The Face of the BBC'S 6-0 Clock News talks to Parentalk about the way he spends Great Days Out with his kids:
Huw, How do you manage to find time for your family and your career and do you have a top tip?
It's not easy because the job is very high profile and I'm asked (understandably) to put in lots of hours. So I have to place limits on my time and I have made a conscious decision to turn down 99% of extra work I'm offered and I'm offered extra work all the time!! Although I do allow myself the odd music programme because I love music!.
I agree with what Steve Chalke says in the Parentalk Guides that throwing money at kids is a disaster area. Spending time with your kids rather than money is much better. I have three boys under five and another one on the way in a months time and even though I get home at 8pm after they have gone to bed and don't see them, I do take them to school or nursery every morning and I try to keep Fridays and weekends free, if possible, to spend with them.
I think it is very hard for parents today - they are constantly pressured to spend money on their children and they are also pressured by the Government to go out to work - I question this, I think that parents should be encouraged to stay at home where possible. I think that David Blunket has got it right by putting money into childcare. I am also acutely aware of how hard it must be for single parents - after all -we have a nanny and my wife works part-time.
My top tip? - Don't take on extra work unless you really and I mean really have to and use the extra time that you would have been working to spend with your kids.
Huw, You have recently endorsed a new Book 'The Parentalk Guide to Great Days Out' what's your idea of a great day out?
It would be when both parents (if possible) and all the kids are involved and we go somewhere where there is a process of being together. On a Saturday, we sometimes all walk together to Clapham Common to the playground and then walk to a nearby café for a sandwich or even a bite of lunch and then we walk back - lovely - the kids love it and so do we. In fact they would do it every Saturday very happily!
Of course - the 'great day out' will probably change, as they get older!!
Huw, you must be more used to spending time in front of the camera than behind it - But which photo sums up you favourite memory of your family?
We have a lovely photo of our three boys sitting on a beach in Portugal with their 'foreign Legion Style' sun hats on, covered in sand and grinning and surrounded by loads of clutter - beach towels etc. Their faces sum up the memory of that first fantastic summer beach holiday. It was so good, we are going to repeat it again this year…
That's interesting Huw, because holidays can be a time of stress for some families…
I think that holidays taken at times of stress at home are stressful, but it's the homes situation rather than the holiday, which is the problem!
Huw, In the 'Guide to Great Days Out' you say 'you don't even have to go out to spend a great day together', honestly, though, don't you find wet days tough and what do you end up actually doing?
Of course we do!! All the boys usually want to do different things and then what do you?! They do actually all love painting - those awful finger paints!! And this can last up to an hour!
So our wet days go something like this, get up, have breakfast and clear away. Read a story - they love it best when I make up a story and add little jokes or fibs in the middle!
Then we paint and then have lunch. My wife Vicky often goes to watch Chelsea play in the afternoon - she is a big fan!! and I might let the boys watch a video, but I am careful as I don't want them watching too much television (Even CBBC, Huw?!!) - Yes even that! I try to set ground rules and let them know how much they can watch. Of course they complain when I turn it off, but if they know in advance it is better and I can usually distract them!!
We might then plays games or puzzles, and then it is time for tea, bath or shower (which they love) and bed by 7.30pm or 8pm!!
You can get through those wet days!!!
Finally Huw, you also say in the book; 'so much of our own character can be traced back to the relationships we shared with our own parents'. How has your own relationship with your parents influenced your relationship with your children?
In good ways and bad ways. My dad had a difficult job as a lecturer in an adult education college, so he was out every evening but at home during the day. This taught me a lesson, that within the realms of what is possible you can do what you can. My mum tried to make up for my dad's absence and tried to be both parents, which put great pressure on her - just a little warning!
Both my parents were very affectionate, I remember when my mum picked me up from school when I was about 15 or 16 and she hugged and kissed me in front of a friend. This friend told me that his mum had never kissed him! I was really shocked.
I think it is really important for dads to show their kids, especially boys, loads of affection - I love hugging my kids - it is just as much for me as for them and it is really important.
Affection is not common in Britain and it's a problem - men are not generally affectionate with their children. My friends in France and Italy are very different. There is no English/ Welsh divide either - people assume that Welsh men are more emotional, but I feel that it is British men in general that struggle with being affectionate with their children.