The Eurovision Song Contest is an enjoyable, fun event that children can join in with. They'll love singing along and dancing, so why not make an evening of it with our ideas for how to make it a memorable occasion?

Before the start of the Eurovision Song Contest, it's a good idea to create a cosy place for your children to watch it from. You could create a den in the children's bedroom, as the show is on quite late, and if they fall asleep in the middle of it, they're in the right place. If you have a cabin bed all you need to do is add some cushions, blankets and duvets and you'll have a comfortable spot to watch the show from.

This would work equally well if you have a high sleeper bed. A tunnel bed has a ready-made den that children of all ages will enjoy and this will make an atmospheric place to watch the contest.       

If your children usually sleep in separate bedrooms, they will be delighted and excited to be able to sleep in the same room on this special occasion. A pull out bed will allow this set-up, and it's much more comfortable than a blow up mattress. When you don't need to use it, the mattress simply slides back under the bed and won't take up any precious space in your child's bedroom. Plus, it will be so convenient in the future, for when you have the kids' friends or family round for a sleepover.

If you decide to watch the contest downstairs, smaller children will feel most comfortable in a child-size armchair. This will be a great addition to their bedroom when the show is over and will also be a souvenir of the special event you watched together.

The Eurovision programme is quite long, so it's a good idea to set up a table with snacks and drinks for the kids, so you don't need to leave the room to prepare anything whilst the show is taking place. A selection of sandwiches, fruit, crackers and juice should keep them going. If you have older children, you could get creative in the kitchen and prepare some country themed snacks together and find out some facts about each country.

If you're feeling creative, you could make some Eurovision themed decorations, such as flags belonging to the countries that are participating. This is not only fun, but educational too, and it will get everyone excited for the contest. It's best to have an appropriately sized table and chair for younger kids to sit at, as standard size furniture is too large.

Another idea is to dress up in costumes inspired by the diverse countries that take part in The Eurovision Song Contest. Your children could pick their favourite country and design a costume inspired by its traditional clothing. This will get everyone in the mood for a party and will also create long lasting memories. You could find out about some of the different cultures in the countries that are taking part and learn about their languages, music, traditions and customs.

For older children, why not make a quiz based on facts about Eurovision? You could find out which country has won the most times, who's come last most often and when it first started. You could also listen to some of the most famous winning songs, such as ABBA's 'Waterloo' and Lulu's 'Boom bang-a-bang'. You could listen to some of the well-known songs sung in different languages, such as 'Nel Blu dipinto di Blu' by Italy's Domenico Modugno.

When the show is on, you could all vote for your favourite songs and see who comes closest to the eventual winners. You could decide on a simple scoring system and award points for costumes, performances and songs. Kids are certain to want to join in with the catchy tunes. You might want to have a karaoke competition or perhaps you could make up dance routines to accompany the songs. This will help to keep your children engaged and interested in the performances.

However you decide to celebrate this fantastic singing competition with your children, you are sure to create happy memories that will last a lifetime.