What is it? When a parent ensures their child has a busier schedule than David Cameron, fitting in hours of sports clubs, music lessons and any other hobbies you might care to think of, not to mention school, homework and the small matters of eating

invention, the park bench, where you can feed your mind with a few lines of choice prose or poetry rather than tales of Thomas The Tank Engine.3. Train children to serve youRather than the parent serving the child, it should be the other way round. As soon

fear of water is a common quirk of babyhood, especially around 15 months. Some children fear that they’ll be sucked down the plughole.More development tips by Junior:Five ways to soothe a stressed babyFive ways to teach children manners

she opens her presents. Tell her to smile, say thank you, and then you can return the toy later.5 Praise good mannersPraise her when she is polite and if you need to correct a slip in her manners, try to do so in private.More development tips by Junior

Young children love to imitate adults with imaginative games, providing an opportunity for smart parents to impart some simple life skills. When your child sets up shop in your kitchen and offers to sell you the contents of your refrigerator, try

or reclaimed plastic or wood, or from organic cotton. More natural parenting tips from Junior:Five green ways to stay warm and toastyFive ways to have an eco-friendly school run

Lead by exampleToddlers are renowned for their sponge-like ability to soak up the words, actions and behaviour they witness and then test it out on others. Try to avoid talking negatively about other people or using insulting language in front of your child; treating people with ...

is prone to the odd tantrum.While is it a rare parent who manages to raise a toddler without the odd mid-supermarket meltdown, there are a few simple techniques you can use to defuse outbursts of temper and encourage less-than disorderly conduct

parenting tips from Junior:Five ways to pack an eco-friendly lunchFive ways to enjoy a country ramble

, water, wildlife and dramatic scenery.More natural parenting tips from Junior:Five ways to pack an eco-friendly lunchFive ways to make your child's school greener