The cuddly cushion that hugs you backDanny Blue cushion £70 by Lucky Boy Sunday at Kidsen

, then tell him to do it again by himself. Ask him to recall the names of the shapes, tell your child that the square is made up of square lines and talk about the square’s corners. Children can form circles and squares using cooked, coloured spaghetti.

1. Paying a visit to a local farm will not only be a fun day out for young children, but an educational one too. Children who live in rural areas should find they have their pick of local growers whilst city-dwelling families can track down

Grand designs on playtimePlaymobil Grande Mansion £100 from Hamley's

Promote prosperity with a porcine pal...Blackboard Piggy Bank £10.95 by Muji

Just the trick for the child who has everythingMagic wand remote control  £49.95 by Kymera at The Wand Company

A bear for life, not just for ChristmasPudding Bear £20 by Hamleys

Play with your food...Portable wooden market stall £75 by Janod at Lula Sapphire

Colour pop blocks for playful tots...Birch plywood blocks £49 for set by Few And Far

Santa Bearemy with outfit and beard £22 by Build-A-Bear Workshop