Nature Adventures by Mick Manning and Brita Granström (£7.99, Frances Lincoln)A finely detailed guide to the natural life that can be found in various habitats from town to country. The evocative illustrations and comprehensive listings of various flora and fauna make this an abs...

books and the other child can draw their illustration for the story on the left-hand page. Get out the glitter, glue and colourful paper for creating the cover illustration. And have a competition to come up with the title.8. Make a family tree  Give

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: look at the different seaweeds, th...

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 characters from your child’s favourit...

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 of pleases and thank-yous.2. ‘Paint...

1. Do a circus routine  Encourage your child to practise being a clown (for costumes, use ping-pong balls for a big red nose, colourful oversize clothing, some funny glasses and a big hat), an acrobat (who does cartwheels, somersaults and handstands), a juggler (you could use thr...

1. Make your coppers shine  Collect up a handful of copper coins, then set up five glasses on the kitchen bench and put at least one coin in each glass to test out ‘cleaning solutions’ that are ‘rumoured’ to magically shine your copper coins. Your child can choose any ‘magic solu...

the grass to a ‘hole’); or target practice (where you aim for a certain object) are all good games to play.4. Teddy Bear's Picnic  If you go out in the woods today... the whole family will have some fun. Learn songs and take a few storybooks with you (Winnie

1. DJ and disco Give your child the run of the CDs for the day and have her put together a playlist for a disco. Ask her to make decorations and name the event, then set a time when she will play DJ (with Dad’s help) while you take to the dance floor. If your child is too young t...

SEETransformations 3What: An exhibition of oversized film packaging boxes designed by artist Leo Fitzmaurice.Why: It’s a technicolour pick-me-up. When: Until September 5, 10am–8pm (Mon–Sat), 10am–6pm (Sun).Where: The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ; www.thelowry.comEATTeddy ...