Welcome to our weekly roundup of what's new for families.

And the first thing that's new this week is this column - every Monday we'll be bringing you the pick of the crop of everything new and fun for parents and families. Plus the odd sprinkling of stupid stuff to make your jaw drop (read on till the end for a real corker - though not if you're eating!)

So what's making us smile this week?


For outdoorsy types
The National Trust has just launched open-air living rooms, where you and your family can enjoy some of the UK's most spectacular views. The grass sofas and coffee tables took over a month to grow, and are now open to summer visitors. Doesn't it look like fantastic fun? Apparently families spend around 43 hours a week on the sofa, so this the way to do it in the fresh air. Find your nearest outdoor living room here.


And if that's put you in the mood for fresh-air living, CenterParcs has just announced treehouses you can stay in, now open for booking in Sherwood Forest.

Whilst you can book them now, you can't stay in them until January 2011. But since they offer a sauna, outdoor hot tub, wi-fi and a games room, sounds like worth waiting for. More information on these here.


For bookworms of all ages
Check out our roundup of some of the latest children's books here.

And for mums, I recommend Tori Spelling's MommyWood. This book by American actress Tori is so much better than the usual bland celeb memoirs - it's genuinely funny. Spelling's desire to give her children a normal childhood is touching, though her decision to make their lives part of a reality TV show is less understandable. A lighthearted holiday read.

Also, for new readers, Leapfrog has launched a limited edition Toy Story 3 version of its Tag reading system. But be warned that this isn't one where you can just open up the box and go - first you have to supply a couple of AAA batteries, then you'll need to attach the TAG pen to your computer to download the audio that goes with the book. But whilst it is a bit of a faff, once you've done all that you're good to go. Then the special pen reads out words and adds sound effects as your child traces over the story.

This system is advertised as being suitable for ages 4-8, but really it's best suited for children of any age who are developing their reading confidence. My seven year old who normally runs a mile when faced with a book was very engaged by this. However, able readers may get bored quickly, even with 40 additional titles to choose from.

The Toy Story 3 Tag reading system is available now from Argos and other retailers, RRP £29.99, with a choice of three colours and designs featuring the Toy Story logo, Woody or Jessie.


And finally...
Just when you think you've seen it all - someone has seen fit to invent a bogey picker for parents. Yes, if you find that clearing your baby's airways is just too arduous a task, new bogey tweezers Cleebo will help you out.

The manufacturers claim that 80% of parents admit to using potentially dangerous implements to remove bogies from their children's nose. Fair enough, I knew that corkscrew was a bad idea.

A quarter of children surveyed admitted wiping their bogies on themselves (and I guess the rest were lying). A crafty 1 in 10 wipe them on their siblings and 1 in 20 say they wipe them on the family pet. Urgh.

Cleebo retails at £9.99, and comes with plastic wings to stop it being inserted too far up the nose. There are interchangeable coloured ends to the tweezers, so every family member can colour-coordinate with their bogies.

What do you think? Would you pick this?