and sleeping.What are the benefits? Parents who micro-manage their child’s lives may feel that by building up their children’s skill set in as many areas as possible, they are giving them the best chance of a successful future. School-gate pressure can play a

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

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

Encourage a culture of giving in your house by encouraging your child, each time she receives a present or new toy, to give one away to a local charity shop or even to a friend who might enjoy playing with it.More parent skills from Junior:Lifeskills: Looking

. More parenting skills from Junior:Top tips for boosting your boy's confidenceTeaching the fine art of etiquette

’s offering has transformed into a scattering of crumbs and empty glass, an illusion which may be shattered if your child creeps out of bed to discover her parents with a mouthful of mince pies and a half empty bottle of port. Waiting until after bedtime

Be spontaneousAvoid posed pictures and shoot while your child is engaged in a natural activity: playing in the sand pit or paddling pool, climbing trees and making dens are all good starting points.Think candid Hold your camera in your hand, but not up to your face, and take pict...

Make a chart Help you and your children to remember what they need to do each morning by making a chart showing each day. List everything from getting dressed and teeth-brushing to the things they need for school. For younger children, you could draw pictures. Get your children u...

success will be especially sweet.Risky business Every parent wants to protect their child from life’s risky scenarios, but do this too often for your little boy and you could be damaging his sense of adventure and independence. Taking risks and branching