the kiddies.. just don't expect to escape without buying at least one extortionately priced light object/toy which will never work again once you've got it home... Have fun! 

Happy New (ish, sorry it's the 4th already) Year! Find out how to fill an otherwise fairly bleak January, with Heather Sinclair's listings of all things fun in Berlin for you and your family... 

Yep, it's that time of year again, and the kids are already way too over-excited. Keep them amused for 22 more days with this month's Lowdown, written by Heather Sinclair. And remember, it's never too early to start the "If you're not good, Santa won't bring you any presents" threats... ! 

It was the last day of kita today before the Christmas holidays, so in celebration we took the boys down to the Weihnachtsmarkt at RAW Friedrichshain, and discovered a whole medieval market  full of fun. 

The temperature's dropping below zero, the heating’s been on for weeks and it's dark at four...there’s no escaping the fact that we are on the chilling descent into winter. I find there is only one way to counter the gathering gloom: a glass (or bucket) of glühwein, enjoyed at leisure during a visit to one of Berlin’s vast array of Weihnachtsmarkts. Although essentially the same deal, each one has a slightly different atmosphere, ranging from totally commercial and a bit icky (see Alexanderplatz) to the quaint and traditional (see Alt-Rixdorfer), but whichever ones you decide to try, you can be sure of sparkly fairy lights, bratwurst, gifts galore and enough glühwein to shake a candy cane stick at.
 
This is not a completely exhaustive list, as there are literally dozens of markets going on, but I’ve tried to pick out the more family friendly ones, including some of my favourites. The list starts with those which have begun in the last few days, followed by the others in chronological order. All are free to enter unless otherwise stated. Go Forth and be Festive! 

If you don't own a bike in Berlin or are just visiting the city, that needn't stop you seeing the city on two wheels. There are a number of options available for renting bikes with child seats, children's bikes or bikes with a trailer and I am going to list them here for you. When picking up your bike rentals, don't forget to bring valid identification. 

Travelling with a baby can be great fun but it also comes with it's challenges. Berlin however is a very child-friendly city so there is no reason your visit to Berlin need be stressful. Here is my guide to visiting Berlin with a baby to help make your visit that much easier. 

Visiting Berlin with children needn't cost you the Earth. Whether you are planning a long weekend or a longer stay here, there are lots of free and cheap things you can do in Berlin that will keep the kids and you happy. 

Here are my tips for visiting Berlin with kids and a small budget...