, £12.95.Fun Start by June Oberlander, HarperThorsons, £10.99.The Gardening Book by Jane Bull, Dorling Kindersley, £6.99.Getting Your Kids Active by Claire Gillman, A&C Black, £12.99.Getting Your Kids Fit by Kelly Holmes, Virgin Books, £14.99.Great Big

1. Throw an afternoon tea party  A tiny table, a pot of lukewarm ‘tea’, cups, saucers, serviettes and spoons and your toddler will be acting like the perfect lady of the house... Encourage her to ‘pour the tea’ and ‘add the sugar’. Offer plenty

1.  Pack a picnic hamper  ...with damper (recipe below), fruit and chocolates, then enjoy an afternoon in the garden with a variety of traditional games: boules, a giant snakes-and-ladders, skittles.2. Make gingerbread men  Why not try making

1. Take a wooden (preferably) cotton reel and hammer four nails into the top so that the nails are protruding fully.2. Thread some wool through the middle of the reel.3. Wind the wool once around each nail so that each nail has a ‘loop’ around it.4

as they do it more and more is that they begin to talk with their children more and more about what’s coming up and the conversations are really enlightening – both to the parents and the kids. The kids will totally accept something that the parents

1. Cut two circles from cardboard about the size of the pom poms to be created.2. Cut a circle out of the middle (fold the card in half to cut out this circle).3. Place the two cardboard circles together, then wind a ball of wool through the centre

1. Cover the floor with newspaper, as this is a messy activity.2. Blow up a balloon; sit the end in a cup.3. Tear newspaper strips about 15cm long, dip them in papier mâché paste (one part flour, two parts water) and spread them across the balloon

1. Fold the two opposite ends of a square piece of paper to make a triangle, then fold the opposite ends of the triangle to make a smaller one.2. Open the paper up and fold a corner into the centre point, repeat with the opposite corner – you should

1. Write your name or funny messages in the sand with shells2. Decorate sand-pies and sandcastles with different shaped shells3. Have a rock-pool ramble  Learn about the food chain of this natural aquarium so your child understands how it works

' with open air DJs and 'The Hidden Hedge' – a secluded hideaway with a chilled vibe and secret appearances. The line up for 2010 is yet to be announced. Visit www.blissfields.co.uk3. JULY 14–18 Larmer Tree Festival, Wiltshire/Dorset border There are usually